Another year better than the last

 L had a good year in school.  4th grade meant he had 2 teachers to switch between.  In 5th grad he will have 3.  New friends in classes.  L tends to befriend kids with challenges.  He is kind and patient and glad to have a friend.  I've been grateful to see him become someone who can be a friend.  

L took a 2 inch pocket knife to school and had to spend 2 days at home because of that.  The principal was kind and expressed that she felt he didn't mean to harm anyone but that they had to still have consequences.  The typical suspension would have been 5 days.  

L did some amazing art this year.  I loved his balloon dog picture and sculpture as well as other projects he brought home.  

Over the course of the year he got behind on the computer math assignments.  It was up to 30 at the point that his teacher said he couldn't go to recess because of it.  So we spent a week in the "doghouse" making him work on them every day.  For the rest of the year we reminded him more and he kept up better.

L has grown so much.  He keeps getting better at emotional regulation and is able to shine his light brighter and brighter.  I'm so grateful that he continues to request story time and give me lots of hugs and kisses.

summer homeschool

 This summer we have hat a lot more success with L doing a homeschool regimen.  He has sign language, writing, math, piano, and chores.  The internet is turned on only from 11-2.  Somedays he doesn't get on and that is OK.

In the beginning of the summer he was doing handwritting and language arts worksheets.  We switched to having him wirte 5 sentences about a chosen topic and that has been great.  He's learning how to write little paragraphs and has developed a stronger ability to create a narrative.  Sometimes he will dictate the sentences to me and I'll write the sentences for him to trace.  That produces his best work.  But even on his own he's able to crank out 5 sentences.  I'm really proud of the growth this summer and of not loosing ground.

He has several new friends too.  Some are boys he has known for a while but we are now socializing with more.  It's going well.

Charming

 L is a rascal and a squirrel but he is also so charming.  We've been reading Encyclopedia Brown and "The Enormous Egg." He even reads books himself sometimes.  He's doing better and better in school.  He loves to ride his bike to school and I'm glad he's growing up into such a cute little munchkin.

Church Talk

Levi had a talk to give in primary today and I decided to use the IEW format to give it structure.  He kind of crawled around on the floor doing his own thing as I asked questions that built this talk.  As he was giving it, when he got to the part about toys he stopped and said "I don't know why I put that in there..." It was adorable how flustered he got realizing that talking about toys in a talk wasn't appropriate.  I love that he is learning what is appropriate.  Yay pragmatics.

Introduction

When I became 8 I got baptized and then I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost gives me good feelings joy, comfort, gratitude.

Topic 1:  I’m grateful for the thriftstore with cats right across the street

Details:  Animals make me happy and the cats are very playful.  God made animals and He made me too.

 

Topic 2: I’m glad I have fun toys.  Toys are fun to play with and God wants me to be happy.

 

Topic 3: I’m thankful for my happy life.  I have nice parents.  I have brothers and sisters.  I have a healthy body.  I have a good mind. I have the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Conclusion:

The Holy Ghost helps me feel patient and forgiving of others.  He helps me feel thankful for all I have.

 

I know God Loves me because He has a plan for us to be resurrected and He gave us the Gospel.  The Holy Ghost will help you feel grateful for your blessings.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

3rd grade

 L is doing well in 3rd grade.  There are daily math and reading assignments.  He has gotten pretty good at coming home, eating a snack, starting on his piano, math, and reading.  I'm so proud of him for managing these responsibilities.  I'm so glad he has learned so much and developed so much in the last year.

Great Summer

 L has had a great summer.  He played with his friend R a few times.  He got to swim once a week.  Some friends from church got puppies and L got to play with them a few times.  He did a lot of work in his math books and some language arts.  The summer has flown by and I'm confident that L will have a good year in 3rd grade.

Lucky!

 

L likes to search for 4 leaf clovers.  I took a picture of him with one.  I asked him to take another picture explaining that this one looked like someone was poking him with a stick.

He got a hoot out of that and took a nice picture for me.

Solo for a Rolo

 In primary we fill extra time with "Solo for a Solo".  Today L raised his hand but then declined coming up.  Tonight he told me that he wasn't sure his song would be appropriate.  This was his song:

friend

 L has a friend R.  We finally connected with her dad and have started having a weekly playdate.  I'm so glad when my kids have friends.

