Update

Thanks, everyone, for concerns! The garbage truck actually worked!! Hoorah! It didn't work perrrrfectly, but I think we're really on the right track to good sleep. He is still coming into our room sometime in the 5 o'clock hour, but I'll take that any day over once an hour all night long! And the first night he went back to bed until his clock said 6, came in my room and was very proud of himself - my clock said 5:59 so I'm guessing he didn't go back to sleep, just waited until 6, like Mommy and Daddy asked him to. This morning he was up before 6, but so was Ray. Can't expect him to stay in bed if he doesn't want to, when he hears Daddy moving around. Even so, no garbage truck today because he was in our room before 6. He definitely understands what he's supposed to do, and what will happen if he does it.
SO, we'll see how this goes. I'm happy with the progress so far. Maybe he's just become an early riser. I hear that's just how some kids are wired. For now I am going to let happiness flow through me that he stays in bed for the night once he's tucked in, no more putting him to bed multiple times, and he's just about completely sleeping through the night! I repeat, HOORAH!