Swimming State

Like salmon swimming upstream, my husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and I pressed into the crowd to find seating in the spectator's area of the Georgia State Swim Meet yesterday.  Along with hundreds of other parents and family members, we wanted to see our child swim.  John Robert didn't disappoint us.

In order to compete at the state level, athletes have to be in the top 50 in the state in their chosen event. 
John Robert qualified to swim in four events:
100m freestyle
100m butterfly
400m medley relay (swimming 100 freestyle)
400m freestyle relay

Always quiet, John Robert rarely lets his nervousness show.  He did mention that his stomach hurt and that he felt very cold as we pulled into the aquatic center at 7:15am yesterday morning.  I didn't know he would have diarrhea or vomiting.  It was only after his second event, the medley relay, that Coach Yarko sat down next to me to tell me what happened:

As the boys were lining up for the medley relay on the pool deck, John Robert vomited.  His team members panicked and ran to get Yarko, shouting, "John Robert threw up!  John Robert threw up!"

Yarko walked over to John-- who was still bent over-- and asked, "Did you get sick?"

John Robert pointed to the mess and said, "That's mine."  (Yarko smiled as he told me this).

Yarko stood beside him for a moment.  "Do you think you maybe ate too much breakfast or didn't drink enough water or that maybe you're feeling a little bit nervous?"

John nodded.  "A little bit of all that."

"Do you think you can swim?"

John Robert turned to face Yarko and calmly said, "Yes."

Much to the surprise of the officials and paramedics-- who expected an alternate to be called-- Yarko asked for some water and a towel for John.  When they hesitated, he said, "Okay, well I guess I can just have him jump in the pool to clean off."  They quickly found Yarko a towel and water, and Yarko helped John get cleaned up and back in line for the race.

The team placed 12th in the state in that relay.  They bested their personal best time by over two seconds.  They placed 10th in the state in the freestyle relay.  John Robert swam his fastest times in every event that day.  He placed 12th in the state for the 100m freestyle-- cutting his best time by over 7 seconds.

It was a tiring day for everyone.  Denver and Spencer spent over four hours playing in the adjacent water park and were happily exhausted.  Mimi and Paw Paw were unaccustomed to the long waits involved between events in a swim meet, but I think they enjoyed being there for John Robert.  John was thrilled to watch John Robert compete, but was tired of the huge crowds and little to no seating.


Denver and Spencer enjoy playing at the playground
outside the aquatic center in Gainesville.



I was happy when John Robert's events were done and his appetite suddenly returned with force.  Two hot dogs, an apple juice, two bottled waters and an ice cream cone later, we were in the car headed for home.  All the way to state . . . and now back home again . . . with our five foot ten inch first born baby boy riding in the passenger seat while I sat in the second row holding Denver's sleeping head on my shoulder and rubbing Spencer's feet as he told me all about the water park.

Good Weekend.       

Extreme Mammals





A trip to Fernbank is always a pleasure-- but even more so with two of the boys' friends (and one mom-- so I'll have someone my age to play with!).  Curious and talkative, the five boys explored the museum; and we all enjoyed one another's company.

One of many things I am grateful for are the new friends we are cultivating since beginning to homeschool.  For reasons I don't quite understand, they tend to be more passionate about learning.  Physics, math, even Shakespeare are viewed by these friends as exciting areas of exploration-- rather than areas of toil.

I've watched John Robert go from excited lover of learning who wanted to be a paleontologist to a boy who seemed only interested in his school friends' opinions and video games; and now that we are homeschooling again, I have my curious learner back.  Hurray!

  

Summer Flies by . . . on the Wings of Fireflies

Blackberry Tart









 





Denver and Lady--
Ready for the 4th of July.













Where do the summer days go?  A blur of 4th of July fireworks, swimming pools, and blackberry picking.  Grilling burgers by the pool, going to swim meets and swim practices.  Finally getting around to our end of year testing-- and finding that even after a month without "homeschool," the boys still remember what they've studied.  Trips to the library and evening walks with my husband and dog while the boys run ahead catching lightening bugs and talking to the frogs.  This is our summer.







 

Spencer's Birthday with Denver
in the Mountains

Chores are a Gift to Help You Grow Up!



Denver LOVES fresh corn; and he's willing
to shuck and clean it, too!



