I am a chronic insomniac. My mother does not sleep well. None of my sisters sleep well. I've had trouble sleeping since the age of 16. But I am in the midst of a particularly long stretch of sleep-depravity. In the past 9 days I would estimate that I have had a total of 25 hours of sleep...less than three hours per night.
Poor me.
Typically I function pretty well on few hours of sleep, but darn it, I'm tired! David went to the pharmacy today and picked up a natural sleep remedy that was recommended by a friend...its called Valerian Root. I'm hoping it works because my old stand-by--Benedryl--has not been helping at all.
Graham offered to hit me over the head.
In the mean time, between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., I have been getting a lot done. I've read books, practiced praying in French, and last night I analyzed David's breathing patterns. This morning I told David that I think that he is taking too shallow of breaths while he is sleeping and that he needs to work on breathing more deeply in his sleep.
He appreciates my concern. He urged me to consider Graham's offer.
This afternoon I tried to take a nap, but I my body wasn't having any of it. Warm bed, quiet house, cozy jammies, and...nothin', nada, zilch. I'm doing everything I can imagine: I've cut out caffeine, I've increased my running distances, I even had my blood drawn yesterday to see if my thyroid levels are out of whack again.
I feel like a zombie.
Will you please pray for me to sleep? There's something in it for you--because if I could see past my own exhaustion I could blog about exciting things like how our church planting training is going, big decisions we've made about the boys' school situation, my current puppy considerations, and the wonderfully full schedule for our guest room. Instead, for now, you are stuck with a post so boring that it could put a person to sleep.
Hey, maybe I should try that! Reading my own blog could be sleep-inducing.
... for he grants sleep to those he loves. Ps 127:2b
I do like valerian, but you do need to make sure to take it about two hours before bed. I take a sleep blend of valerian, hops, and scullcap that works better for me. When I'm having a really bad time I'll do the Bendryl (to get to sleep) and valerian (to help stay asleep, although the sleep blend works better than valerian alone.)
ReplyDeleteLove you, Jenn! Makes me smile...I love that we ALL don't sleep!...but it is true that you need a bit more than you're getting! Especially w/out your sisters around to make the wakin worth the while!
ReplyDeleteLindsay Branting blogs the things her husband mutters in his sleep. You could try that. . .at least it would be amusing!
ReplyDeletePenny
Hope you are finding a way to sleep. Definitely like the puppy idea! I miss France, went to Paris in October, it was amazing!
ReplyDeleteMELATONIN!!!!
ReplyDelete