Night Owls

I started out being a person who said things like "my kids won't sleep in my bed" , and "they will just have to learn to sleep through it".  Four years in and these statements have been somewhat adjusted.  "My kids won't sleep in my bed unless I am to tired to move them back to their own" , and " we just have to get through this".

I have two wonderful girls that I have a great deal of patience with during waking hours.  My usual outlook does shift however in the wee hours of night.  I have literally been exasperated that my husband has walked down the stairs on the right side and did not miss the fourth step; because, everyone knows that that is the quietest way to get downstairs in my house.  I have completed all out army tactics of tuck and roll to try and get out of my kids rooms so they won't see me after dropping them not as gently as I would have hoped to into their cribs.  And I have taken the "shhhing" method to extremes as my neighbours have mentioned a hissing noise coming from our house that could have been a gas leak.

All in all we have experienced many sleepless nights in our house.  With this being said I am continuously amazed on how little sleep I require to get through a day.  I would have never believed anyone if they would have told me everything that I needed to complete in a day after a night of three hours of sleep.  I would have laughed and said it impossible; but alas, here I am in it.

In the morning when I get up (I refuse to say "awake" as that would imply that I slept) I know longer speak until that glorious brown caffeinated beverage has graced my lips.  Some days are a total fog, just counting hours until I can return to bed.

Many suggestions have been passed my way, most very contradicting.  One person stating to try rubbing their backs, while another one warning against it suggesting you wouldn't want them to get used to that.  Really I just want them to sleep no matter the means; so, I have tried everything.  What I learned is there is no sure fire method, and you can't force a little one to sleep.

Both of my girls are awake typically at least once a night and I am fine with it.  Just as clarification they don't require me to help them return to sleep each night, I just hear them in their room.  I know that this stage too shall pass.  I could be just delusional from the lack of sleep; but, for now I have come to peace with fact that I have rarely slept more than three hours consecutively since 2009.

Presently I am headed to bed, staying positive and hoping for a full nights sleep.  Goodnight.