Adding New Meaning to the Term "Hard-Nosed"

Well, this weekend is Homecoming Weekend at my alma mater, Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois--and it happens to be my 20th class reunion! Papa Rooster's too. Yes, we met there; I should tell you that story sometime.

It's been such a busy week, I haven't had time to breathe, let alone think about this weekend. (The posts you've seen this week were written during the kids' rehearsals last weekend.)

But today, I suddenly became very concerned about my appearance for this event--because Bantam2 nearly broke my nose.

He was in Bantam16's bedroom, and I had called to him that it was naptime when an undone chore caught my eye, so I stopped in the doorway to talk to Bantam12 about it. Receiving his answer, I began once again to step into the bedroom and was just turning my head toward the doorway when a solid wood door hit me hard in the face. Bantam2, not wanting to take a nap, had gotten behind the door to slam it shut.

I lowered myself to Bantam8's mattress which happened to be on the floor and moaned. And couldn't open my eyes. And instinctively started deep breathing like when I've been in labor. It hurt THAT. BAD.

With the pain beginning to come under control, I suddenly thought of the reunion. Had I broken my nose? Would it turn black and blue? Would I have two black eyes? I moaned again.

All four of my boys clustered 'round me, the older ones impressing upon the 2-year-old what a bad thing he had done and how much he had hurt Mommy. "Put him to bed," I said through gritted teeth, and Bantam16 whisked him off.

When the pain subsided I eased my way upstairs to find the frozen gel pack in the freezer, and laid down with it across the bridge of my nose for the next 15 minutes, then held it on awhile longer while I tried to function with no glasses and and an ice pack blocking my vision.

The good news is that it's not broken, my eyes are not black, and the swelling around the bridge of my nose is barely detectable. The bad news is that I feel like I've had a whiplash injury--I have a generalized headache, a back-of-the-neckache, a top-of-the head ache, and a jaw ache. But it could be so much worse! I am actually SOOOO thankful.

"Are you sorry for what you did to Mommy?" one of my sons asked Bantam2 when he woke up from his nap. He ran straight to me and put his arms around my neck. "Saw-wee, Momma," he said. "A hud," he said, hugging me tight.

They're worth it. Even if he'd broken my nose.