Our brains respond to something when it is repeated over and over; it becomes second nature. Tatum has seen this happen with her phonics understanding; she’s seen it with piano and swimming. Now, it’s time to master our MATH FACTS!
She did not do so well on her first assessment; she knows her +1’s, doubles, doubles + 1, and +9’s. BUT, not in a mad minute! So we practice. We do flash cards constantly.
And I carry them around. EVERYWHERE.
Then, I give her little practice tests. If she can get to a minute, then …..
I hope to give her a BIG prize!
Down to 1:24. We are getting there. Sweet girl, you’re doing so well!
UPDATE: she is getting there with her facts. Almost less than a minute on two sheets.
Each student was assigned a body part, and Tatum got THE TONGUE/TASTE.
Well, how appropriate because Tot does love to taste pretty much all foods.
She was to find 3 facts from a reliable source, and instead of using the internet, I had her go to the library. I’m old fashioned in that I think one should actually research instead of just sitting on one’s rear surfing the net. Too easy.
So, off to the library, and guess what we found?
Encyclopedias are the best resource, so “T” it is.
She found her three facts:
Now it was time to build her tongue out of clay. (This is what we opted for).
I had no idea how interesting the tongue could be.
I’m so proud of her hard work. She’ll be presenting this to her class later this week.
It’s Thursday, and we are home from school again. Yesterday she went and had a really hard time. She then was literally up all night long coughing (and so was Daddy and I).
I wanted her to catch up on her rest and try to master the cough episode which can come on at anytime without warning.
Now, Thursdays are very busy day for me, so I made sure she had her own work to do. I would have her do Math, Bible, Reading, and Spelling. Meanwhile, I would work right next to her.
Math facts practice and then time it! Working on getting it to ONE MINUTE!
Then she would practice her Bible verse (Proverbs 15:33). Reading practice for 20 minutes.
Finally Spelling practice and test.
100% and ready to have a bit of play time.
I worked for a couple of hours while she played. We also decided to take Cooper in for a haircut.
This may give us some peace and quiet. (We love you Coopy).
Well, it happened then WHILE she ate lunch. I have never seen her cough so much. She threw up all of her lunch, sweating profusely. She continued for 20 minutes WITHOUT STOPPING> I was desperate. I tried the inhaler, but she continued.
I PRAYED, “OH JESUS WHAT DO I DO??? HELP ME!!!!
I decided to take her to the URGENT CARE, and I kid you not, sitting RIGHT AT OUR DOORSTEP, was a box. The NEBULIZER! The thing she said she wouldn’t do.
I couldn’t believe the timing. She said, NO WAY, MOMMY. I’m not doing that.
OH yes you are, girl.You are! We watched a YouTube video on how it works and started. She calmed down and agreed.
While she proceeded to breathe, she started to smile. I PRAISED GOD. The Urgent Care had a long wait, and this is what they would have done to her.
GOD KNEW that I needed to keep her home today. GOD KNEW that she was going to have an uncontrollable coughing spell. GOD KNEW that the nebulizer was coming today JUST IN TIME. GOD KNEW that Tatum would have this coughing spell and then would WANT to have the treatment (vs being belligerent had she not have that spell). JUST WOW.
She is breathing now clearly and we now have a protocol. We even named the nebulizer breathing thingy, NATHAN and gave him a seat at our kitchen table since he’ll be a part of our family for a while.
We picked up cute puppy who looks ADORABLE. A brand new haircut and a whole new attitude for all of us thanks to you, Father.
And, I’m just so grateful. Thank you for ALWAYS being with us and answering our prayers at EXACTLY the right time. You are perfect, Lord.
We are not out of the woods yet. The cough continues, but at least we are a step closer to relief.
It’s BAAAAAACK. That nasty cough. She’s had this for years, and I feel nothing but loathing for this thing. It keeps her up all night; it inhibits her activity, it tires her out; it embarrasses her; and it keeps all of us up with not only from the cough but the worry.
So, I kept her home on Tuesday to take her to the Dr. again. We need to make sure we are doing all it takes to help her.
We arrived to Agave, and she was reminded of her past visits! She loves playing on this swirly thing.
Oh, the joy of being back, eh?
The weight and height were taken. 37.4 lbs and 41 inches. (slowly she grows; hooray!)
And then we wait and pray; Praying for wisdom and help from Dr. Bloomenthal.
The breathing treatment monstrosity came out, and Tatum obliged.
After, her little heart was racing, and she said she hated it. The doctor told me I could have one of these lovely machines of my very own, so I agreed. Tatum had a FIT. NO WAY IS SHE DOING THAT AGAIN. (Well, I get it, but I ordered one anyway). This is in lieu of the puffer when needed.
It would take 3-5 days to receive, and she WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE IT. (ooooooooh boy!)
Later, she took a nap and Cooper waited patiently for her.
Oh, little Tot. I am so worried about you, and I’m pleading with God for help.
If we use too much Albuterol, she gets chest pains and rapid heartbeat. I learned this the hard way.
It’s official: My honey is obsessed with Cooper. He takes probably 10 pictures a day: Oh, look at him here; look at him do this; look at him do that; look at him just looking; look at him being cute. I mean really! heehee
Yes, he even takes a picture of Cooper when I’m in a back-side position. (or maybe he really did want to take a picture of my back side!)??
It used to be Tot and me he was obsessed with picture-wise. It is all now about Cooper. (and I love it!)
This weekend, we figured we’d go out and leave the other little cutie pie with Cooper thanks to Bianca watching them. It was time for us to have some fun. (My honey sure does look the part!) Tatum joined the picture as Coopy watched from afar.
My honey still is in total love with us, but I LOVE that he adores the little guy.
I adore my honey, and OF COURSE, my Tot and little Coopy-head. XOXOX
You have to understand little girls to appreciate this amazing child. I am a girl (HA!), and I’ve been playing with little girls since I was one (HA!) and I have taught many little girls.
Tatum’s imagination and use of things that are really not considered toys amazes me.
Most little girls at Tatum’s age are playing with Barbie dolls, American Girl or some other EXPENSIVE doll situation. Believe me, my mom had to save her pennies to buy me the latest doll. AND, this new American Doll phenomenon forces adults to take out second mortgages in their homes. They rope you in with buying the doll, and then EVERY accessory is another mortgage payment. It’s a racket! BUT, I get it….very fun for little gals.
Ok, so what am I saying here? Tatum still loves to play with any stuffed animal. She still loves to imagine with them being her students or kids. But, Tatum makes her own dolls! She makes her own fun with what she makes up! This is the latest……
With her own allowance, she purchased 12 plastic frames. Then we went through her baby pictures and we ordered 19 or so pics so she could fill the frames.
I wasn’t sure what she’d do with them, but I was fine with the pic idea.
Now, do you know what she does with these pics? Well, she carries one or two around as if they were her child. For example, she said that the one that looks like a boy since she wasn’t wearing girlie clothes, this child is “LUCAS.” And so on. She names each one.
This morning, she had them all set up and talked to all of them as unit/class.
They are all her kids and she’s teaching them. (how to be kind; how to make friends; how to solve conflict).
Tatum, I love your heart. I love your imagination, and most importantly, I love how you make a seemingly simple thing become a treasured toy.
Tatum truly is grateful for what she has, and she DOESN’T WANT TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE> She NEVER says to me, “Such and so has this doll and so I want one..” NOPE.
Tatum, you keep being YOU. Keep being the unique, kind, special, and brilliant girl you are.
