Kindergarten Concert Pics

As you can see, Julia is very shy on the stage..ha ha ha!

Today is a new day...

...and thank God for that. It amazes me the difference a day can make.

So the insurance thing kind or worked it self out...not in the best way it could of but better than nothing. We will have the "good" insurance plan from Ryun's union for at least the next month and maybe beyond. So yesterday? I made five dentist appointments (one for each member of the family), two eye doctor appointments (one for Emily and one for me) one appointment with my counselor, and two well check visits with the pediatrician (one for Emily and one for Katherine). All taking place during the month of June. Hello busy month!

Today is already shaping up to be a better day...I feel better, I have lunch plans with my sister and nephew and then I have Julia's kindergarten concert. I can't wait to hear her and her classmates sing! Tonight I will be at the school committee meeting on behalf of the MECC School Council, presenting the school improvement plan to the School Committee.

Yay for a busy but fun day!

So what if I...

...finally had a long overdue cry over all that has gone in the past few months regarding Ryun's job, insurance and whatever the hell else.

It felt good...really, really good.

And no, I have no idea what to make of the fact that I literally said out loud after dealing with frustration after frustration, phone call after aggravating phone call (and this is just in the past hour), HELP ME GOD PLEASE NOW...and well, he did.

It was all precipitated by more frustrating news on the insurance front...shocking I know. We had received a request for information from MASS Health which I was gathering and getting ready to send. Between the Medical Security Plan and MASS Health, the MASS Health benefits were really much better. Of course, the usual happened...an opportunity for something better was there and I had no choice but to take the worst. MASS Health will not cover you if you have any other insurance option, no matter that the co-pays are through the roof, my vision is getting progressively worse and it doesn't cover any vision services and Ryun has a tooth ache and there is no dental coverage...at all. The Medical Security Plan representative I spoke with said that I could purchase an individual dental plan through another company so I called. There is a waiting period on services beyond cleaning...so Ryun would have to wait 1 year to get his tooth filled or whatever it needs. Hello? In a year the tooth may have rotted right out of his mouth (not to mention the pain). Of course there is always the option to pay out of pocket but Ryun is unemployed and taking home less than half than he did when working. Same goes for the vision care. And to top it all off? I haven't seen my counselor in since February and she is not covered under the MSP. Whether or not I needed mental health counseling before there is no question of the benefit it could provide now and I can't pay for it because I have no coverage and my husband is unemployed! AHHHHHHH!

After the tears were through and after I asked God to help me (out of sheer frustration if I am being honest), I decided just for kicks to see if the !@#$%^& formerly known as Ryun's boss actually did what he had said he was going to do and paid up what he owes on the insurance plan we had. I am still waiting for the lightening to strike but in some sort of miracle, he followed through. I am just waiting for Ryun to confirm with the union but it looks like we have our old plan back for at least three months, which I am hoping can begin now, and not be backdated to the day he was laid off in March. Because if that happens? I might have to cry again.

Just Because I Feel Like It

Not too long ago (ok maybe about a year and a half ago) Ryun decided to shave his head and go from a full beard and mustache to a goatee. He looks like a totally different person minus the hair and minus about 25 pounds that he has lost. Anyway, I am sure it is not surprising to any regular readers that I have pictures of all stages. And just because I feel like it I am going to share the pictures here with you.

Here he is...long past due for a hair cut/shave and pre-weight loss. The camera did something funky with his eyes but yeah...lots o' hair.


And here he is after, looking eerily like Kevin Youkilis if you ask me.


This one is a little bit more recent with a bit less of a goatee and the result of being lazy and not shaving the beard.

My favorite look...the middle picture.

Cape Cod Canal

I decided to to take my lunch with me and head down to the canal earlier this afternoon. I could not have picked a more perfect day to do this. My Twitter update from earlier says it all: Lunch break at the CCC. Perfect. Coffee, book, peacefully flowing water, warm breeze and the sun: I think this might be heaven.

Of course, I also brought my camera.

The sun was reflecting off of the water causing the sparkle effect...love it!

Pretty flower growing between the rocks.

I was actually there for the lowering of the bridge so the train could cross. In all of my times at the canal I have only ever seen this twice. It's a pretty neat thing to watch.

The water was so peaceful today.

I have no idea why, and I don't even know who that is, but this is one of my favorite pictures of the day. So thank you, Mr. Fisherman, whoever you are.

Normal=Highly Overrated!

I have always wondered if Julia would ever notice that she was, for a lack of a better word, "different" from most of the other kids at school. Not that there is anything wrong with different...as Katherine would say, "Normal is boring!" Julia hasn't always been completely in tune with herself or her surroundings so I never thought that if she ever did realize it, it would be at the ripe old age of 5.

This morning, while getting ready for school Julia said, "Mom, sometimes school is hard for me because I am always way behind." When I asked her what she meant she said, "You know, like every one else finishes their work and I am still working on mine." I gave her a hug and told her it didn't matter if she finished it first or last, it only mattered that she gave it her best try.

I'd be lying if I told you that my eyes didn't fill with tears when she said that...and maybe not for the reason you may think. It was heartbreaking yes, to hear her express her pain regarding the situation but, more than that? It was a huge breakthrough for Julia...expressing her feelings so adequately and being so completely in tune with what was going on in and around her.

I don't think words could adequately express how proud I am of Julia or how much she has taught me in life.

Health Update: Emily

I have survived another trip in to the hell that is driving in Boston. Every trip to and from Children's reminds me of just how much of a "country" girl I am. Boston has too much of everything, first and foremost being people, followed closely by cars, buildings, traffic lights, and idiots that don't know the difference between a walk/don't walk signal.

Something else a visit to Children's always reminds me of is just how lucky we are. Sure, Emily has her medical troubles but, all told, her issues pale in comparison to what other children and parents are dealing with. It is depressing to see really but it sure helps put things in to perspective.

Emily has not had a seizure for coming up on six years and has not been medicated for three. Mostly, she is followed now for the treatment of ADHD/Executive Function Disorder and of course, just to make sure that she isn't having seizures. I have a feeling if, when she had her MRI and genetic testing a number of years ago, the results of both had been normal,we wouldn't have to continue seeing her neurologist and any medication for her other concerns could be handled through her primary care. Because she has two strikes against her so to speak (an abnormality in the frontal lobes of her brain and a genetic mutation in the TSC II gene), she continues to be seen by her neurologist.

Her appointment went well. We (Emily and I) discussed at length her troubles at school. I really felt that Emily should be very much involved with the discussion. Obviously she knows best what is going on and what she thinks is working/not working. I also feel like she is old enough to have a voice in some of the decisions being made about her. I explained to him that the medicine he had prescribed her seemed to help but that it was causing drastic mood swings(more so than what would be consider normal for an almost 13 year old girl anyway). This was confirmed when she stopped taking it and had dramatic improvements in her mood (thankfully it was the kind of medicine that she could take on a more as needed basis so it could be stopped and started without any trouble). He decided that another medicine may work better but said that she would need to have an EKG. This medicine has been known to effect the results of an EKG so it made sense to have a one first to make sure everything was ok to begin with. Given the diagnosis she also has of a "Tuberous Sclerosis-like" condition, an EKG was also warranted because TSC can cause heart problems due to tumor growth. We were able to head right down to cardiology when we were done which was nice. The results of the EKG came back today and were 100 % normal. If I am being honest here, I was slightly concerned that it wouldn't come back ok; not because she had any indication of heart problems but because of the fact that every other test she has had has not come back with good results (MRI's EKG's and genetic testing). It was a nice change of pace for something to come back ok.

When Emily was originally diagnosed with the TSC-like condition, both the geneticist and the head of the TSC Clinic at Childrens had never seen a case like Emily's. The genetic testing, though indicative of something like TSC was not definitive. Her MRI showed a "Neuron Migration Disorder" which was also something similar to what is seen on an MRI of a patient with TSC but not exact. Besides seizures and obvious problems with executive function and attention, she showed no other signs of TSC, such as developmental delay or tumor growth. At the time, the head of the TSC Clinic recommended that he see Emily in a few years to see if anything had changed with her specifically and also to see if he had come across anyone "like her" in the time that has passed. It has actually been more than a few years (5 to be exact) so we made the appointment to meet with him while we were there yesterday. As a side note, there was no surprise here when the director of the TS Clinic at one of the foremost children's hospitals in the world told me that Emily was one of a kind. I knew that already!

So, we have two appointments in October on two different days...one with the director of the TS Clinic and her regular checkup with her neurologist (sadly, we were not able to coordinate it all for the same day).

