About a month ago, Rylee's school teacher had called us asking us if we were aware that Rylee has a difficult time saying her "OR" sounds. I felt like asking her if she thought I never talked to my child. Of course I knew that it was difficult for Rylee to say that sound. I've talked to teachers in the past and they said that she would out grow it. I finally found a teacher that doesn't think she'll outgrow this. Just to give you an example of the difficulties she has, horse and purse rhyme. I bet you didn't know that, but if you are talking to Rylee they do. The long O sound followed by an R is hard to say for her.

She asked for permission to put Rylee in speech therapy. I had no problem with that.

Fast forward a couple of weeks. I received a phone call from the special education counselor at Rylee's school last Friday. She informed that they had put Rylee through all kinds of batteries of tests to figure out what kind of "special education" Rylee would need. I questioned her on the use of "special education". In my mind that is the children that are a little slower to learn. Rylee consistently scores in the 90th percentile on benchmark tests. She receives good grades. I wouldn’t classify her as special ed. She quickly let me know that speech therapy was part of the special education curriculum at school and that Rylee wasn't being considered for anything but that. PHEW! That was one label that I didn't want on my child unless she needed it.

The outcome of the battery of tests though indicated that Rylee has quite poor eye sight. Boy the guilt that pours over a mom. How can a mom not know that? Wouldn't it be obvious? Then I started thinking about things. During sacrament meeting Rylee would ask, what time is it? I would tell her to look at the clock, thinking that she didn't want to think about it since it's a traditional clock and not a digital. She’d glance toward the clock and then go back to listening. I didn't realize she couldn't see the clock. Boy am I a bad mom.

We got her right in to the eye doctor. Sure enough, she needs glasses. Off to Wal-Mart we went to take advantage of their back to school special and 20% discount for employees. That made glasses less than $35 including tax. Now that's a deal. We've decided to go back and get at least one more pair, but probably two.

So, here's the reveal of the new girl in her beautiful copper frames.

I think she looks very grown up. She is amazed at all the things she can see now. She can see all the signs in Wal-Mart. (Maybe she won't get as lost now). She can read the clocks in the house (and in sacrament meeting). It's a whole new world for her now. I'm excited for her.

Now I understand that special education really means treating the kids extra special!