3rd Grade ... it's a wrap...

Creed and Zelda are now 9 1/2 years old. Third grade is over...and what a year it has been. On an amazingly positive note, Zelda has not had a seizure in over a year - since last March 22 when she entered the hospital and had 11 surgeries and infections that ravaged her body for three months. She was a full on 3rd grader with an amazing team of instructors that integrate her both academically and socially into her public elementary school. That being said, she still doesn't get playdates or many party invites. She is happy and independent but doesn't quite know what to do with a "friend." We are working on that as well as a recent diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum - huh? Now they tell us? Zelda is feisty, silly and spirited and her brain works in twists and turns that sometimes wreaks havoc with her emotions. Each day is a new adventure. She and I just returned from a week in Houston at BELL camp at the Lighthouse for the Blind. What an amazing facility! She went each day from 9 to 3:30 where they had activities specifically geared towards kids with visual impairments. Zelda has always been integrated into the "seeing' world so it was interesting to observe her with other VI kids. She was definitely the most outgoing and adventurous AND vocal. The first day I received a call about her obstinance and use of "bad" language. Oops! We are working on understanding the appropriateness or lack thereof concerning the use of the F, H, and S words. Hmmm...But she did swim to her heart's content each day in our lovely Melrose Place-like airbnb pool. It was nice to spend a week with my daughter and have that time for us the two of us - I learn from her every day. Creed - aka The King of Monkeytown - switched schools in October. He is now firmly ensconced in a private school for dyslexic kids and he is so happy. The school is amazing and progress is being made. On the other hand, he went through 2 brain surgeries this year - one in December and the other in March. Basically one of his VP shunts was not draining so they drilled into his head and performed a Third Ventriculostomy where an opening is made in the base of the third ventricle to allow the smooth flow of CSF. Oh, just Google it... We have no benchmarks at our house for Creed and Zelda's education. When I remember back to 3rd grade at Allen W. Roberts school in New Providence, NJ, I had my favorite teacher named Miss Eddy. I was reading "Little Women" and I made a diorama for my book report. I also was head of my class in memorizing the multiplication tables. I have 2 now-rising 4th graders. One is slowly learning Braille and one reads a few words at a time. Life is different and my kids are amazing. They are joyful, kind, friendly, creative and absolute snugglers.

Some anecdotes for the year: 1. Creed: "Mom, I am going up to heaven tonight to visit Nana & PopPop (my parents). I hear that it is nice up there and it is run by some guy named Jesus. Actually there is God as well as Jesus. But God is a guy and Jesus is a girl, I think." Then the next morning..."Mom, I saw Nana and PopPop last night at midnight. They said to tell you something. They said to tell you that you are beautiful" 2. Creed to our babysitter: "Ok, I know all about privates. We all have butts, the same kind. But only boys have penises. And I have a French penis..." 3. Zelda: "Hey Gail, do I have to go to the hospital to get my vitals?" Me: "What are your vitals, Zel?" Z: "Well, there is blood pressure (she makes the sound), temperature (she beeps like the thermometer), and a stethoscope (she makes the sound of her heart beating.) We leave on Monday for 8 weeks in Paris - it will be their 5th summer. They are so excited. Creed is anxious to leave our town and all of the mosquitos and Zelda just wants to explore the stairs, escalators and "ascenseurs" of Paris - namely her favorite place" the Pompidou. I will again be teaching Fashion & Design through an international program at the Sorbonne. Evan will arrive after a few weeks and we will join friends for a week at a chateau in the Southwest of France. And the news is good, the long-awaited "La Petite Zelda goes to Paris" book is coming to fruition after all this time...waiting on the illustrations. You will not be disappointed! More on when we arrive next week in the city of my soul...