Sleep, adventures, and coffee

Sleep: (v.) 

1. To take the rest afforded by a suspension of voluntary bodily functions and the natural suspension, complete or partial, of consciousness; cease being awake.
2. To be dormant or inactive.

I had to look up this word because I kinda forgot what it means.

David left for Nicaragua 4 weeks ago to continue in his adventures and research studies and the kids and I were left behind. (Adventures: n. period of time where David travels around the country of Nicaragua while counting parrots, avoids poisonous snakes, sleeps in hammocks, explores mangroves, views beautiful volcanoes, dodges bullet ants, and speaks a lot of Spanish.)

I have no idea how single parents survive. Or even if survival is attained, I have no idea how they keep their sanity.

We kept ourselves quite busy. Birthday parties, many trips to the library for storytime and entertainment, get-togethers with friends who were looking out for us (me), and church - where Adele has started "school" (classes, rather than nursery, on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings). At home we had movie nights, entertained friends who came to visit, did countless puzzles, read many books, and played outside with sidewalk chalk when the weather permitted.

After 2 1/2 weeks of that daily busyness, my parents came to visit and I found myself no longer the sole entertainer or meal provider or house cleaner. (Whew.)

Since the discipline and care of the kids has fallen into my hands during this time, I recognize the fact that I need to be caught up on sleep in order to consistently respond to my kids patiently. While I was by myself, I had a hard time turning out all of the lights and falling asleep at night simply because the reality of being "alone" would sink in. (Kids don't provide a feeling of mental safety, even though I enjoy their company.)

Henry was sleeping with me, and though I entertained the idea of allowing Adele sleep with me right away as well, I also knew that it would be important to be consistent with her and keep our routines with her in her own bed as long as possible. She did, however, catch on to the fact that in the middle of the night if she woke up, she could come crawl in bed with me. (I didn't mind being woken up by a kiss on the cheek and my little girl snuggling up to me as she went back to sleep!)

And then there's a night like last night - Henry appears to be teething, so even though he's not very fussy, he was tossing and turning a lot last night. In the middle of the night I was trying to remember the last time I slept for a solid 6 hours of sleep straight without being woken up. I'm sure it was before Henry was born.

And what it REALLY comes down to is balance. I'm still trying to figure out a balance of enjoying the time when both kids are asleep at night AND getting a good night's sleep. Because the logical response to a night like last night (or most nights, when my sleep is interrupted multiple times often by both kids) is to go to bed early tonight.

Instead, I've become even more acquainted with a different word that is just as key to my survival as sleep is:

Coffee (n.) [kaw-fee]: a beverage consisting of a decoction or infusion of the roasted ground or crushed seeds of the two-seeded fruit of certain coffee trees.