Summer Week 3 ~ Spain

This week was better than last week. Goldilocks spent three days in respite care and then returned to an even more structured household than we usually run. We are keeping her world very tight right now, and it is helping to make our world move more smoothly. We had several doctor appointments this week, including an entire day in the local children's hospital for Tom Sawyer's MRI and his physical therapy (more on that later). We did not get as much done on our studies of Spain as I had wanted. I am reminding myself to be flexible. It is summer, after all. Here is what we did educationally this week.

• Teaching Textbooks every day
• Time4Learning for Goldilocks
• The Story of Ferdinand (I have loved this story since I was a child)
• The Nancy Drew Notebooks #1
• The Littles
• Big Nate books 1- 3
• Painted pottery at the local pottery craft store, Claying Around
• Finished the DVD, Around the World in 80 days 1956 version
• Started the DVD, Around the World in 80 days with Michael Palin
• Charted Phileas Fogg's journey around the world on the globe and map with string
• Learned how to chop down a tree
• Made a Spanish rice dish
• Played Travel Memory
• Wed read five chapters of Life of Fred Edgewood
• Created with clay at the art table run by volunteers at the hospital

In addition, we had a great two hour play date with some friends and did lots of chores inside and out.

The MRI ~ Tom Sawyer has been complaining off and on of blurry vision around the outside of his vision. An ophthalmologist appointment didn't reveal anything wrong. So I took him to a neurologist, who wanted to check out that the arachnoid cyst in his brain wasn't growing. The MRI went very well. The technician offered him a variety of music for listening to while he was inside the MRI machine. She showed him how the MRI would work on a small wooden one in the lobby. He was confident after her explanations and went in all by himself. The results came back normal and the arachnoid cyst was stable with no change. We don't know why he is having some vision problems, but at least his brain is doing well.

Comic Relief ~ We needed some comic relief around here after the last few weeks. The kids and Dad decided to make a mud slide and play on it. This is not the way I would get some comic relief, but the kids sure were delighted. I am very blessed to have a powerful washing machine. Take a look at the end result.

I wish I could see a smile like that on my girl more often.

Timothy ~ Timothy is really enjoying his new day program for brain injured people. He is going two days a week right now. This week they went on a field trip to an animal shelter, played basketball, practiced handwriting, learned how to cook a stir fry, learned about alternative proteins (besides meat) and generally got to know the other clients. I hope that all the paperwork goes through and he is permanently accepted into this program. I think it will help him so much with his confidence and social anxiety, as well as help him develop a purpose for his life. Speaking of paperwork ~ I have piles and piles of it to fill out for services, doctors, camp ... I better get back to it.

Lastly, I will leave you with a quote ~ The man who moves a mountain, begins by carrying away small stones. Confucius

That quote speaks to me this week.

Blessings, Dawn