Spring-like January

Greg decided to rinse the ice cream scoop over Kate's water cup as she was filling it. In retribution, Kate (the sweet one) tossed a cup full of water onto her father. And then ran and locked herself into her room because whereas she has some memory loss, she has not forgotten her father retaliates.

We worked together to plan her next four years on paper. It's surreal. 

I took Kate to a freshman orientation night and was shocked to be in those halls again. Whereas I have no desire to endure anymore middle school with her, or anyone for that matter, the very idea of sending her to high school is beyond me. I want to waive the next four years. She can spend them with her fourth grade teacher where I am assured she is safe and loved. Thank you world for your cooperation.

We met with the school nurse and eighth grade counselor this week and made a formal plan to accommodate Kate's restrictions. The result of needed changes supported Kate successfully completing three school days this week. When writing the plan, her counselor joked she needed terminology for, "Kate is allergic to the eighth grade" because all adjustments were made to reduce chaos and noise in her day. She gets to leave classes early to avoid crowded hallways, eat lunch in a quiet conference room with a friend, and she has been removed from choir and placed into the library for that class period instead. All suggestions were made by the nurse as we had no idea what to request except the choir elimination because I had run out of patience with the director.

At school a five year old friend cried into my arms convinced she was having a heart attack. The poor girl was terrified but oh so very cute and as it turns out, hugging a teddy bear cured her heart attack. And then a special needs friend conned the librarian into letting him say a cuss word repeatedly and I howled hearing the story because he has just enough of a speech impediment that she truly didn't know he was dropping the F bomb until he'd repeated it four times. These kids are absolutely hilarious. (And I suspect that little guy can't wait to play Guess the Word with the librarian again next week!)

Ty's reading grade was hanging in the balance this week because I failed to make him read when I knew he needed outside play while we experienced sixty degree temperatures. Of course, when he does settle down to read and chooses this position to do so, it's no wonder his quizzes don't reflect a strong reading comprehension. He's the busy one.

Greg picked Erin's car up from the shop and noted how dirty her windshield was so he cleaned it for her. She went to drive home the following day and exclaimed, "oh my gosh! I thought I needed new glasses to drive". She's the smart one.

Lauren started babysitting a couple of little girls this week. Never in her life has she expressed a desire to spend time with small children. It's amazing how much she has changed as Austin's mom. She is nurturing but still her sassy self. It's a beautiful combination. Deep down, she always was the nurturing one. She just hid it well. But we knew when she loved special needs peers as a little girl, she had a soft spot for those who genuinely needed her.

Greg took advantage of the gorgeous week and smoked a pork belly. Homemade bacon is one of my most favorite things and when he sprinkled a tiny bit of brown sugar on freshly seared pieces the other night, I was left speechless in pure pork-induced joy. He's my favorite one.

Makenna insists this is what the bananas need so they feel like they are still in a tree and won't ripen too quickly. We had a decorating difference of opinion over this. She started a second part time job and five classes this week. She is the stressed-out one.