A New Year

Here it is, 2010, and I realize how very truant I have been in keeping up with this blog. Actually, so much has been happening with my family, this is the first time that I have felt like have an opportunity to sit down and write coherently. This fall I began coaching high school gymnastics for the first and last time. It was a very useful experience, but not altogether positive. Zachary, my 10 year old with EE, has continued his monthly infusions in Denver and has added many school activities to his repertoire of things he likes to do. Joshua, my son with an arachnoid cyst etc... has been doing so well in school that I have been called to see if the school could move him from active special education to consult. David has become significantly more active with music and his social life.

My decision to coach high school gymnastics was based on the fact that I have spent so much time and energy on my younger two children's health problems, that I needed to be involved with Michelle and what was important to her. The flaw in my reasoning was that Michelle really did not want to compete in high school gymnastics her senior year. She has done gymnastics since she was three years old, with a three year break beginning at the age of six. At the end of her Junior year, she was burned out and the head coach she adored had retired in June, moving to Wisconsin. I have to admit I pressured her to finish out her Senior year as I did not want her to look back and wish that she had participated in high school gymnastics all four years. She ended up doing very well, but her unhappiness permeated the experience and it was very bittersweet. For myself, the daily practices coupled with frequent gymnastics meets, left me with little time for myself or my household duties. Writing was completely left to the wayside.

Zachary's food allergies seem to have become more prominent over the past several months, even though he continues to go to Denver for an infusion of research medicine, once a month. He has missed more school in one semester than he is technically allowed all year. This has not stopped him from joining the Lego Robotics Team, Odyssy of the Mind and being elected to Student Council. He also starred as Santa Claus for the Namaqua School play, "Santa's Shopping Network" this year. This January we are going to go up on his dosage and see if that helps eliminate some of the pain he has been feeling.

I seem to always worry about Joshua socially and academically, I was so surprised to get the call from the special education department that he was doing so well. He has gone from being extremely behind in school, to passing all the standardized tests at grade level or above, with the exception of writing. This is a very positive thing to happen, but I worry that if the extra help is removed, will he be able to maintain his success? My gut feeling is to at least let him try by moving him to a "consult only" basis and watching him very closely.

My 15 year-old son, David is maturing like a caterpillar emerging from a cocoon. He has really found his niche in music. With the addition of the medication Vyvanse, he is able to focus in school and he now has an active interest in learning and cares about his success. This is such a relief as he has felt so lost in the past. He has developed new friendships and is active in his youth group at church. Can you feel the relief just sliding over me?

2009 has been filled with many poignant memories. The daily activities of an active family of six has left me filling like I have neglected many activities that are important to me as a person. This leads me to the most important goal I have for 2010, to make sure that every day includes some time for me to read,write, exercise and continue to nurture my interests and hobbies. I will try and record how all of it works out.

The best to all in 2010 and here is to a prosperous and healthy New Year and new decade,2010.