It’s a year of success and growth for the Tot. She is experiencing more challenging school work, and she also is learning how to handle and negotiate difficult social situations.
It was great to meet with. Mrs. Denmark and hear how she is doing in the class. She noted that Tatum is a HARD WORKER; she is FOCUSED; she asks a ton of questions and loves to answer questions. She is KIND; GENEROUS (loves to give notes to teacher and gifts to friends)
In her work, she has gotten neater too! We are always working on the neatness factor.
Compare the two: (beginning of year 5.1…now 5.8 (and much neater)
Some more papers: Pretest in grammar…and NOW! WOOHOO!
The one I love is her writing and READING!
See her scores: 7th grade level~
She continues to make me proud in her character and her academics. The fact that she works hard is so good to hear!
There are no such things as coincidences. Nope. God knows that something will happen and He makes things just fit into place.
Take this weekend: First, I wanted to celebrate Tatum’s grades (both character and academic). I also wanted to give her a new sleeping bag for her birthday. Ok..that is one piece.
Next, there was supposed to be a picnic at the school this weekend. Cancelled due to rain. ALSO, Tatum had been home the past couple of days due to her teeth pain…so we had more time available! ALSO…Tatum and I usually go swimming around 4 pm, but this Friday, we decided to just go for a walk. The other thing is that Coti went to heaven a week ago, so he wasn’t a worry for us. All of these “circumstances” allowed for the “inconvenience” of this horrible event. God used it for GOOD!
It was 4:13 on Friday afternoon. Mama calls me crying saying she fell and she needs me NOW! Luckily, I was able to go immediately with Tot (remember we were around). We sped over there, and we found mom on the couch in a lot of pain. She thought she punctured a kidney or lung. We rushed to the hospital (luckily we didn’t have to worry about Coti). We waited for a while and then found out it was a 3 hour wait. Mama was feeling better, so we just brought her back to our home for dinner and sleepover.
NOW….let’s think about this. All of the “circumstances” that surrounded this event made it so much easier to help her! We were completely available AND now we get to see Tatum in action.
She was a COMPLETE helper/servant, constantly making sure mom had ice or help in walking. SERVANT HEARTED> Oh, Doug too! Gosh…so awesome how he helped out at the drop of a hat.
We had wanted to have Mom over for a nice dinner, and this gave me a chance to make her a yummy salmon dinner AND celebrate Tatum’s grades and character grades.
Her “E’s” in social skills and conduct just thrilled us!
THEN, it was a perfect opportunity to give her a present. The DOGGIE sleeping bag! She wanted to give mom her bed so this was great!
You and the doggie are one!
Now mama can sleep in your bed. Tatum checked on her the whole night and sacrificed her own sleep. It was amazing to watch her.
Tatum so loved being with the doggie all night! She’s been sleeping in it ever since.
Well, I did put it away and she had a little breakdown. I said it needed to stay in the closet. She then slipped me this note. The doggie was lonely apparently.
Mama? Oh, we kept her with us all weekend, and I think she is feeling so much better.
God is healing her.
She appreciated us…..
God used all of these circumstances for HIS good. Tatum grew, my Mom got so much love, and my honey got some time to work on the fall lawn. XXOO
Well, bottom mouth pain is up. Oh, the Tot. Lower braces planned today. It’s a day off for her, so we made the best of it by getting some bottom braces!
She brought BOO to keep her company.
She would have worn “Hedgie” but he got attention yesterday at church. (with Bella)
(He looks just like the hedgehog, Hedgie, in the book, The Hat).
Ok..back to “Open wide!“
Oh, you look adorable!
And when we got home….
Mommy, can you make me smoothie? Everything hurts.
And Daddy has his own version of TLC. A piggie back always helps.
A free ride….the pain seems to flee when she gets a piggy-back from my HHH!
Tatum’s mind is constantly creating and moving a mile a minute thinking of ideas. Just the other day, she got a free toy at McDonald’s (we frequent them often for the ice cream!), and immediately she had a plan for “Teddy.” He would have his own world right next to her while she sleeps. It became quite elaborate as the “mini” world expanded.
She spent time cutting out each little piece along with making him a little bed.
I love watching her make the most of not only her time but her mind. This was a free little toy, and she made the most of it. She puts “LIFE” into her toys! All her stuffies became real.
“Mommy, they have feelings too!”
Yes, compassion oozes from her as well. It’s so fun to watch her.
Apparently, sourdough bread is digestible for most of us, so it was a goal of mine to make this bread. It’s not a one-step task, however. It requires a plethora of tools and patience. Good practice!
The “feeding’ of starter takes about 7 days (it must ferment so you have to feed it daily with flour and water) (this makes is so I can eat it! )
Once that is done, you can refrigerate it until it is ready to use (and keep the “discard” for further baking! Nifty!!
Mixed it up with starter, flour, salt and water. THAT IS IT! You have to weigh it so you have a perfect balance. Then let it rise baby!
This cool container lets you see how much it rises (so you can stop it too!)
It should only rise about 50% (then frig if you aren’t ready to bake)
Once it’s ready, you knead it 4 times every 30 minutes to get it all “elastic-y.”
Tot helps here!
Now we are going to let it rise again! (for the sandwich loaf..it has to rise before you put it in the oven)
For the boule, it doesn’t need that..only frig until you are ready.
Then put it in your dutch oven…
and bake!
woowoo!
Yummy? You have NO idea how good it is. With butter? Take me straight to heaven.
What will be next? Well, I’ll make a bunch more loaves since I have a ton of “discard” left.
Onto some of my coconut bread for my honey! This week: German Chocolate! (no sugar, barely any carbs. He’ll LOVE IT!)
Just call me the Baking Queen! A way to serve my family and make them smile.
Yes, this whole process. Who knows where the problem is. Small intestine? Colon? Large? Tummy? Humbling. Very humbling.
Now I have an endoscopy scheduled; Also, I wrote a whole outline of my gut health from 2012-2022. I’m getting ready for my appointment in LA Cedar Sinai GUT motility unit.
Another test I’m having done is a SITZMARKS study.
This morning, I swallowed these rings:
In 5 days, I’ll have an X-Ray of “where are the little rings in my intestines?”
Pretty cool! Moving forward and onward. One of these days, I’ll be able to help so many people, Lord willing. A wonderful goal. Thank you, Father, for guiding me along. Thank you, HHH, for supporting me through all of this.