To end this on a less serious note, while talking with the doctor about the genetic mutation in her TSC II gene, Emily heard the word, "mutation" only and said, "Cool! I am a mutant!"

Speech! Speeech! Speech!

Below is what I said to the incoming kindergarten parents at last night's orientation meeting.


Words cannot begin to describe what a positive and enriching experience kindergarten has been for Julia. Her growth has been an amazing thing to watch. Coming in to Kindergarten, Julia was a very shy, timid little girl. Using the words shy and timid to describe Julia today would be about as incorrect as it would be to call the green grass purple. Kindergarten has really brought her out of her shell and helped develop the confident and engaging personality she now has.
She comes home with a new skill to share and a new story to tell every day. Just this morning, while looking out the window she said, “Mom, see those holes in the leaves? Caterpillars made those because, this sounds very silly, but they like to eat through leaves!” One of my other favorite stories to share was the time she told me she wanted her bedtime to be in an “A B” pattern…one night at 7: 00 one night at 7:30 and so on.

I remember thinking, when I attended this meeting a year ago, that I wasn't ready for this, regardless of whether or not Julia was! One thing that has always helped me adjust is a commitment I have made to be an involved parent in my children’s education. My involvement started when my oldest daughter, now in 7th grade, started 1st. It began with helping her teacher out by volunteering from home, making educational games, flashcards and other projects the students could use in class. It progressed to volunteering in the classroom and for special events. Now I am the President of the Middleborough Elementary PTA. I say this because it gives you an idea of how many opportunities there are and how varied your involvement level can be. Whether you can do a little or a lot, I encourage you to do what you can to take part in your child’s experience here in Kindergarten and beyond.
I have told Mrs. Levesque many times in conversation how much I love it here. Perhaps the more important thing to share is how much my daughter does.

Honestly?

Why do I have to come up with the money saving ideas?

On the application I sent for both MASS Health and the Medical Security Plan, one of the questions asked what the primary language spoken in our home is. I answered English. So both plans send me all the information necessary, on separate sheets of paper, in both English and Spanish. This makes sense how?

I was also informed that I would be getting three separate mailings from both MASS Health and the Medical Security Plan; one saying we had been approved, another with the details of coverage and yet another with out identification cards enclosed. Uh hello? One big mailing with all things enclosed will save envelopes, postage, ink and paper.

And while I am on my soapbox here, can someone tell me why I have to get three copies of the same damn thing (such as the notice regarding the last day of school) sent home with my kids? Also, why do I need a copy of the school lunch calendar when it is published both online and in the paper? You can't tell me there is not a better way to do this (such as send all school wide notices home with the youngest kid or better yet, put everything that would not violate privacy rights online). It may not save a ton of money, but these small changes could save some and saving some, no matter how little, helps.

Wow...

...this health insurance stuff can be overwhelming.

At the end of last week we got notification from both MASS Health and The Medical Security Plan saying we had been approved for coverage. MASS Health was identified as being approved over the phone for at least the kids and for Ryun and I it was pending the receipt of additional documentation. A letter was sent to us on Thursday which will indicate what exact MASS Health plan we will be covered by.

In the meantime, I have been reviewing the coverage provided under the Medical Security Plan offered through unemployment. There are co-pays and co-insurance and all kinds of out of pocket costs to us for routine type things as well as things of an emergent nature. Admittedly, we had a rather fabulous insurance plan through the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan. We had no co-pays and the coverage was extensive. In the 12 years we were covered under that plan I only ever had two problems (at first routine physicals for the kids were only covered every other year which they changed to every year after numerous complaints from members and there was a problem once with coverage for Emily's seizure medication). Other than those two issues, we were pretty spoiled. Having said that, it doesn't seem right that we may have to pay more out of pocket while Ryun is unemployed than we did when he was. In general, the people with less money shouldn't have to pay more for something than those with the most money. This is not to say that those who have more should pay more, but it should be fair. Either we all pay or we all don't pay. I have no idea what this says about my political leanings but yeah, that's how I feel.

This whole process has been overwhelming, stressful and tiring. While I am glad we have some sort of coverage in place, for a state (and now I guess country) that requires you to carry health insurance, they sure don't make it easy.

