Secretly, I've always believed I might be narcoleptic. No matter how much sleep I get, I'm always nodding off at very inconvenient times: During movies, at work, and -- absolutely WORST of all -- while driving, which scares the living daylights out of me. And next to nothing helps. No amount of coffee wakes me up, no energy drink does the trick. (I think I've developed a caffeine immunity.)

So what is a sleepytime gal supposed to do when darkness is closing in and a nap is NOT an option? Besides taping my eyelids open? (Which I haven't done, but I have considered. More than once.)

So how are you sleeping these days? Having trouble shutting down all the nervous thoughts running around your head at night? Reschedule that pediatrician appointment, kid needs new soccer cleats again, why won't the baby's cold go away, where did our dog go, why is the electric bill so high this month ...

Or is that just me?

The folks at Dream Water had the notion that the moms at The Stir might need a little help getting to sleep, so they sent some samples for us to try.

The concept of "alone time" takes on such a radically different meaning once you're a mom. Before baby, taking time to yourself meant spending the night at home with a book instead of on the town with your girlfriends or going on a weekend yoga retreat without your spouse. After baby, alone time can mean anything from a 10-minute shower to a quick diaper run (without the wee one strapped to your chest).

When my kids were babies, anytime I left the house without them, I felt like like I was missing something. Did I forget my wallet? My phone? Walking down the street without a kid in a sling and/or stroller was nothing short of bizarre. I felt so ... light.

But not always in a good way. At first, those rare child-free moments were both disorienting and guilt-inducing. Not only had I forgotten how to function as an individual, I felt like I'd abandoned the tiny creature who, until recently, actually lived inside my body.

Almost as much as I enjoy eating, I love sleeping. Oh dear, sweet, blissful sleep, how I love your unconscious, drooling ways! I will sacrifice just about anything -- including, most days, my morning workout -- to make sure I get my full eight hours. And now there's another great excuse reason for me to demand all that sleep: It keeps you skinny. Fist pump! Boo-yah, SLEEP.

Gotta love those scientists. They're always studying sleep. And the latest study shows that people who don't sleep enough eat more, move less, and gain weight. Yipes! Sleep-deprived parents, are you worried about this?

Dear Sleep,

Hello there, old friend -- I miss the hell out of you. Since I had the babies, things just haven't been the same between us and ... yes, yes, I knew this was going to happen, but still, I guess I hoped that it would be different for us. I mean, we're Sleep and Jenny, Jenny and Sleep -- there hasn't been a better pair since PB and J. So, I thought maybe we'd beat the odds. But, alas, you and me? We're never going to be what we were.

I know what you're going to say. Yes, I realize that our relationship is so much better than it was a few months ago. But, call me selfish or greedy, I want more, I do. I want like 7 or 8 uninterrupted hours of your time. I want you to be there for me at 4 a.m. when my baby's, "Help, I'm trapped on my tummy!" wails leave me wired and unable to drift back into your comforting arms. Why, oh why, can't things be like they used to be?

I have insomniac friends who swear that taking prescription sleeping pills is the only way they can get to sleep. But a new study suggests that their good night's rest might be coming at a really high price.

According to this study, adults who take sleeping pills may be nearly four times more likely to die earlier compared to those who are not prescribed sleeping pills. Even those who only take a small number of pills are at risk. And, that's not all of the bad news: People who take prescribed sleeping pills may also be more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Now, if that's not scary enough to keep you up at night, I don't know what is ...

For the past several years, I have spent the hours of 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. wide awake while the rest of my house (the rest of the world) is fast asleep. It certainly explains why I'm always so damn exhausted and fight the urge to fall asleep every afternoon, but isn't without benefit, too. In fact, on the rare night when I actually sleep through the night, I wake up disappointed about all of the things that remain undone. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you're alone for a change!

Brooke Burke has a lot going on these days. She's not only a host on Dancing with the Stars, but she also has four kids, a husband (sexy David Charvet), a modeling career, a product line (Baboosh Baby!) for moms, and probably a whole slew of other stuff I can't even think of right now. In short, she's a busy woman, and she barely gets enough shuteye. Not too much different from most moms, really. But the way she handles her sleep deprivation is a bit different.

Burke told Fitness magazine recently shared her secret to getting enough sleep, which in turn leads to a healthy sex life, as well as keeping her sanity. Throw all those guesses out the window, because it's probably not what you think.