The 3 Ring Circus

Everyone enjoys a night under the big top, right? Unless the big top is located in your bedroom and the amazingly weird sights and sounds happen all night long! My bed was the center ring. The bathroom and family room made good side rings and the kids bedrooms were staging areas.

It starts at 10 pm. No wait. Let's back up. Eli has slept through the night exactly twice in the last 4 months. Trying to take advantage and sleep while he is, we've been trying to go to bed "early". 10 is the best we seem to be able to do. We read scriptures, pray, talk, plan for the next day, and lights out at 10:30. At 10:30 and 5 seconds, Jason is asleep. Dork. (Not to say he's not helpful, he just has a talent to be able to fall asleep as soon as he wants to while I lack the ability to sleep...ever.) 10:31: thinking about Eli. Is he still breathing? He was coughing 2 seconds ago. Is he still alive!? Panic! Better check on him. Oh. He's cold. More blankets. NOW I can sleep.......10:35: Oh crud! I forgot to call and cancel the car insurance again! I've been paying that stupid payment for 2 months now on a car I no longer own. psbth.....I tell myself to stop thinking and go to sleep. 10:36 Oh! What about the laundry? Did I move it over? I can't remember? Oh wait! I did. Okay. There's nothing like wasting water and power rewashing loads over and over. 10:37: Was that Eli? It's Liam. 10:39: Liam comes crying out of his room itching and needing to pee. Wake up Jas. (It's his special job.) Liam has to be guided to the bathroom when he wakes up at night. Why? Don't ask me. 10:40: Jason puts Liam back in bed. 10:40 and 4 seconds: Jason is asleep. My mind wanders for the next 20 minutes. Wouldn't it be cool to go to Scotland? I'd like to go to Ephraim this weekend. Does the car need gas? I wonder if the gas payment has gone through yet? Stop IT! Count sheep. Yeah. 1. 2. 3. 4...Did I forget to make follow up appointments at the dentist? Shoot! I'll have to call tomorrow...COUNT...1. 2. 3. 4. , Etc. I start to drift off around 11. When...BAM! Something hits the window. A mouse falling into the window well? A rock slipped. What WAS that? I don't know. Not creeped out, but very distracted and curious. My mind wanders more. Drifting off at 11:15. Eli wakes up at 11:15 and 4 seconds. Feed Eli. Put him back in bed. Now the circus REALLY begins. He thinks it's time to play. Or burp. It's hard to tell when you're that out of it. Rock. Lay down. Get up. Sing. Kiss. Change diaper. Rock. Rock. Rock. The boy is asleep...in my bed. DANG IT! Just getting up to put him back, Natalie wakes up. Jason goes to take care of her. Her crying woke up Eli. Jason brings Natalie back to bed and we wrestle with 2 babies for a while. Hours or minutes later, Natalie is asleep on the couch, Eli is asleep in his car seat, Jason is asleep, Liam wakes up. Put Liam on the other couch. Kiss and love him. 3 a.m. Listen to 6 people coughing for 20 minutes. Start to fall asleep. Eli wakes up. Rock. Rock. Rock. Eli is asleep at 3:30 something. Sleep.....BAM, or rather loud talking. Ben is talking in his sleep again. Unintelligible something about school and Jane. Eli is stirring. NOOOOO!! Rock. Rock. Rock....Sleep-after my mind wanders for a while. About 4:30 am. 2 HOURS OF GLORIOUS SLEEP! 6:30, Jason leaves, Natalie wakes up and wants lovies, Eli wakes up and wants to eat. I turn on "Bouse", feed Eli, and drift back off to sleep. BAM! Eli head butts me on my cheekbone, looks at me, falls back asleep, and I get up for the day.

I still love being a mother.