Spread Across Four Different Schools

When you have three children spread across four different schools, you might find yourself in my shoes.  For example, when your four year old is studying a new letter each week, you may take a picture of Lila holding LEAVES to serve as her picture of something that starts with L. 

When you come and pick your child up you might glance at the alphabet tree and notice a helicopter hanging right beside Lila's picture.  You might look a bit harder and notice a hamburger, hammock, and Haunted House.  Then you might feel like a complete idiot because you did the the letter L when it was supposed be H!

I can't keep up.  I did find it amusing that Lila's teacher was able to turn Lila holding leaves into Happy Lila for their H alphabet tree.

And the Hard Work Pays Off!

 (Miss Belle working on her smile)

I had the opportunity to chaperon Adeline's class field trip to Milky Way Farm today.  I signed up because I knew that I had to be there if Adeline was going.  I couldn't expect her teacher to deal with her sensory issues while herding 13 other kids around the farm.  One never knows how Adeline will handle situations such as this.  Today, I just crossed my fingers and put on my patience hat.  The rest was out of my control.

When we arrived, I realized that three other preschool classes were joining us.  It was controlled chaos, but chaos no less.  I was pleased to see that Adeline knew who her classmates were and naturally gravitated toward them.  Since Miss Belle is spread across two different schools and has missed numerous days of school already, I fear that she doesn't know the kids in her classes.  Apparently, this fear is unfounded.

Soon we were moving toward the barn.  While walking into the barn, Adeline had to walk by a large tractor that was sitting in the very dark entry way.  To put this in perspective, part of her Hippotherapy session is to ride past a tractor and touch it.  Can I just say that Adeline really dislikes tractors!  She loves them from the safety of her car but being up close to one makes her panic.  Well, Miss Belle walked by that tractor today.  Her pace quickened and her grip tightened but she walked past it in such a normal fashion that no one knew how difficult it was for her.

Once in the barn, we were surrounded by flies.  They were every where.  There was also a cow that was very close to all of the children.  Adeline demanded that I hold her hand but I was able to pawn her off on her friend Lauren for some hand holding which worked.  I was pretty sure that Adeline was pushed to her limits by the flies and the moving cow and straw underfoot.  At this point, I was confident that all of her energy was put into just being in that barn.  I was wrong!  Adeline was listening and was answering questions.  In fact, she was the first one to answer, "What do cows eat?"  I just have to say it again.  Adeline was the FIRST response!  Her voice was quiet and went unheard (she suffers from the raspy preemie voice), especially since all the other kids were chiming in right behind her, but she answered first.  I was so proud.  In the middle of a very challenging sensory experience, Adeline was still on her game.  I was amazed.

Next we moved into the room with the robotic milker.  Again, noisy machines throw my little girl off of her game.  But. . . she held it together and fit in with the group.  No one would have know that she was initially terrified of the monstrous machine on the other side of the glass.

We moved on to the other animals.  Adeline pet a chicken, goat and calf.  She navigated very rough terrain and continued to battle bees and flies along the way.  Miss Belle didn't let me leave her side but she walked the entire way.  If we would have been anywhere other than with her classmates, she would have begged me to hold her.  Thank goodness for peer pressure.

The day ended with a hayride.  And what pulled the large carts covered in hay?  A big and noisy tractor.  Not to worry.  Adeline climbed up the steps and sat on the hay.  I wanted to take a moment and point to all around how brave my little girl was being but, instead, swelled with pride quietly on the inside.  Seriously, Savannah doesn't even like hayrides because of all the poky hay.   To the contrary, my Adeline put a smile on her face and enjoyed her ride.  The tractor took us to the pumpkin patch which was one too many battles for Adeline.  Walking over thick vines with bugs and leaves biting at your legs, wasn't Adeline's idea of fun.  She solved the problem by quickly choosing a pumpkin.  It wouldn't have surprised me if she didn't step foot in the pumpkin patch.  She didn't like it but she completed the task that was expected of her. 

So once again, my little Belle takes the high road.  She overcomes her sensory fears (which are VERY real) and finds a way to enjoy herself.  As we drove home, I couldn't help but think that all of the hard work is paying off.  I remember when Adeline was one, her occupational therapist would make her touch a certain ball that she couldn't stand.  Soon after, she was forced to have part of her sessions sitting in grass.  When she could walk, multiple therapists would incorporate walking in grass and many other sensory noxious experiences into each session.  Adeline would fight it every time but always powered through in the end.

I am so pleased to report that it is working.  Therapy works.  It becomes a way of life.  Four years down the road of prematurity and my little girl is touring a farm with very little additional support.  This is the same girl who would not touch grass for the first two years of her life.  Her brain is being retrained and Adeline's coping skills are getting better each day.  I can't imagine where we would be if we didn't meet this head on when she was released from NICU.

Adeline Belle - I am so proud of you baby girl!  You make my heart sing!  You make me want to work harder, be better, and complain less.

