Just Turn It In

This is Grace Week at school for May.  In her English class, the students can turn in missed assignments for up to 70% credit.  Normally late assignments are not accepted.

Last semester we has many missed assignments, so I have made a concerted effort to stay on top of what is assigned and due this semester.  Or at least I thought I had. 

English is the most difficult subject in this respect, because there are four subcategories to that class, each of which may have homework, but not always.  May did pretty good and only missed one assignment in English in January.  But then she missed 12 in two weeks time in February!  Argh!  Grant it, 8 of them were in a single packet, which she completed but then misplaced at the time it was due. 

As of today she has turned in 12 of the 13 missed assignments.  BUT now she has missed one more last week!  Hopefully she can turn that in too.

I talked with the teacher, who indicated that the reasons given for missing the assignments vary: didn't finish, left at home, didn't know it was due, can't find it. 

The teacher has solved the one for knowing when it's assigned and due.  Assignments are written on the board each day.  May has a terrible time copying them down.  So the teacher allows them to take a picture of the board with their cell phone at the end of class.  Ingenious!

I usually make sure that May completes the assignments.  Most of the time I ask to see each one (although sometimes she leaves "completed" ones in her locker at school). 

What I can't seem to solve is getting her to turn the assignments in to the right place at the right time!  I ask her in the morning if she has everything for the classes that day.  Answer is always yes, but I don't think she has really checked sometimes.  So now she has to pack up the night before.  How though do I get her to turn the paper in at school?!

She is in 7th grade.  This is her first year of switching classes, multiple teachers, and alternating day schedules.  But I feel like she should be able to handle the responsibility of turning her work in!  The bulk of her individual assignments are either an A or an F.  She can do the work; she just doesn't do it consistently.

I've removed many privileges, but that doesn't seem to make much difference.  If I have a big enough carrot out there for her, she sometimes becomes quite responsible.  But I guess I don't have the brain power to continuously come up with something important enough to force her to focus.

Any ideas?

A Month

Little Precious has been with us a month!  It doesn't really seem like it's been that long.  She is growing like gangbusters and has officially outgrown NB sleepers (not long enough).  She weighed 9 lbs 3 oz at her one month check up, where the doctor pronounced her good on all fronts.  That's up quite a bit from 7.5 lbs at birth!

She sleeps well, over three hours at a time, which lets me get some sleep at night.  I am getting better at staying awake during the middle of the night feedings so I can go back to bed.  Spending three hours in the recliner/rocker just doesn't make for a good night of sleep.

The other kids have adjusted really well to Precious.  I honestly don't think we have struggled at all, other than me getting enough sleep. 

I have heard nothing from the case manager or case aide in the last week.  Apparently mom is not asking for visits, because none have been scheduled after the last two no shows last week. 

There is so much to be thankful for...
   a healthy baby
   all the kids getting along
   no sickness in the house
   Sweets here this weekend
   all doing well in school
   a great job
   good friends
   all of our needs met
   an awesome God whose plans are bigger than all of ours!

The Need

A friend of mine who is also a foster parent just had her license reactivated on Wednesday.  On Thursday morning at 9am she was listed as available for a newborn placement.  Within one hour, she received four (yes, FOUR) calls asking her to take infants.  The case managers were literally racing to see who could get to her first with a baby.  She received a 5+ pound boy who is less than two weeks old.  He is tiny, but adorable!

The need is so great for foster parents right now.  With the economy down and foster care reimbursements being cut, the state has lost many foster families.  If you have ever considered being a foster parent, please check into it.  We NEED you.  The children NEED you.  There are so many reasons to step out and say YES!

To Ponder

"To whom much is given,

much will be required."

Luke 12:48 (paraphrased)

Comment made by pediatrician during one month checkup for Precious.

Sweets Saga

Sweets called Friday night and said her dad told her she couldn't come again this weekend.  She was reaaly upset, because he apparently said she can now come only once a month.  I calmed her down and then asked to speak to her dad.

I told him I understand she is staying with him this weekend but wanted to know if I could pick her up just for diiner with my parents on Sunday.  My mom is going into the hospital Monday for surgery and we wanted to get together before that.  He agreed I could pick her up at 4pm and bring her back home Sunday night.

Today I went to pick her up.  Of course, he is not home at 4pm and didn't answer my first two calls.  Luckily I was running late so we were able to re-route when Sweets did call and tell me where they were.  When I got there to pick her up, he "assumed" I was taking her overnight.  I told him I had to work and go to school tomorrow and couldn't bring her home.  I would bring her back tonight.

We went and had a fun dinner with my parents.  Sweets was not happy because she wanted to spend the night.  She finally explained that her dad WANTED me to take her overnight, because now he has to work tomorrow.  I guess he doesn't want to pay someone else to watch her.

During dinner Sweets and I slipped out and called him.  She asked if she could spend the night; he said yes.  She is now sleeping soundly in my bed.  All is right in our world tonight. 

Somehow I'll figure out the logistics of getting her home tomorrow night.  Bless Miss M who may be driving all over, so I can go to class and still go see my mom in the hospital. 

Puzzle

Tonight we had a very low key evening.  We had a simple supper from the grill.  May and I baked zucchini bread.  The boys played outside, managed to get wet and everything!  Boys will be boys!

While I was fixing dinner, Buddy started a Star Wars puzzle that he had been given.  After dinner, he continued while I got BB in bed and Precious settled.  Then I went in to help him at his request.  May popped popcorn, which was their treat tonight.  She then asked if she could watch TV, and I asked her to come join us instead.

Note that May does not especially like puzzles, never has.  Even Buddy made a comment to this effect when I asked her.  But she brought in the popcorn bowl, and the three of us finished the puzzle.  It turned out to be a fun experience for all of us!

No Visit Again

Mom did not call this morning to confirm today's make-up visit with Precious.  The visit was canceled.  That makes 5 of 5 visits setup by the CA mom has missed.  Who knows what is going through her head!