A Week, Briefly (11/16/20)

 

It was a weird week.

 

I took a ton of pictures, but they were mostly for the moms of The Munchkin and Little Mister Frog.  (I stole a lot of the pics in this post from Nature Angel.)

 

We had Morning Meeting every morning.  

 

We did independent school.

 

We had our kind-of-sort-of Academy.

 

We read together at night.

 

We played outdoors. 

 

We walked our neighborhood trail for Hike #44 of 52 

97.51 miles + 3.4 = 100.91 miles

 

I tried so hard to get us on another hike, but . . . I couldn't.

In many ways we are so very blessed.  Nonetheless, I fought a decided spirit of discouragement.

It's a good thing we're practicing gratitude every single day!

Belle has found that immersion in one subject at a time is more productive than trying to balance many subjects.  She's settled into a routine of leap-frogging through her subjects, doing several weeks' work at once in one area of study, then putting it away to focus on another.  I've asked her to please, please, please at least review her Latin vocabulary and grammar in some way each day because that's a hard subject to start and stop.

Nature Angel is a hard worker.  She gets her school work done every day, takes care of babies, helps with chores, leads by example, and is a patient teacher with her siblings.

Crochet lessons!

This week her church youth group had a little talent show.  She took a few samples of her drawings and modified a group clogging number so that she could perform a solo.  Only one parent was able to attend, and that was Sir Walter Scott, but he recorded it, and I got to watch her. :)

Little Princess has a demanding schedule of her own that she's managing nicely.  The Munchkin is particularly devoted to her, and as he's a busy, busy toddler, she's always hopping.  It was a challenging week emotionally for her, too, and Sir Walter Scott (who'd been wanting to take these two out for quite some time) helped us shift gears with a father-daughter date.

 

Ladybug had a rough week.  Old behaviors have resurfaced, and it's been hard.  School days were a battle from beginning to end, and we've had to retract some of the freedoms she'd previously earned.  She did, however, finish several math lessons, complete an entire week's spelling with 100%, and make progress in language arts. 

Mister Man was emotional all week.  Corrections caused him to break down, and he ignored directions the first 3 or 4 times they were given . . . by anybody.  He finished his handwriting book.  He writes in lovely cursive every chance he gets.

Brother see-sawed in extremes.  He was either extremely good at self-monitoring and managing his own behaviors, or he was a chair-throwing, name-calling wreck.  We had a full week of regular ABA therapy, and while it ties us to our home, I am grateful for what he is learning and for the support!

Beowulf and I tried to do independent school.  We really, really did.  It was an utter fail, and I reverted to encouraging him to play outside even more than usual in order for us both to stay sane.  He missed a few Morning Meetings, and had to stay on the fringes of the room for a few Family Read Aloud sessions, but he did participate as much as we could help him to.  It's harder than I can say to know what he is capable of and to see him incapable of doing it.  

Truly incapable.

The stimulant meds were like magic while they worked, but their effects hurt him in other ways, and he can't tolerate them any more.  

 

We both miss the magic.

We all do.

Lola is in the same shape Beowulf is.  It hurts.  She's finally old enough for a diagnosis, so I'll be calling to arrange for testing ASAP. 

Baymax does his work every day.  He's like a little machine, just plugging away faithfully each day.  He makes no giant leaps or bounds, neither does he lag or get stuck.  He makes simple, constant progress.  He's loud and demanding one moment, sweet and cuddly the next.  He struggles dramatically with transitions, and all we can do is wait out his objections, giving him time to adjust and embrace the changes.  

My favorite moments with him are at bedtime, when I lean in to kiss him goodnight.  He grabs my face, pulls me close, kisses me soundly several times, and squeezes me while saying, "I love you!  You are my best mom!"

It's hard not to forgive him in that moment for every tantrum he throws during the day.

Super Star starts her new job with Community Blood Donations on Monday!

Pixie's foot does NOT need surgery--just a few weeks in a boot to allow the fracture to heal.

I have been preliminarily diagnosed with TMJ, and I head to a specialist on Monday for further testing and diagnosis.  Little Mister Frog's mom saved me this week by showing me how to press on the outside of my jaw to loosen up the tension.  It hurts like the dickens in the moment, but it reduces the chronic pain.  What a blessing!

I am thankful for Thanksgiving.  I'd like to skip the big meal and feel grateful instead of over-fed, but my kids are fans of tradition, and I already have a turkey, potatoes, cranberries, and some pies, so we might as well make a big production of it all. :)

I am ever so blessed!

With enough and to spare.