HomeSchooling Dilemma

As you probably know, I homeschooled Jake for 4th and 5th grades. Although I loved it very much, I was feeling really burnt out towards the end of last year. For many reasons, we all decided for Jake to go back to public school for Middle School.

I have regretted that decision since about September...

We decided that since we started the year, we need to finish it. Everyday I wonder if we made the right choice.

Jake is a C/D student (he comes by that naturally). He probably always will be. He struggles DAILY with his grades. He learns concepts at a slower pace than the 'norm'. I think I could slow things down for him to make sure he grasps the concepts better.

However, Jake LOVES school. He loves being with the kids. He loves his teachers and classes. He loves taking Drama as an elective.

My heart is torn. It is time for me to be making decisions for next year. I need to decide if he will remain where he is or go back to homeschooling. My heart is torn.

Suggestions?

School is a Whirlwind

As you probably know, I felt that Jake should go to public school this year. This decision was made about March of last year and so we worked towards that goal.

Well, school has only been in 3 weeks and I cannot count the number of times I have said in my head, 'I should be doing this myself!'

Now, that being said, I do not know if this is just because he has only been in school for 3 weeks and things are still new or if I really should be doing it myself...probably a little of both. My friends tell me that it is a Middle School thing - the transition is hard no matter the background. Another thing that makes this difficult is that I am an 'if you start it, you finish it' kinda girl, so...we started it and we gotta finish it!

Let me tell you a bit about the frustration.

I CANNOT read minds...shocker, I know! If you let me know what needs to be done with my son and his education, I will be all over it...but I cannot guess at what you want us to accomplish! Then, if you stated what you want and we do what you have written, then Jake should be graded accordingly! The frustration and the tears have been massive around here...for him and me!

So, I would covet your prayers. For myself and Jake. I know we both want him to have a fantastic 6th grade year.

Quad Squad Update

I heard from the Quad Squad mom today. I will let the email speak for itself...

This evening both of our Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists, Dr. Kenneth Higby and Dr. Michael Gordon, did a cervical check. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...GOD IS AMAZINGLY GOOD!!!! My cervix looks even better than it did two weeks ago!!!! At 26 weeks it was measuring 23-25; this evening--25-28! The stitch from the cerclage that Dr. Gordon put in, and gave God complete credit for, still remains unchanged! Each of the doctor's were soooo pleased and quite frankly amazed!

Now, for even MORE good news! They both agree that I should go home!!!! I didn't even consider that as an option--WOW! So, tomorrow (Wed., 3-25) given that my OB/GYN, Dr. Bryan Cox, concurs, I should be discharged to go home! Then, either Thursday or Friday we will have an appt. to have a biophysical scan where they will conduct a sonogram that focuses on the health, etc of babies A, B, and C. We have agreed that until 30 weeks, we would not make "decisions" regarding delivering for the sake of baby D to only risk the health of A, B, and C.

On a final note, many of you have asked about all of the babies names. Here they are with a brief explanation:

Baby Boy A: Logan Quinn (Kevin's first choice for a boy was Logan; Kevin's middle name is Quinn)

Baby Girl B: Leila Ruth (I had picked out Lila, but Kevin, Oprah, and the Facebook poll chose Leila; Ruth was my Nana's name)

Baby Boy C: Landon John (This was the name I was trying to sway Kevin toward instead of Logan, and Land is my mother's maiden name; John is my dad's name, it has been in his family for generations)

Baby Girl D: Ella Faith (Each of Kevin's grandmothers' names had "ella"--Luella and Cozella; Faith we chose because we have complete faith in God's plan for this baby, our tiniest--this name holds the most sentimental value to us, so we have chosen to demonstrate our faith that all will be well with her by giving our little fighter this name. She will ultimately be okay; we claim it, we believe it, and we are living as if He has already answered that prayer as we have requested!)

God bless all of you that have sent your thoughts and prayers on behalf of the fourfold and our family! He does not cease to amaze us all; and He has showered us with blessings beyond measure! This testimony will speak to others about how Great and Big our God IS!

Please continue to pray for this precious family!

A miracle is in our midst!

Quad Squad

A precious couple from church is expecting quads...yup, you read that right...QUADS!

The poor mom has been on bedrest over a month now...

The poor dad is running around like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to get things ready.

Our Sunday School class has the privilege of helping this week. Some members of our class have signed up to go over at various times and help organize, paint and whatever else they need help with. I get to go Thursday. I am also working on refinishing the baby bed...(you sould see this thing...it looks like animal cages...and SOMEONE painted it with khaki, white and brown speckle paint...don't know why anyone would do that...but don't worry, I am all over it!)

There has been a lot of publicity lately for the family. They were on the news. And OPRAH!

