hvac and dental extraction

 They installed the hvac system - it leaked on the floor a lot that first day, but they came back the next day and fixed that.  It seems to be working very well now.  I had the first of three dental extraction appointments, and it bled for about six hours or more.  I went through a lot of gauze, and bought a good deal more because I know there are more extractions coming before they can fit my denture plate.  That was yesterday morning, had swollen some and felt like I got punched hard in the cheekbone (upper jaw was where the teeth came out).   But all of that was on just a few ibuprofen and no other pain medication (because other pain medication does not metabolize for me.. not really fun).   It feels much better tonight, but I took both days off of work to make certain I wasn't 'biting off more than I could chew' with the healing process.  I've napped once today and am about to head to bed again.  I took the nap earlier because I was feeling cold.  They gave me antibiotics, and I've tried to eat a few good vitamin packed things and an avocado.  

 

I bought The Last of Us for Esme, series one and she is watching that.  She had played the game and didn't explicitly ask for the series but I saw her looking at it when we were killing time waiting for the pharmacy yesterday.  She read the entire back of the cover and then put it back.  I took that as a sign that she was interested, and she didn't say no when I said we could get that.  She has watched half of it already - but it's a bit scary for me at the moment because I have enough odd dreams just with the teeth issue.  I don't need more in my brain to be stirred up.  I did watch Jurassic Park two yesterday, but had Mark fast forward past the compy stuff in the beginning and near the end, because I really don't like those bits.

 

I've been doing French and Spanish, and finished all the challenges in a little game called Minbari Lane that is a Japanese town building sim.  The next dental extraction is in August. We also have to go to the school this next week and talk about what classes Esme needs to graduate and make sure she has everything on the correct path for this year since she missed a class last year and we couldn't get her to summer school to catch up on it because of the one vehicle and scheduling conflicts.

First Day of Fourth Grade

It's Esme's first day of fourth grade

Frost and Glitter

This was the best I could do to capture the magical way the frost coated everything last night.  It was even more spectacular this morning under the flashlight beam on the way to the  school bus.  I cannot really describe that - Mark says it needs to be an abstract painting ;)

But, to see Esme dancing in circles through the flashlight beam as the world glitters in every molecule around her wherever the light touches in the darkness... I will remember that one for a long time.

Click to see the picture full size and zoom in.  It's worth it.

Esme's Christmas party and drama program was this morning.  I walked her to the school bus and then got myself ready to go and meet her at her classroom at 8:30.  I was just a few minutes late - as the parking lot was FULL and I had to drive around the block.  The door was closed when I got to the classroom - carrying her little exchange bags and the gift for the teacher - but when a grandmother came up right behind me we both decided to open the door.  There was Esme and her classmates dressed in reindeer antlers.  They were doing their little dance routine as the reindeer in the LeRoy the RedNecked Reindeer program their teacher had worked with them on.  They even did a line dancing routine.  It was very cute! 

Afterwards Esme told me she was just about to maybe cry because she didn't think I was coming, and then I came in the door. ;)  We made it home afterwards and then Mark took me on to work.  I made it through work (although it was FREEZING and I had to wear my hat in the store just to survive the night!).  We stopped by the store and got a few last things before we came home.. now I have two days off.

I'm reading the book 'Bedding the Enemy' by Mary Winn.  Again, it is the characters that make it enjoyable, and the way they bicker and test each other while also supporting and protecting each other.  After that, I have some 'cubist literature' stuff lined up... things to read while trying to decide where next to take my novel.  

A day off while Esme is at school...

I'm using my spare time to do more than just read and knit and look up recipes.  I've started looking at a few receipt rewards and coupon sites to cushion the expenses of items for school lunch and more hair care products -- and they have paid off some already.  If I can just get in the habit.  I figured I have this free time now here and there that otherwise I'll just spend cruising around pinterest or facebook or ... and this is something that has possibility to benefit us.  And I've started another program that will reward with gift certificates to a site we use... so that is going to be cool if we can decide what we want.  I'm finding the surveys and things it asks me to do interesting and hope they will help as our household isn't very typical (that is for sure). 

