A Quick Update

Wow! I'm not starting out too well at making sure I post. The month of May was going strong, but turned out to be very busy. We managed to muddle our way through school, Shy and K.D. had their first piano recital, my father-in-law made a short-notice trip up from California, and we finally received the diagnosis from K.D.'s developmental evaluation. My lack of writing has mostly boiled down to the latter.

My dear 8-year-old has been diagnosed with a language processing disorder and low cognitive functioning (possibly the result of the language disorder). I have spent hours researching this and trying to find the best possible way to help her. I'm not generally one to take a diagnosis of my kids at face value and just go out and grab something that they recommend because they are the "professionals." I insist on knowing as much as I can about the problem and the possible solutions in order to make the best decision for my family.

As it turns out, I don't disagree with their evaluation, though I'm not convinced that she isn't dyslexic. I did decide to go with a program that was a little different than what they recommended. I chose to go with Super Duper's Hear Builder programs. They should arrive on Tuesday and I am hoping that they will be a good foundation, in order to begin the Barton Reading Program.

Most of our year has ended. We do educate year-round, but we lighten up in the summer. We are sticking with Language Arts, Math, Reading, Piano, and Latin. Obviously, learning never stops and we focus on educational activities, but the regimented book work is much more relaxed. I think most of it is going to be working on our weakest areas, in order to start strong next year.

Musical Stylings

Today was Shy and K.D.'s very first piano recital. I was a nervous wreck. Would they get nervous and freeze? Would they sit still while the other students played? Would they each remember their piece? I am proud to say, they did wonderfully. They sat like little ladies, bowed the way they practiced, and they played their little hearts out. When it was all said and done, they took the time to tell the other students how much they enjoyed hearing them  play. It's times like these that make the long drives to town for lessons every week worth it.

On another note, music seems to already be helping K.D., therapeutically speaking. They say that music helps create pathways in the brain that wouldn't otherwise be created. I'm not sure if it is this or that she is just gaining confidence (the girls have only been playing for about three months), but she seems to be improving academically and at a rapid pace. Today, she looked at a sign that said, "Batter, Batter" and read it. This may not sound like a big step for an 8-year-old, but for my 8-year-old it was major. I suppose it could be the music and the confidence that has come along with it. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

Well, I suppose I should break the ice. I had another blog once, and I had a hard time creating a first post on that one, as well. Don't worry, though. Once I get going, I have no trouble with words. I do suppose a little about our family is in order.

My name is Paula and I have created this blog as a way to record some of our homeschooling escapades and maybe some of those mom moments that I just want to share with the world. I have three beautiful girls, Shy is 9, K.D. is 8, and Gracie is 5. My husband, Chris, is the one that works hard everyday to make it all possible.

While I was writing the above, I decided to take a look at my old blog and see some of the posts that I made regarding homeschooling and decided that one of them was worth re-posting here. I admit, I thought I was in over my head and would never make it. Just a little background, our three girls are adopted and the first two years they were here, were spent as foster placements. Anyhow, here it is:

Homeschooling...Approved
I finally got the call yesterday saying that we can begin homeschooling. I was so excited! I called the school and told them it would be the girls' last day and that I would be picking them both up when they got out. I sent out our letters of intent. Everything was going great!!! Then I remembered last Thursday, when the girls came down with MMATSA (Mommy's Mad At the School Again). It was a bad case and I decided to keep them home and start using their new curriculum. It was a mess. I didn't know what I was doing...they didn't know what I was doing.

Today, was a bit better. Not much. If my three-year-old wasn't used to having me to herself all day, every day, she probably wouldn't throw such big fits when I am working with one of the other girls. Hearing her scream, "You need to color with me" at the top of her mighty loud lungs makes things tough. Then when you send her to her room for not listening or behaving, she gets louder, "I done being loud mommy. I done wit my fiiiit!!!" Mmm hmm, sure you are!

I was told a week or so ago that I was in for a fun ride. At the moment, I feel like I'm in an old Yugo, broken down on the side of the road. A road with no passer-bys. I know it will get better. We are, after all, just starting. I just hope that by summer I will have upgraded to a Pinto.

*Happy enough now, we're doing great and have upgraded to a Caravan.