SNAFU

The kids spent the night with their Grandma and Grandpa last night and this morning I got a call from my mom because we switched Rachael's interferon shots to Saturday and mom was giving it to her.  I gave her the instructions last night and so this morning she called to question it because the mixture of sterile water with the powder was different on the label than what I told her over the phone.

Wha..?

I have urgent messages to her study nurse but it's Saturday and I think I'm just going to have to wait.  I have a sinking feeling though that we have been giving her too diluted medication and that this might disqualify her for the study she is in.

This means that moving to Houston for a month was for nothing.  This means that if we decide to continue with the medium-dose of interferon she will no longer get the type I wanted her to get.  This means the study would no longer pay for the medication and we will have all the co-pays.  This means that she would have to get 3 shots a week instead of one and the highs and lows of the medication will be more pronounced.  If what I fear is true, it means that the side affects she has been feeling came from a medication that was diluted by HALF.

I am praying it's not true and if you would join me in prayer that even if it is true we will be allowed to continue the study and that Rachael will not suffer for the mistake.  We are now 11 shots in.

I am worried and trying very hard to be patient as I wait to hear back.

If she can't be smart, at least she's pretty.

Two weeks ago I got a note in Rachael's backpack that said, "Please work with Rachael on her A.R. books.  I know she can do it!"  Apparently she took her first one and only got a 20%.  I was caught between annoyed and worried because I really didn't think she was struggling that much but then again, it's kindergarten!  I mean, come on!  I never got a note home like this for Marc and I know he's really smart but I didn't think Rachael was that far behind.  I didn't even remember Marc doing A.R's in kinder but I figured it's because he didn't struggle so it never even came to my attention.

So I asked her where her A.R. book is and we practiced a few times.  The next day she comes home and had made a 100%.  I was thrilled!  My child might have to work a little harder but with practice she'll be okay.  Whew!

Today I had to go to the school for something Marc related and I run into Mrs. H., her kinder teacher and after a couple pleasantries I say, "Practicing the A.R.'s really makes a difference."  She agreed and reminded me that the tests are every Tuesday and Thursday and please remember to send the book back.  I say to her, "Okay, I'm glad you said that because I really need to understand what's happening.  Does she get a new book each week?"  And she said that yes, after the test she can pick out a new book.  We asked Rachael if she had her new book as I didn't see it and Rach said she didn't so we all head into the classroom to find it.  On the way there I say to Mrs. H., "Is she really that different than how Marc was?"  He had Mrs. H. for kinder as well and he was very smart, even then.  She says, "Don't worry about it.  It's a boy-girl thing."  This made no sense at all to me.

So we go into the classroom and she's explaining that the book Rachael returned was her library book, which is "just for fun" but that her A.R. books need to be on her level.  I'm a bit confused by the whole thing to be honest, still just flabbergasted that my child is struggling like this when Mrs. H. says, "Rachael is the only one who gets two books at the library.  The other kids only get one but she gets the A.R. and the fun book."  At this point I'm about ready to cry and I say, "Is she really that far behind?"

Mrs. H. looks at me incredulously and says, "Danielle, she is my BEST reader!  She is the only one who QUALIFIES to take the A.R.!"

I just had to laugh and laugh!  The funniest part to me is when I was all worried that she was so much farther behind where her very smart brother was at that age, Mrs. H. was trying to reassure me that it's okay that Marc wasn't as smart as her.  You know, it's the difference between a boy and girl so I don't need to worry about him.  Hilarious!

If I had taken a bit more time to think the whole thing through I might have figured it out on my own.  A.R. stands for "Accelerated Reader".