Last night it was thundering and lightening so getting on the computer was out of the question. As Brenda and I sat around visiting, Shandi joined up. We were sitting out front enjoying the cool night air following the first round of rain, when the wind blew strong enough to cause rain droplets to fall from the trees across the road. It was a dark night, so the sound was all one had to go on. Shandi jumped and looking across toward the trees that border the road, she says, “I don’t like that sound. It scares me. I always think it’s a big monster out in the woods and it’s coming to eat me up.”
I explained to her the real source of the noise, but she wasn’t truly listening, as she immediately launched into a tale of a movie she had watched. From her descriptions the movie was Sleep Hollow, and complete with physical animation, she told us all about the movie. There was the evil man with the hood, the girl who always did something strange—that point I missed totally, and the man who walked around never looking where he was going because he was always reading a book.
She tells her story in high animation, with facial expressions to match the scene; the physical motions to describe the actions and lots of descriptive phrases. She’s really a trip to watch and listen to, but you have to listen closely because she talks a mile a minute when she’s into telling a story.
Then she proceeded to tell us that there really were evil spirits and good spirits. “Don’t you believe that, momo?” she asked me. “Don’t you believe the evil spirits want to hurt you and the good spirits protect you? I do. You know my uncle Bobby, the one that died, (speaking of Brenda’s husband) he’s my good spirit. He is always with me and he keeps me safe. He even comes in the form of animals, momo.”
So we discussed that possibility for a while until she began to talk about a time when it rained so much that the football field at school was flooded. She told about her and a friend trying to figure out where that water was going. Why it was covering the football field, so much that the football players had to take off at least 3 days from playing football, as she described it. I suggested that the rain water soaked into the ground and what didn’t soak in or run off, evaporated. “No way” Shandi says emphatically. “Me and my friend searched until we found where that water was going. You know those ditches way over by the trees—referring to a small creek that runs on one 2 sides of the field—why that water just run off into those ditches and disampeared.”
From that story she really got deep, when she remembered showing Carson, a school friend, the secret path down at the water park. They were all bent over looking at the path, when Carson began to scratch in the sand, throwing sand on Shandi. She asked him to quit but instead, he dug faster so she used the stick in her hand and in her own words, “she just went lost out of her mind and hit him with the stick”. “But I apologized to him, momo, but he wouldn’t listen.” She said.
I asked her when does she usually get lost out of her mind and she said when she got really mad. “That’s when the evil Shandi appears.”
“The evil Shandi?” I asked.
“Yes, the evil Shandi, momo”.
I told her that I thought that was simply the angry Shandi and it was what we worked on learning how to handle our anger properly. She lets out this exasperated sigh and states,”You call it what you want, momo, I call it evil Shandi.”
“But, I have a good Shandi too. When evil Shandi isn’t out, good Shandi is. Do you know that Britanny says there is a boy Shandi? There is no such thing. There is only one Shandi and it’s ME. But, maybe my mama had a boy Shandi in her tummy, and he got dead before he was born, so it was only me, Shandi, who come out of my mommy’s tummy. Could that be right, momo?” She asked.
Well, no, darling, it couldn’t be right, I explained to her. Mommy only had you.
Eventually she accepted that truth, but I’m still not sure she was convinced. With that, as is usual with Shandi, she stopped talking.
Today their father came and got them around 9, to spend time with them. He planned to take them to a park to play, then have a cook out. He managed to tell me without Ana hearing that this would be her surprise birthday party since he would be at work the 27th, which is her birthday.
Showing posts with label Shandi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shandi. Show all posts
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Battle has been Won
I've had an extremely satisfying day. First the ruling on Shandi. I called to see if the test results were in on her testing. They were and we able to go on down and speak with the SPED Case Manager. She actually scored higher in reading and English on this test, using Peabody’s testing than she had on the Wechslet Intelligence Test; however she scored lower in math problem solving. But she qualified for special services in school; qualifying in her math, but will receive help in her reading also.
We were given two choices. Leave her at Salem where there is 1 inclusion teacher who is working with children in 3 classes; or bus her to Tylertown where there is an inclusion class with a special teacher who is there 3 days a week along with a regular teacher and an aide. They also have a reading program which is computer based which helps children like Shandi.
