missing badges, parenting fails and forgiveness

 

 

She puts on such a brave face.

 

 

Such a sweet, sensitive heart she has.  Neither of my boys seem to posses that thing that makes you sensitive of others.  But she has it in spades.  She’s always thinking of others.  Always ready to cuddle.  To nurture.  To love.

 

 

But I knew.  I knew behind her big blue eyes and dimpled smile hid a broken heart.  But she was thinking of me and trying desperately not to make me sad.  She hates to see me sad.  And so she smiled even though I had failed her big time.  I felt the guilt and grief and sadness climb up my throat until I had to catch her and make her see how sorry I was.  Apologize on my knees.  Until she knew to her toes that I meant it deeply.  Until any possible root of bitterness could be plucked from the soil of her tender heart.  To God, I don’t want her to grow bitter with me.  With him. 

 

 

Having a child with significant special needs impacts the whole family.

 

 

And last Saturday, at her American Heritage Girls ceremony, she missed out on receiving extra badges as a direct result of her brother’s care sapping her mother’s energy.

 

 

It was not her fault.  She worked hard for those badges.  She earned them.

 

 

I should have ordered them.

 

 

But somehow…in all the chaos of these last few months…I missed the order placement period.  And she missed out.

 

 

The thing is…

 

 

she had already missed out before.  I vividly remember promising her at the middle of the year ceremony that next time I would get it right.  Next time she would have those badges that she worked towards.  I would NOT let her down.

 

 

Talk about a parenting fail.

 

 

I pulled her aside and with tears running down my cheeks begged her to forgive me.  She promised it was okay.  That she understood.  Her blond hair and blue eyes looked so innocent and sweet.  But she’s eight.  Can an eight year old heart really understand how much energy leaks out of me every time her brother has a seizure or an IEP meeting?  How half way though the day…I’m toast.  And ready to just curl up in bed with a book.  It feels like I’m always tired anymore.  Ordering badges are the last thing on my mind.  Can she understand that and be okay with me pouring myself into finding new treatment options and talking to specialists to help her brother…but forgetting to order her badges?  I cried because my heart broke for her.  I cried because sometimes my heart groans for the day of Redemption fiercely.  I cried because I’m mad at myself.  Always, I’m reminding myself that I’m a mom of more than one.  And yet that one takes so much energy to parent.  I hugged her hard because I wanted to squeeze any doubts that she’s not as important to me as he is right out of her.  I didn’t want to let her go because I’m afraid that someday she won’t want to come back.  That she’ll look at my choices and judge them as partial.  I fear that because I know my own heart so often is bent towards bitterness.  And I can’t bear the thought.

 

 

So I hugged her tighter.  Until she said, “um, mom, I can’t breath” with a little laugh.  Which made me laugh too.  Because not only does she have the gift of compassion…she also has the gift of comedy.  Her voice was dead pan hilarious.  Against every fiber of my being, I pried my arms open and let her run off with her little friends.

 

 

I worry about her tender heart often…

 

 

But I have hope too.  I believe in Providence.  I know that we are not a family by chance.  We were chosen to be together by a loving God for His glory.  And I believe that He’s using Trevy shape all of our hearts to look more like His.  Missed badges and all.

 

 

It also helps when I read thoughts of older special siblings like this one…

 

 

“growing up with a special needs sibling equips you with a unique sense of humor, a special ability to marvel at the small beauties in life, and a boatload of patience!”  -- Brittany, SpecialSiblings.com

 

 

…danielle

our day in pictures

 

Thanks to a tip from another homeschool mom we’ve been starting our mornings each day with CNN’s Student News.  Bristel didn’t want her picture taken because she still had bedhead.

Today’s episode covered the weather in OK.  The kids and I took some time to pray together.  It’s always precious praying with them…

This (above) is my Morning Meeting Basket. Our morning meetings are a time to connect & review before the day begins. Some things I have in my basket are: mini-white boards for Scripture review or just review games in general; colored whiteboard markers; American Flag for the Pledge; Brain Quest cards for fun; Binder with odds n’ ends; Index card binder with hand written things to review; Random other review-ish things.  I like to have a theme for each day of the week…but now that summer is closing in we’re all ready to just be done.  So I’ve just been flying by the seat of my pants.

Even though summer is comin’…I finally got my hands on a copy of Sue Patrick’s book this week.  I LOVE the workbox system on so many levels and reading through the book re-energized me again.

