Hello, my birthday was a great success.  I tend not to have a groups of friends, rather individuals, so at this party few knew each other, the common denominator was me.  Everyone enjoyed meeting each other and making new friends,  I love it when that happens!

I had kids over to fit the various ages in the house...  I discovered during the party that my newest adopted daughter was not participating with the girls she was familiar with and her older sister.  Instead she hid.  Her head remained down as she 'appeared' to be concentrating on doing crafts all night.  Hmmmm

I spoke with her about that and said if she wants to learn English she must take a risk and speak to people.
She said that she has nothing to say...  Oh I know where this conversation is going and if I continue it, it will be a losing battle.  So I told her that she and I will have a 10 minute conversation, with full sentences every day starting TODAY.  Ad we did, and she squirmed a lot.   But the more we do it, the easier it should become.

Well, it turns out I won't have to fight for the twins this year to get a 'gifted' education.  Two openings came up for the International magnet school.  I am thrilled, this place is a new campus and teaches and look at what they study!  This was their curriclum from last year.
Areas of exploration for each continent are geographical location, climate, landforms, language, history, fun facts and daily life (including holidays, celebrations, traditions, schooling, family, and etiquette).
And they study all of the above in each country in the world. So you can see why I am so excited, talk about an amazing opportunity! This is exactly what I wanted for them. The school only goes to 5th grade unfortunately, but at least they will have one year.

I started writing this post on the 23rd, and I lapsed into the 24th because it's just after midnight, read as if it is Friday night the 23rd.

Back to the doctors this morning.  My daughter came and showed me her palms which had tiny red bumps on them and itched, and she showed me the inside of her lower lip which also had bumps... and the sore throat was still there.  The 24 hour incubation period for strep proved to be negative, thank you.  So what is all this?  Well, the doctor concluded it was Kawasaki. No medicine for it, it just has to run its course.  Is it contagious? Yup, but only when there is a fever.  Since she already had a fever for two days, everybody was exposed so that is that.

Tonight I had a date, yes, we really got it together to do it. Of course it would not have happened without the pushing and prodding of my friend who we 'double dated' with.  The food was wonderful, the conversation was satisfying, truly a very pleasant night.  For a while I was transposed to a different place.  And my dh surprised me and was very entertaining all evening.  Guess he needed a break too and didn't realize it.

Tomorrow I become one year older. I'm not sure how I am to feel about that.  We are having some people over for a BBQ. Most do not know it's my birthday. I really just enjoy having friends around, sometimes it can be lonely when you are too busy and caught up with taking care of the family to reach out to others for a break.  As we left tonight, all 5 of my daughters were sitting around the craft table making presents. I had told them when they asked me what I wanted, was that they could buy something, but if they could make something from their heart it would mean so much to me. I can't wait to see what they created!

I noticed something interesting about my new daughter today.  When she spoke Chinese to my other daughter her face lit up, and I saw expressions I have never seen on her before.  Even though they speak Chinese all the time, she was relaying information that was funny, and her expressions were amazing, she twinkled.  I had received another sales call from a Chinese woman and I gave it to my daughter who listened, spoke a few words, listened again, it seems the woman was putting on the hard sell and my daughter couldn't get a word in edgewise.  Finally the call was over and I asked her, what was going on THIS time.  Well she had so much to say and not enough English words, so she told my other daughter in Chinese what happened then she told me in English.  Talk about a three way translation!  Apparently they are opening a new business in a near by big city with a big party on Sunday and we were invited to this special opening.  We needed a password to get in, it would be the last four digits of our phone number.  And when my daughter asked what the address was, she couldn't understand the woman because the woman's accent was Hong Kongese! So I guess we can't go, darn!  My daughter also asked this woman how she had gotten my cell phone number, and she said the computer just spits out numbers and they call them...  Guess there's no escaping modern technology.

A quick post for tonight

I took my daughter to the doctor today to check out her sore throat. While we were waiting she showed me a huge red welt on her leg, it was a bug bite that she had been scratching.

The doctor comes in and measures her. In 4 months or so she has gained 8 pounds and grown two and one quarter inches, and half a shoe size!  I asked the doctor, can this be considered something normal that can happen, or is this a "wow"?  She said, "This is a WOW."  OK, will I be having a basket ball player on my hands in a few years...?  I guess I will have to wait and see.

The doctor took a throat culture and the quick test was negative for strep, so we're waiting for the 24 hour  result tomorrow morning. My daughter asked why her throat hurt and I explained that her throat on one side had a lump that was red and swollen.  Just to show you how little life she has experienced, she pointed to her red swollen bug bite, and asked did she sleep with her mouth open and a bug flew in and stung her throat.  She was really worried.  I and the doctor had to reassure her that that did NOT happen and could never happen.  Her throat hurt for a different reason.

Went to the lake today with all the girls and the twins swam and the other 3 built amazing forts and waterways and had a great time.  As we left my two new daughters were having water fights with their water bottles.  Oh before that they were running around trying to step on each others shadow.

More tomorrow.