We chose to leave her at Salem for now and see how things go. Julie, the Case Manager said that at any time we felt it would be in Shandi’s best interest to transfer her, we can revisit the IEP which we will meet and write next Wednesday.
Then we went up to Stacie's to clean her house. The first thing when I walked on her porch, a guinea wasp stung me on the ankle. We looked but couldn't find it. Then one got Connie when she walked up. Connie had offered to come clean it, but Stacie wanted me there too. We had the Shandi's room clean and was working in the living room when Connie got there. We got that cleaned and Stacie's room, while Connie did the bathroom and kitchen, and helped us some in the living room. She swept and mopped behind us. While working in Stacie’s room, I was crawling up under the head of Stacie's waterbed to snake a cord down thru the bed and out the other side to plug in the waterbed (the house has few plug outlets) I whacked my elbow on the corner of the bed and just about messed in my pants. Finally it quit hurting enough I could move it. Then I had to make the turn into the center of the bed and crawl half way in it to get the cord far enough for Stacie to reach. After she left, Stacie and I tackled the play room while Ana tackled her room. Other than a pile of clothes to wash and fold, her house is clean and I mean really clean.
She's complained for years about not knowing how to organize, getting started on one thing and seeing something else and starting that. Add to that, she'll get discouraged and stop and get on the computer. Well, we didn't let her stop today and that house is the cleanest I've ever seen it.
When Terry came up to see the results of our labor, he found our wasp nest and took care of it. It was under the porch and I wasn’t looking from the right angle to see it.
I so wish we had taken some before pictures, but we didn't. But imagine clothes, empty and half empty drink bottles strewn about, rubbermaid totes here and there, stuff overflowing out of them, clothes baskets here and there with clothes in them and just general trash and stuff from younguns not cleaning up behind themselves and you have an idea of what shape it was in.
She told me this evening she actually felt like it was becoming home to her. She has every intention of keeping it that way, but knowing her, it will still get in a mess from time to time. But I do know she had intentions of keeping it clean and teaching the girls to clean it.
Then about the time I was going to get online it began thundering, then the lights went out, so I organized Shandi's folder on our steps to get her help.
I think I'm tired.
We were given two choices. Leave her at Salem where there is 1 inclusion teacher who is working with children in 3 classes; or bus her to Tylertown where there is an inclusion class with a special teacher who is there 3 days a week along with a regular teacher and an aide. They also have a reading program which is computer based which helps children like Shandi.
We chose to leave her at Salem for now and see how things go. Julie, the Case Manager said that at any time we felt it would be in Shandi’s best interest to transfer her, we can revisit the IEP which we will meet and write next Wednesday.
Then we went up to Stacie's to clean her house. The first thing when I walked on her porch, a guinea wasp stung me on the ankle. We looked but couldn't find it. Then one got Connie when she walked up. Connie had offered to come clean it, but Stacie wanted me there too. We had the Shandi's room clean and was working in the living room when Connie got there. We got that cleaned and Stacie's room, while Connie did the bathroom and kitchen, and helped us some in the living room. She swept and mopped behind us. While working in Stacie’s room, I was crawling up under the head of Stacie's waterbed to snake a cord down thru the bed and out the other side to plug in the waterbed (the house has few plug outlets) I whacked my elbow on the corner of the bed and just about messed in my pants. Finally it quit hurting enough I could move it. Then I had to make the turn into the center of the bed and crawl half way in it to get the cord far enough for Stacie to reach. After she left, Stacie and I tackled the play room while Ana tackled her room. Other than a pile of clothes to wash and fold, her house is clean and I mean really clean.
She's complained for years about not knowing how to organize, getting started on one thing and seeing something else and starting that. Add to that, she'll get discouraged and stop and get on the computer. Well, we didn't let her stop today and that house is the cleanest I've ever seen it.
When Terry came up to see the results of our labor, he found our wasp nest and took care of it. It was under the porch and I wasn’t looking from the right angle to see it.
