I only have a few photos to share. Anna was sick last week, then I got it, then my mom got it. Curtis came home Thursday night, we spent Friday in Killeen celebrating Chris’s graduation, and I took the weekend to recover. Dominic had an old friend and a new friend over on Saturday to play Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by Netflix’s new series, Stranger Things. I was tired, so I didn’t take any photos… I wish I had.
So far, it’s been a crappy week. It seems as though the kids are having a more difficult time at school every day. I literally spent Tuesday in bed all day. I’m about as emotionally drained as I’ve ever been. Every day it’s multiple phone calls, emails, and text messages with both schools. Every day.
Day 260 ~ Congratulations, Chris!
Friday, our son-in-law graduated from paramedic college. Anna was still home sick but was well enough to attend the ceremony. Unfortunately, mom couldn’t come because she was feeling puny (she took care of Anna a lot of Wednesday and Thursday). We pulled Dominic out of school early and then we all drove up to Killeen for the commencement. Chris’s family was there too. He worked so hard the last 13 months and graduated as salutatorian of his class. Here he is shaking the hand of the Killeen Fire and EMS Chief. I took a ton of photos but don’t have the energy to process them yet.
Congratulations, Chris! We are so very proud of you!!! <3
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/2.2 | 1/200 | ISO 1250
Day 263 ~ Anna Takes Zachary for a Walk
Monday there was so much drama involved with Anna at school that Curtis and I went there before the end of the school day to get more information and ask for more changes. Everyone is trying their best to help Anna succeed, but some don’t have the tools yet to know what to do. I have to assume that their intentions are good. I think the major obstacle is that they are having the special ed kids transition every single class period within the three rooms that comprise the special ed pod, as well as transition out to electives. This is entirely too much for Anna to handle and I have to imagine other kids are struggling too. She’s been in the public education system for 12 years, starting with PPCD at age 3. For this entire time, she’s always been in a self-contained classroom with one or maybe two classes for which she’d need to leave the room. Our kids thrive with consistency and routine. Being in high school is hard enough, add all new teachers (not just for her but for the entire special ed program at the high school) and new routines, then make them change the routine just as they get used to it… well it’s no wonder she’s having major behavior problems. There is so much going on… some of it requires time, some politics, some delicate handling… that I can’t share much more at this point. I feel like we are being as nicely obnoxious as we can to make school better for her, but things better change pretty quickly. She is far too precious to be this unhappy.
I was feeling so protective of her when we finally got home that when the boys left for Boy Scouts, I just wanted to spend every minute with her doing what she wanted to do. I agreed to let her take a little walk with Zachary, her tiniest reborn baby doll, down the street and back.
Nikon D750 | 35mm | f/4.5 | 1/250 | ISO 200
Day 266 ~ Happy Little Snail
I have very little desire to pick up my camera right now. Yesterday it was Dominic’s turn to be the center of the school drama. Let me just say that I’m glad we are seeing his counselor on Friday. I keep getting alerts from the school’s communication system that he has assignments missing. Grades are slipping. Concern is rising. His school is getting more involved. I’m hearing from his behavior specialist frequently and now the school counselor too.
When I sat down this morning to write my blog post and realized I had only shot two days this week, I made myself go out my front door and find something pretty with my macro lens. No kidding, within 20 seconds, I spied this tiny little snail on our ginger plant right outside the door. Five shots later, I got this. Done. Out.
Nikon D750 | 105mm | f/5.6 | 1/320 | ISO 3200
Thanks for looking. There is no school here tomorrow because of the Comal County Fair. This is the famous County Fair in which Anna won Sky, the parakeet, and Dominic won Finn, the goldfish, two years ago. Finn has since moved on to goldfish heaven, but Sky is now living happily at Nana’s house. I told Anna, no more animals! But the kids are looking forward to going to the fair. Dominic is going over to his new friend’s house on Sunday to play some more D&D. Next week begins meetings and ARDs. Let’s hope today, just today, is a good day at school for my babies.