My poor daughter who is deaf came home from school today with a 101.3 fever, a swollen tonsil and a nasty red ear.  The school called so dh went to pick her up but the school is an hour and 10 minutes away.  So my poor daughter had to wait and then have the car ride home.  By the time she got in the door she was crying she didn't feel so well.  I took her up to bed, lay her down and rubbed her back for about a half hour, she then said she wanted to sleep so I came down stairs.  Interesting this illness, I feel awful that she is sick, but the up side is I get to show her what a Mother does and is.  It's a great opportunity to understand what the warm fuzzies are...  She woke up once, I feed her some fruit, two mini roll up sandwiches, a cookie and a cup of hot water and then she went back to bed but not before I gave her something for her fever and her sore throat.  For her to eat so very little when 4 helpings are standard, it means she really is sick. No school tomorrow. Hey that means i don't have to get up at 6:00 am!  But I'm sure I'll probably be up a few times with my daughter.

Don't you just hate those sales calls that come in at the most inconvenient times?  Well here I am driving along with my newer adopted daughter and my cell phone rings...  Now that's unusual because very few people have my number, only family, and a couple of friends.  So I thought there might be an emergency, I answered.  "Heelo"...Hello?"  I couldn't quite understand what was being said.  "Hello?"  Then I heard, I handed the phone to my daughter and said, "You take it, it's in Chinese..."  She took the phone and spoke for at least 6 minutes and then hung up.  I asked , "WHO was that?!"  She was laughing and trying to find the right English words.  It turns out I got a sales call from SHANGHAI !!!  They wanted me to go the the museum there and see all the exhibits that had been donated by certain citizens?  She wasn't quite sure how to explain it.  Then the person asked who was she talking to, my daughter answered, so she asked to speak to me.  My daughter said, "She doesn't speak Chinese."  A gasp of disbelief came from her and she demanded, "How can you speak Chinese if your Mother cannot?"  "I'm adopted,"  "But your Mother has to speak Chinese if you do."  My daughter said again, "I am adopted."  "Oh."  She then asked..now do believe this?  "If I call this number again, can I reach you?"  How in Heaven's name did this person from Shanghai get my phone number?  We are still shaking our heads over that one.

Oh my, it has been 5 days since I last posted.  Just when I have a bit of free time, it is always late in the evening and I need to go to bed.  That is what has happened again tonight.  We had a huge drill at the fire house with three other firehouses, police, CERT, Health officers & etc.  We studied and then drilled what to do in a mass casualty.  How to triage in 10 seconds, color code them and move to the next.  Very interesting.  That made me come home an hour late.  And what do I find?  One of my twins still awake.  SO I cuddled with her a bit until she became sleepy.  I fed the rabbits, wait until you see the new one..that makes four!  And returned some important emails, and now it's midnight and I need to get up at 6:00 because my daughter is still in summer school.  She came home a little different from her camp.  I will share more tomorrow.

A new issue/attitude has come forth with my oldest daughter, again I'll fill you in tomorrow.

I must go to bed, I am fading.. Oh and I wrote an email to the reporter who was researching my daughter's parents and told him that my daughter was ready to have a DNA test if he could get one from the man who claims to be her Father,,,(and probably is.)

As promised here is that camp photo.

This picture was after an almost 2 hour drive and in 90+ heat. 

I called yesterday and they said she was doing fine. I told them to let her know I called and that I miss her. I explained she didn't know what a Mother was for and she needed to know that. I also wondered if she wasn't sure that we might not come back. She went off with no problem because it was just like China, being shifted here and there, you can't care because if you did you would be upset and disappointed all the time. I want her to know the the caring stays and doesn't go away.

I would like this summer to be a growing one for the girls.  My deaf daughter has school and camp, my other four are singing in a concert friday, and on Jan 30th they are doing a Junior Park Ranger course where they will be accredited with patch and hat at this National Park when they finish.  My oldest is too old to go, but it will be a fantastic experience for the others, and it's free! My oldest will go back to sewing classes.

I want to plan a few more adventures before the summer finishes.

Going back to Saturday, my children experienced a 'life' lesson. Our neighbor down the street is where we buy our organic eggs from.  She is also a friend and in the fire department with me.  Her family has owned the farm for 4 generations.  I want my children to learn what being a good neighbor is and giving back.  Her 31 year old niece, who I have met, was killed in a car accident.  The memorial service was held on the farm under tents. My whole family of seven went there to help set up, serve and clean up the reception. I think over 200 people showed up. They saw so many people arriving with food, helping in every way they could, and people caring.  I asked them what they thought about the day, and they said it was sad, and they were glad they could help when asked.

Compare - then and now...

Finally, I am here but as soon as I had hoped.  The other day I spent about an hour and a half filling out an application for a job. I came back to it tonight to finish it and somehow hit a button that took me I don't know where, and now I can't get back to it or find it although I had saved it in the system of the hospital I was applying to.  So for the last 2 hours I have been searching a way to try and find it, sigh, it is frustrating.

Oh WOW, I just retrieved it YAHOOOOO.