Weekend

I have decided not to go to the crop tonight. I still have a million things to do to be ready for dress rehearsal and the recital this weekend. I have to be up and out of the house by 7:10 with Julia tomorrow. My mother is on hair and makeup duty so we need to be in Carver by 7:20, to leave by 7:50, and get to dress rehearsal by 8:30. This ought to be fun with Julia, who is used to sleeping in on weekends until at least 8. She tires very easily, so most week day mornings it is really hard to get her out of bed by 6:45 to get ready for school. She is in bed by 7 every night, and usually asleep by 7:30. I certainly can't put her to bed before 7...most nights we are just finishing dinner up at 6:30. So...I let her make up the difference on the weekend. When Julia is done performing, I will bring her back home, help my mother get Emily and Katherine ready, and head back for 12:30. I will probably have a couple of hours in between. The recital on Sunday will be a little less hectic as it doesn't start until 3. Julia will be doing ballet in the Cinderella portion of the show and Emily and Katherine? Will be in the second half dancing in the Back to the 80's portion of the show. Back to the 80's? I am like, totally, thinking this show will be wicked awesome! After the recital, we will be heading with the whole gang (my immediate family, my parents, my sisters and nephew) to dinner. After that, the whirlwind weekend will be over.

So yeah, it seems to make sense to stay in to night, get things done and try and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

It's Not All About Fundraising!

What follows is a letter I sent to the PTA membership yesterday. I thought it may be of interest to members of the public who may not be in the PTA and gives a really good description of what PTA is.

As many of you know, we decided in the beginning of this year to create a PTA Advocacy/Public Relations Team. The idea, while a good one, got lost in the shuffle. I recently attended the MA PTA's 100th Anniversary and Convention and have an increasingly developing commitment to this piece of PTA. Advocacy on behalf of children was truly the original focus of PTA when it was created back in 1897,and this commitment has seen a renewed sense of urgency on a national, state and local level.

As an active member of PTA for over five years, I went to the convention with what I thought was a well understood idea of what PTA is about. I had no idea how involved PTA has been in advocacy for children since its founding in 1897. From universal kindergarten to a juvenile justice system to helping develop a TV rating system to writing the parent involvement definition and requirements for NCLB/ESEA —PTA advocates have been at the heart of our nation’s greatest advances for children and youth. Today, PTA speaks up for family engagement language in laws; safe, healthy, and technologically advanced schools; and equal opportunity for all children. Our focus on the local level has always been on raising money and supporting our schools in a variety of different ways such as the book fair, cultural enrichment programs, fund raising and other events. It is clear that these things are of a critical nature, especially during such difficult financial times for our schools. It is equally important that we utilize our power as an association to advocate for the children of this town and beyond.

On the national level, the PTA defines one off its core purposes as promoting the welfare of children and youth in the home, school and community. As a local PTA, we are representatives and members of the national association. Our membership dues fund many of the advocacy efforts being brought forth on both the national and state level (of the $5.00 fee, $1.75 goes to the state PTA and an additional $1.75 goes to the national PTA). Dues also fund things such as E-Learning, the Three For Me Volunteer Program, and the Reflections Program, all programs of the National PTA. I am in the process of putting together a PTA Resource book which will highlight the National And State Programs of which we can participate in and take advantage of. There so many resources to tap in to and who knows, maybe be inspired by.

As the President of the Middleborough Elementary PTA, I also serve as the state liaison to the MA PTA. As a result, I receive, via email, advocacy and legislative alerts on a regular basis. As part of the Middleborough Elementary PTA Advocacy Team, I am looking to start a separate email list for people interested in receiving these advocacy tips and legislative alerts. They are a great way to keep informed about any legislation involving children, including the re-authorization of The ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, formerly known as The No Child Left Behind Act), The Child Nutrition Act (the major federal legislation that essentially determines school food policy and resources), and the just introduced Bipartisan Family Engagement in Education Act (National PTA has championed this bill along with leading researchers and practitioners, philanthropic groups, and policy experts in the field of family engagement). The alerts generally have information about the advocacy effort or bill being highlighted and provide different ways to get involved (the most common piece is a pre-generated email form that you just add your name and information to which is forwarded to the proper government official).

I am also happy to share that I was recently appointed to the MA PTA Board of Directors as the Advocacy Chair. I will be working with other board members at the state level advocating for children locally, as well as at the state and national level. I will have the opportunity to meet with other concerned citizens, state and possibly federal elected officials and bring a local voice to the table. I am looking forward to this new position.

