So the WI/WO worked well at bedtime. Went in 2x to just readjust blankets, some reassuring words, etc. They were out by 7:30 PM.
We went to bed around 10:30PM. At Midnight DS woke up with hysteric crying, "mama" and "out". I tried WI/WO but nothing I would do would get him to lay back down. Even picking him up and he was screaming in my face. I started to get scared his twin sister would wake up so in a rash decision I pulled her out of her crib and put her in bed with mama--she did not stir. I thought i was just "storing" her there while I worked with DS.
I tried absolutely everything I could for about 90 minutes, sitting next to his crib, shhhing, rubbing his back, all without removing him from the crib. He would not stop crying. I finally needed a sanity check and went back into our bedroom, mama watching my attempts on the baby monitor, DD fast asleep. After 5 minutes, he started to calm down a bit, but was still crying, but he had lost some of his vigor. It still was not a "going to fall asleep cry" so I went back in. I finally got him to lay down on his own, I covered him and left.
I had to do this 3 more times over the next 10 minutes. On the 3rd time, he went out and was not heard from until 7AM. This was at about 2:15 AM.
I went back to our bedroom to transfer DD back to her crib. She never really woke up. However when transferring her she woke up like a light bulb and she proceeded to go through almost the identical thing. She basically screamed hysterically for 60 minutes with me next to her crib trying to console her (the whole time me flabbergasted on how her brother was not waking up). She has a VERY shrill scream. He never woke up.
After about an hour of trying to get her to relax she started to soften, a bit. I remembered from our old PU/PD days that sometimes just sitting next to her crib did the trick so I sat there and eventually when she laid down I stayed next to the crib, patting and shhing her till she fell asleep. I would do my best ninja exit but even the smallest creak in the floor and she would go full hysteric screaming and standing again. I went the the process at least 3 more times over the next 45 minutes and she fell asleep. It was about 4AM.
Typing this is therapeutic, but here's my questions:
First, a little more back story: all four of us were sick (my wife especially so) about 10 days ago. There was a lot of just throwing them in bed with us because we or they were too tired to deal with this nonsense, lol. So they were getting "spoiled" off and on. They love it, of course.
1. What should I do during the initial hysteric screaming? It was like they had to get it out. I'm praying to God it's not at all like last night again, but if it is, what else should I do? Pull them out of the crib? Shh-Pat Instead?
2. Does anyone else with twins know what we should do if splitting them up is not an option right now? As siblings they are going through a phase of either wanting to kiss and love each other, or are falling to pieces when one wants something the other has. They seem to be more and more sensitive to each other's noises, especially cries for "mama", etc.
3. The hysteric screaming and their posture is really uncharacteristic for both of them. They don't really even look at you. They just stand there trying to get you to pick them up, pointing to the door, screaming "out" or "mama". I don't have the feeling these are night terrors, but even when you pick them up their hearts are racing so fast but they don't really connect. Anyone had this behavior?
Of course when THEY wake up they are 100% and happy and back to normal (and they take a 3 hour nap at hte usual time).
Any more ideas for us?
Thanks!
Brian