Enough about me, to the children and life. Let me see, what should I catch you up on..  Well, yesterday we all drove an hour and 45 minutes to drop my deaf daughter off at camp. We arrived, got out of the car and my daughter and I went on ahead to register.  All around us as we walked were different license plates from different states. This camp isn't for just the kids that go to her school. It is for any deaf child in the US.
After we got her registered we walked to he cabin and helped her make her bed. She will share the cabin with 11 other girls.  She just keeps grinning from ear to ear, she is so excited. I had told her all the cool things she'd be doing, like archery, over night camping, first aid, learning about nature and science, and of course swimming.  I don't think she knew then how much fun she will have. She met one of her counselors who seemed very nice.  The night before I spent hours over a three page letter to help the staff understand who my daughter is, where she comes from and her limited life experience.  This was important to keep her safe and so she could have the best possibles experiences at camp. I was careful to remind them that she was a foreigner and did not read English and had limited American Signs. I also reviewed her issues and behavior patterns so that she would be better understood.

After we finished making up her bed the counselor told her to get into her bathing suit it was time to swim. We waited for her to change, then said our good byes (I have a picture that I'll post tomorrow) and she was off.  We were concerned that perhaps this was too soon for her, but we thought how much Sign she would pick up, new friends that she would make, and be exposed to appropriate social behaviors. The camp is only a week long.  I miss her and wonder how she is doing. I will try calling tomorrow to check in.

And no, my other children are not going.  There was not enough scholarships available. But I was able to receive scholarships for the other 4 to sing together.  There is a 2 week course, 5 days a week, one and a half hours chorus class.  It is being taught by the chorus teacher of a high school who sets the bar very high.  The ages are from 9-18, and there are 28 children in the class. Their last class they perform in a concert.  Some of the music they're doing are Mozart's Alleluia, singing in Latin, another song singing in Zulu, and a variety of other songs, some will be a cappella and one sung in a round.

Having all four do it together is another way to further the bonding.  My new adopted daughter loves it. She said the Latin and Zulu was easy, but the English was hard - go figure.  I love it when they all practice at home, it brings tears to my eyes.

I did speak with the Deaf school regarding the curriculum for my daughter this Sept.  They agreed to have me meet with the teachers to discuss the curriculum and for me to 'educate' them about my daughter.  i.e. the usual, she's a foreigner, learns differently, etc.  I plan to get right in there specifically request what she should be taught.

AND the school will be sending a teacher to our house for about two weeks to teach everyone Sign Language.  They have a grant, so it will not cost us anything. I am excited.

My other daughter seems to be falling into a funk.  I really need to find some friends/social activities for her. I had to first finish the schooling issues and camp things for my deaf daughter. Now I can focus on her. Patty, send Ellie!

The twins received a summer math packet at the end of school and one finished it that day, and the other soon after that. Within 2 weeks in June they finished the library reading challenge. They are now into the 5th, 7th and 8th grade reading lists and going strong. One twin took out 20 books from the library and will practically finish them by the due date. They read constantly, every where. Now I know this is a great problem to have but, I have seen them turning inward, and losing their social skills.  They become so consumed by the book they're reading that that has become their reality.  SO I have had to put a limit on their reading. They often will read up to 6-8 hours a day! I will be kidnapping them to take their minds elsewhere every few days.  But I need a plan first.. Oh, more work to do.
There are a few more stories to share but this has gotten long enough.  Tomorrow I'll share pictures and more...

TONIGHT!

I will write this evening to catch up on the time off.  I don't mean to disappoint by not writing each day.  The past several days have just been a bit busy.

But I WILL share some good news right now. After all the emails, meetings and phone calls I have done on my daughter's behalf to have her given the appropriate lessons to learn English...  I had a phone call today, from the lawyer assigned to me, that the US Government, Department of Education, is filing a case against my school system claiming that my daughter's Title VI Rights have been violated!!!  And so the process begins....

I will write more tonight.

She may drive me crazy, and frustrate the hell out of me but I will admit, she has a keen wit...  Yesterday I introduced  my deaf daughter and my other new daughter to a friend of mine.  My deaf daughter immediately signed "I'm Chinese, she's not, she's American,"  pointing at my other daughter. I signed, "What?"  She signed. "Yes I am Chinese she's just American."
How funny is that?  Then tonight at the dinner table I handed dh change from the other night, she handed her hand out as if she deserved it.  So dh gave her a high 5.  She signed , "No. I should have it." Dh shook  his head with a "I don't think so" look on his face.  She then signed, "When you are old and frail, who's going to help you then?  Not me?"  I burst out laughing and everyone said, "What, what did she say."
So I translated and everyone went into hysterics, and the look dh gave my daughter was priceless!

To those that gave me leads to help my daughter develop abstract thinking, 'Mom to 8' and 'skyblue59', I am very grateful and I will follow up on them.

You know how things come in threes...no matter what it is?  Well, I've had 2 out of the three today. My oldest daughter had a friend over, and she has the same birthday as I do, then someone wrote to look at this very special little girl that needs adopting and HER birthdate was the same. So I'm now waiting for number three, so I'll just put it out there. Anyone's birthday on July 24th?

Never mind, I just found the 3rd July 24th, although it wasn't a birthday, but it was the start of a special science/history camp. So, you see, things do come in threes.

I am now waiting to hear from the US Dept. of Education if they think my daughter's Title 6 Rights have been violated. I wait with baited breath.

