Will and his violin

“Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart.”
---Shinichi Suzuki

Oh what fun...

This week was great. I wish I had it in pictures, it would be so much more interesting.

Monday was all day play with their cousin Reed here at home, and the Will's NAET appt.

Tuesday we spent up at a lake in Lawson, MO with other homeschoolers celebrating the summer. Will thought it was so cool to have all those homeschoolers in one place. He is now even answering on his own when the "Oh, will you start Kindergaren this year?" question comes his way. "Actually, I'm homeschooling." Mama is thrilled. Though the other day he did ask why can't he homeschool AND go to school. I told him next year - when he goes to Lake Farm School two days a week (hoping that works out the way I envision).

Wednesday we hung out in the morning and played and visited Grandpa and Na-na's house in the afternoon (a short walk down the street).

Thursday morning we got to see a friend of mine from high school - went swimming at the Harrisonville community center for her dd's birthday. Josie is the same age as Will. I also realized Harrisonville's community center is almost as close to me as Lee's Summits! Shows how freaking far south we are. The afternoon was spent making and playing with the cardboard swords and shields my True Knights in Shining Armor begged to make. Jackie is so much trying to say "SHHHHield" instead of "FFField." He's working on it.

Friday was violin lessons. We take lessons with another 5 year old girl and her father. They are fabulous violinists (he was a Suzuki kid himself growing up). I am working very hard to stay inspired and not intimidated. Will is really enjoying playing with them. He took to heart the father's suggestion that he "practices ONLY on the days he sleeps. Or eats." : ) Of course, all of Will's practice time is um, free flowing you could say. He has no interest in formal instruction from me.
After we hung out at Grandma's for awhile and then came home. Ate dinner out at La Fuentes.

Saturday - another hanging out kind of day! Oh, and picking ticks off of everyone from being at grandma's the day before... I think the ticks came from good old dog Bluey, who had to hang out in the backyard all day
.

Tomorrow we go to Liberty Memorial and meet friends of Mark's from work ---- taking all the dogs to the dog park. Should be.... interesting. First thing in the morning Will goes fishing with Grandpa down at our lake.

I'm currently downloading a bunch of pics on the other computer and plan to compile a "summer of pics" for here.

The entire week Will was just amazing. I mean there were still 5 year old moments and all but it was all more manageable -- his frustrations, his disapointments. Yes, he got mad over things, talked back about things but didn't completely fall apart over and over and over again. Its so much easier to handle the rough times when they don't come at you every 15 seconds.

This week he:
Created many great art pieces. He rarely sits and colors. This week he drew about 5 pictures. He made a picture for his friend's birthday and asked me how to spell her name. Actually he asked me to spell it in the air --- and then he copied down what I wrote in the air.
Created his own "albums" with paper and tape. He made the album cover, and then the album to slip inside it.
Created -I don't even know what but its a huge mess of strings and boxes and papers and clips in my living room.
Made paper airplanes with Daddy
Played a board game - Auntie Ruth's Apples.
Played his violin! Mississipi Hot Dog, and Cabbage, Cabbage.... (boil that cabbage down!).
And here's a biggie - he helped clean up tonight. He went nuts cleaning and organizing. Mark and I looked at each other like, "who IS this kid?" : )


And Jack?
He was right there with Will. Making messes, being a knight, or a pirate, or a cowboy or a doctor. Saving us all week long. Giving us his big sweet smile.

Yes, this week deserved pictures.

NAET updates.

Will has now been to 3 NAET appointments. He has been treated for Body Balance, Egg Mix, and Vitamin C. The past couple of weeks have been hell - screaming fits, rage, attitude. Exemplified. Today he was treated for Vitamin C. Tonight for the first time (he's 5) ever we played a board game. Other than quick games of Animal Lotto (a year ago) I've never been able to have him sit thru a game and play. But he also had a really grand day playing with his cousin all day. Very few outbursts. They had a blast (here at home) playing dress up and tons of imaginative play. Maybe he was just at ease for a change because of that. ???

At his appointment he was also treated for emotions - panic and irritation. Last week he was treated for fear. I think I could be treated for all the same things!

I'm going to start documenting all of this. I've given up on Feingold for now just because ELIMINATION DIETS SUCK! I'm tired living with so many questions. Or maybe there is nothing to question.

A few months ago during the Weird Breathing Thing, x-rays from the pulmonologist showed he had "mild asthma" (i.e. mild fluid in the lungs). The pulmonologist basically said The Weird Breathing Thing was not related to that, but hey, come back in Septmember for more x-rays and we'll talk meds. Okay he wasn't SO blatant about the meds but he did look me solemnly in the eye and asked me, "do I have your commitment that you will return in the Fall for more testing?" It just freaked me out. I squirmed - I felt like it would be Noted In A File if I said no. I just said I would see. Nope, no meds thank you. Not yet. I need to fing out the issue not just cover it up.

All We Really Need Is...

a tree.

"The Buddist scriptures tells us there are 8 objections to living in a house:

it is a lot of trouble to build;
it must be kept in repair;
some nobleman might seize it;
too many people may want to live in or visit it;
it makes the body tender;
it provides concealment for committing evil deeds;
it causes pride of ownership;
and it harbors lice and bugs.

"There are ten advantages, on the other hand, in residing under a tree:

it can be found with ease;
in can be found in any locality;
the sight of falling leaves is a reminder of the impermanence of life;
a tree arouses no covetous thoughts;
it affords no opportunity for evil deeds;
it is not received from any person;
it is inhabitated by good spirits;
it needs no fence;
it promotes health;
it does not involve worldly attachments."

--Pujimaliya