Who needs sleep?!

If you had told me years ago that it was possible for the human body to run on less than 5-6 hours off sleep each and every night I would have laughed. I remember a time when 8-10 hours was the norm, more than that if sleep was preceded by a night on the town. (For me that was most nights.)

I am bringing this up because Jen and I can't remember what a good night sleep means. I would love to blame this on having a new infant but he is just a small part of the equation. Since we have been home with T, he generally gets up once in the evening and we have been giving him a bottle. At 7 months does he need that? No, but when you are half awake and just want to go back to sleep, that was an easier option that rocking or walking him to sleep. (FYI, it is possible to feed a child in the middle of the night and not exactly be awake.)

Well after the doctor poked fun at Jen, asking her if she was a first time mom, we have decided to try and cut out that bottle and so far it has been okay but we each have spent a few hours sleeping on the couch with T in our arms.

Next up is our youngest daughter. She wakes up every night crying and will not be consoled until she is in bed with us. This in itself is not great and when you add the fact that she sleeps spread out and seems to like to kick me in the face periodically, it makes for more lost sleep time.

Now let me introduce our oldest son. He is 6 and can't seem to stay in his bed. We will on average take him back to his room 3 times a night. We have literally woken up with him in the bed, unaware of when he got there. I have put the CIA on notice since I think he will make a great spy when he gets older. He also walks around the house kind of in his sleep. I don't know if he is "sleep walking" but I suspect maybe.

Then there is the dog. She sleeps at the foot of the bed, usually not on our feet but not for lack of trying. We kick her off at least a half a dozen time. Once when T wakes up, once when A comes into our bed and 3 times when J sneaks in. I know that is only 5, the six is when I get pissed in the middle of the night and just start kicking!

Finally 5:30a rolls around and on occasion the oldest decides to join the group. I have woken up in the morning after my 4-5 hours of sleep with 3 kids and one dog in my bed and my wife asleep on the couch holding our youngest. And you know what? We make a pot of coffee, work through the day and start it all over again in the evening. And I wouldn't change a thing. Well... maybe the dog.

So I ask again. Who needs sleep?