Linda,
The ability to sleep well and the quality of sleep that I get now that I am sober are a constant source of delight to me. That sentence may sound a bit weird but in drink I had become accustomed to a sleep pattern very much like the one you described. I would go to bed at about 11 pm and sleep until perhaps 3 am. When I woke it was with such a suddenness and a complete return to consciousness that I knew I would not fall back to sleep again. I would lie in bed for those hours with my mind racing, trying to fill in the black-outs, wondering who I had offended or hurt. I would get up at about 7 am and feel like death warmed up and start planning my next drink.
Now that I sleep well I constantly remind myself of this enormous benefit of sobriety. I try hard to not take it for granted and use it to oppose any desire to drink.
Best wishes
Michael