Lessons learned so far this year:
Rod and Staff grammar is great for my advanced reader and highly creative writer who just happens to be a gifted speller.
Rod and Staff grammar is a horrible fit for my troubled reader with poor fine motor skills that can not pick out details and gets frustrated by a lot of information in a small area.
Singapore Science is great for all learning styles as long as the Mom has a extensive background in science or knows someone with a great background. It is great for fostering scientific thinking but lax on vocabulary and hands-on learning. Thankfully, I can easily make up for that. I have more trouble paring down the info than beefing it up. For non-science moms or science moms with "Barney-brain" the teacher's guides are worth the money.
Explode the Code is awesome for kids who just aren't getting the "code." It also help with spelling and handwriting. The Pre-code books are equally fabulous. The drawings are all a bit...well...Unprofessional but that just seems to be Mom's issue and the the kids'.
MCP phonics isn't nearly as good as ETC and the Teacher's Guide is a total waste of money.
Spelling workout doesn't help spellers with speech problems and it isn't a challenge for natural spellers. But it is great for vocabulary.
Wordly Wise is an asset for children who gifted with words but torture for those who aren't.
MCP math is the bomb baby! Singapore math is just not for kids who have their own strong, spatial, understanding of math. In fact it can be a detriment for kids who have a good grasp on math. It messes with their way of figuring things out and not in a good way. It's cute though and has great word problems.
Story of the World is best done without all the activities and stuff. Just read and discuss. If you need pictures use a supplement book or look up stuff online. All the extra stuff just keeps us from getting it done.
Evan-Moore Daily Geography is fast and incredibly useful. We do the whole week in one setting and it covers most of the "social studies" stuff that SOTW doesn't.
Latin doesn't get done but that is ok.
Mind benders, Building thinking skills, and logic games like Rush Hour and RIver Crossing are worth their weight in gold.
Oh...and snap circuits are the greatest invention ever for boys ages 8 and up.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Because I just can't leave things alone
After Monday's meeting, I starting working up my new plan. (See I can manage anything with a plan. It's the whole "out there flappin' thing" that just rails on my nerves.)
My current plan for the "fellows of many needs" in our little zoo is:
Tuesdays: A gets 30 minutes of speech at school and them M gets his own 30 minutes of speech at school.
Wednesdays: M and A alternate OT in private therapy for 20 visits each and then we shell out some more big bucks to make up the rest of the 12 weeks of the year.
Fridays: A goes back to school for another 30 minutes of speech.
When summer hits, both boys go to private speech 1 hour a week for 20 visits each.
In the mean time I continue to fight the state for Medicaid bennies for A. I think this will turn out in our favor. So far all of the local cases have been reinstated. Let's just hope the judge agrees with us.
We will also have A re-evaluated using the Miller and Peabody pre-school tests. These new results go to the school and the state to fight for school therapy and re-instatement of state benefits.
Other news. I just got a call from our special needs coordinator. We have another meeting scheduled for the 30th, after she received further information from the state. I have no idea what that information is but I would HOPE that we wouldn't schedule a second meeting to tell us that A didn't qualify for services. That would just be cruel.
This all brings me back to that "things I have learned that I never thought I would have to" kind of feeling. Sometimes, I kind of step back and listen to the words I throw around in these meetings and think, "Dang girl, I don't remember anyone mentioning this stuff in childbirth class. This is soooooooo not what we signed up for."
A friend of mine told me that God gives parents these children with special needs to see how we will respond to the challenge. Whether we will view these children as a gift from God to treasure and do all we can for. Of if we will see them a burden to deal with.
I have to admit that sometimes I feel both ways. I see parents whose biggest worry is a kid with a cold and I envy them. They've never had to put a child under anesthesia for surgery. They've never watched a child with a feeding tube cry for milk. They've never sat with a child on a nubulizer fighting to breathe. They don't spend 4 hours a week in a waiting room, every week.
But then again to those people that first "momma" just isn't as sweet. Running down the hall without falling even once isn't that big of an achievement. A handwritten name with all the letters well formed and facing the right directions isn't grounds for a huge celebration. And they will never understand that making eye contact and saying "hello" to a stranger is a massive mountain to surmount.
And while I would love to spend just one day not having to make accommodations, I could imagine my life any different. My children's disabilities are just part of who they are. They will overcome them and it will make them stronger, more compassionate people in the end. And their "normal" brothers will benefit from watching their brothers preservere and succeed despite all that stuff in the way. They will learn true tolerance and acceptance. They will learn that anything that has value is worth working for. They will learn that it is their job when they become parents to do all they can for their own children and never, ever give up.
At least I hope that is what they will learn.
My current plan for the "fellows of many needs" in our little zoo is:
Tuesdays: A gets 30 minutes of speech at school and them M gets his own 30 minutes of speech at school.
Wednesdays: M and A alternate OT in private therapy for 20 visits each and then we shell out some more big bucks to make up the rest of the 12 weeks of the year.
Fridays: A goes back to school for another 30 minutes of speech.
When summer hits, both boys go to private speech 1 hour a week for 20 visits each.
In the mean time I continue to fight the state for Medicaid bennies for A. I think this will turn out in our favor. So far all of the local cases have been reinstated. Let's just hope the judge agrees with us.
We will also have A re-evaluated using the Miller and Peabody pre-school tests. These new results go to the school and the state to fight for school therapy and re-instatement of state benefits.
Other news. I just got a call from our special needs coordinator. We have another meeting scheduled for the 30th, after she received further information from the state. I have no idea what that information is but I would HOPE that we wouldn't schedule a second meeting to tell us that A didn't qualify for services. That would just be cruel.
This all brings me back to that "things I have learned that I never thought I would have to" kind of feeling. Sometimes, I kind of step back and listen to the words I throw around in these meetings and think, "Dang girl, I don't remember anyone mentioning this stuff in childbirth class. This is soooooooo not what we signed up for."
A friend of mine told me that God gives parents these children with special needs to see how we will respond to the challenge. Whether we will view these children as a gift from God to treasure and do all we can for. Of if we will see them a burden to deal with.
I have to admit that sometimes I feel both ways. I see parents whose biggest worry is a kid with a cold and I envy them. They've never had to put a child under anesthesia for surgery. They've never watched a child with a feeding tube cry for milk. They've never sat with a child on a nubulizer fighting to breathe. They don't spend 4 hours a week in a waiting room, every week.
