sleeping

[waitingforsomething]

I don't know if any mumsnetters can help me. I have never been a brilliant sleeper and often suffered from insomnia and very early waking during my teenage years. As a young adult I got better at this and slept fine (11pm-6am) until I got pregnant and had children. I have two: 3 years old and 9 months old and actually they now both sleep well. I rarely hear from a child before 6am and more usually 6.15/6.30 from the baby and 7 from the older one. My trouble is I am waking any time between 4-5am and cannot get back to sleep - this is a time that my youngest woke up for a while but not since 6 months old. I am now feeling tired, cranky and exhausted by 4pm in the afternoon as well as frequently getting colds and viruses. I've tried an earlier night (9pm ish) and a later night (11pm ish) which both result in a usual wake up time of 4.30am. If one of the children wake earlier with a nightmare or illness or whatever I can be awake from 2 or 3am without going back to sleep.
I am 30 years old, I am not overweight although I could exercise more. I only work part-time and although I am currently abroad for a year which isn't my ideal (husband's job) I'm not unhappy or deperssed as it's not a long assignment. My relationship is fine - there is nothing I am worrying about especially I just can't sleep once I'm awake. Any ideas on techniques that might extend my sleep closer to 6am?

[poocatcherchampion]

I'm struggling with this a bit too.

The baby does wake me in the night but I find it so difficult to get back to sleep.
I am shattered.