Friday, September 12, 2014

Prism Lenses, School, and Getting Ready for Minnesota

The Senior:  We survived Week 2!  It went as it should when your child is a senior.  S woke up, got himself ready, had breakfast, and started his work.  This year is about working independently and having me facilitate.  It’s what we have been working toward all of these years.  I told him this year is "Pre-College".


We watched “Schindler’s List” last Friday.  Such a powerful movie!  We spent a lot of time discussing the movie.  When my husband and I lived in Germany (1996-1999), we spent a week in Krakow and visited Auschwitz and Birkenau.  This is why we must study this...


S worked on College Algebra and A LOT of writing related to World War 2.  S knows a great deal about World War 2, so we are using the Uncle Eric book, “World War II:  The Rest of the Story and How it Affects You Today”, and the study guide.  


The first thing it asks for is for the student to write everything he knows about WW II.  S couldn’t wait to get started!  He uses Dragon Dictation when he writes (typing is very slow because of his CP).  He talked and talked and talked and talked.  Then he stopped, looked at me, and said, “I should have had a plan.”  That might have been a good idea.  He also kept telling me how he was hyperfocused!


He has finished editing his writing, so he gets to open the book and start on the study guide questions.  He is quite excited about that.  Speaking of finishing things - his summer reading is finally done!


We are still waiting on his coursework from the Hadley School for the Blind. Hopefully it arrives soon so he can get started on it.
We were out the door early this morning for S's therapeutic horseback riding lesson. He didn't even mind getting up early for it. It was great to see so many of our friends at the barn. S doesn't ride in the summer, so we had to get caught up with everyone. One of the great things at this facility is that all of us are parenting a child who has some kind of special need. It is nice for us to be able to sit and visit with each other during the lesson and share laughs, concerns, thoughts, etc. On our way home, we stopped in Williamsburg for some sweet deliciousness from Duck Donuts! And yes, my donut was gone before S even made it in the house.

The big news this week was S’s glasses came back from the lab.  He now has prism lenses to help stop the turning of his head related to his nystagmus.  He wasn’t sure at first since they were causing things to be slanted and tilting and diagonal.  He’s getting used to them, and they seem to be helping.  That is the key.  His big question is “Why didn’t anyone do this for me before?”  I will say again how thankful we are for his ophthalmologist and his knowledge (along with him being a family friend)!


Volunteering:  On Saturday, my husband and S volunteered with the NASCAR Foundation at the Richmond International Speedway for 8.5 hours.  They had a good time, but it was HOT that day! They were able to go to the race that night also.  They had a good time, but they left before it was done.  It was late when they made it home.


He is volunteering 8 hours at the Casemate Museum this weekend.  He needs to get his September hours since he is going on vacation for the rest of the month.


The Sophomore: J also survived the second week of school.  We spent time this past weekend with a calendar and his syllabi (had to look up the plural of syllabus).  It was helpful for him to get everything on the calendar.  With his 5 day/week practice schedule and his school work load, he needs to be organized.  He has always been responsible and kept up with his work; however, this will be more helpful.  It was nice for him to be able to walk into the house every day and look to see what was due the next day.  He is enjoying his classes.  PE and Spanish are his least favorite. This is his last year for both subjects!


Practice:  He has practiced 17.5 hours this week.  He has even driven home a couple of days. He is becoming more and more comfortable behind the wheel.


Coming Up:  S will be volunteering.  J will sleep in on Saturday.  We have early church Sunday morning and Sunday School starts.  


I have a Honey-Do list for my husband.  He has things he needs to finish before his shoulder surgery next month.  He will be working Saturday because Sunday he will be watching football.  
He is a Vikings fan, and we don't get many of the games broadcast here. Here is his solution. He tunes into Verizon's Red Zone on the TV and has the iPad next to him so he can read updates on the game. Sometimes he sits there with headphones plugged in and only one ear bud in his ear so he can listen to the updates via the web and the TV.


Our big task this weekend is to make sure S packs for his 3 week trip to Minnesota.  Oh, the joys of homeschooling!  This will be the last year he can take off in September/October to visit because college schedules don’t work like this.  


What he will be doing:
*He will be visiting everyone.  
*He is participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk at Target Field with my sister and nephews.  They are walking in honor of my brother-in-law and my grandma.  
*He will be out in the field for harvest - the primary reason for visiting at this time of year. He also likes to ride in the truck.  
*He will get to attend some sporting events in our hometown.
*He will be eating at some of our favorite local restaurants.

Since it appears everyone has something to do, you will find me on the couch with chocolate and a new book that my friend dropped off for me to read.

Linking up with:  
Weekly Wrap-Up
                                         http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/

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