Stamping Out the Bed Bugs

We started an experiment this week.  Since the boys climb over their crib walls in the morning anyway – we decided to take out the middle part of the walls – this way they can easily get in and out of bed without the risk of hurting themselves.

Night One:

3 AM:  Creak, the bedroom door opens quietly, only a crack.  2 small eyes peer through . . .

“Spencer, come in, come in bed”.  (Spencer lays down, with snuffle towels and his penguin in the middle of the bed and continues to sleep.)

6:15 AM: Loud PITTER PATTER, PITTER PATTER, STOMP; STOMP, STOMP.  Sidney – smiles wide “HELLO!  GOOD MORNING” –  (He definitely did not get this morning person thing from his mom!)

Mama:  “Sidney, it’s still time to sleep, please come in bed and close your eyes”.

Sidney: (climbs in bed):  (turns over) UUUHHEERRGG (elbows mom in the face) “Where is my snuffy?”  (pulls Snuffy out from under the covers) AAAAHHHHH (turns over) UUUHHEERRGG (elbows mom in the face) “Mama, cartoons?”

Mama: “Sidney, it is still too early for cartoons “ (realizing there will be no more sleeping this morning) “Sidney, do you want to go play Lego?”

Night Two:

1:30 AM:  Bedroom Door opens – Spencer stands next to bed waiting to be put in the middle of Mama and Papa.  He sleeps further, peacefully.

6:00 AM: (note 15 minutes earlier than Night one!) – Door slams open: BAM:  Sidney: “HELLO!  GOOD MORNING” –

Mama:  “Sidney, it’s still time to sleep, do you want to go back to your Bed?”

Sidney: (shakes his head)

Mama: “good then come into bed, but you have to be quiet  and close your eyes”.

Sidney: (climbs in bed):  (turns over) UUUHHEERRGG (elbows mom in the face) “Where is my snuffy?”  (pulls Snuffy out from under the covers) AAAAHHHHH  (turns over) UUUHHEERRGG (elbows mom in the face) “Where is my snuffy?”  (pulls Snuffy out from under the covers) AAAAHHHHH “Mama, cartoons?”.

Mama: “Sidney, it is still too early for cartoons “ (realizes there will be no more sleeping once again this morning) “Sidney, do you want to go play Lego?”

Night Three:

1:45 AM:  (coughing) – Daniel hears Spencer coughing, is about to stand up, when he feels something soft under his feet.  Daniel looks down and discovers Spencer laying on the floor next to the bed.  Spencer is gently lifted in the middle of the bed and continues to sleep.

5:45 AM:  See Night Two 6:00 AM.

***Now Mom has had it and is really crabby – this has got to stop***

Night Four:

At dinner: 

Daniel:  “Sidney, Where do big boys sleep?”

Sidney:  (points to his bed)

Daniel / Mama / Spencer / Sidney:  (clap hands) “BRAVO”

Daniel: “Spencer, where do big boys sleep?”

Spencer: (grins sheepishly and points to Mama + Papa’s bed)

Daniel: “Nooooooo”

Spencer: (laughs and eventually points to his bed to get his bravo).

Before bed Mama tells the boys that if they sleep in their bed all night and wait for Papa to come in and tell them it is morning time, they can each pick out a stamp to wear on their hand.

3:30 AM:  (Spencer crying) Daniel gets up (by the way, Daniel is the best father and husband – he always takes care of the things that go bump in the night – Daniel – I know you are reading this – Thank You – I love you!).  Daniel has a half hour discussion with Spencer avoiding our bed and the bedroom. At the end of the half hour, Spencer is in his bed and Daniel comes back to our bed, exhausted, but having succeeded (at least this time!)

6:30 AM:  (Shrieks of laughter and talking reach Mama in her bed, amazingly, there are no children in the bed – they are, still in their room.)  Papa goes in and tells them it is morning time.  Spencer asks Mama if he can have his stamp now.  She gladly gets the stamp set out.  (Spencer decides on a blue crab / Sidney a green dolphin)

Night Five:

Bedtime: 

Sidney (laying in bed, looks at his Hand): “My stamp is all gone – it flew away”.

Mama:  “If you stay in bed again tonight and wait for Papa to come in and tell you its morning, then you can pick out a new stamp tomorrow – and even the color.”

Spencer (laying in bed, looks at his Hand) announces: “My stamp flew to the moon”

Sidney: “Mine flew up to the sunshine”

 .. . . . .. . . . .to be continued . . . . . . . . . . .

Despite some poorly rested nights (and this is not any dramatic sleep deprivation - the first eighteen months were sleep deprivation and dramatic), when I see a moment like this I can deal with it all much better: