Homeschooling and why!

We took a big leap 7 years ago and began to homeschool our children. I have to tell you that I sincerely thought, before that day, that all homeschoolers were off their rockers! Really, why would you do something that the government supplies for free and with qualified, amazing teachers!

My oldest son is an inspiration. A Psychologist might have different adjectives, though the last one we saw did say Patch was a fantastic and bright young man. Our son is classically autistic something that if you have never met him might sound scary, however, God has given Patch so many rich gifts that the challenges autism puts before him each day are not that noticeable these days. We have gone through difficult seasons of learning about who God has made Patrick to be and Patch has struggled greatly at times accepting those challenges but these days he is pretty laid back about life.

Homeschooling came about due to the fact that the school the kids were attending, though wonderful in every way possible, were not sure if they could continue to get financial support for Patch i.e. a 1:1 aid going into grade 3. You see, his autistic designation did not come until he turned nine years old. Before that any doctors that we saw could not seem to get past the fact that he had become a Smith through adoption and not only that he had come from a former Soviet Union Country! We knew his issues were more how he learned rather than not being able to learn from early on. At aged five we were informed that he would never get past a grade one reading level, (he is currently doing grade nine curriculum and coping fine, thankyou!). We always used to say,
"it is as if he is wearing a pair of glasses that somehow show him this world from a completely different point of view"
That's a bit like what autism is!

These days, due to his designation, (By the way, I tend not to use the word diagnosis as it implies that autism is a disease giving the impression that it can be cured but we don't agree with this, we feel that it is a case of the brain being differently wired that neurotypical people) we get extra funding, or rather our school does, which enables us to have a teaching assistant at the house. Patch's TA is amazing! She has become a member of our extended family and now helps teach both my boys, (Patch, math & English, and Noah, Math, and all three of my kids Science. I feel that we are very blessed living in BC with all the choices we have regarding how our children are educated. For us, right now, this system works really well and I get the bonus of seeing our kids grow and be involved in what they are learning and how it is presented to them. Maybe we will homeschool right the way through, this we have not determined. As a wise friend of mine always says,
"one year at a time."

There isn't a right or a wrong way, there is your way regarding education. We feel that for us, God has us in this season of homeschooling right now and we delight in the benefits we see each and every day in our kids. It is a huge committment but we love the flexibility. The school to which we are registered is wonderful and my teacher to whom I am accountable has become so much more, I count on her as a friend and mentor, nothing is ever too much trouble. The special education department have been incredible. Their support has gotten us where we are today and for that we will forever be grateful.

I am definitely a type A person but slowly, as I get older, I am trying to relax. I realise that God is really in control. I am trying to lean on the proverb that started all of this,

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.


God is not a deceiver, that He should offer to support us, and then, when we lean upon Him, should slip away from us.

Augustine
Works and Biography



Hope this finds you encouraged, and able to look forward and upwards today.

Sue :0)

The Zoo

I have dear friends whose children refer to our home as the zoo! No, they're not being rude about my kids, or indeed Stephen and I, merely the fact that we have a lot of pets. Steve and I have always had a variety, when we finally left the Isle of Man we had three dogs, two Yorkshire terriers aged nine, (they ended up staying with my parents as one started having seizures before we moved) and a collie cross, ages three who we felt would fare better with a new family rather than risk her health bringing her 6000 miles on a plane. She was a bit skittish, to say the least! we had also had three tanks with tropical fish, one was a community tank, one a specialized tank for catfish and one a cold water tank for a large European catfish we named Sooty! We also had three cats, two came with us, (Emily and Paddington, both being Manx cats) Nookie, we found a new home for as she was, kind of wild ish.

Here in BC we started off slowly. Emily and Paddington made themselves comfortable in their new Canadian home and lived to good ages. We ended up picking up a third cat we called Willie from a pet store, he finished me off regarding cats! He was a weird animal! Very unforgiving, whinny, and being a coon cat, scruffy! However, we did what we could to make Willie happy and in the end, Amy was the one to finally break through and get him to purr. Willie was our last cat though, no more, I can no longer deal with the litter tray inside and all that comes with that!