Esme reports third grade is awesome!  We haven't heard anything negative from the teachers, and it is already the end of another week.  She says she loves having gym and music and all the different teachers in different classes.

I haven't played much more with the blender but I bought some apples and harvested more tomatoes today.

We watched a strange version of the Snow Queen from Netflix.  It had a very different cinema format than most movies nowadays... but it told the story (as seen from the Blue Fairy and other color books) faithfully and well. 

School clothes

This is the 'handmade' contribution to her school clothes.  It is to be worn over pants.

I think it would be better with a white shirt underneath :)

I went to sewing yesterday and found that my skills needed refreshing.  The first jumper (not shown) had several errors in it and I ended up making it a buttonback for wearing at home.  Esme pointed out something she liked online and I tried to see what was in my box that was near that coloring without having the white top that it did.  This isn't all that close, but it ha the flavor - something slightly formal and timeless.  It has a zipper back and is slightly loose around the middle, which is good - because she is growing.

 

This was the dress she liked online.

We went to the store early today and bought school clothes and filled her supply list.  She chose a long animal print dress with an orange skirt that I wouldn't have thought of originally - but it looked good on her and she was really happy with it.  She even found a headband to match it.  Then we added a few more tshirts, two pairs of leggings and two pairs of dark jeans and all the new underthings she was going to be needing.  I didn't spend a LOT, but it was a good chunk.  She has a blue peasant style shirt coming site to store too, that I caught online.  And she has about six or seven things I bought over the summer that are already hanging up and ready.

So - we're getting ready to go!

New clothes.  Lunchbox tests.  Getting to bed on time and getting up early.  

Now if the bus stop would tell me when her pickup time is!

Next Thursday we're 'in the car and on the road'... as Esme called getting ready for school earlier this year 'getting in the car'.

Esme's testing and meeting

The meeting was fairly quiet - there were probably a lot of things I could have or should have said... but I didn't. because it gets intimidating faced with a group of people who will be in control of how good or bad the year can be.  I did say that Esme would be a challenge.. but I should have said she is a really good kid.  But did I have to say that?  She is!  She is an intense, loving, funny kid who really has a firm sense of herself but also has no idea yet why she can't be herself with other adults the way she is with us ... We understand she will have disagreements, need to talk about things, need to be put in her place for the time being about things (like bedtime at home) etc... but it doesn't affect our feeling that she is a good kid... just sometimes an exasperating one.  But that is human.  And when you start telling someone to control their natural emotions (I don't mean running and screaming, I mean common conversational emotions we all have) and act like a quiet robot all day long... then we cause deeper problems for the future.

I know.  Sometimes I still have to tell myself to loosen up, say what I mean instead of nothing and sometimes stand up for myself by saying No, or saying I really do want something that others aren't interested in at that time.  And I'm happier when I acknowledge these things.  Things build up otherwise.

On to Esme's testing.
She scored at or above grade level in everything except timed reading passages, timed math calculation, spelling and written expression.  At the same time an untimed test that measures 'quality of written content' scored her extremely high - but did not take off points for wrong spelling, punctuation or grammar as the other test she scored low did.  This is 'textbook' I was told (not by them, but by the speech and language group I belong to) for a child who started out with an expressive language delay.  Those are the areas related to word retrieval, order and 'expressive production'... which takes her a bit longer than other children her age.  It will likely be a 'weak point' to be worked on all the way up through college.  It is similar to a type of dyslexia, but not in relating what word is being read -- what word/symbol/math fact is being extracted from the many that relate to what is being seen/heard.

Her actual reading, actual math problem solving and application of knowledge scored far above age.    When she is not under pressure and has something laid out in front of her that is not spelling or writing, she knows her stuff and shows it.   They stated her actual knowledge and ability to apply it is superior to her age level - while pointing out the weaknesses in language related areas.