Okay, so no one is buying that one!

When I was growing up, I  remember doing very few chores that weren't directly related to my own body or possessions.  I brushed my teeth.  I cleaned my room occassionally.  I didn't learn to cook, and I rarely helped clean the house.  Mom did it all.  She worked 12 hours a day and then came home for her second shift.  Whenever I was asked to do a chore-- usually during summer vacation when I was home all day while Mom worked-- I felt like chores were someone else's job.  How spoiled I was!  How ridiculous to not realize the importance of helping.  Even worse-- I didn't realize that as a family member, I had an obligation to help.

I recently read a book about education and parenting practices in other cultures-- particularly western european countries and Japan.  In those countries, parents and teachers emphasize independence in a way that our culture does not.  Japanese children carry their books, bags, and lunch to school without assistance.  They often walk rather long distances while doing so.  They are expected to take care of their possessions and be able to assist with family meal preparation at a young age.  In many european countries, children are expected to participate in the running of the household.  This includes caring for younger siblings as well as oneself.  People in other countries refer to the way we treat our children as "The Child King."  They see middle class American children as unable to function independently because everything is done for them.  



Car Maintenance class with Dadders.



I think our culture used to be different.  I know my parents-- especially my father-- were active members of the family who helped with livestock and farming in a way that today's children do not.   Still, it is my belief that we are all happier when we feel useful and needed by those around us.  It is even better when we feel competent and able to help.  

Along with academic success, good friends, and a healthy body, I want my boys to know that they are capable of caring for themselves and others.  So although I promised the boys a break from academic work for the summer, I took this opportunity to help the boys learn some basic skills--preparing meals, doing laundry, doing basic car maintenance, caring for the yard, and cleaning a house.  Much to my surprise, they are already well on their way to mastering these basic skills.  



I am very excited about their progress and their attitude.  What could be a better gift from a parent to a child than the ability to leave the nest.  Why wait until you're grown to learn how to cook a meal?

Of course, all of this is easier said than done.  The laundry is rarely done the way I'd like it.  The bathroom sink isn't really clean.  It took John over an hour to change the oil in the car today with his three "helpers."  Yet, there are payoffs.  Denver is particularly proud of his ability to use a knife.  He prepared fresh peaches for everyone at lunch, and used his knife to slice even more peaches for his evening snack.  Listening to the boys laugh as John Robert teaches Spencer how to do the laundry is priceless.     

John Robert and Spencer are supposed to be putting
clean sheets on the bed.  I had to go see what all
the shouting was about!



The Gift of Surprise





Spencer reads a bit of YOU Staying Young!

"Happy Birthday, Spencer," I whispered.  It was 6am on June 23rd.  Spencer didn't yet know it was his birthday.  He had asked us not to tell him what day it was, and just to surprise him.  So we took a vacation to our favorite mountain house for the weekend.  While he slept, we decorated with the usual trappings-- balloons, banners, and crepe paper.  I had been trying to quietly pin his Birthday Boy ribbon on his shirt when he awoke.



"It's my birthday?!" he exclaimed in disbelief.  I assured him that it was.  He was ten years old.  My little Spencie.  He smiled happily, but did not yet get out of bed.  



All my boys enjoying a birthday breakfast of waffles, oatmeal, and milk.



We had a wonderful day together.  Spencer's first day in double digits.  Spencer had asked me to spend some of his birthday money on his brothers.  He wanted them to get a gift, too.  He said he knew how it felt to watch others open gifts when you don't have any.  "I want everyone to be happy," he told me.  I gladly bought the gifts for his brothers that he picked out, and they, too, had something to open on the big day.





Spencer enjoys his birthday cupcakes!



After birthday waffles, oatmeal, cupcakes, gifts, and singing Happy Birthday; Spencer decided we should go to the mountain town of Helen and ride go-karts. 



Gifts from Nana and Papa Dale!

After go-karts, he wanted to find a magic shop he remembered.  We did.  The owner showed him several neat magic tricks, and each of the boys chose an item to buy.

