Really, how did we get here???!!! Wasn't he just a baby? Talking about kindergarten for Sam has Nick and me a little stressed. (well, maybe not so much Nick). But we're at a crossroads with deciding whether or not to put him in public or private school.
Sam's situation is a little more complicated than the average kindergartner. Sam misses a lot of school due to therapy and dr. appointments, and since he's got DMD - there are certain things about his education that need to be modified: like PE, recess and transitioning to and from the classroom. So, we've met with the school district/school admin and had an ARD meeting and discussed IEP's....geez - the kid hasn't even started school yet! There's already so much information and it's still summer.
Last year, we had him at Catholic school and absolutely loved it. The school goes all the way up to 8th grade. It's small - he would be 1 out of 30 kindergartners. He's already way more ahead than where Caroline was when she started kinder. But it's private school. It's expensive. They don't have to make any educational accommodations because of Sam's disease. Meaning they can hold him back b/c he's missed a lot of school. Or they don't have to let him take breaks during PE. They don't have to have a plan to help him transition to the cafeteria or to recess. I do feel like the level of education is better than it is at the public school, especially after my extreme hatred for 2nd grade this past year (I'll save that rant for another post, but we're giving it one more year).
The public school in the neighborhood is close to home. It's free. He'd have a wonderful kindergarten teacher - we hope the same one who had Caroline b/c we loved her. He'd have an IEP that gives him the tools and services he needs to succeed and to accommodate his disease. But it's crowded - he would be 1 of 120 kids. Someone has to watch him all the time at recess and PE. I know, because I've been on the playground where there's 3 classes on the playground and one teacher watching. There's no way there can be a set of eyes on him all the time, but if he falls we need to know exactly what happened so we can determine if it was because someone pushed him or if his DMD is getting worse. Then what happens after kinder? First grade was ok, but 2nd grade sucked so bad. Are we going to go down this same road with Sam? I know he'll be taken care of, but the number of kids in that school terrifies me and the things that can go wrong (and already have) can happen again too.
Granted, having a newborn with 2 kids at 2 different schools is so much harder than it has to be, so obviously sending them both to one school is the best choice. But we really just don't know what to do. Nick is a product of private school. I am not. I turned out ok, right? He's ready to just yank both kids and put them in private school anyway; I think that decision is premature. We've weighed the pros and cons, but at the end of the day it all seems to balance out.
So for now, Sam is enrolled at 2 schools until we make up our minds. He really wants to go to sissy's school. Just don't know if that's the right decision for him right now.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
five
Sam turned 5 on June 18th, while we were on vacation - so this post is a little late.
Turning 5 was a big deal for me when Caroline turned 5. It meant that she was no longer a baby. It meant that she was starting kindergarten. She was a big girl. Sam turning 5 had a total different affect on me. He's still my baby (for 9 weeks, 4 days and 13 hours - but who's counting?). Even though he starts kindergarten in August (don't ask me where yet, because as of right now he's enrolled at 2 different schools), it feels like it took forever for Sam to get to 5.
Birthdays are supposed to be happy and I don't feel that at all. To me, Sam's birthdays are an all-to-quick trip back to reality that our time with him is running out. I don't even know how many birthdays we'll be able to celebrate with him. 5 more? 10 more? The unknown kills me. Every day. But June 18th was the worst day to be reminded of the unknown.
He told me when he's five, he wants to ride a bike without training wheels. He just recently, thanks to OT, starting getting himself dressed. He's no longer afraid to take showers - really don't understand why he was afraid of them in the first place. He turned into a big boy overnight. We love him so much. He is hilarious, and sweet (and sort of mean) and gives the best hugs ever.
Since we were in Tennessee for his birthday, we celebrated with family. Went to the Dixie Stampede (which is like going to Medieval Times, but western themed). It was fun. Sam really thought all those people there were there for his birthday, especially when they all sang him happy birthday.
So, he wants Chuck-E-Cheese for his birthday - and even though I despise the place and think it's a cesspool of germs - we'll go to CEC and like it (then bathe in bleach when we get home). Because that's what Sam wants to do for turning 5. Because he's a big boy.
Turning 5 was a big deal for me when Caroline turned 5. It meant that she was no longer a baby. It meant that she was starting kindergarten. She was a big girl. Sam turning 5 had a total different affect on me. He's still my baby (for 9 weeks, 4 days and 13 hours - but who's counting?). Even though he starts kindergarten in August (don't ask me where yet, because as of right now he's enrolled at 2 different schools), it feels like it took forever for Sam to get to 5.
Birthdays are supposed to be happy and I don't feel that at all. To me, Sam's birthdays are an all-to-quick trip back to reality that our time with him is running out. I don't even know how many birthdays we'll be able to celebrate with him. 5 more? 10 more? The unknown kills me. Every day. But June 18th was the worst day to be reminded of the unknown.
He told me when he's five, he wants to ride a bike without training wheels. He just recently, thanks to OT, starting getting himself dressed. He's no longer afraid to take showers - really don't understand why he was afraid of them in the first place. He turned into a big boy overnight. We love him so much. He is hilarious, and sweet (and sort of mean) and gives the best hugs ever.
Since we were in Tennessee for his birthday, we celebrated with family. Went to the Dixie Stampede (which is like going to Medieval Times, but western themed). It was fun. Sam really thought all those people there were there for his birthday, especially when they all sang him happy birthday.
Maybe this year, he'll learn to look at the camera when I'm taking pictures...
So, he wants Chuck-E-Cheese for his birthday - and even though I despise the place and think it's a cesspool of germs - we'll go to CEC and like it (then bathe in bleach when we get home). Because that's what Sam wants to do for turning 5. Because he's a big boy.