But then again to those people that first "momma" just isn't as sweet. Running down the hall without falling even once isn't that big of an achievement. A handwritten name with all the letters well formed and facing the right directions isn't grounds for a huge celebration. And they will never understand that making eye contact and saying "hello" to a stranger is a massive mountain to surmount.
And while I would love to spend just one day not having to make accommodations, I could imagine my life any different. My children's disabilities are just part of who they are. They will overcome them and it will make them stronger, more compassionate people in the end. And their "normal" brothers will benefit from watching their brothers preservere and succeed despite all that stuff in the way. They will learn true tolerance and acceptance. They will learn that anything that has value is worth working for. They will learn that it is their job when they become parents to do all they can for their own children and never, ever give up.
At least I hope that is what they will learn.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Out of holding pattern and starting to descend
Ever since we found out that A had lost his special needs medical benefits, I've been in standby mode. I just can't handle the unknown, especially an unknown dependent upon the whims of other people.
Today, things are not quite so unknown. We hired an advocate and yesterday we all sat down at the school to discuss what care he would get through them. He missed out on OT by .07ths of a point. Rules state 2 standard deviations below the norm in one area on two tests or -1.5 SDs in two areas. He scrored -2.33 in one area and -1.93 on the other test of that area (that translates into one point too high.) and he scored -1.4 in two other areas. (N retest was done since he "passed.")
He does qualify for speech though. He'll get two 30 minute sessions each week.
We're still fighting the other. He'll be retested and the school says that they will accept the results. They know he needs help. They know he does have significant developmental delay, even if the scores are a tad too to high. And they know he has know he has no cognitive problems (1.4 SD above average) and his language is wonderful (1.3 SD above average.)
So while it isn't the best outcome, I can now take the next steps. I'm not just circling and waiting on someone else to do their job.
Today, things are not quite so unknown. We hired an advocate and yesterday we all sat down at the school to discuss what care he would get through them. He missed out on OT by .07ths of a point. Rules state 2 standard deviations below the norm in one area on two tests or -1.5 SDs in two areas. He scrored -2.33 in one area and -1.93 on the other test of that area (that translates into one point too high.) and he scored -1.4 in two other areas. (N retest was done since he "passed.")
He does qualify for speech though. He'll get two 30 minute sessions each week.
We're still fighting the other. He'll be retested and the school says that they will accept the results. They know he needs help. They know he does have significant developmental delay, even if the scores are a tad too to high. And they know he has know he has no cognitive problems (1.4 SD above average) and his language is wonderful (1.3 SD above average.)
So while it isn't the best outcome, I can now take the next steps. I'm not just circling and waiting on someone else to do their job.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Banging head against the table
I know his spelling isn't that great. I know his fine motor coordination makes his handwriting unbeautiful. I know his vision affects his reading.
But WHY, WHY, WHY is he not getting that sentences start with a capital letter and end with some sort of punctuation. We've done the first chapter of R&S grammar. We've done all the sentence stuff form at least 3 other workbook/textbooks and the kid still won't start a sentence with a capital letter and put punctuation at the end.
You know what bugs me the most though. For anyone else, he would feel compelled to perform well. He wants to please other people and tries hard to meet expectations...except mine.
All I want is a capital at the beginning and a period at the end.
But WHY, WHY, WHY is he not getting that sentences start with a capital letter and end with some sort of punctuation. We've done the first chapter of R&S grammar. We've done all the sentence stuff form at least 3 other workbook/textbooks and the kid still won't start a sentence with a capital letter and put punctuation at the end.
You know what bugs me the most though. For anyone else, he would feel compelled to perform well. He wants to please other people and tries hard to meet expectations...except mine.
All I want is a capital at the beginning and a period at the end.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
I have a new blog
I didn't want to bore you with knitting and crocheting posts. (not that I mind boring you with all the other stuff.) So I started A Zoo Full of Knitting because the knitting needs its own darn zoo.
Just two posts and one of them you've seen before. But you have to see my socks. In fact if you know anyone who mind need the pair in their current condition...I'll RAK them to you. LOL
Just two posts and one of them you've seen before. But you have to see my socks. In fact if you know anyone who mind need the pair in their current condition...I'll RAK them to you. LOL
Close...very
From my IRL friend at Lover of Dolphins
 |
| What LoTR Character Are You? |
You are most like Merry. Hooray for you! You have no problems fitting in with a crowd, and you are often the life of the party. Good thing you're really smart too. Although many people like you, you are very serious about life. Go ahead and make the best of it. Just remember that those who are closest to you will be lost forever if you forget them.
The remembrance thing hits home. I am the family memory. I keep all the special photos and trinkets, wedding rings, glasses, rosaries. When my father died, we called the cemetery for get the plot number. For some reason the needed to look it up by the death date of the last person buried. January 10, 1984. I knew it without thinking. My Nanny died that day. My brother was dumbfounded that I remembered it when I was only 13 at the time.
But I forgot MIL's birthday this year. So I am far for perfect. LOL
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
A victory for the kid who can't see so well
M has eye problems. He was diagnosed at 3 with strabismus. It was temporarily "cured" with glasses. When he was 4, the diagnosis was strabismus (accommodative esotropia), 4th nerve palsy and astigmatism in both eyes. Oh yeah, and he's far-sighted. By that time his vision in his turning eye had gone to 20/100. We patched for several months...8 to 10 hours each day.
It hard to teach letters to a kid with one eye...with 20/30 vision. Then there was the first surgery and the time without glasses to help his eye muscles learn to work again. And then the second surgery and more time without glasses.
It's been a year since his last surgery. His vision is currently 20/30 and he is still out of glasses until we get those eyes aligned as well as possible. We're close.
During this whole eye ordeal, reading instruction has been not been as dedicated as it would for a child with no vision problems. Plus his speech problems cause some difficulty in decoding. His ophthalmologist has viewed our homeschooling as a positive thing. We've been able to focus on his eye health instead of school grades. A school kid would have been back in glasses way before now and wouldn't get the chance to let his eyes align naturally. For us, vision and ultimately binocular vision is most important. The school stuff can wait.
