A Fly On My Homeschool Wall

 Sir Walter Scott is improving each day.  His body frequently reminds him that he is still recuperating from a stroke, and it surprises and frustrates him, but he's still a miracle of stroke recovery.  He started outpatient therapy, and they're assigning him to 3 days a week, "because he doesn't need 5 days a week."  That's annoying us because what he could accomplish in 6 weeks of 3 day weeks, he could accomplish in 4 weeks of 5 day weeks, but perhaps the days at home will be more recuperative and therapeutic anyway. Beowulf was doing better, enough better that his psychiatrist and I decided to keep him steady on his current med regimen.  Then he had 2 days that were so bad--attempts to choke me, attempts to choke himself, biting, kicking, hitting, spitting, property destruction, threats of elopement, defiance, and other nightmares--that the whole household fell back into PTSD behaviors from when Brother was doing the same. Oddly, Beowulf woke on the 3rd day

 This post is dated for the Monday of our homeschool week, but I'm starting with Sunday because it was Valentine's day.   It was snowy, intensely cold, and Sir Walter Scott was still in the hospital.     Our usual church broadcast was cancelled so that the people who run the broadcast could stay home, so we had a cuddly testimony meeting in our pajamas snuggled into blankets because our heater couldn't keep up with the cold outside (even with a roaring fire in the wood-burning stove), and I couldn't bear to force anyone to change clothes. We had our traditional treasure hunt and valentine exchange, but first we decorated cookies provided to us by some dear, dear friends from church. From Lola to Mister Man--the beetle sticker on the bear's forehead is my favorite part.   Then the snow cleared just enough for me to safely drive to the hospital to see Sir Walter Scott and deliver his valentines. It is now warming up, but we were gripped by the cold--to the point that

 Early Sunday morning, Sir Walter Scott had a stroke. Our lives have been rather different this week. (How's that for understatement?) Because no visitors were allowed at the hospital, I had to go home after dropping him off at the ER.  What a blessing it was that the kids at home could watch church services streaming live!  What a blessing it was that I had dinner in the crock pot!  What a blessing it was that I have older kids to take care of the younger ones!  What a blessing it was that our bishop kindly led us in a "prayer of faith" in lieu of a priesthood blessing because no visitors could go to the hospital to administer to Sir Walter Scott!  What a blessing it was that the nurses followed through on their calls to me, and I was able to talk to my sweetheart once he was in a room!  What a blessing it was that I could keep people apprised of what was happening by text and calls!  What a blessing it was that family and friends have offered support from the very first