Overall the test placed her at a mean grade equivalent of fourth grade, and a year ahead.  But, the spelling and writing definitely do show she needs to start in third grade.  Those will affect her progress in tasks that will be important in other grades.  She wants to go into third grade - she has high hopes of meeting the same children she was with in first grade and becoming fast friends again....*Mama jitters*

They mentioned some about a small town, people talking about choices etc... She is eight.  We pulled her out of that bad environment with what I have been told was a very badly matched teacher... we pulled her before the bullying and erratic discipline behavior turned into something that would cause long lasting effects.  The most important fact to me as a Mom was her language skills were still poor when it came to time and describing situations with other people.  The teacher was resistant to explain her reasoning for the constant detentions and when she did - they made very little sense or - worse - were noticeably insensitive to Esme's language difficulty.  So - it cut down the stress and anxiety for all parties for me to teach her from home.  It took Esme several months to calm down and get less anxious about 'school' related things after that.  I still feel we made the right choice at the time but wished our resources had been greater in this area to have a better alternative for social groups and teams to participate with during the homeschooling years.

Her spoken language has improved greatly.  We have no trouble talking about what happened today vs. yesterday anymore - if something DID happen or DIDN'T happen.  She does still sometimes twist instructions all around and miss the entire point of something.. but *sigh* well.....  Her vocabulary is greatly expanded - the test showed that.  I told her she could return when I thought she was ready.  She's ready to try.  It won't be a piece of cake - but we're ready to take on the challenge again.

She is excited - a bit worried.  I'm trying not to be worried to death... but that is my personality especially when it comes to her.  They said the class placement info will be up next week.  I need to call the bus garage and get us on the route, and then shop for her materials in the weeks remaining.

They said they'd give her their all to make a good adjustment back.
I'm trying to do that too, and not be too critical until I see if anything has changed for the better.

Theatre scenes

 

Painting theatre scenes for her play 'Tiger and Pig Go to Space'.

 

Look, I have a brush!

Painting waves

Why do you need to keep taking pictures? 

To show what it looks like now you're done.

Oh.

So we started on our play for the stick puppets today, after doing some initial reading and math work.  We wrote a script, her dictating and me showing how it should be laid out and making comments.  Then,  we had made 8.5x11" plans for the scenes drawn  out with crayon.  We painted two of the scenes on the big box I brought home from work.

We also played Minecraft and built 'bird city', a place with birds nests, shops and a birdbath. I added a purple martin house, and we looked up info about flamingoes, moas and dodos as well as toucans.

Bits and bobs

Good news, George was adopted and he is now called Snowball :)  I hear he and his new little boy are getting along very well and that he already has learned a few tricks!

This week has been full of other things, too - trying to get some better schoolwork for Esme, as she was being bored to tears by a few things and, because of her speech being the way it is, they had no idea just how much she really knows.  I'm hoping I won't have to push as much along now that they do know just how well she can read and do math... give another few weeks to see how it is all panning out.

Aunt Dot sent some clothing for Esme, and most of it fit.  I still have not made the zigzag dress for her I had planned - but I should make a few more pairs of pants soon.  I have one nearly finished on the desk from a week ago that still needs its pockets.

Labor Day is Monday - and no school that day.  I am working.  I have a good stack of books from the library to keep her entertained, and Grandma has her for the night for a sleepover.  I've gotten into the middle of the last book in the series and am feeling like I'll be missing an old friend once I'm done.  I started reading them in February, just after I had heard my mom had died.. and am almost finished up now with the seventh? book.

Ready for First Grade first day of school pictures

 Nice and neat and ready for first grade!

She picked the butterfly dress I had made for her, and the fish pants - because she head dreamt of fishing in a boat with the whole family last night, and catching fish.

 

But, I knew that was not the 'real' Esme - and I asked her to show me how excited she was, because I knew it was there This is how we see her daily, animated, eyebrows up - ready and excited for everything! It's in the eyes - I just had to compare and contrast because to me this is the 'real' Esme. 