The fact that the kid doesn't enjoy reading (and you wouldn't either if you had to close one eye and cock your head to see things. And if your eyes jumped enough to make you lose your place on the line with every few words.) doesn't help either.
But tonight I pulled out a copy of "My Father's Dragon" and he read the first chapter for me with very few problems thanks to bright lighting and a blue highlighter line to help him stay on the correct line. He's even over that "race right over the periods but stop sentences at the end of the line" thing that drives me crazy about little kid oral reading. He was able to understand what he was reading and didn't have to focus all his attention on decoding.
First chapter book. One chapter down...nine more to go.
It hard to teach letters to a kid with one eye...with 20/30 vision. Then there was the first surgery and the time without glasses to help his eye muscles learn to work again. And then the second surgery and more time without glasses.
It's been a year since his last surgery. His vision is currently 20/30 and he is still out of glasses until we get those eyes aligned as well as possible. We're close.
During this whole eye ordeal, reading instruction has been not been as dedicated as it would for a child with no vision problems. Plus his speech problems cause some difficulty in decoding. His ophthalmologist has viewed our homeschooling as a positive thing. We've been able to focus on his eye health instead of school grades. A school kid would have been back in glasses way before now and wouldn't get the chance to let his eyes align naturally. For us, vision and ultimately binocular vision is most important. The school stuff can wait.
The fact that the kid doesn't enjoy reading (and you wouldn't either if you had to close one eye and cock your head to see things. And if your eyes jumped enough to make you lose your place on the line with every few words.) doesn't help either.
But tonight I pulled out a copy of "My Father's Dragon" and he read the first chapter for me with very few problems thanks to bright lighting and a blue highlighter line to help him stay on the correct line. He's even over that "race right over the periods but stop sentences at the end of the line" thing that drives me crazy about little kid oral reading. He was able to understand what he was reading and didn't have to focus all his attention on decoding.
First chapter book. One chapter down...nine more to go.
It's better than Comedy Central
S is having a fine funny day.
Well not at the very moment. At this very moment he is asleep on our bed in time out for hitting one of his brothers in the head with a rather large stick/pine tree branch.
But earlier he was down right funny.
He came running to me and rubbing his head.
"Ouchie, ouchie, ouchie...I hurt myself"
Where did you hurt yourself?
"In the living room."
drum riff
This was after he told me
"I don't want to go to the car wash. I said NO!" Complete with finger waving and stern look.
I told him that didn't have the option of "saying no" but he sure was cute trying to be the little big man. It's hard not to laugh.
And the Little Big Man is might be wishing he hadn't whacked his brother with a stick also. He's going to have to start rethinking the whole "give me what I want or I'll hit you" thing. His brothers have shown great patience but they are no Job.
It's tough being two going on twenty.
Well not at the very moment. At this very moment he is asleep on our bed in time out for hitting one of his brothers in the head with a rather large stick/pine tree branch.
But earlier he was down right funny.
He came running to me and rubbing his head.
"Ouchie, ouchie, ouchie...I hurt myself"
Where did you hurt yourself?
"In the living room."
drum riff
This was after he told me
"I don't want to go to the car wash. I said NO!" Complete with finger waving and stern look.
I told him that didn't have the option of "saying no" but he sure was cute trying to be the little big man. It's hard not to laugh.
And the Little Big Man is might be wishing he hadn't whacked his brother with a stick also. He's going to have to start rethinking the whole "give me what I want or I'll hit you" thing. His brothers have shown great patience but they are no Job.
It's tough being two going on twenty.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Test season already
My second son goes to the local PS for speech therapy once a week. It's actually interesting to walk through the school on a weekly basis and see what the kids are up to.
Friday, we had a special visit for A to have a speech evaluation. Apparently it is already time to start pushing that State testing. The CRCT posters are up at every turn. The poor kids can't go anywhere without being reminded that the CRCT is coming soon. Because as we all know, the fate of the free world relies how well the school scores on a state test. Poor kids. They face months of testing stress at every turn.
Some of these posters are to me, borderline offensive. Rosa Parks says, "I will not move until you learn your multiplication facts." Martin Luther King, Jr. says, "I have a dream that all students will learn the parts of speech."
seriously.
I guess I am the only parent that thinks that the great stand that Mrs. Parks made shouldn't be used to get kids to score well on a silly state test. I also don't remember any thing about parts of speech in the I Have A Dream speech. It seems cheapening and it doesn't teach these children anything about the Civil Rights Era, math, or grammar.
Instead of pushing this test on every flat surface in the school, maybe the school should start pushing the information students should learn instead. Take down the posters about the high stress, up-coming, every-so-important test. And put up posters ON the parts of speech and multiplication facts. Homeschoolers do this. We do it.
Why not list the states and capitals on the wall for the lunch line. If state symbols are that important to know...put them on the lunch tables. Instead of just putting a calendar up of class parties, testing schedules, and field trips...make a "this day in history" calendar. Education is not just something spoon fed to you by a teacher. Kids can pick up all kinds of things by just being repeatedly exposed to it. If you read that list of capitals enough times...you can't help but learn a few.
Use those flat surfaces to educate students instead of scaring their wits out of them.
Oh...and when an art class does an exhibition on athropromorphic art, if would be more educational if you'd include an explanation and maybe a history lesson for the kids NOT in that particular art class. That way they get something out of the display.
That would be a lot better than the felt posters reminding students that about "The Keys to CRCT success."
Friday, we had a special visit for A to have a speech evaluation. Apparently it is already time to start pushing that State testing. The CRCT posters are up at every turn. The poor kids can't go anywhere without being reminded that the CRCT is coming soon. Because as we all know, the fate of the free world relies how well the school scores on a state test. Poor kids. They face months of testing stress at every turn.
Some of these posters are to me, borderline offensive. Rosa Parks says, "I will not move until you learn your multiplication facts." Martin Luther King, Jr. says, "I have a dream that all students will learn the parts of speech."
seriously.
I guess I am the only parent that thinks that the great stand that Mrs. Parks made shouldn't be used to get kids to score well on a silly state test. I also don't remember any thing about parts of speech in the I Have A Dream speech. It seems cheapening and it doesn't teach these children anything about the Civil Rights Era, math, or grammar.