 I have needed to write a note (sometimes long) every day of my daughter's summer school. They just don't seem to 'get it'. They forget that she is from China and she doesn't English, American Sign and is only on a 1st - 2nd grade level in everything. Yet they still continue to give her 5th grade work, which she doesn't understand. I have yet to hear from them... I had to ask them to give her homework. She doesn't have a work or responsibility ethic and it's very important that she works on these. Well, they sent home Place Value Words for math, in English and in numbers, she did not understand any of it. My dh and I decided to test her. We came up with the conclusion that she doesn't have any abstract thinking. She could add and subtract even numbers, single digits only, but she couldn't do odd numbers. This now makes sense when you add up all the other behaviors that she has shown. Anyone have suggestions on training or exercises to teach abstract thinking? This is a whole area I am not prepared for, I haven't done any any research in this area. I foresee at least 30+ hours I will need to do on the is subject to get her the appropriate training that she will need. Without abstract thinking her choices in life will be slim. I think we need some testing to be done once she knows more sign.

 An example of the '3 year old in a 12 year old body'. A friend's neighbor gave her a Betta fish because they were moving and couldn't take it with them. She called me and asked if one of my girls would like it. I thought it would be a good start for my deaf daughter to learn responsibility and how to follow a routine. So we sat down, and I explained and demonstrated everything about feeding, cleaning, and what a Betta fish was. I had her write notes, in Chinese, but she wasn't able to put the thoughts down, like clean the tank once a week. She could not grasp taking what she hears and writing it in her own words. (Yet another area to look into). I explained the fish is very sensitive and over-feeding, or the wrong temperature of the water, or too much movement could make the fish sick and die. So after some time I had her repeat to me what I had explained. She did seem to understand. We carried the tank up to her room and found a place for it. Speed ahead 3 hours, she's getting ready for bed, I walk in and she is chasing the fish around the tank with the net! I sign, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" She signs. "I don't know." Again I ask, and she signs the same. This went on for about 3 minutes. I sign, "Yes you do, now tell me why you had the net in the fish tank?" Well, it turns out she was trying to catch it to play with it! I removed the tank from her room, I can't trust her. I explained that all the years she was in the orphanage she didn't learn about having responsibilities, right from wrong and many life lessons and she has a lot to learn. I said that I'm sorry I did not have patience with her, but it is sometimes hard for me to remember that she was a little girl inside but was a 12 years old on the outside. I told her I would try harder to be more patient, and asked her (for the 100th time) to remember to ask before doing anything so that she could learn to do things correctly. Big sigh...

Our holiday

The first encounter with sand and the ocean

Sheer Joy

Can't get enough of that ocean...

Even at night time they wanted to be there

But then again, too much of a good thing can wear you out.

And guess who is always left to pack everything up...?

I'm sorry that I haven't got the pictures for you today, I had to drive 45 minutes to a specialist today, then home, then do drops and warm compress for my eye, then make dinner, do 2.5 hours of homework with my deaf daughter (Math is truly a foreign concept for her), serve dinner, holding time for one bunny, get 3 of the 5 to shower and wash hair, do 2 hours of homeschooling and research my diagnosis.  So you see, I wasn't left with much time.  I will try tomorrow. Here's what has happened to my eye.

The last 2 weeks when I have woken up I have not been able to open my left eye because of the severe pain, but usually and hour or two later it got better.  But the last three days it has gotten much worse. it doesn't go away now.  It is always worse after my eyes have been closed for a long time.   I went to my ophthalmologist, and he didn't know what it was, so today I saw a specialist.  I have been diagnosed with Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD), map dot fingerprint dystrophy.

WHAT IT IS

ABMD is a disease or anatomical defect of the cornea which affects the ability

of the epithelium (outer "skin" of the cornea) to attach to the lower layers of

the cornea. Instead, it grows unevenly or detaches.

Some people with ABMD have no visible symptoms from ABMD. Others suffer

from moderate to severe dry eye symptoms and some experience RCEs.

Erosions can be very hard to control for those with ABMD and they often have

to use aggressive treatments to keep severe dry eye symptoms and pain

under control.Some patients with ABMD may need to pay special attention to

night eye protection to prevent erosions, or may benefit from protective

eyewear during the day as well.

I am back

Starting with this evening at the the usual Monday firehouse training...90 degrees out and the drill is burning a car!  Hot and miserable is all I can say.

The mini vacation was a huge success for the children, especially for the three older ones.  I have several wonderful photos to share with you.  It is late at the moment but I will summarize as best I can, because I understand that a few of you have been waiting for me to post again.

The older three girls had never seen a ocean before or felt sand between their toes. The first time we went to the beach was at dusk. As we trudged up the sand dunes from the parking lot, I told the girls to take their flip flops off. The moment my deaf daughter's feet hit the sand her face exploded in sheer joy and she let out a scream of delight and proceeded jump, dance and run in the sand. My other new daughter was so full of glee as she skipped down to the sea. And my oldest was the loudest of all three in her excitement.  The twins followed them going crazy.  Then the sea rushed up and caught their toes, and it was a full chorus of joyous screams of delight. The smiles and wonderment abounded. The three oldest acted as if they had just entered a magical world that they had never imagined. They couldn't get enough racing in and out of the surf (with their clothes on!).  The euphoria was amazing to watch.

