The Davis Family

Archive:
*2020-2021 School Curriculum
*2019-2020 School Curriculum and Review
*2018-2019 School Curriculum and Review
*2017-2018 School Curriculum and Review
*2016-2017 School Curriculum and Review
*2015-2016 School Curriculum and Review
*2014-2015 School Curriculum
*2013-2014 Review

I’m starting to get the next year’s curriculum into shape as I evaluate where we are finishing the 2018 school year. Guiding observations:
Everybody is working at or above grade level in every way except perhaps spelling.
I’m wanting a way to improve the process of going from thought to writing.
Alough we are pretty happy with the curriculum, we’ve been using the same format for 2-3 years and we’re all a bit bored.
Math facts are coming, but are not memorized and that makes math drag.
Maggie and Carolyn especially could use some kind of regular out-of-the-house activity.
Anna’s ballet year currently runs two weeks LONGER than the school year and into summer, which is a strain.

Major curriculum introduction for the new year is
Sonlight D or American History 1 (Advanced Readers, 4 day)
This curriculum covers history, reading, Bible and some amount of language/social studies/writing.

Extra-Curricular Options in the running:
Ballet
Clark County English Country Dance
Kid’s Club – Swimming/Gymnastics/Martial Arts

Anna, 6th grade:
Sonlight American History, Advanced Readers 1
Teaching Textbooks Math 7
Handwriting Without Tears, Cursive Success
All About Spelling 2
Daily 6 Trait Writing, Level 5
Christian Light Publications Science 6
Growing with Grammar 4
Art – undecided
Extra Curricular – tbd
Extra:
Wordly Wise A/B/C

Maggie, 3rd grade:
Sonlight American History, Regular Readers 1
Teaching Textbooks 4 and/or 5
Handwriting without Tears, Cursive Handwriting
All About Spelling 2
Daily 6 Trait Writing, 2
Christian Light Publications Science 3
Growing With Grammar, 2
Art – undecided
Extra Curricular – tbd
Extra:
Wordly Wise A/B/C

Carolyn, 1st grade:
Sonlight American History 1 (listening)
Singapore Math – tbd (Primary 1A/1B?)
Christian Light Education Science, 1
Christian Light Education Reading, 1 (will start by reading the “Primer” books without any workbooks)
Handwriting Without Tears, Printing Power Plus
Art – undecided
Kumon: Jigsaw
Extra Curricular – tbd

Daniel, Kindergarten:
Not sure! Skills will be letter recognition, number recognition, counting, colors, shapes… preschool stuff. Learning to hold a pencil. Learning to sit and work. Learning English, how to use a wheelchair, emotional regulation… SO MUCH STUFF. We’ll see how he’s doing as fall approaches. I have plenty of leftover preschool and kingergarten stuff I can offer him if he shows interest during schooltime.
Things I have that I hope he will try:
Brain Quest Workbook, Pre-K
Kumon: Coloring
Kumon: Tracing
Kumon: Sticker & Paste
Kumon: Mazes
Kumon: Letters
Read-aloud, picture books

Jordan, 4th grade:
Puzzling over how to incorporate Jordan into the school day best. He’s not in a place where he can attend to academic schoolwork, but he is still working on many things.

Valuable additions would include: projects that strengthen craftsmanship, artistic appreciation, money management, scientific method, exploration, cooking, health and sex ed, typing, sport and PE

Supplementary materials on hand: Videos “How the States got their Shapes“, map puzzles, Liberty Kids dvds…..

Reminder of Washington State’s homeschool subject requirements (which are not expected to be taught solely separately/individually):
1. Occupational education
2. Science
3. Mathematics
4. Language
5. Social Studies
6. History
7. Health
8. Reading
9. Writing
10. Spelling
11. Appreciation for Art and Music

Other curriculum I’m interested in:
Jump In: A Workbook for Reluctant and Eager Writers
Institute for Excellence in Writing

Hello!

We are still here and still kicking!

We’re having a nice weekend here for Easter. Our family has its differences, but we’re making it work.

