I am one of those people who has to have sleep. Unlike my sister, I cannot stay up all night, resume my normal activities the next day, and then casually, while in the grocery store, mention to someone that yes, those cantaloupes do look delicious, and by the way I read a FASCINATING article on cantaloupe farming the previous night when I didn’t sleep at all but had MORE. FUN. reading magazines and rearranging my living room.
Because when I don’t sleep? It ain’t pretty, people.
Last night Alex screamed out in his sleep pretty consistently until about 4 in the morning, and inevitably the screaming occcurred right as I dozed off so that as soon as the noise registered with my brain, I sat straight up in bed, hit the ground running, and flew up the stairs, because clearly – CLEARLY – evil clowns were gnawing at my child’s knees.
But then I’d get to his room, rush to his side – and he would be sound asleep.
It was a LOT of fun.
Around 3 in the morning – between my precious husband’s snoring and my precious child’s screaming – I determined that if a pack of wolves entered my house and said, “We have a completely quiet place for you to rest, but it’s in the middle of a snaky swamp, and we can’t guarantee that the other wolves won’t chomp off one of your arms in the night,” I wouldn’t have had to think twice about my reply:
“Take me to this place you call paradise. Ay, and quickly.”
And I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t count the number of times I’ve been visited in the middle of the night by talking wolves. But just run with the whole willing suspension of disbelief thing. I’m a little tired.
I do think the devil loves those moments of mama exhaustion coupled with trying to, say, get dressed and get the car loaded for a church event. Because I snapped at Alex this morning when he was apparently trying to braid my legs together when I was looking furiously for my lime green pants, and all day long I’ve thought about the mixed message I gave him (it wasn’t quite “LEAVE MAMA ALONE! SHE’S TRYING TO SERVE JESUS!” but it was close). Yikes. Needless to say, I called with apologies before I was even five minutes away from the house. Humbled, I was. :-)
The breakfast was great fun, by the way. We’re just so grateful for our church staff – and really, plying them with high levels of saturated fats seems so insignificant compared with everything they do for us on a daily basis. We love them. And in case you were wondering, nothing says “We love you” quite like two pounds of Swiss cheese combined with two dozen eggs, whole milk, Pet milk, ham, mushrooms, and crescent rolls.
Anyway, our afternoon has consisted of me looking for places to “rest my eyes” while Alex watches as many DVD’s as he wants. Earlier we were upstairs watching a Superman cartoon (and by “we” I mean that Alex was watching while I stretched out on the floor), and I dozed off for a second, only to be awakened by Alex standing on my behind, bouncing up and down, chanting, “BOING! BOING! BOING! BOING!” And I thought, “OKAY, MISSY – when your behind becomes a trampoline of sorts for your child, it might be time to start doing some lunges. Or, you know, to quit eating.”
Eventually we settled in for a nice afternoon nap, and I’m feeling almost human again. And I’ll post more about this later tonight, but Jules did something that totally made my day. Sometimes a little encouragement goes a long way, you know?
More later – including pictures of Sunday night’s smooshy cuteness. Stay tuned.
Sleep deprivation – not a pretty site. I’ve gone the last three (or is it 10) nights with too little. Tonight (husband out of town for three nights) I don’t plan to even have an alarm clock in whichever room I end up in! Because you know, I might spend some time with humans tomorrow and I don’t want to be a wild woman, road rage driver, foaming-at-the-mouth woman in the grocery line. Not me. I’m sleeping.
PS The whole “behind” thing – yeah, me too. Lunges would be a good thing.
I personally love it when I am awakened at 2 am by Reese, and when I finally get back to sleep 2 1/2 hours later, Reia decides to come join the make mommy want to snatch everyone bal-headed parade. I am a total grump with no sleep. I get a little over anxious when I even THINK I might get less sleep than I need. Ya know, like, if Reese wakes up tonight I may be up for a while so maybe I should just go ahead and go to bed even though it’s only 7:30. Just in case.
Go for the lunges, definitely. Not eating would just be wrong.
Congrats on your Golden Croc! You rock!
Boo, I hope you you sneak in about 12 hours sleep tonight and feel all better tomorrow.
It’s good to know exhauston doesn’t hurt your posts any though.
Oh my goodness, I’m laughing out loud! I need my sleep too! I’m not a mom yet, but when I have kids I’m praying for one of the sleep all night kind, which is probably why God will grant me a stay up all night kind to give me patience! Anyway I just found your site, and I love it!!
Oh – I know those days! And I’m with you – I THRIVE on sleep and feeling rested! Had to say a few of my own “I’m sorry’s” to my kiddos today — it does keep us humble doesn’t it?
I can go exactly one night in a row with too little sleep. Then I simply cannot function the next day. I can’t imagine how I did it when I had newborns. Don’t even remember how I did it. Just know I couldn’t do it now. The tramboline behind is just too funny.
As long as I get seven hours I am good. I realize that is no feat and wish I were one who could do four or five am fine. I had to laugh at the “trying to serve Jesus” line, because I spent several years in that mode! I hope you don’t mind my plugging a dear friend’s brand new blog here, but Melanie is a fan of your blog and I thought is might appeal to you and your readers, so visit This Ain’t New York http://thisaintnewyork.blogspot.com
Oh my gosh, that is so funny…”LEAVE MAMA ALONE! SHE’S TRYING TO SERVE JESUS”–I cannot tell you how many times those exact words have nearly come out of my mouth.
I hate the screaming in their sleep that sends me quickly bolt upright with feet on the floor. However, our bedrooms are all together. I can’t imagine running up the stairs EACH AND EVERY TIME!
Sleep well tonight! :-)
Ugh, I know what you mean. I have been getting four to five hours of sleep since February and it is taking its toll. I am so good with eight. I am really looking forward to the smooshy cuteness pictures!
I feel you, Boomama. I didn’t get nearly enough sleep the last several nights. I was up blogging last night late, then had to get up early today to go out with my daughter and Cecil and her hubby, B-man. And here it is almost 1 am and where am I? Blogging of course….SO…. I am going to leave this comment and get some sleep, like you probably are. :)
I hope A’s nightmares don’t revisit tonight, or sleep deprived BooMama may make the evening news tomorrow! :)
Yes, another late night blogger that will be taking it out on unsuspecting innocents tomorrow . . . But when else would I get the time, honestly, people – WHERE ARE YOU GETTING TIME OR ENERGY!? – I’ve got to get to bed!
Oh I just love your blog!! :-D Thank you!