**her e-book is half priced right now**

So I spent the weekend cleaning out my school closet and creating new workbox tags for the kids.

Including a Question Mark Flag which they can pop into play-doh whenever they have a question for me rather than just leaving their seats all.the.time.

I have promised to check-in frequently.

And so far it’s working WONDERFULLY!

Other than Toby whistling and/or loudly drumming on the table for my attention.  That’s plucking me nerves…I may have to limit the number of questions allowed per day like Sue Patrick recommends!

Bristel thought her popsicle stick was too boring so she added some bling using left-over gold pieces from a mosaic kit.  Her girly girl styles makes me smile!

Toby wasn’t thrilled that she be-dazzled his too and made us remove them all!  LOL

My new love – repositionable spray glue!  I found mine at Michael’s for around eight bucks.

I sprayed it on poster board to make a Latin vocab review game.  I’ll be using it for LOTS of review games since we can just keep sticking and unsticking!

I also used it instead of velcro to make the kids workbox cards.  I’m hoping it works out because I’m a fan of LESS bulk!

The kids have both been daily doing Xtra Math, a free math fact practice website, for the past week and I’m definitely seeing improvement.

All my online reading program memberships have expired, so I have Bristel reviewing phonics with this nifty McGuffey app.  I’m using the lite version right now but I’m really REALLY liking this app for her AND for Trevy!  I may just have to purchase the full thing…

I couldn’t resist sharing my fan set-up.  It was stinkin’ hot yesterday…and we have these really weird shaped windows that are too small for regular window fans but too big for smaller fans.  Enter Duct Tape: the everything fixer!

On a super personal note, Life has been really stressful lately. 

Trevor’s seizures have been crazy.  He’s been having drug interactions that could KILL him and HAVE caused some really scary episodes of balance and consciousness loss.  So we’ve been fiddling with meds…never fun.  I hate the med-merry-go-round.  But it’s a necessary evil when your child has a form of catastrophic epilepsy.  We almost had an admission…also never fun.  Even when it’s canceled.  We were packed and ready to head out the door when the neuro called to change plans on us…for a valid reason.  But we were already so emotionally invested that we still had to deal with a touch of “hospital hangover”.  And it’s just been chewing up our hearts.  The way life with a chronically sick child does.

This has caused me to actively search for ways to add more PEACE.

Some days that means “unschooling”.  Because I can’t gather my wits about me.

Some days it means staying in my favorite pink sweat pants from dawn til’ dusk.  Don’t you teach better in sweats?!

Some days it means spending awhile in the Word and prayer.  My Mother’s Day zero gravity chair is a great place for that! 

Today it was the Instrumental Praise station on Pandora.  The kids feel like the music is too sad.  But for me…it’s peaceful!  And I need more PEACE!  I let them change the station on breaks…Toby is a huge fan of the Newsboys station.

On the subject of Peace.  And the lack thereof.  It seems like the kids attitudes go to pot at exactly the wrong time.  I’m sure it’s partly because they feel the stress oozing from their parents.  And that’s how they deal.  But they’ve been at each other’s throats for weeks…and I’ve done more yelling and crying and well, just bad parenting moments than I care to confess.  And it’s just been not working on any level.

So another peace-chasing thing I’m trying is having a “Scripture Station” at the kitchen island every morning.

My goal is less yelling and more (penmanship, grammar &) character building.  When I feel my blood pressure elevating…I (mostly) send them to copy pre-chosen verses.

Both of my kids are really LOVING FreePianoLessons4Kids.  They think Mr. Hoffman is a great teacher and he must be because he’s keeping them engaged!

They also take lessons with Grams.  But it’s been hard to fit them in lately so I’ve been supplementing with this program.

Bristel’s Language is Abeka this year.  I’ve been letting her say some things out loud to me.  If she makes a mistake she’ll have to write it out for extra practice.  It’s been a great motivator for her to try and remember her phonics rules!  Oh and I’ve black board painted just about every school surface in our house too!  It’s SO handy.  See the bank she and I worked on before she wrote her paragraph?  I highly recommend going a little blackboard paint crazy every now and then.  It’ll make you feel so “teacher-y”.

