Thursday, April 10, 2008

Diary of a Sleepless Mother

Nights have been a little crazy around here, and I have concluded that I will forever suffer from sleep issues due to my present sleep patterns. Here is an outline of an average night a the Nelson home since our new baby arrived...

10:00pm- Lyric, our newborn is freshly fed, changed and fast asleep. I lay her in her bassinet, and proceed with my nightly bedtime routine (brush teeth, remove contacts, etc). As I am pulling down my comforter to get into bed I hear "squirt!!" (Which means I have exactly 15 seconds to change Lyric's diaper before, we have leakage issues.)

10:20pm- I change Lyric's diaper and lay her back down. She is suddenly starving, of course.

10:45pm- After feeding Lyric for the second time, I lay her back down again and attempt to climb into bed for the second time.

11:30pm-12:30am- We lay in bed and listen to Tatum's belligerent sleep talking. Her rantings go on and on... "I don't like crusts on my sandwich!!" and "Davis is being mean on purpose, he is breaking all the sidewalk chalk!!" We have learned not to interfere, as there is no calming or waking her and we might end up with a sidekick to the jaw.

1:00am- I wake up and find my two-year-old, Davis, by my side, saying that he is scared. I bring him back to bed, give him a hug, give him his blanket, turn the hall light on, and go back to bed.

1:15am- Listen, awake in bed as my baby is making animal like grunts and squeaks in her sleep, knowing that she will soon be up and hungry.

1:45am- After drifting asleep, I awaken to Lyric's full on cry, and proceed to pick her up, feed her, change her, and feed her some more.

2:30am- I bring Lyric to bed to snuggle her into a deep sleep. Probably, not the best habit, but I feel like this is the only way to insure that she won't wake up in 20 minutes crying. This is actually one of my favorite times, to just hold her and smell her sweet smell and listen to her little baby coo's knowing that all too soon she won't be so tiny and innocent.

2:45am- Put Lyric back in her bassinet.

2:50am- My mind starts wondering and I start contemplating whether or not I locked the side entry door in the garage. Finally, I resolve to get up and check. I trip on a baby bouncer on the way there and a basket of laundry on the way back.

3:15am- Slightly injured, I am back in bed and eventually sleeping.

4:00am- We awaken to Davis crying in bed. My husband goes to take care of him.

4:30am- I hear frantic footsteps run though my bedroom, the bathroom light goes on and then the toilet flushes. I am not sure why Tatum insists on using our bathroom, considering hers is about four times closer. But, I am not required to get out of bed, so no big deal.

5:45am- Davis runs in our room, bright-eyed and cheery. He exclaims, "breakfast, breakfast, waffles and syr-e-up, please!" I am able to quiet him and convince him to climb in bed with us and try to go back to sleep.

5:55am- Davis is laying almost nose to nose with me. He points to my eyes and says, "Mommy, your eyes beautiful." He touches my lips and says, "Mommy, your lips beautiful." He then points to my nose and starts, "Mommy your nose... (pauses, then exclaims,) "why you have so many polka-dots?!" (referring to my freckles).

6:00am- My husband gets up and gets ready for work. Lyric is hungry again, so I feed her, then we both get back into bed with Davis.

6:45am Tatum joins us in bed as well, and I this point I finally give up on getting anymore sleep. We get up.

Now, when you see me walking around with bags under my eyes the size of Massachusetts, you will know the colorful history behind them. All I have left to say is good night and good luck.

20 comments:

Niki McDowell said...

Oh yeah! The things I get to look forward to in three months. I only have to deal with a quarter of that, but my time is soon come. I guess its all worth it though to be a mom.

Hope said...

Man, sleep deprivation is the absolute worst! It affects every aspect of your life. Hang in there! It seems these kids go through these phases just long enough that we are hanging by a thread and then miraculous something within them knows "Mom's about to blow" and it's time to call the sleep-games quits! Just remember...this is the time in your life where you should feel not one miniscule of guilt towards leaving the laundry baskets full, the dishes in the sink, and the kitchen floor gritty when you opt to put it all on the back burner and get some much-needed, well-deserved rest at your first opportunity. I know that's so much easier said than done, but seriously...What's more important? An immaculate house or that your kids have a happy mommy?

The Gray Family said...

gotta love it...just keep telling yourself that one day it will get better (in another 18 years or so...). It seems they give you a good night every once in awhile just to tease us, and then it is back to the madness:>)

Kristen Arnett said...

