Jen's Mental Scribblings

This weekend we went off with Ike's school on a camping trip at New Brighton Beach State Park. To sum up: we learned a lot, and it was soooo totally worth it.

Things to remember for next time

• Pack the tent
• Pack breakfast food
• Don't worry about leaving on time
• Release the need to be in control 100% of the time
• RELAX
• Bring containment system for Gray (read:playpen. Joe and my backs are sore after him spending most of the weekend in the backpack)
• Bring entertainment for the kids i.e. bikes, skates, scooters, balls, toys, etc
• Bring GAMES!!! Duh!
• Bring a big stake to stake Charlie to.
• Remember quarters for the showers
• Bring a LONG extension cord for blowing up the beds
• The beds need to be topped off every night
• Turn the van engine on when blowing up the beds.
• Pack towels
• Bring caffeine
• Bring lighterfluid. Those solid cubes of firestarter suck!!!
• LOTS of briquettes
• Bring wood
• Get sleeping bags that zip together
• Camping for 3 days requires more than 2 dishtowels. Try a dozen next time
• Camp chairs for adults would be very nice.

I think that just about covers it. If I think of anything else, I'll come back and add it.

Went back to full face mask.

Had 1-1.5 functioning nostrils when I went to bed.

I woke up a couple of times with a dry mouth, and fairly clogged nose. Turn machine off, blow nose, turn back on, go back to sleep.

The kids were really restless last night. Which is rough for Joe and bothersome for me.

I feel like the sleep was good, I just need lots more of it. I feel like I could go back to bed and sleep more.

I also feel like we need to do more training on getting kids to sleep on their own. Its not bad when they crawl into our bed and just sleep (which is what Ike and Gwen pretty much do) but waking up several times is just plain annoying. (But its not like Ike didn't take until 6 months ago to figure this out.)

Overall? Need more sleep.

I used the full face mask because I'm stuffed up. I only had one nostril working through the night.

I need either, a shorter ramp period, or higher initial pressure.  Its hard to relax to sleep when I'm feeling like I'm having to work more than usual to breathe. 4mmg just isn't enough to start. That low pressure also makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.

I had to tighten the straps a couple of times in the night as it shifted, but once I got it on good I could sleep on my side without it shifting and thus losing pressure.

Having a runny nose while using one of these things suck. I can't use my usual treatment. Which is stuffing kleenex up my nose to keep it from dripping long enough for me to pass out.

I need to ask what kind of filtration system this thing uses. A really good system would clear up my allergies like the AC does in the car. Or (a new thought) I might be allergic to some material in some component. (I don't do well around some plastics)

Upon waking with a runny nose, DO NOT turn off the machine to blow my nose, with a 45 minute, low pressure ramp, I'm awake for far too long trying to go back to sleep. After doing that ONCE, I just unsnapped it, pushed it to one side, did my thing, then replaced it.

I can actually breathe without effort when this thing is fully going. How cool is that?

Now for the million dollar question. How do I feel this morning?

I feel okay. I feel like I got a better quality of sleep than I usually do. I don't feel like I'm dragging my ass around even though I got up a good 40 minutes earlier than I had to. I just feel like I could use a few more nights with it. Lucky for me, I do!

I was in bed for just over 8 hours, but I was up for a good hour or so around 6. Due to cranky little girls, my runny nose, and the annoying ramp period. So I figure I got a halfway decent amount of sleep. I just need more.