Instead of pushing this test on every flat surface in the school, maybe the school should start pushing the information students should learn instead. Take down the posters about the high stress, up-coming, every-so-important test. And put up posters ON the parts of speech and multiplication facts. Homeschoolers do this. We do it.
Why not list the states and capitals on the wall for the lunch line. If state symbols are that important to know...put them on the lunch tables. Instead of just putting a calendar up of class parties, testing schedules, and field trips...make a "this day in history" calendar. Education is not just something spoon fed to you by a teacher. Kids can pick up all kinds of things by just being repeatedly exposed to it. If you read that list of capitals enough times...you can't help but learn a few.
Use those flat surfaces to educate students instead of scaring their wits out of them.
Oh...and when an art class does an exhibition on athropromorphic art, if would be more educational if you'd include an explanation and maybe a history lesson for the kids NOT in that particular art class. That way they get something out of the display.
That would be a lot better than the felt posters reminding students that about "The Keys to CRCT success."
The question might be, who cares about a bathroom?
Why even bother fixing up an out dated upstairs bathroom in the first place? Especially one that get frequented by 4 boys.
Well, because they are my four boys and I've already wasted 7 years bathing little ones in a cramped dark room that I absolutly hate. I've rushed bath time for 7 years because I just couldn't hang out in that room any longer than I had too.
The boys deserve more than that...even if their toilet aim leaves much to be desired. So the room is something special for them. Something bright and easy to clean. With 4 siblings, the bathroom becomes a refuge of sorts. A place to read and be alone. The one place wher you are gauranteed a little privacy.
It shouldn't be so ugly.
And if the boys get tired of the frog theme...we can always change it to SpongeBob. It's that yellow up there.
Well, because they are my four boys and I've already wasted 7 years bathing little ones in a cramped dark room that I absolutly hate. I've rushed bath time for 7 years because I just couldn't hang out in that room any longer than I had too.
The boys deserve more than that...even if their toilet aim leaves much to be desired. So the room is something special for them. Something bright and easy to clean. With 4 siblings, the bathroom becomes a refuge of sorts. A place to read and be alone. The one place wher you are gauranteed a little privacy.
It shouldn't be so ugly.
And if the boys get tired of the frog theme...we can always change it to SpongeBob. It's that yellow up there.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
I smell of bleach and paint
A few months ago, I started redo-ing the boys' upstairs bathroom. I stripped the original 80's wallpaper to find horrible walls underneath. I primed the walls and then painted them a light yellow only to discover that there were holes everywhere. ZooDad tore out the 6 bulb light bar and found NO light box. None. Just a gaping hole with an electrical wire hanging grotesquely from some unknown origin.
After the original shock, he went out and bought a light box, installed it, and put in a sweet new silver light fixture with only 2 bulbs.
Well this weekend, I once again took up the task in the bathroom.
After spackling and sanding, I decided that the light yellow was just too light.
Thankfully, I have a paint stash. I decided on a darker yellow. (Pismo Dunes Behr) and starting painting everything all over again. I primed the vanity and painted it an antique White. Once, I had painted everything I could...I called ZooDad to remove the toilet. The plan was to cover the old original 80's yellow linoleum with new, seamless, sage green speckled vinyl.
That was the plan. After removing the shoe molding, I found that the old linoleum wasn't as glued down as I hoped. I pulled up a corner and it shattered.
So tomorrow the plan is to pull up all the old stuff. I figure this will be a lot harder than I expect. I'm sure that it is still glued down right in the middle. I'd love to be wrong though. Then I have to clean everything...again and make a template of the room to cut the new vinyl.**
After that, I paint trim and start gluing down the new floor. Finally is the details. Hanging all the doors and adding hardware. Shower curtain, border, and the accessories. This is going to be the frog bathroom. Since it is my least favorite room to hang out in, I thought I'd pick a fun decor that I liked. Oh yeah...and reinstalling the toilet. That's got to happen too.
It is currently in the tub. The boys are having a huge laugh over that and the gaping hole in the floor.
It will be finished by Friday. I'll take pictures.
** You might wonder why we aren't tiling the floor. Did I mention that I have 4 boys? Did I mention that this is their bathroom. Would you want to clean grout around the toilet used by 3 and soon to be 4 four boys? Don't you think that solid, seamless vinyl would be a better idea and easier to clean? Yeah, me too.
After the original shock, he went out and bought a light box, installed it, and put in a sweet new silver light fixture with only 2 bulbs.
Well this weekend, I once again took up the task in the bathroom.
After spackling and sanding, I decided that the light yellow was just too light.
Thankfully, I have a paint stash. I decided on a darker yellow. (Pismo Dunes Behr) and starting painting everything all over again. I primed the vanity and painted it an antique White. Once, I had painted everything I could...I called ZooDad to remove the toilet. The plan was to cover the old original 80's yellow linoleum with new, seamless, sage green speckled vinyl.
That was the plan. After removing the shoe molding, I found that the old linoleum wasn't as glued down as I hoped. I pulled up a corner and it shattered.
So tomorrow the plan is to pull up all the old stuff. I figure this will be a lot harder than I expect. I'm sure that it is still glued down right in the middle. I'd love to be wrong though. Then I have to clean everything...again and make a template of the room to cut the new vinyl.**
After that, I paint trim and start gluing down the new floor. Finally is the details. Hanging all the doors and adding hardware. Shower curtain, border, and the accessories. This is going to be the frog bathroom. Since it is my least favorite room to hang out in, I thought I'd pick a fun decor that I liked. Oh yeah...and reinstalling the toilet. That's got to happen too.
It is currently in the tub. The boys are having a huge laugh over that and the gaping hole in the floor.
It will be finished by Friday. I'll take pictures.
** You might wonder why we aren't tiling the floor. Did I mention that I have 4 boys? Did I mention that this is their bathroom. Would you want to clean grout around the toilet used by 3 and soon to be 4 four boys? Don't you think that solid, seamless vinyl would be a better idea and easier to clean? Yeah, me too.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Awwwwww, Man!
I just checked my camera. I "forgot" to take pictures. Well, that's not true. I took some pictures but not nearly as many as I should have.
I have NO pictures of:
the gigngerbread house the boys made
the ornaments the boys made
the other trees in the house
the boys baking cookies
the special ornaments we collect. (I vow to take pictures every year and never do)
the boys in front of the tree
my fireplace with all the stockings, garland, Santas, and the other tree.
the outside lights
the toys before the boys "found" them
my mom
I am so disappointed.
