A Fly On My Homeschool Wall

 This week was so full of highs and lows that we are exhausted. Brother's behaviors required a 911 call and 2 police chases.   Beowulf's behaviors required significant restraint and flexibility.   We had an extra baby (Little Mister Frog's baby brother who was born 2 months prematurely, and who was just released from the hospital a week ago) for a few days, and even overnight.   We had babies stay very late because of scheduling snafus between their parents.   Nature Angel was allowed to take off her boot, and her foot is fine!   We had torrential rain.   We had the loveliest of sunny days.   We watched a pair of nesting blue jays defend their nest from a vulture in a tree in our yard.   We did schoolwork, housework, yard work, and home repairs.    We played Legos and watched more Planet Earth II .   We had psych appointments.   We read and learned and talked.  We went to a play-- Peter Pan Jr .--in which some of our homeschool friends starred. And here are some photos of t

 I'm thinking of building an ark. It has been raining for so long, and there is so much more rain in the forecast! The kids love to go see the creek when it is thunderingly full, but once that thrill is over, they come back inside--wet, muddy, and hyper. Such is life. Nature Angel saw a rainbow one afternoon, so I know it won't last forever!   I actually turned on videos one afternoon when the rain left me feeling rather desperate. It was a hit with big and little kids alike! It was Planet Earth II, though, so it counts for science.   Belle had her last day of seminary for the school year.  It was a hard year with Zoom meetings and independent work, but it was lovely that the kids got to meet in-person for the final 5 weeks.     All around us the public schools are winding to a close, but we're just marching steadily along (mostly).   We've continued watching Book of Mormon videos during Morning Meeting.  But I just received delivery of Illustrated Book of Mormon Stori

We had a better week than last. Our psychiatrist authorized an increase in Brother's med, and that is working so far.  He's coming back into his own mind and body, and he's happier in general.  We had long conferences with his ABA therapists, and we all agree that he's learning and applying what he's been taught in ABA as long as his meds are working.    And he's moving to the next level of fading.  His hours don't drop again yet, but the therapists will begin distancing themselves from him.  During his school work, they will sit farther away.  During play time,  they will be a little bit distracted from him. This is not going to be an easy transition! Beowulf is having to endure a series of med trials with his current med:  dilute the med in juice; double the dose; try just increasing the dose by half.  Take notes about everything.  He clearly responds very well to stimulant meds at the start, but the violence that follows as they either build up in his sys

Rats!  Rats!  Rats! Both Brother and Beowulf are having behavioral flare-ups at the same time.  And Ladybug is extra sassy-mouthed and argumentative.     It's tough around here. Stuff is getting broken.  People are getting hurt.  Most of us are experiencing PTSD symptoms.  We're generally exhausted, unfocused, and wary. The good news is that our babies bring out the best in all of the kids, so the babies have been completely safe and a blessing to us all.  (I'm extra-intensely aware of the babies and watching for any sign that we need to stop providing care to them.  I question it every day.)   Other good news is that all I have to do is take Beowulf off his stimulant, and his dangerous behaviors will stop.  We'll just be left with his usual hard-to-manage behaviors until we can talk to his psychiatrist and start a new med. Ladybug's bad attitude could be a PTSD reaction, and when the boys settle down, she might settle down.  (Or it could be hormones and last for th