And we stayed there until the sun was almost completely down. They all went to bed that night with smiles on their faces.  And for my deaf daughter, who's limited awareness of the world and it's makings was equivalent to believing that the earth was flat, has had this enlightening experiences that let her know that the earth was in fact round.  Think of the possibilities.

A quick FYI

I have been working on this for at least a week in my spare time, to get the wording correct.  I finally just sent it.  The complaint form was 4 pages, and I added a 12 page addendum of facts and dates to document that my child's Title VI Rights had been violated.  It is filed with the Office of English Language Acquisition, US Department of Education.  I can't complain much higher than that.  Although, there is always Michelle... (Obama).

The time seems to be flying by.  Just as I complete one thing I remember 2 dozen that I haven't done.
I am trying to collect my thoughts, actions, to do lists and everything else in one place.  I have done baby steps for the past several days. Slowing down is never easy, especially when you see how much needs doing...

There have been several concerts to go to that the girls have been in. I think I counted 4 or 5, then I have been continually subbing. The two overnight birthday parties for different daughter's on different days which means also figuring out presents. I've had night duty and didn't get home until 3:30 am and got up two and a half hours later to get the girls ready for school and make lunch for me because I was substituting that day.  Imagine, taking Kindergartners to a zoo, and it was a hot day... Laundry seems to have increased lately, not sure why, perhaps there's someone else in the house I haven't counted. Then helping all the girls get or make gifts for Father's day. And those plants, I MUST remember to water them.

The brief updates for girls: the twins are becoming more 'mature' in the sense their id is coming out strongly.  A little too strong if you ask me.  My deaf daughter is doing much better in most categories. I do believe she is 'getting it'.   My daughter that I'm homeschooling is soaring ahead, and my oldest has developed into a full fledged, pain-in-the-neck, combative, disrespectful teen.  I nip it in the bud, but she doesn't have much self regulation so situations become immediately confrontational. This too shall pass, just in time for the next one to start...

Must make this short as we have been offered a practically free vacation for 4 nights 5 days, at our friend's B & B on an island.  We need to bring our own food and towels and a few other things, but it should be grand.  My newest daughters have never seen the ocean before.  We leave Wed. and there is much to do.  If I don't get a chance to post before we leave, I will post while there to share the adventure with pictures.
Until later.

What day is it?

I have been quite indulgent and have just allowed myself to 'relax' and not feel so compelled that I must write every night for people counting on me.

I will now try to catch up on the days missed.  Saturday was a whirlwind.  The twins had a band concert about 40 minutes away at an amusement park. It wasn't supposed to rain until late afternoon, but no one told the clouds.  Instead it rained in the morning and cleared in the afternoon!. We went early so the girls could ride on all the rides, and they did, several times on the same one. By the time the band was to play, all the rides, except two had been ridden on.  As soon as the concert started the sun came out...of course.  We couldn't waste the sunshine, so after the concert was over, they went on the two rides 3 times each that they had not been on before. I had decided early in the day that it was their day, and I wouldn't complain about the rain or my newly washed hair turning into a frizz ball, I would just say "Yes" to all they wanted to do. It was free after all.  So we arrived home about 45 minutes later, to do a quick change and off to a Bar-B-Que with the whole family. All the girls had a great time. And it was a first for my two new daughters to make and have s'mores.  Oh were they loving it!  I do believe they had at least three each.  It is a true American tradition.

Sunday, we all went to a local town street fair, another American tradition for them to participate in. There were all sorts of things for them to see and try like fresh squeezed lemonade. Squeezed right in front of them. An then there was the Dunk tank where people would throw a ball to a target and the person sitting on the platform above the tank drops into the cold water. Who knows what they thought of that, I can only imagine.

Monday my deaf daughter came home and told us about a boy that smiled and turned red looking at her. This was at the deaf school.  So I asked, "Do you like the boy?"  She turned all red and squealed and turned a way.  I persisted and signed a few more likes, kissing, sweethearts, and at each sign her face got more funny looking as she became SO embarrassed to even consider the possibility.  She was so cute and silly about the whole thing. She had us all in hysterics!

While Homeschooling my daughter today we were studying vocabulary and we came across a word, which I forget, that basically meant to re-invent oneself.  We talked about changing styles of clothes, hairstyles and several other things.  And she suddenly pops up with "I want".  "Want what?" I asked.  She wanted to take the huge risk of having her hair cut and styled, which is huge because she has never been in place that cuts hair nor wanted her bangs cut because her special Ayi at the orphanage did that for her just before she left.  Now she wants to have her hair changed and made different. So we went today.  I was a bit apprehensive of how she would react to actually having it done. When it was all finished , she was all smiles and feeling very pretty and special.  Yeah wahoo!
And we ended the night playing Go Fish with all the girls except the oldest in SIgn Language.

