We are at home today, not going anywhere. I am happy about that. I realized today how tired I was getting because of the running around. I do have bible study tonight, but that's always fun. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We have a VBS potluck dinner we are going to in the evening. So in the morning I have to go grocery shopping, make potato salad and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Then the potluck in the evening. Saturday is VBS help day in the morning, so Sarah and I will probably go and help make decorations a such. Of course there is church in the evening. Sunday evening we have our homeschool groups graduation and potluck dinner with swimming afterward. So with all of those busy days coming up, we are sitting here at home, doing some fun things and relaxing.
The neighborhood kids finished up school today. They had half a day, and now school is done for the summer. I'm waiting to see how early this neighborhood wakes up this summer. I know on the weekend we can get knocks on our door for the kids to play as early as 9:00am. For us, on a weekend, that is early. We'll see what happens during the week.
I have finally made eye doctor appointments for the kids. I guess a part of me wasn't as aggressive in making appointments as I should have been, plus insurance issues, but now the appointments are made. We're pretty sure Sarah's eyes are o.k., but we are just not sure about Paulie. He says he sees everything clearly, and maybe he does. But half way through reading things, he gets tired. He blinks his eye, while reading, a lot. And at times is always rubbing his eyes. Those actions aren't always consistent though. There are times he reads and those things never happen. So we haven't felt a need to rush and get his eyes checked. But lately, I guess maybe with the more reading he's doing, it just seems to be happening a bit more. Both sides of the family wears glasses, Paul wears contacts and I wear reading/computer glasses. So if he needs some sort of aid with reading it wouldn't be totally unexpected. I really pray they give good and thorough exams. I've read before where kids had their regular eye exams, and yet they still had eye issues and needed vision therapy. So I'm going to try and read up on it more before our appointments Tuesday afternoon so I have some good questions to ask. If any of you know of good questions to ask the doctor, beyond the normal eye exam, would you please share them with me. I would love to hear them.
We picked this eye doctor because a friend suggested them, and they accepted the kids insurance, but other than that I don't know a lot about them. I guess we'll just go and see how it all goes. I had been waiting and waiting, trying to find a main doctor because their insurance requires a main doctor for any referrals. Then after all the searching for a main doctor, it turns out for vision no referral is needed. Well, I guess the best way to look at it is now we have a doctor set up for the future.
I am a little nervous as to what the doctor will find. Sometimes I feel like I waited too long to get the exam, and that if something is found to be wrong with his eyes, it will be my fault because I should have gotten them checked years ago. But I need to try and not go there in my mind. Regardless of 'would of', 'could of', 'should of', they are getting done now and I need to be content with that. If you think about it, and I'm sure I'll mention it again, if you could say a prayer for Tuesday. If there are any issues at all, even ones that a 'normal' exam doesn't usually find, I pray that they are all found and addressed. Thank you.
I actually started working on the kids school portfolio's today. I've gathered all the papers I want to keep and threw out all the other papers, workbooks etc... Oh my, me being such a pack rat, you have to know it was so hard for me to do. But Sarah just encouraged me on saying, "Mom throwing things out is what you always tell us to do." I gave her a smile. Of course I wanted to respond, "Sweet daughter, don't you know that just because I tell you to do it, doesn't me I can do it." But I did do it, and they are gone. Now I just have to do some typing and printing of things to add and then put it all together. I want to make a reading list of all the books they've read. And get the beginning and graduation school pictures printed out and put on cardstock. Plus, I'm going to make a title cover sticker saying their names, school year and approximate grade. But to me those things are easy and fun. It was going through their papers and actually throwing out the rest that was hard. About the only thing I didn't get rid of was my Saxon 2 teaching book. It's in great condition and I hate to throw it out. If you need one or know of anyone who needs one, let me know.
I don't think I've said it, but my back is doing much better. I am actually going walking in the morning like I try to do with the nice weather. If the weather isn't nice, I try riding my stationary bike. But I so prefer walking. I rode my bike for an extra day or so to rest my back and because of the rain. But the past couple of mornings it's been clear, so I've walked. I think it really helped my back out, it feels so much better. It would be so great to get a treadmill. Then I could walk even when it's bad weather out. But they are too expensive, and we don't have any room for one in the house. I am thankful I at least have the stationary bike when its bad weather.
Well, I should get going. I just promised Sarah I would make some summer graphics for her blog so I'm going to do that. She is like her mom, and when she wants to change her blog, she wants to start as soon as possible.
I have a hard time throwing out workbooks too! Somehow it seems like a waste. But, you are right. We can't keep everything. I have to go through our year's stuff soon. It's on my long list to do this summer.
Blessings,
Jenn
When I was researching learning disabilities I learned that it can have something to do with vision. I wish I could remember the details.
I'm pretty sure my son has this problem. It has to do with the way your eyes track words on the page. You should ask him if it seems like the words and/or letters are moving around sometimes. One of the things that can help is color overlays. Kyle's color was green. I know it helped him, but he has never been willing to use it consistently, so I don't know what good it did to learn that. His reading has improved without it, but he HAS to use a finger or bookmark or it is painful for all involved.
I found a program that parents could go through to learn to rehabilitate this, but it was cost and time prohibitive.
Just thought I would let you know in case it applied to Paulie and you wanted to read up on it. If I find any of my old information, I'll pass it on.
Sorry to hear you have trouble with your back too. I wouldn't wish back pain on anyone!
I would just keep an open mind when going to the eye appointment. Rule out vision problems first. We use colored overlays for my daughter because she thinks they work, but she uses different ones at different times. She is also very nearsighted and has been wearing glasses for close to three years now.
Jo Ann, sounds like you've been keeping yourself quite busy. Glad you had a stay home day. I sure do treasure those too, after a lot of running around days.
I love the summer points idea from your earlier post. I'm going to have to think about that one. We are continuing with school probably throughout the whole summer. It won't be daily and it won't be all day, but we'll do a few hours in the morning. So, I want to think about how I can incorporate something like that to get what I want done.
Ohhh it sounds like you have a lot going on at your place. I would LOVE to see a sample of your dc's portfollios. I want to put some stuff together and that sounds like a neat way to do it.
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
I am happy about that. I realized today how tired I was getting because of the running around. I do have bible study tonight, but that's always fun. Tomorrow will be a busy day. We have a VBS potluck dinner we are going to in the evening. So in the morning I have to go grocery shopping, make potato salad and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Then the potluck in the evening. Saturday is VBS help day in the morning, so Sarah and I will probably go and help make decorations a such. Of course there is church in the evening. Sunday evening we have our homeschool groups graduation and potluck dinner with swimming afterward. So with all of those busy days coming up, we are sitting here at home, doing some fun things and relaxing.
For us, on a weekend, that is early. We'll see what happens during the week.
Well, I guess the best way to look at it is now we have a doctor set up for the future.
I've gathered all the papers I want to keep and threw out all the other papers, workbooks etc... 
But I did do it, and they are gone. Now I just have to do some typing and printing of things to add and then put it all together. I want to make a reading list of all the books they've read. And get the beginning and graduation school pictures printed out and put on cardstock. Plus, I'm going to make a title cover sticker saying their names, school year and approximate grade. But to me those things are easy and fun. It was going through their papers and actually throwing out the rest that was hard. About the only thing I didn't get rid of was my Saxon 2 teaching book. It's in great condition and I hate to throw it out. If you need one or know of anyone who needs one, let me know.
