For sleep, riches, and health to be truly enjoyed, they must be interrupted. – Jean Paul Richter

Long days are common these days ever since baby Simon was born two months ago.  Long days coupled with a lack of sleep in the nights are a norm for me now, not an exception.  Due to this, most days I am less patient, less understanding and less kind to everyone, especially towards my children.  

I know the hangover of a lousy night of sleep too well.  It had put me in the worst kind of moods these days.  And so it seemed that having no good sleep at all has been my excuse for my bad behaviour. My children get to experience the worst of their mother. 

“Don’t slam the door!”

“Don’t jump on the bed!”

“Don’t eat in the room!”

“Don’t scream and shout!”

It was no longer fun being around mum these days with all her don’ts, especially for little Brian.

And then, it happened.  I experienced cold hands and feet and goosebumps one fine regular morning after as usual, a night of lack of sleep.  I paid no attention to this as I went about my usual routine of nursing and cleaning the baby.

But my body was screaming for attention by late morning.  I could no longer ignore the hot forehead or the aching bones.  I had relied heavily on my healthy physical being to get me through this rough patch of raising a newborn and three boisterous boys.  It had not let me down until now. 

My spouse stuck a thermometer into my ear. It showed a spiking temperature of thirty nine degrees Celsius. 

I groaned.  This was totally unexpected. 

I made a trip to the doctor.  He told me that I had a viral infection and prescribed only fever tablets.  And yes, I could continue nursing the baby even with a fever.  Throughout that night and two nights after that, I fed the baby with a body as if on fire and with a parched throat. 

I won’t ever complain about the lack of sleep again, I prayed earnestly.  

The fever lasted for four days before it left me completely.

I made another trip to my doctor for my post natal checkup.  I casually mentioned about a red rash visible under my breast.  He took one look and said that I had an infected breast.  And if I did not take care of it now, it might turned to pus and will have to be surgically drained out. 

I cringed and made a face. 

He prescribed strong antibiotics for me which I diligently took for seven days.  During this time as well, I checked my breast every time I finished nursing the baby for signs of improvement or worse, deterioration. 

I won’t ever complain about the lack of sleep again if given my health back, I prayed earnestly.  

The infection eventually healed.  I looked forward to my regular days once again.   

And then, it happened again.  It was a regular morning when I heard noisy breathing while nursing the baby.  Now it was his turn.  He had a blocked nose and was breathing heavily. 

I checked on him every time he went to sleep and especially in the nights when it got chilly.  I rubbed Vicks Vaporub on his tiny feet to warm him up despite warnings stated on the label that the ointment was only to be given to children above two years old.  
 
I won’t ever complain about the lack of sleep again, I prayed earnestly.

The baby eventually got well and continued nursing with ease.  And once again, I looked forward to my regular days.

But my regular days turned irregular once more when I noticed a raw red rash in the same breast again. 

I rushed to the doctor once again.  My breast had some milk ducts which were blocked, he diagnosed. I was given anti inflammatory tablets to clear them.  These too I took diligently.  Once again, I was regularly in front of the mirror.   

The blocked milk ducts eventually cleared.

After five different visits to my doctor and two douses of medication, I reckon that a lack of sleep is not such a bad deal after all.  

And now, I have to care for two coughing young children and one feverish toddler.  In addition to that, there is also a nursing baby to look after. 

I won’t ever complain about the lack of sleep again, I prayed earnestly.  

These days even with a lack of sleep, I strive to be more patient, more understanding and kinder, especially towards my children. 

Cheers! And a good day to you.