Savannah's Ladybug Party

Although it was a TON of work, it was worth it.  I questioned it along the way but, looking back, I would do it again - hopefully not until she turns 10 though.  The decorations, the planning of activities that keep 11 six year old girls entertained, and the pulling it off the day of the party were tall orders.  Fortunately, the girls made me feel as though I succeeded.  Most importantly my big girl loved every minute of it.  She felt special and that is all I could ask for.  The icing on the cake was that the other girls had a great time too.

Being that I was Mrs. Doodlebug, the fictitious teacher of Savannah's 10 friends, I was never behind the camera.  I don't have the pictures I would like, especially the ones that could have captured the moments of delight and silliness.  Nor do I have pictures that do justice to the details because I was scrambling until the first girl walked in the door.  I have taken what I have and made it into a little movie for posterity's sake.  Hopefully, it will also remind me of how much work a home, activity packed, party really is.  Possibly a weekend away will be a better choice for next year?

Painting Pumpkins

One very rainy day this week, I decided to let the girls skip their nap and have a painting session.  Savannah was home sick so all three were there to get in on the action.  Instead of letting it be a free for all, I set two very different pumpkins on the table.  We looked at their lines, size, and stems.  We felt them and used different words to describe them.

Next, we put our words into our paintings.  I was pretty impressed at how well the little ones did.  They made sure to show the difference in the size and stems.  They tried hard to make brush strokes up and down for the lines in the pumpkins.

I learned that Lila is a perfectionist.  After drawing a circle for her pumpkin she said, "That is not a pumpkin."  The circle was less than perfect.  I tried to make her paint one over it but she wouldn't paint unless it was a clean spot on the paper.  It happened again with the moon which is why her paper looks a bit more crazy than it should.

Adeline's:


Lila's:


Savannah's:

Her Big Day!

Savannah's birthday was celebrated with just the five of us.  I think it was a first for this family.  We usually have someone else in the mix on the actual birthday.  I have to admit that it was very nice.  I felt like we all exhaled and really settled into the night as a family.  We didn't leave the house because Savannah wanted breakfast for dinner and thought that there was no one better to prepare it than me. 

Savannah started her celebration at school this year.  T. Connie brought in Savannah's favorite fruit - pineapple, for the festivity.  In first grade, the class celebrates the birthday around the student's favorite fruit.  Savannah was thrilled and mentioned that it made her feel very special.

After I picked Savannah up from school, we headed home for french toast and eggs.  Savannah opted out of a cake this year and instead requested ice cream sundaes with cherries.  The best part of these sundaes were the edible bowls.   Here are a few pictures of the girls enjoying the dessert.

Savannah enjoyed opening an assortment of gifts. She was very generous and let her sisters do a lot of the unwrapping. Another sign of getting older! This year was definitely the year of Legos and baby dolls. Most girls dive into a baby dolls at a younger age but Savannah has waited until now. And, while the baby dolls may seem a bit young for her, the Legos are not. It is quite impressive to watch Savannah construct a house using step by step instructions. The instructions are 80 pages long and she can do it by herself!

As the evening progressed, Savannah became very affectionate and made sure to mention, numerous times, how much she appreciated all the work that her daddy and I did to make her day special. She noted that we are busy and that it must take a lot of work and money to go and buy gifts and birthday supplies. I must admit that it is always very gratifying to give Savannah a gift because her appreciation is remarkable.

I just can't believe she is seven.  When I think about it I start to feel the panic.  Again, can't we just freeze time?

Adeline wanted to sing Happy Birthday to her sister all by herself. Too bad she thought eating while singing was a good idea. It is still pretty cute.

Happy Birthday Savannah!

These past 365 days have been big for my Savannah. She is growing into a beautiful girl both inside and out. 

b-day @ Yahoo! Video

My worries of her never emerging from her shell have long since passed.  My concerns for her standing her ground, making sure her voice is heard, and believing in herself have been cast aside - at least for now anyway.

My Savannah has emerged!.  These past few years, she has spent much time peeking her head out of our warm and comfortable nest.  Recently, she has begun to venture outside of it.   Savannah has gracefully loosened her grip of my hand while trying to discover who she.  It breaks my heart - I mean really breaks my heart - to watch her forge ahead without my hand in her's.   However, as I watch Savannah create that necessary distance in order carve her way in this world, I see her standing strong on the foundation of values we worked hard to build.   She is smart, compassionate, and crazy-fun all at once.  Possibly what is most remarkable about her is how she lives her life outside of herself.  You only have to be around her for a small time to realize that this girl is different.  Savannah sees the world through the eyes of others.  Because of this, she has deep insight, endless compassion, and a burning desire to right all of the wrongs.  I always tell her that she is going to do great things in this world.  I just can't wait to see what they are.

Do you think they can be done from inside the nest?  I would even settle for one foot in and one foot out.

The Last Faces of Six

Here are Savannah's last six year old pictures.  The next time we see her pretty face, she will be seven.  She and her daddy had a great time taking these pictures.  Even Bunny got in on the action. Seven. . . really??? 

I thought she was turning 7, not 17!!!  Since when does she put a hand on the hip???