You definitely seem like an un-n00bish newb.
Welcome to the forum!

The dream recall issues you're having are pretty easy to solve if you want to put the effort into it. For one, try writing in a Dream Journal next to your bed before getting up and walking around in the morning. Usually you have better recall before you get up and walk around, so it should help. Also, if that doesn't help, a tried and true method is to wake up after four or five hours of sleep and write down any dreams you remember in your DJ before going back to sleep. It interrupts the REM phase of sleep, so it should help you remember more.

Anyway, there's no true cure for waking up after becoming lucid, just try not to get excited. It isn't easy, but I don't really know of any ways around it.

-Tsen