They practiced their new magic tricks while we ate lunch at a wonderful German restaurant.  Spencer had a steak . . . and a slice of vanilla cake with strawberries.  All the boys had ice cream.  A large group of young girls came in as we were leaving.  They saw Spencer's ribbon.  "Happy Birthday,"  "Happy Birthday," they called out to him as we were making our way to the door.  "Thank you," "Thank you," Spencer replied; smiling and walking between them. 



John teased him about the girls all the way back to the car.  The funny part is that Spencer doesn't know what the joke is. 

After driving back to the lovely mountain house, the boys played outside.  The weather was perfect.  We later watched a movie together.  That night before bed, Spencer asked us to sing Happy Birthday to him one more time.  We held hands around him and obliged.  He smiled and sang along.



Pausing for a picture in the mountains-- on our way to Helen.





Best Birthday Ever.     





As we sing Happy Birthday, Spencer
sings along and claps with Joy.













The Day Jackson Came to My House

by Denver Degonia

My good friend, Jackson, lives far away.

One day when I was checking the mailbox, Jackson surprised me.  He mailed himself to me inside an envelope!

I took him home.

We played in my treehouse and rode on my zipline!

Jackson met my hamster, Buster.  We fed him cheese.

I showed him my room, and we slid down my slide!

Then we played Batman.

We went to the neighborhood pool for a swim.



I love my friend, Jackson.





Mission Possible?!

I have a lot of experience setting goals; it's reaching them that has always been a bit of a problem.  Whether it was weightloss or any other behavioral change, setting the goal was easy.  Following through to reach my goals has always been the challenge.  This week-- in time for my 45th birthday-- I have met three huge goals.  I lost twenty pounds.  My body feels stronger and healthier than it's ever been.  Most importantly, my blood pressure has gone from being dangerously high to hovering just above normal.  Success! 

This past January, I no longer recognized my body.  It didn't feel good to be living in a chubby, tired body that couldn't run a mile without tiring.  I didn't have energy for my boys or all the work I needed to do, much less a decent exercise routine.  Worst of all, however, was the high blood pressure.  I did not want to go on medication, but I could not continue to ignore the high numbers and the threats they carried.  Thus, I began my quest.  I didn't know if getting my blood pressure under control was possible without medication, but I had to try.  I gave myself nearly six months-- until my birthday on June 6th-- to meet this goal before calling a doctor.

I continued yoga and meditation.  I began running every other day.  I began eating less and eating better.  With the addition of swiss chard and other greens from Sara Vinson's garden, I felt more energetic within a week.  John and I joined a new gym.  I began going to the gym to exercise on the elliptical and do some core and upper body work on the days I didn't run.  Time passed.  Weight fell.  Energy soared.  My blood pressure remained dangerously high.  I became a supplement junkie for my blood pressure: fish oil, CoQ10, Hawthorn Berry, Calcium, garlic, ayurvedic herbal treatments.  If you've read about it on the internet, I've tried it. 

With the support of my husband, John, and best friend, Tammy, I ran the St. Louis Marathon in April.  I felt lean and healthy.  It would have been perfect, but my blood pressure remained high.  I became frustrated.  I got tired of working hard to improve my health.  It didn't seem to be working.  All these changes-- and yet my body felt like a ticking time bomb.

My blood pressure had skyrocketed immediately after my cancer surgery a few years ago.  I believe the loss of estrogen somehow caused the change.  Perhaps the loss of estrogen led to restriction of the blood vessels?  I wasn't sure.  With the help of my friend, Jill, I began to research natural estrogen therapies.  However, it was all a bit confusing, and I didn't want to end up with a prescription for synthetic estrogen that might increase my risk of cancer.

Out of desperation, I decided to add one more supplement to my daily routine.  It turned out to be a magic pill.  A soy-based supplement with other herbal ingredients meant to help women with symptoms of menopause, it made no claim to help with blood pressure.  But it did.  Within two days, I noticed that I simply felt calmer than usual.  Later that day, I checked my blood pressure.  Nearly normal!  Within two days!

It's been thirty days since I began taking the new supplement.  My blood pressure consistently remains in the high normal range.  Although I am wary of continuing to take a lot of soy due to possible negative side effects, I am overjoyed at having nearly normal blood pressure to go along with my newly invigorated body. 

What a joy it is to meet these goals.  Now I can focus on caring for my husband and children without the nagging concern for my own health lurking in the background.  What a great birthday gift!  Thank you, God.