Please pray for this family. There are lots of unknowns with the pregnancy...4 babies being born and coming home...the older two children...you get the idea.

Dancing with the Stars

...starts tonight. I so love this show!

I have a friend that won't let his daughters watch. He says the costumes are too slinky.

I really don't get that. I discuss things with my kids. We talk about the costumes...we talk about the fact that they are COSTUMES. Appropriate only for a glitzy dancing show. We also talk about the fact that they are not actually as skimpy as they look. If you notice, you can see flesh-colored material where you think you see skin.

Costumes aside, I love to waqtch how the stars progress. How they knew nothing about ballroom when they walked in the door and they soon start loving it.

So, what do you think? Do you let your kids watch? Do the costumes bother you?

Prayers, Please

I'm in the house and settled. I have alot to catch you up on (if I didn't lose all my readers during my absence), but I will get to all that later.

Today, we need to pray for this family.

In case you havenm't heard, last night, The Chapman's youngest daughter was killed when run over by an SUV that her older brother was driving. What a terrible loss for this family.

Please, lift them up to The Lord!

Why I Do What I Do.

Christine has challenged all us SAHMs to share our story, so I bit!

Ten years ago, I was pregnant with our son. My husband and I decided that I would continue to work. After all, he was a medical assistant and there was no way we could make it on his salary. Also, I was a daycare kid and I turned out fine. I truly did picture myself working full time after I had my kids.

I gave birth to our son, had my 6 weeks maternity leave and then school was out for the summer. I had a total of 3 months with my child before I had to return to work. Then, it was time, I took him daily to his daycare. I cried every morning when I dropped him off. I got later and later to work every day.

I worked for 2 years, crying every morning and having a HUGE melt-down every Sunday night, thinking about leaving my baby for another week. One day, I told my husband, "I don't understand why I drop my baby off for someone to take care of while I spend the day taking care of other people's kids." We finally decided to tighten the purse strings for me to quit and stay home with our son.

I actually did not quite completly (well, I did quit that job, but worked part-time for another). I stayed home, minus about 12 hours a week, for 2 years. Then, the part-time job I was doing offered me an opportunity I could not pass up (or so I thought). I took the position which allowed me to work from home and do some travelling - on which my son could accompany me. I did that position for 1 year...until my son started kindergarten and my husband landed a fantastic job that required him to travel. If I was travelling and my husband was travelling and my son had to be in school (this was before I was pro-homeschooling - but that's a different post all together), how would that all work? So, I quit again.

I will say that when my son was going to public school, I did work part-time, but I did not go in until after I took him to school and I was off in order to go pick him up.

I guess I have never truly been a SAHM, although I do consider myself one. I have, for the most part, always worked part-time. I do not believe that you cannot have a job and kids. I believe that a mom can work and be at home with the kids. Work from home or work while the kids are in school, but be there for your kids when they need you.

I now have 2 kids. My son is now 9 and my daughter is almost 2. I also have a part-time job. I work 2 days a week for a great photographer in town. We work in her house, we take our kids to work - it is the best of both worlds!

I think that each woman has to make this decision for herself and her family. I don't think there is any right or wrong. Some families need 2 jobs, some THINK they need 2 jobs. Some women would not enjoy staying at home and therefore, I believe, not benefit their children. Some women love the thought of staying at home and therefore should!

I say, pray about it, discuss it fully with your family and make the necessary decision!

Tis the Season!

I just noticed that the calendar says November! This means our family is on the fast track. About 90% of our life happens between November 1 and January 30. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Anniversary, Gotcha Day, Christmas, New Years, more Birthdays, UGH!

So, my battle cry for the next 3 months is:

"Happy Birth-thanks-anniv-gotcha-christmas-new years-day!"

I think I will have to practice saying it a few times to get it right!

More Ovaltine, Please!

Ok, so, we went to my grandmother's funeral and...for reasons too many to mention here...I did not take a bottle for Kaylee.

Wait, before you start cussing at your computer screen and screaming, "What? Bottle? The child is 18 months old! She shouldn't have a bottle anyway!"

She will not drink milk fom a sippy cup!

Nope!

Not warm, not cold.

Milk belongs in a bottle, juice in a cup.

So, I did not take a bottle on the trip and I did not buy a bottle while I was there. Thus, no milk.

Well, this morning, I put her milk in a cup (after all, she has not had a bottle for 6 days, why reintroduce it?) She took one sip and set it down on the table not to be picked up again.
Until...I put a bit of chocolate in it!

My husband comes in and I asked if Ovaltine milk was better than no milk...
I did not get an answer, instead both he and Jake broke into a simultaneous quote from this movie...

'Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a...!"

Remember it?

After a nice rendition, we decided that if Kaylee would drink Ovaltine milk, that would be better for her than no milk at all!

Tricked her good! Milk from a cup!