Well it hasn't gotten much better, but I know it will. Wednesday I went out on an EMT call.  It was for a diabetic who's glucose had plummeted and  was outside (night) combative, argumentative, and very confused. We had to chase the patient several times as they bolted and ran away.  At one point they bolted towards the on coming ambulance and towards a main road.  I took off trying to stop the patient, as I ran, for some reason I tripped and fell full blast onto the tarmac.  It was such a violent fall that I heard the others behind me gasp.  They ran up asking if I was alright and since I didn't feel anything broken I said that I was fine and kept going.  We finally got the patient settled and revived.  At that point the aches and pains and blood started showing up. The side of my right hand was shredded as was my knee. The left upper pocket where I keep my scissors and other things had been slammed into my thigh. That muscle was completely bruised. My right elbow had quite a lump, my left ankle slightly twisted, and my right intercostal muscles are pulled.  The first night wasn't too bad as was the next day.  Last night everything on the front of my body ached and or was stiff.  My hip bones were bruised my shoulder bones were bruised, every part of me was in pain. The intercostals prevent me from coughing, laughing, reaching, opening jars, without experiencing pain. I could barely move today, and I had to substitute for Kindergartners today!  I hope tomorrow is better...

I am filing a complaint with:

Equal Opportunity Specialist

Technical Assistance

US Department of Education

Office for Civil Rights

I believe, as do they that her rights may have been violated via the Title VI Act. Because...

 The following procedures should be used by school districts to ensure that their programs are serving LEP students effectively. Districts should:

	·      identify students who need assistance;
	·      develop a program which, in the view of experts in the field, has a reasonable chance for success;
	·      ensure that necessary staff, curricular materials, and facilities are in    place and used properly;
	·      develop appropriate evaluation standards, including program exit criteria, for measuring the progress of students; My school system did not do any of the above. I hope that I will finally be able to get her services because even with the massive amount of research I have done, I'm not sure I can adequately Homeschool her. I am still writing emails to the deaf school hoping to get my daughters program settled. They keep forgetting that she doesn't know English. I have to remind them that teaching her anything but English and Sign is useless. On that note, this weekend is busy but I will try to keep up with the news.  And here is beautiful shot of my daughter when she went out on a shoot with her Father.

Debbie, thank you for your comment, and yes, I will come.

Phyllis - how strange that you had that experience of that fall, I did too, on the same day!.. They were washing the floor in the mall, near a food court, and I too did an unwilling split.  Instead of asking if I was alright, the woman who was mopping just smirked.  So I said that it was dangerous and her signs should have been more prominent - smirk.  OK I gave her a chance...I got Security on her and complained to her boss. So there!  And please come this summer, I need you, and the girls need your girls!

Kelly & 'mom to 8', yes, housework definitely adds to the stress level.  The sumer camp is good news but I'm still waiting for the official word of scholarships for everyone.

Nancy Lou, I did call today about my oldest daughter attending...I wait to her.

And Dina, thanx for the info on the coupons..

I know I complained and moaned last post, I'm sorry.  Today wasn't much lighter.  I did call  the deaf school to find out how they plan to respond to my email.  I spoke with the head, and she said that she plans to meet with the teachers to discuss my information and requests. I offered to drive there (one hour and 10 minutes) for the meeting, but she said that they should meet first, make a plan, then have a meeting with me.  OK, I'll wait, but not too long.

It is rather nice to know that I have interested people checking in on me that I don't even know.  It makes it so I don't fell I'm flying solo all the time. With so many of you all over the US, and a few abroad, I should have a reunion!  Although no one would know each other, the common denominator would be me!

Everyone in the family is doing great.  It is just me feeling a bit weary and over used.  But that too shall pass and I will soon be roaring ahead.

It was pointed out to me tonight that it wasn't fair that all the girls got to go to camp except my oldest.  I did ask about including her but they said that she was too old. I will try again this week to see if she can be included anyhow, because she still is emotionally and socially behind so being with kids a couple years younger would be fine.  I did write a very long email to my deaf daughter's teacher and the head of Admin.  I had reviewed all the work they were giving her in school and homework they were sending home, and all of it was not appropriate for someone that didn't know English, barely knew American Sign Language, was on a 2nd grade math level and  on a Kindergarten reading level.  Yet they were giving her 5th grade work in science, health and social studies.   I requested that she no longer take all of those courses until she was more proficient in in English, and to back her up to 2nd grade math. And if they kept her in 5th grade she would have to repeat, several times, and that would really hurt her self esteem. They received the email this morning, I have not heard from any of them...  This does not please me. I will contact them tomorrow.

My twins came home having had a wonderful time camping, huge bug bites and all. Their Girl Scout leader (who just received a special award from the National Council for her 40+ years in G.S.)  said my girls were the best, most well prepared campers and Girls Scouts that she had ever worked with.  Yes I am bursting with Mama pride.

I am still overwhelmed with this Homeschooling thing.  I have spent so many hours and have found way too much information that I am at a loss of where to start.  I have to think about maintaining transcripts, PSATs, SATs and other tests. I don't know about all this...  But I have to find a way to make it work for her.

I am subbing tomorrow and Wed., so I have to somehow make up lesson plans for those two days as well as attending to over due dentist appointments, doctor appointments, hearing aid appointments, a something else, oh yes, I am way over due on three very impt. doctor's appointments.  And then there is the Certificate of Citizenship papers...

I think I am a bit tired, feeling like I'm not accomplishing everything I need to, not giving enough to the children, concerned about my sisters, not being able to visit my Mother often enough, and not remembering the last time I felt free enough to feel happy.  And to make it complete, several times a day I feel like I am on fire from the inside out and I am excruciatingly burning up.  That is incredibly inconvenient when I'm trying to get things done, stay in a good mood, stay focused on a phone call or deal with a child's problem.  Getting old is the pits!