 

 

…danielle

I can do foreign languages

 

 

“I am a parent advocate. I have been my son’s advocate for the past twenty-two years, and an educational advocate assisting other parents for almost a decade. I know what it is to sit in an IEP team meeting as both the intimidated parent and as the educational advocate supporting other parents. I have seen parents overwhelmed in a meeting laden with the special education acronyms, rules, regulations, and negotiations that lead to the development of their child’s IEP. In my several decades of on-the-job-training, or “combat duty,” I have come to believe that reading an IEP is nothing short of having to learn and master a foreign language.  But it can, and must be done.”  -- Marcie Lipsitt, NCLD Parent Leader, excerpt from Why and How to Read Your Child’s IEP .

 

 

I have often wondered why God would allow us to go through the whole sha-bang of becoming career missionaries only to bring us home.  It’s not something you just “do”, ya know.  We had to have the right degrees.  And then the right amount of experience.  We had to be “approved” by an organization that is accepted into the country.  Then we spent two years on the road fund-raising.  Tobin was 2 when that journey started.  You can imagine the fun times we had.  Wink wink.  8 years, it took from concept to fully having raised enough mulah and get there.  Not just ourselves either.  We shipped a container filled with our earthly possessions too.  Eight years didn’t seem like a sacrifice because we were planning to be there forever.  Then we spent two years acclimating to the culture and learning the language.  Come home to have baby number three on doctor’s orders – I have tricky pregnancies.  Never ever dreaming we wouldn’t return.  Of course I’ve asked why…

 

 

Have you ever learned a foreign language?

 

 

For the first year and a half I thought my head was going to explode!

 

 

At that point in time, it was easily the single most difficult thing I had ever done.

 

 

And you know what stinks too?

 

 

I was pretty darn good at the Swahili thing.  By two years in both Jonathan and I could easily communicate (probably at a elementary school child level) everywhere we went.   We translated for church groups that came to visit us in The Bush.  I bought fruits and veggies using only Swahili.  We spoke it everywhere for everything.  Ha.  That reminds me about the time Jonathan got pulled over by the screaming cop.  One of the first things you learn is to say “I’m just a visitor!  It was a mistake!” to get yourself out of any cultural binds.  Evidently, you’re not supposed to say it like you were born and raised in the country!  Our claims to be “wageni” only further infuriated the cop who was screaming his head off for us to open the door and something about our Swahili being too good to be visitors!

 

 

Anyway.

 

 

So I’ll randomly think, “if I had known we weren’t going back…I would NOT have invested all that time and energy into learning to speak the stinking language!”  Depending on how cranky-pants I’m feeling I might even add, “such a waste of brain energy!” 

 

 

I know my friend Heather would disagree. 

 

 

And really so do I.  Because nothing makes me feel more swag than Swahili chatting with The Hubs in public.

 

 

Also, if you scroll back up to the top and re-read the line in bold.  Maybe that’s why?  Maybe Trevy needs me to know I can do foreign language.  Maybe I need to know I can do hard stuff.  Stuff that makes my head feel like it’s going to explode.

 

 

Labda ni raziki yangu?

 

 

…danielle

Mulan kisses aren’t the kind you forget

 

 

 

 

Trevy never ceases to amaze me.  He is so smart and funny.  Hands down he has the best hip shakin’ you ever did see.  He has this amazing memory too!  It’s just been locked behind his speech delay.  But as his speech has blossomed so has his ability to share all those little thoughts that he has always had...but just hasn't been able to express.

 

 

Tonight for instance.

 

 

I kissed him goodnight on his forehead.  His eyes glowed bright.  And he stuttered and stumbled and took a minute or two and I could tell he was trying so very hard to spit it out and that it was really important to him.  I always encourage him to slow down and take his time.  It’s important to me that he know…deep in his bones…that I’m okay with waiting for him.  That I’ll wait as long as it takes when he has something to say.  He struggled.  And that’s exactly what it is.  It’s a gritty struggle.  Physical.  Emotional.  Mind versus body.  It’s extraordinarily moving to watch if you know what you’re seeing.  And he won.  It goes against every fiber of Science.  But miracles are crazy like that.  And he won.  Finally it came tumbling out. Just one word. And yet so much more.

 

Mulan!

