November 18, 2013

Howdy!

As I sit here, I feel like I'm about to play a song on the piano, in a big concert hall, for a ton of people to listen to, so I'm wanting to make sure I play every note right!!

Yes, I play the piano.   : )

I started playing the piano when I was 5 years old.

Maybe I'll talk more about that another time.   : )

Today is Monday.

Saturday night, we stayed up until around 12 midnight.  I wanted to bake cookies to give to our friends and neighbors who had helped us re-shingle our roof.  I also wanted to make some pizza dough to make either pizza or cheese bread for the church get-together the next day.

Saturday, when I finally got to bed, I was concerned about being able to sleep since I was SO tired, and I knew that I'd have to deal with my nightly 1/2 hour to hour-long (or more) challenge of being able to get comfortable enough to fall asleep.

But I prayed for help with my thoughts, and I kept on telling myself that I was OK.

I finally fell asleep, then woke up at 6 a.m. to take a "nature break", then was concerned again about falling back asleep, due to pain and my stuffy nose, but again, I prayed for help, and I reminded myself that I was OK, and that if I couldn't go back to sleep, that would be OK too.

Then last night, we went to bed at around 10:30 p.m., which is good, and I fell asleep after about the normal 1/2 hour that it takes to get comfortable, and then at around 3 or 3:30 a.m., I woke up to take a "nature break", and then, due to pain, I could not get comfortable.

I sleep with a pillow underneath my left arm (in order to elevate it enough for the pain in my back to subside enough for me to fall asleep).  Therefore, my left elbow and left hand sometimes hurt or are uncomfortable.

Last night, my back, elbow and hand all hurt, no matter what I did.

It was starting to get frustrating.

I was VERY tired, and wanted to go to sleep, but couldn't because of all of the pain and discomfort.

I decided to just breathe and pray and remember that I am OK.  I'll get through this and the morning will come and I'll be OK.

I thought about how I would LIKE to be like the people in the hospital who end up cheering-up their visitors instead of the other way around!  I want to have THAT kind of an attitude about my situation!

It was still a challenge to think positive thoughts amid thoughts of frustration and being tired and ready to just sleep instead of trying to get comfortable.  But with lots of help from Heavenly Father, I was able to stay calm.  Yay!!!!!!!!!!

I continued "trying to sleep" for about 3 hours total.

Then, sometime after 6 a.m., I was finally able to fall asleep on my back with my pillow underneath my left arm.

Yay!!!!!!

That's how the last two nights have gone for me.

I am so thankful that I was able to just stay calm and endure the pain and sleeplessness without having to take any "anti-panic" medicine.   : )

When I talk to others about how my night went last night, it helps me to just keep a sense of humor, and a "That's just the way it is sometimes..." attitude, because being upset about it does NOT help my attitude or mental state.

When I get upset about how it went, then I have no options, and life's horrible.

But if I think positive thoughts and keep a sense of HUMOR about it all, then I have more options!  Life is bearable.  I can do this.  And I remember that Heavenly Father will continue to help me each night.  He hasn't removed my problems from me YET, but he helps me through them.

May you have a good day!  Remember to pray for help when you need it.   : )

Bye!  Adios!  Auf Wiedersehen!  Au Revoir!  до свидания!