Sleep Deprived

Lately I have been fighting with myself to get more sleep at night when it's dark and normal people are supposed to be asleep.  Of course, I have a few things working against me--pain in the belly, not able to sleep comfortably on either side, the whir of a mind that wants to worry about bills or decide on a good food menu that will not cause added pain or a million other things.  My nightly routine has been to take a Lovenox shot about 10 PM, wait a few minutes, take two Motrin with a teaspoon of yogurt, wait a few minutes, then climb into bed with the fan blowing right on my feet and fall asleep.  Up until the last few weeks, this was working pretty well, but whether it's due to the more food I'm eating (more to digest and move through my belly's new course) or the additions to my schedule (shopping, etc.), I was not sleeping well.  I'd go to bed and a half hour later (or less), I'd be up to sit in the recliner, my back aching, my legs restless, my tummy hurting, my head buzzing.  I was afraid of keeping Dean awake with my constant movements.  I'd do laps around the TV room.  I'd get a drink (a sip, really) of water and then burp for 15 minutes--painful ones that make me squint and grit my teeth.  Last Saturday night was the worst yet.  I stayed up until 11, hoping to be more tired, but was up again at midnight.  I laid back in the recliner, hoping to ease my backache, but my stomach hurt.  I leaned forward in the recliner, but then my back would hurt.  It was about 3 AM before I finally dropped off in the recliner, and when the sun came up, I crawled into bed until about 10.  I didn't think it could get any worse until Sunday night.  Same thing--up, down, up, down, walking through my dark house like a zombie, everyone else sound asleep.  When I finally got to sleep, it was 5 AM!...and I slept until almost noon.  Not normal at all.
Made my way to Walmart yesterday and bought Motrin/PM.  It had to help or I would go crazy.  I really wanted to crawl into bed about four in the afternoon and take a big long nap, but my instincts kept saying that if I resisted, I could fall asleep at a normal time and sleep through the night.  We had a huge rainstorm that cooled off the night air and the dark clouds made me sleepier.  I ate less dinner, not wanting to add to the stomach pain, and at 9:30 I began my usual night routine, telling Dean that I was going to be in bed by 10 and stay there!  I took the Motrin/PM and felt myself relax the minute I hit the pillow.  I woke up thirsty at 2:30, but got a little water and rocked in the recliner for a few minutes.  J was at a friend's house, so I got into her empty bed and slept until about 4:00.  Went back to my own bed, put in earplugs (Dean was snoring in my ears), and was back to sleep in minutes.  I woke up at 9, pain-free and HAPPY.  It was a good night.  Now, if it will only continue...

(Picture:  Chelsea, Laura, and I at the St. George condo eating No-Bake Cookies...maybe 2000?  Fun, FUN times!)