Today is an exciting day: today I am taking the children to the zoo, as part of their schooling: they are going to learn about what makes different animals unique and special and why they are they way they are.  It is going to be lots of fun for them, and for me: that way, the children can get out of the house, and I can help them in their learning.  It works out both ways: it's a win-win situation.

As you can imagine, the children are very excited, especially Parker, Joelle, and E.T. (our three youngest).  They all adore animals:  Joelle loves cheetahs and tigers; as for E.T. and Parker, they like the monkeys and the lions the best.  They also love the elephants.

Devon has been behaving better; he's been interacting with us more.  He will probably stim and go into his own little world, but that's okay.  He is trying hard not to misbehave or look "as autistic", because he knows it bothers some people.  We are very proud of him.  We will just have to take his favorite foods, as well as his favorite toys, and he should be fine.

Hollie will have to make sure she has her heart pills, in case she gets overexcited and her heart acts up (it beats too fast, and she gets short of breath).  We will have the portable oxygen with us, in case she needs it.  We will put her in her wheelchair and push her around the zoo, so she doesn't have to do too much in the way of extra walking.

As for Ryan, he will stay close to us, so he doesn't get separated from us, like he did when we went to the Grand Ole Opry the last time in Nashville.  He was so scared; we were too, until we heard his high, frightened little voice piping our names.  It was a very happy reunion when he came to our arms; there were plenty of tears shed.  (Ryan doesn't see well: he is going blind.  He was born with retinitis pigmentosa, which is slowly, but surely, taking away his sight.)

The weather is supposed to be cloudy today, with highs near fifty degrees, with a chance of drizzle.  Then it's supposed to be chilly tonight, and cloudy again tomorrow, and then a chance of rain tomorrow night.  I will have to make sure I dress the children up warmly before we haad out the door; don't need any of them getting sick on me, especially Hollie, with her weakened heart.  (When Hollie gets sick, she usually ends up in the hospital because her health is so delicate.)

I will make sure I leave a note for Duane, my husband, so he knows that we are gone; hopefully we will be home before he gets home from work (he usually gets home between seven-thirty and eight, just before it gets dark outside).  And I will be sure to leave an extra key under the mat, so he can get into the house without any problems.

Well, I hate to run, but we're about ready to go to the zoo.  I will write in here again with a full zoo report and more musings about my family.  Until then, this is Wendy Jo saying so long; may God bless you as much as He's blessed us!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Wendy Jo.  :)