 

I knew exactly what he meant.  I knew he was remembering that Mulan kissed his forehead when we were at Disney World last Spring.  She left bright red lips behind.  He was so proud of that lip stick kiss.  Talked about it non-stop.  He made sure to show it to everyone who made even the slightest bit of eye contact.  We made sure to take lots of pictures.  Because, I mean, it was Mulan!  And have you seen him?!  He’s a perpetual Kodak moment just waiting to happen!

 

The thing is…we haven't talked about his Mulan kiss in aaaaaages.

 

 

He remembered.

 

 

Remembered and miraculously told me so too!

 

 

 

…danielle

pumpkin pickin’ season

 

 

 

In My Life This Week

 

I don’t tend to share the guts of life, really.  It’s much easier to curl up inside myself when things are hard.  But then, that’s not really living honest.  And my heart’s desire is to be honest.  Always.  Even when it’s not easy.  And it hasn’t been easy lately.  In a variety of ways but mostly with Trevy.

 

First of all…I’ve mentioned recently that his energy and curiosity have been at an all time high.

 

But more than that, his behavior has been disturbing.  So angry and mean.  Unhappy about everything.  Screaming about everything. He bit my arm and his brother’s.  Opening skin even.  And it’s been heartbreakingly exhausting trying to parent him through this.  Behavior issues are by far the hardest part of our Seizure Monster story.

 

So last week having reached the point of desperation, I called the neuro’s office to check on recent lab work.  We measure his seizure medication levels every other month.  That poor sweet nurse who answered the phone.  I wound up boo-hoo-ing to her.  Maybe it was the fact that she was listening.  Maybe it was just how stinkin’ sweet she was.  Not once making me feel like a terrible parent.  Never making me feel like his behavior is linked to my lack of parental skills.  Even though I’d been mentally blaming myself.  Not her though.  She just listened while I gushed my fears that at this rate “they” were gonna want to lock him up in a cage someday.  She listened and encouraged me through it all.  She apologized that Dr. Neuro was out of the office that day.  I sighed and told her…we could make it through another night, I’m sure.  Evidently, her compassion was real because she called Dr. Neuro and told her she needed to call me!  Of course, Dr. Neuro called me while I was at the market.  Dr. Neuro happens to have a VERY thick Hindi accent.  You know you’re a special needs mom when you’re violating every HIPPA law ever created by shouting your child’s medical history in the middle of the milk and eggs!

 

It turns out that one of Trevy’s seizure meds was quite low.  She gave me the increase schedule and chatted about other things.  You know your child has profound medical issues when the specialist calls you on their cell phone and reminds you that she gave that number to you so you could cry on her shoulder when you needed.  Sigh.

 

Anyway…

 

For months Trevor’s behavior has slowly been spiraling out of control.  I have this thing about not wanting to be the crazy psycho seizure mom who blames every little thing on epilepsy.  So I was searching every other explanation.  Maybe his ears hurt?  I treated with Wally’s Ear Oil.  Maybe it’s sensory?  We tried joint compression, weighted vest, heavy jumping and more.  Maybe it’s just adjusting to the demands of K?  Maybe this…maybe that…

 

But I kid you not…the morning after we’d increased his dose he woke up a completely different boy.  Actually, he woke up the little boy I know and love!

 

Note to Self:  If Trevor’s behavior spikes WAY outside his norm it’s okay to play the crazy psycho seizure mommy card.

 

 

In Our Homeschool This Week

 

I think we’re in a nice groove.  I keep meaning to get a workbox post together.  But the time?  Who has it? 

 

Bristel is excelling in her Math and coming along with her Reading.

 

I bumped Toby up to Saxon’s Pre-Algebra based on his placement test results.  He’s so totally capable.  But not without plenty of weeping and gnashing of teeth!

 

Both of the kiddos are really enjoying Mystery of History.  We’re building our own replica of Stonehenge this week.  I’ll have to post pictures next!  If I find out where that time went, I mean. 

 

 

Places We’re Going and People We’re Seeing

 

 

Clearly, with all the Trevy drama…my creativity and energy has been running on fumes.

 

Which is why I am SO thankful for a wonderful and amazing friend who offered to take the kids to a special home school workshop on animal communication!  Seriously, Jen, that was a bigger blessing than you know!  My heart breaks every time my kids miss out on something because I’m too tired…or it conflicts with Trevy’s therapies.   You made ALL of our day by inviting them to hang out with you guys!

