I’m sitting here writing a short blog post while Lennox sleeps for “hopefully” 30 minutes at least. Please sleep longer than that little boy. 🙏🏻 You need it… We’ve been going through a horrible teething phase right now and Lennox has just been all out of sorts. He’s pulling on his mouth, his nose has been running, and last night he just couldn’t calm down at all. I don’t love giving him Tylenol, but I definitely will to relieve the pain. I prefer to go the more natural route like the Boiron Camellia drops. Have you tried them? They’re actually amazing at helping to soothe the pain, but sometimes it just don’t cut it.
Long story short, I put Lennox to bed like my husband and I do every night. We did our routine of reading stories, saying good night to his animals and friends in his room, then eating a bottle, finished by brushing his eight teeth🤓 He actually went down well the first time, but then started crying about 20 minutes later- not our norm. Because he’s been pulling at his mouth and really chewing on everything I knew he would need special attention last night as I knew he was in pain. I went in to soothe him and give him some Tylenol, rocked him back to sleep and put him back to bed. He cried again. The third time I went into his room – because I’m not gonna let him scream himself to sleep when I know he’s in pain, I realized this kid is not going to sleep well in his crib tonight. I decided to put him in my bed, which let’s be honest, wasn’t an easy night for either one of us. Poor guy tossed and turned ALL NIGHT, and being the paranoid mom that I am, when he was sound asleep and I couldn’t hear him breathing, I would touch his face to know that he’s safe, but it woke him up! A few times 🙄🙉 I mean, I actually woke up my sleeping baby!! Out of fear, out of paranoia… All of it. I personally am not comfortable with bed sharing (for myself- no judgement here) because of the Sids risks, so having him on my featherbed, always trying to keep the sheets away from his face made me nervous. Anyway, I just couldn’t imagine him in his room all alone and in pain. So he got some shut eye but did I? Not one bit. I’ve had a cold now for two days and I tried my absolute best to not kiss him, breathe on him etc. but I realized this morning when Lennox had major green snot coming out of his nose, that he’s most likely sick too. I called the doctor and we are seeing the pediatrician in 30 mins, the earliest we could be seen, but I honestly thought when he was pulling on his ears that it was a teething sign. That’s what my husband and I have read. So basically my baby might have a major ear infection and I had no clue.😟 It makes me feel like shit, but I’m learning. What can I say? This day has not gone smoothly to say the least. Lennox didn’t want to finish his bottle, no wonder, he doesn’t feel well. 😞 Stanley was whining this morning and I was trying to get the baby situated and I looked down and he started peeing right in front of me on the kitchen rug. By the time I took the dogs out Lennox was screaming from the top of his lungs and the painters outside were apologizing that they hadn’t finished their job yet. They’ve been here for 6 days🙄 Sophie decides to bark like she’s going to attack the painters, all 7lbs of her. She was running in circles and I couldn’t catch her. Watching me trying to chase her in my pjs was a pretty funny sight, I’m sure.🙈 So to say the least, I’m not feeling like that great of a mom today. But I do believe that epic mom fails lead to epic mom wins. Next time Lennox pulls on his ear we are going straight to the doctor. It breaks my heart that he maybe has been in pain for a couple days and I didn’t know. I mean, have you been in this situation before? Was this like common sense that I totally missed? Oh my God, that just feels awful. Anyway, we will go to the doctor and see what it is and go from there. All I can do is put my big girl panties on and move forward. I’m doing the best I can with the knowledge that I have and the support system that surrounds me. I’m so incredibly grateful for my amazing friends and family and for this wonderful community that we’ve created here.
Please visit often and please share your stories. We are not alone, I know that. But in those moments when shit hits the fan it can sure feel that way. Let’s support each other and pat each other on the back. Please leave only supportive comments. I want this to be a safe haven for all and a resource for parents to share, learn, and maybe educate one another. I am truly open to all advice as I don’t claim to know a whole lot just yet. Being new to this mommy thing is amazing and yet incredibly challenging. I hope you have a great day and I hope you stay healthy!
