Wow, this 4-day weekend has gone fast! It is hard to believe that Christmas is less than a month away. Rett and I braved the crowds on black Friday. We waited in the check-out line at Walmart for 57 minutes. At least I can say I have officially started Christmas shopping, but I still have a long way to go.

We got our taxes re-done and faxed to Chrysler's benefits office. They said everything is okay now, so that is quite a relief.

Matt got a call from Frankfort Fire Department. He goes for an interview Wednesday at 8:30. I saw in the paper today that Western is hiring another school nurse. This time it is for the Intermiate building. I think I am going to apply again, especially since my building is closing and my future with Kokomo Schools is uncertain. I think they pay a little more and that doesn't hurt either!

I am so ready to put up my Christmas tree, but we are waiting until we have all 3 kids. I think we will try to do it this Friday. Hopefully the weather cooperates. Normally we do it the day after Thanksgiving, but that didn't work out this year.

More discouragement, but also good news.

First the kind of bad news. I talked to the school psychologist a little bit ago. She said they changed the special education laws in August of this year, and they no longer look at the discrepancy between IQ and performance to diagnose a learning disability (therefore the test results from Dr. McClurg are not acceptable). She is sending me the consent form to complete so she can test him. I am so stinking frustrated. My biggest concern is that he will have trouble passing the essay portion of the GQE and not be able to graduate. I don't know what else to do. Matt said maybe we should talk to a lawyer. I thought schools would want every student to work to their potential.

Now, for the better news. We almost have the insurance issue settled. Steve and Amanda have to redo their taxes to take Rett off and we will redo ours, adding him. It is going to cost us, but not as much as it would have been to pay back the medical bills. Also, Matt tested and passed the written and agility tests for Frankfort Fire Department.

I feel like I don't have much to post about since band is over. Rett decided he is going to do pep band, so Matt is happy he'll have an excuse to go to the basketball games. Hazen was so funny yesterday. We were shopping in Walmart. He was riding in the cart and he looked at me and said "Mommy, you're a cutie". Oh, and one more thing. I can't believe I almost forgot to say Hazen is 99% potty trained!!!!!! He is wearing big boy pants all the time he is awake. He told us he would do it when he turned 4, so we told him that the diapers were GONE and if he peed or pooped in his pants HE was going to clean it up. He had to rinse out poopy pants one time and that was enough.

Nothing is Easy

We got a letter from the school yesterday. They reviewed my request for testing Rett. After looking at his grades and ISTEP scores, they don't think he needs services. However, they do want to look at Dr. McClurg's report to see why he recommended testing. I am hoping they will do SOMETHING. I am so frustrated. I don't understand why they are so reluctant to help a child succeed.

State Champs!!

Wow! That about sums it all up. We are home for a little bit, then we'll be heading to the school for a midnight reception for our State Champs! The kids sounded great today and their marching was spot on. Our biggest competition was supposed to be Gibson Southern. When they were announced as the 4th place band, I was REALLY nervous. I guess I shouldn't have been. One of the directors was stopped in the walkway as they were exiting the field and he was told, "I didn't see your band, but I can tell you did well by looking at your kids coming out." All their hard work finally paid off!