Have been a bit quiet here in blogland lately, and I apologize, but I do have good reasons. I have been prepping for the next half of our school, doctor appointments, medical research, holiday and birthday gatherings, just to name a few.

We are in for big changes around the familylove compound in the coming weeks, some easier than others, some down right scary, but since we choose to be moderately transparent I will let you all in on the broad strokes, to keep you up to date with all the chaos.

For school related life we are currently moving into a more independent method of school for the girls, they need to be more motivated, better problem solvers, and better self starters, these will be skills that will serve them well in the future, outside of our home. On a side note, had a total freak-out moment the other day when Fancy Miss turned 10, seriously, she is half way to leaving my house, sooo not ready!!! So. moving on, we are changing it up a bit to a workbox and file folder type of school set up. To learn more about the workbox system google it, there are tons of differing ideas, reviews, setups, etc. I will blog in the coming week about our set up, and how we plan to do it, then will do a follow up in a few weeks to see how it really works:-) The kids are on board, so far, and Sparkles will likely be the first one done most days, but this will require her to actually read, and understand her work, not her best skill, and Fancy will have to actually motivate herself, without me standing over her shoulder, hmm, we shall see.

This may seem a bit extreme, but really, they are capable, and we will do much of our work together as a group, with them breaking off to do math and grammar/writing separate, while I work with Little Man. Much of this is prompted by Little Man, and our current status with his meds vs. seizure battle. Currently we are in an all out war with his seizures, no holds barred combat will now be ensuing, as we go see a pedi nutritionist next week to explore dietary options, like the ketogenic diet, or the Low glycemic index diet, try googling those for a really fun read:-( Buuuuut, if successful he can get off a few meds, and the seizures, in an ideal world, would lessen. this requires lots of work for me to plan, measure, monitor and organize, and he will still have days where seizures rule the day. We will still have days where he can only manage a topic or two at a time, then he is exhausted from the “cranial lightning storms”, other days we will play catch-up for the lost times, and I will need to devote that time to his moving forward. So independent workboxes it is, we will see how it goes.

We are also going to be moving forward on possibly doing some major surgery with Little Man. There are a few treatment options available for him, since he does not appear to have a seizure disorder easily controlled by meds, so surgery, while his brain still has plasticity and flexibility is a must-look-at option. This is a scary one, but, Hubby and I are confident in our neuro’s skills and opinions, and we feel calmness from the Lord that this option, if pursued, will go well and Little Man will be cradled in his hands. Little Man, and the girls for that matter, are aware of these options, and seem ok with them. There will be many doctor appointments in the in between, so we could certainly use all the prayers you can muster.

On an exciting note, Hubby and I just found out we have made it onto the confirmed list for the Together we are Called conference in a few months!! Yayayayayay, for us, we are really excited, some of the speakers, the Hagerty’s are amazing people, I have followed them for a long time, as a bloggie lurker, now I get to meet them IRL!!!!! Then, to top it off we get to meet the Ordinary Miracle’s momma and Papa, woooweee,giddy like a school girl:-) I really feel we are being led to attend this conference, as a step in moving forward to pursue our next adoption option. We are really taking a step out in faith in considering it, and special needs, but I feel so strongly drawn to that, and this will, I feel, help Hubby to understand that tug more fully(hopefully!!)

These things have been comprising our days lately, but not to worry, I have been still determining what my word for the new year is going to be. I have a few I am praying on, and feel confident that I will have one chosen by the New Year to unveil and pray on for the days and weeks to come.

Have you chosen a word for contemplation for the New Year, would you like to join me in this endeavor, I have found it very challenging, and inspiring each week I have done it, sort of like the “30 Days of Thanks” lots of people do for November, but more, and deeper at times. Think on it and let me know:-)