Tuesday Update

We are glad to say that last week ended happily. Elena felt better on Friday.
Of course it was also Friday night, pizza and movie night, how can it not be happy! It is definitely the one night we can count on to be fun, relaxing family time.

Once again we have been trying to sort out our stress filled homework nights, it appears that Elena has been bringing home "unfinished" class work to do as homework on top of regular homework. Elena doesn't like feeling so far behind the rest of the kids. It is overwhelming to her. We talk about that unfortunately due to the chemo treatments to her brain and the resulting leucoencephalopathy, her pace is slower now and that it's ok to be at a different pace than the other kids in her classes. She knows this. We've talked about it since we found out the results of her MRI and neuropsych testing back in November. But, accepting it and handling it is a different story. It is obviously going to take time for Elena to continue to adjust to her new "normal". It has to be frustrating to know how you once were, what you could once do, and accept your new self and learn new ways of thinking and doing things. Please continue to pray for her. I can't imagine going through what she is going through at the age of 11.

I think that from now on we will have to constantly stay on top of her, make sure she is working at her best pace at school and that the necessary accommodations are being made before things get too overwhelming. Her teachers really are trying to help her. They have been kind, understanding and flexible. I think everything just gets "lost" in the translation between school and home. Today, her teachers started a new homework communication sheet with her. This is a great idea! I think it will definitely help. Elena continues to try so hard to keep up, sometimes to her own detriment. We don't want her hard work and determination to prevent her from getting the rest and exercise she also needs.

As we think about Elena and her struggles, we still can't believe that we will have some of the same battles to fight with Olivia. It's hard to see the big picture right now. There seems to be so much work ahead of us for both girls in terms of their learning.

Please continue to pray for us:

*to have a clear frame of mind

*be able to find the best resources to help our girls

*figure out a reading remediation program to use at home with Liv

*and for us to have the patience and stamina to do it all

Thanks for continuing to check in on us. It has been such a very long journey.

In Him,

The Tates

"The God of all grace..will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1Peter 5:10