Author: Paula Pare

The boys are off to Joy El for 3 whole days!

This year’s theme is “Around the World in 80 Days”.  When we pulled into the parking lot there was a kid “marshaling cars” into their parking spots and saying welcome to Joy El International airport.  Clever.  Then there were two girls who welcomed the boys, grabbed their luggage and whisked us over to have them delivered to the cabin.  We then had to get thru their “check in”, which was set up like a security check point…..very cute.  Afterwards, a guide took us to the boys cabin which is Cabin Japan.

It was all very well done, with lots of signs in different languages saying hello everywhere and the boys were very excited.  Barely even acknowledged us as we walked out of their cabin.  Even cooler, they have a classmate from school that is in their cabin this year.

Garret could barley contain himself and Broc was a bit apprehensive, but once he was there…it was all grins.

I will post a new update this weekend after we pick them up.

We lost one of the chicks the other night.  Laverne did not make it back into the coop before lock down and something came and got her.  🙁  So we checked out a chicken swap over the weekend to find a replacement.

We picked up a Jersey Giant (named Ma.  She looks just like one of my old hens that I ADORED!) and a Silver Wyandotte that we named Maria after West Side Story.  The joke is that we now have rival gangs of chickens running around the yard.  (Gang 1 = Cookie & Donald.  Gang 2 = Cherry, Buttercup & Peep and Gang 3 = Ma and Maria).

Since Laverne is gone.  Shirley is now Cherry from The Outsiders!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/jersey-giant.10825/

https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks/Day-Old-Chicks-Silver-Laced-Wyandotte-p235.aspx

B, G and I spent part of last weekend with Pags at her cabin.  Left a little early, because of rain and I felt awful (ended up having pneumonia and on bed rest Monday-Wednesday and lots of meds.  Still really tired, but getting there).

While there – the boys swam, caught a lot of catfish, sunfish and Broc caught a very small bass.   He caught the 1st bass and Pags caught the BIGGEST!!

We watched every Scooby Doo movie ever made, until Broc said enough..LOL!

They both got a kick out of the Wind Turbines.  G was acting like it was going to get him.  🙂

Congrats to my beautiful, smart, witty, talented and strong niece.  It has been amazing watching you grow and I know that you are going to do great things.

First day of 2nd grade:

Last day of 2nd grade:

Garret will be playing Scottie in the 101 Dalmations.  🙂

Cruella – Emma
Roger – Logan
Anita – Madalyn
Horace – TBA
Jasper – Jacob
Perdita – Ella
Pongo – Jonah
Lucky – Jacob
Patch – Collin
Penny – Aria
Pepper – Harper
Boxer Narrator – Kylie
Scottie Narrator – Natalie
Poodle Narrator – Evi
Chihuahua Narrator – Laila
Nanny/Chihuahua (Dogs of London) – Maycie
Freckles/Other Puppies – Noah
Spotty/Other Puppies – Olivia
Sergeant Tibbs – Cadance
Police Officer/Boxer (Dogs of London) – Hannah
Dogcatcher/Poodle (Dogs of London) – Benson
Boxer (Dogs of London)/Other Puppies – Landon
Scottie (Dogs of London)/Other Puppies – Aven
Scottie (Dogs of London)/Other Puppies – Garret Pare
Scottie (Dogs of London)/Other Puppies – Lena
Poodle (Dogs of London)/Other Puppies – Emily
Chihuahua (Dogs of London)/Other Puppies – Aiden

Last week I went on the boys field trip and handled the hungry, hungry hippo station at fun day and then I was able to eat lunch with them after fun day wrapped up.  The kid in the picture with G a lot is his best friend, Logan, at school.

This year the school did not put both boys with me and I did not get to spend any time with Broc on the field trip to Hershey Museum.  I was bummed.  SO, only pics of G on the trip.

He loved it and is very excited.  He even made a friend named Owen.

Garret had to sing a song in front of the music director and director, then learn a dance routine (see pic below.  Owen is to the right of G), and memorize some lines for the director.

I was not allowed back to watch and had to sit out front and wait.  They let us come back afterwards and they kids showed us the routine they learned.

We should know by Monday which role he will be playing in 101 Dalmatians!!

This house is very excited.  🙂

 

We miss you…………

As most of you know, Garret has been wearing glasses since he turned 3.  He has been dx’d as being far sighted, having a astigmatism and amblyopia in his right eye.

I have been very diligent in getting him care (constant vision checkups, prescriptions changed, eye patches, etc) over the last 5 years and he now has 20/20 vision with his glasses on.

Over the past 2-3 years, I have been meeting with teachers and have been discussing G’s progress in school.  He is very smart, but I always felt like he was stumbling somewhere.  Losing his place when he reads, having trouble taking tests, etc.   At each meeting I have asked, do you think there is something wrong with his vision?  Each time I was told no; could be maturity, maybe ADD, etc.

This past year, G has been graced with an exceptional teacher, Ms. Piper!  One that I wish he could have the remainder of his time in elementary.  When I brought these things up and why I could not get him in Occupational Therapy through the school (504 plan)….she immediately jumped on it.  After he met with the OT, she actually suggested that he see a vision therapist (finally someone agreed with me) and that they would help him strengthen his eyes.

Over the month of May, Garret and I made 2 trips to Harrisburg to meet with a specialist.  They did a vision exam, to make sure his prescription was correct and the 2nd for him to go through a series of tests.

Last week, Tony and I went back to Harrisburg to meet with the doctor and discuss their findings.  The doctor is very impressed by G (has not met him yet) and said that G is very smart (and can’t wait to meet him!).  He scored very high on a lot of his tests and some not so much.  The ones that he did not score well on, they could tell from them that G has double vision and that he sees letters MUCH different from the rest of us and is probably getting terrible headaches and fatigue at school (just to name a few).  I can tell you this made me very sad to hear.   It is hard to hear that your child has been struggling and we did not know.  🙁

What they told us is that when Garret was little and his eye started to turn, basically his brain gave up on the right eye and solely started using only his left.   Which caused the eye to cross more and the poor vision.  What they need to do now is re-train his brain to start using the right again.  It will take about 6 months of intense therapy (twice a week) and the doctor is positive that Garret’s eyes (with glasses) will greatly improve.  Not only are we excited, but so is G.

The doctor has also taken the initiative to start getting G some added help at school.  Must sit in the front of the class, teacher needs to print out all learning material for him each day (vs. white board), he needs to sit in a room alone for testing and given extra time and when doing state testing his test should be on paper with someone reading it to him, tilt table……..

I will keep everybody posted of his progress, but for now below is some info.

Tony and I are very excited!!

http://www.familyeyecarepc.com/Content/visiontherapy/whatisvisiontherapy.aspx

http://www.familyeyecarepc.com/AboutUs/eye-doctor/index.aspx