April 10 on 10

I do not make bacon for breakfast very often at all. I had half a package leftover in the fridge from a recipe last week, and it was about to go bad if it didn't get used up soon. So, I made it this morning. The children were ecstatic. The skillet is still sitting in the kitchen with the grease all up in it. Why does cleaning up the grease bother me so?

nine o' clock

I used to make big breakfasts a lot on weekdays. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. But, as our school schedule has gotten more demanding, our breakfasts have simplified. Toast, cereal, muffins if SweetP wakes up early and wants to make them. But the rest of us generally don't wake up early, and the children took forever to eat this morning, so we were starting to get behind already. I had to get on their cases to wrap it up so we could start lessons.

ten o'clock

Scripture memory. Then, morning lessons.

eleven o'clock

noon

A little free time while I made lunch. Right around this point in the day, I felt it coming on... a migraine. I started popping pills like a mad woman, trying to head it off. If I get to the ibuprofen/Excedrin rotation quickly enough, it will often only last a few hours. And I drink water like it's going out of style.

one o'clock

It didn't take long for it to get bad, though. Little Dude went down for his nap, I gave each of the girls specific jobs to occupy them, and I took a hot, hot, hot shower. Letting the hot water pour down my forehead helps for some reason. When I came downstairs, Punkin rubbed my head while she read her book aloud. I look like I'm really paying attention.

Back in the day, when everyone was smaller, Sam would sometimes have to come home from work on a day like this. I'd just be too out of it to safely care for the children by myself. This headache wasn't quite that bad, I was clued in to everything going on around me. But, it was certainly nice to have children old enough to help. And sweet enough to be willing.

two o'clock

I was about to put the camera away for the day and just skip this month's ten. But, then I thought - "This is today. This is part of what happens in our life. I get headaches." And I kept the camera beside me on the coffee table.

SweetP took the shots of me in my infirmity.

three o'clock

It's humbling that my kids are going to grow up with memories of their invalid mother sprawled out on the couch like this. Then again, humbling is good for me. Baby was down for her afternoon nap, and the girls heated up my rice sock for me. Yes, that's a sock. With rice in it. Hot rice. It feels so good on an aching head.

The times for these afternoon photos are more or less accurate. I didn't set a timer or even look at the clock much. I just guessed when I thought enough time had passed. At some point when both the younger two were napping and the olders were completing some lessons independently, I dozed.

four o'clock

Three blessings. #1 - After my third dose of painkillers and a little snooze, I was feeling much better. #2 - Baby took a really long afternoon nap. #3 - our monthly Amazon book order arrived on the front steps. New books. Hallelujah. Everyone immediately had something interesting to do while I languished.

around five thirty

And not long after that, I was feeling much better, but hadn't shaken the headache completely. It was time to get ready to head out for Punkin's first soccer game. Sam came home to take her, and I decided to keep lying low at home with Baby and SweetP... drink more water, take one more dose of Excedrin.

Less than an hour later, I was good to go. No more headache.

What a weird 10 on 10.

six forty five

Heeeey, look! It's the acclaimed Gray Fleece!

I think Baby had been wondering what was up. We were both glad to get a little snuggle time.

And that, friends, makes it ten. So far, I don't think I've felt like any one of my 10 on 10s has been truly representative of our daily life. But, like I said, these kinds of days do happen... once every month or two.

And now, it's documented for all time. Like it or not.