Homeschooling with a chronic illness

The Morning

We didnt start out on a very good note.  I finally managed to drag Nathan and Genevieve out of bed at 8:45 for breakfast.  Nathan was grumpy, even when I tried to snuggle him in bed.  We came down to the table and had some scrambled eggs and fruit.  Nathan remained grumpy at the table, every noise Genevieve made was bothering him, he didn't like this or that, everything bothered him.  this should have been my first clue something was off.... but we have a schedule to keep, so off to his bedroom he went and he was asked to try and come back in a better mood.  He arrived back, trying very hard to be in a better mood, but barely succeeding.

We started at the table with me reading about Mendeleev and the Periodic table of elements.  I think that we started with Chemistry is the only reason Nathan was able to last as long as he did.  We moved to the living room for a change of scenery.  Once I finished reading, I got out the connecting tiles.

ETA connecting tiles

                                                                         ETA tiles

Loved this set, kids had a good time putting it together, today they just put the periodic table together by looking at a table.  A bonus it was good OT for Nathan, it was difficult to do and his hands hurt after.  So as much fun as this was, I still had a grumpy child and I was getting grumpy to work doing a group project, it did get done, but man it was a little difficult.  I was going to have them doing their other chemistry assignments together but forget that, they can do them by themselves.  

This picture would have been better if I had taken it of them actually completing it.  Trust me I did not have time to take the picture, to many shes touching me's to break-up

The first worksheet was one where you had to find the symbols for elements and put the symbols in to find out a silly riddle.  Genevieve liked doing this, and it was fun for her to look and she was mom is bromine a gas, so she could figure out where to look on the table.  

Yes this would be better if I took a picture of the sheet that was actually completed,
this is nathans sheet, not done.  umm I have no idea where gigi's landed up,
and after today I did not want to search.
Trust me, it got done :)

The second worksheet you had cards kind of like trading cards and questions and you had to find out say what element is used in toothpaste, or televisions...  Nathan was doing this one, and then he started laying on the floor and grabbing his head.

Nathan's activity 2 sheet

I should have known

I should have known Nathan was having a problem.  I had put on the essential oil diffuser.  But when Nathan was having trouble concentrating, he said he felt claustrophobic, I suggested he go outside and play for 15 minutes to try and see if he could refresh himself.  Stupid me how did I forget that claustrophobia is a sign of impending doom.  So when Nathan was on the floor, I said "Nathan do you have a headache?"  He answered that well his head was feeling weird but no headache, I said Nathan buddy you need to notice the signs and realize you need to do something, he responded well I did tell you I was feeling claustrophobic.... oh yeah you did.  So off to bed Nathan went, in the dark, eyepatch on.  There he lay for 3 hours.  He had some pretty good Aura and a headache.

Nathan stayed home with our house cleaner while I ran Genevieve to piano, she stayed the whole 2 hours, so Nathan could stay home and rest.  I returned home to be with Nathan and about 1:30, he got out of bed feeling quite a bit better, he was no longer sensitive to light and just had a headache, and felt queezy.  I called my parents to see if they could come down and stay with Nathan for the day as Genevieve had a crazy day and I didn't want to drag Nathan out after the day he had

Genevieve's (and mine) crazy day

So Genevieve did not get a lot of book work done today!  Off schedule already, I think I jinxed it saying that we would have more time this week.  So we worked on Chemistry, then she worked on her newspaper story a little, but then I had to make lunch and it was time to go to Piano.  Dealing with a grumpy child all morning you end up not getting as much done!

But gigis day was crazy busy with all of the extras.  

- She had Piano and voice from 1-3 (no math as we usually do it while Nathan is in piano)

- An extra CSOPA practice from 3:30-5 (I took her out 15 minutes early)

- cheer practice 5-7:30

I made dinner while she was at CSOPA and she was able to eat on the 20 minute drive, I am tired just driving her around!

Cheer- I stayed (because I was so tired) and watched from my car gigi's cheer practice, they changed up the routine and improved it for their next competition in Bellevue on the 29th.  Genevieve has improved in such a short period of time that they put her right at the front to do a power roundoff/backhandspring.  Her handspring is looking great, it would have been better today, if I had not forgotten her shoes, I told her I would bring them, I did not, dance slippers do not work as well.

I am thankful my mom came down to watch Nathan, not only was it better for Nathan, I had 1/2 hour to sit down and finally drink a cup of tea, that I needed to power me through the day.  And wasn't I just saying that I felt well rested???

Lets hope tomorrow brings a migraine free day!