I so wish we had taken some before pictures, but we didn't. But imagine clothes, empty and half empty drink bottles strewn about, rubbermaid totes here and there, stuff overflowing out of them, clothes baskets here and there with clothes in them and just general trash and stuff from younguns not cleaning up behind themselves and you have an idea of what shape it was in.
She told me this evening she actually felt like it was becoming home to her. She has every intention of keeping it that way, but knowing her, it will still get in a mess from time to time. But I do know she had intentions of keeping it clean and teaching the girls to clean it.
Then about the time I was going to get online it began thundering, then the lights went out, so I organized Shandi's folder on our steps to get her help.
I think I'm tired.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Shandi/grounding Ana/school
I've never felt so sorry for a child than I did Shandi this evening.
School papers from the past week came home today. Two of them were repeats from last week; the ones where she had written her story. The other half of the paper was finding the misspelled word. She made an F on both of them. She missed all the misspelled words and didn't even attempt to write a story. When I asked her she said she got behind and couldn't finish it.
She had one Reading Comprehension paper that she made an 86 on. When she saw it she says, "I didn't make a hundred?" "No" I said, "But look, you made an 86. That is great." "She tears up and says, "But I tried so hard to make a hundred. I want to make a hundred." I said,"But baby, 86 is so good in a subject you have problems in."
By now she's crying and so am I. She tells me again how hard she tries to make hundreds.
Then we come home and do the homework. Afterwards, we're going over the papers and I'm explaining to her her mistakes. She spotted the two papers with an F on them. Those weren't the only ones, but it's what she saw. Then she wants to know why she isn't grounded for making an F. "I'm supposed to be grounded for making F's. That is the rule."
Lord, I didn't know what to say, so I asked her, "Do you want to be grounded?"
She says she doesn't, but it's the rules.
I say, "Well, I suppose we could ground you if that's what you think you need."
All this time I'm thinking and praying, God, help me help her understand. I'm also about to cry.
So I ended up telling her that for right now she's in a class room filled with children who do not struggle nearly as hard as she does to make the grade. She is in there because the school hasn't gotten up off of it to give her the services she needs. Once she gets those services, THEN if she makes F's, or if she simply doesn't try her best, then we will ground her in a heartbeat. She seemed satisfied with that.
I thought about talking with her about her limitations, but I don't know how to go about doing that, and not say the wrong thing.
Do you have suggestions? Do you think I need to call and set them up an appointment so we can help her understand why she isn't grounded? Stacie and I simply can't see grounding her for something that she cannot help and she can't help not being able to grasp all the school work. After all, even with her adaptive skills, a 59 IQ limits a person's ability to comprehend certain concepts.
Also, Ana is having a hard time with the fact that Stacie is planning to return to school. We think she's subconsciously remembering that Garry molested her during Stacie's last session in school, but she doesn't tell us when we ask her why does she become so upset when Stacie mentions school. She only says it's because mom will always be gone.
School papers from the past week came home today. Two of them were repeats from last week; the ones where she had written her story. The other half of the paper was finding the misspelled word. She made an F on both of them. She missed all the misspelled words and didn't even attempt to write a story. When I asked her she said she got behind and couldn't finish it.
She had one Reading Comprehension paper that she made an 86 on. When she saw it she says, "I didn't make a hundred?" "No" I said, "But look, you made an 86. That is great." "She tears up and says, "But I tried so hard to make a hundred. I want to make a hundred." I said,"But baby, 86 is so good in a subject you have problems in."
By now she's crying and so am I. She tells me again how hard she tries to make hundreds.
Then we come home and do the homework. Afterwards, we're going over the papers and I'm explaining to her her mistakes. She spotted the two papers with an F on them. Those weren't the only ones, but it's what she saw. Then she wants to know why she isn't grounded for making an F. "I'm supposed to be grounded for making F's. That is the rule."
Lord, I didn't know what to say, so I asked her, "Do you want to be grounded?"
She says she doesn't, but it's the rules.
I say, "Well, I suppose we could ground you if that's what you think you need."
All this time I'm thinking and praying, God, help me help her understand. I'm also about to cry.