So on that cheery note, I say good night.

I write this post on the way out the door.  My dh actually asked me out on a date!  I think I remember what that's like...not sure though.  So we'll have a quiet drink and chat.  He offered a movie also but Friday nights I'm sure are crowded and I didn't feel like dealing with that.  Wow, real grown-up time with no interruptions.. It will take a bit getting used to.

Our twins are gone all weekend on a Girl Scout camp out.  That was tortuous trying to pack everything AND putting it all in plastic bags because it's supposed to be a wet weekend.  I labelled every baggy, put sets of clothes together complete with socks, raincoats boots, a medical kit with Arnica, anti itch spray, sun block, and lotion.  Speaking of Arnica, one of my twins ran head first into one of her friends at school on Friday and got quite the shiner.  So I went to school and sprayed her with Arnica, and when she got home, and before she went to bed, and this morning and the the golf ball lump has settled down with very little discoloration.  Arnica really helped me when they were toddlers...

And if any of you have Asian children that react badly to mosquito bites or any insect bite, like a normal child would have a small bump where my children's turn into a huge red itchy mountain - have I got a homeopathic spray for you!  It really works, and it's great fro poison ivy too.  It's called Tecnu, here's the site address: http://www. teclabsinc.com/storefront. cfm   remove the spaces.  The product I bought is a spray called, Rash Relief.

 Thank you for all your encouraging comments, I do so appreciate them, and they really make me feel 'wanted'.  Please keep them coming.
 I need to go now, my 'date' is waiting.  Until next time.

I have been absent

It has become more difficult to find time to write.  I have been spent by late evening and going to bed opted out over catching up on my blog.

So briefly to catch you up so you don't think that I have deserted you... We have discovered that my deaf daughter can lip read, not English of course, but Chinese. At the dinner table the other night we were all being silly saying various fruits in Chinese and she knew exactly what we we were saying.  That is great.  Perhaps when English is more known to her, she will be able to a little lip reading with English.

My daughter that I'm homeschooling is becoming a bit bored, and who wouldn't be, with no social interactions with other kids.  So I have gathered some names and numbers of kids she knew a little bit when she was in school, and I'll get them together a few times.  I have also, finally, found the local homeschooling group.  It is over a 100 strong and it's two towns..  I spoke with one of the founders and she said there are many high school kids in it. I am so excited to find this group and to be able to get a social life going for my daughter.

The citizenship problems are starting to resolve.  And then I have to do the social security thing and the passport thing...  I hate paperwork.

Ooh, I almost forgot.  The deaf school also has a camp that's located on a lake and right after summer school my daughter will be going there and the twins and my daughter I'm homeschooling, all at no cost.  This is so wonderful for all of them to be able to have some summer fun.  Because we won't be doing anything this summer due to the financial situation.
Must run go now.  I will meet with some of the people from the homeschooling group tomorrow to find out more information.
Need to get some beauty sleep, the stress is aging me quickly.

As I sit here, feeling totally beaten up, I will once agin try to write.  Starting from today and going backwards....it started out fine, then the vacuum cleaner totally ceased to work.  It was no more.  Taking on the task to research vacuum cleaners and their ratings was daunting as I was burnt, but it had to be done.   Then I chose to clean the garage, which proved to be a failure.  I was so annoyed that my dh had left it such a mess, empty water bottles, empty plastic bags, wire ties, everything you can imagine, I just started in with a vengeance.  For a while I was getting things done.  As I came to a quarter empty bird seed bag right next to the bin we use for seed, I decided to fill it up.  AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH...can you hear my scream of anger???????  There wasn't bird seed in there after all, it was dry cement, and when I poured it in, a huge cloud blew up into my face, my hair and my clothes!  Man, I was REALLY not happy.  (I know the imagery is pretty funny, and some day I will laugh at this-but not today).  Needless to say, all the bird seed now has to be thrown out.  I had just washed my hair, which is a big deal since I usually only have to wash it every four days.  It is yet, one more thing I have to do.

Who in their right mind would put something different in a bag already marked as something else??!
Fine.  I tried to dig some of it out with a dust pan but just managed to make more of a mess all over the floor and more cement dust all over me...  I took the aluminum garbage can and moved it outside so the garbage man would dump the whole thing.  What a waste of money!  So that's a new vacuum cleaner and a 40 pound bag of seed we have to buy that was not planned for.

So I continued cleaning..bumped into a metal shelf where my dh had put beer bottles on a shelf, and one fell.  Good news it didn't break, bad news it exploded.  So there is beer all over the floor under the metal shelving unit and across the garage floor.  I took a sheet, put it over it and walked out and sat down here.  I GIVE UP.

Yesterday, we went to our local parade, then a BBQ at the firehouse.  My second oldest has seemed quite down the last few days and yesterday's festivities did not change that. I've been worrying about that.  Even when I ask her in a variety of ways, I do not get an answer.   Energy was low for everyone that day.