The pictures I do have, well, let's just say they aren't goign to winning any blue ribbons.
It was a great holiday though. The house looked awesone until the toy bomb went off. I guess there is alwys next year.
I have NO pictures of:
the gigngerbread house the boys made
the ornaments the boys made
the other trees in the house
the boys baking cookies
the special ornaments we collect. (I vow to take pictures every year and never do)
the boys in front of the tree
my fireplace with all the stockings, garland, Santas, and the other tree.
the outside lights
the toys before the boys "found" them
my mom
I am so disappointed.
The pictures I do have, well, let's just say they aren't goign to winning any blue ribbons.
It was a great holiday though. The house looked awesone until the toy bomb went off. I guess there is alwys next year.
Monday, January 02, 2006
8 hours 'til I hit the ground running
Tomorrow is our first day back to school. We've taken about 3 weeks off for the holidays and we have to reluctantly get our collective noses back to the grindstone.
Of course, I have to go all out. No half hearted start up for me, so sir-ee. Tomorrow, we'll have school, speech therapy at the school, and 2 hours of Cub Scouts.
Wednesday, we'll start A back at speech and OT. At least for a month or so. On the 23rd, we meet with the school to see what services they will provide and what they want from us in return. I also have to call A's social worker and see where we are in getting out trial date for Medicaid.
In all honesty, I'm beginning to feel defeated in my quest to get my son the treatment he needs. I feel that I have lost the fight before even getting the chance to speak for my son. Every one has already decided that his need is not great enough. The school has the teacher from the special Ed Class coming to the evaluation. This is the class for intellectually disabled children. The state has denied our continued coverage until the hearing. They say he doesn't need 5 day a week treatment. (He does but his therapist can't request it because the state will only pay for 10 sessions a month.)
So we are at an impasse.
The state says he's doesn't have a high level of need.
The school says he needs to be in a special ed classroom.
The therapist say he is profoundly speech disabled and severely developmentally delayed.
But no one but me really knows this little boy.
It funny...when he goes for these evaluations, I tell the evaluator what his problems are, what are his strengths are, and how to get the best out of him. When the test is concluded, they are always so surprised that I was right.
I'm not sure why they are so shocked.
Why shouldn't I know my son best.
I wish I could get the state, the therapists, the judge, and the school all together in one place and just sit them all down and say:
"This is my son. He has Severe Apraxia of Speech. He is also dyspraxic and is developmentally delayed. However, he is extremely intelligent. His cognitive abilities are above average. He is clever, creative, and loving. He will someday be a productive citizen if we can get his body up to the speed of his wonderful mind. I will do all that I can to make this happen. This is what I need you to do to help. A needs 3 one-hour individual speech sessions each week and one one-hour occupational therapy session. I would be interested in adding one or two group speech sessions and possibly a group OT session each week. We can do the group sessions at school, but A will not be enrolled in the special-ed classroom as he is not mentally handicapped. I will make sure that his education is equal to or superior to anything the school can provide a "normal" student. If you could make sure we can get appropriate therapy, A will turn out just fine."
You think they'd make that happen?
Well, tomorrow we catch up on math, start teaching A how to blend sounds other than "fat cat sat," and introduce some new triangular pencils and see if M and A can hold those a bit better.
Wish me luck
Of course, I have to go all out. No half hearted start up for me, so sir-ee. Tomorrow, we'll have school, speech therapy at the school, and 2 hours of Cub Scouts.
Wednesday, we'll start A back at speech and OT. At least for a month or so. On the 23rd, we meet with the school to see what services they will provide and what they want from us in return. I also have to call A's social worker and see where we are in getting out trial date for Medicaid.
In all honesty, I'm beginning to feel defeated in my quest to get my son the treatment he needs. I feel that I have lost the fight before even getting the chance to speak for my son. Every one has already decided that his need is not great enough. The school has the teacher from the special Ed Class coming to the evaluation. This is the class for intellectually disabled children. The state has denied our continued coverage until the hearing. They say he doesn't need 5 day a week treatment. (He does but his therapist can't request it because the state will only pay for 10 sessions a month.)
So we are at an impasse.
The state says he's doesn't have a high level of need.
The school says he needs to be in a special ed classroom.
The therapist say he is profoundly speech disabled and severely developmentally delayed.
But no one but me really knows this little boy.
It funny...when he goes for these evaluations, I tell the evaluator what his problems are, what are his strengths are, and how to get the best out of him. When the test is concluded, they are always so surprised that I was right.
I'm not sure why they are so shocked.
Why shouldn't I know my son best.
I wish I could get the state, the therapists, the judge, and the school all together in one place and just sit them all down and say:
"This is my son. He has Severe Apraxia of Speech. He is also dyspraxic and is developmentally delayed. However, he is extremely intelligent. His cognitive abilities are above average. He is clever, creative, and loving. He will someday be a productive citizen if we can get his body up to the speed of his wonderful mind. I will do all that I can to make this happen. This is what I need you to do to help. A needs 3 one-hour individual speech sessions each week and one one-hour occupational therapy session. I would be interested in adding one or two group speech sessions and possibly a group OT session each week. We can do the group sessions at school, but A will not be enrolled in the special-ed classroom as he is not mentally handicapped. I will make sure that his education is equal to or superior to anything the school can provide a "normal" student. If you could make sure we can get appropriate therapy, A will turn out just fine."
You think they'd make that happen?
Well, tomorrow we catch up on math, start teaching A how to blend sounds other than "fat cat sat," and introduce some new triangular pencils and see if M and A can hold those a bit better.
Wish me luck
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Advantages of "having" a farm
My MIL lives on the family farm land. Her unmarred older brothers (The Uncles) have farmed it their entire life. It's a real farm and not one of those cooperate do-dahs that do the countrysides. It's been in the family since before the War Between the States and has been farmed by at least generations. My Uncles my be its last farms though. Unless they can convince one of my boys to take up farm life.But farm life has great advantages. 2 cords of free firewood in one of them. ZooDad and the Uncles split it and loaded it. ZooDad tried to cut and split some for the Uncle that still lives in t Farm house but he was aghast at the prospect of allowing someone else to cut his firewood.