So I ended up telling her that for right now she's in a class room filled with children who do not struggle nearly as hard as she does to make the grade. She is in there because the school hasn't gotten up off of it to give her the services she needs. Once she gets those services, THEN if she makes F's, or if she simply doesn't try her best, then we will ground her in a heartbeat. She seemed satisfied with that.
I thought about talking with her about her limitations, but I don't know how to go about doing that, and not say the wrong thing.
Do you have suggestions? Do you think I need to call and set them up an appointment so we can help her understand why she isn't grounded? Stacie and I simply can't see grounding her for something that she cannot help and she can't help not being able to grasp all the school work. After all, even with her adaptive skills, a 59 IQ limits a person's ability to comprehend certain concepts.
Also, Ana is having a hard time with the fact that Stacie is planning to return to school. We think she's subconsciously remembering that Garry molested her during Stacie's last session in school, but she doesn't tell us when we ask her why does she become so upset when Stacie mentions school. She only says it's because mom will always be gone.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Note from teacher
August 26, 2009
I wrote Ms. Patricia a note which stated: I may have to come in for lessons on how you want homework corrections done. I’m not sure I understand what you want us to do. They appear to be already corrected when I look at them. I go over as many of them as I can with her, but given we spend 2 hours alone on homework each evening, and Wednesday is prayer meeting night, our time is limited.
August 27,2009
She wrote back:
Ms. Klara, You do more to ensure Shandi’s success than any family I know. If you ever feel you want to keep her papers an extra night, that is fine with me. Only go over as many as it takes to help her understand why she missed that kind of questions. She deserves play time. She is a very hard working young lady.
P. Boyd
August 27, 2009
Ms. Patricia,
Thank you for that vote of confidence. I do work with her a lot each evening. I realize that your day if full, but I also know if I don’t know things I can’t work with her or share with her mother what is going on. Shandi tells me most everything, but some evenings I am not really clear on exactly what happened due to her inability to always express herself clearly.
Today she was telling me about a problem with Kallie. She said she didn’t want to play with Kallie, she wanted to play with Brittany and it upset Kallie. I can understand that and I want for Shandi to learn to be nice to other children; so what I’m asking is if there is a significant problem going on at school due to Shandi’s inability to interact properly with other children, I need to know about it.
I am very aware from past experiences, that if we don’t monitor her progress carefully, help her in every way we know possible and teach her properly, she will end up being a statistic: drugs, alcohol, school drop out or worse, suicide. I also know I can’t solve her problems, but I can certainly do whatever I can to give her the love, support and guidance she needs and I believe the school will do all they can also.
I’m very grateful she has you for a teacher and I believe that is God’s answer to prayers. With all her problems, I have prayed each year that she get the teacher meant for her for that year. Don’t ever hesitate to let me know how I can further help Shandi.
Thank you
I wrote Ms. Patricia a note which stated: I may have to come in for lessons on how you want homework corrections done. I’m not sure I understand what you want us to do. They appear to be already corrected when I look at them. I go over as many of them as I can with her, but given we spend 2 hours alone on homework each evening, and Wednesday is prayer meeting night, our time is limited.
August 27,2009
She wrote back:
Ms. Klara, You do more to ensure Shandi’s success than any family I know. If you ever feel you want to keep her papers an extra night, that is fine with me. Only go over as many as it takes to help her understand why she missed that kind of questions. She deserves play time. She is a very hard working young lady.
P. Boyd
August 27, 2009
Ms. Patricia,
Thank you for that vote of confidence. I do work with her a lot each evening. I realize that your day if full, but I also know if I don’t know things I can’t work with her or share with her mother what is going on. Shandi tells me most everything, but some evenings I am not really clear on exactly what happened due to her inability to always express herself clearly.
Today she was telling me about a problem with Kallie. She said she didn’t want to play with Kallie, she wanted to play with Brittany and it upset Kallie. I can understand that and I want for Shandi to learn to be nice to other children; so what I’m asking is if there is a significant problem going on at school due to Shandi’s inability to interact properly with other children, I need to know about it.
I am very aware from past experiences, that if we don’t monitor her progress carefully, help her in every way we know possible and teach her properly, she will end up being a statistic: drugs, alcohol, school drop out or worse, suicide. I also know I can’t solve her problems, but I can certainly do whatever I can to give her the love, support and guidance she needs and I believe the school will do all they can also.
