A Week, Briefly (2/11/19)
I ended last week's post stating that Brother's arm seemed fine, but that proved otherwise when I took him to urgent care Saturday morning (his pain was growing rather than abating) where x-rays revealed a very clear buckle fracture.
The doctor gave us nothing more than a splint and a warning to avoid sledding or other activities that might exacerbate the fracture.
I know it's protocol to keep treatment as simple as possible, but a cast would have been a blessing as Brother couldn't keep his hands off the splint, and he kept tightening until his circulation was cut off, and his fingers would swell. I finally took the splint away from him on Thursday, hoping for the best. As of Friday afternoon, he's been fine without it.
But it's been hard to choose--a potentially more broken bone or damaged circulation? Which "poison" is the one to pick?
I'm sticking with leaving him splintless until I have reason to do otherwise.
I hope it is not a mistake.
(It does not seem to be one so far.)
Monday
A true Monday--with whining and fussing and challenges.
But we started making valentines (we didn't celebrate until Friday because Sir Walter Scott worked on Thursday and Brother had his big assessment session with the psychiatrist).
The teens turned in their Unit 7 art projects--an eye and 3 noses. (Such a funny assignment!) T/hey also took their 3rd quarter test/review for Mystery of History IV.
We didn't do a "real" Academy, but we did finish reading Little House in the Big Woods.
Tuesday
It was as if a bomb went off in all 4 of their brains--Ladybug, Brother, Beowulf, and Lola. The whole day was a mess from start to finish--tantrums, destruction, stealing, lying, peeing, throwing, stomping . . . and so forth and so on.
For me the worst of it was watching Brother bash his broken arm against a wall over and over again because he was angry at me.
But we did make more valentines . . . Which is more true, the hatred they express constantly or the love they express in handmade valentines?
Probably both.
But it's kind of psychotic to live with.
During lunch we read a few pages from our children's anthology about Peter Pan before he became the Pan we all know and love (an excerpt from The Little White Bird by J.M. Barrie).
The teens and I had a great poetry discussion (Palestine by John Greenleaf Whittier). It got so animated we lost track of time and could only give 15 minutes to our history lesson about the formation of modern Israel.
We're in the season of counting math lessons and counting school days on the calendar and comparing the two. There is much rejoicing in the land.
We officially pulled out of spring co-op. We are grateful that the co-op organizers are true friends who love us and whom we love in return. I wonder at this hard month or so of trying to decide, but it seems to me we had to have an experience like this one in order to be at peace.
And we are at peace--disappointed, but at peace.
Wednesday
I sent a scholarship application for Nature Angel to see if she will qualify for a 1 week day camp at the local art institute. If she's approved she'll get to take 25 hours of art instruction and receive a free lunch each day.
Now we wait.
We made valentines again. Everybody finished but Ladybug and Brother who don't know how to work efficiently and who refuse all offers of help.
The teens and I finished chapter 5 of the biography of John Greenleaf Whittier, reviewed the countries of the middle east, did a bit of grammar, and finished the history lesson on the formation of the state of Israel.
Modern history is incredibly interesting--when events intersect with the timeline of living relatives, they becomes so real and powerful. My kids say they love ancient history the best, but I'm finding modern history to be my true love.
Sir Walter Scott and I signed the papers for refinancing our home--cutting 5 years off the life of our loan and saving us a hefty chunk of change over the next many years. The notary came to our home and laughed as she walked carefully through the sea of small boy bodies playing cars on the "rug road" in order to get to the kitchen table where we completed the signing.
Pixie took her first exam in her college history course; Belle went to the farm and pounded stakes for marking of planting beds into the waterlogged earth; I took Ladybug to MOCSA--only 4 sessions to go!
Thursday
I was up and out the door before breakfast in order to get Brother to his psychiatric assessment (I did feed him first). It took 3 hours. He did tests with the psychiatrist while I filled out parent assessment forms for the whole 3 hours! There were at least 6 different forms, and they were long! I still have one more 100 question form to do, but the psychiatrist is sending me a link to complete it online at home. Whatever the results, I cannot accuse this psych team of a lack of effort!
Brother and I raced home to eat a quick lunch with the rest of the family and head right out the door again to dance.
Home again in time to fill out registration forms and write a check for Super Star, Belle, Nature Angel, and Little Princess to attend the not-quite-a-co-op classes that start next August. I wrote about diving right into the opportunity for the teens, but Nature Angel and Little Princess felt reserved and wanted to find something more fun than academic. Finally some sample activities were posted, and I think it was the origami Mayflower that convinced them it would be fun!
