I didn't realize how long it had been since I had updated this... We've been somewhat busy lately with doctor appointments. Last week we spent Tuesday through Friday in Cincinnati for doctor appointments for MaKenzie and Jared. Wheelchair clinic for both, Botox injections for both, Physical Therapy evaluations for both, and Jared had a surgery consult for a lesion on his scalp that needs to be removed. Tomorrow morning, I leave for Lexington with MaKenzie for a follow up appointment with her neurosurgeon. They'll remove the stitches. She also has an appointment with the ENT folks for her ear, which got surgical prep solution in it when they were prepping her for her surgery. That should take care of appointments until the following week when we go back to Cincinnati.
MaKenzie is doing great. She is mostly back to her old chatty self, walking all over the house and getting in everyone's business. It turned out that about 1/2 of her hair is gone. Shaved like a buzz with a number 1 guard on it. I've been putting the remaining 1/2 of her hair in a french braid which hangs on one side. When you look at her from that side, you wouldn't know anything was wrong, but on the other side, she looks like a man's face after he hasn't shaved for a couple weeks.
We've been schooling through the summer, but I reduced the kids' workload by removing a subject and reducing the amount of work in one of their other subjects. Still equivalent to a complete school day, especially if you consider that they have been in the pool 2-3 times every day--that's phys. ed. But this week we are going to start back to their full academic work load. Math, English, Spelling, Literature/Creative Writing, Science, Social Studies, Bible reading, and an additional writing course we are starting this year.
This will be our 6th year of homeschooling. I love it more every year. I love seeing them progress in their abilities and watching them learn. It's so satisfying to hear them read, knowing I taught them to do that--that was very intimidating the first year when I was trying to help Cody learn to read and teaching William phonics! John Wesley had learned from Mrs. Garland and I knew he had learned easily and well, so I was very relieved and encouraged and breathed a HUGE sigh of relief :) when William sounded out his first word independently several weeks into Kindergarten!
I love the fact that because I know each of my children so intimately (you know, the same way all moms know their kids), I understand HOW they learn best (I know how to speak each child's "language") and can tailor my teaching style to suit each individual child's learning style and ability. For example, in math, I might just be able to explain a new concept to Cody using words, but I might have to visually demonstrate using manipulatives for Lena to understand the same concept. That part is especially important and precious to me in the case of MaKenzie, Jared, and Matthew, who are officially schooling this year. There isn't a teacher in the state that can intuitively KNOW them and understand how to "speak their language" better than I can. Not because I am in any way special or gifted--not at all--but just because I'm their MOM. I KNOW them--I know how they think and how to communicate something to them. I can't imagine for the life of me putting those three on a school bus every morning--none of my kids--but especially those three. I'm so thankful for the blessing and privilege of being able to be home with my children every day . I'm also very thankful for my crazy-amazing husband who works so hard everyday yet manages to keep our family as his number one priority!
Anyway, I don't know how I got off on that homeschooling tangent. I guess maybe homeschooling is on my mind more today because I spent most of the day getting this week's lesson plans together and organizing my homeschooling records and paperwork for the year. That part is fun for me too. I like the creative outlet that the organizational aspect of homeschooling affords as well. Hmmm, did I mention that I really like homeschooling? :) Okay, I'll quit now.
(By the way, I really DO realize that the picture of Matthew has nothing whatsoever to do with the rest of this post, but I just thought you might enjoy his sweet smile. I know I sure do!)
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