Bug is sleeping.
This is a monumental event.
Since he has been about 18 months old, he has really had a horrible time sleeping.  This isn't the "super nanny" power struggle of a kid jumping out of bed for attention.  This was serious, ongoing insomnia.  We had tried everything from the exact routine, to herbal remedies (that did work for about 2 months!) to closing the door and just letting him be awake, to locking the door from the outside, to yelling, spanking, everything.  everything.  Nothing was working.  I finally settled for locking him in- I didn't care if he was awake, only that I knew where he was and that he was safe.  So for a couple of months, we'd put him to bed and then lock the door so that I could sleep with peace.  This helped some, although he still didn't go to sleep until about 12 every night.  As you can imagine, severe sleep deprevation made for a very unhappy and unpredictable little boy.  He could be very angry, teary, agressive- and I think it was all exacerbated and often brought on by his tired body and mind. 
NOW!  He's on some medication to help him sleep.  This is the fourth try to help, and finally it is working.  I was hesistant b/c medicating my 4 yr old was making me nervous, but now that he is sleeping, with no ill effects during the day, I am thrilled that I decided to try.
We put him down about 8 and before 9 he is fast asleep. No more battles of us telling him to stop jumping on the bed, stop playing in his room, stop rolling around on the floor- I just tuck him in, and soon, he's off to slumber land.  Last night was the third night we've been home and he was sleeping.  I kept listening for him only to realize that this is really real- he's asleep!  He isn't waking at 2 and hiding under my bed, he isn't up at three staring me in the face until I jump awake- he's truly asleep.
Praise God for BIG miracles.  What a blessing sleep is!

Posted by writmm

What a wonderful gift for your family for your son to be able to sleep. Do the doctors feel this is something he will grow out of as he grows older? Thank you for stopping by my site and offering prayers and words of encouragement. I had to laugh when you said 'things seem to be falling down around you'...after all, Jungle Princess had had things fall on her literally;) I had forgotten that song, the church I attend is a small country church and tend to go with old hymns. Thank you for reminding me of it.

So why would your husband be pushed out of the Marines? I will keep your family in my prayers. I relate to your feeling sick to your stomach when you think about working and leaving your children in the care of others. I feel the exact same way. God bless!

Posted by momanna98

I actually received that as a forward in my email. I edited my post. I didn't realized it came across that I said it. I wish I was that clever!
Happy sleeping!

Posted by writmm

I had no idea that the Marines had rules like that. My hubby (ex-Marine) said yep, all the services do. I know it must be scary for both of you, but trust in God...he has decided it is time for you guys to move on to a new adventure!

Thanks for the kind words about the weight loss. It is tough. I was very quiet in the beginning (being a professional dieter, didn't want to get everyone's hopes up), but now that I am nearing the halfway point and needing the boost of others, I decided to be a bit more public about it:)

I sit in the dreaded front pew at church, so I am not sure what anyone's faces looked like. Sorry, can't report on that, but our church is more on the sensitive side and our emphasis is to reach out to people and help them with their needs (food, clothing, etc). And by doing that show what a Christian is all about. We also have men's suppers open to all men in the community and there are some men who come to that and nothing else. Jim said what you had to say was right on the money and we did need to be careful!