Busy (and exhausting) weekend ...... so far

So far this weekend has been kinda tough on us. We have had a lot of fun but also a lot of frustrations as Eli is on such a roller coaster. Friday night, he was up screaming for over an hour (same as Thursday night). Tim & I were both up with him and it was very trying. Nothing we did helped at all. Then Saturday when he woke up, he was happy as could be. Now he didn't really eat much breakfast but he seemed to be in better trim. We went on a family outing to Lowe's to look at a swingset for Eli and price out a few other projects. Decided to go early while it was cool outside and before too many people were out. That was up the coaster, then we hit the bottom trying to get tired boy down for a nap. After naptime was another try at eating - he really wants nothing to do with that right now - and then to Clayton for a 2 year birthday party for Sarah. Eli did really well at the party (up the coaster again) and even on the way home. He didn't eat much for dinner but bath and bed went surprisingly well. That was the peak of the roller coaster. It has been all downhill from there. At 10:54pm, Eli was screaming uncontrollably once again. Tim & I both got up and nothing seemed to work and we just could not get him calmed down. All of us went into Tim's den and lay down on the futon and, finally, we got a few minutes of quiet and Eli drifted off to sleep. For the first time since he was born, Tim & I let Eli sleep in the bed with us. We're so exhausted from night #3 of this that we didn't really care. Eli woke up many more times throughout the night and now that he can sit up by himself, he would just do that and either start crying or babbling. Before 6am, Eli was awake and seemingly refreshed. How is it possible that he can be so chipper on so little sleep and Tim & I look like zombies? Anyway, gave breakfast a go - not too interested in that. Then he proceeded to throw another screaming fit in the high chair. We tried to get him to get eat but after a half hour of intense frustrations and lots of screaming, we all went upstairs to his room to try to change the mood. Happy again - this roller coaster ride changes direction pretty fast - Eli played with some toys and then stood at the ottoman jabbering away. Whew, no crying or screaming.....yet. A little after 8, Eli looked so exhausted that we tried the nap thing again. Put him in his crib and the screaming started again. He has screamed more in the past 3 days than the past 3 months. Got him out of his crib, rocked and snuggled in the glider for a few minutes and he finally gave it up and fell asleep. Tim & I aren't quite sure what to do with our small quiet time right now. For now, the coaster is sitting in the train station and we'll have to see what the rest of the day holds. We have Eli's 9 month pictures at noon so keep your fingers crossed for us. Tim & I will probably have major bags under our eyes but we hope Eli is at least happy and cooperative. We foolishly thought that when we started him on the antibiotics that he would feel better and sleep better. If we have another bad night tonight, it may be back to the doc's office to see if anything else is going on. More to come.....