I'm glad.
We had to hurry and get our check in the mail because the K-8 program had filled, but a slot opened, and the director (who knows us) said she'd stretch that slot just big enough for my two. :)
No more co-op searching for us for the year ahead. This is a drop-off activity, which means the kids that will benefit from out-of-the-home activities can do so, and the rest of us can stay home. It is also affordable (you should see the tuition rates for the other drop-off program in the area!!).
And we finished ALL of the valentines!
Friday
Another snowstorm arrived at 9:00 am.
Seminary was cancelled because the schools decided to close rather than get all of the students to classes and not have a way to get them home again
Sir Walter Scott ran a few errands so we could get through the weekend without running any more errands in the snow, and we settled in for Symposium.
Then we celebrated Valentine's Day.
We started with our traditional scavenger hunt for a treat.
While the pizzas cooked, we settled in for sharing our valentines.
(Following is picture overload for anyone other than me. But I would share every single picture we took and I would take more if I could because somehow the joy is so, so real!)
And somehow even the driest eyes in the house cannot stay dry when Dad has his turn. Every year he touches the tenderest parts of our hearts and nails the perfect way to say he loves each one of us. He inspires us; he challenges us; he lets us know we matter. His letters are tastes of heaven.
The kids and Dad are out in the snow now.
I think it just stopped snowing.
The teens are tucked away in various nooks and crannies studying . . . and cancelling plans to go to a dance tonight.
When the young ones come in and are cold and tired, we may try to do a little school . . . but then again . . . maybe we won't.
I'm fine with calling our school week done.
The doctor gave us nothing more than a splint and a warning to avoid sledding or other activities that might exacerbate the fracture.
I know it's protocol to keep treatment as simple as possible, but a cast would have been a blessing as Brother couldn't keep his hands off the splint, and he kept tightening until his circulation was cut off, and his fingers would swell. I finally took the splint away from him on Thursday, hoping for the best. As of Friday afternoon, he's been fine without it.
But it's been hard to choose--a potentially more broken bone or damaged circulation? Which "poison" is the one to pick?
I'm sticking with leaving him splintless until I have reason to do otherwise.
I hope it is not a mistake.
(It does not seem to be one so far.)
Monday
A true Monday--with whining and fussing and challenges.
But we started making valentines (we didn't celebrate until Friday because Sir Walter Scott worked on Thursday and Brother had his big assessment session with the psychiatrist).
The teens turned in their Unit 7 art projects--an eye and 3 noses. (Such a funny assignment!) T/hey also took their 3rd quarter test/review for Mystery of History IV.
 |
| Pixie's |
 |
| Belle's |
 |
| Super Star's |
Tuesday
It was as if a bomb went off in all 4 of their brains--Ladybug, Brother, Beowulf, and Lola. The whole day was a mess from start to finish--tantrums, destruction, stealing, lying, peeing, throwing, stomping . . . and so forth and so on.
For me the worst of it was watching Brother bash his broken arm against a wall over and over again because he was angry at me.
But we did make more valentines . . . Which is more true, the hatred they express constantly or the love they express in handmade valentines?
Probably both.
But it's kind of psychotic to live with.
During lunch we read a few pages from our children's anthology about Peter Pan before he became the Pan we all know and love (an excerpt from The Little White Bird by J.M. Barrie).
The teens and I had a great poetry discussion (Palestine by John Greenleaf Whittier). It got so animated we lost track of time and could only give 15 minutes to our history lesson about the formation of modern Israel.
We're in the season of counting math lessons and counting school days on the calendar and comparing the two. There is much rejoicing in the land.
We officially pulled out of spring co-op. We are grateful that the co-op organizers are true friends who love us and whom we love in return. I wonder at this hard month or so of trying to decide, but it seems to me we had to have an experience like this one in order to be at peace.
And we are at peace--disappointed, but at peace.
Wednesday
I sent a scholarship application for Nature Angel to see if she will qualify for a 1 week day camp at the local art institute. If she's approved she'll get to take 25 hours of art instruction and receive a free lunch each day.
Now we wait.
We made valentines again. Everybody finished but Ladybug and Brother who don't know how to work efficiently and who refuse all offers of help.
The teens and I finished chapter 5 of the biography of John Greenleaf Whittier, reviewed the countries of the middle east, did a bit of grammar, and finished the history lesson on the formation of the state of Israel.
