I'm a Mother to a School Age Kid

Where did the time go? I still want my sweet Savannah all to myself but instead have to share here with the school district in September. This has been a rough week for Savannah as the transition finally sunk in. Many times she would break down in tears saying, "I'm going to miss my teachers." " Me too," is what I was thinking.

Savannah was lucky to have a wonderful Brandywine experience with the perfect teachers and classmates. Our choice, to hold her out of Kindergarten last year, paid off. She has blossomed, broken out of her shell and is becoming a kind, compassionate (already had those two qualities in the bag) and confident girl. I couldn't be more proud of who Savannah has become.

I will miss dropping Savannah off at Preschool everyday, chatting with her teachers and watching her interact with the other children. I remember her first day of school. I was so worried she would cry but she didn't. She was so brave and walked right in (she saved her crying for a later date). This, of course, transpired while the twins were in the NICU. It is baffling that I will drop Lila Grace there next year. I guess it is a full circle experience.

Today was Savannah's last day. A big day it was.

We curled

She passed out programs

She sang

I cried

I tried to keep Lila's stage presence to minimum but she finally snuck up to her sister


She graduated

We posed

And then we were off to Sesame Place (without a camera this time in order to just enjoy the girls and not make them pose every two seconds).

We ended the day with neighbors and a mini celebration for our big girl.

Mini Golf

Savannah's end of the year get together was at a miniture golf course. I was dreading it because I had to bring the twins. I was sure the water and other golfer's balls would be a disaster. Surprisingly, the twins were on their best behavior. They simulated into Savannah's class, walked in line and listened to directions. Soon we were golfing. Funny that this was Savannah's event and I spent very little time with her. I was with the twins on our own hole most of the time.

Lila prooved to have some talent, albeit from her knees. She would sit the ball two feet away, kneel and then hit it in the hole. She made it quite frequently. Adeline tried but usually hit it too hard if even hitting it at all. She was soon distracted by the water and was madly throwing her ball in the ponds whenever out of my eye sight. She would toss it, look at me with a huge smile and give me her fake laugh. I would then fish out the ball with the net to only do it all over again two minutes later.

Savannah was reported to be a very serious golfer. Surprise surprise. . . does she do anything half heartedly? She was very proud of her performance and had to take me back to where she hit the ball up a steep hill.

After two and a half hours of golf we were off to a park for lunch with friends. The girls held up really well. We were outside for five and a half hours today with no breakdowns. The girls enjoyed the fun in the sun. I have to imagine they are going to sleep their life away for this nap as they were go go go the entire time. Can you tell how happy we are to be outside again after a very long winter?!

The favorite hole was a when the ball went in a tube and magically appeared below.

A New Friend

While I should be blogging about our transition from Early Intervention to IU or my thoughts on People Magazine and their veiw of Micro Preemies, I am just too tired. I guess I will share a couple of quick flicks of my girls' new friend instead.

We attended a get together across the street and my "deathly afraid of dog girls" seemed to take to little ol' Shaggy. Adeline, of all people, started the friendship. The girl who doesn't like animals (freaked out by frogs and turtles that have been brought into her preschool classroom) decided to play ball with Shaggy. This surprised me on many levels, primarily because Shaggy is jumpy and all over the place. I am also astounded she picked up a furry, wet tennis ball. Definitely a sensory no-no in Adeline's book.



You can see Adeline fight her desire to step on the grass to get the ball in this video. Eventually, Shaggy is the one to give in. Please disregard the clinging of beer bottles in the background.


On a completely different note, Savannah had a Letter People Parade at school. School functions are always a nightmare for me because the girls want to run wild or take part. Lila Grace, to no one's surprise, hopped right in the parade with her Nana (Savannah's nick name in this house). She was pretty cute.

Savannah chose Mrs. W. I was a bit confused at first because I figured Savannah would want to be Mrs. S. She said she chose Mrs. W because she seemed like a calm and quite character. I guess Mrs. S leaned toward a super hero and that put Savannah off. Yep, she is my quiet and calm girl. I thought her Mrs. W costume was quite fetching. (we were working off a previously designed character. Orange shirts with a big W was all Savannah let me do because she wanted to look like the real Mrs. W. Of course I had other plans but chose to submit.)

Preschool is Over for the Twins

Sniff, Sniff. . . That is pretty much how I sum it up. These past five months have been developmentally priceless for the girls. Preschool has opened up their world to the power of peers. Peer pressure is an excellent thing at this age. I know, when they get older I will want them to revert back to not caring what everyone else does.