The hair also gave me some trouble - I settled for this, as it was not wanting to twist the way it should and I had to braid the little tails a bit before I put them together into the other one.  I had some experience last year trying - not always succeeding - to contain her hair for the school day so she didn't have it on her neck and elbows... she said that made it hard to read and write when it was moving on her skin while she did her work... but it is also so pretty it is hard to just bind it up every day and not let it hang down some.

first grade meet and greet

We got back from the meet and greet - very quick, Esme had a desk with her name on it, right next to the boy from her K class last year.  She has a sheet of 'about me' to fill out before the end of the week... and the teacher has had us sign for a six book reading package... hmm... I tried not to say very much to the teacher because I really wanted to grill her about the math and reading - and that will become evident over the next few weeks anyway... so better to control myself (heh)...  Mark says I'm excited, too... he's right - I am very interested in Esme's education, but know I have a tendency to go overboard.

We went to the flea market afterwards, and found several good books and a few little toys.  Esme asked for a plant science book.. and I made her take a fishing one, too - as it had better pictures and the plant science was worth twenty-five cents, but definitely high-level even for me.  One of the little toys was a plastic flip-top oyster with a pearl in it. Mark says it is a shell-phone.  Ha. 

When we got home we went through the 'legal' paperwork that was in her folder, and made signatures.  She had to sign for the internet services herself - and she asked 'What are we signing for, again?' which I wanted to remember :)  It was quite thoughtful of her to ask before she signed ;)

We get ready for the bus tomorrow... been practicing getting up early for the last two days.   To be there this morning I had to switch shifts, so  I have to work late tonight.  The bath and hairwashing and getting to bed on time is on Daddy, but I have the next two days off.

Will have a first day of first grade picture tomorrow I hope - if everything doesn't take too long in the morning!

A bit before first grade starts

Oh it's been a hard few weeks - and I know that next week (when school starts) will exacerbate the stress and no-time feeling.  Esme has been a bit out of sorts because I have worked so many days in a row lately - and the days we have had off have been busy doing things we really had to do... and not a lot of time for her big ideas.  And, she has lots of big ideas, and order of things, etc.. that she really wants us to do with her lately.  Every night before she goes to bed - and sometimes as soon as she wakes up in the morning, she grills me about when I have to work and if I work tomorrow, or the next day, and if we will do 'X'... And we have been quite strict with her about some things on top of that - like running for the house when she is outside and not saying 'its okay' that she didn't make it etc.. and not talking incessantly during the movie (yes - this is me saying this!).  And when I have just come home from work and she has a list two miles long of things and I don't answer her - she has gotten touchy about that and not very polite at times...  But, overall she has been very good considering the strain I am feeling with this week - and how much harder it is sometimes when you have no control at all - she can't drive to town, or decide the schedule, or say yes or no to big things... and she feels like she has been cooped up in the house forever and ever and... // I see it in her Minecraft builds where she makes cars, and 'expensive' houses, and a wardrobe full of iron and diamond chainmail, and recreates the beach and friends and 'big parties' etc etc...

In contrast, I feel like we've gotten some things done... even though there is more to do.  And, I feel she has made another 'leap forward' these past few months - which this is all stemming from... her thoughts have gotten wider and deeper... and she is a bit antsy to go to first grade - but worried at the same time because she doesn't know what it will be... ie: the 'practice' on her Minecraft etc.

I don't get another day off until Friday.. and then it is just the one day - and not another until after she starts school on the fifth.  Here we go... hold on to your hats and sunglasses... we're in for a ride.

