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Hi all,

I am wondering how you make yourself get up in the mornings? I have such a hard time getting up. I just hate the feeling I have when I get up in the mornings, but I also want to be up before the children because I don't like that behind feeling of getting up at the same time as them.

Also, I have been trying to run on a 7 hour sleep schedule. That is with 5 children, one of them still nursing through the night. How much sleep do you all get? I should would like to hear some encouragement in this area.

Thanks!

You have a lot to do in a day huh? I also have five kids and am expecting our sixth in April. Only three are doing school though and I don't have one getting up at night to nurse just yet. I set my alarm for 6 a.m. and usually get up within 5 to 10 minutes of that and get dressed for the day. I wake the kids up at 6:30 if they aren't already! We get going on chores and breakfast and try to be done by 7:30. Then we start school by just reading aloud and slowly getting into it. I am usually tired and today I did not want to get up but I save about two hours a day for myslef usually 1-3. The kids will have quite time for 1/2 hr. then they get to watch a movie. I will usually eat my lunch then and take a rest. Sometimes I may even nap, but just knowing I have that time everyday makes it easier for me to get up in the morning knowing that in the afternoon I will get a break. That really helps me a lot!!!!! I usually go to bed any where from 9:30 tp 10:30 just depends how tired I am that night.

Sheila

Terri - The baby stage has always been more of a sleep-deprived time for me in my life. I struggled with that. I need more sleep than 7 hours or I do not feel energetic nor healthy. I tried to catch up on sleep by going to bed early or taking a short nap if possible in the afternoons when baby slept when I was in that stage of life. I sleep about 8-9 hours now and that is a good fit for me. I go to bed around 10 and get up at 7. It is still tough to get up (toddler still wakes up at night now and then) - but I am more of a morning person than a night person. It helps me to (briefly) pray with my dh in bed before he gets up and goes to work at 6:30, then I lay there in bed for a bit because it is too hard to get up just then. Then, I make myself turn on the light, sit up, read my devotions, wake the dc, and pray out loud (wakes me up more).

I would say that if your body is telling you 7 hours is enough sleep, then it is. If it's telling you it's not, then it isn't. The baby stage always seems to take a toll on our chances of getting adequate sleep though. I admit, most of the first entire year of my last baby's life I was extremely sleep-deprived overall - he had reflux and woke up 5-10 times a night. That was a tough year. I guess I'd say get as much sleep as you can, whenever you can. That's what helped get me through that year the best I could.

In Christ,
Julie

Oh, how I feel for you!

I was diagnosed with a sleep disorder after I talked to my doctor many times about my daytime sleepiness.

Do you snore? Is it possible that you need a sleep study?

I mean, you have reason enough to be sleepy!

I had to see a sleep specialist for severe insomnia, and I learned a great deal. For one thing, people require different amounts of sleep. The key is *supposed to be* how much sleep do you need to get up feeling refreshed. Some people need as little as 4 hours. Some need as much as 10.

I know it may seem like you don't have time for much sleep, but trim your schedule as much as needed to get it. You can't be good for your family otherwise.

There are medications that can really help you. I don't know if you are a *natural* remedy person. Personally, I believe in better living through chemistry! I take "Provigil" (prescribed to those with sleep apnea & shift workers) to help me be more awake during the day. I feel like a new person.

***
Now, as far as waking up... I am not sure of the ages of you kids, but I buy myself an extra 1/2 hour in the morning. My kids 6, 5, 3, and 13 months all wake up naturally at around 7:00am. I put a 30 minute Sesame Street video on in my room. They all pile on the bed (including the baby) and I snooze until the video goes off. I am terrible, huh?

Do you fall asleep easily?

You might also try a nap. When my kids rest (after lunch) I rest too! At least lay down & close your eyes.

I will be praying for you. I know it is hard.

MommyInTraining wrote:Hi all,

I am wondering how you make yourself get up in the mornings? I have such a hard time getting up. I just hate the feeling I have when I get up in the mornings, but I also want to be up before the children because I don't like that behind feeling of getting up at the same time as them.

Also, I have been trying to run on a 7 hour sleep schedule. That is with 5 children, one of them still nursing through the night. How much sleep do you all get? I should would like to hear some encouragement in this area.

Thanks!

My sleep needs vary depending on what's happening in my life. However, I have found that certain foods interfere with my sleep pattern and cause me to need MORE sleep than I would if I abstained. For example, chocolate, dairy, caffeine and any foods with processed sugar will disrupt my sleep pattern. If I eat whole foods -no processed foods - my sleep pattern stabilizes AND I end up waking up naturally after 6 1/2 to 7 hours of sleep. If sleep is an issue for me or anyone else in the family my checklist includes, making sure we're eating 3 meals a day at consistent times, making sure we're eating whole foods, and going to bed at a consistent time each night.

Sleep well!

I agree about the sugar thing. Sugar REALLY makes me need more sleep. You might check on that.

I also have a little one nursing all night so I completely understand about feeling exhausted all day. You might also make sure you're getting plenty of sunlight. I know that's hard in some areas in the winter. Excercise also helps with energy and getting going in the morning. I know it's hard to find time to excercise when you have children, especially little bitty ones.