Frosty's Fall

Had a bit of a scare this morning.

After Frost finished up his math lesson, I sent him to have a quick break while I was finishing up some work on the computer. Not 2 minutes later, we hear a big crash...and in our house, that is really not so unusual, more like a daily occurrence...so I yell out, "What happened?" No one responded...which is not uncommon either around here. I then hear Liam talking about paint. Telling someone, "...it's paint. You have it on your face." He was repeating himself, so whoever he was talking to was not acknowledging him...as he does this often. My first thought was him and Zach were messing around in our paint supplies. I hopped up to find out what they were doing.

I end up walking over to find Liam kneeling over Frosty who was laying face down on top of a trifold display board. {The night before, Frost had used a bunch of stuff he found, like the trifold, to build a fort so he and Danny could have a dart gun war.} I called out Frosty's name, and he did not respond to me. So I yelled his name, and he looked up at me...the whole left side of his face, and his nose and mouth were covered in blood! There was also a bunch of blood smeared on the trifold.

As he looked up at me, he was looking at me, but he was NOT actually seeing me. Took me a bit to get him up. I kept asking him to tell me what had happened. He was still not responding to me...not talking at all...just looking around very dazed. I started to go into panic mode. I started talking a little louder, telling him to LOOK AT ME, he had a very hard time staying focused on me. I was trying to ask Liam what had happened, but he wasn't much help.

I got Frost to the couch and sat down. He FINALLY started trying to answer my questions. He was trying to convince me that he was tired and just laid down to sleep. I would tell him, "Frost. We heard the crash, you have blood on you, I think you fell." He would, a little too calm for me, responded with...I was asleep. I just told him he had blood on his face...and he didn't react to that at all.

As he was starting to talk a little more...we were asking him about what happened. And what happened before the fall...like what he did this morning. He couldn't remember...or he thought he had done it yesterday. We had to fill him in, and remind him of what we did this morning.

I got really worried because he kept telling me he was really tired...and his eyes kept drooping. I called Danny. I was sitting right next Frost talking to Danny telling him what happened, that I was worried, and that he needed to come home NOW! Crying the whole time!

After I got off the phone with Danny, I had to get a tissue. I went into the kitchen, when I did Frosty got up, took maybe 1 to 2 steps, and fell again! I got him back to the couch again. Which was about when Danny called back again. I made Arlee sit with Frosty to make sure he stayed put, and stayed awake. Danny told me he would meet us up at the hospital.

So after a quick throw together of Frosty and myself...who both of us, like a lot of home schoolers, were still in our night clothes...got out the door, in the van, and on our way. Of course, I was OUT OF GAS!! UGH!! So we had to stop on the way to fill up. I was so worried to leave him in the van alone, but I hated to make him walk in the store either!! I just hurried up...paid for the gas, got him something to drink, filled up and we were on our way again.

By the time we got to the hospital...he was talking much better. Remember when I mentioned about calling Danny when I was sitting right next to Frosty?? Well, he started telling me that he got scared when I was rushing around the house. I said to him, "It probably didn't help that I was freaking out on the phone to Daddy sobbing all over the place." He said, "I didn't see you. You must have been in the kitchen then."

He had asked me 3 different times, on the way, where he was when I found him. He also let me know that his cheek hurt. Inside and out. He showed me the inside, which was pretty cut up. Probably was bleeding as well when he hit. Once at the hospital we found on Frosty's left cheek, it became swollen, red and purple'ish, and there was a line like he hit the edge of something. He also has a mark on the side of his neck and on his chest/stomach.

When we finally got to see the dr, they did a once over on him. All his vitals were good. The dr said with the cut up inside cheek and how long it really took Frost to "pull back together", and loss of memory, he's leaning toward seizure. They did a EKG, and the one thing they were looking for which would suggest a possible seizure, was not there. They also drew blood which they said came back fine.

I have an appointment for tomorrow for us to go see our family dr for a referral to see a pediatric neurologist.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that it is ONLY that he just tripped over something, fell, and knocked himself out for a minute there. He does not remember falling at all. He remembers finishing up his math, and going into the living room. He remembers Liam asking him to fix the dvd player so he could use it. We have this older tv that they use to just watch dvd's in our living room...it's sitting on the floor. Frosty's "fort" he was building was sorta around this...and with all the extra stuff piled up, Liam couldn't get the dvd to work with the remote. SO Frosty went to move the dvd player on top of the tv....it fell, and he picked it up again and put it on the tv again. And that's it. He doesn't remember anything else after that. So we don't know if he tripped over something, if he just got up too fast and fainted, or if maybe he did have a seizure and fell because of it.

Oh gosh...I forgot. When the dr was explaining stuff to us...letting us know it could be a fainting spell, he said that sometimes over emotional stuff could bring it on. Then he started talking seizures...next thing you know, Danny's getting majorly light headed!! Almost had him pass out on me too!!!

What a day! I will keep everyone updated on how Frosty is doing. He's resting right now on the couch.

Friends...of the Home School Variety

I can not even begin to put into words how much I delight in getting together with other home schooling moms. Being able to do so has REALLY changed my life! Here we are on a Sunday, and 7 of us got together to do some brain storming for our group. It was incredible! Even if we were in the middle of a McD's play land and had to shout at each other almost the entire time!

Our first three years of homeschooling were a terrific experience, but to be truthful...especially knowing what I know now...were kinda lonely. We went NO WHERE!! I was just telling someone the other day, back then, I could fill up our mini van and go probably about a month before having to fill it again. During those three years, my kids, the two oldest who had been in public school before, really did miss that "classroom atmosphere"...where they actually saw other kids. So, together with another mom, I launched my home school group! It has proved to be the best thing for all of us!