Oh Melissa! That was probably the funniest thing I have read in a long time! {And also the saddest!} I thought I was never going to catch up on sleep again during those first few months...and that was with one baby! I never even thought about older kids keeping you up during the night! I guess I will enjoy just having one and actually getting a good night's sleep while I can. You are such a cute mom! Lyric is adorable, and I am in love with her name! I hope you get some sleep soon!

Kyle said...

I am so feeling your pain..I love your diary..I hope it gets better soon!

heidi said...

okay, although it's really tough... and i mean really... atleast you are finding the brighter moments in all of the sleep deprovation! snuggling with your baby, listing to your daughter sleep talk (so funny! - Taite does it often also) & your cute Davis pointing out how gorgeous his mom is! I mean come on... so cute! it will get better though... it always does.

WaynenRissnKids said...

Once you hit child number three I don't think you ever fully get the sleep back. It may get better, but it seems like at least once or twice a week, someone is either sick, having nightmares, had an accident, got scared, or just wanted to see mom in the middle of the night. Just hold to those sweet moments you are finding. Those are what make it worth it. Good luck!

Vanessa said...

I am glad to know that I am not the only one awake at all hours of the night with a baby crying. So now at 3:00am I will think, hey it's ok that I am up, Melissa is up too :) But it's all worth it when our baby looks up at us and smiles, then I don't feel so tired.

Heather said...

Melissa! I'm sorry, you poor thing! I thought waking up at 5am, 6am and 7am with the kids I was watching last weekend was hard, looks like I have a rude awakening(literally) when I have my own! Let me know if you need a good nap during the day and I'm there to your rescue!

Heather said...

Melissa! I'm sorry, you poor thing! I thought waking up at 5am, 6am and 7am with the kids I was watching last weekend was hard, looks like I have a rude awakening(literally) when I have my own! Let me know if you need a good nap during the day and I'm there to your rescue!

Alisha said...

I love this! I completely can relate with you right now. I too and guilty of bringing Carson into bed with us. I can't help it either. My house is always chaos right now and it all "hits the fan" at the same time. We should call and chat sometime :) Love all the other pictures. I feel like I haven't visited your site in such a long time.

Kyra said...

that almost made me cry--- theres nothing as wonerful as sleeping through the night- as parents!

melissa gargalis said...

So I'm laughing outloud reading this, remembering the newborn days and at the same time feeling so much sympathy or empathy? for you. Luke is still in his crib, but I know one day he will be ready for a big boy bed and then the "fun" will really begin...Hang in there, the newborn stage seems forever when you are sleep deprived, but it'll be over in no time.

robyn said...

The absolute worst is that first get up. Its always just after you think you are going to get to go to sleep. So can I call you at 3 im the morning? It might give me purpose, "I have to get up I am catching up with my good friend in California"

Anonymous said...

I am SO SORRY for the sleepless nights....you know...why do us WOMEN do this to ourselves? HA!! JK! I saw you Sunday, you looked amazing as always, so don't put yourself down at all!! You have GORGEOUS children!! ;)

Kipn n' Sarah said...

Ok so reading this is really inspiring me to really appreciate these moments I have where I can actually sleep. I know that it will not last forever!!!
Stay strong, hang in there, you will get through this and I have so much respect for you and any woman who has multiple children and can pull it off as gracefully as you. You are beautiful and so are your kids. Hang in there, if you ever need anything, I love kids and don't have my own to exhaust me so I would be happy to help out with anything at all. Im just a phone call away!

Kyle said...

Just got your comment...we are obviously blogging at the same time..but lets for sure meet there. Davis would love this park (and Tatum)..it is my new favorite place!
When are you coming to AZ?? I need to mark my calender :)

amanda p. said...

oh the things we go through as moms! Thankfully my husband knows I'm a sound sleeper and deals with the kids alot of times during the night. Maybe you should become a sound sleeper too ;) After awhile Lee started hearing the girls wake up and now he knows its better to deal with them then try to get me up to do it!

Kyle said...

Hey...I saw your mom and your friend Kate (they weren't together) at Costa Vida last night...just thought you might want to know that! I am embarrassed though because I was so grungy looking...oh well!

Rechelle said...

Seriously laughing SO hard! That was hilarious!! You've just reminded me why it is that I didn't try to keep up with you on our psycho baby schedule we were on together!! Good luck! Sad thing is I have big bags under my eyes too - but it has little to do with the kids and a whole lot more to do with my husbands psycho schedule!!! ha ha h!