This week was Jared's sophomore orientation at the high school.  His sophomore class is huge! Something like 2000 kids.  After the orientation all the clubs and activites set up displays in the gym to try to recrute.   Ruth and the debate team had a nice display and worked hard all night to build their team.   One advantage to going to a huge overcrowded school in a rich area is that there are tons of activies and groups - you really have your pick of whatever you might be interested in.  Jared isn't super excited about anything but we did spend a long time talking to the percussion kids and also the teacher who teaches computer science.    

On Friday I went to a follow-up appointment with my orthopedic  I told him about the debilitating pain I was still experiencing and we decided that the next step would be to have a cortisone shot in my shoulder. So I got the injection. It was a bit painful but managable.  As I stood to leave I started to get very dizzy.  The doctor had me lay down and they brought me cookies and water.  I guess dizziness is a side-effect for a very small persentage of people.  You know, when you want to be the one out out of a hundrad you are hoping it is to win a prize or money or something cool, not to be the lucky one that passes out because of cortisone.  Anyway, so I ended up texting Ruth who came to the hospital and picked me up.  The doc said it would take 3 days to 2 weeks for everything to settle down from the shot but so far I've experienced a bennifit, maybe 30% pain reduction.  And that's something, at least. 

As a mental health purchase for myself, I bought a 3D-printer.  I've been playing with it all weekend and so far have not produced one workable print.  But I'm learning.  And if I have to fail 10 times before I get it right, well, I'm half way there. 

Jared 

Jared got his braces off last week.  It was a painful process for him, but he is so glad that 2 1/2 years of orthodontia are over.  And since Jared is my youngest, I too, am finished with sitting at the orthodontic office!   Jared doesn't like pictures and he wouldn't smile for a picture of his new straight teeth.  This is the best picture I could get.

Jared had band competition this week and felt his band did pretty well. They also had their spring concert for parents.  I'm putting a clip here of Jared playing the tubular bells in one of the numbers.  He is the blurry kid standing in the back, in the center.

Jared also went with friends to his very first concert this past weekend.  He seemed to have a great time because when I ask him how it was he gets a really big grin on his face before he answers "fine." 


Ruth

Ruth took part in her in the national high school walkout this past week, protesting for more gun control.   She felt really passionate about it and did a lot of work getting the word out at her very conservative school.  Less than 200 kids participated in the walkout, but that was more than Ruth expected.  I was proud of her because it took a lot of courage to be the only student in your class to stand up and walk out.

I asked her to hold up her sign and look angry for the photo.


Ruth also had her senior prom this week.  Quaid came down from university to take her out and they had a good time. 

Kate and Ben

Kate and Ben came last weekend and we had a great weekend with them. While they were here Kate took Ruth's senior pictures.  We're excited to see how they turned out!

Two Time National Qualifier

Ruth had her very last debate tournament this weekend. It was the national qualifier.  Ruth finished 2nd in HI, which earned her a place at the National Debate tournament.  She was the only student from her school to qualify. This was her final goal in debate and was so happy to have reached it.  She has already told her teacher that she isn't interested in going to the national tournament. She doesn't think she'd place at the national level and she feels finished with this phase of her life and just wants to save her money for college.   So this is the end of Ruth's competitive debate career.  

What's Jared Up To?

Jared is still doing a lot of music. He spends hours every day composing music on the computer and also playing drums and guitar in the basement.   He's still in the Youth Symphony and they have a spring concert coming up.  He also spends time on the xBox and he told me that I could share that he has won Fortnite 5 times this week. 

2 Steps Forward 1 Step Back

I went back to work this week. It went pretty well.  I continue to have physical therapy two days a week and I do exercises every few hours throughout the day.  I've regained a lot of motion in my shoulder, but still feel a lot of pain.   I had a few really good days this week so that's progress. 

I got some photos back from wizarding dayz that I really liked.