Modern history is incredibly interesting--when events intersect with the timeline of living relatives, they becomes so real and powerful. My kids say they love ancient history the best, but I'm finding modern history to be my true love.
Sir Walter Scott and I signed the papers for refinancing our home--cutting 5 years off the life of our loan and saving us a hefty chunk of change over the next many years. The notary came to our home and laughed as she walked carefully through the sea of small boy bodies playing cars on the "rug road" in order to get to the kitchen table where we completed the signing.
Pixie took her first exam in her college history course; Belle went to the farm and pounded stakes for marking of planting beds into the waterlogged earth; I took Ladybug to MOCSA--only 4 sessions to go!
Thursday
I was up and out the door before breakfast in order to get Brother to his psychiatric assessment (I did feed him first). It took 3 hours. He did tests with the psychiatrist while I filled out parent assessment forms for the whole 3 hours! There were at least 6 different forms, and they were long! I still have one more 100 question form to do, but the psychiatrist is sending me a link to complete it online at home. Whatever the results, I cannot accuse this psych team of a lack of effort!
Brother and I raced home to eat a quick lunch with the rest of the family and head right out the door again to dance.
Home again in time to fill out registration forms and write a check for Super Star, Belle, Nature Angel, and Little Princess to attend the not-quite-a-co-op classes that start next August. I wrote about diving right into the opportunity for the teens, but Nature Angel and Little Princess felt reserved and wanted to find something more fun than academic. Finally some sample activities were posted, and I think it was the origami Mayflower that convinced them it would be fun!
I'm glad.
We had to hurry and get our check in the mail because the K-8 program had filled, but a slot opened, and the director (who knows us) said she'd stretch that slot just big enough for my two. :)
No more co-op searching for us for the year ahead. This is a drop-off activity, which means the kids that will benefit from out-of-the-home activities can do so, and the rest of us can stay home. It is also affordable (you should see the tuition rates for the other drop-off program in the area!!).
And we finished ALL of the valentines!
Friday
Another snowstorm arrived at 9:00 am.
Seminary was cancelled because the schools decided to close rather than get all of the students to classes and not have a way to get them home again
Sir Walter Scott ran a few errands so we could get through the weekend without running any more errands in the snow, and we settled in for Symposium.
Then we celebrated Valentine's Day.
We started with our traditional scavenger hunt for a treat.
 |
| I love this photo for the range of excitement levels represented--the younger the child, the greater the excitement! |
 |
| There were 9 homemade clues, and they led to . . . |
 |
| . . . pizza for lunch!!!!! A major splurge since pizza for our family now includes gf/df pizzas. The kitchen could not contain the joy. :) |
(Following is picture overload for anyone other than me. But I would share every single picture we took and I would take more if I could because somehow the joy is so, so real!)
 |
| Baymax had made 5 valentines for his beloved Daddy! |
 |
| The front of my card from Little Princess |
 |
| Nature Angel made Brother a pop-up card that looked like he was driving. I missed the utter amazement on his face as he opened it for the first time an hollered, "How did she do this? How?!?!?" He could not take his eyes off it. |
 |
| The front of my card by Nature Angel |
 |
| Nature Angel made Mister Man a book valentine, measuring 1.25" x 1.75" with 12 pages in it and a hand sewn binding. It described reasons for loving him. The clincher was the conclusion, "But even if you didn't do any of these things, I would still love you!" |
And somehow even the driest eyes in the house cannot stay dry when Dad has his turn. Every year he touches the tenderest parts of our hearts and nails the perfect way to say he loves each one of us. He inspires us; he challenges us; he lets us know we matter. His letters are tastes of heaven.
The kids and Dad are out in the snow now.
I think it just stopped snowing.
 |
| He was mad because either he walked into a shovel of snow or Dad actually threw it at him . . . I'm not sure. But he felt unjustly treated, and he was willing to provide photographic evidence. |
The teens are tucked away in various nooks and crannies studying . . . and cancelling plans to go to a dance tonight.
When the young ones come in and are cold and tired, we may try to do a little school . . . but then again . . . maybe we won't.
I'm fine with calling our school week done.
LOVE the artwork and the Valentines!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you found a drop off program that you like and are at peace with giving up the co-op. I love the video clip you put up about wrong roads. I am sorry about the broken arm and rough, rough day. They are so difficult. All the art is lovely and your Valentine party is divine.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Dawn
We still have not seen any snow! I do not think we will this year, though we have had some COLD days. The artwork and the Valentines are amazing. I am so glad you found a co-op that will work for you all!
ReplyDelete