A Week, Briefly (7/16/18)

Our summer rhythm was broken by weather, illness, negative behaviors, and social events.

It was a growing week.

Growth is not always comfortable, and Ladybug's week was a case-in-point.  I'll not write out the details, but I'll generalize in saying that her behaviors are escalating in not dangerous but very frustrating ways.

Her therapist is seeking professional support and is gathering some referrals for us.

I, too, am doing some of the leg-work to get some professional support for Ladybug . . . and Brother and Beowulf as well.  The coming weeks will be something of a whirlwind of medical appointments with the goal of evaluations that will eventually get us referrals to get the diagnoses we need to ensure long-term support.

Basically, I'm finally mustering up the energy to continue the paper trail I tried to start two years ago.

I've been on the phone a lot.

I'll be on the phone and in offices even more over the coming months.

I am praying for the staying power to see this adventure through.

On the home front, the weather fluctuated manically from hot-hot-hot to wildly stormy over and over again.  We didn't make it to any of our usual water play locations--instead I found the children reading quietly more often than usual.

A passing cloudburst left the early evening unusually cool and fresh, so they took their books out-of-doors.

Sleepy littles cuddled with older siblings one evening when I had my hands full with other children.

After therapy on Tuesday (I had the privilege of spending an hour with the therapist, too!), Ladybug, Nature Angel (she was Ladybug's sitter while I was in the office), and I stopped at the farm to pick up Belle.  We spent some minutes admiring the chickens--especially this proud rooster.

 

 

Wednesday morning found us at the library for a visit with a storyteller who focused on African folktales.  He was magnificent!

After the trip to the library, we headed to the park to meet up with some friends for an impromptu park date.  Lots of families came that day, and the kids had a marvelous time.

 

Nature Angel and Little Princess with a couple of their favorite friends.

We also had the privilege of having missionaries over for dinner.  These sweet young women challenged our family to express love to one another and left us with the assignment of each writing a note to the person sitting on our right at the dining room table.  We got right to work, and the kids took their assignments ever so seriously.  

It's funny how much love can be truly expressed by an assignment.

Lola made a family portrait for me.  I helped her make the heads and bodies, but all of the eyes are her own work. :)

Beowulf made a picture of himself and Little Princess with a heart between them to show that they love one another.

We were supposed to head to the lake on Thursday, but 30% chance of thunderstorms sent the kids into a panic, and they begged to stay closer to home.

So we went to the zoo.

Where it never rained one drop, but it was 95 degrees and 83% humidity!

And Beowulf had an upset stomach that meant he and I spent most of the time in various restrooms until we declared defeat and went home.

Mister Man is holding this lion's mouth open so he doesn't eat Baymax or Lola while they get their drink.

6-year-old goats--happy at the zoo.

Boys on the Baobab tree playground

 On Friday we had breakfast at the park.

And then lots of friends met us there, so that we stayed for 4 1/2 hours.

The teens came (a now unusual event) and swings always bring out the kid in them.

I tried to get a picture of Lola reveling in her yogurt snack, but by the time I got my phone out, she was mad that there weren't any more yogurts.

Sir Walter Scott was home sick and doing schoolwork all day, so we tried to stay away from the house.  After our long morning at one park, we made a brief pit stop at home to watch Signing Time and eat lunch.   Then we headed to another park to say goodbye to our friends (two whole families) who are leaving the country for a couple of years each.

Ultimately they managed to get 9 kids on this tree branch, but my phone was dying, so I didn't capture the final accomplishment.

We three moms promised that we'd line up our kids for a group photo before the end of the day, but we forgot!

There's one more chance to see them before they're really gone--or at least one of the families--so I hope to get some better pictures then.

And both families have set up Messenger Kids accounts for their children--I'm reading the pros and cons right now.  I wouldn't dream of setting up an account for my kids under regular circumstances, but when 4 of your best friends take off to travel the globe (their first stop is Bosnia) and 2 more of them move to Guatemala, the circumstances aren't regular any more!

This is Saturday morning.

Sir Walter Scott and half a dozen of the kids are at the church taking their turn to clean it in preparation for services on Sunday, and the other half are at home doing regular chores.

Today's list of important tasks includes all of the shopping necessary for Super Star's upcoming Sweet 16 party--we're renting a couple of pontoon boats and giving her and a dozen or so of her friends a day on the lake.

Ice.

We'll need lots of ice.

(We've already arranged to borrow several coolers to supplement our own stock.)

Sir Walter Scott needs a haircut.

We're babysitting.

And the teens have a service scavenger hunt and swim party with the other church youth tonight.