Two in a Row

No one pass out now because I am posting two days in a row. LOL It was such a not-so-rotten day today. Actually, it was pretty good. Chris worked from home this morning so I could rest. I have been feeling kind of queasy in the tummy for a few days so the extra rest was very welcome. I got a couple more boxes unpacked and some more stuff put away. I took a shower, which on some days is about the ONLY thing I feel I get done! I made dinner and NOBODY complained about what I made. WOW!

Chris was so nice today. I was a little frustrated this evening, though. He usually leaves the office by 6 and is home by 6:30 so I try to have dinner done before then. Well, dinner was done at 6:30 but Chris was not home. The boys and I went ahead and ate because they were hungry and I didn't want them to eat anything else. He came home around 7, carrying flowers and propane. He had gone to the store because he wanted to surprise me with steak for dinner. He bought everything for a nice dinner, including Blue Bell and wine. How very thoughtful. Oh, and he brought good news, too. We got our moving expense reimbursement today. Now our pennies are quite so tight.

Today was a difficult day for Zachary. I am not sure why but it could have to do with the state of our house and our lives. He was definitely out of sorts - lots of drama, lower than normal frustration level and several outbursts. I feel inadequate as a parent when he has these days. I am using what I have learned from his various therapists to help him through these days, although it is more challenging when I don't feel well. I also do a LOT more praying. I try to keep the day going as it should as best as I can. I try to "love" him through the hard times. Now, sometimes it is willful disobedience. Other times, it is sensory overload. Somedays I can't tell the difference and end up kicking myself because I got angry when I shouldn't have. Thank God - literally - for grace, mercy and forgiveness.

I am starting to get ideas about our school for the fall. This is the first year that I will have 2 all day long. I am a little nervous. I am trying to figure out how to manage school time better. I am looking into unit studies. Ryan and Zachary read on the same level so I shouldn't have any problem there. Ryan hasn't started basic grammar yet and doesn't pick up math as easily as his brother. I figure I can have Zachary work on reading or math while I teach Ryan math skills and then have Ryan read or work on science while I teach Zachary new language arts/grammar skills. I think unit studies might work better across mulitple grade levels. I'll have to see...

I would like to put Joshua in a half-day or half-week kindergarten program at a church, much like Ryan's program in Oregon. I think he needs it for social growth, especially with Zachary being his older brother. Ryan grew by leaps and bounds and I think Joshua will, too. It is hard to find opportunities for learning and social skills for younger homeschoolers and I want a little more than play-dates. I have a few churches in mind and will start calling them in the next few weeks.

We are fast approaching the first birthday since our move...Joshua's. Once again we are in a new place where he doesn't have any friends. I don't think he has had a birthday party of his peers ever! We have decided to make it special by taking him somewhere he would like to go. His choice? The aquarium. I am not sure if we will go to the Dallas Aquarium or drive to Galveston and go to Moody Gardens. To make it extra special I am going to get in touch with the parents of Joshua's friends in Oregon and ask for them to send Joshua a note for his birthday. I know he misses his friends.

I guess I should go downstairs and help Chris figure out why the washing machine has decided to put the water on the floor instead of in the wash tub. I discovered this bit of goodness today while I was moving the laundry into the dryer. Ugh. This was also about the same time our cable started going wacky. However, the cable righted itself. I didn't really care about the cable and don't really care if we have it or not but it does help me to get things done. The boys love The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and National Geographic. I can usually find something on those channels that is educational and interesting. If it is a really good show it will have a creepy animal or something gross, too.

Until later...God is good ALL THE TIME!!