Jan 6-12, 2019 FLU, Eye Doc, Math

Jan 6-12, 2019 

FLU, Eye Doc, Math

Hello Friends!

Sunday Drive Home:

We had breakfast with Giz and Grampy on Sunday and saw them off to church.  Then we loaded up our car and started our 8-hour drive home.  Like the drive to Indiana, Dd drove the whole way home too.  We enjoyed listening to My Antonia by Willa Cather both ways.  Dd usually drives just under the speed limit so it takes a little longer than when I drive, but it was good for her to get so much driving time under her belt.

No sick days when you homeschool!  

When we returned home from the Christmas party (Dh's family), we did not know we had already been infected from the flu going around in Indiana.  I woke up Monday with the flu, but had to take Dh in for his eye appointment at 7:35 on the other side of Grand Rapids, a 45-minute drive across a lot of ice.  I managed to postpone the vomiting until I got back home, with great effort.  This was a nasty flu---I'll just let your imagination fill in the details.  Oddly enough, all three of us had different flu symptoms.  Fortunately, Dh didn't get my vomiting sessions or Dd's swollen infected throat; he was just 'run over' and exhausted.  All of us were sick ALL week and flash-forward the next week too.  With the flu, we didn't have a very exciting week.

Dh's Eye Appt.

Seven Weeks Post Surgery!  Dr. Gindzin took out the stitch in his eye from the re-attached retina surgery.  It is crazy to think we are coming up on two months of this upheaval!  Dr. Gindzin had said it would be around seven weeks of recovery and I had hoped he was only saying that long to surprise us with it being shorter; kind of expecting the worst and then being happier when it isn't that bad; but, really it is taking that long...actually longer!  This visit was actually void of any pessimism; which was a first.  The doctor seemed open to Dh returning to work soon...with restrictions.  With Dh not being in such a critical status we don't have an appointment next week, but the week after.  His pressures were 15 in each eye---so much better than the week he had a score of 46.  The gas bubble is down to 7%.  Dh can now keep his head up all day, but he still can't lay his head back and sleep in bed.  Dh continues to sleep sitting in a high-backed chair in our living room with his head up or facing down.

Dh still appreciates these lay-downs each day.  After sitting up in a recliner all night he likes being able to stretch his body out and rest different muscles using his special table with the hole in the middle to watch a show.

Outbuilding:
The main reason Dh liked the house we live at now is that it has an 'outbuilding' where he could piddle and build things...or fix things.  Our house in Indiana didn't have anything but a small garage and he didn't have much space to do anything.  Last week Dr. Gindzin stopped one eye drop that dilated his pupil and made seeing difficult.  With his vision returned Dh has been able to spend some time out in his shop.  He has been trying to figure out how to improve his router skills and building a rolling workbench in the process.  It is nice to see him out of the living room chair and able to move about again.  

The new Bible Study Dh and I have been using...I'm not as impressed as I'd hoped, but Dh is liking it.

Dd to Doctor:

Dd asked to go to the doctor this week; her throat was hurting her so much.  She had white spots the back of her throat.  The nurse practitioner that we saw explained that those white spots don't necessarily mean she has strep-throat!  I never knew you could have those spots and it not be strep.  She also shared that the mucus she had was another symptom that negated the strep diagnosis.  They took two swabs of her throat and both eventually came back negative for strep.  We continued doing all we can at home and started the Ibuprofen like we were told to do.  It was a very long week with both her and I being sick.

I've been pecking at this book for the last two months.

Hiking and Henry:

This has been a record-breaking winter for Grand Rapids, Michigan---this is the least snowy winter on record!!  The good thing about that is that Henry and I haven't missed many of our walks this winter.  If we had feet of snow, like we normally do, it might be impossible to take Henry all through the woods like I have been able to do.  I know the snow is coming next week and will likely stay until March, but I am just so thankful for the blessings of clear paths thus far this winter.

Chickens:

We have had such a mild winter the chickens have been able to be outside so much more than normal.  Usually they don't get their dirt baths and running these weeks in winter, but they are this year.  

Marie Kondo:
Have you heard about Tidying Up?  We watched the first episode and spent the week going through our kitchen, laundry, and clothing to donate those things that don't 'ching' (spark joy) for us.  We still have a lot of things to go through; but we have started; even Dh is going through his clothes which is miraculous.  Go Kondo!

This fall and winter I've hit the BONE BROTH hard.  It really does help my IBS, Gerd, Reflux, and all those problems.  I'm glad I have finally fully embraced it more than a twice a year soup.  It helps!  This is a ham bone/shank.

Dd's Academic's for the Week:

Dd no-volunteering:

I called off all outings except Dd's Friday Grace classes, so she didn't get to volunteer at church or the library this week.  Dd

Bible:

We were driving during church time this week, but we made it home in time for Dd to make it to her Youth Program on Sunday night.  She has continued to do her Word of Life Bible study every day and Dh and I are really enjoying our morning Bible Study.

my favorite commentary

Math:

Dh has spent a lot of time this week working with Dd on her math lessons.  I can't emphasize just how happy that makes me!!  I am not great at helping Dd with her math and Dh has such a great recall on all these procedures.  Great math week!! 

Still figuring out my new commentaries--Xmas gift

Grace Classes:
Geography: BJU (continues to be one of Dd's favorite classes)
Algebra I: Saxon (going well!)
Spanish I ('okay,' but Dd says it is hard having a foreign language class that only meets once a week.)
Graphic Design (going well, ends soon)
Introductory Logic: (getting better as Dd gets more into it)



Next Week:
Dd has her last class in Graphic Design.  I'm so glad she had the opportunity to take this class, as homeschoolers we don't always offer many 'fun' classes.  

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