Summer Recap

One week from today I start back to school, and a few days after that Ve starts back to repeat her kindergarten year. In working with her this summer, I know without a doubt that I made the absolutely correct decision in having her repeat the grade. She is not ready for 1st grade, even with the six weeks of summer school and my working with her at home. She has come a long way, but I would like her to have a firm grasp on all kindergarten related material BEFORE more is asked of her.

I had not posted the 7th and 8th month home updates simply because I really didn't feel like it, but I wanted to relay that we have been working on two BIG issues all summer.

The first, is...getting closer to the was, her lying. I really feel that she didn't know the difference between truth and lie, but she had learned to cover up for her doing something that she knew she was not suppose to be doing ..thus the lie. We have come far, at least I feel most days, but then some others I am not so sure. In the past she would hold on to the lie forever, but now she gives it up real quickly and tells the truth shortly after. Lucky for me, she is not a good liar since she usually wears ALL her emotions on her sleeve..that is except her worrying..that runs so deep that sometimes it just comes out in huge waves...

The second issue has been the bed wetting. I really didn't approach this issue until she was home for 6+ months and Tuki was no longer in diapers...ever. At about 6 1/2 months home I removed her from the pull-ups over night. At first, we washed many loads of bedding. I watch her liquid intake, she is on medication for bladder spasms, and she has had an ultrasound and urinalysis done. We will be returning to the doctor next week to hear of the results from the ultrasound.

I also learned, through talking with Ve, that she had wet her bed often in Haiti. I do feel that the sheets were changed and washed daily, but considering the conditions and the available resources, I think she slept on the urine soaked mattress, thus becoming accustomed to sleeping in urine..she has no qualms about it, while I was let's say am a little disgusted by the whole thing. So we are working on breaking this habit as well. Her urologist adamantly told me not to put her in pull-ups anymore but help train her to respond to her body and get up. We have been working on this and we have had nearly a week of dry sheets with no diapers!! So we will see how it goes.

In addition to all this, I have a strong gut feeling that she may be considered ADHD...now before you all go "negative comments" on me, saying but she has only been home 8 months etc., it's just her adjusting...which all may be true, I still plan to talk with her teacher to observe Ve for the signs of it. By working with her at home, and considering how I would assess her if she were in my classroom, I would strongly feel she should be evaluated for it. So I will ask her teacher and if by the end of the first quarter, she feels the same way I do, then I will go ahead and have her tested. At this time she will have been home a year. Now you may be wondering what signs do I see that I feel she may have ADHD.

1. Extremely IMPULSIVE--even after clear instructions
2. Hyper active--almost at times jumping out of her skin
3. Her inability to sit still while doing anything...pulling at her lips, nose, hair, wiggling, making vocal noises etc., This becomes worse the more concentration required
4. She has a hard time focusing when there is other stimulus in the room
5. Her high anxiety...nail biting, hair twisting, etc.,

In my experience, students that have ADHD, but are not treated for it have a VERY difficult time in school...academically, socially, and with the teachers because they are always being told to be quiet, sit down etc., I do not want Ve to have to go through all her years in school struggling.

I had seen some of these behaviors while visiting with her in Haiti as well. I even remember some of the reactions of the older kids to her....a lot of yelling at her in Creole to stop doing things...so she had these issues even at the O.

Now onto Tuks. Not only has she grown physically, but also cognitively as well. Tuks, Ve and I can get into quite the lengthy conversations and sometimes really discuss them. She still has her hot temper and throws and hits when the fuse is pushed, so we are working on these behaviors. She can still be sassy and naughty, but now she knows full well she is being naughty. But she can also be sweet as pie too. She knows her letters, numbers, colors and counts quite well too. She has been completely out of diapers since late March. She still has two more years before kindergarten simply because she has a late birthday, which will be in her favor..but the baby of the family is growing up quickly.

As for me, adjusting to two is still a work in progress, simply because I don't like my lack of patience when I am overly tired...and two small bodies have way more energy than one. But it is really beginning to feel like a pair of old comfy jeans. Something I look forward to jumping into most everyday.

I am up to running 5 miles a day...finally. It had taken me nearly 10 weeks to get here..my older body and lack of running for a year really held me back, also not to mention the Lymes disease..but none the less I am finally here and just this week it has started to feel good. I still have a ways to go for my satisfaction in my fitness level, but I figure I am further than I was when I started in mid-June.

Now you know I can't leave the chickens out...I would guess about another week or so before I start getting eggs from my girlies...I can't wait!!!!

Ok, I think I am all posted out...LOL