So are boys, if Howard Gardner in Steven King's "Talisman" has anything to say about it. Nevertheless, sleep was not a happening thing last night.

James and I were fairly depressed last night, so we decided to go to bed early (9pm). I had a hard time falling asleep but by 10 had settled into some restless slumber. Here's the drama, play by play:

10pm: mother calls, frantic, apparently someone's gone 80 minutes over the cell-phone time usage and dad will be *furious* (and will cancel all cell phones). I offer to pay the difference (even though it wasn't me). This does not quell the fear. We decide there must be some mix-up and she hangs up to call the company.

10:30pm; having finally fallen back asleep: mother calls again, to inform me that it's all straightened up; they don't add the sprint-to-sprint minutes to the non-usage minutes until midnight.

12am: both kitties are in bed with us and decide to run back and forth. Finally Boo settles down in my arms and James rolls over to pet him and talk to him. I awaken again, and ask all parties sharing the bed to PLEASE SHUT UP I AM TRYING TO SLEEP!

1:30am: J has a night terror (something we both suffer from) and I awaken him.

2:30am: J is having a hard time sleeping and Micah is purring like a friggin' motor boat.

3:30am: Micah begins pounding on one side of the shower door in the bathroom because he wants to sit in the shower. After yelling at him for five minutes to quit we decide he probably won't and open the door. (*sigh*, thus reinforcing this behavior.)

4am: Boo decides to try to cover up his litter by scratching the litterbox (which is usually in the guest bathroom, but now in the livingroom b/c of wet carpets) for 20 minutes. I finally convince him it's fine.

4:25am: Boo is not satisfied with the litter coverage and continues trying to scratch at everything in the livingroom.

5:00: Micah is upset because the other half of the shower door is not open. Micah knocks over everything on the bathroom counter banging on the door.

5:30: Boo begins scratching the litterbox again; Micah is playing with the noisy kitty-gym. "Your idea to get it" James reminds me.

6:00am: Micah and Boo are meowing and running all over the house. I decide trying to continue to sleep is futile and I will go into work early today.

So much for ten hours of sleep...

Sometimes I have what I call a Precious Moment - a moment that I know I will cherish for ever and always. When I lived with Kristina I had some of those. I'd awaken and Micah would be snuggled in my arms, having slept and cuddled with me much of the night, purring and so, so happy. I thought, "This is what life is about. This is joy and happiness. I hope I never forget this."

A few weeks ago I was home in Ft. Myers. Zack and I were going somewhere and he reached out his hand and grabbed mine. I smiled. He's 13 and I know someday he will stop holding my hand while we walk. I'm not sure it's dawned on him that it's 'not cool' to hold my hand. I wondered whether that might be the last time he initiates holding my hand, as I mused sadly on the fact that there was a last time he was held, picked up, rocked to sleep, tucked in, fed by someone else... There will be a last time he holds my hand. I think that day is coming soon, if it hasn't already passed.

On a less melancholy note, this morning I had a Precious Moment. I awoke and glanced at the clock. It was 8:34am. Resting between my knees was Boo, curled in a ball, and using my knee as a headrest. Next to me, James was sleeping soundly, as well, and between his legs was Micah, curled up. All four of us sleeping peacefully in the same bed! It was so sweet! Then James stirred and awoke. Micah galloped up the bed to cuddle with him, and Boo followed suit. Both babies lying in our arms, purring, ever so happy, and both of us perfectly content and at peace. The four of us sharing a moment of happiness. I felt so blessed and thought, "This is a precious moment - a moment I hope to remember the rest of our lives.