When PTA was founded, it was organized as a community organization and, today, there are PTA's in churches, community centers, and even in a prison! Anyone can join the PTA - parents, businesses, concerned members of the community-anyone! In an effort to make sure our PTA is a well known asset to our community, in the coming years I plan on submitting news articles, letters to the editor, meeting announcements and other relevant information to our local paper. If there are topics you would like me to cover (or if you have any you would like to submit yourself), please let me know. I truly believe that our presence in the community, as a representative of the oldest and largest child advocacy association in the world, will help make a difference in the lives of our local children. To that end, I am hoping to initiate a new program called, "PTA Partners In The Community." I will be sending a letter to local businesses and other possible community partners that will say in part:

The Middleborough Elementary PTA is happy to extend this invitation to become one of our PTA Partners in the Community. As a member you will receive all PTA communications, including our monthly newsletter which highlights some of the work the PTA is doing, and includes reports from the Superintendent and school administrators. You are also invited to attend our meetings which are held the second Wednesday of every month at 7pm in the Henry B. Burkland School Media Center. Your membership will also include our student art work calendar, put out every September. As a PTA Partner In The Community, we will advertise your business on our PTA Facebook page, as well as in any communications we email or otherwise send to our membership.

The Middleborough Elementary PTA recognizes that involvement of diverse populations enriches PTA activities and, more important, enhances the well being of all children and youth. Establishing partners in the community is and will continue to be a critical part of our success as a PTA. Our PTA has implemented many successful programs that have enriched the educational experience of every student in the Middleborough Elementary Schools including, cultural enrichment performances, the book fair, and the SHARP Summer Enrichment Program. These programs and many others will continue due in large part to our PTA Partners in the Community member’s generous tax deductible donations. The Middleborough Elementary PTA would like to thank all the businesses that support our schools and our children.

I will begin the legwork on this new initiative over the summer.

As you can see, advocating on behalf of children in something I am deeply passionate about. I am hoping to bring some of that passion to our PTA in the coming years, and hope that you will join with me as we work to advocate for and support the educational experience of our children. Thank you.

Dear Universe...

If you think constant reminders via the postal service, email and telephone regarding our current lack of insurance coverage will in any way benefit me, you are wrong. All it does is increase my stress level.

Thank you.

7th In A Series Of Favorites

Snow falling in the back yard.

Leaves scattered about the driveway.

Chapin Beach, Summer 2008

Love this picture of the Castle.

Julia at Chapin, Summer of 08.

Which one is your favorite?

Somebody...

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby...

Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal," is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct...

Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring ......

Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will turn out good...

Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices...

Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.

Somebody never helped a fourth grader with her math.

Somebody said you can't love the third child as much as you love the first...

Somebody doesn't have three children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books ...

Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery...

Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back ...

Somebody never organized four giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...

Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...

Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...

Somebody isn't a mother.

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms, most especially my own mother to whom I will be forever grateful for the love and support she gives everyday!

I'd Like To Know Where You Got The Notion

Sometimes I like my don't rock the boat attitude, sometimes I don't. 

A situation has come up with Emily at school that clearly requires my attention.  I have already begun addressing it and have every confidence that I will see it through but, in typical "Shazzy style"  I am dreading what has yet to come; more than likely getting myself all worked up and anxious for no reason at all.  I have no idea why I do this to myself consistently.   I suppose it would make sense to share the story.

Emily came home from school yesterday and said, "Mom, I don't feel like I am being counted in Mrs. Teacher's class."  It took me a while to respond.  I was to busy saying to myself, "Wow...did my daughter just say that?  How...profound."  I don't need to worry about Emily's ability to put her feelings in to words.  Clearly, she has mastered that art.  When I asked her to elaborate, she went on to say that Mrs. Teacher had told her that she was missing three assignments, three assignments which Emily had indeed done and remembered passing in.  After looking further,  one assignment was found in the teachers things and one was hanging on display in the classroom.  Both had Emily's name on them.  One assignment is still MIA.  Standalone, this situation is not ok.  Coupled with a little history and Emily's general feelings about her relationship with the teacher, this situation is serious.

