Updates

Well, so what exactly is going on with everyone?  Well, I think we have all been in recovery mode from what may have been the flu.  I got a flu shot and so did all my kids, but I think I still got it.  I am still so tired even though I am better.  And three out of the four kids got sick too.  I will be happy to say goodbye to February!

Our biggest challenge as of late has been getting Caroline to stay on top of her studies.  Give her an inch and she takes a mile!  I think my husband will need a major vacation at the end of the school year because he has borne the brunt of carrying her through the year.  Now I have given him her Algebra to manage in exchange for Science, History and English.  Maybe I will give Science back to him though.   She is doing a lot of physics this year which I hated in high school.  I think we have finally found the right approach to homeschooling her but we are unsure still about next year.  We are looking at a private school option akin to homeschooling in many ways as it is a university model school.   Decisions, decisions!

My husband is still navigating the whole military disability maze and at the same time trying to find a job back in the Navy for the short term.  We are entering our eighth month since he has worked.  We truly never imagined it would be this long!  Our health insurance runs out at the end of March and so we are feeling the pressure.  I just got an explanation of benefits for Caroline's prescriptions for the month of January, which included several 90 day bottles, but the cost to our insurer was over $4000!  Yikes!

In a weird way, I don't feel anxiety about the near future at all.  I don't know why, except that I know that God is in control somehow in all the chaos.

The biggest bright spot for me right now is that my youngest daughter Mae, who has severe ADHD, is agreeing to take her meds and is determined to get better grades in school.  Yay! Finally!  And I never have to worry about Jane, as she gives 150% in anything related to school, work, etc.  Elizabeth is looking forward to graduating from high school in June and college in the fall.  Right now we are trying to figure out a car for her.  Sharing my car with her is driving her and I crazy as there are too many conflicts!

When it comes to a car when Caroline is able to drive, I want to get a car that has a built-in limit on speed.  And a way to track the car too.  Sad, but the thought of a bipolar teen driving is kind of scary.  What if she is manic and drives 100 mph in a 35 and gets arrested or worse?  These things do happen.  She won't be driving at 16 anyway.  More like 17 and only if we think she is truly ready.

Well, I am at work, so I should sign off.  I hope you have a peaceful weekend, and if not, that you will have hope for peace in the near future!