The bushels of sweet potatoes and peanuts in my kitchen are another advantage. Today, I'm roasting the peanuts to make home made peanut butter. The potatoes will go out in the garage for cold storage for later treats. (By the way, if you've never had sweet potato fries, you need to try them. You can top them with salt or butter and brown sugar.)
I also have THREE bags of unshelled pecans to shell, bag, and share. And that will be some time consuming work.
Every season, the farm brings new treats. The summer brings blueberries. The Uncles are proud of their watermelons. The have scupernongs and muscadines growing wild amongst the plum trees. There's figs, apples, and the occasional pear. That's in addition to fresh corn, peas, beans, okra, squash, and carrots.
And peanuts for boiling in the fall.
Then there is the fishing, the hunting, canoeing, and just traipsing through the woods on paths made by their great-great-great-grandfather. You just can't buy that anywhere.
One day someone from our homeschool support group suggested that we take a field trip down to the farm. (It's about an hour away.) M was astonished when he realized that most kids don't have a farm to play on and can't just get free fresh food whenever they need it.
"If their Gremmie's don't live on a farm, where do they live?" he asked.
When I told him that most Grammies live in houses, apartments, or nursing homes, the look on his face was hilarious. "I'm sure glad that my Grammie lives on the farm."
She's glad too.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Christmas Recovery
I'm home.
And lucky y'all...you get to hear about our holiday.
I might even have pictures. If not...I will soon.
Let's see...when I last left you, S had the flu and we were missing my Mom's surprise party since ZooDad was at Quantico.
I sent the older boys down to play with a buddy and made cookies to make up for the missed party. They had just cooled when the boys got home and M asked to have one. I had not removed them from the cookie sheet but did have my cake cutter/cookie scraper out. I didn't realize that it had such a sharp edge. Neither did M until he cut his index finger open.
Blood everywhere.
I bundled and loaded all the boys up and headed to the ER. On the way, I called ZooDad and filled him in and then called my sister to meet us. (She missed the party too. But I couldn't have 4 boys in the room while one was getting stitches. ) After three big shots and 5 stitches, M was all patched up. We get the stitches taken out tomorrow. It was a really deep cut.
Christmas was over the top as usual. ZooDad spoiled me royally and loved every moment of it. I got 15 skeins of yarn AND a new video ipod. I'm still giggling over the ipod. So far I have loaded every CD I could find including Latina Christiana and all the boys' CDs. I've used 2 of my 30 gigs. My entire Johnny Cash collection. All my downloaded music. 100 kiddie songs and everything else all in one compact little device with headphones and a radio transmitter for the van.
No more searching for lost CD's. No more burning CD's. Yay me!
Oh yeah, and all the books from Audible are going next...as is Story of the World. I am so thrilled. As a bonus, when we caravan to the farm, ZooDad can pick up the signal if he tunes to right radio station.
Christmas day we played, opened presents, visited with family and ate then loaded up for the farm and did it all over again. We loaded up on firewood and 7 layer cake and headed home after spending days seeing everyone we knew. Today is laundry and finding homes for all our new treasures.
On the knitting front, I started a new pair of socks. My BIL spent two days watching me turn out one sock. He was totally amazed.
"Hey, there's a tube. What's that flap thing? Oh...a heel now. That's the foot part now. Toes! It has a toe. You can actually put it on your foot. Wow!"
I'm going to knit him a pair for next year. He'll appreciate them now after seeing how it happens.
We got home last night and unloaded everything. The packaging and wrapping has all been thrown away but the living room looks like a toy bomb went off in there. All the boys are happy and content. Every gift was loved and they got just enough but not too much.
There was great sadness this morning when ZooDad went off to work. But the boys were comforted by the fact that he only has 2 workdays this week. If the boys had their way, we 'd have a month full of Saturdays. If I had any say so...I'd wish for the same thing. We're happiest when we are all together.
At breakfast one morning, MIL beamed as she fussed over all the boys, happily answering their requests of more pancakes, milk, or bacon. My childless BIL, noted how active the boys were that morning. I told him that this was ZooDad's and my experience every morning. We have no quiet breakfasts at our house. My MIL smiled at us and said, "Aren't they blessed!"
Yes we are. I could not ask for more.
And lucky y'all...you get to hear about our holiday.
I might even have pictures. If not...I will soon.
Let's see...when I last left you, S had the flu and we were missing my Mom's surprise party since ZooDad was at Quantico.
I sent the older boys down to play with a buddy and made cookies to make up for the missed party. They had just cooled when the boys got home and M asked to have one. I had not removed them from the cookie sheet but did have my cake cutter/cookie scraper out. I didn't realize that it had such a sharp edge. Neither did M until he cut his index finger open.
Blood everywhere.
I bundled and loaded all the boys up and headed to the ER. On the way, I called ZooDad and filled him in and then called my sister to meet us. (She missed the party too. But I couldn't have 4 boys in the room while one was getting stitches. ) After three big shots and 5 stitches, M was all patched up. We get the stitches taken out tomorrow. It was a really deep cut.
Christmas was over the top as usual. ZooDad spoiled me royally and loved every moment of it. I got 15 skeins of yarn AND a new video ipod. I'm still giggling over the ipod. So far I have loaded every CD I could find including Latina Christiana and all the boys' CDs. I've used 2 of my 30 gigs. My entire Johnny Cash collection. All my downloaded music. 100 kiddie songs and everything else all in one compact little device with headphones and a radio transmitter for the van.
No more searching for lost CD's. No more burning CD's. Yay me!
Oh yeah, and all the books from Audible are going next...as is Story of the World. I am so thrilled. As a bonus, when we caravan to the farm, ZooDad can pick up the signal if he tunes to right radio station.
Christmas day we played, opened presents, visited with family and ate then loaded up for the farm and did it all over again. We loaded up on firewood and 7 layer cake and headed home after spending days seeing everyone we knew. Today is laundry and finding homes for all our new treasures.
On the knitting front, I started a new pair of socks. My BIL spent two days watching me turn out one sock. He was totally amazed.
"Hey, there's a tube. What's that flap thing? Oh...a heel now. That's the foot part now. Toes! It has a toe. You can actually put it on your foot. Wow!"
I'm going to knit him a pair for next year. He'll appreciate them now after seeing how it happens.
