We are all blessed with the new life of Baby Jude. He brings alot of smiles into our house and fills us all with love. Jude is sitting, laughing, shaking his head..no, no, no, clapping, scooting, back floating in the pool and blowing raspberries to name a few.
This year began quiet and calm, much unlike our beginning to 2010. Olivia had a little reprieve from her mystery illness for a couple of months. In the beginning of April, we were back on the road of hospital and medical visits. She has been dealing with numbness and loss of movement, speech and vision in her episodes. Thankfully, she is scheduled to see a neurologist and all major tests so far have been clear. Despite all of her illness, she has maintained the high honor roll and with 2 AP classes this year as well. She was inducted into National Honor Society. Last fall she enjoyed the football dance team and working as a dancer for an illusionist in the Dells. This spring has been full with a new job at Hollister and preparing for Prom!( below….olivia before prom)
Gretta has enjoyed her first year of high school after homeschooling. She entered the year as one of two freshman on the football dance team. Her cohort was of course best friend Emily. They are literally joined at the hip all the time. She has excelled in her classes with 3.88-4.0 grade point average all quarters. She just finished Drivers Ed and is active in the JV soccer team. She hasn’t played soccer in a few years and was eager to get back on the field and have some fun with friends! We don’t see her a whole lot as she really enjoys having her own room for the first time in her life, although we do hear lots of singing coming from her humble abode.
(below..gretta with emily before winter carnival)
Ella had a busy year playing volleyball and basketball for the city and local Christian school. She is now on hiatus…not a wanted one though…( mom missed soccer sign ups with a new baby) Ella is such a help to have at home with schooling and homelife. She is doing well in her seventh grade work and always a social bee. She works once a week, nannying for a 3 year old girl.
(Below…ella with mom and pop for her special 13th birthday dinner alone)
Dayne has been playing football, basketball, swimming and now entering baseball season. Dayne has enjoyed cooking every Tuesday with a family friend of ours, Linda Sweeney. Linda comes every week to help with any tasks. Since feeding our large family is at the top of our priority list, Linda and Dayne make meals to be frozen every week. Dayne’s favorite recipe has been the snack of squash or pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. He has become a huge help and so thoughtful.
(below..happy dayne with a birthday present)
Diego loves being a big brother. He is the one to make Jude laugh the most. Diego has been working on speech this year. We began doing some testing through the school to see where he was with his speech. We found out he is in fact delayed and was emotionally the level of a four year old. We were hoping to have some speech therapy through the school on a weekly basis, but unfortunately as homeschoolers he is not able to get help. He has to fully enroll or is not able to have therapy. He is not ready to enroll full time and we find that he benefits from being home as do our other children. As we tie up our school year this next month we are amazed at his progress. Diego is reading english~ which is a major accomplishment. He is also completing first grade math with adding and subtracting. He is accomplishing so much more than we expected. When we first brought him home a year and a half ago yesterday, he could barely follow simple directions, he could not count and did not know letters. He still struggles with speech and being understood. We are praying that God will turn on a little speech light in his head that makes the sounds flow.
(below…diego and yerly decorate christmas cookies)
Yerly our sweet ,doting girl, has loved being a big sister. She asks to watch Jude daily and loves to entertain him with toys and books. We decided to school Diego and Yerly together doing first grade math and k/1 reading. Keeping them together has worked well. They challenge each other and encourage each other. Yerly is one smart chica! She is flying through first grade math and is reading and writing her own stories. She comes up with the best words to add to her vocabulary. Her favorite word this year has been repulsive. She speaks english and understands it incredibly well.
(below..Ella invited Diego and Yerly to a dress up tea party)
Mike is busy at Grede but his real love is on a football or baseball field as a coach. He puts all of his time and effort into coaching.
I have had fun with zumba with Olivia once Jude hit four months and swimming lessons with Jude which has led to finally using my lifeguarding cert. and some hours this summer at Swim Reedsburg! Thanks to our friend Andrew, I have a website for photos. I have just taken family photos and some for friends. This summer I have two weddings scheduled and am excited to venture down that road.
Life is full and Life is good!
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