I'm Losing My Mind...

...or maybe I'm just lacking sleep.

For the past 6 weeks and 2 days, I have not slept longer than 4 1/2 hours in a row.  Usually, I only get anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep, waking about 2-3 times a night.  Once in this time period, I actually got 8 hours of sleep with only one interruption!  It was amazing the next morning. It has not happened again.

My sleeping beauty. At least someone is getting sleep.

My lack of sleep is normal.  After all, I have a 6-week-old infant, Grace.  She is adorable and sweet.  In many ways, she sleeps better than her sister did at this age. Most of the time, I am able to cope with my current level of sleep deprivation. Most of the time. However, there are consequences to not getting enough sleep.

I can no longer concentrate for long periods of time. My ability to focus is gone. If I try to concentrate too intently, I'll start to nod off.

Lack of concentration leads to a near-constant inability to understand what is going on around me at the intellectual level. My poor DH will be talking to me, but I don't comprehend what he is telling me a good portion of the time. I have to ask him to repeat things. Even then, I may not "get" what he said at all.

My ability to complete tasks has taken a toll.  I have been considering writing in my blog for a couple of weeks now. I will come up with a topic, but when I go to write it, the topic has disappeared from my brain.  In fact, I was going to write this current blog about something else entirely. About what? I have no clue. I forgot when I started, but then I thought the reason I forgot would be a good topic.

No energy leads to a lack of motivation, too.  I want to bake more cookies for Christmas. I just can't talk myself into exerting that type of energy.  Cooking, even, has become a matter of what is quickest and easiest.  If we had more money, I would likely order out every time it was my turn to cook.

That being said, I was supposed to cook something in the crock pot the other day. I didn't though. Why? I forgot. You see, sleep deprivation leads to issues with my short-term memory. I didn't remember until my DH woke up around 11 a.m. (he is on overnight-shifts this week).

While I may be losing my mind due to sleep deprivation, it is worth it. My darling baby girl is growing and thriving.  Someday, hopefully soon, she will sleep more consistently.  When she starts to sleep better, I will get sleep. Until then, I will make it through with a little bit of caffeine. I hope.