Today we have, wait for it, six budgies, one lovebid, one bearded dragon, one Hampster, and two dogs, oh, and some wild frogs outside in a tank! We really have a zoo. I am the proud owner of Jake, my 11 year old golden retriever. He is amazing, and a great pal. Amy owns Henry, he's a cross miniature Schnauzer/Maltese, she also has two of the budgies in her room, Peanut and Aspen. Noah owns Tolkein, a male Hampster and Gondora a female budgie, Patrick owns Ozzy, our male  bearded dragon, (great pets by the way) the female lovebird is mine, her name is Jade and today she laid an egg, problem is, there is no Mr. Lovebird! Gotta figure this one out now! What to do, what to do? Finally we have three. budgies downstairs, two are a pair, Oscar and Apple, they mated and had four babies last year, the reminder, Felix, (his mate died this Summer, don't know why!) but he hangs out with the other two and all seems well. So, you see, we do have a zoo! Somedays it is overwhelming but most of the time we enjoy their company, the sounds in the home of chirping birds, not yappy little terriers though, Henry is learning his manners, but slowly!

I have been asked by my friends sometimes, "How do you cope with three kids and all these animals?" Personally, I wouldn't have it any other way, the animals add to our lives. Last year when the budgies bred we learned so much about them from watching how they took care of their clutch, and each other, it was a fabulous experience. The dogs are comforting, I truly love Ozzy and never thought that would happen! He is an amazing reptile with distinct personality. My poor love bird is such a treasure I am sad for her today, no babies after all this hard work. Life is full and good. Nature is beautiful and if you can accomodate some in your home your children will actually benefit, well, mine have......

Sue :0)

Jade

Ozzy

Oscar

Peanut

Budgie eggs, size of a scotch mint

My beautiful Jake

Peanut and Pecan (Now Georgie)

Felix,  Aspen and Peanut

Peanut being cheeky

Monty and Aspen, (our Albino Budgie)

Henry with his new haircut!

A Pain in the Neck!

12 days post op.

On Oct. 20 I had an ACDF, (Anterior Cervical Dicectomy and fusion). I had been having extreme pins and needles and shooting pains down my left arm, starting around Spring of 2011. As the discomfort progressed I realized that I needed to see someone. I called my GP's office and surprisingly got an appointment very quickly.

My initial visit was, despite my background in nursing, shocking! My GP took one look at me, now with symptoms down my whole left side, and told me he thought that I might have MS. What you may not know is that my hubby has MS, so, for both of us to be carrying this disease was unthinkable! My GP sent me to a neurologist, who after initial tests thought that my problems were related more to a trapped nerve in my neck and dismissed te MS theory, phew! OK, now I could breathe again! A pinched nerve was more acceptable than MS. He suggested an MRI was needed but stated clearly that here in BC I could wait several months before I got one through the regular system and that getting a private one would be a quicker option. This is why I know I am blessed with the man I am married to. Despite the fact that we had paid for a vacation to the UK, including a friend's wee girl who is Amy's best friend, and were due to go within weeks, Steve immediately jumped into action and booked a private MRI. with in a couple of days My MRI was done down in Vancouver. This revealed a herniated dics but the official report would not be ready till acter the weekend. On the monday, 3 days later, I received a call, wouldn't you know, to have an MRI through the system at a local hospital, amazing! Now since the 1st one was only for the head we accepted the second MRI as it included the neck and spine as well. It was an interesting experience being that I am slightly claustrophobic, it was bad enough going through one but two in four days stretched me, plus, lying down was not that comfortable position but I was so grateful and knew God had me in His hands, whatever the outcome!


After the 2nd MRI, I returned home and no sooner had sat down when my house phone rang. It was the radiologist from the hospital asking me how I was feeling? Ominous question when you have just had a test in his department! So, in Sue form I asked him,
"How should I be feeling?"
He then went on to suggest that I go to the nearest ER to see someone as my spinal cord was being compressed due to a herniated disc between C6/C7. From his perspective, he was surprised I was walking, never mind able to drive etc.