//Other little bits:  I took a few minutes to look in a store today as I had to cut some time at work - and it felt like 'something' to be doing that I normally wouldn't allow myself time for.  I was taken aback by the prices as always - forty dollars for a skirt like the ones I wear at home (handmade ones), six for a tank top, fifteen for a bar of soap in the cosmetics department... I really can't believe those prices... and knowing that I am not the kind to actually buy in a store like that - I feel like I don't even belong looking, at times... But, I do it because I continue to learn and get a feel for the styles that are being pushed at people now - the collars, the cuts, the ruffles etc... I saw a dress almost exactly like the fabric I am planning on making a top/pants set for Esme out of... similar cut to what I was thinking but lots more ruffles on that one.  I had seen this dress in my mind's eye already and seeing that one confirmed the plainer style... but also neat and simultaneously strange to see something so similar to my idea on the racks already...at a place I haven't set foot in over a year.

Full Sunday

 We took on a lot today - and conquered ;) hehe.  I took Esme out for school shopping early in the morning, with a brief (and I do mean brief) runby the park on the way back home.  Mark was canning tomatoes while we were out, and we returned home just in time to watch him setting up the last run of about three gallons worth.  We tackled the old aquarium, emptying out the old water and cleaning it up.  We gave it to a friend who had helped us out last January with the truck, for their snake that had outgrown their old one.  We brought the partially washed gravel to Esme in her kiddie pool to pick out the 'terasure' of jewels, marbles and large agates into another container.  She enjoyed panning for treasure like a pirate :)

 Garden harvest.  That is volunteer Glass Gem corn, which I will try to dry out.

 Mark with his canned tomato sauce!  We will be using this all year.

Esme's pink truck in Minecraft.  It has a bed for having picnics in and a cab with glass and a strange 'vertical' hood thing going on.  Over to the side of it she has a recreation of the beach we went to on the Fourth of July - with stairs down and sand.

Little bits:  The other morning Esme woke up and asked why we were downstairs by her room being so noisy.  We told her we were checking up on the alligator Daddy had found and put in the bathtub.  She went and looked tentatively..worried... There's no Alligator, Daddy!  'Oh - really?  Did it get away?  Where did it go?'  She got even more worried and went back into her room to hide for a bit.  We laughed!  She came back out as I was washing my hair and poked her head in... convinced herself it was all a joke, and then brought me her Kindergarten start book with a picture of an alligator and said she had finally found it and everything would be okay. as a way of telling me she knew we were pretending.

I saw her on the porch hugging the goat by the neck the other day.  It was very sweet - they both seemed to be commiserating about being lonely.  I think they both miss Tink, the kitten who died.  I think they also miss having the puppies running around the yard.  I miss them, too... it is strange to walk over the ground between the garden and the house and not have my heels chewed on.  We think the older dogs have mostly forgiven us now for giving them all away... but they were pretty upset we took their entire pack of hard work and training and 'lost' them in the town that day.

We let Esme play a bit in the small wading pool at her friend's house when we brought the aquarium.  I told her she could wade, as we hadn't brought other clothes for her and didn't intend to stay long.  A few minutes later she was entirely soaked and still had not done more than 'wade'.  She jumped and sat down - stood up and yelled 'Sorry Mom!' across the yard.  Her friend's parents asked 'What was that for?'..  I told her she couldn't swim, just wade.  Oh, at least she said sorry, about it *giggle*... I told her it was okay, she could swim a bit now.. and they immediately started cannonballing each other and spraying the hose over each other.  After about ten to fifteen minutes we said it was time to go .. she did get ready to go reluctantly.  At home we filled up her pool again and she brought a little plastic doll out there to be her 'friend' until it was time for supper.

Sewing for School Clothes

These are the sleeveless dress tops I've made for Esme's first grade school year.  There are a few more things on my list to make.  I've completed two out of the four pairs of pants. 

 

 Esme says this is 'Horse City' - and she enlisted my help in making it a bit more than she had started out with - it now has a public library, grocery store, 'clock' tower with a pointy top, and her potions store, and my cloth store.  She put a big roll of purple cloth on top of the cloth store, and a 'bottle' on top of the potions store.  She insisted on there being a playroom and bathroom in the library.

 

The rail system and house she built entirely by herself.  Mark and I were both impressed by her use of powered rail and lever switches.  She had a disagreement with me about the pronunciation of the word 'lever'... and didn't know why we laughed when she said we had said it wrong.  