 

If you’re reading this and know a homeschool mommy who happens to have a little one with special needs…I promise you it will bless her deeply if you invite her other kiddos along for a special treat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also had a wonderful time with a huge group of other homeschoolers for our annual Simcock Farm Pumpkin Pickin’ field trip!  You can’t beat $5 for a hayride, corn maze, pumpkin, pumpkin ice cream and feeding the rescue animals!

 

 

Annnnd…

 

if that weren’t enough fun…

 

We have American Heritage Girls tomorrow and ICE SKATING next week!  One of the best homeschool activities in our area is the weekly ice skating at a local prep school.  They let us use their rink for an hour each week.  It’s great exercise and friend time.  For them…and me!

 

 

What’s not working for us…

 

 

I was using Apples Daily Spelling Drills for Toby and we both just really really weren’t clickin’ with it.  So this week, I set up spelling lists for him on Spelling City and that’s working SO much better!

 

Another thing that wasn’t working was the way I was doing their schedules.  I spent a TON of time and energy creating a super cute grid for Bristel.  She hated it.  I’m talking…totally not into it!  It made her feel too “baby-ish”.  Soooooo…I’m trying out a new style.

 

   

 

I just fiddled around with various tables in Open Office until I was happy.  I’m already loving how I can add very specific details to each day’s lesson plan.  The picture above is a screenshot of an incomplete schedule.  If you’d like a copy of my template just leave me your email addy in the comments and I’ll send it over. 

 

I’m Inspired By

 

This mom’s decision to stop hiding and start being photographically present in her children’s lives.  So someday they’ll have proof she really existed!  I SO heart connected with her.  Photos of me are few and far between.  And the ones I’m actually in I’ve carefully hidden as much of myself as possible behind a child or two.  The stress of the last few years has done a number on my face & figure.  But it’s time to swallow my pride (and insecurities) and make silly faces with them for a keepsake.

 

A Video to Share

 

I married an Orioles loving man who is raising little Orioles loving youngins.  Every Spring for the last twelve years he’s said, “This is the year, Babe.  I just know it!”  Every summer, I’d console my boys.

 

And then the impossible happened!

 

For all the other girls out there loving die hard O’s fans…I leave you with this…

 

 

 

…danielle

 

 

 

my “who homeschools” interview hosted by HammockTracks

 

 

Every Monday, HammockTracks hosts a “Who Home Schools” interview which explores various families journeys in home education. 

 

 

I’m honored and excited that I had the honor of sharing our story! 

 

 

In all the hospital hullabaloo I flaked about linking my interview in earlier this week…but I hope you’ll take a peek now:

 

 

Who Home Schools?  Danielle at Raising Little Rhodies

 

 

Thank you so much, Savannah, for this wonderful idea and opportunity!

 

 

…danielle

Randomnings–my top ten mommy smile moments this week

Bristel: Mommy, when you get married do you spend all day and night kissing?

Me: Something like that, honey

Bristel: And then kids come along and ruin it?

 

 

**********

 

I was in the kitchen making "chicken nuggets"...

otherwise known as Trevy's crack

when he comes charging the kitchen gate shouting,

I homeworking! I homeworking!

I gotta admit I was afraid to see what exactly "I homeworking" could mean but I followed him anyway. He led me to the schoolroom  where a giant coloring book and crayons (which are supposed to be out of reach!) was open to a search and find and he's tracing (read: scribbling over) the letters!

I call that "homeworking" too!

 

 

**********

In order to find the humor, I need to set the stage a little. Bristel and a friend have started a "Care Club" the purpose of which is to do acts of kindness and teach little ones how to behave.  Snicker.  She has asked me to put her hair up so the little ones (read: Trevy) won't be tempted to pull her hair. Cute, right?

On a different day, Trevy and I go outside where she and Toby are busy building something or other in the sandbox and she immediately starts telling Trevy he's not allowed.

So I say...

What happened to your Care Club? Is it only for little kids who aren't your brother?

She rolls her eyes and retorts...

Mooooooom (the way a teeny bopper might...only she's SEVEN!)

swinging her golden locks...

when my hair is down I'm NOT working!

**********

On the list of things I don't want to hear my children frantically yelling...

"Trevy! Don't color on the door!"

Followed by…

“Ugh…too late.”

**********

We were playing a game in the pool where the person tagged had to go under water.  Ever the lover of cause & effect, Trevy was tagging me incessantly.  So I say…

I’m gonna tag you!

