November 19, 2008 ~ The Joy of Zzzzzzzzzz
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
~ Proverbs 3:24 (The Message)
When you don’t sleep well, everything that follows throughout the day is just harder and less joyful. I’ve always been a great sleeper – that is, until my diagnosis with advanced breast cancer. Then I just didn’t slip into that deep, deep sleep that gives the most rest through the night. I found myself waking often, and at the smallest sound or even when I needed to roll over or adjust the covers. And forget about it when one of those top-notch hot flashes hit -then I’m absolutely done-for! Sometimes I give up altogether and turn on the television so I can watch reruns of news, or a shopping channel selling things I’d never ordinarily look at twice, or worse – an infomercial barking out the “value” of their impossibly useless wares (but wait! there’s more!)
Well, for the last two nights, I have had blissful slumber and I am a grateful woman! Sleep this sound I haven’t known for several months now and trust me, it makes a difference! Though I still feel weary from a sleep deficit that may take many days to fully overcome, what bliss comes with all those uninterrupted zzzzzzzzzzz’s!!
I even read an article on this subject once that somehow stuck in my mind and it has me a little worried. It said that not getting enough sleep causes the brain to actually stop producing cells that affect memory. It also said that, in experiments with mice, it took over two weeks of better sleep to restimulate the cell production. Two weeks!! Until the sleep deficit is overcome, the brain just has to do the best it can without all those lost cells that help us remember things. Well, I’ve only had two nights worth of good sleep, so lets hope I get back into the swing of sleep pretty soon or my memory may be shot – just like those poor forgetful mice!
. . . now, where was I?
Oh man. I am screwed! I haven’t had a really good nights sleep, sleep all the way through night’s sleep, in years!!! I can just see the brain cells floating out my ears and popping like bubbles. Well, at least I have an excuse.
Lori, I love your website!! Amazing photos and I love your insights!! I will be checking in regularly because I too am inspired by words! Thanks for giving us all the gift of your beautiful words!! You are in my prayers as you and your family face this fight!! Your site is inspirational!!!
But my kids took my sleep away, oh well…. JK…
I too am a little concerned with the sleep facts… I can’t remember anything lately so now I have something other than my kids to blame my memory loss on!! Yeah!
Hiya Sue!
Seems like everyday there is something new in the news about how important sleep is to our health. Only thing is, that just gives you something new to worry about while you’re trying to sleep but can’t ! Argh!
Let’s hope we get sound slumber tonight!
~Lori
Hi Gina!
Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve been enjoying your blog too and have stopped by there regularly to keep up with your fun family. They are keeping you so busy, you don’t have time to sleep! ha ha ha
Hope to see ya around here again.
~ Lori