Yesterday was a glorious sunny Saturday. I mowed the lawn, the kids ran around in the sun and Jordan played in the grass. Good day. I did do something stupid and injured the tip of one finger, though. Let’s just say it involved stupidity and my finger is injured like it’s been hit with a hammer good and hard. Ow! So my finger is black and blue and hurts but I’m still able to mostly use my hand.

Today is Easter Sunday and I’m still in my pajamas and happy about it. We had a quiet morning, did an Easter treasure hunt with riddle, rune-drawn clues that led to April Fools pranks, a new board game and a small origami kit. I tried to take a nap on the mattress on Jordan’s floor (where we’ve been sleeping when he has a bad night) but kept thinking too much and am here at my computer trying to decide between sending an email and some boring paperwork.

It’s not a day for taking photographs and we miss our long-standing tradition of gathering with Brian’s family, but with his mom passed away and the boys struggling, we’re making good use of a quiet, low-key family day.

Over and out.

Photos from a sunny day recently:

This post is raw and weary. I do not write this for people to feel sorry for us. Or to correct me. I write it for others who are down and out. You are not alone and we will make it out the other side. Keep breathing.

Just one of two sheets of blood tests we’ve run on Jordan to help us guide treatment for PANS.

We have received punch after punch over the last five months and we are breathing.

One, I left home behind and put myself in a foreign country to receive my son. He didn’t eat or drink much, he didn’t have a bowel movement for all 14 days, I was away from my husband, it was hard.
Two, we got home and went immediately inpatient, learning about doctors, nurses, hospital rhythms, finding veins in a dehydrated, tiny boy, making him sicker before he could get well, getting an ng tube, being fed formula, jet lagged. It was so hard.

We breathed. We keep breathing. One, two.

One, I learned how to blend food to feed my son instead of relying on formula and a continuous feed through a backpack.
Two, Jordan struggled for no known reason – perhaps due to adjustment of his brother arriving home, perhaps illness, perhaps a developmental milestone – you can never tell with this boy. We were shaky.

We breathed. Breathing in and out, one two.

One, a trusted team of therapists called us into CPS for safety concerns over Daniel’s fascination with cords and plugging things in. We had our family unit as a whole and the safety and legality of our home threatened and invaded. The case was dropped, but not in a matter of moments. Moments were enough to hit us a big one.
Two, a little bone in my foot was fractured and running has been my primary method of self care, burning away stress hormones and giving me a lift. Where do I turn for that now?

Breathing. Sometimes gasping.

One, I study Daniel’s medical condition and potential treatments. We investigate our local center and don’t find a confident team… and part of their team questions (out loud!) whether we are providing adequate care to all of our children… after the CPS punch, we do not entertain returning. I read and read in support groups for club feet, arthrogryposis, contracted joints and see and hear stories of poor treatment. Managing medical care is hard.
Two, Daniel goes to the hospital for minor surgeries and minor surgeries aren’t as easy as I imagined. A number of good doctors cared for us but one resident wakes me (twice!) in the middle of the night (12am and 2am!) to argue with me about what Daniel is or isn’t eating. Daniel is traumatized by the rough care of this man. I don’t have reserves for this any more.

Breathe. In. Out.

One, the little things are heavy – well visits, teeth cleanings, homeschooling, morning chores, cooking, making beds, therapy, wheelchair researching, ballet, library trips, grocery trips, counseling for one child…
Two, three months after attempting primary care doctors and physical therapists, I learn that the toe is not sprained but broken and am put into a walking boot for I don’t know how long. Running is still out. All the races I’d planned for this year are canceled or jeopardized. It sucks.

In. Out. One, two.

One, the medicines we keep trialing for Jordan keep being unhelpful…. working onto them and then weaning off. We consider that he may have an autoimmune disorder called PANS and begin treating for this. Jordan descends to serious self harming and extended screaming and thrashing. The son I love is hurting.
Two, I’m waiting for. It’s going to come.

