Changing Times

  It has been so long since I have taken the time to write in our family blog. Things have kept us busy as usual. At the same time our family has been changing. We are still the two of us though. Well, we do have a new addition to our little family. In February we became owners of a little puppy. Joel named him Preston Joel Green. Preston is a beagle mix. He may be a stinker but he has brought so much joy into our lives. He keeps us on our toes. I am now out numbered in the household. We got Preston from our Aunt and Uncle. Joel had been begging for a puppy for years, and the time was finally right. So, this Mom gave into the little cute guy.

This last week was a change for us. Due to some things Joel is now being homeschooled. I am still new at this so my nerves are getting the best of me lately. I am still trying to learn where I can find my "ME TIME." At the same time it has been good for us to have this bonding through teaching him. Joel is enjoying doing school work outside when it is nice outside. We are using things we get to do as learning for our homeschool curriculum. Example yesterday he had scout night with the Barnstormers. Homeschooling will give us a little more freedom with his health lately (which I will talk about). My plans is to teach year round. He will do a grade per year. He will finish up 4th Grade the first week of June. We will take about a month off. He will be busy with ending baseball season, going to Weblo camp, and we will be going on vacation (he doesn't know it but I am going to be using it to be teaching him). He will also be working on his county and state fair projects (haha learning too that he doesn't know). Homeschooling also gives him ability to go with me to my appointments in Omaha instead of being stuck back home at school worrying about me. End of July we will start 5th Grade work (Oh my did I just say 5th grade). When regular school starts we will be dualed enrolled. Meaning he will still be homeschooled, but he will be going to Winterset School for a few things. He is planning on taking Band (he wants to play the trombone), and he wants to take a science class (I never liked science so that is more than okay with me). I am not going to go into the reasons why Joel is now being homeschooled. If you want to know you can personally contact me.

One reason we are doing homeschool is Joel has had a tough year battling health issues. He has been admitted several times this year for constipation where they had to do a clean out. This is not a fun process for him or anyone. It required them to put an NG tube down him through his nose into his stomach. They pumped golitly into his belly until he pooped everything out. It has taken up to 3 days for him. He has missed several days of school because of it. We had to play catch up. So, I was the one having to teach him. The last time we went (which is the picture besides this) we left late in the night, and didn't think about grabbing books that he had already. I just cared about getting him there, because he was in so much pain. Besides the hospital stays we were busy with testings (CF Sweat Test, Colonoscopy, Endoscopy, Barium Enema, labs, and x-rays) plus doctor visits. His decending colon is 3 times bigger than normal, and he has lots of nodules in his colon. We are working still on the best treatment to help him be back to where he was. This didn't start until October 2017. 

Even with all his health issues lately, he bound and determined to be as normal boy as he can. So, Baseball season is back in swing for us. They haven't had much field time due to the nasty Iowa weather (like today it is Snowing in middle of April). He is playing the minor league again this year for Winterset. He is on the Dark Grey team. He is really looking forward to learning from his new coaches, helping the younger boys, and playing with a few of his friends he doesn't see much since I placed him at GCA over a year ago. They are a bunch of great boys. I cant wait to see how this season plays out for Joel and the rest of them.

Trying to pin a 7th Grader

First Place

So, since Baseball season is going wrestling is basically over with. In a way. We are still going to do some learning. He is actually going to take a Freestyle wrestling clinic the next three Sundays. He is hoping to catch some Greco tournaments and some fun tournaments this spring and summer. Plus go to open gym as well. He works hard to get better. He knows he has to get in all the mat time he can. 

Joel beating his rival

But, Joel had a good season. He met a lot of his goals. Actually all but one. So, that is a lot to say. He even challenged himself to go above and beyond. Joel's one goal he did not achieve was to make it to state. He was super bummed about it, but he quickly turned it around, and said, "I improved in so many areas, but I have more areas to work on, it isn't my time yet, but one day Mom you will see me walk through those doors at Wells Fargo and take my place on a State Mat.

Districts

 Even if I don't place I can say I never gave up." This year he achieved the other goals. One was to place first at a tournament. Well, this year he took a the top of the podium. Next goal was to make sure he beat every girl that wrestled him. He did that twice!!! Then the next goal was to beat a boy he has tried for a couple of years now. Joel succeeded that as well. He and that boy has became friends over the years so it was a little bittersweet. Another goal was to beat a kid that was a state placer last year. Joel did 3 times. One of his last goals was to improve on the bottom. Joel learned some new techniques and he soared on them. I was so super proud of him this season. Then came him challenging himself. I really didn't know if he had it in him, but he did it. He lost the match, but he said it felt so good to just be beaten by a point when he almost had him pinned. Joel took on a 7th grader about 10 lbs heavier than him from a different school at a dual. In the first round Joel almost had him. He kept up with him the next two with the other boy winning by a point due to a reversal at the end. I was never more proud of him wrestling than that day, because he gave it all he had to prove how much he loved the sport.

Joel's Favorite Player 2nd year picture with him

Joel and others learning

Okay Back again to the current adventure. Yesterday evening and last night The Iowa Barnstormers had Scout Day! This was Joel's 2nd year. First they do a football clinic teaching the boys about physical fitness, and how to play football. Then they had pizza, after that watch the Barnstormers kick Nebraska Danger butt, and finally get some awesome autographs from the players and cheerleaders. Joel soaked in every moment he could I swear. He loves the clinic part because it,  helps his technique for the following football season. He took his football he got from them as a Christmas gift this year with him. He had all the players sign it. He said, my football will never be played again." It means the world to him. He looks up to the Barnstormers what true men are. Last night there were a few of the players that after the game the first thing they did was hold their children. Joel said, "Mom, someday I am going to play a sport like that, and I am going to to love my children like they do theirs." I will be honest my heart broke, and I wanted to tear up. I didn't though. Joel is growing up with out a Dad, but he sees how a Dad should be with so many around us. Yes, it wore me out by spending a whole evening and night like that, but it is worth it to see my son smile, and hearing him have so much fun (I wont say it was nice view to watch as a single Mom.). Thank you Iowa Barnstormers for investing in the lives of children in Iowa!!!
  Okay I want to say there will be time I will be using this blog for our homeschool things. So, Joel will be giving reports on here about what he is learning, and what he is doing. So, give some feed back when he it is from him, but remember he is 10!