Night Terrors

So last night we got to experience night terrors. When Elly woke up around 10:00 last night we thought that she was crying and screaming because her leg hurt. She pointed to the door of our bedroom and so I took her downstairs thinking she wanted some juice. But once downstairs then the screaming and thrashing got worse. I remembered one of the girls at work telling about her son having night terrors, so while Elly was in Harry's arms I ran for my book "What to Expect in the Toddler Years". Here is what it said...Though frightening to witness, night terrors aren't cause for parental concern or action. In fact, other than making certain that the house is safe for your toddler during a night terror and sitting by to see that he doesn't hurt himself while thrashing around, there's little you can do when an episode of night terror strikes. During don't hug or child or hold him down; doing so will only make him more agitated-and he may even push you away. Don't try to wake him up, either, no matter how frantic he seems, as this will only prolong the event. Night terrors generally end ten to thirty minutes after they begin, at which time your toddler should calm down (without waking) and you'll be able to tuck him back into bed for a peaceful rest-of-the-night sleep. When he gets up the next morning, your toddler will likely have no recollection of the event, though he may seem a bit anxious. Since night terrors occur more often when a child is overtired, be sure your child's schedule is not too hectic and that he's getting enough sleep. Most children outgrow night terrors by the time they are around age six. Night terrors usually occur in the early hours of sleep, most often between one and four hours after a child goes to bed. Nightmares strike later, during the second half of the night's sleep. Nightmares occur during REM (rapid-eye-movement), or dream, which is the light sleep phase. Though the child sleeps through the dream, he or she awakens after it, usually terrified. Night terrors are a partial arousal from a very deep (non-REM) sleep. Children experiencing them usually do not awaken fully, unless they are roused.

We thought that this was our first time with them until we got to discussing the last week or so. She started having night terrors starting the day after her first experience with lab. This would have been on Halloween when Harry and Elly got over to the farm to see Grandpa Harry and Nana. We all thought she was just very overtired and not cooperating. But then she did it again at my parents on that Sunday night, and then again last night. I have a call into the nurse to discuss what to do, if anything.

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Well as said yesterday, Harry and I went out to eat for our anniversary last night. We went to the Outback and had a great time. Our waitress even gave us a hot fudge sundae to share for our anniversary. That was the best part of the meal besides the steak we had. Elly had fun at Lisa's watching Little Mermaid and eating Mac & Cheese.