Death and Good News

Our dear friend, Bar-b-que has gone to the big pond in the sky along with one of the Ralfs. We found BBQ this morning - his tank all yucky and his poor little limp body at the bottom over a rock. He will surely be missed.

Good news from the "team". I can't get out of there without crying lately. Seems our gal is really improving. Just going like gangbusters. If we could get a year round school year this girl could possibly make it to a Jr College. She really seems to hit her stride come the 3rd quarter. She is reading, I'm told she has a better grasp of words and uses them better than most children her age. Seems she is really *gifted* we just can't get to it. Those low tone muscles seem to be standing in the way. Her team is certainly entertained by her. Have I mentioned how much I love the people that work with S?? I'm serious, it seems that everyone she comes into contact with is a very caring, giving, and great person. She is being taught every second of the day.

After taking the lunch money to the box she asked if she could go into the office. She wanted to say hi to everyone and to comment about their shirts (Bear Day). Wonder where she gets that socialness? :-)

Last night at swimming, I let her and J get in about 5 minutes early. He of course went right to the deep end to jump off. Guess who followed along? She's a jumper now!!!! That brother can push her to do stuff without the knowledge that he's even pushing her. And she in turn is teaching him things early. Because of her he is exposed to things at a much early age than others. He's doing great with all of his words. Wouldn't be surprised if he reads by the end of the year.

Oh, and we lost a tooth last night. Tooth Fairy brought $2. It was so funny. I had seen him wiggling it last night while eating, it was just barely holding on. And when I went in to kiss him goodnight and ask him if he knew who the luckiest Mommy was - he got all goosey and it came right out. Man, he looks like a 12er now. Put that cami hat on top of it with the barn coat - it's Gomer!

He had a great time at daycare in the mornings. And swimming seems to be fitting into school fine. So looks like we'll sign up for the rest of the year.

I need to write a letter to the insurance about all of this. I do believe group has really helped us with her vocabulary and her ability to conversate. They were saying that *that* is really picking up. It's everyone working together. I just get chills when I think of how good we are doing. How lucky we are to have such really FANTASTIC people working with her.

They also complimented B and I that we have exposed her to so much and it's evident that we work with her and that in their experience we are one of very few that do. I was proud but yet sad for the other children who don't have this. I mean, B and I try (and fail - a LOT) but we certainly aren't perfect nor do we get it all done or even handle things correctly all the time. But we do believe school to be important - and I feel mostly for the social aspect of it. S is a perfect example - she has all this knowledge up there - knowledge of the 3rd grader - she picks up everything - but she's reduced to a Kindergartner because of her social skills. Sometimes we need to take a good look at what is REALLY important.

GO BEARS!