Kids Are Back
My kiddos are blogging again. Everyone got something posted today. We have finished 3 days of Sonlight and I love it so far. There is SO MUCH to be covered that by day 2 we were revamping some things. Poor Jenna was schooling ALL DAY and that didn’t include math, Latin or Spanish. I am being pretty hands off with Jenna this year. I asked her if she thought that she had too much work (she had not mentioned it) and she said yes. I asked her what part she would like to skip and come back to later. She explained what parts and why and I said “Ok, done.†She is internally motivated and she is enjoying the rest of the work. Jenna is allowed to take her work on her bed and I think she enjoys being out of the hustle and bustle of family life for a minute.
The little kids (Joshua, Josiah, Jill and Lina) are ecstatic when it is their turn for school. And they sit quietly and pay attention. It is terribly rewarding. They are begging to do some worksheets as well. I need to run some copies of stuff I have and buy some workbooks at the teaching supply store.
I have ten in school this year. But the way they are lumped together has made it pretty easy. Jenna does her own thing. John, Jacob, Jason, Jessica and Junie do all the same stuff but have different level readers. And the 4 littles are working together. I wondered how the big age span in the middle group would work but it has been great. My kids are learning that life/school (the terms are interchangeable it seems) is not about your age and it’s not about your reading or math level. It’s about learning. Everywhere. All the time. At your own pace. With diligence. Not worrying about what anyone else’s opinion is. Enjoying the ride.
As a side note I have allowed the kids to play with the neighbor kids several times now. I sit out there the entire time and hear MOST of what goes on. I can see how my kids are different from public school kids. My kids want to discuss the Civil War and the Revolutionary War and Egypt and Pharaohs. Public school kids are saying “I don’t pay attention in school. Why are you asking so many questions? I don’t know anything about that.†They are DONE thinking. The school day is over for them. So sad.
Here are the kids out front today. It was supposed to thunderstorm today. Guess what it did instead? Misted. Then it was dry. Then more mist. It did *rain* last night. For 5 minutes. But still nothing like a thunderstorm.
The little kids helped clean up weeds.
And then they became an audience for the rollerbladers.
Donut is mad at me because I told him to get out of the street. He is saying “Maaaa!” like Hmph, stop bugging me! He is wearing pajama pants.
Donut was two years old yesterday. He is such a big boy.
Oh and I need to clear something up. I want to be clear about Jillian’s prognosis. I guess I led people to believe that the fight is over and that is not true. She is cancer free but that does not mean she could not relapse. This is what I posted on the Woodshed in response to questions.
50% of children with PPB die in the first 5 years. Cancers recur all the time even after the patient has been declared cancer free. So Samuel Backus was leukemia free for almost a year and relapsed. There were several children at PCH last time we were there that had relapsed. It was really depressing.
If Jill were to relapse it would likely be in the other lung or brain. Those are the places that PPB usually travels to. I can’t give you scenarios and odds other than to tell you that until she is 5 years out I will still feel that 50% hanging over our head. This is why I want to take preventative measures to boost her immune system in the hopes she won’t relapse.
Jillie did truly have cancer in February. This was confirmed through 2 different pathologists. One in AZ and one in MO. They should NOT have removed the lung because at that time the cancer had all died and now there was just a mass of dead tissue. The oncologist wrongly assumed that since the mass was not getting smaller anymore that it was not responding to chemo which is BAD news and so they wanted to remove the mass ASAP. What had really happened is the cancer was dead already and so it was not shrinking anymore. Had we left the mass there it would have eventually been cleaned up by the white blood cells and shrunk on it’s own.
We spoke with a malpractice lawyer…one of the best in the state…and he said that legally the doc had done nothing wrong. It is quite common for docs to do surgery based on previous pathology. Ethically they screwed us over, but legally we had no case.
I hope that our battle has educated other people. I want people to make informed decisions with second and third opinions and always go for the least invasive route and not be intimidated by doctors that think they are gods in lab coats.
Comments
Sep. 26, 2007 – Untitled Comment
Posted by leemomofthree
We will not stop praying for Jilli, She is in our thoughts and prayers almost daily. We are praying God has a wonderful long life planned out for her.
Believe it or not, it really does thunderstorm in Missouri. I have seen it myself. You are in tornado land now, and, you will see lots of snow and ice in Springfield, too, so I’ve heard.
Looks like the kids are all enjoying you new neighborhood. We are so happy for you guys.