XOXO
Amy and Lennox
Ah poor Lennox. Don’t beat yourself up! I’m a mother of two 4 & 19 months…. it’s easier 2nd time round 😂😂 (zero use to hear that I’m sure!)
First time when the babes can’t talk you don’t what your looking for, know you can’t read minds or have z ray vision!
But this is how you learn and grow, your not failing your human and learning. We all are. Even with two I’m still learning new challenges!
Hope he feels better. Lots of Mammy cuddles. (Although you say Mom over in US!) X
Oh Amy! I wish we lived near each other! I have 2 year old twins and I have had many of these nights and worse! When mine were yours age, they threw up all the time when they were crying whole sick, and they threw up any medicine I gave them! I didn’t let them sleep with me and my husband either, so I slept on the couch and let them sleep in the swings. It’s he only way we would get some shut eye some nights! You’re a great mom if you worry about failing! I assure you though, you are not!
Amy this happens more often than you would think. I’ve written before and stated how I have 4 kids. Well my youngest who’s is 3 1/2 had the same problem when she was a baby. No eating, not sleeping, runny nose. I thought it was just a cold, but on day 3 when she just seemed miserable I took her in. She ended up having a double ear infection. I felt horrible. How did i miss that? This isn’t my 1st kid. Wtf!!
But guess what… it happens. We are doctors, we are not trained to see all the signs. We learn from it and keep moving forward. Parenthood is hard. And mistakes will be made…. many mistakes. Just keep loving him and doing the best you can. Hope he recovers quickly and you both get some much needed sleep.
Ear infections are awful. My guy battled them constantly and I never knew until they were RAGING. he never got fevers, never really pulled at them, but my normally awesome sleeper would start sleeping horribly. And only after they were terrible. Don’t beat yourself up, it’s hard when they can’t tell you!
Honestly? I don’t think this was a mom fail. I would have thought teething also. I’m a first time mom as well, my son turns one on Sunday, and I would have done the same thing. I believe an ear infection would come with a fever as well? Good luck. I hope he’s okay!!
Amy, thank you for sharing this! My sister said it happened to her with her daughter…my niece ended up having a double ear infection. You’re not alone! My daughter is 15 weeks old and has been teething for awhile. She’s been drooling like CRAZY since about 2 months. The nurse practitioner basically told me there was no way I was right. She’s got all the signs though. I’ve noticed some ear tugging but it’s not consistent, so hopefully I’m right in thinking it’s just teething. Good luck with everything!
You definitely shouldn’t feel bad for not knowing! I’m a first time mommy too and I did the same thing a few months ago! I had read that while teething they may pull on there ears and my son was doing so. Well it turned out to be an ear infection. I had no idea! All we can do is our best and it sounds like your a great mommy! And he is just adorable!
Oh how you would be an amazing mommy friend to have! I am a first time mom as well. Our daughter is almost 9 months old and we just had our first ear infection. Like lennox, our little Ryleigh sleeps through the night as well and I rock her to sleep for a couple min and she is out 11-12 hours. 3 nights in a row she woke up crying 5-6 times(totally unlike her) but she would go back to sleep. I figured it was a sleep regression or teething but the 4th day, she cried and screamed most of the day, again unlike her, so I took her to the dr and told them to look at her ears. (Only thing I could think of) and told them she is not being herself at all, something has to be wrong. Sure enough, ear infection. They said she didn’t have it long but it still took me a few days to take her in. I agree, next time when she is showing signs I am taking her right in! First time mom here loving and learning. 🙂
Not once when I was reading your story did I think this was a mom fail. Please don’t blame yourself!!
My little guy is a month younger than Lennox and I love reading posts from other moms that are real! It makes me feel like there are other moms out there going through the same things we are.
Real life, good and bad. We stumble through this whole parenting thing every day, and doing our best is all anyone can ask.
It’s so clear from your posts and your instagram etc that you love your babe to bits ❤️You are one amazing mama !