We got home last night and unloaded everything. The packaging and wrapping has all been thrown away but the living room looks like a toy bomb went off in there. All the boys are happy and content. Every gift was loved and they got just enough but not too much.
There was great sadness this morning when ZooDad went off to work. But the boys were comforted by the fact that he only has 2 workdays this week. If the boys had their way, we 'd have a month full of Saturdays. If I had any say so...I'd wish for the same thing. We're happiest when we are all together.
At breakfast one morning, MIL beamed as she fussed over all the boys, happily answering their requests of more pancakes, milk, or bacon. My childless BIL, noted how active the boys were that morning. I told him that this was ZooDad's and my experience every morning. We have no quiet breakfasts at our house. My MIL smiled at us and said, "Aren't they blessed!"
Yes we are. I could not ask for more.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Here's where I prattle on about the knitting
I just started this in October. But since I have an obsessive personality, I have really thrown myself into it.
I've crocheted for years. My grandmother taught me and my older sister filled in all the forgotten details. But crochet can only get you so far. I mean, you can make some great afghans and seriously awful toilet paper covers, but you can't get the variety of pattern that you can in knitting.
So I taught myself to knit.
So far, I have made 3 hats and 5 Christmas stockings and one lone sock
Here's four of the five stockings.
The boys have their initials purled into the pattern. I had planned to do a color change but I just haven't figured out how to do that in the round.
And here's my first completed knitting project...evah! This is the one were I learned that knitting in the round is far superior to knitting straight and then seaming.
And here's a couple of my cuties. One is sporting a new boucle Acorn hat. The other is supposed to be wearing the hat above. Do you see it? Look closely. Can't see it? That's because it is most likely stuffed with Hot Wheel cars and toy animals instead of being on his little smiling head.
I've crocheted for years. My grandmother taught me and my older sister filled in all the forgotten details. But crochet can only get you so far. I mean, you can make some great afghans and seriously awful toilet paper covers, but you can't get the variety of pattern that you can in knitting.
So I taught myself to knit.
So far, I have made 3 hats and 5 Christmas stockings and one lone sock
Here's four of the five stockings.
The boys have their initials purled into the pattern. I had planned to do a color change but I just haven't figured out how to do that in the round.
And here's my first completed knitting project...evah! This is the one were I learned that knitting in the round is far superior to knitting straight and then seaming.
And here's a couple of my cuties. One is sporting a new boucle Acorn hat. The other is supposed to be wearing the hat above. Do you see it? Look closely. Can't see it? That's because it is most likely stuffed with Hot Wheel cars and toy animals instead of being on his little smiling head.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Busted
JC has a song called "Busted." It's lyrics are just an itemized list of all the bad things that are going on in a farmer's life.
I went to my brother to ask for a loan. I was busted. I hate to beg like a dog for a bone but I'm busted. My brother said there ain't a thing I can do. My wife and my kids are all down with the flu. And I was just thinking of calling on you. I'm busted!
I've been singing my own version of this song lately. Though money is fine, I haven't really even started on Christmas shopping. ZooDad is at Quantico until tomorrow. (He's been there all week.) We'll miss my Mom's surprise birthday party tonight because Baby S has some unknown virus, most likely the Flu. He's fine as long as I keep him on Tylenol/Motrin. As soon as the meds wear off, he's back up to 102 degrees. He's been sleeping with me so it is just a matter of time before I come down with the dreaded disease.
Yesterday evening, one bright curious boy tipped my tart warmer. No one was burned but I know have red wax all over the floor and my yellow buffet. The splatter won't scrape off and the red has already stained it.
And I'm out of firewood.
and one strand of my outside lights has a short....making the whole house dark.
Petty huh? (laugh)
On a positive note.
A sick boy has given me lots of knitting time and I've rather enjoyed being home all week with an excuse to not go anywhere.
I went to my brother to ask for a loan. I was busted. I hate to beg like a dog for a bone but I'm busted. My brother said there ain't a thing I can do. My wife and my kids are all down with the flu. And I was just thinking of calling on you. I'm busted!
I've been singing my own version of this song lately. Though money is fine, I haven't really even started on Christmas shopping. ZooDad is at Quantico until tomorrow. (He's been there all week.) We'll miss my Mom's surprise birthday party tonight because Baby S has some unknown virus, most likely the Flu. He's fine as long as I keep him on Tylenol/Motrin. As soon as the meds wear off, he's back up to 102 degrees. He's been sleeping with me so it is just a matter of time before I come down with the dreaded disease.
Yesterday evening, one bright curious boy tipped my tart warmer. No one was burned but I know have red wax all over the floor and my yellow buffet. The splatter won't scrape off and the red has already stained it.
And I'm out of firewood.
and one strand of my outside lights has a short....making the whole house dark.
Petty huh? (laugh)
On a positive note.
A sick boy has given me lots of knitting time and I've rather enjoyed being home all week with an excuse to not go anywhere.
I finished all four boys' stockings and hung them by the chimney with care. The stripes were super easy because I just carried the yarn over each row since I didn't care about a seam. It was cumbersome fiddling with three yarn strands at a time but it was worth it when I was weaving in the ends. I'm working on one final stocking for ZooDad.
And the new "fake, pre-lit" tree is up and decorated. I only hung my precious silver ornaments and the garland. The boys did all the rest of the hanging, even way up top. Cool!
Here's the lit version.
I may not be back until after Christmas. I have massive shopping to do. (That lone present is my sister's.) Christmas evening, we'll head down to the farm for a few days of over-eating and goat chasing.
Merry Christmas to all. May your houses stay warm and well lit. May your children stay healthy. May the things you wish for be the gifts God grants you.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
In which she half decorates
It's "decorate the house but get sidetracked by all your stuff" day here at the zoo.
The situation thus far.
We have a redneck pile of totes on the porch. I go out periodically and forage through them for stuff.
Three (count 'em THREE) stockings are knitted. Only one has a hanging loop on it. It is hanging from the caboose stocking holder on the mantle. I've cleared the mantle from my normal stuff except my clock. I've replaced it with lighted garland and the train stocking holders. I need to do something else there but I have to find my stuff first.
