With a Little Help

I have had a migraine off and on for 8 days.  It has peaked and become unbearable 4 times - the most recent starting last night at about 10 pm.  Jack was up a LOT during the night, and I didn't get enough sleep to get rid of it, and I woke up with it again this morning which is the pits.

I was really sick to my stomach, and the light was killing me.  I knew it wouldn't be safe to drive.  I made my way to the kitchen and chugged a cup of coffee, but it didn't help.  I laid back down in my bed with my phone.

First I called Jen.  I normally take her daughters to school and she picks Claire up for me.  "Jen, I'm not safe to drive.  Can you pick Claire up for me?"  She said "of course," of course.  Mary Grace rides the bus, so she was good to go.

Then I called Monica, "I'm desperate.  I can't move.  Can you come over after you drop off your kids?  You can drink all the coffee you want!" I said, "I'll be right there," she said.  She got here before BJ even left.

It became abundantly clear that I needed to get to the doctor.  I called and got an appointment, and Monica drove me (and Jack, and her two little ones) and then kept the kids so I could see the doc.  He gave me a shot of something magical in my butt, and when I came out of the office I was a new woman.

Monica was waiting with an Egg McMuffin, knowing that I hadn't eaten anything all day.

It was the best damn Egg McMuffin EVER.

I do my fair share of helping, too.  We all do.  We help each other, and lean on each other, rather than trying to do everything and be everything all the time, and it's beautiful.  And the most amazing part of it is that no one keeps score or says, "Hey, you owe me!"  Somehow completely by accident BJ and I have managed to build this amazing community around us, and by being willing to help others we've received help when we've needed it (or just when it makes things a little less complicated with a young family!)  We hold each other up and encourage each other and love each others' kids and it's just so awesome.

I get by with a little help (or in this case, a lot of help!) from my friends.