Back to Normal

Friday morning I took Oliver back to the neurosurgeon, and she said Oliver could resume normal activity! I figured they weren't going to repeat the CT scan but just ask if he seemed to be back to normal. I actually considered cancelling the appointment as I figured it would last less than 5 minutes, which it did (and our specialist copay is now $45 since the kids and I switched to a different insurance on March 1), but it still was nice to get the official word that he can resume normal activities. I asked her about the malformation of his cerebellum, and she said that since children have to be sedated to have an MRI, they only do an MRI if there are symptoms. We're praying he never has any symptoms so he won't need that surgery. Paul's brother has the same condition, but he wasn't diagnosed until he was in his 40's. She also said to be really careful about putting sunscreen on his scar this summer to try and help the scar fade. Paul went into work later than usual on Friday so that he could take Nadia and Ian to art class while I was taking Oliver to the hospital. I then took Oliver to the playland for a few minutes, and then he went to gym class for the first time since February 2. While all three kids were in gym class, I met with one student teacher teaching science in a middle school located about 15 minutes from church. The kids had spent at least a little time at the babysitter's house the previous four consecutive days, so it was nice that I was able to fit my work into the time slot of their gym class on Friday.

Friday night Nadia participated in an AWANA quizzing event for clubbers in grades 3-6. Last year she won second place. This year I didn't have time to help her study, and she didn't do as well. Last year she had a perfect score on the written test and missed 1 of 10 multiple choice questions (when they use the paddles in the auditorium). This year she also got 9 out of 10 in the multiple choice portion. Both years she missed the first question. She didn't understand what they were asking. It was actually a very easy question, and she did actually know the answer but was confused by the way they asked it. I have no idea how she did this year on the written portion, but she definitely didn't do as well as last year. She was hoping to get 1st place this year (since she was one question away from first place last year) so she was very disappointed. I reminded her that she hadn't studied very much. I promised to help she and Ian study next year. Ian and Nadia will both be able to participate next year. It was another evidence of one more thing I have had to cut from my to do list due to taking on a FT job.

Ian had his last basketball game of the season yesterday. I wasn't able to attend because it overlapped with the performance of the Cinderella matinee at the Christian school at our church. I had never seen that musical, and we were surprised in the ways it differs from the movie. Oliver, Nadia, and I attended the musical. We were all able to attend Nadia's game. She *almost* made a basket (went off the rim). Her team won again. Thus far their record is 6-1, and their last game is next Saturday.

Yesterday I graded in every spare minute I had. Paul helped cook dinner, and I am almost done filling out forms and such for my student teachers. I was hoping to not need to do much work today through Tuesday on our little spring break getaway to Philadelphia. After church this morning (I'm teaching the 1st and 2nd grade girls' class today), we are headed first to the Cornwall Iron Furnace and then the Conrad Weiser Homestead on our way to Philadelphia. Today is Charter Day in PA - commemorating the day when Charles II gave this land to William Penn. This means many historical sites are free to enter today, which is why we're stopping at those two places today. Hoping the five of us enjoy these three days together!