Poor Buddy

Jost wins a prize for having the worst possible day yesterday. He started off the day by waking up with pink eye. Not terrible - but it did sting. I made a doctor's appointment since we've never had pink eye and I wanted to be sure. On the way to the doctor's he had a huge nose bleed. It continued bleeding during the appointment which made it hard for the doctor to see his eye. It isn't unusual for him to have a nose bleeds. I guess he takes after Papa that way. Then for the grand finale - we were at Monte & Jeneen's. The cousins were playing outside when I heard a wail - scream - groan coming from the garage. Jost came into the house with blood covering his face. He had leaned down to pick up a bat and hit it on the end of the weight lifting bar. The gash wasn't too long, but it was wide. Since it was on his face we decided to take him in to the Urgent care. Poor guy! He ended up needing four stitches and a tetanus shot. He was terrified when they told him but when they actually did it he was very brave. They tried to numb it with a gel but it didn't work. She started the first stitch and it hurt so they had to stop and give him the numbing shot into the skin. For me that was the worst part. He never screamed or hollered just said really politely "That hurts - it really hurts!"

When he was done we went back to Monte & Jeneen's. We topped off the night by goofing off with Chris and Michelle and Monte and Jeneen and the cousins. We just wanted to have some fun. Today Jost says everything hurts. He has a goose egg under the stitches. Plus his arm hurts where he got the shot. Now we just have to wait and see if it scars. They will take out the stitches next Wednesday, so we should see then.

Back to HOMESchool

Well, it is that time of year again. Kids are headed back to school and we head back to HOMEschool. They really are two different things. Jost started me thinking about the difference when he wished that just one sign would say "Back to Homeschool."

We started on August 10th and have two solid weeks of class under our belts. After missing so many days last year I am thankful for every completed day. Our days are less like traditional school than ever before - despite our new "school room." Jost has moved from the Grammar Stage into the Logic Stage. He will learn to ask questions and to weigh arguments. He also does more independent studying on his own. If he want s to know something, I tell him to find out for himself. He is also studying logic on his own. I just review with him to make sure he understands completely.

Kade is doing much better in school this year. The SPD treatments are really helping her focus and engage her mind. Adding the treatments -or activities - is an extra layer in every class and I have to be prepared for any unexpected loose moments. It is kind of like constantly watching over machinery that wants to come unscrewed. It is really rewarding though to see her math finally click. Today she figured out the "trick" to adding nines. She was so happy that she did the whole worksheet wrong. I don't mind; I was thrilled too.

This picture is from their craft last week. We were exploring the challenges and methods of cave paintings. It turned out really well - and looked a lot like the real paintings. Maybe those are really cave "kid" drawings. After all, there isn't a lot to do in a cave when it is cold outside. I know we have been tempted to draw on the walls - or climb the walls - during cold snaps.

Happy back to HOMESCHOOL.