I’m very grateful she has you for a teacher and I believe that is God’s answer to prayers. With all her problems, I have prayed each year that she get the teacher meant for her for that year. Don’t ever hesitate to let me know how I can further help Shandi.
Thank you
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wasp stings
This morning I stepped outside with my coffee--Ana was down here already and said that Shandi had to go back in the house to take a pill bottle back. Ana had her medicine and Shandi thought she didn't have any pills down here, and had picked up Stacie's bottle of meds, so she went back in their house to put it up. Anyway, I stepped outside and heard this awful noise. I listened again, thinking what in the world is that. I finally deduced it was a youngun screaming. I ran in, asked Ana if Shandi had made it down and she said no. I ran out again this time on the patio so I could see up the hill to Stacies and I saw Shan standing in the front yard screaming her head off. All I could think of was a snake or a bad dog or wild animal was there although I couldn't see anything but Shan and the cats. I took off running up the hill and hollering asking her what was wrong. She would yell back what SOUNDED like "I watched TV" , so I'm thinking, did she think she was late for the bus? I asked again and she said what sounded like the same thing, so I think, maybe she said a rock in the tv and I thought, Oh no, she threw a rock into Stacie's tv and broke it. (She is prone to total meltdowns when she becomes frustrated) So I'm running as best I can, with COPD that isn't easy, and finally I get to her. What happened now, hon, I asked her. A wasp stung me.
OMG--I thought, what if she's allergic, at least it isn't a rock in Stacie's tv who can't afford to replace it right now, let me see how bad this is. Sure enough, something stung her on the back of the leg. I brought her on down and put some bleach on it, found some tobacco from a cig butt and wet it and put it on there. Tobacco is great for pulling the poison from a sting like that. She finally calmed down and got ok although when she walked out to the bus she was limping like her leg would fall off. It hadn't started swelling bad so I think she'll be ok.
OMG--I thought, what if she's allergic, at least it isn't a rock in Stacie's tv who can't afford to replace it right now, let me see how bad this is. Sure enough, something stung her on the back of the leg. I brought her on down and put some bleach on it, found some tobacco from a cig butt and wet it and put it on there. Tobacco is great for pulling the poison from a sting like that. She finally calmed down and got ok although when she walked out to the bus she was limping like her leg would fall off. It hadn't started swelling bad so I think she'll be ok.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Shandi news
Got the results back from Shandi's evaluation. The psycholigist didn't find much difference in the testing this time than he found 4 years ago. She still tests on the high end of mild retardation and the low end of borderline.
The main difference was that he found her to be Predominently inattentive......so she's ADHD-IP rather than simply ADHD. She still has Defient Disorder, Social Skills are lacking--*I try, but can only do so much*
He did recommend special help in her academics......yeaRah.!!!
This means he at least read my list of things I needed him to focus on.
I had also sent him copies of some of her class room work.
But--this whole 9 weeks the teacher has been working one on one with Shandi. They got report cards today and she had all A's. Her reading A's had a star by them and on the bottom the teacher had written *with special assistence*
She --the teacher--also marked that she was below grade level.
I went yesterday and talked with the director of elementary special ed, one on one, and handed her a copy of Shandi's eval. My next move is to make an appointment with Supt. of Ed and talk with him. I have lots of questions to ask concerning the plans he has for our school district.
The main difference was that he found her to be Predominently inattentive......so she's ADHD-IP rather than simply ADHD. She still has Defient Disorder, Social Skills are lacking--*I try, but can only do so much*
He did recommend special help in her academics......yeaRah.!!!
This means he at least read my list of things I needed him to focus on.
I had also sent him copies of some of her class room work.
But--this whole 9 weeks the teacher has been working one on one with Shandi. They got report cards today and she had all A's. Her reading A's had a star by them and on the bottom the teacher had written *with special assistence*
She --the teacher--also marked that she was below grade level.
