Well, hard to believe that it is the last half of April, and my intent on blogging more often has fallen short!  It is spring here in Washington, and yes, it is raining today!  But there have been sunny days on and off that have given me a chance to get outside and plant in the yard.  OIn March 1 we got some baby chicks, and now they are grown into small teen-age chickens.  Moved then out from the bathroom into Jenna's old dog pen (that must have originally housed chickens)  after only three weeks!  The chicks do not stay small very long!  Yesterday I saw more chicks at the co-op and hard to believe how cute and small they are!  I am waiting for my first $400 egg, probably late July!  
Cara is doing better,  after Dr. Appt in January, started increasing Lamictal so we could lower the dosage of Depacote.  After about 3 weeks, she became hyper manic, and was hard for teachers, tutor and us to keep her under control.  Called Doctor and was able to take away one dose of Depacote in the morning.  so now she gets 125 MG of Depacote and 40 MG of Lamictal 2x day.  she seems to be doing alot better on that, and no seizures happening.  Also we are giving her two drops of Frankincense oil in the am.  Dr appt this week and she said to stay on course with what we are doing.  Originally we were supposed to increase Lamictal to 55 MG morning and night!  So, glad that we can stay at the lower dose.  She will get another EEG this summer to check the brain activity.  She is still "Cara" , but not as hyper and teachers and tutor say she can focus better now, and not quite so distractable.  She is back at Miss Augga's studio for dance class, and still at swimming lessons once a week(until mid May). Also, she goes to Girls Acheivement night twice a month at church and has a good time!  Still likes to play "school" in the afternoon,  dance around with Grandpa Tom, and play baseball inside with a dust pan bat and nerf ball!
Big news for me, I am going to go to a week long seminar for dyslexia testing and become a screener and a tutor using the Barton method.  The seminar is in Seattle mid-June, and then i will have the tools I need to help other children and parents with the same problems that we have had with Cara.  Found an incredible book called The Misunderstood Child which deals with learning diabilities and ADHD and honestly is the best read for anyone with a child in that situation.  I am so excited to have a new career for this stage of my life!  Our "cabin/playhouse" is going to be my schoolroom!  
I have been helping in Cara's classroom since January on Tuesday afternoon's and there are so many students who need extra help,  Cara is lucky to have been put into the special ed for reading and math, although the way they teach math now is really confusing to me.  tried to help some of the kids with a math test they took and they sure don't solve problems the way I am used to!  and they don't seem to "get it" either!  Will  need to learn how to help with math,  Cara has meltdowns over math problems!
Today the school is giving a breakfast for the volunteers, and then an assembly,  so will miss the pool time today. 
In February I went to Myrtle Beach when my mom had foot surgery.  It was great to help her for ten days, got to be her caregiver, cook, house cleaner, it was fun.  Also got to watch all three seasons of
Downton Abbey while I was there.  Great show!  Cara got to go to the Green Acres Daycare just up the road from us.  She loved it.  Now I have a back up place for her to go, and it helps knowing that I can take off when I need to.
Went to Baker City earlier this month and met the tenants in Balm St. and Second St.  Also interviewed potential renters for Rock Creek.  Dutch and Marna moving to Georgia in June.  Will go back when they leave and camp out in Rock Creek a few days.  Well, time to get ready for Cara to come this morning, will post more often!