What's Up

Thanks again for all the support. Pain: continues but is better. Energy level: Getting better. This morning I had to go to the local hospital for the ACTH Stim test. Whatever.

Times they blew the IV insertion: Four
Times they couldn't get blood out: One
Times I bawled my eyes out: Twenty-seven

I mean, there was this elderly gentleman next to me getting chemotherapy for cancer, and here I am still relatively healthy, with no life threatening disease, just one that is (currently) RUINING my life, and....well, let me just say THIS: when I am old and dying my children will be exchanging bitter emails about what a PITA they have for a mother and is the paltry inheritance I'll be leaving them REALLY worth it, because I obviously don't have the wherewithal to be a cheery good sport about waking up every day and swallowing ginormous amount of medical substances and still having achy-breaky legs and.....let's talk about the KIDS!!!

Here is Madeleine. Madeleine completed the third grade with the usual accolades: GENIUS! FABULOUS!! OMG!!! We attended the end of school awards ceremony yesterday and she wore a hole in her shoe parading up and down collecting papers. Naturally in today's Culture Of Self Esteem every child received numerous awards for things like clipping their cuticles properly and breathing on cue from every teacher at the school. I poked Roger and wondered if the janitor, I mean Sanitation Engineer, was going to get up and present awards for Best Wiper and Most Judicious Use Of Paper Towels, and he shifted uncomfortably and moved several inches away from me.

So Madeleine has the following:
Best Data Helper (computer lab)
Highest Average-Spelling
Highest Average-Reading
Highest Average-Language Arts
Highest Average-Math
A/B Honor Roll (Missed the A roll by a "B" in Social Studies. The lazy little genius had to actually study for the first time and seemed amazed that every single fact in the world wouldn't automatically jump into her brain after a cursory perusal of the information.) She earnestly attempted to explain that she felt that she was suffering from "short term memory loss" which earned my award to her for:
Best Excuse For Laziness


And the lovely lady above is Meredith. I can't get Blogger to separate the pictures, so what-EVAH.

Meredith's evaluation read: Meredith is consistent in all her work. Her reading continues to improve along with her grasp of new math concepts. She has shown great improvement in her writing skill in her cursive writing. She seems to enjoy it much more now.

There was just one tiny thing missing from the report: PROMOTED TO SECOND GRADE.

Yep, she's being held back. Or, if you want to know what they called in back in the old days, SHE FLUNKED FIRST GRADE.

It's ok. She won't be 7 until September 28, and she is really struggling with reading. I am in complete agreement with the decision.

She's not happy with herself though. Don't tell me that kids don't put pressure on themselves. She is one of those kids who tries at all times to do her very best and really has to try, unlike some people in the family (see: Lazy Genius). We're pumping sunshine up her as fast as we can, but every time we cheerfully praise her for her hard work and achievement, she sighs sadly and her lip trembles.

And that is the way things are around Chez Clueless.