The Screamer and the Road Trip

You think you're doing okay, that your child is pleasant, easy-going, and likable... well think again. Alex has turned into "that" kid. I don't know why he seems to have just "flipped the switch," but he's suddenly become, clingy, whiny, and high-maintenance.

I think back just a few weeks to when I was in the hospital and we had to leave them with Kimmie and Gavin. He did great! Kim was able to put him in the pack-n-play, he hung out with the girls during the day, he ate and slept and was pleasant for the two days we were unavailable.

That all changed last Thursday. I dropped the kids at Laura's house so I could attend a lunch with my department and then get things packed up and ready for our trip to Minnesota. Alex did have an ear infection, but he'd been on antibiotic since Monday, the fever was gone, he was sleeping fine, etc... I even got in his quick morning nap before I dropped them off. Laura didn't want him too rested, so he'd be sure to sleep that afternoon. He started crying when I walked out the door at 11:15 and he didn't stop for at least an hour.

Next challenge the road trip. Troy wanted to drive at night. Leaving around 7p.m. would put us in Minneapolis around 1-2 a.m. We had the DVD players hooked up in the car, put the kids in their jammies, and hit the road. Problem #1 it's still daylight and they're still awake. After 3 DVD's, we finally shut things down hoping they'd nod off. Alex was past that point and hadn't had medicine in 3+ hours so we stopped at an exit ramp, in pitch darkness and dug out Motrin to help him out. He was asleep within 20 minutes. Ella didn't sleep until after 11:30p.m. Both kids woke up when we got there, both cried and whined as we all attempted to sleep in the same room, that first night was a nightmare and the first day there wasn't much better. When we went to be Friday night and struggled to get him to sleep, we considered going home the next day, earlier than expected.

He was out of his element, I think his ear must have still hurt, he may have had teething issues, it was a trifecta of awfulness! He finally came around the last day and we had a better trip home. Two strikes, I should have known the worst was yet to come.

Mommy had a staff meeting Wednesday morning. I dropped the kids at Laura's just after 8 and headed for the office. They go to Laura's once every couple of weeks, so this is certainly nothing new. When I called Laura around 11:30 to check on things and let her know the meeting was running a little late, she sounded frazzled and frustrated. Alex had cried when I walked out the door, but that usually never lasted for more than a few seconds, and I had chalked last week up to the ear infection. But this time, he wouldn't quit. He didn't take a morning nap, he was still crying after lunch and after she put him down for the afternoon nap. She even put him in the same room with Ella in hopes of calming him a bit. No better. I heard him screaming when I hit the door and I felt horrible.

He loves me and I know he's used to being at home with me everyday, but I do leave them with sitters on a regular basis and he's always done just fine with that. He's not as adjusted as Ella, but she went to Laura's every day for the first 2 years of her life, so that makes sense.

Since Wednesday, he hasn't had a good night of sleep, he's fussy and not eating well and generally crabby, plus he's developed a runny nose. Maybe I can blame it on a cold, maybe we've ruined him in some way, I don't know, but my great kid has suddenly become the problem child who nobody wants around. Except me of course. Even when he's complete nightmare, he's my little man and I love him to pieces. I just hope I can figure out how to make him that happy go lucky boy again so others can see what they're missing.