Breathe. Breathe.

I’m struggling with depression. Brian is too. We are both drained and tired and we alternate giving each other respite, but we are still hanging somewhere below sufficient. People keep telling us to ask for help. Dangit, we have asked for help. There just isn’t anybody who can help with Jordan and he’s the one that is taking more than 100% of what we have. I can’t fix him and we haven’t been able to help him… we want so much for him to be out of crisis (and he is much better this week than last week) but there isn’t somebody who can manage him besides us. It’s not fair that Jordan is struggling so much. It’s not fair that he’s so unhappy, that we can’t go anywhere with him, that the entire family is grounded because of him. It sucks. I grieve this loss for all of us.

Don’t you ever even consider that I resent Jordan, though. It’s not his fault. He’s just a little boy. I cry out to God for mercy and I long for heaven’s redemption. We hang onto belief that this difficult season is exactly what it is – a season.

These are what we remind ourselves of and this is what keeps us going:

1. Little kindnesses from people. Strangers. Friends. Family. That genuine smile at the checkout line. Those hours of rest last week thanks to grandparents watching the kids. Friends who take the girls for a few hours. A hug.
2. Widsom/Experience/Perspective – we’ve gone through difficult seasons before and there has always been a new season afterwards.
3. Love – We love each other. We are usually serving one another and holding each other up. We ask forgiveness of our faults and we give each other the gifts of what the other needs.
4. Giving – Counterintuitive as it seems, we actively seek out the ways that we can give to others. Writing this post has nearly undone me as when I am focused so wholly on my struggles, I can’t bear the weight of them. When we see the needs of others and reach out with whatever small kindness we can offer, I experience thankfulness for what I have and empathy towards those I love who are fighting their battles. Somehow the burden is lighter this way.
5. Conveniences – I was given the gift of a housekeeper for a couple months and we have decided to keep her on every other week to get the floors/bathrooms/kitchen all cleaned. Also, I am purchasing convenience foods from the freezer section of Costco. It helps.
6. Truths… God created us. He loves us. This world is temporal. Loving each other (caring for our children) matters. Suffering can produce good qualities such as endurance and empathy. Our Creator promises to refresh us and encourages us to perservere. We are loved.
7. Scripture: 2 Corinthians: 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Jeremiah 31:25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive

Jordan’s symptoms have drastically reduced and we all slept well last night.
My mom was available and able to come and spell me yesterday.
Jordan was totally calm midday and I was able to nap.
My friend Julie was both available and willing to take the girls all day long yesterday.
I shared the vulnerable and painful times here and on facebook and received encouragement and affirmation and been prayed for.

Blast from the past – Photos from 2014 cuties

I need to list out all the stuff that I’m managing right now. Two reasons: for myself and to tell my parents, who care.

Trying for a family photo when the family came over for my Dad’s 60th birthday last week.

Anna: For privacy sake, I won’t share her mild things here. But on a parenting front, she is social and fashionable and working through the many moral and social and physical developments of an almost 11 year old. She is 10 going on 20 and is navigating the mood swings and “blahs” of a preteen with as much grace as possible.

Jordan: Jordan has been struggling more than ever. We started treating something called PANDAS or PANS, which I don’t understand well yet. I need to continue reading and researching. It’s more challenging and also more important than college. I’m trading emails with the psychiatrist coordinating his care, making trips to the pharmacy, getting blood draws done, administering meds…. but mostly sitting with a frequently distraught child who is self harming and in crisis. It’s exhausting. He’s taking an anti-viral called Amantadine, which is supposedly acting as an anti-inflammatory for his brain. He’s just started on a 30-day course of Amoxicillin, which will hopefully, but not for sure, cause the PANDAS flare to go down so he can feel better. Some of the potential treatment involves extended IV treatment that is often not covered by insurance. That concerns me…. one, because Jordan is likely to yank an IV out, two, because the bill is often around $15K. Surely it is cheaper in a non-USA country. Our medical system’s flaws are centered around $$.