My boys will check out the kids blogs tomorrow (all are happily tucked in for the night now )
God bless you all! In Him who is able to do, more for me and you than we could ever dream.
leemomofthree
Sep. 26, 2007 – Untitled Comment
Posted by drewsfamilytx
The picture of the rollerblading audience is beyond precious! I love how they’re lined up all in a row like that. :-)
Thanks also for the advice. It can be so hard to speak up against a doctor’s diagnosis or even to bring up the idea of a second or third opinion– you’ve given me courage in case I ever need it!
By the way, I love how your family just seems so full of JOY. Even amidst the struggles, y’all are most definitely a team!
Sep. 26, 2007 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Dianne
*chuckle* Well, just hold on. You’ll get your storms. Ice and snow are just around the corner and then it’s tornado season. Sometimes it all happens in the same week. We had nice thunderstorms and downpours yesterday up here in north Missouri. Just didn’t go far enough south, I guess. And, yes, mosquitoes are numerous this year. All the time, really. They go hand in hand with humidity. The public school kids comment kind of tugs at me but perhaps you’ll meet some who will change your mind. I know my three would but they’ve all grown and moved out. I’m glad you’re all settling in. How are the cats doing?
Sep. 26, 2007 – Hey Katie…
Posted by Blessedmommy
Glad you all are easing into your school schedule so well. Thanks for sharing about Jills situation. It’s just a reminder that we need to continually go before the throne of God on Jillie’s behalf. Praise God, our Lord is not bound by statistics.
Sure do miss you, Katie. However, so glad we can talk on a regular basis!
Blessings,
Diane
Sep. 27, 2007 – On education and learning
Posted by Anonymous
It’s sad to see kids that are basically taught by their parents, friends, teachers, and schools that learning is only an annoying item on their to-do list and that they check it off by “putting in their time” in a seat in school.
Bleck! Give me curious kids any day of the week! :)
BTW, totally LOVED the photos of the kids with various beards and eyes on the other post- cracked me up!!!
Jess @ Making Home
www.makinghome.blogspot.com
(MakingHome on SL forums)
Sep. 27, 2007 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Debbie H.
I really relate to the neighborhood children thing. We have one little girl in particular that comes over to play and we have had to have several discussions with our kids about the fact that if she says or does things that are unacceptable in our family, they have to let her know that. She is only in kindergarten and already has the street smarts of someone in Jr. High. It makes me sad really. We will continue to pray for Jill. I don’t think I can begin to imagine how it feels since I have never been there. But I do know she is so blessed to be surrounded by such love.
Debbie
www.humblebeforetheking.blogspot.com
Sep. 27, 2007 – Pictures are Precious!!
Posted by Grandma Heidi
The one of Jonah is so cute, and the kids all lined up is a great one too.
I am so thankful the kids are being taught that they will be learning all of thier lives, not just when they are doing “school.” That is sooo important for them to be excited about learning. I hope you have a good local library. I could live in our libraries here. It is the one thing for which I gladly pay taxes!!
Sep. 27, 2007 – Good post
Posted by ChristsInstrument
Lovely pictures of the kids, and you are so bang on about school and learning! I totally understand what you are saying about Jillie and will continue praying. :)
God bless,
Sheila
Sep. 27, 2007 – Untitled Comment
Posted by foxvalleyfamily
We will certainly keep Jillian in our prayers – and I completely agree how we need to advocate for our families where the medical community is concerned! (I went through similar things when my mother had cancer…I am still bitter about how the doctors treated (or rather didn’t treat) her. I wish I would have been braver and would have stood up for her then.
On a lighter note…I LOVE the photos of the kids watching the skaters! Too cute!
And…HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Donut! He is precious!
Michelle
Sep. 27, 2007 – Hoorah for HS! =)
Posted by Anonymous
Your kids are getting an education everyday with all your adventures, Katie! You are such a good Mom to trust Jenna’s instincts too. SL is a LOT of work but even if you do a quarter of it the kids learn soooo much! Hey, wish we could get my “Egypt and Pharoah” talking kids with yours! lol Mine almost get obsessed the other way in the sense that they only talk about their school work. Drives cousins and kids at church batty! :-P They would love to have like minded friends!
~Sarah (heartwomb) too lazy to login.
Oct. 1, 2007 – Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Please don’t lump all public school children as if they all stop learning during the day. Because its not true… my children are ones that learn all day, even though they spend time in public school. Public school kids need some light, those are my children adding the light!
Oct. 2, 2007 – nice post!
Posted by Anonymous
Have you thought of doing civil war reenactment with the kids? My husband and I do it and although we don’t have kids yet, many families in there do. The kids love it and learn history while “reliving” it.
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