List for sewing school clothes

I have some of these done - but no pictures yet.  So, for now - I am just posting the list.
School starts in about three weeks -- I have to get cracking.

2 Sleeveless dress tops with zipper backs - because August is still HOT here. (pics soon)
1 Long sleeved 'fancy' dress - I'm thinking a repeat of her purple flower ruffled one from last year.
A short sleeved dress top with zipper back
A long sleeved or 'kimono sleeve' over jacket with buttons
4 pairs of new pants with pockets.  (1 pair is done)

Then to buy:
1 pair of storebought jeans or legging jeans
A package of socks
A new pair of shoes
3 plain t shirts or 2 tshirts and another shirt she chooses
maybe a pair of leggings to try for wearing under a skirt

// I am using a lot of the fabric I received from the lady at work a few months ago, and need to replenish a little bit of thread in order to get the rest of these done.  Her pants are so long now it is hard to find a piece of fabric that will cut all of the pieces out... that is the hardest.  The dresses are a bit easier as I can split the pieces up and find ways to make them work out of two fabrics.

Kindergarten Picnic Day

Tomorrow is the last day of school - today is picnic day.  She has grown up so much this year...

We are pretty sure she will be a first grader next year.  Grades get delivered tomorrow.  And then we have a whole summer stretched out before us.

Christmas movie at school

 Early morning sendoff, so the pictures aren't quite the best as there was no light.  She was home sick yesterday, but really didn't want to miss her movie, and seems to be noticeably better today.  These are her Christmas pajamas Grandma gave her with the iron-on name.  We did it last night after I got home from work.  I've added a tshirt underneath and her 'coonhound, not poodle' skirt to keep her from freezing to death today.

Polar Express, here we come! 

Packed school lunches

Esme said that there were kids bumping her tray and making her spill things at school - and apparently nothing had been done about that by teachers, so she wanted to start bringing a lunch box to school.  She also wanted to sit with certain girls who sit at the lunchbox table... so there is a double motive there.  We told her she would have to earn the lunch box by taking brown paper bag lunches to school until Christmas Break, which is at the end of next week.  If she does good with those and is actually eating what is sent - she can buy the pink lunchbox at the store.

So, now she is eating ravenously at home, and she 'appeared' to eat her lunch yesterday as the bag came home empty.  I packed her another today, and she seemed to approve of all of the contents.  I had went out to the store and picked up some fruit and better bread etc etc.. to make the lunch more complete.  And I insisted she eat a cheese stick this morning and part of a bagel and milk.  Which, she did.. although she hates cheese she said it wasn't so bad.

Since I don't know and haven't been told if they refrigerate their lunches (Esme says they don't - they stay in the backpack) I have just sent (good) strawberry jam on bread the past few days and assorted other items and a drink to make it balanced.  If she gets refrigeration or a lunch box I can send an insulated sandwich case with a cold pack so she can take bologna sandwiches with ketchup, which she likes.  It might make her a little less picky about what she eats and/or just be a learning experience for both of us.  I kind of like the idea of packing her a lunch at night for the next day - but don't like the idea I might not know what she eats and what she doesn't.  etc etc...

kick me in the pants - err.. I need to get some things done this weekend, including pants

Esme has been asking me two weeks now where her gold pants and blue shirt are - not in a mean way, which is good.. but I haven't gotten to them.  I know that means she wears one of two or three coordinating items each week for Blue and Gold day....  And I've had days off - we've just been focusing on other things, like her behavior, reading and math.  I have the blue and gold fabric ready to lay out.  But, the chair I was making for her is also taking up the table and I haven't dove back into it yet.  I also promised a playground trip and 'fun things' this weekend if she brings home a moderately good report 5-10 minute timeouts per day etc.. I think she is there - and I will take her out and spend time with her regardless. 