Emily's grade in science last term was, well, not indicative of what she is capable of.  A big part of her grade was the fact that she had six missing assignments. If I am being honest here, I should share that disorganization and forgetfulness are Emily's biggest struggles in school.  This is really an entirely different entry but for now suffice it to say that Emily having six assignments missing, while it seemed a bit excessive was not exactly shocking.  When I spoke with her teacher at parent/teacher conferences last term, her teacher mentioned that she was missing a couple of labs, but that she could come during directed study to make them up.  Emily was insistent that she had done them the first time but that she would go do them again during study.  When I questioned her at the time, she indicated that she had gone and made up the labs as she was supposed to.  While I don't know for sure that the missing work at the time included the labs that she had made up, there were labs listed as missing on the report her teacher sent home before report cards with her grade on it.

So herein lies the problem.  There were some questions regarding whether or not work was indeed missing last term.  This term there is actual proof (in the form of the papers that the teacher found after the fact) that Emily followed through; brought the work home, did it and turned it in.  This is seriously a HUGE achievement for Emily.  Instead of feeling proud of herself and perhaps building off of that, she was questioned about whether or not the work had been done and as it turns out, it was actually the teacher who was a disorganized mess for a change.  On many levels, this is unacceptable.

The first thing that comes to mind is the lesson this teaches Emily.  For a moment in time, as fleeting as it may have been for her, she did it...from start to finish.  The step by step process that starts in the classroom when the assignment is handed out and ends in classroom when she turns the assignment may seem like a no brainer to some.  For Emily it is the root of every difficulty she has ever had at school.  I do not think I can stress enough how significant this is.  So she actually does everything she is supposed to do and almost doesn't get credit for it?  This is not the message I want Emily to receive.

I am trying to picture the scenario in which a teacher could actually have a paper in hand and not give credit where it is due...not once, but twice and possibly three times.  Did she go through the papers, not see Emily's at first and just assume that because Emily hadn't turned in assignments in the past that maybe she hadn't in these instances?  Was it perhaps more malicious than that?  And really, how does this happen on multiple occasions? 

While the assignments were blatantly obvious indications of Emily feelings of not being counted, there have been other, not so clear cut examples of these feelings being confirmed.  She has said many times that she has said that she didn't think Mrs. Teacher liked her.  On a number of occasions, Emily has said that she has been accused of talking when she wasn't.  There was also an instance in which the kids were working in small groups reading aloud and the teacher told Emily to stop talking when she was in fact reading as she was supposed to be.  While it is true that Emily has been talking at inappropriate times in the past, I get the feeling (as does Emily) that certain things are being assumed of her that are not based in fact and only based on past experiences.  Yes she hasn't turned in homework before and yes, she has talked when she shouldn't have.  This does not mean that every time a situation comes up, she will be at fault.  What kind of message does this kind of treatment send to Emily?  It's not a good one, I can tell you that. 

I spoke with the guidance counselor this morning.  When Emily gets home I will be asking her if she would like to take part in the meeting I will be scheduling with the guidance counselor and Mrs. Teacher. I can certainly advocate on her behalf but, I also see extreme benefit in her advocating for herself right beside me.  After discussing this with Emily, I will be following up with the guidance counselor tomorrow to schedule a meeting.

These are examples from Emily's point of view but I have no reason to doubt that what she is saying to me is true.  I will still listen to the teacher's side when I have the opportunity to discuss this with her.  I know there are two sides to every story and if nothing else, I am willing to hear hers.  I am not one to rush to judgment by any means, but, until I hear the teacher's perspective and have the chance to perhaps look at this from another point of view, I am going to go with my intuition here and say that something isn't right.

Is it wrong...

...that I am looking forward to getting the bills from Julia's medical visits this week so I can send them to Ryun's boss with a letter saying that this is what he has caused?  I plan on doing the same thing with the out of pocket costs we incurred for Katherine prescriptions due to her strep throat and ear infection diagnosis yesterday, as well as for her doctor's visit and physicals for her and Emily that I will be scheduling next week so they can go to Girl Scout camp.  I am not expecting that he will pay the bills but there is something about sending the bills to him that just seems like it will feel good.

We have applied for health insurance through both unemployment and MASS Health.  We got a letter from unemployment saying that they received the application, were processing it and that if approved the coverage would be backdated to the date we applied.  We have not heard from MASS Health yet.   In the meantime, I am going to get some pleasure sticking it to Ryun's boss...even if it more than likely won't any difference to him.