OK, if you have ever nerve pain, you can understand that sitting in an ER for several hours would not have been very helpful. So, I called my GP's office and they got me straight in. I was still walking awkwardly and having continuous pins and needles in my left arm and hand, I also now had pains in all the muscles in both arms similar to pain you get after a heavy workout when you have strained your muscles and there was weakness present in both hands more in the left than the right. One look at me now with the MRI evidence and my GP made an urgent appointment for me with a neurosurgeon.

This brings me back to the beginning of this story! I am doing very well. Just under 2 weeks post surgery, my wound is looking great and will leave me with a thin scar, Which I am unconcerned about. The amazing thing is that as soon as I woke up for the anesthetic I was aware of NO pain in my arms/legs, no pins and needles at all and none since! Sure, I still have discomfort, mainly at the base of my neck, I also get a lot of headaches still starting at the base of my neck up into my head. I find sitting or standing too long not helpful, but, compared to pre-surgery, it is like night and day. I am so thankful to my surgeon, the staff who looked after me and mostof all God for answering all the prayers that went up. Prior to this surgery I had always thrown up for up to four days post surgery; this time, I think I had two minor episodes in recovery then nothing else. Low post Op. pain and I was discharged home 24 hours post surgery.

I have friends and even my hubby who face daily challenges that causes their bodies to behave in a manner that is painful and restrictive. Earlier this year a good friend died of cancer leaving a hubby and three young children, all under 5. Though my experience was and to some degree is still painful and restrictive, it was also fixable and from here it will get better. I have overwhelming thanks for that! This experience has reminded me not to take for granted anything. Each day is precious, each gift God gives should be acknowledged and not made light of, and when bad things happen, there is no "why" what I do know and can say is that, God IS Good!

Stephen's bigest delight now is to tell folk that finally his wife has her head screwed on right after all these years! Funny guy, my guy!

So, I am looking forward and upwards with thanks. Hopefully I can inspire at least one person to do the same with this blog, that would be amazing!

Sue :0)

Halloween 2011

OK, so here goes, this is really not my kind of thing but I am going to start to blog! Why? well I think if I can get a grasp of the mechanics and teach my kids, perhaps it will give them another avenue to think about and write down how they are doing, thinking, feeling even! You see, I have the privilege of three, (What are considered) Special need kids. if you came into my house you probably wouldn't put our family in this  category. Some of my best friends don't know what life has been like and can still be like some days with the mix that God has given us, but that's OK, I don't really know their actual struggles either, it is amazing what we hide or do not speak of, even to our closest friends!

Becoming a parent was a long road. I got married in my late teens to the guy of my dreams much to the annoyance of some people, thankfully, not our parents! I trained as a RGN on the Island where I was born doing a hospital clinical style training eventually settling in the Critical care unit for 4 years before we moved to BC, Canada. In my plan i was to be finished nurse training and ready to start our family of four children  by the grand old age of 24! God, however, had a different idea. The years came and went,  each Christmas would be marked by yet still no pregnancy, no baby and I was more sad than I could express and angry! As 30 started glowing on our horizon we started to feel called away from our safe, little Island to Canada, western Canada actually, it was the weirdest thing, both of us separately, but clearly, felt God calling us to trust him and move completely to a Country that we had never even visited and knew no one. So we gave it a go, God put everything in place before us and 9 months later, the time it takes for a human baby to gestate, we landed in BC, Canada. That was 20 years ago and we are still here and thankful for all that God has given us and taught us about Him and His provision for us through  all that we have lived through.

Of course, there are lots of details within this that I may go into as I progress. I never get tired of telling our story or thinking about our lives to date. I have long ago stopped asking God, "Why?" Things are the way they are because it suites His purpose and His plan for our lives. I hope that if you read this that my poor attempt at a blog may serve you in some way. I have lots to chat about and I love to chat, ask my friends! For now, I am spending the evening with my oldest boy whilst my twins have gone skating with their dad and our Church family.

Love and blessings

Sue
:0)