{Sleep}

Sleep and I have a love hate relationship……

I would LOVE to get more of it and I HATE that I can’t wink!

I have mentioned before the lack of sleep that I get around here but today I thought I would make an entire post specifically dedicated to sleep, or the lack there of. When Bubba was a wee one our sleepless nights together were not as bad. He was tiny and so easy and sweet to sit up with at night. Over the years it has gotten more difficult, as he has grown is size it seems that the pain level grows along with him. My once tiny little boy is now 45 inches long and weighing in at 39 pounds. After a long night my arms ache and I feel as if we just went nine rounds in the ring. I have to say that my body has done very well with ten years of little to no sleep BUT it is starting to catch up with me. I can feel it affecting my metabolism, my energy level, and yes those dark circles under my eyes only seem to get bigger by the day. I can’t get away with what I once could; I would work out on three hours of sleep and feel great. Now I work out on three hours of sleep and feel completely depleted. Oh, what a vicious cycle it is. I wish that my sweet Bubba could get more relief at night but no matter what we try it just seems that his nights filled with discomfort will forever be part of his life. What were once prayers asking to make it so that he can sleep have turned into prayers of “please help me to have the strength and patience to make it through the night.” Last night while I was out at dinner with a couple of sweet girlfriends this topic came up. One friend told me about a book that she had been reading, in it the woman described a particular time in her life when she had been asked to do a lot and cold not fathom how she would be able to get it all done in the time allotted in a given day. In her description of this time in her life she went on to say that she was BLESSED with the ability to NEED less sleep. This blessing made it possible for her to get the things done that were needed of her. Last night as I sat up with Bubba in the middle of the night I couldn’t help but think of my friends words. I had never stopped to think of my nights from that perspective. I truly feel that I have been BLESSED with the ability to NEED less sleep. Don’t get me wrong, more often than not I am TIRED but I am able to get everything done that needs to be done. I have the energy to care for my children, take care of my home, fight with the insurance company, go to doctor’s appointments, go on fun outings, church every week, date nights with the Hubs, occasional girls night out…..you know the important things in life. This morning I sit here with my diet coke in hand and eye cream under my eyes feeling blessed. I am often told by my girlfriends “I don’t know how you do it…. I would never be able to do that.” I typically respond with “oh, yes you could …. You would just do what you have to do.” BUT now I think that I have had the wrong perspective on this the entire time. Maybe not everyone could be able to do this…. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to do it if it weren’t for the blessing from God to be able to endure this particular trial challenge. I am grateful for this beautiful gift that I have been blessed with; I do not feel alone…. I feel comforted and lifted up.

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

Since I am not doing much sleeping in my

bed I thought I would show you what does happen........