Switching Sides

So we decided to do a little experiment in our house. Tim and I met on March 13th, 1998 and married on September 1st. 2001. For the past 9 years we have slept on the same side of the bed. Tim on the left and me on the right. About a month ago, I got tired of waking up with a sore throat because the air vent blows right down on my face all night long. So we switched sides....aaagh! Crazy isn't it? We switched sides! I wonder how many other couples in the world sleep on the same side of the bed each night and for how many years. Like grandmas and grandpas for 50 + years, are they sleeping on the same side they chose when they were 20?

On with the experiment: we also thought that neither one of use had been sleeping well and could not get our sides adjusted right (We have a sleep number bed). Our backs started to hurt and generally not sleeping good. So off I go to the left and Tim to the right. We even moved the bed over and changed the night stand position (We really went all out if you knew how much that bed frame weighs). The first couple nights were odd but I slept and did not wake up with a sore throat. Tim is enjoying the straight trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Moving the bed over caused more room near the doorway and it made the room look even bigger (even though it started out huge).

Problem: We both still ache in the morning and are now starting to think our sleep number bed is bad. Could it be time to change to a different mattress?

(Denial) Variable: We both didn't even stop to consider the 13 pound dog that now sleeps with us and seems to take up 3/4 of a king size bed. In the middle of the night I find myself contorting into different positions to accommodate said dog. We both end up with about 1-2 inches of space left before we tumble off onto the floor. Also, neither one of us has the nerve to move that sweet little puppy in the middle of the night. You try to move him and he whimpers, groans and snuggles in closer leaving even less room. He is so darn cute when he turns over and nuzzles his cold little nose into the curve of your neck, leg, arm, back, wherever. 

Any advice other than boot the dog out of bed cause really folks, that ain't happening! He is our baby and we spoil him with love, attention and plenty of pets every night. In the morning he stretches and looks up at us and waits for more scratches before he starts his day (of playing, pets and even more spoiling). 

So, look for a new bed or smell like Ben Gay everyday because of our sore backs?