To rest easy, we pray.

It's 7:15am and I can hear Ms. R sleeping soundly in her bedroom.

She's in a deep sleep, now.... snoring and taking loud, restless breaths.

She's finally fallen into the kind of sleep she needs.

But it usually doesn't happen until it's almost time for her to wake.

For a long time, now, sleep has been most of what we talk about when it comes to our precious Ms. R.

Restful sleep is not happening for her.

And it hasn't for a very long time - if ever...?

I've always marveled at how she can have such a rocky night's sleep ... and MOST of the time wake with a pretty good outlook on the day.

Much better than her mama.

Ms. R - well, she's the shining LIGHT in our family.

Full of crazy spunk.

As in ... filled up to the brim with smiles and giggles and HUGS.  They literally melt your heart.

Her energy seems endless.

She's kind and compassionate.

She wants to take care of people when they are sad.

She loves her baby sister and her baby dolls.

But when it comes to sleeping.... she's gotten the raw end of the deal.

When bedtime approaches... she winds up instead of winding down.

You can almost feel the anxiety within her.

She knows it's time for doing something that doesn't come natural for her.

She starts to rev up and her craziness at night can be exhausting for her mama.

We finally get her tucked into bed ...

Which, over the years has included every trick we can possibly think of.

Lights on, lights off, special toys and white noise, blankets, pillows, and now even the moon and stars illuminating on her ceiling....

Yet still - she struggles, most nights.

We have grown weary with what causes her interrupted sleep.

Dreams, nightmares, night terrors, flat out tantrums, a medical issue.... bottom line -- we don't know.

We've discussed with her doctor several times..... no real help or answers.

We feel like we've tried everything.

Last weekend we were at a hotel and sleeping in the same room with her.

The hubs studied her sleep.

He was awake most of the night just trying to figure out what goes on with her throughout the night.

She sleeps some, but then is woken by SOMETHING.... her breathing is not consistent... she's a loud sleeper.... she's also been sick for a long time with a nasty cold, but nothing treatable with antibiotics.

Bottom line - her sleep is anything but restful for any of us.

She's up and down and up and down ...all night long.

So - after talking with her pediatrician again this week... we are moving ahead with seeing an ENT (ear/nose/throat) specialist.

We want her to see the very best - but that means we'll have to wait a month to get her in.

And - that was even a stretch.

So.... now we wait..... but mostly, we are in prayer.

Prayer that perhaps these new doctors can help our Ms. R.

Help her find a way to REST.

Because over the past few weeks... her LIGHT and spunk has been less evident.... she's growing weary too..... more tired and irritable during the day.

It's starting to really impact her.... and we're not seeing our little {ham} quite as much as we used to.

Ms. R plays a very special role in our family..... her heart is as big as the moon and her SMILE.... lights up the world.

She is beautiful inside and out and we want her LIGHT back -- shining as brightly as it possibly can.

In the meantime... we are praying and hoping maybe you are too.

With love,
Cuz I'm the mama!