Thursday, February 19, 2009

Sweet Sleep

It was nighttime in our household. The only sounds that could be heard were the swishing of the dishwasher downstairs, Pachelbel's canon coming from Shana's temporary room and piano classics from Lena's room. I sleep with two monitors on my nightstand so that I can hear both of my babies when they call.

To give a little background, lately sleep has eluded me. Shana had been sleeping from 8-5 with no wakeups for a while. Lately, however, she had been waking multiple times throughout the night. I didn't feed her, but would put the pacifier in her mouth without saying a word to her. Then, I would rush back to the warmth of my bed, sinking into the deliciousness of our mattress. Just as I would drift into sleep, I'd hear her again. Even if I didn't respond until she fell back to sleep, I would find myself awake -- sometimes for hours during the night. This went on for a couple of weeks and I was exhausted.

But back to the story ...

This particular night, I was so tired as I went to bed. In fact, I had struggled with a migraine two nights before just from the exhaustion. And that night I started to come down with a cold. But I noticed that Shana had started to sleep through the night again - sporadically, but it was a start. And the times she woke, she would murmur a bit and go right back to sleep.

Wonderful, satisfying, restful sleep. Thank you, Lord. Sigh.

A high pitched, shrill cry pierced the softness of my dreams and I started in my sleep. Which girl was it, I thought sleepily looking at my pair of monitors. It was Lena. My blind -as- a -bat eyes squinted at the clock which read 3:30am. I threw back the covers and jumped out of bed (lately having perfected this into one fluid motion).

Lena is my dependable 12 - 13 hour a night sleeper. But the one night that I really needed it, here she was crying about something having to do with going potty and she wasn't calming down. I felt something akin to hysteria rising within and took some deep breaths. I was launching into a long dissertation of how she had awakened me and I was really tired and couldshepleasegobacktosleep?!!

The only response I got was more crying (she had wet her diaper and was upset that she hadn't gone in the potty), and I don't blame her for it. I can only imagine myself with bloodshot eyes and hair standing on end rambling to my two year old about how I was so upset that she had awakened me when her sister was peacefully sleeping next door.

Daddy woke up, so I must have been pretty loud. He could sleep through a tornado. He guided Lena into bed and waited while I prayed with her. He guided me into bed, speaking to me in soothing tones and hugging me until I was able to stop rambling about how I thought I would never get any sleep, and if it wasn't one girl it was another. I rambled about how we had a drs appt for Shana the next day and that now since Lena had been up at night, she would be tired and grumpy. My poor husband.

The next day he was still sympathetic and restructured his busy morning so that I could drop off Lena at his office while I took Shae to the doctor. I am so thankful for him.

I am also thankful that we are seeing the light of day (no pun intended) with this whole sleeping thing. Shana is turning back into my 8-5 sleeper slowly but surely. I knew we'd get there!!

13 comments:

Cosette said...

Oh Beverly, my heart goes out to you! We've had a few rough nights lately too with sick kids, and it's no fun! I'll be praying they both sleep well for you tonight!

HOPE said...

Hang in there..you can do it!
I look back at raising 5... and each less than 2 yrs. apart, and wonder???

DID I DO THAT!? SURVIVE!

Yes, I did and you will too...and before you know it..those precious little ones won't be so little anymore.

Praise the LORD for a good husband who shares in the heart of the home and knows the needs of each.

I'll be praying for you..tonight!

Sweet Dreams..
HOPE

Stacy said...

Good job, Mama! :)
Those sleepless nights are so difficult. I'm so glad you have such a wonderfully supportive husband!
~Stacy

Cathy said...

Bless your sweet heart, Honey. I do pray you can catch up on your sleep! That is so sweet about the music you have playing in their rooms. You are teaching them music appreciation at a young age, dear. They may want to take piano lesson, and who knows, you might even have a musician in the family. Lena loves to sing so.
Love and Hugs,
Cathy

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

Do you need some babysitting so you can rest?

Mimi said...

oh the woes (and blessings) of motherhood...
I hope and pray that by now you have caught up on your sleep a little bit...
otherwise when it is nap time...mommy takes a nap too!!!

love to read about your days (and nights) with the loves of your life!!!

Holly said...

Hugs to you! I can totally relate-this sounds like a night at my house. My little one had been sleeping thru the night, too, but then stopped.
Praying for sleep for both of us and for grace & mercy when awake instead! Holly

Maxine said...

Hope all of you have a restful night after all of today's activities! Kiss the girlies for me--hoping Shae-Shae has survived her rough day.

Neesie said...

Oh my. The joys of being a mommy huh? Well, you are a wonderful one...and I hope thaat they both continue to sleep for you. :-)

Patti said...

I know that you know this...but these days of minimal sleep WILL pass...and, if you are like me, you will miss those sweet, silent, middle-of-the-night hours with your little ones. I would go back to midnight wakings and feedings in a heartbeat---I guess that's why I'm pursuing adoption at the age of 48.

For those days when you are feeling really sleep-deprived, try to take a nap when the girls are napping during the afternoon. The housework (or whatever else you might want to do) can always be done later, but your sleep-longing body will thank you.

Blessings,
Patti

Beba said...

How familiar is that! I hope that she sleeps continually till now.

Sara said...

Aw, Bev, I just saw this! It must be so hard having two little ones with so many needs all at the same time! Be encouraged though- you are a wonderful Mommy, and your little girls (and hubby!) love you very much. =)

Tracy Berta-daughter to the King, wife, mother, speaker, writer said...

Oh, my dear, I know how you feel (we have five little ones at various spots on the "sleep scale"). But, you know, I have learned that this is just a SEASON...and they eventually grow out of it. (My 12 year old would LOVE to sleep all through the night until noon the next day!)And, I am sure there will be times when they are grown that I will LONG for an interruption. (hmmm....maybe not- I, too, love the snuggly warmth under the covers with my hubby).

Anyway, be encouraged, sweet sister. :)