To which he responds with a head shake…

Naaaaaw…

too little. 

**********

It tickled my funny bone that when we came home the sitter said she spent over an hour learning about Ancient Egypt with Bristel on the iPad.

Seriously?

How many 7 year old girls want to study ancient history and consider themselves a fashionista?!

**********

(If you’re a Speech Therapist…you may want to cover your eyes for this one! )

Trevy asked me for his binkie. I've been trying to wean him from it but in a moment of weakness (or maybe inspiration) I said... 

Let Toby take you potty and help you brush your teeth and then you can have it.

So he pattered over to Toby and asked, "Potty?" Toby was busy and replied, "in a minute".

 

 

So what did Trevy do? Well, I walked by the bathroom and found him sitting on the potty ALL BY HIMSELF! He's pulled his pants down and climbed up and made pee pee BY HIMSELF!

 

 

Um yeah, we had a Pee Pee Party!!!!

 

 

He did need help pulling his pants back up...but we can handle that for him no problem-o!

**********

I could tell he was winding up to give a mighty hop while descending our very steep stairs so I said...

Trevor, don't you dare!

Iya fwawg!

Translation: I'm a frog

Um, not on the stairs you're not!

And he resisted the urge to hop all the way down to the very last step.  At which point he did indeed become a one legged hopping fwawg. 

Ribbit.

 

 

**********

 

 

Trevy was screaming bloody murder from the schoolroom.

I couldn’t get there right away so I hollered…

what’s going on in there?!

Trevy comes running, upset, with Toby yelling in the background...

Don't believe a word he says!

LOL! This is funny because even though Trevor's speech is VERY limited you'd be surprised at how much tattling can be done with single word phrases!

**********

I wonder what our neighbors think when they drive by and see Trevy hanging out in our big bay window?

Our couch is right up against it and he'll climb over the back...stand on the radiator and wave at people until mommy finds him and makes him get down.

But hey, at least he has clothes on.

Most of the time.

…danielle

 

one reason why we love Sunday

 

 

 

 

Trevy running his little heart out at our Track & Field station…

 

 

 

And how much do you love Bristel running beside him?

 

 

Seriously.

 

 

You’re misty aren’t you?

 

 

 

 

Click to learn more about the Young Athletes branch of Special Olympics.

 

 

…danielle

 

exploring the stars with Trevy too

 

Bristel: Mommy, can we go outside and look at the moon? It's aaaamazing tonight!

 

Me: Sure

 

Trevor: Trevor, go too???

 

Me: I go too and yes

 

Bristel: Trevor, who made the moon?

 

Trevor: Jesus

 

Me: Trevor, who made the stars?

 

Trevor: Daddy?

 

Me: Nooooo

 

Trevor: People???

 

Bristel: melts into a puddle of giggles.

 

Trevor (because he can’t resist a good giggle):  Pooooooooop?

 

Me:  Now you’re just being silly.

 

Trevy: grins and giggles like a fool

 

All of us: Went outside to appreciate the moon and learn that Jesus made the stars too :)

thoughts

 

I loved these thoughts shared by another mom in a local homeschool forum I belong to:

 

 

There is a Chinese proverb that says “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.”

 

 

It has also been said that we learn: 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we discuss, 80% of what we experience, and 95% of what we teach others. Of course there are variables, but participatory, experiential learning has a real impact.

 

 

…danielle

microphones are yummy

 

I caught Trevy rockin’ out with one of his fave Christmas gifts.  Please pardon my messy Therapy/School Room.  That’s what happens when it gets used. 

 

  :: smile :: 

 

 

 

I love how he pats his chest when he sings “me”.

 

Also, how he turns his head away so he can keep chomping on the microphone.  Cheeky.  But smarty too.

 

I do think it’s super cool that Allison Cruz thinks he’s cute.  She doesn’t just have a smashing voice…but super good taste too. 

 

 

…danielle

her 1st grade workboxes

 

This week has been pretty laid back.

 

 

Which the kiddos love.

 

 

Um, I do too.  I’ve been totally needing a breather.  But I find that Teacher Mommy does much better when we stick to a routine.  Routines are tough though…during holidays.  (which is why I love this post!)

 

 

 

We’re still squeezing in our CORE subjects.

