Sleep is important. At its best- sleep can make you feel better about life, give you amazing dreams and help you sort out the frustrations of life. Lack of sleep can lead to all kinds of mental issues. It can distort one's thinking and cause irritability and all sorts of other 'fun' things. If you want to torture someone, take away their sleep.
I was so fortunate with my biological children in that they were ALL great sleeepers. Bryan was the first and he spolied me by sleeping through the might right from the start-- I finally decided after a week that I did not need to wake him up. He was such a great baby. Then came Whit and even though he was high energy, he liked to sleep just as hard as he liked to play. My favorite story was when he was playing in our garage on a riding toy and I turned around and he was sound asleep on the concrete floor! Lindsay and Lauryn followed suit- although it did take Lauryn a little longer to sleep through the night but she was so darn cute that I did not mind getting up.
But when you adopt toddlers- it is like starting atthe baby stage but with a child who can walk and talk and cry and pitch fits! Kylee struggled with sleep for years. But she would go to sleep without a problem- with US in our bed. And now she is able to sleep in her own room and no longer has night terrors. It was a rough time with not a lot of sleep, but she did not have problems going to sleep so I just got used to going to bed earlier or taking a nap and we got through it. Lily is a lot like Whit and always seemed to sleep pretty well so it was an easy transition when they both went at the same time to their own room. And for the last about a year we have had it pretty good.,,,and then we started all over with TWO.
Brandon was hard to get to listen at first but now he is fairly c. ompliant with going to bed- on a mattress beside my bed. Bryaden has a mattress there too but he prefers/insists on being in our bed. That was fine when we were in China that first week with just hiim enjoying the last bit of the baby stage. I figured he needed to catch up on some mothering and all. But he really does not seem to need much sleep, does not like to go to sleep and doesn't ever seem to stop! He is sweet and charming so that helps but he is tiring.
Saturday we had gone to visit some great friends and the kids all had a blast swimming and seemed thoroughly worn out and full from dinner so I thought I was set. Sure enough the boys fell asleep on the ride home and I even drove around the neighborhood a bit to make sure they were good and out. I always prided myself on my ability to bring kids in and lay them down without waking them up so I was sure it would be a nice quiet evening... not so much! After carrying them up the stairs-- and they are not that light- but it is good exercise I suppose--they each in turn opended their eyes and wanted to get up and play. I firmly said "no" and went through my repetoire of bedtime routines until I was exhausted. They asked to watch their Chinese cartoon so I agreed and told them as long as they stayed in bed-- that worked for about 5 minutes. At the end of it all 3 hours had passed before the kids were actually asleep and I felt like I had been in a major battle! And then there was the interruptions through the night...
Then it was Sunday... To be perfectly honest the thought of getting 4 kids (5 if you count a sleepy teen) up and ready for church all by myself was overwhelming. But I decided to give it my best. I even planned to go early for the women'sclass-- good thing or I would have missed church entirely. So everything that could go wrong went wrong. I had so much poop to clean - even the dog pooped in the floor! So everyone had showers and managed to find clothes and we eventually got to church. By this time I was in tears everytime someone asked how we were doing. I was tired and emotional and seeing pictures posted from my husband's incredible Alaskan adventure with our son did not help me feel any better. (I am happy for them - really I am-- but the timing could not be worse!). So getting there was tough but God showed up as He so often does through our Pastor who walks so humbly before Him and works so hard to give Christ the freedom to work. I was so broken and so humbled by the people who offered to help. But I really do OK during the day-- it is just those few hours when my expectations are not met and I am more tired than the little ones that I just want someone to come in and put them to bed-- SuperNanny perhaps! No wait- i don;t want anyone to see my messy house on TV! Sunday afternoon I could not even get them to take a nap and I was exhausted,,, but I decided to try once again to give it to God and to ask Him to change me and give me the patience and desire to love His children even when they are not obedient and even when I am tired. I know that they need me. As much as we are adjusting- how much more for 2 little boys who missed ot on so much mothering, who may have so many scars about bedtime and be afraid that this will all disappear, who wonder where daddy is and what is going to happen next. I am ashamed of my impatience! But as I said before...lack of sleep is a powerful thing!
So we had a much better night last night...wish I could say that meant everyone was asleep by 8pm--I think it was still almost 11 by the time everyone was asleep. But something was different-- everyone was so much happier and compliant. Brandon took his blanket and laid down without incident- big change!-- and when I thought about it I think what changed was my attitude. Sleep is always tricky with new little ones and I just need to be patient and try to enjoy these new little blessings- even at bedtime. I am so thankful for my friends who are praying for me and for the encouragement of my church and for my Savior who never gives up on me and is patient with me and uses these little ones to show Me something about His Love for me.
I hope to get more and more sleep as the transition goes on...but even if I don't, I can be thankful for my Lord who will give me strength, my friends who give me suppport and help keep me sane, and my children who won't always be little and will be grown in the blink of an eye!
Love to all,
Glenda
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