Insomnia- You are NOT my friend.

Last night I went to bed at a normal time.

I played on Happy Color app for a bit, but my eyes were heavy and I finally stopped before the drawing was finished.

I quickly fell asleep. probably around 10:30 or so.

But then.....I was awakened at 12:30 by Gary shifting the blankets and the sheet, clicking on the remote (which I can't hear, but the tv screen lights up the room), and his moving around trying to be comfortable.

I tried to go to sleep again.  I really did.  Eventually he clicked off the tv, turned over, and he was gone.

But I was still awake. 

I tossed.

I turned.

I shifted from one side to the other.

I stretched out my legs.  Then I pulled them up under me.  Then I alternated a straight leg with one pulled up under me.

Nothing work.

I prayed.  Usually that does it for me.  Sorry, God.  But getting into the prayer mode is usually an instant slide into the valley of sleep. Not last night, though.

I kept looking at the clock.  I tried to fluff the pillows.  I prayed more.  I stretched out.  I tried to make my body go limp.  I tried to imagine myself falling into the mattress. 

Nothing worked.

At 3:00 I was up.  I went downstairs.  I turned on the three lights in the kitchen and dining room.

It was time to decorate the small tree in front of the long windows.

This tree was the one that stood in the corner of the living room at the old house, in the corner by the entertainment center and the secretary.  I always decorated it with miniature ornaments for Christmas and usually lit it before Thanksgiving.  I always thought I would just keep it decorated and occasionally light it through the spring and fall, but usually by the end of January, I was tired of it and the winter decor in the house and off the decorations came to go into the cheesebox.

Since we moved to the new house, a perfect spot for the tree was in the corner by the long windows looking out onto the deck. Last year it just seemed fitting to decorate it with cardinals. I had a few cardinals and I had brought a few from Mom's house, but I bought a few new ones just for this tree.  Then I added some small red balls and a red star on the top.  I also found a buffalo check small tree skirt that was perfect for the tree and for the room.

The tree was finished at 5:00 a.m.  Actually the last ornament was placed before that, but I also changed the perpetual calendar by the door since it was December 1 now. I also made a new post on DWLZ so it was ready for the new day, the new week, the new month.

Finally at that point, I felt like I could return to bed and MAYBE get some sleep.

Snuggling into my side of the bed was easy.  Gary was warm and it felt cozy to snuggle up against him.  I don't remember much because I drifted off easily.

The next thing I knew was that it was 6:00 and he was gone. 

Back to sleep I went. 

Finally when I awoke again it was 10:30 and the bathroom door was slightly closed, which is a sign that he had been upstairs checking on me and was trying to keep the noise (what little there probably was from the tv) and the light (from the bathroom window that has no shade( from awaking me.

It worked out ok.  I slept in, and I felt good when I finally woke up.

BUT...

I can't do that on a regular basis.  I don't like NOT sleeping at night.  Maybe if it were the dead of winter and we had nothing to do or nowhere to go I could read and snuggle into the reclner and not be bothered by a few hours of not sleeping.

My schedule has been thrown off all day.  I ate breakfast late, and lunch, and dinner.  My morning meds were taken at 1 which means I need to wait a little while longer for the evening meds which I usually take just after dinner.

I need to sleep tonight too!  I need to go to the Fitness Center in the morning.  I have missed the last two weeks, and I don't want to miss more.  I have paid for it, and I need to be there.

Insomnia.  Stay away from me tonight.  I need some sleep.  I need to be awake in the morning and be able to jump in the shower and start my day.

Stay away.  Go.  Begone!  Get out of here.