Tanner

I feel like it's been awhile since I've blogged much about Tanner, so I though tonight I'd do a little update on what's been going on with her.

Last week started out rough for my girl. I picked her up from school and could tell immediately when she got in the truck that something was very wrong. Long story short, a girl had threatened to "punch her in the face" and it not only scared Tanner to death but I honestly think it broke her heart too. She talked to Kimberly (the Asst. Principal) about it and Kimberly assured both Tanner and I, that she would take care of the girl on Tuesday.

Kimberly has been such a God send this year for us. She just loves Tanner to death and considers her one of her own kiddos. And let me tell you-you don't mess with Kimberly's kids! I love that Tanner is comfortable with her and I love that Tanner has a "second Mom" at school to keep an eye out on her.

The bully had a little "Come to Jesus" meeting with Kimberly on Tuesday and all has been well since. In fact, Tanner said she's been "more than nice" to me. Praise God!

Tanner is in a class this semester called Careers. It's kind of been a joke of a class, but the name sounds good, huh? Anyway, one of the things they have to do for this class is job shadow someone in a field they might be interested in. Well, last Tuesday (God's perfect timing by the way) Tanner job shadowed a friend of ours, who is a teacher in the Special Education class at the high school.

Remember how last year Tanner was an aide for the Special Ed kids at the middle school? Well, she decided that since she already knew what that age group was like, she'd like to see what the high schoolers were like. To say she loved it would be an understatement! She had such a good time and when I texted her and told her I was on the way, her response was "I don't want to leave yet!" These kids were the higher functioning kids, but they each had their own disability level and struggles. I totally forget now what they nick named her, but it was a hoot-she's only there for a day and she gets nicknamed! I guess they liked her? :)

It melts my heart to know that Tanner has such a deep appreciation and love for kids who are different. I pray that she always sees people for the individuals that they are and not for the disability or struggle that they have.

Remember Tanner's Williamsburg/Jamestown trip? Well, they leave two weeks from this past Friday (Dec. 4). The closer it gets, the more she's starting to worry about going, though at the same time, she's excited. They are done with their Tuesday night classes and now we just have the parent meeting the week after Thanksgiving and then they leave on that Friday. I'm going to put together a "Williamsburg Survival Pack" for her to take with her. I'm going to get her a snuggie for the bus (she's been bugging me for one!), some new pajama pants to sleep in on the bus, along with some "comfy" socks....and I think my Mom is going to throw in a new hat/glove set as well. They can't take any electronics (except for phones, which will be taken up and only given out at certain times) so that means no music or DS....which sounds like an awfully long 23 hour bus ride if you ask me! I'm hoping to get her a book or two to read, along with maybe a puzzle book. At this point, my goal is to just get her on the bus and get the bus on the road with as little tears or fears as possible.

You might want to pray with me about this. Honestly, she's excited to go and can tell you all kinds of things she's learned over the last eight weeks-I think the anxiety is just with the thought of leaving. Any encouragement or prayers you want to pass along would be appreciated.

Tanner's knee really seems to be bothering her quite a bit lately. I'm not sure if it's the weather or what, but she seems to complain about feeling as if something is "rubbing" inside of it. I'm going to send her knee brace with her to Williamsburg so she can wear it if need be since they will be walking around so much. I think though, too, since we've met our deductible for the year, I'm going to go ahead and make an appt with the knee Dr again and have him check it one more time before the end of the year. It doesn't seem to hurt her all the time-mainly when she's dancing or walking up and down stairs. The kid loves to dance but when her knee bothers her, she stops, which tells me it's really bothering her. So we'll see.........

Well, I guess that's pretty much all that's going on with our Tanner girl. She's in bed and Steve is working (he worked 186 hours over the past two weeks and the coming weeks don't look any better!!) so I think I'm going to get off of here and get to bed myself.

G'night!