Lila Grace and Adeline were allowed to start their "schooling" with two of the best teachers I know. It was a risk for these teachers to welcome my girls into their small and quiet class. My girls were too young and much more delayed which, in a teacher's mind, means more work. Mrs. Stueve and Mrs. Feinstein graciously accepted that challenge and I can't thank them enough. They worked tirelessly with Adeline and her sensory issues and, as previously posted, she now allows her people to paint her feet. Since the girls started half way through the year, they were very behind on the year long ABC book the class was making. Not a problem. The girls were given the time to do each letter and its corresponding activity. I couldn't be happier because this ABC book is fantastic. I can't believe I was presented a binder with photographs and 26 hands on projects.

It is hard to say goodbye to something this wonderful. The teachers and classmates were perfect for my girls. In Adeline's ABC book there was a picture of one of the boys using a toy curling iron in Adeline's hair (double click the picture below). This tells me how much she likes being at school and how much she adores her classmates. Adeline won't let me touch her hair without screaming. The girls run down the hallway when we enter the building and Adeline greets everyone with a huge smile. I will miss the routine and my "break" but most of all I will miss these wonderful experiences my girls have had.

I wanted to include the shirt the girls made for me at preschool - unfortunately I'm wearing it right now so excuse the photo. Who wouldn't want this for a mother's day gift? Another example of how wonderful their teachers are.

Hippotherapy

Adeline has continued with her once a week Hippotherapy. She receives speech while on the horse. At first, I wasn't sure we were going to get to the "speech part" as she was so overwhelmed by the sensory experience. The helmet, the open space, the horse hair, the horse in general, the movement, and straw are just a few of the things that were taxing for Adeline's sensory self.

Fast forward six months. . . Adeline is climbing on the horse like a big girl, with her helmet on I might add. She pats the horse while talking to it. Miss Heather (SLP) has her sit in all different positions which Adeline is happy to do. Just being on the horse is tiring because is it a work out on her weak core. You wouldn't know it thought because Adeline powers through with her award winning smile and willingness. She talks and talks on the horse. Adeline focuses and performs! There is something about the motion of the horse that helps Adeline organize and not give into every distraction around her. I am very pleased with her progress.


Each session is ended with a treat for the horse. The rider is to fill a bucket with straw and feed it to the horse. You can imagine how Adeline liked this in the beginning. She wouldn't touch it or have anything to do with being "below" the horse. Now, she fills it up (watch her mind over matter touching the straw in the video. You can almost feel the negative sensations in her hands when she pats it down) and walks it over to the horse. When done, she places the bucket back where it belongs.

All of these activities appear to be fun and exciting and they are for most typical children. However, for Adeline, they are mini hurdles in her very long race of growing up. I am so proud of her for powering through and making the tremendous progress that she has. Just today, her preschool teachers couldn't tell me enough about how Adeline was talking and singing in class. Things are finally coming together for the Belle.

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful day with the girls; one without plans!! I woke up to homemade gifts, painted shirts and lots of loves. Savannah packed me a "Mother's Day Tea" for my relaxed time (not sure when that falls into my day but. . .) complete with tea, apple, muffin and chapter book about littering - written by Savannah. We headed out to the park where I was able to get a run in while the girls played. We all came home and we ALL took a nap. Dinner was oatmeal which was easy, smooth and pleasant - no fussing or refusing. A pretty fantastic day if you ask me.

My only request for the day was some pictures with my girls. I got exactly what I wanted. I really love these girls.

Hitting a Wall

As much as I think taking care of three young children is a pretty doable task, my heart tell me different. My brain tells me that all of the neighbors don't look like they have their feathers in a ruffle which only makes me feel worse. My heart is full of frustration and "Mother's Guilt." I think I have hit my wall.

Each and every day I feel as though my kids push me over the edge. The breaking point comes at 8:30 a.m. instead of 8:30 p.m. The crying and whining is constant. Never is there peace unless I am holding someone. I just need quite and to not be touched during the quite. That is not possible. All of my girls want on my lap every second of every day. I can't make lunch without everyone falling apart (well not everyone, Savannah is still pretty much perfection) and forget dinner.

It is a just plain survival which isn't a lot of fun. I am sucked dry of patience and feel as though the twins should be off and playing on their own, giving me space. Instead they are crying or whining my name for help, or because they want up - again being held. While one stands at the door hitting and it and crying because we just came in from the outdoors, the other is screaming to be held or to have something she knows she can't. It would be fine if this happened two or three times a day but it happems so much that I feel there is little room for positive interaction.

After a really hard week - my week is somewhat over because Daddy will be home tomorrow, I am desperately searching for ways to make these girls the light of my day and not the end of my rope.