Austen's Awards...

Recently, we received a note from Austen's science teacher that he was nominated for an Eagle Award from her for his outstanding performance in the field of science for that quarter. (Can't say he got that from me.) We were invited to a special before school breakfast where each subject/teacher presented the student of their choice with an award before all of the 7th grade teachers, students and parents.

The next week, he received a postcard from his math teacher complimenting his hard work in her advanced math class (8th grade math). I can't say he got that from me either! And I have no idea how that kid keeps pulling out an A- in that class at the end of the quarter when he's right on the cusp of a B+/A- but somehow he pulls through during that final test to barely bring him over the threshold to an A-. And, for the second straight quarter now that kid has maintained straight As and doesn't want to accept anything less than that for his grades. He works hard too and in a very competitive school district. Not to mention the many sports including all of the games and practices that he works into his week and weekend (soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and baseball).

This kid is going to go far in life because of his organizational skills and his ability at this young age to look ahead at what is due for school that week and what practices and games he has, and then plan out when he should be getting his homework or studying in because of his games or practices. Is he a perfect kid? No. Is he always nice to his sister(s). Hailey - yes. Peyton - no. Does he hate to disappoint his parents. Yes. Does he need to be pushed sometimes. Yes. Is his room as neat and tidy as it used to be? No. Does my office look like his second bedroom most of the time. Yes. But is he a good kid who is kind to others and is happy. Yes. And, that's all I could want for him as a 13 year old boy navigating middle school.  My heart is full.

Math note from Ms. Mackey

Mrs. Ustas (in yellow) presenting Austen with his award

Peyton's Stomach Update

Almost immediately after Peyton recovered from her bout with walking pneumonia, she started developing stomachaches. At first we thought it was just her being dramatic but it would occur at all hours of the day but especially in the morning and at night.

We thought we figured out what it was after a few weeks when she came up positive for strep throat. But even a strong dose of amoxicillin did not completely knock out her stomach pains. It seemed like at least a few times a week or at night we were dealing with a kid who was getting out of bed because her stomach hurt (I thought we were done with the toddler years!) or a kid who didn't want to go to school because she was doubled over in pain. After about an hour or so the pains would eventually pass but they were enough that we couldn't send her to school like that most days. One morning in particular it was really bad that I thought something must really be wrong with her so I took her into the ER to get the full gamut of blood work and ultrasounds done on her. Surely there must be something really wrong.

Do you know what they came up with? Nothing! $2,000 plus dollars later it was nothing (and that's just what we paid after insurance)! They recommended she see a pediatric gastroenterologist. So off we went. The hospital missed doing a celiac test on her so she had to complete additional blood work but he seemed to think that she has a version of irritable bowel syndrome brought on by acute sickness. He recommended we flush her system out one 24 hour period which we just completed. We're back to see him next weekend but it seems the stomachaches have slowed down (except when she eats white rice - she complained of a severe stomachache after that).


Fingers crossed we're done with the stomachaches. I for one am good if I don't see any more doctors in 2020!

The scowl

Austen Makes Middle School Volleyball Team

Last year Austen told me casually how much he enjoyed playing volleyball in PE class and that when he was in 7th grade he wanted to go out for the boys volleyball team for his middle school. Now I hadn't seen him play volleyball in over a year but when Tom and I played with him on Castaway Cay during our first Disney Cruise, I don't recall him being a great player so I was like, sure, go for it buddy. So when 7th grade rolled around and he was finally able to try out for the school team (we don't have a 6th grade team), he couldn't wait.

Forty-five kids tried out for 12 spots over the course of two days. We had to leave early on the last day for a soccer training when the kids would find out if they made it or not so Austen had to leave not knowing. The coach told him to come see him the next day to find out if he made it. Regardless, I didn't want this messing with his head before an important soccer session so I was happy that he wouldn't find out til the next day, but as soon as we pulled into the parking lot to start his soccer session his friends were texting him that he made the team. (And what a huge boost in confidence I guess that was for him during his soccer session.)

He was very excited he made the team with little to no real outside training. I saw him play for the first time just last week and then again today. And all I have to say is these PE teachers must be phenomenal because Austen has gone from being just okay to being really good. He can overhand serve easily, mainly sets but can help block and put the ball over the net. He's really enjoying his season so far and their team really has some great athletes on it. Hopefully they'll go far just like his cross country team!

He definitely didn't need to add another sport into the mix but he's having fun being with his teammates and making new friends through yet another sport. Congrats Austen!

#10

Bump, Set, Spike

The Serve

Hailey Loves to Read

This kid loves to go to the library. Sure libraries these days have more than just books. They have computers, play spaces and board games, however, lately Hailey has been asking me to go to the library to just pick out books. She doesn't want to stay to play (and I never really let her do the computer anyway since that counts toward her screen time).

She goes right in and is very interested in picking out which books she wants to read for her level. She will pull each book halfway from the shelf so she can see the cover and then determine if it's good enough for her to pull it out and put it in her pile. So last week was our week where we ventured off to the library. We have several in the vicinity so she gets to choose which one as they all have different collections. Some have more variety, some less.  She chose 22 books that should last us hopefully almost two weeks (in addition to the ones she gets from her teacher to read and the school library).

Each morning, we choose two books after the others leave for school. One she reads to me and the other I read to her. We actually read them to Sadie too because as soon as we sit down on the couch to start our reading, Sadie starts whining to come sit by us too. She loves being curled up next to us as we embark on a good book.

I love that Hailey loves to read. She is improving her reading skills at such a fast rate. She is already into the level where they should be when they begin first grade so she is doing great. Maybe by the end of the year she'll have tested out to somewhere toward the middle or end of first grade. She's very interested in what level she is on and if it's high or not. She made me get out the reading level brochures her teacher gave us at parent teacher conferences. Sounds like someone else I know?! But for now, I'm just glad she loves to read so much and I'm happy to foster that love!