He's doing great in school and is back to a normal calendar for behavior.  So awesome.

New medicine doing great

 October 1st L started a new medication.  In the old days this would have been the basic medication and it has been great for him.  Our experience was starting on low dose vyvanse and then upping the dose.  That made him to sensitive so we switched to Astarsys, or maybe that was the 3rd medication.  Then we switched to Atomoxetine (non-stimulant) and he was on that for 4 months.  When he was having problems in school, lots of aggression and negative behavior we asked to switch back to a stimulant medication.  He now takes 2 5mg tablets a day and he's doing great.  He behaves so well, he doesn't yell at us that we're being too loud, he's so sweet.  He's also 18 months older than when we started medication.  He's a strong reader and catching up on math.

Fieldtrip

 This week I was able to go on a field trip with Al’s class and today I am doing lunch duty for each of the boys.

The power of words

 L is often cold at church.  L's white church shirts often get stained.  I got him this gingham shirt thinking it would solve these 2 problems.  On Sunday I asked him if he wanted the white short sleeve or the long sleeve one.  He told me he preferred the short sleeves until he read the label of this shirt.  Words are powerful.  

It reminds me of the scene in "Emperor's New Groove".  "Do you want the path of righteousness or the path that rocks?!"

L is doing so well.  His new medication has resolved his behavior issues.  He still has academic struggles but those can be addressed now that he isn't chewing on scissors, and hitting people.  His reports home are all smiles.  He has such a tender heart, part of the emotional regulation that sometimes ends in trouble.  He misses people painfully.  I'm so grateful that he has a stable home with parents and siblings filling his heart with love.  I'm so grateful that we know his diagnosis early so we can stop thinking he is lazy or doing things he could control.  

I look traumatized

 I asked L to take a picture wearing G’s hat.  When I showed it to him he said “I look traumatized.”

L started taking 5mg adderall instead of the fancier slow release and then non stimulant drugs he used for 15 months. He is doing great!

His reward for getting a good report is that we take the long way home that includes a winding path in the woods and precarious plank bridge over a dry creek. We usually walk bikes across.  Yesterday he rode across and did not die. Today he rode off the edge and did not die or break any bones or even get hurt or cry.  I watched it in slow motion with my detached heart.  He is ok and that is the most important thing.

Baseball face

M took this picture of L.  She is delighted by the serious face, hand position and lifted toe.  We recently got a foam bat for him to practice with.

 

Up with the sun

 Visiting Grandma and Grandpa L woke up early so he and I went to this great park.  It is rare to have a zip line to yourself.

Master builder

 L is creative.  He is always creating little Lego things that surprise me.  He also makes strange sandwiches.  He delights in creating.

7pm bed time

 L was having a rough patch in school.  He was also falling asleep in scriptures and prayer.  So we shifted things 2 hours earlier to get him going to sleep during the 7 o'clock hour.  Scriptures and prayer at 6:45 seems really early.  But we are brushing teeth and reading stories then snuggling up and going to sleep around 7:30.  I wake up again at 8:30 and then hang out a little more with the girls and P, then we have another bedtime.

The good thing is that the boys wake up between 6 and 7am because they have had plenty of sleep.  That can be hard on the weekends.  But I'm grateful that they can have this structure in their lives.

Baptism

Today L got baptized!  He has been looking and waiting for a long time.  In our family we don't have children take the sacrament until they have been baptized.  L has taken to waving his hand sweetly to decline the bread and water.

He wasn't interested in getting a picture before the baptism.  My brother S and his family were able to come up and be here for the baptism.  It's so nice to see the cousins!

I gave a talk about the Holy Ghost.  I told the kids that they have experienced the Holy Ghost in their lives and now they are accountable to Receive the Holy Ghost.  
 

summer break

 L has been off his medicines for a few weeks now.  He is eating a lot every day and no longer looks scrawny.  He is doing well and never yells at us for making noise right now.  I think I'll ask for a different medicine when he next sees a Dr.  He is getting so strong from swimming and biking.  He graduated to the yellow bike when we moved.  I love that he is doing so well.

Good place for L

 L's current medicine has a good effect on him.  He acts drunk when he hasn't had his medicine.  Mostly he is a happy drunk, but he lacks impulse control and is loopy.  I give him his medicine and about 30 minutes later he is calm and quiet.  He gets his work done quickly and often independently.  It is a remarkable change.