Sleep...

Sleep is a natural state of bodily rest observed throughout the animal kingdom. It is common to all mammals and birds, and is also seen in many reptiles, amphibians and fish. In humans, other mammals, and a substantial majority of other animals which have been studied — such as fish, birds, ants, and fruit-flies — regular sleep is essential for survival.[1] However, its purposes are only partly clear and are the subject of intense research.

Somehow, it seems like everyone else in my family gets way more sleep than I do. Most of the time, that is just fine with me. I like to have that quiet time to myself...to read, scrapbook, blog, pray...whatever suits me at the moment. Yesterday, when Joe was taking a nap as I prepared dinner before I went to work for the night, I wasn't even irritated (okay, maybe I was a little tiny bit annoyed that he was resting instead of me, even though he was going to get to go to bed in several hours while I was going to be up all night long at the hospital, but really, that's neither here nor there).

Where was I?

Oh, yeah, sleep, or the lack thereof for me, the momma. I remember being young, getting a full 8 or 10 or 12 hours of sleep a night, waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and perky (yes, I have always been a morning person). Then, I turned 18 and started nursing school, working two different part-time jobs to help pay my way. One of those jobs was a secretarial position at the hospital, working night shift. I could hardly stand it. Around 5am, I would start daydreaming passionately about (my pillow). I could barely stay awake on the drive home. Between working and studying and going to clinicals, I never got enough sleep. (Didn't have much of a social life, either).

Fast forward to becoming a mom. Those first sleepless nights with a newborn. Then with a sick baby. Then with a toddler climbing out of bed and into yours 'cause they just want "to BEEE with you" (yes, Isabel, I'm talking about you). I don't even want to think about the sleepless nights caused by a teenager missing curfew yet. Just can't go there...

I often wondered how on earth I would be able to make it through my life on 3 or 4 hours of sleep at any given time. Now I know. God gives you the strength that you need when you need it. Sometimes He takes that strength away when He knows that what you really need is rest. For example, on Wednesday morning, I woke at 7:15am to get the kids ready for school. I went to Muscle Max class with Becky. I went on the field trip with Gabe. I cooked dinner. I worked a 12 hour shift at the hospital. I went out to breakfast with friends. Then, after being awake for over 26 hours, I drove home and fell asleep for 3 1/2 hours, til it was time to get Gabe from the sitter and bring him home for his nap. Then I had to function as a mom and a wife for the rest of the day, and get the kids to bed, and now here I sit, blogging. I'm not saying this to toot my own horn. Not at all. I am tooting God's horn, for giving me the energy I needed to get me through to now, bedtime. Truly, He is my rock, helping me stand when I need to, giving me a place to rest my weary head when I can't take another step.

Next month, when I am able to cut my hours down at work and do fewer night shifts, then my sleep time will be restored somewhat. And I will maybe have a few less wrinkles around my eyes than I do now. (And be a little less cranky towards the kids at bedtime). But for now, I am leaning on my rock, and getting recharged so I can do it all again tomorrow...