I am well aware of the fact that many adopted children have problems with sleeping. Early horrors may have some too fearful of the vulnerability of the sleep state to let go of conscious control and have too highly developed a defensive posture to drift off.

Some are simply always wired to the max through whatever version of alphabet soup describes the damage done to them, and have to run until they drop, often taking everyone in the household along with them for both the run and the drop.

Kids that spent too many nights falling asleep hungry can again and again experience the ghosts of those hunger pangs as the waking world fades, and those memories chase peaceful sleep away as fast as the whine of a revving chainsaw.

Very, very thankfully, Sam and Cj escaped dangers and hunger ... although they do sometimes experience that chainsaw racket, thanks to their dad's gardening projects. Their orphanage months were full of cuddles, cozy cradles and plenty of formula.

Home at three-months, both went from temporary safe shelter to permanent loving family without a hiccough ... okay, they hiccoughed, but there weren't any hiccoughs in the process ... and the result of the accumulation of all the miracles it took for this to happen has made sleep for them the restful, pleasant activity it is.

I never cease to be amazed at some of the positions these kids take for sleep. As evidenced in the photo, just about any pose will do.

Do I need to elaborate on all the parts of me that would hurt for a week if I fell asleep in either of the positions these kids are in in the shot? I'd be all "Oy! my aching neck!" and "Toe cramp! Toe Cramp!" after about three minutes, and these guys were like this for an hour. (I did attempt to straighten them out for comfort's sake, but they both protested, so I left them as is knowing how pliable they are.)

High on the list of the blessings I count daily is the fact that my kids can, do and love to sleep, that they fall asleep easily and anywhere, and that they sleep well and deeply and often laugh ... sometimes even clap! ... as they do.

One wish I carry for them is that life will rarely give cause for sleep to elude them and that drifting off to dreamland will always be a peaceful process they will treasure.

Photo ©2007 SHBenoiton