It took a little to really get the group going...but once it did, it took off! I absolutely LOVE this group...all the families which make up the group! My children have made friendships which they truly cherish. I have made connections in which I will forever treasure. I feel our group has really grown into a phenomenal little community of it's own...and in some ways, as I heard someone say, a kind of extended family! How beautiful is that?? I'm so thankful to be apart of it all!

Having other home schooling moms to turn to when you need to...it is a remarkable gift! If it's that you need a moment to vent, need advice or inspiration, support, or you just want to share something funny that happened that day...no one else truly understands all the joys and struggles of doing what we do than another home schooling mom! I'm so very grateful...each and every day...that I have an abundance of fellow moms who are always ready to be there for each other!

I'm hoping all the moms of the East of Cincy Homeschool Organization really know how unbelievably marvelous they really are! I absolutely adore the friendships that I've made over the past 18 months. These connections I've gained have been such bright blessings in my life!

Here is to the years ahead as we watch TOGETHER as our children learn, excel, and grow!

Waiting...

Just sitting here. As a wife, a mother, a home schooling parent...Am I allowed to say that "I'm bored"?? Thought I'd see if writing an entry would battle my boredom tonight.

Earlier today...a call came in. On our caller ID it says, Homeland Security. Kinda strange, right? Well, Danny answered it...turns out it was a home security place calling to see if we would like their service. Danny talked to them for a bit. Next thing I know we are trying to set up for a time for them to come out and install a new system for our home!

We are getting a pretty good deal...which makes me VERY happy! When Danny told the guy that we are only paying like $32.53 for our security system now...the guy worked some numbers so that the new service will only be like $32.99. When the dispatch supervisor got on the phone with us, she asked if we were related to the installer guy since we were getting that discount!

Our new system sounds like it's going to be much nicer than the one we have now. We will have the two way voice communication with this one, which we don't have with ours. We got it before it became "standard". And, from what the guy says...we can get a free upgraded system every 3 years! That's nice.

When we were trying to schedule for them to come out...and you all probably know what my calendar looks like, and how hard it is to schedule "extra" into it! But these people were a little insistent that they come out SOON! So, to encourge us to allow them to come out TONIGHT, they said we could have the fire alert or key fobs to turn the alarm off or on from outside with a panic button...either one for FREE!! We decided to go with the fire alert. And, we are double checking with the guy when he gets here, but I'm assuming this means that it will also be covered monthly under the $32.99! So we went ahead and set it up for them to come out at 7pm.

So, we rushed back home today so we could clean up. A little after 7pm, we got a call from the dispatch supervisor letting us know the install guy has been on the same job since 3pm today! It is a couple who is in their 90's...and he's been trying to explain to them how to use the system! And at this point, he was waiting on the son of the couple to show up so the guy can explain it to him and he can explain it to his parents! The dispater mentioned that she knew Danny mentioned that we had young kids, and didn't want to show up if we were trying to put them to bed or if they were already in bed. {I know...insert laughing here! :) } I let her know that it was fine, we are ALL night owls, and the guy can come when he finishes up with the job he's on.

The dispatch supervisor calls back a few minutes later saying she checked back in with the install guy, and for us being so patient and flexible...they will be throwing in those key fobs, too!!

And....now....we are just waiting for the guy to show up.

More Doing, Less Planning

Last week, I came across an article I found a long time ago. It talks about being remarkable. One of the suggestions is, "Remarkable is more doing and less planning". I'm so guilty of doing so much planning, but not enough doing!! Especially when it comes to our home schooling. From time to time, I will go through pages in my notebook trying to work out a "perfect schedule" to get things done around here. I know I've wasted a lot of time planning for things...and then never really executed them anyway. There is NEVER going to be enough time in my day to get EVERYTHING in...it's impossible!! And I'm pretty sure I'm right...I've been trying for 5 years now!

For me, trying to plan out that "perfect schedule" is nothing but a waste of valuable time and energy that I've done WAY to many times. To learn to start doing more often...I think that's the key...at least for myself. Which sounds great in my head, and looks very logical written out here...so, now to just figure out how to actually get myself to follow my own advice!

"To Do" lists usually have worked so much better for me. No time frames at all...just a list of what needs to be done. That way if something comes up, or something takes longer, I don't fall out of sync with the times and then just feel the stress of "being behind."

From time to time, I keep trying to convince myself, also, that if we get up earlier everything will fall into place better. Which, just may be the case. But, with our family, we are just not morning people. The kids nor I. Neither is my Husband, he just HAS to get up as early as he does to get to work. On the weekends, he sleeps just as late as the rest of us!

Sometimes I have to remind myself that what we do is what we do. It most definitely, and I'm totally willing to admit this, it's not the perfect way to do things, and there really isn't a whole lot of structure here, but somehow, we can make it work for us. And, in the end, I guess that is really all that matters.

Do Over

After reading and being inspired by other wonderful blogs, I thought I would try and resurrect my own. It's been quite some time since the last time I virtually journalled, but I think I would like to take another shot at it!

I know I've mentioned to some of you about my desire to pull away from the virtual school. Just for the boys at this time. But I'm having a hard time convincing Danny that it's a good idea. From talking with some of my home schooling friends, and after a long time thinking about it...I think it's a good path for us to take. But I won't...not without his blessing.

I also know that Frost has been struggling with his reading for some time. I don't have any excuse as to why...did I just not do a good enough job teaching him, or maybe he's just a "lazy reader", like I used to be, I always "waited for the movie." I've hoped that over time it would improve, but it really hasn't.

Enter in, my next do over! I am going to be really back tracking with Frosty. Going back, way back, and really hitting the sight words hard again, and fluency practice! Something just maybe didn't click right the first time around, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed...in this case...2nd time will be the charm!