Diary of a migraine

Wednesday was a bit of a blur. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. to notice that the power was out. I went to the front window to see if anyone else's power was out, too, and noticed someone had left the lights on inside the car last night. It was wierd being outside in my bare feet in the blustery cold. Eery. Took myself back to bed.

By 4:30 it was all I could do to move my head. I had been fighting ice picks (sharp shooting pains behind my eyes and on top of my head that come and go without warning) all weekend, and the migraine just hit hard. Woke the Papa Dude, and he brought me a handful of pills- Motrin, Tylenol, aspirin, and psudafed.

The last headache I had was when I was sick after Thanksgiving, a low-level headache that lasted over a week. This feels like a different monster- much more intense and painful.

The power came on at 6:45, which is when we usually wake the kids. If some guy that works for the power company was out in that early blustery morning fixing power lines so my kids would have light this morning, I thank him graciously!! Papa got the kids going, called in to work to say he was the only functioning parent today, and made me go to bed. I made a couple of phone calls, and arranged for the family with whom we share the food bank duties to do the deliveries today. Then I went upstairs and tried to sleep. For the first half of the day, I kept coming downstairs to use the bathroom (I swear, he literally poured the water down my gullet all day long!), and give instructions as to who needed to do what schoolwork, when to take who where, etc. Finally I realized that in order to rest, I needed to give up control of the house to Papa. Once I did that, I really did rest and was able to sleep most of the day. Surprising how hard that is! To let go and let someone else just take care of you.

One thing I noticed was how different the kids are with Papa than they are with me. Not one argument, not one raised voice all day, from any of them. The Boy finished his chores, and then his schoolwork, in exactly the time alotted. No fussing, no nothing. Hmmmm. Very different from the behavior I usually get from him.

I came back to the world of the living at 5:00 pm to shower and get ready for the interview. Papa made sure I ate a good supper of stir-fried pork and veggies, and then I was off, despite the foggy brain.

I arrived at the library right on time, and the two librarians running the interview put me right to work, sorting 2 shelves of books on a cart by the Dewey system, and alphabetically. The latter was easy, the former, well, we shall see. Then it was on to those tough questions that no one ever asks you unless you are in an unterview. "Tell us about a time you had to do something you really didn't want to do, and how you handled it." Ummm, coming to an interview for a job I really want with a head pounding so hard I can't hear myself think? Oh, no, not the answer you were looking for, is it. Okay, next question. "If you have a list of many things to accomplish, how do you get it all done, and decide which tasks shouild be done if you cannot finish them all?"Oh, you mean like every day of my life when I am trying to juggle the education of my children, the monster laundry piles, the unpaid bills, the grocery shopping, the elderly mother and the husband? Hmm. They actually giggled when I answered that question, in just about those words. I made it through all the questions, and they dismissed me. I won't know anything until late next week. This will be a hard wait.

I came home, crawled back into bed, took yet another handful of pretty pain-relievers, and rested as much as I could. Now it's Thursday. I am going to stay in bed this morning, except for taking the Boy to his classes. Then it's off to the Eastside. I have to call my Mom, I am not sure if my nephew is still home sick with the croup, or not. We may have another short visit if so. Either way, the Girl has a lunch date with a friend of ours. She is a dear lady, the mom of one of my high school friends who is one of my kids best role models. She is caring, kind, and loves to get silly with the kids. She buys them books, and only books for holiday gifts, sends them postcards whenever she travels, and is one of the best people I could ever have my kids around. So the Girl gets to go out to lunch, and then book shopping with her, to celebrate her birthday. I can't wait for my birthday, and my birthday lunch with this special lady!!

Then tonight, the Girl's recording session is re-scheduled. Cross your fingers that it goes well.

Well, I think that is enough for this morning. I sit in front of this thing for more than five minutes, and my head really starts pounding. But I wanted to let you know how the interview went.

Oh, and Papa: I know you don't read my blog often, but if you do today, know that I thank you sincerely for taking time off from work yesterday to take such good care of me and the kids. You folded laundry, cooked 3 meals, swept the kitchen, supervised a horn lesson as well as schoolwork, and did it all with grace and caring. That allowed me to get some much needed rest. Thanks, love. Now let's see if I can get through this new day with half as much grace. Thanks for the example.

TTFN,
LB