This is our week for cheer camp. All three groups (A, B, & C teams) are learning their half-time routine. This is taking place Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday this week from 2:15 - 4:30.

Let me tell you, the gym is HOT HOT HOT! Yep, no air in there & it's been closed up. As soon as I opened the door, the heat literally hit me in the face. I had girls opening all the doors while I got the industrial fan & positioned it in front of one of the doors. I had hoped it would bring some outside fresh air in & push out the stale hot air out the other 3 doors. I'm not sure how much it really worked, but I'd hate to think what it would've been like without it. We were all pouring sweat. Needless to say, we had to take several water breaks.

We used to have it all 5 days in the week for about 2 1/2 hours each morning. Now we're cramming the whole routine in to 3 days. It's going to be hard work, but the girls can do it. I was amazed at how much they learned just yesterday!

I have 13 girls on my squad. One is mentally challenged & hasn't learned a lick of the routine. I'm not sure what to do about her, but she will probably be just holding a sign up. There's no way she will be able to actually "perform" the show with the other girls. Yes, this is a challenge for me. We all explained to her mother that this is not one-on-one teaching & that she'll have to learn the show & cheers. Her mother was supposed to be there to help her, but at the last minute, explained that she had "forgotten" her son's doctor's appointment - & left quickly. We will be building also, which is dangerous in itself. She'll have to be kept away from the girls during this time so she won't cause them to fall & get hurt - another challenge for me. She's really sweet, & her mother told me that "if she learned to read, she could cheer". So, she learned to read (somewhat). That's great for her, but her mother just doesn't understand that this is actually hard WORK, takes lots of practice time, paying attention, & discipline from the girls. We told her mother that she will be required to be at all practices to tend to her daughter. I have 12 others to work with & cannot neglect my squad for one child. I know it sounds awful, but.... She didn't come near qualifying to make the squad, but if she would've been turned away, she would've been the only one who didn't make it. That would be sad.

Also, B's knee swelled up Friday after some playing time in a basketball game. I was at work when he called to tell me. He said it was nearly as big as it was from his surgery. Not good.... By yesterday, it was still swollen, so he had to go up to the school, talk to the coach & retire early. I'm sure he was a bit upset, but you only have one knee. He's too young for this stuff already. I have to leave even earlier Thursday as his surgeon is fitting him in to take a look at what is going on with his knee. Please pray that it'll be ok & no more surgery is needed.

Anyway, I'm leaving work early this week for this, so I won't be around much. Hope you all have a wonderful week!!