I guess you could look at it from a couple of different ways: 1.) She's been way too busy to write about things going on, or 2.) its been smooth sailing for a couple of months. So, congratulations. Either which one you choose you'd be right.
Until April. April is supposed to be the month that things start to slow down a little. Normally, we'd be just about done with school and our sights would be set on tying up loose ends with curriculum and doing the dreaded last-days school room cleanout. However, this past Tuesday, we hit a bump. And its kind of a big bump. Let me start off by saying that nobody's health is in jeopardy. Nobody's sick, but sweet Gavin has some challenges ahead.
I'd been noticing that Gav was struggling a little bit in school. I'd really known this since the beginning of the year, but, like lots of homeschooling moms, I'd sort of wondered if maybe I was part of the problem. Maybe I wasn't teaching him in ways that didn't make sense, or maybe I was trying to move too fast. He just wasn't catching on like I thought he should have. I don't want to go into a lot of specifics out of respect for Gavin, but we were just having trouble getting the hang of things.
After talking with some other moms at our co-op, I decided to do some research on dyslexia. The things that I read were startling, but a lot of 'symptoms' described Gavin to a 'T'. I got some information on the Scottish Rite Foundation, which is an organization that provides testing and support for dyslexia. They do all of their work for free, so I called them to see if they might could give me a little guidance on what we might be looking at and what I might need to do. Since there's no charge to be tested, we were put on a pretty lengthy waiting list. That was ok, though. We were just gonna keep doing what we were doing until I found something better to do. (I know...that sounds INCREDIBLY responsible.) They called me the second week of this month, and got us in for April 17th.
Gavin went back with Ms. Adams for the testing, and they left me in the waiting area watching a recorded conference about Dyslexia. Oh. My. Goodness. I just knew this was what we were dealing with. So many things were describing my little fella. I had a little laugh, though. Denise Gibbs was the doctor speaking at the conference, and she was so sweet and delicate as she described the 'typical' dyslexic. She said, "Dyslexics are usually the children that come into their school with their buttons fastened wrong, their shirts on inside out, and their shoes on the wrong feet." I literally laughed out loud when I remember the talk I had as we walked into the office that day. I explained to Ms. Adams that I just wasn't sure how in the world Gavin got out of the house with two different flip-flops on, but that's just the way it was that day. Ironic, huh?
After about 3 1/2 hours in the office, we came out with a diagnosis of severe dyslexia and a free curriculum to start over with. This is a curriculum that schools should have, but don't want to pay for, and we have it in our hands for free. Thank you, Scottish Rite. We're pretty much having to start over with his reading, spelling and writing skills...and I mean START OVER. I'm so incredibly thankful, though, that we have this diagnosis. Nobody ever wants anything to be wrong with their kids, but, with this diagnosis and the resources that we have available through the International Dyslexia Foundation, WE WILL OVERCOME! I have no doubt that there will be challenges ahead, but I'm one determined mama, and my Gavin is gonna be just another success story in our family.
Those of you that know Gavin well know what a precious, sweet, tender-hearted kiddo he really is. I wouldn't trade his personality or anything about him for the world, and I'm truly excited to see where he goes from here. No matter what, I'm incredibly proud of him and the little boy that God is creating him to be.
Just send up lots of prayers for all of us as we deal with what's ahead. God has big plans for Gavin, and I can't wait to see what they are!
Oh, and by the way . . . Daisee's doing just fine and dandy talking everybody's ears off with her sweet chatter, and Ryan's still flying planes . . .and I continue to live my life through him doing that. And Craig still loves me, and I still love him . . .truly, madly, deeply. Life couldn't be better.
Love,
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