Greek/Roman week....

This week was Greek and Roman week at the school. Most of the grades studied Greek and Roman mythology, culture, architecture, food, etc. Yesterday, they had a little skit to introduce themselves. Jasmine was Hera, the wife (and sister!) of Zeus for 300 years! Hera and Zeus:) Performing the skit! Hera does not want me in the classroom!!

Kimberly's birthday party....

Today we had so much to do. A lot of errands, shopping, then Kimberly Bodine's party at Danette Trett's house. Kimberly was Jasmine's very first skating instructor for the "Parent and Me" class. I remember telling Kimberly that I've had so many broken bones, that I really didn't want to skate. So, she was Jasmine's "mommy" for the skating class as well as being the instructor. Danette (our Coach Rozaline's mother) is also a skating coach at the rink. Kimberly made all the food for the party... which I thought was kind of strange since it was *her* birthday. She is Greek, so it was olive leaves and tubouli, a lot of hummus and other Greek dishes, as well as cupcakes made from scratch by Amanda- her daughter. The kid's table outside. I didn't really want to go out there because it was 110 degrees today, but felt obligated to be the "lifeguard" since other people were imbibing in alcoholic spirits!:) Swimming all afternoon, then had to go to swim lessons right after that! Kimberly and Jazzy:) Too bad I couldn't eat much of the food at the party due to my "soft diet" restrictions:( This surgery went much better than the last one. It took four hours. One hour to get each titanium rod out, then another couple of hours to custom fit the cadaverous bone to my jaw. Another cool thing she (Dr. Lisa Butler) did was take my blood, spin it down and separate the platelets, clotting factors and growth factors. I asked her why they couldn't have done that at the dental school? She told me that they are "ultra conservative" which was suprising to me. I always thought that universities were more progressive, but apparently not dental schools. Dr. Butler then soaked the cadaverous bone in my own growth factors and serum so that the bone was more antigenically like my own. She also packed little bone slivers around the block graft, then three dissolvable collagen membranes, two screws to hold it in, then several layers of sutures. That thing is just not going to come out this time. All the while, I was in a "massaging"/"vibrating" surgery table, constantly sprayed with Bach Flower essences and essential oils, listened to soothing music (ha!) and was given homeopathic remedies! on top of the drugs of course! Much nicer experience overall! Much more expensive too!, but it's what I should have done in the first place!

Vietnamese birthday....

After swimming tonight, we visited Jasmine's favorite Vietnamese restaurant-Pho Van. Everyone knows her there because the owners go to "Power Brain":) She had her usual Pho, then we went to the next door Gelato store:) She said, "That Vietnamese restaurant has everything a Vietnamese girl could want for her Vietnamese birthday":)) Of course, I forgot the camera, but how many photos do we need of Jasmine eating Pho at Pho Van restaurant anyway!! Going to bed early tonight to take Jasmine to school early so I can go to yet another oral surgery. The "failed" titanium rods are being removed, then a bone graft will be done with cadaverous bone. We are not going to place the new Zirconium implants at the same time- which was the mistake that we made last time- doing the bone graft *and* implants at the same time. I just hope my body doesn't reject everything again. Chewing on "bio glass" for a few weeks was bad enough, but chewing on cadaverous bone would be worse. Had to take out a loan for this one:((((

First day of Grade 3 already!!

So, this morning I got a dirty look for forgetting to purchase a couple of colored folders in her "school supply list". I did get them later today though:) Here is the morning of first day Grade 3:) Minnie Mouse is the rage with Jasmine this year! Then, she wanted me to walk her into the school holding her hand. She immediately dropped my hand when we got close to the classroom, then I got this dirty look when I started to follow her into the room:))))) Love these looks nowadays. I'm so used to them now- they don't even phase me anymore. Jasmine and Mrs. Kathy Spoonhunter, her new third grade teacher. Mrs. Spoonhunter is an avid NASCAR person. The entire classroom is decorated with cars, racing chairs and all kinds of things. One of the fathers got into a long NASCAR discussion with her!

Very funny:)

I was listening to a tape/CD in the car on "autism". The person kept using the words "autistic children"- the treatment of "autistic children", recommended diets for "autistic children, etc. Jasmine thought the speaker was saying "ARTISTIC children". When we were getting out of the car she said in a sad kind of voice... "that's me, artistic child". I then had to explain the difference between artistic and autistic, then we both broke into uncontrollable laughter. We were both laughing for at least 10 minutes. I was laughing so hard that I was crying. I'm glad we got that cleared up so she didn't think that artistic children need to be "treated" with something!!:)))

Camp Pick Up..

Spent pretty much the entire day yesterday as a bus chaperone to and from Shadow Rim Ranch in Payson, AZ. When I first spotted Jasmine, she was picking blackberries. Jasmine's hands, face and part of her shirt were bright purple. I also noticed that she looked like she had not taken a shower or brushed their hair in three days. I was correct in that assumption when I found clean towels and washcloths in Jasmine's bag. She did, however, go "swamping"- which I guess is kind of like swimming except that it takes place in the pond or "pake" (too big to be a pond, too small to be a lake) where they earn their canoeing badge. I am told that they just purposely flipped over the canoe and "went swimming" in about 2 feet of muck. Here they are getting ready to get on the bus. Notice the purple stained face and lips- Jasmine in particular:) The other girl next to Jasmine is also a "Jasmine". Two Jasmines in one cabin of eight girls! Here is a photo of a photo of the group on the last day of camp. (July 30, 2014) Apparently, someone lost a tooth. The tooth fairy did not show up, so they asked for "help":) One of the crafts they made was a "wish stick" with special powers. I used it this morning, and it seems to work pretty well! Camp Journal. Only writings in it is just phone numbers of various people:) Camp tee shirt. Way too big- she didn't even wear it. Maybe next year! Canoeing badge. I have been very negligent about ironing these badges on a sash. Jazzy with all of the camp counselors. Back to school in a few days!

Off to Girl Scout Camp....

Shadow Rim Ranch in Payson, AZ. Three day "Splash Camp". Going to do a lot of canoeing, crafts, games and I don't know what else. I did get to ride up on the bus with everyone since I was a "helper" and chaparone, but didn't get to see where they are staying. Jasmine is staying in the "Homesteading" cabin. Helping me sort "luggage tags" as I was checking people in. Just arrived at camp- WAY off the beaten path in the middle of nowhere:)