I went yesterday and talked with the director of elementary special ed, one on one, and handed her a copy of Shandi's eval. My next move is to make an appointment with Supt. of Ed and talk with him. I have lots of questions to ask concerning the plans he has for our school district.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Just stuff
Robby and Paula came out yesterday for a visit. He looks good, yet he has that bouncy leg thing going. The bouncy leg thing always indicates that he's anxious to be involved in something. When he can't get involved in something that holds his interest, alcohol and drugs are next in line.
He wants to come help us with covering the greenhouses. We'll see how things go. I'm letting Terry make that decision.
Terry worked with the county today. I spent most of the day on the phone. I enjoyed the talking, but hate days when I don't accomplish anything. Ana went home with a friend this evening, so Shandi and I came home. While Shandi studied her questions for reading, I put on a pot of chilli and mixed up some brownie mix to have for making brownies to sell for the cheerleaders.
When supper was ready I told Shandi what we were having--frito pie. What's that, she wanted to know. It's fritos with chilli poured over it. Oh, I like chilli and fritos, she said. So I fixed her a bowl and when I put it in front of her, she says, "But momo, where's the pie?"
I heard from my brother today. Seems he's been having chest pains so he went to the doctor. He has COPD and needs to quit smoking. I have it too and need to quit smoking. God help us both. I've tried and haven't succeeded yet. Maybe the next time I make up my mind to quit will the right time.
I took the girls to Salem church tonight. They have an active GA group of girls. Another grandmother from our home church also took her granddaughter, so it was nice to have a home person at a non-home church with me. Salem should be as much home to me as Magee's Creek. I know almost every person there; but I don't go often so I feel odd. We were cordially welcomed and told to come anytime; which we will as long as the girls are involved in GA's.
The preacher doesn't drone on and on. He opens with a short prayer, gives a short devotion, then opens the floor for prayer requests. After these are mentioned, he starts the prayer, encourages any who wishes to, to pray, and asks a specific person to close the prayer time. Their prayer meeting starts at 6:30 and was over at 7, promptly. Such a far cry from ours. We start at 7, sing 2 hymns, have 30-45 minutes of prayer requests, signing cards to send, praying for the people individually; then the preacher asks for blessing reports, prays about 10 minutes, gives a 10-15 minute devotion and closes with another 10 minute prayer. It's anywhere from 10 past to 20 past 8 when we are done. Then it's gather up the girls, get them home, try to calm them down, give them a snack and get them to bed.
I really like Salem's method of doing it.
I caught a bit of the evening news today. The part I caught was some replay of the debate they had last night, I suppose. All I heard was Obama and McCain, Biden and Palin pointing the finger at each other. They all sounded like a bunch of children, yay-yaying at each other. Sarcasm was used on some of the constituents who asked questions. It's a joke, if you ask me. Every where I look during election years, candidates are running down each other.
I have a tendency to distrust any negative messages against a candidate, for I feel that any kind of dirt can be glamorized and blown out of porportion in order to make the initiator look good and his opponent look bad. Why can't politicians run on their own merit and not run each other down?
I suppose that's too much to ask.
He wants to come help us with covering the greenhouses. We'll see how things go. I'm letting Terry make that decision.
Terry worked with the county today. I spent most of the day on the phone. I enjoyed the talking, but hate days when I don't accomplish anything. Ana went home with a friend this evening, so Shandi and I came home. While Shandi studied her questions for reading, I put on a pot of chilli and mixed up some brownie mix to have for making brownies to sell for the cheerleaders.
When supper was ready I told Shandi what we were having--frito pie. What's that, she wanted to know. It's fritos with chilli poured over it. Oh, I like chilli and fritos, she said. So I fixed her a bowl and when I put it in front of her, she says, "But momo, where's the pie?"
I heard from my brother today. Seems he's been having chest pains so he went to the doctor. He has COPD and needs to quit smoking. I have it too and need to quit smoking. God help us both. I've tried and haven't succeeded yet. Maybe the next time I make up my mind to quit will the right time.
I took the girls to Salem church tonight. They have an active GA group of girls. Another grandmother from our home church also took her granddaughter, so it was nice to have a home person at a non-home church with me. Salem should be as much home to me as Magee's Creek. I know almost every person there; but I don't go often so I feel odd. We were cordially welcomed and told to come anytime; which we will as long as the girls are involved in GA's.
