Life changes.

Sleep

I lean back in the chair as I try to get rid of some stress. I lean my head back and take a deep breath taking in the minute I have to myself. "Austin." I sigh and turn my head to see Ally coming out of the kitchen. "Yes?" She stops and looks around then up the stairs, "They asleep?" I nod and lean back against the chair, "Yes, finally went down for a nap." I hear feet moving then hear her stop in front of me. I sigh and look at her, "What do you need?" She bites her lip and looks down, "I'm hungry." I nod, "Okay, so?" She sighs and looks at the ground before looking back at me, "I don't want pancakes, chicken nuggets or grilled chesse." I sigh and look up at her as I rub my hands down my face, "Okay, what do you want?" She shrugs, "Taco bell is the closet. I will take a few tacos." I nod and get up shuffling out the door and to my car.

I pull into taco bell and order the food for her and a few for me too. I pay and get the food before driving home. I park the car and look at the house as I run a hand down my face and then through my hair. I haven't slept in forever. Aubrey has been having trouble sleeping and her doctor says she is fine. Aiden has been waking up screaming every night. They won't go down for naps anymore. Ally's pregnancy is kicking in and she is starting to grow. I am exhausted. I don't know how much of this I can take. To be honest I haven't slept in 36 hours. Every time I lay down and close my eyes something happens.

Shaking my head I grab the food and head inside. I see Ally holding Aiden and rocking him. "He woke up?" She nods and rocks him, "Yeah, I got him before he woke Aubrey up." I nod and set the food on the table, "Do you have him for a second so I can eat?" She nods, "Yeah, go ahead and eat. I got him." She smiles down at him, "Yeah, I got you baby. Huh. Mommy has you." She walks around speaking to him as I eat my two taco and steak quesadilla. I get up and get something to drink before walking back into the living room. I put my drink down and walk over to get Aiden. Ally smiles down at him before handing Aiden to me before going to sit down and eat. I rock Aiden and sing to him as Ally eats. He falls back asleep and I walk him upstairs and into his room. I set him in his crib and pull the door up as I walk into the hallway. I open Aubrey's door and check in on her to see her fast asleep. I smile and walk back into the hallway and pull her door up before walking down stairs and sitting in the recliner.

I lean my head back and close my eyes trying to get some sleep. I hear something hit and snap my head up and look and see Ally leaning down to pick up some stuff she dropped. She looks over at me with an apologetic look on her face, "I am so sorry Austin. I was trying to get some things so I could go into the kitchen and let you get some sleep but I hit the edge of the table and dropped everything. I am so.." I raise my hand and shake my head, "It's fine. How about you stay here and I will go lay down in the room." She nods and I walk over and help her pick up her stuff before walking upstairs and laying down across the bed. A sigh of content comes out and I close my eyes hoping to get some sleep.

I jump at the sound of screaming. I look over at the clock and see I slept for literally five minutes. I get up and run to Aubrey's room and pick her up. "It's okay baby. It's okay princess." She lays against me as I bounce slightly and rub circles on her back. She relaxes and I kiss her head and walk back and forth across the floor until she falls asleep again. I look down and see she is sleeping. I hear footsteps and look to see Ally, "Is she okay?" I nod and she steps into the room, "Is she asleep?" I nod and she nods, "That's good." She looks over at me and walks in more, "I can take her while you get some sleep." I shake my head, "It's fine. I got her." She nods and walks over and sits in the rocking chair. "Are you sure you don't want me to take her?" I shake my head, "It's fine. I will get her to go back in her bed soon." She nods and gets up and walks out of the room and I hear her footsteps go downstairs. I rock Aubrey some more to make sure she is asleep before placing her back in bed. I look at her laying in her bed and realize I need to get her a big girl bed soon. I smile and pull the door up before walking downstairs. I look over at Ally and smile. I look at the clock and see it is two. "Ally, I am going to go get some coffee. You need something?" She shakes her head, "I am good." I nod and grab my keys before going out and getting in my car. I drive to Starbucks and order a venti double chocolate chip frappe. I pay and take a few big drinks of the drink before pulling out and heading back home.

I park the car again and get out with my drink and head into the house. Ally looks at me and smiles. "Feeling better?" I nod and take a few more drinks. "Yeah, a lot better." I sit down in the recliner and drink my drink as I turn on the television and watch some television. I lean back and feel my eyes get heavy.

I hear crying and pop up. I look around and don't see anything. I get up and run up the stairs and pick up Aiden. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm here." I hear a scream and start to walk to Aubreys room when Ally comes out with Aubrey hugging onto her. I move Aiden to one side and Ally helps Aubrey onto my other side as I hold both of them and calm them down. "I ordered a pizza for dinner. Is that okay?" I nod and watch her go downstairs. I calm them down and walk downstairs with one of my kids on each side. I sit down on the couch with one of them curled up on each side and look at the clock as Ally comes in with the pizza. I shake my head, "I slept for twenty minutes?" She nods, "Yeah." I look around, "Where is my drink?" She sets the food down and starts to hand out plates. "I took it from you when you fell asleep and put it in the fridge. I then went upstairs to let you try to get some sleep but I was in the bathroom when Aiden started." I nod and look at her, "Thanks for trying." I am handed a plate of food and Ally cuts up Aubrey's for her and puts it on the table. Aubrey gets down and starts to eat. Aiden is given a few pieces on a plate and I put him down in front of his plate. 

I eat my pieces and watch as the kids play after they eat. We all curl up and watch a movie. Half way through the movie the kids are asleep. I pick up Aubrey and take her upstairs and change her into her pajamas and put her to bed. I kiss her head, "I love you princess. Sleep tight." I turn on her nightlights and walk back downstairs to get Aiden. Ally is cleaning things up and turning stuff off. I take Aiden upstairs and change him into his pajamas and put him to bed. I kiss his head, "I love you baby boy. You will always be my baby boy. My first boy. Sleep good baby." I turn on his nightlight and walk out into the hallway. I walk downstairs and help Ally finish cleaning everything up. We turn off the last of the lights and walk upstairs. Ally changes and gets into bed pulling the blanket up to her chin. She watches me walk around and get ready for bed. I throw my pants across the room and get comfy. I get under the blankets and turn the lamp off. I curl up and get comfy. I close my eyes and let everything drift away and close my eyes.

I wake up to crying and get up and shuffle to Aiden's room. I pick him up and rock him. "It's okay sweetie." I walk around his room and try to get him back to sleep. I walk downstairs and get him a bottle and sit down feeding him. I burp him and then rock him. I start to sing to him when he goes to sleep. I smile and walk him upstairs and put him back to bed. I walk downstairs and sit in the recliner with my left over coffee. I finish the drink and throw it away. I sit down in the recliner again for a second. I lean back and get up to go to my room when I hear Aubrey scream. Shaking my head I get up and head to her room. I pick her up and get her calmed down. I take her downstairs and lay her on her pallet and put a princess movie on. I sit beside her and rub up and down her arm calming her down. She falls back asleep and I carry her upstairs. I put her to bed and walk back downstairs to turn everything off.

I turn off the lights and the movie and sit down in the recliner and lean back trying to relax. I need sleep. Hopefully I can get sleep now.