The Fish Oil Diaries

January 06, 2010

We were stunned at the 7am wake up yesterday. This morning, when I heard the first cry from the kids’ room, I groaned as I rolled over, dreading the reality check the clock would no doubt soon provide me. We were stunned yet again as I blinked in amazement that it said 6:30a. Ok, 6:25am. But damn close! For the first time in practically forever, my husband had to scramble to get his things together to go running with my brother. Usually we are up long before their planned meeting time. I felt the knot in my stomach as he readied himself, knowing I would be alone with the kids screaming, fighting, stealing bottles.

But OMG. I could actually feel my soul breathe a sigh of relief as I made some coffee and watched my usually crazed and screaming daughter calmly play with her toys and her siblings for almost 2 hours after they woke up. I wanted to shout, “It’s a Festivus miracle!” not that it has anything to do with any particular holiday). But that was the first funny exclamatory comment that popped into my head. We watch a lot of Seinfeld what can I say?

Amazingly, they also ate every single thing I put on their breakfast plates. Seriously. Not one scrap on the floor. And when I took a bathroom break, the two that usually rock hard in their chair to get the chairs to move? Nada!

We looked at each other as we rolled out of bed and wondered aloud what we did differently. My husband suggested we write down whatever we are doing in the next couple of days and then follow it religiously. The only real thing that has changed though, is giving the kids omega 3 fish oils. After two days of this, the changes are apparent. I have been thinking about this for some time and finally did it. Like I said, OMG! Not only did they sleep longer, play more nicely and not demand bottles first thing out of bed, but we got EIGHT HOURS of sleep ourselves! Though there is a small voice in the back of my mind questioning how long this will last, in this euphoria of the novelty, I am idealistic and hopeful. We are looking at a 2010 filled with a 13 year old’s angst and the ‘terrible twos’. But believe me when I say HAPPY new year!

On the third day however, they woke up at 5:30am, didn’t eat as much, napped one short stretch and generally were cranky. This left us scratching our heads as to what we did or didn’t do differently. I don’t actually expect miracles, but I am sure hoping . . .