 

 

In Language Arts

 

(we use Abeka’s Letters & Sounds, Language and Spelling & Poetry 1)

 

she’s learning about compound words and new special sounds.  It’s been so fun watching her reading improve as she’s getting better with the special sounds.  Oh…and I was going to switch up her Spelling program but she was SO offended!  So we’re sticking with Abeka for now.  I have a Spelling Workout workbook handy just in case. 

 

 

Math is Abeka’s 1st Grade too. 

 

 

Penmanship (which is not a core subject but shhhhhh don’t tell her that!)  is Abeka’s Cursive.  I just like seeing how cute her “fancy” writing is!

 

 

We all snuggled up on the couch and enjoyed learning about Thanksgiving.  My hubby has our internet connected with our tv which is so handy for that kinda stuff.  I could sit at my desk (also in our livingroom) and just surf through Thanksgiving Units online.

 

 

 

I love that I caught her laughing over a mistake instead of crying!

 

 

Don’t you love when you find great stuff in your own house?  I stumbled on a 5 in 1 Biscuit I Can Read book that I’m pretty sure Bibi bought for us a while ago.  I was weeding out my book bin and there it was in all it’s adorable cuteness.  Bristel is in LOVE with Biscuit!

 

 

In fact…she read the WHOLE thing in one sitting!

 

Cuddled up in my second great find.  That little red gaming rocker was a FreeCycle snag!  If you haven’t connected with the FreeCycle in your area yet…I totally recommend it.  Some of our great freebie finds include:  a huge tub of legos, two ginormous bags of Barbie stuff, clothes, a cute little wicker side table and even our two AC units!  I love giving on FreeCycle too.  It feels so community-ish. 

 

 

 

A little later today we’re going to work on a special project together too.  I hope I don’t scare you girls with all my Trevy Has Half a Brain talk.  I know it’s awkward not knowing what to say to someone like me.  And if we met on the playground I totally wouldn’t tell you…because it’s a major conversation killer!  But here, I have to mention it now and then.  Because…well…Trevy’s medical journey is such a huge piece of us.  And is Shaping our hearts as we move along.  We’re deeply connected with other families living the same journey.  In fact, one of those families is gearing up for another brain surgery in a few weeks.  Bristel and I are working on special book to send them.  We were able to meet them in real life a few weekends ago.  Bristel and Sophie were SO cute together!  In fact, Bristel says Sophie is her BFF.  Which of course…made Sophie’s mommy and me totally boo-hoo.   And this morning when I was starting to feel a little mommy guilt over not having a stick-to-it day yet again…the thought occurred to me…that making Sophie a special book is learning too.  Maybe even the most important kind.

 

 

Anyway…

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

 

 

…danielle

trevy bear

A cyber (and special needs) mommy friend emailed me recently.

Asking if she could use Trevy’s Story as the inspiration for a beautiful (and stinkin’ adorable) awareness project she’s working on.

I said…

Ummmmm…lemme think about that…

YES! 

I was surprised and honored and happy and all sorts of emotional responses.  Which did not exclude sappy.   

Trevy has an extraordinarily rare and catastrophic seizure disorder.  Playing a part in spreading awareness has become a passion for me.  And in a way…is intricately woven into the fibers of my healing process.  We all heal in our own ways.

Evan Bearowitz (Trevy’s aka) is now accepting come-play-with-me requests!  In fact, I’m pretty sure his first destination is going to be England.  We may need to have a little safety awareness training first though.  Last time I visited, I was almost smooshed by a taxi.  They totally drive on the wrong side of the road over there!   

You can read Evan’s (Trevy inspired) story here.  The last paragraph was the one to really get my sappy really flowing…

Before I was born, my parents lived in Africa to bring people Hope. Taking care of me and helping me grow has been a very big job for them. They said I am now brave and strong enough to travel all around the world to bring people Hope myself.  I want to teach people about seizures and show them that I can still do lots of fun things in life. I’d love to go back to Africa to meet my parents’ friends and I would love to meet friends of my very own everywhere else. Can I come visit you?

 

 

 

…danielle

you know you’re mommy of a 10 year old son when…

 

 

 

You find him eating his breakfast in a mixing bowl because it hold more Honey Nut than a regular one…

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

You might stumble on a love note while grading his school work…

 

 

 

 

I mean, seriously, how cute is the “o” shaped like a heart?! 

 

 

…danielle