Margaret: Maggie has always had a sensitive stomach, had severe food pickiness, and been small for her age. I took her into the pediatrician again yesterday to try and do a little more digging into how to help her be able to eat more of what she wants when she wants. I brought a list of potential root or umbrella diagnoses in to discuss and between a smart pediatrician and Maggie’s descriptions of what she experiences, we have a few things to try. For probable reflux/heartburn, we’re going to try antacids to see if that helps. If it does, we’ll discuss root causes and long term treatment. For possible H. Pylori overgrowth, we’re doing stool testing. For possible IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), we’re going to get some probiotics. If we don’t find relief with any of these, we’ll go to a GI doctor and scope/biopsy her upper GI areas to look for EOE, ulcers, or…. something else. I’ll have to find my notes. On a personal/parenting note, Maggie expressed frustration with her interpersonal relationships outside of the family and struggled with fears and depression, so we have been seeing a counselor together for a couple months and that has been a really positive input to her and us. She is so incredibly bright and articulate and with a great counselor, we’ve identified and corrected some thought patterns. She’s doing really well in that department now, but I still want to schedule some more appointments to keep the momentum going.

Carolyn: Carolyn is doing really well right now. She’s 5 and learning about normal things kids learn at that age – like effective sneaking and hiding cookies under her blankets. (laughs) She is in danger of being a “glass child” – a child that is not seen, because everything is going well for them. However, with her ability to talk over just about anyone or anything, I am pretty confident that she will remain in view. She loves, LOVES to snuggle and she and Maggie play in extended and elaborate make-believe worlds.

Daniel: Daniel is very stable right now. His health is good, his weight is up, and he is learning language at an incredible pace. He is a bit slower to catch onto those more challenging things, like patience and waiting, melting down rapidly when he thinks his needs will not be met. But that is all as expected. His therapy evaluation appointments (PT, OT, SLP) to pursue state supplementary insurance are behind us, thankfully, but I don’t have all the documentation yet, so I cannot submit it yet. His PT appointments for determining the wheelchair we want to order are still ongoing, but hopefully we’ll have that order placed soon…. and hopefully it will make it through the gamut of insurance rejections and resubmissions before 6 months is up. We will see. At that point, we’ll pay our 15% coinsurance to the tune of over $1K. We are also wanting to get him a stander and then a gait trainer. But this has proved more complex, as his legs are untreated and his feet crooked. So…. how do we want him standing on those feet? Coordination of care emails are being sent by me to his orthopedist in Philidelphia, where we are on the wait list to be treated in the next 12ish months. This equipment will also have a big bill attached, so we need to do it right… also, insurance will only cover one anyway.

Brian and me: This Friday is the anniversary of Brian’s mom dying unexpectedly last year. It’s also the day that we are going to attempt our first date together since before Daniel got home in October. It’s been a grueling last five months. I have a broken toe and am wearing a boot and unable to exercise much. I bought a membership to the YMCA in town (30 minutes away) and Brian and I have been taking turns going there to exercise… the one thing I was given permission to do is swim, so I’ve gone swimming 3-4 times and it felt great. Brian’s blood pressure is up a bit… hopefully that’s just due to life and not because his kidney condition is approaching critical phase.

I had somebody tell me recently that they have a friend who adopted too many times and took on too much and that it had been unwise and their marriage was struggling.

That hurt. And I don’t even quite have the words to express why.

We are doing our best to follow God’s will for our lives. We knew it was going to be hard. And we knew that these decisions were “on us.” But we had hoped that we wouldn’t feel so alone. Those friends who have continued to reach out, those neighbors who have extended practical support…. they are like jewels to us. My parents don’t live nearby but they’ve made continued efforts to reach out a couple times a month to us. I don’t even know what I’m typing any more. I slept next to Jordan last night (mattress on the floor) listening to the same children’s CD over and over and over, because that’s the one that pulls him from his screaming most likely. He cried off and on (even in his sleep) ALL NIGHT last night. I’m tired.

No homeschool today.