The preacher doesn't drone on and on. He opens with a short prayer, gives a short devotion, then opens the floor for prayer requests. After these are mentioned, he starts the prayer, encourages any who wishes to, to pray, and asks a specific person to close the prayer time. Their prayer meeting starts at 6:30 and was over at 7, promptly. Such a far cry from ours. We start at 7, sing 2 hymns, have 30-45 minutes of prayer requests, signing cards to send, praying for the people individually; then the preacher asks for blessing reports, prays about 10 minutes, gives a 10-15 minute devotion and closes with another 10 minute prayer. It's anywhere from 10 past to 20 past 8 when we are done. Then it's gather up the girls, get them home, try to calm them down, give them a snack and get them to bed.
I really like Salem's method of doing it.
I caught a bit of the evening news today. The part I caught was some replay of the debate they had last night, I suppose. All I heard was Obama and McCain, Biden and Palin pointing the finger at each other. They all sounded like a bunch of children, yay-yaying at each other. Sarcasm was used on some of the constituents who asked questions. It's a joke, if you ask me. Every where I look during election years, candidates are running down each other.
I have a tendency to distrust any negative messages against a candidate, for I feel that any kind of dirt can be glamorized and blown out of porportion in order to make the initiator look good and his opponent look bad. Why can't politicians run on their own merit and not run each other down?
I suppose that's too much to ask.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Shan-Roo and Robby
I should have known something was up when Robby texted me this morning asking what his dad was doing. I answered back that we were trying to get ready to put plastic on a greenhouse. He said he'd talk with him later.
Then I forgot about it and went to work. I had a lot to do since I was leaving early to take Shan to her doctor's appointment.
While picking Shan up from school the teacher told me about Shandi not wanting to put away her unfinished math page to start on language. She said she finally got Shan to work on some of the language problems, but not before Shan had pulled her math out to work on it again. When I talked with her this evening about it, she did say she liked math better than language. So maybe because she can do the math and she struggles with language, she would rather do math.
Just as we arrived at the clinic this evening my phone alerted me to text message. I didn't recognize the number, and the message was "what you doing". I replied back that I was taking to the doc. I was asked if she was sick and I replied that it was for a checkup, and who is this.
"Boo" was the answer I got. Boo is the nickname for Paula, one of Robby's first girlfriends, way back when he was still a teenager. Then I get the message that says "Robby says hi". So I say hi back then ask...is Robby there? The answer I received was NOT what I wanted to read. Yes, this is Robby and I've been here a couple of days. Seems according to Robby his boss is in trouble money wise and Robby needed to get out of the area they were working. He got Paula to come get him.
We sign in to see the doctor. The waiting room is full and knowing that we were to finish up Dr. Charles day, I wonder how late does he stay. Big kids, little kids, quiet kids, screaming kids, yelling parents, popping kid parents....it was mayhem in there. After about 30 minutes Shan says the noise is so loud she is getting a headache. I suggested she close her eyes and tune the noise out...which she does.
Our appointment was at 4 and finally at 5:45 we see Dr. Charles. Her urine culture didn't grow anything. This is good because it means her body hasn't become resistent to the antibiotic. Still, with the kidney deflux, he would prefer having the test done to check things out, as would I. So he writes up that order and we will receive a phone call concerning the date later.
Then we talk about Shandi. He still hasn't gotten the recent evaluation from Dr. Jolly. He askes lots of questions about her school work, what help is she getting, and how is her behavior. He believes that medication isn't the answer for Shan, instead she needs help in school-tutoring, special ed, whatever it takes. Still he won't take her off her meds right now.
He told me to keep doing what I was doing school wise--pushing for help. He also said that if the school needed to talk with him, have them call him.
I believe I will contact the SPED contact at school and see if she will call him, or should I call and ask for an evaluation from him. Still, I would rather see the report from Dr. Jolly myself first, which should be coming in any day.
We go back to see Dr. Charles in 2 months. For refills, rather than seeing him monthly, we can call for the prescription and then stop by and pick it up, which is very convenient for us.
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