God this is awful - insomnia and 2 non-sleeping DCs

[sleepychunky]

So it's 2.20 am and I have been in bed since 10.30 trying to sleep. DH has been away on a stag weekend since Friday morning and not coming back until Monday afternoon. DS1 has got up 6 times since going to bed. DS2 (5months) has a bad cold and cough and I have just fed him. I've been awake so long that I'm not tired any more, if that makes sense, and I'll have to get up by 6.45 for another full day and night on my own with the DCs before DH gets back.
This is shit

Oh honey! That sounds terrible. I feel like death when I don't get enough sleep. I'm sending you a virtual cappuchino.

I remember those days and it was really tough. Try to rest even if you're not sleepy (I used to try to convince myself it was nearly as good!). Get the kids out in the fresh air for as long as you can bear tomorrow, early lunch and then all cuddle up together for a nap in the afternoon. You may just manage to get a couple of hours then.

You'll probably need to get them out again in the afternoon to ensure they are exhausted for bed but probably worth it. In my experience, fresh air works better than putting on a video in the vain hope you can rest - they generally have far too much energy and climb all over you etc etc. Repeat the mantra: this too will pass!

I had 2 poor sleepers followed by a good one but by then my sleep patterns were shot to pieces!

Well it's 6.45 now and I got less than 3 hours sleep. DS2 has been fussing since 5.30 so I've been in and out of his room since then. I have a very dear old friend coming over this afternoon who I haven't seen since 10 days before DS2 was born, so no chance of a nap this afternoon.
Thanks for your support - nice to have someone who understands what it's like. I considered calling DH but he would have been in some beer-induced haze and wanting to tell me the same story over and over again whilst not listening to what I was trying to say

Sorry to hear that things didn't get any better. It will improve, I promise! Can you get the DCs out this morning with the aim of them sleeping when your friend comes over? Then at least you'll get some adult time which will feel like a real tonic.

Thanks secrets, I think I need to start another thread about DS1's sleep issues as it's driving me nuts.
inlaws took DS1 out this morning so I only had DS2 to deal with, which was nice but I know that come bedtime I'm going to be absolutely shattered.
[repeats mantra - "This too shall pass, this too shall pass"]

I had real sleep problems with first 2. With hindsight, a great thing, wish I'd kicked up more of a fuss, not easy, I know, when you are so exhausted you just focus on getting through the day.

I did try a number of alternative treatments for both of them. Cranial osteopathy and homeopathy have a good track record and I've seen both work. Unfortunately, not really for mine though did help with other stuff. Eventually found out that DD was sensitive to gluten, eggs and a whole range of other things and then DS1 sensitive to wheat which probably explained quite a lot.

Not saying that these are what's going on with you just that eventually I did get some answers which I could probably have got earlier if I could have overcome the exhaustion to go and seek them.