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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

ZERO is UNACCEPTABLE in Glass Half Full's House

Parenting is beautiful, it is fun and loving and everlasting if we are so blessed. Sometimes though. It can be frustrating. We have to go from the euphoria of loving our children as they turn into toddlers with minds of their own, tweens, teens and what I have yet to venture - ADULTS.

Lil'Gal, as anyone who follows me anywhere knows - has a MIND of her own. Before children,  I had life with a daughter all fantasized in my mind. But even though we have bows and cuddles and tells stories together (well, her at 11 and in middle school while I secretly check the list to be sure we are on the same front and take names of the students I want to keep a-watch-on) we still find ourselves on the same page quite often.

Farmer, Jr. pretty much just tows the rope = anything that will get him to his next fishing trip or hunting excursion. (I remind him often how lucky he is to have so many opportunities afforded to him thanks the the hard work of his parents [Me and Daddy], his grandparents and all the sharing and wonderful friends we have.)

Even considering his dysgraphic disability he makes fantastic grades. A) He works as hard as he can; B) Under 504 the school knows he is an over achiever but that he needs accommodations to demonstrated that. C) He is blessed to have parents who are very involved and teachers who work with the parents and students.

So, today. The last week of the third week grading period. BEFORE WE ARE OFF FOR A MONTH. I receive a notification email that he has…. wait… I must breathe…. Okay…. No… wait….

A ZERO on an Independent Reading Assignment. HE READS LIKE A GENOUS (the boy can't write or print or get a word on paper but he could interpret an entire three book series as a play written in millions of words.).

I emailed his teacher immediately and as soon as I got him to myself at school I inquired:

"Ahem. What about that Independent Reading Assignment. You received a zero."

FJ, "What? I don't know what you are talking about…. Um, wait. Maybe. Let me see if it is in my binder. *searching overly full binder* I think this is it. But I didn't understand it."

Me, [Reading. For him? The easiest FREEEKING assignment ever,  knowing him and his reading.]

Me, "WTHell?"

FJ, "Well, I didn't understand it and I didn't have a book to read."

Me, "Um, look at your bookshelf. You have hundreds of books there that you have read and I can ask you a question about any one of them and you could totally tell me the entire story in cliff notes."

FJ, "Well, its too late."

Me, "UM, NO. PICK A BOOK AND DO THE ASSIGNMENT."

FJ, *Huffing off.*

Like less than ten minutes later:

FJ, "Here it is. I picked my questions and wrote them on the sheet."

Me, [reviewing his answers], A) The assignment was to write the answers on a separate piece of paper and stapled to the assignment sheet. B) We can't read your answers (due to his dysgraphia) so you can dictate your answers and I will type them and we will attach both sheets.

FJ, "I am NOT going to rewrite the answers for such a small assignment (it is a minor grade and he currently has an A in his worst subject.)

Me, "UM. OH YES YOU WILL. *Pointing to Instructions* and you WILL dictate to me your answers. AND lucky for you I WILL type them up for you and print them and you will attach them to your assignment sheet."

FJ, "For such a minor grade?"

Me, "ZEROS are UNACCEPTABLE in THIS HOUSE."

Parenting is truly a joy. Not a right, but a beautiful gift and responsibility. My kids are awesome and great! But I raise them with the concept. Do you wanna' just do enough to get by? Or do you wanna' rule your world. In the end it is their decision. All we can do is direct them.

But little life lessons like the one tonight weigh out in the end. Things I taught my children and lessons I expressed and explained when they were five and six, they still bring to the table at 11 1/3 and weeks from 13. Every lesson counts. Every hug counts. Every atta'boy counts. And on the rare occasion the "that's all you feel like offering of yourself?" Makes a point too.

Happy parenting. It is by most… my favorite career ever.


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Monday, December 1, 2014

BRAGGART ALERT: And then it got even better!

BRAGGART ALERT!

So today was my pre-op for my surgery next week. You know. The one I keep spamming Facebook, your text messages, your email in-box, and chat all to say, "GUESS WHAT NOW!"

Although, I do have to say and I'm hoping y'all have all realized, that I'm rarely whining about pain now because I am now on the downside hill of the wait. And I'm basically EXCITED about my hip replacement surgery now. I know right? EXCITED? Okay, well almost… I'm still a little leery and keeping my head somewhat focused on the 'after surgery' issues. And, as I said to Hubby this afternoon, "I'm still aware of the reality that 'after' surgery I will have severe pain. But it will be a healing pain… So, I'm okay with that. [Still not looking forward to the first time you wake from anesthesia and pain meds. But I'll suffer though with my sweet little button in my hand the first day that will deliver pain meds at my every need and want.]

Anyhoo, I had the typical lab work, an EKG, then a nasal swab and groin swab to be sure that I haven't been exposed to or am currently carrying any illness, infection, etc that might rear its ugly head between now and next week.

The staff was awesome. It is like a little family at this hospital facility. As previously mentioned, the physician groups in the building beside bought out the former birthing hospital and it has been modified into a fantastic surgical hospital.

My appointment went pretty fast. We left town at 8:15 and arrived early for my appointment. We were on our way out in about two and a half hours and were home by 7:30 this evening!

Anyhow, at my orientation and completing the final paperwork, etc., I was handed this little label with the following listed on it for my choosing:

Water Plain Yes, No                     Sparkling Yes, No
Chocolates Yes, No                      Mints Yes, No
Aroma therapy Yes, No (in the room! I selected just for my pillow since Hubby has allergies)
Audio therapy Yes, No (they can do that in a hospital suite?)

I was instructed that the aforementioned was at no addition expense to me or my insurance but it is just a service they like to provide to make their patients more comfortable. SAWEEEEET!

They don't have a hospital cafeteria. The have an on STAFF CHEF! So, I get to 'order' my meal preference from the 'cafe' and it will be delivered as specified to my room. For each meal.

So now all I have to do before surgery is:
- decide on prints and order photo invites for the Livestock show
- mail out 50 plus invites for LSS
- pick up Livestock show vouchers, and labels for entries
- CCD stuff
- all laundry in the house to at least get us through one week before I'm home and able to piddle around
- Finish the Christmas shopping
- Hair Appointment (to get me through the Holidays until I'm driving again)
- nail appointment (hey, I can't go four weeks looking puke during the holidays)
- decide with kids on recipes to work on during the holiday break for LSS since I'll be home bound
- weekend grocery shopping to fill our staples since I won't be able to drive for weeks*
- *[Hubby can do some grocery shopping; as Moms we all know we handle the staples in the house)
- Additional errands and extracurricular events handled before I am homebound
- Emails, phone calls, etc to get things lined out
- work out arrangements for getting our CA's (californian rabbits) in for the show
- more CCD stuff; auction and end of semester party; assign parts for the Christmas pageant since I will
  miss at least one Sunday class

I've got seven days max to get through all of this! But I know I can do it.

Oh, and as it is the first day of December and time to start counting down to Advent -

Happy Holidays!


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