B+

A few weeks ago, these little signs started appearing all over our school that said "B+". The first one (and only one for a few days) appeared on the office door. Even the principal had no idea what it was. I worried that it might be our grade! B plus everyone kept saying - "what the heck is that about?"
More and more signs appeared, and finally it was revealed that it meant "Be positive". Oh yeah. That makes a lot more sense.

The second and third grade students have come up with the initiative to be more positive in school and to be kinder to others. The kids put on a little assembly yesterday to kick of their positive attitude at school.

It was really cute. We will have spirit days, and the kids will get rewards for doing good, etc. I thought it was a nice idea. The kids are definitely more negative towards each other these days, and this is a gentle reminder to be kinder to each other.

I have to say that I have a hard time being positive sometimes. I have felt really negative about Finley's vision diagnosis lately and find myself wallowing in pity for her.

Since we have started sight words with Finley, I was positive about her learning. But then quickly thought "why in the world am I teaching sight words to a kid that is probably not going o have sight?" That made me sad for her all over again.

I need to work on my positive attitude. I need to realize that Finley will lead a full life and will go to college, get married, have children. She can do anything she wants to do.


I have focused so much on making Finley better and not making Finley independent. I need to realize that she doesn't need my pity or my constant hovering. She needs to be shown that no matter what, she can do whatever she wants to do.

Sight. Or not.

So I encourage you to work on your positive attitude as hard as the children at my school are working. We all can use a little less negativity.
-------------------------------------------------

On other notes:

We received the written report from Finley's vision field test. It had a nice recommendation section that we were able to share with the pre-school. They are already in the process of trying some of the recommendations - such as darkening and enlarging her name plate at her spot at the table. And darkening worksheets and the papers where she practices writing her name. Those are a good start.

It did report her vision as being 20/100 at this time. Now, like me, some of you may be wondering why glasses will not help Finley. Since 20/20 is perfect vision and 20/60 is normal vision for a 3 year old, why is it at 20/100 she can't have glasses to help her see clearer? The answer is - glasses fix refractory errors - near sightedness, far sightedness, astigmatism. The light must bounce off the retina and then back through the glasses to receive clarity.

Do you see where I am going with this?

Finley does not have functioning retinas. Her retinas are largely black - only 10% function. Not enough for glasses to work. So we could put strong glasses on her and nothing would change. She wouldn't see any differently through the glasses than she does without.

The eye doctor did recommend high levels of maginifation. Finley's teacher from BESB is alreayd working on a few things she would like to try with Finley (Finley is so young she won't tolerate things that are too complicated) and then this summer when we go back to the vision field specialist, they will fit her for some magnification devices at the level she needs.

Vision 101. You're welcome.

Today was Arlington's last swimming lesson. I have not seen much improvement I am afraid. But she won't be returning to lessons for awhile. She has elected to play softball, and this year I am wiser. I will not be doing 6 activities at once. One year older, one year wiser. Isn't that the way it goes?
Finley has one more swimming lesson next week. We will be in NYC for Arlington's party, so that is why Arlington is finished. Finley seems to be doing just fine. Again, I didn't expect miracles out of the class with her, but it did get her in the water. We will be taking a break from swimming for her as well and give Cainan a chance to try it out.

Finley has learned several more sight words. She has also learned her lower case letters. I was told by a teacher at our school that the kids have been coming in only knowing words in all capital letters and they were starting to concentrate (in preschool) on writing words in lower case. So, we decided to work on that with her.

She also proved her goofiness once more this week at dinner. We were all sitting around the table, eating our meal and all of the sudden Finley announces "my butt is talking".

We look at her in kind of disbelief. And then burst out laughing. This is Finley's "kind" way of telling us she passed gas. Isn't she polite? I don't think Mat and I are going to have to worry about her dating for a LONG time.

Cainan is doing well. We are waiting for a workbook we ordered for him to help him practice writing his letters. He needs a lot of help with his writing - he still doesn't have very strong wrist control. So we are anxious to help him work on that.


Cainan has also proved that there is no hope for Olympic contention in his future.

He could not do a front roll. He couldn't figure out how to get over. It was quite entertaining!

Tomorrow is Mat's 36th birthday. 36! Kind of amazing. When we started dating, he was 16 years old. 20 years. That is a LONG time and he is an OLD man. Ha, ha ha. I am just kidding. Mostly.

But I am lucky to be married to such a wonderful loving husband. He is a great father and a wonderful person.

We made him Funfetti brownies tonight for his birthday. I am terrible at making cakes, so this is what he gets. But he loves brownies, so he wasn't sad.

The kids had a great time helping me stir and then add the funfetti.

And then, of course, licking the spoon. Yum.

We are going out for lunch at a New Orleans restaurant he wants to try and we have some presents for him. We will be celebrating again next weekend when his and my family arrive. I will post about his birthday on Tuesday.

Tomorrow we will be remembering another wonderful Matt. 7 years ago tomorrow my Godbrother, Matt, left this world and went into the waiting arms of God. 7 years. It is hard to watch time pass, yet stand still. I think about him every day. I think about all the fun times we had growing up. What a wonderful boy he was. What a great man he had become. The world lost and heaven gained 7 years ago. I believe we will see him again someday. My last memory of him was dancing together at my brother's wedding and laughing and having a great time. I was pregnant with Arlington at that time and I couldn't wait for him to meet her. He was killed a week before she was born. But I know he was there with us the day she was born - all around us.

Our hearts are with my Godfamily - Chris, Mary Louise, Ryan and Christy - on this day. He is missed terribly and we think of him every day.

"Don't tell God how big your storm is - tell your storm how big GOD is."

See you tomorrow for "So How Did It Go, Sunday."