Sleeplessness and lots more

While I was not sleeping last night, I decided to write more details about how I'm doing these days. Mom always wants exact particulars, and maybe someone else will read this and have ideas or suggestions for me.

I still think it's my blood sugar that's not right. During the day, I can keep it pretty stable with a good diet and constant snacks. If I do "crash," I've learned how to get myself back up again. Nights are the problem. I have to eat at least every two hours. I usually don't even feel hungry, but if I don't eat, I can't sleep. It's like my body won't let me. When I do doze off without those snacks, I jerk awake after 15-20 minutes. And jerking awake like that is such a shock, I can't just roll over and try again. It's like my body panics: heart racing, adrenalin pumping, shaking all over. It seems to be getting worse, too. At first, I could go for longer periods of time once in a while, and when I needed to eat, any snack worked. Then it came to be that I needed protein snacks only. Nothing else helped. Now it's never more than two hours, and it seems like the only thing that really helps is two eggs and a glass of milk. But if I have to eat two eggs every two hours. . . . That will probably change soon anyway. It seems like anytime I find a food that works, it doesn't last for long. A good night is when I can sleep two hours, gulp down a snack and go right back out for another two hours, and so on. It's still not my ideal peaceful night, but I'm very thankful when I get one like that! A bad night is when I can't seem to eat enough or find the right food, and I keep jerking awake, trying different snacks, going for walks to burn off the panicky awakenings, feeling exhausted but not able to sleep. See why I need your prayers?

Happier news: now that we've had another week to work on settling in here (that's what last week was set aside for), and now that we have internet set up (that took a few days), we're headed back to our dacha! Thank you, Lord, for outdoor life and fall weather!

Computer news: For those who are interested in such things, this is the actual gadget we're using to get on the internet.

Other computer news: Our laptop is finally fixed! Will can pick it up the next time he's in Moscow. Then we'll be a really high-tech, portable family. (By the way, does Apple not know that airplanes fly to Russia? Or do they have some alternative method of shipping to Russia that they think is cool and creative? Something like hot air balloons and horseback couriers?)

Babies: We have so many old friends around the world having babies these days! I've been keeping myself going on their stories and photos. Little Ella, born early, weighing less than 2 lbs was one of the first. (If you want to read her story, email me, and I'll pass your request on to her mom, who would probably invite you to their blog. Right, Debi? Amazing answers to prayer there!) Or no, I guess Olivia Hope in Indonesia was first this year. Then there was Liz's Jasmin in Asia, Owen, Hanne's sweet little girl in Belgium, Baby Abigail in Perm, and Timothy in Siberia. Lara let us know on Sunday that she was in labor, but we haven't heard anything since then. Just yesterday I saw photos of the Goodman's brand new granddaughter. And I'm still waiting and praying with Caryn, Allie and Danielle. I think I'm probably even missing some!

"See" you later. I'm very ready to get back to our dacha.