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.

routines and improvement

 L is taking astarzys and doing well on it.  He doesn't like how it tastes.  He is much more stable in his mood and very clear in articulating what he needs and wants. 

L had a weekly schedule of things to do.  Then we started getting serious about getting ready to list the house.  So right now we're lucky if I am home enough to get him to do math, writing and brain exercise.  Sometimes I am barely home with all the Dr.'s visits and dental appointments lately.  That on top of the usual activities and trying to pack up the house, it is rough.  But L is doing great and I'm glad he's been able to get this medicine.

Rainbow Jello

 

Each of the children chose an item to make and bring to Thanksgiving.  L chose the rainbow jello.  He poured, stirred and mixed colors.  He was very involved in dictating when it was time to add the next layer.  It turned out great!

Horse Therapy

L is a funny boy.  He gets amused by things and is literally tickled by his amusement.  It makes us all laugh.
 

L goes to horse therapy Occupational Therapy each Friday.  He works on writing, coordination and emotional regulation while on a horse.  It's so nice that insurance and the state scholarship pay for this.

Last time we went to the Alligator Farm I gave each child a quarter.  2 chose to use the view thing instead of feed the alligators.  This day was a homeschool day so there were lots of kids considering it was during school hours.  One of the stations let the kids eat a dehydrated silk worm and then throw a live meal worm to the cranes.  All stations gave candy.

August has been great.

His hair generally lays down so this morning hair was really epic.
 

lP put L down for a nap and snagged one for herself too.

As the youngest, L plays with things in a different way than the older kids.  For one, I let him play with these little houses more than I did the others, thinking I was saving them for future littles.  L is the last little so he gets to play with them as toys.  He enjoyed stacking their boxes last time.

L loves the thrift store.  He gets to play with the toys and usually has enough money to buy one.  He got this sweet boat and I took him to the inter coastal to play with it.

L loves cuddles.  He is our most affectionate child.  He's also missing his front teeth at the moment.

L has daily work and a check list that works well for him.  His good and beautiful curriculum asks him to spell sometimes.  It turns out that L is very happy to spell if he can write in giant block letters.  I'm so grateful to be able to homeschool him and let him do whatever works for him.