The new pre-lit tree is up and lit. But it is not fluffed. It's looking pretty Charlie Brownish. I'm about 20 minutes away from putting up my old fake tree. (also on the porch.) But I would have to be desperate because I'd have to sort, fluff, and assemble each and every dang branch PLUS put on my 10 stings of lights.
Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the Wise Men, 3 angels, and a couple of Santas are hanging out on the buffet in the dining room. Beside them are a stack of ornament boxes for my silver ornaments (which need polishing) and my basket of knitting.
In the very center of my living room are two big totes of tree decorations and garland. Four advent calendars has already been hung as has the front door wreath. A tote of Christmas lights sits in the center of our walkway along with a step ladder and various and sundry yard stakes and extension cords.
With any luck I'll be done Christmas. I'd better be. I'm hosting the family this year.
The situation thus far.
We have a redneck pile of totes on the porch. I go out periodically and forage through them for stuff.
Three (count 'em THREE) stockings are knitted. Only one has a hanging loop on it. It is hanging from the caboose stocking holder on the mantle. I've cleared the mantle from my normal stuff except my clock. I've replaced it with lighted garland and the train stocking holders. I need to do something else there but I have to find my stuff first.
The new pre-lit tree is up and lit. But it is not fluffed. It's looking pretty Charlie Brownish. I'm about 20 minutes away from putting up my old fake tree. (also on the porch.) But I would have to be desperate because I'd have to sort, fluff, and assemble each and every dang branch PLUS put on my 10 stings of lights.
Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the Wise Men, 3 angels, and a couple of Santas are hanging out on the buffet in the dining room. Beside them are a stack of ornament boxes for my silver ornaments (which need polishing) and my basket of knitting.
In the very center of my living room are two big totes of tree decorations and garland. Four advent calendars has already been hung as has the front door wreath. A tote of Christmas lights sits in the center of our walkway along with a step ladder and various and sundry yard stakes and extension cords.
With any luck I'll be done Christmas. I'd better be. I'm hosting the family this year.
Friday, December 02, 2005
I needed that
We had a grown up party last night.
I didn't take any pictures so you won't see me in all my glittering glory but ZooDad said I looked beautiful.
It was great. We won a $50 gift card and a poinsettia for my mom. We ate a delicious meal, had a few desserts, had a few drinks, and got to visit with some people we liked. ZooDad promised that we could start adult dance lessons. There is a studios between ours and mom's house, so I am going to make the man live up to his promise.
We got to cuddle and laugh and talk about stuff other than children and house stuff. ZooDad was praised a couple of times and I was so proud because I knew I helped him be this fabulous employee, father, husband. (And the fact that he's mine!)
The boys had their own party. They got to hang out at my mom's and play with 3 of their cousins. They ate pizza, ran around outside, and played video games until we showed up. It was midnight before they were asleep in bed so school is pretty much shot for the day.
But is was sooooooo worth it.
Sheila
I didn't take any pictures so you won't see me in all my glittering glory but ZooDad said I looked beautiful.
It was great. We won a $50 gift card and a poinsettia for my mom. We ate a delicious meal, had a few desserts, had a few drinks, and got to visit with some people we liked. ZooDad promised that we could start adult dance lessons. There is a studios between ours and mom's house, so I am going to make the man live up to his promise.
We got to cuddle and laugh and talk about stuff other than children and house stuff. ZooDad was praised a couple of times and I was so proud because I knew I helped him be this fabulous employee, father, husband. (And the fact that he's mine!)
The boys had their own party. They got to hang out at my mom's and play with 3 of their cousins. They ate pizza, ran around outside, and played video games until we showed up. It was midnight before they were asleep in bed so school is pretty much shot for the day.
But is was sooooooo worth it.
Sheila
Thursday, December 01, 2005
In which Sheila gets over it all
shake
shake
shudder
brush, brush, brush
I've decided to just shakes that funk off and just be happy. I think that is the first step.
Tonight I have help being happy. I have a real life grown up Christmas Party to attend. A real party with sparkly clothes, a catered meal, open bar, presents, dancing, adults to talk to, and my darlin' hubby to escort me. I am so excited. Now I just have to do something with my crazy hair.
On the knitting front, I finished 2 of the four stockings I have to make (plus a giant one for ZooDad.) The two pictures are without flash so you can see the initials better. Both stockings need blocking and some sort of hanging device. But that is a detail to be worked out after the other 2 are finished.
Today we are doing laundry, reading The Magicians Nephew, and literally... watching grass grow. The winter rye thrown out last week has proven to be a great nature study. We've studies what plants need to grow and experimented with water, sunlight, and ground cover. They have compared species of plants, immature plants to adult plants, as well as growing seasons, planting zones, and a quick intro to photosynthesis.
We would be watching mold grow, but none has yet. After 5 days in sandwich bags and neither, the wet bread, the plain bread, nor the toasted bread has shown any changes. The wet bread does smell not so tasty.
The grass is growing faster than the bread is molding.
Tomorrow we are going to Civil War School. I'll post pictures from it and the fabulous Fallen soldier re-enactment we had at a family reunion a few years ago.
shake
shudder
brush, brush, brush
I've decided to just shakes that funk off and just be happy. I think that is the first step.
Tonight I have help being happy. I have a real life grown up Christmas Party to attend. A real party with sparkly clothes, a catered meal, open bar, presents, dancing, adults to talk to, and my darlin' hubby to escort me. I am so excited. Now I just have to do something with my crazy hair.
On the knitting front, I finished 2 of the four stockings I have to make (plus a giant one for ZooDad.) The two pictures are without flash so you can see the initials better. Both stockings need blocking and some sort of hanging device. But that is a detail to be worked out after the other 2 are finished.
Today we are doing laundry, reading The Magicians Nephew, and literally... watching grass grow. The winter rye thrown out last week has proven to be a great nature study. We've studies what plants need to grow and experimented with water, sunlight, and ground cover. They have compared species of plants, immature plants to adult plants, as well as growing seasons, planting zones, and a quick intro to photosynthesis.
We would be watching mold grow, but none has yet. After 5 days in sandwich bags and neither, the wet bread, the plain bread, nor the toasted bread has shown any changes. The wet bread does smell not so tasty.
The grass is growing faster than the bread is molding.
Tomorrow we are going to Civil War School. I'll post pictures from it and the fabulous Fallen soldier re-enactment we had at a family reunion a few years ago.
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