Friday was my deaf daughter's b-day and I think she had a good first ever party.  Of course I had to sub that day, and all the children, from K-3rd took huge amounts of energy to engage and control.  Then I rushed home.  I had my dh and 2nd oldest go out and pick up the birthday cake and balloons.  I wanted my deaf daughter to come home from school to lots of balloons and ribbons hanging.  And all the presents laid out.   I had a friend of hers come over, and we had pizza and her birthday cake.
Remember how I told you she was always signing a cake and blowing out the candles?  She had never done this before, but she was always so excited when it happened for her sister and now it was to happen for her.  When the time came, she couldn't do it, she was too scared.  We kept encouraging her, but she would not do it.  Finally I told her I would do it with her, she said O.K.  1-2-3 blow....I didn't, but she did.  What a smile of success she had on her face.

After the cake was finished they all went outside and rode bikes, walked etc., came back in and opened presents.  Her smile could not have been bigger, and her eyes could not have been more filled with astonishment as she opened each gift.  They then watched the movie "Mr. Bean".  Which is the perfect movie for someone that doesn't hear.  That took it to 10:00.  My daughter's head hit the pillow and she went to sleep with a smile on her face.  It was her very first birthday party.

Thursday was zoo day.  Me, the twins, my deaf daughter arrived at the zoo at 10:00 and met up with her friend from deaf school and his Mom.  For six hours we roamed around the zoo, and still didn't see everything.  Halfway through the day, she stopped me and signed, "I love the zoo."  Wow, I thought, this is so perfect.  She was very joyful throughout the day.  The day even amazed me.  The animals actually put on shows for us.  Instead of standing still, like giraffes always do, they ran, kicked their legs up and played.  It was so wonderful to watch.  Then those huge Bison that stand ever so still, weren't so still that day.  The largest male was actually dancing around.  I couldn't figure out how this creature weighing as much as a VW bus, could dance so lightly on its feet!  Then he would run around and around in large circles, and throw himself down in the dirt pile, wallow around, snort a few times, then jump up, he did this for at least 20 minutes.  And there were displays from other animals as well.  We saw a lot of babies too.  We saw a really lovely interaction between a mother and her lion cub.  As we parted in the parking lot and said good-bye to her friend, he gave her a birthday gift.  She just stood there and didn't reach out.  A minute went by, I told her to take it, she just looked and stood there.  I told her again to take it, I then realized she probably had never been given a gift before and didn't understand what to do.  So I took it and put it into her hands.  She just stared at it.  I explained it was a birthday gift.  She had a blank face and then her face broke into this smile of joy and understanding as if to say, "It's for me, it's really something for me."   All in all it was a perfect day.

We hit a lot of traffic going home, but we finally got there.  I ran in, changed into my EMT gear, and drove quickly to where we were staging the mass disaster drill.  I barely got there in time.  They had real moulage (blood, bones etc) and smoke machine filling the area.  After 2 hours we finished.  Our firehouse went and had dinner and I finally came home and collapsed, to wake up the next morning at 5:50 am.

I think that I have mostly caught you up.  I have one picture now to share, more will follow later.

I have a nagging feeling that I'm not doing enough. I should be planning more family type things, and creating more stimulating activities to do for everyone. But I often have so much to do at the computer, homeschooling research and lesson plans, USCIS issue, letters to the Superintendent of School, planning play dates for everyone, and so much else, I feel I am dropping the ball in oh so many ways.  It is frustrating and has kept me up at night thinking about all that I haven't accomplished.  I hope to do better this week.  I do have a pile of papers that need immediate attention, and just thinking about approaching them shuts me down and makes me immobile.  I would like to complete that pile by the end of Tuesday.

I know I said that I would return today but yet again I have been swept away with commitments.  As an example,  I got four children off to school by 8:00am, I drove to the next town, (about 20 min) to substitute teach.  I finished work, came home picked up my twins and 2nd daughter recently adopted and drove two towns over (20 min) to search for a birthday present for my deaf daughter.  No luck.  Drove to another town, again 2 towns in the other direction (20 min), and went to two stores with only a modicum of luck.  Drove home, (15 min), dropped everyone off and picked up my deaf daughter and drove back to the first town I went to search for b-day presents.  I needed her to pick out design and flavors for her birthday ice cream cake.  That took about a half hour.  Then all the way home again.  A very quick dinner and I sent my oldest, 2nd adopted child and dh off to a concert my oldest was in.  I immediately sat down and did grueling math homework with one twin, then gave different spelling tests to each, had them pack snacks for tomorrow, take a shower and wash their hair.  I then went over my deaf daughter's homework which is never easy.  That took about 45 minutes.  Then I had her pack her snacks.  By them everyone was home from the concert, and I check the homework that I had assigned to my home schooled daughter.   I then sat through while one twin practiced on her flute for her concert.  Sent everyone to bed.  Did a quick research on driving directions to the zoo (about an hour 15 min), and got about 3 different maps and directions, printed it all out, emailed the Mom who is bring her son, who is deaf and from China to tell her where to meet.  Now I am taking a shower and getting up early tomorrow to get my troops on the road to a hopefully wonderful day.

I won't be back tomorrow as directly after I return, I need to get into my EMT gear and go to a mass casualty drill complete with blood, bones, smoke machine going etc.  I have no idea when I will be back.  But, since I need to substitute on Friday, I will be up at 5:50 on Friday morning...

I would like to think that sometime Friday evening I can catch you up on all the goings on...