We also have our ups and downs. When we started sleep training, we followed Tracy's advice in the book and gradually started putting Arwyn down in the different stages of sleep. Now, I put her down awake and she can fall asleep in her crib... sometimes. For instance, yesterday, she put herself to sleep for nap #2. Today, she needed me to pat her to sleep.
Some days are better than others. Yesterday, I pat/shushed for 45 minutes to extend a nap and was rewarded with another 1hr 30 min. Some days I can pat/shush straight through the rest of the nap time.
Good luck... and I agree with Aubrey... send DH in there to put your lo down.