She is making so much progress.  Her words still turn inside-out sometimes and she will pick the wrong one and not even notice it still.  Sometimes she corrects herself, other times I have to choose if it is a good time to correct her.   She is also picking up lots of other phrases from school she wouldn't get at home, and trying to use them, and when I ask her about a word I am not sure she knows she often gives me a good definition of it.  We talked about 'obstacle' the other day and 'reception' today.  We've been talking about 'the rest of'', 'since' and the topic of verbs vs. nouns and nouns becoming verbs vice-versa. She keeps surprising me, which is excellent.

This is also the weekend before the 'full week on', so if I don't accomplish some things in the next few days it will have to wait a long time to get a moment.

I have been wrapping my brain around the math course I am taking online and I think it is coming along very well - it is not for credit - although it could be if I arranged to get into one of the study groups and really participate... with clothes to make and work and other homeworks, I think my efforts are pretty good. 

Progress at school and "The Cat and the Bird" book

A happy report.  I sent one of our Mama-made books to school today, one that we had made six months ago or more - and that Esme proved to me she could read most of this morning.  I wrote the three words she had trouble with on the front of a postit note and a request to return the book.  Esme said she got to read the book to the class and the teacher and children liked it :)  That was unexpected but excellent for her confidence.  I sent the book mainly because I wanted her library choice to not be limited below her level - and it wasn't, the library book is a very good match.  Her math worksheet today was decent for her level, as well - and something we haven't specifically covered yet.  I think they might be really getting to know her now, and especially because her behavior has improved.  She got 5 minute timeout (by her report) today, and 5 and 10 minutes the other days of the week - we see the real results tomorrow.

I said I was waiting to teach her half?  She has an idea of it, not quiet spot on - but I have a color half of it worksheet printed out she is ready for.  She also told me they are going over the 'fewer than', 'greater than', 'more', 'less' that I had put in earlier in the week.. she got about 80% of those right when we were talking, and was happy to work on it, ask questions etc etc...  This is what she needs to work on, and if they are really working with her real needs I am very happy and feeling like she is more understood. 

original story 'The Cat and the Bird', copyright Marie Lamb, 2012.

bits of sunshine

We had a smiley face yesterday for behavior - not expecting perfect behavior today, but maybe - just maybe, the sun is shining through and they are 'getting' the right way to get the best out of Esme in school.  
She spouted math facts at me this morning (0+100 is 100 with two zeroes, working up to 100+100+100 is 300) and told me the principal said she was a 'good at math girl.'  They also did work with triangles yesterday and making other shapes out of them.  It was also library day, and when we went over the book rules to get a library card signature - she had been over them before and was proud to tell me about it.  Her plan today is to make friends with the smart girl in her class who has a lamb pillow like hers.. and I finally did let her take the pillow in with hopes she will bring it back.. Grandma gave it to her.  It is Grandparents Lunch today, too.

Her preschool record dropped to them yesterday - maybe someone actually read it.  Her previous speech teacher told me she was going to put Esme's abilities in there as well as what she needs to work on.  I wrote a letter for the new speech therapist yesterday, too, about what I would like to add to her goals this year.

Although she got the good report, she also threw quite a fit yesterday after she didn't "get the moon" for being good (she did get to go to a playground and play for an hour and french fries.. but she wanted MORE, a thing she has learned to whine about from school) and I told her I was 'sticking to my guns' with what I had told her she would get, and she would have to be good again to get it again.... Her face when she asked what 'sticking to gun' meant was just slightly funny.  She whined all the way home.  At home she did not get any more sympathy for her plight, and said she would not work for smiley faces, they were not fun...then she took it all back after she had an overtired tension cry and got ready for her bath.  Being so good at school bottled up in her a bit, lots of unused energy etc etc...  By bedtime, she was happy and ready to take on the world again.  I think they are using positive instead of negative reinforcement now for her at school - or at least taking a try at it, and it is helping.  Noticing what she is good at especially when she has said other children said she is 'weird' is good, too - I told her 'weird' is actually good, she is a thinker, and like me, I got called 'weird', too - but I like to think.