Happy Birthday, Samuel!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
eight
Caroline is 8! Happy Birthday Caroline Mae. (for the record, I started writing this post the week of her birthday, just now getting around to posting it)
She currently is into this preteen, obnoxious phase where she grunts and moans in protest if she doesn't like what she hears or is told to do. It's fun. She is super smart. Sweet when she wants to be. Creative. Well behaved. A great big sister (again, when she wants to be). Caring and sensitive. We love her so much.
Being 8 years old got me thinking. In 2 years, she'll be at the age where I told her she could get her ears pierced. She is half the age she will be when she starts driving. And in 10 years, she'll be leaving us for college. Sounds like a long ways away at the moment, but 10 years ago Nick and I got married and it seems like yesterday....and here come the heart palpitations again.
Because I'mthe worst mom ever pregnant and too pissy to have kids in my house for a birthday party, we compromised with sometime this summer I'll take Caroline and a few of her friends horseback riding, out to lunch and possibly pedicures - she settled for that. Don't start feeling bad for her getting the short end of the stick in this deal, because the other agreement was that when she moved into a smaller room (so the boys can share a bathroom) that we would redecorate, get her new furniture and repaint everything. And as luck would have it, she has very expensive taste. Caroline isn't the only one not getting a party this year, Sam isn't either. I'm too tired to have house guests, let alone little house guests. Whether it's just for a couple hours or overnight...not happening this year.
I digress....
Anyhoo - Happy Birthday Sweet Caroline! (she hates that song by the way)
She currently is into this preteen, obnoxious phase where she grunts and moans in protest if she doesn't like what she hears or is told to do. It's fun. She is super smart. Sweet when she wants to be. Creative. Well behaved. A great big sister (again, when she wants to be). Caring and sensitive. We love her so much.
Being 8 years old got me thinking. In 2 years, she'll be at the age where I told her she could get her ears pierced. She is half the age she will be when she starts driving. And in 10 years, she'll be leaving us for college. Sounds like a long ways away at the moment, but 10 years ago Nick and I got married and it seems like yesterday....and here come the heart palpitations again.
Because I'm
I digress....
Anyhoo - Happy Birthday Sweet Caroline! (she hates that song by the way)
We shall call him...
Patrick Thomas.
We really liked the name Patrick. And it seems to go well with the names of the other kiddos...traditional and not too popular.
Thomas is my maiden name.
So far he's being a total pain in the ass and doesn't sit still. ever. He's also still breech, so when he kicks me, he kicks me in the hoo-ha. From the inside. 11 more weeks 2 days and 17 hours. I can do this.
We can't wait to meet him though. Sam talks to him all the time and pretends that Patrick talks back. Today he said "I think Patrick is hungry". Why? Because Patrick told him so. Hate to break it so Sam, but there's no way this kid is hungry b/c I feed it all the time.
Here's what I'm most excited about finally agreeing on a name: monograms. I love personalizing stuff. I found these cute monogrammed pacifiers on zazzle.com that I know Patrick will not be able to live without. I also have a slight obsession with jon-jons. Particularly, monogrammed ones. In my opinion, nothing cuter than a little boy wearing jon-jons. So between now and D-Day, I will try my best at online shopping and sneaking my finds into the house unnoticed. Good thing I have my own embroidery machine.
Another obsession I have is diaper bags. Unfortunately for Nick, my taste in bags has been refined in the last 5 years, thanks to my BFFs Louis and Gucci. (yeah, that's a hint). This is my favorite part of preparing for baby....shopping - shocking, I know; picking out the perfect going home outfit; putting the crib together and getting all the bedding in it; designing the nursery.... For a split second, it makes me forget how uncomfortable I am.
Went to see the Dr. the other day and everything looks good. Blood pressure was a little high, but with Sam, summer, vacation, Nick's new business venture, and all of the projects we have going on around here doc gave me a little break. She did not, however, give me a break on how much weight I gained in 4 weeks. But if you look at it cumulatively, I've only gained a pound a week - somehow explaining it to her that way wasn't amusing or up for discussion. I did point out that it is WAY better than Caroline's pregnancy....where I got so fat I can't recognize "who that fat chick is" in pictures. 74 pounds. Not only did it really look like I ate a baby, it unfortunately looked like I ate it's family too.
Still lots to do around here. Painting...will it ever end? I feel like I live at Home Depot - I'm there all the time! The good thing about that is mama gets it done when Nick sends me by myself to HD. Its amazing how helpful everyone is when you have a pregnant woman waddling around your store: I don't have to search for someone to ask a question, people are putting heavy things in my cart for me and employees carry things out to my car...maybe they're just worried about a full out pregnancy meltdown in the store?
Speaking of painting, look what I did? All by myself (with the exception of the varnishing b/c the odor was too strong)
We really liked the name Patrick. And it seems to go well with the names of the other kiddos...traditional and not too popular.
Thomas is my maiden name.
So far he's being a total pain in the ass and doesn't sit still. ever. He's also still breech, so when he kicks me, he kicks me in the hoo-ha. From the inside. 11 more weeks 2 days and 17 hours. I can do this.
We can't wait to meet him though. Sam talks to him all the time and pretends that Patrick talks back. Today he said "I think Patrick is hungry". Why? Because Patrick told him so. Hate to break it so Sam, but there's no way this kid is hungry b/c I feed it all the time.
Here's what I'm most excited about finally agreeing on a name: monograms. I love personalizing stuff. I found these cute monogrammed pacifiers on zazzle.com that I know Patrick will not be able to live without. I also have a slight obsession with jon-jons. Particularly, monogrammed ones. In my opinion, nothing cuter than a little boy wearing jon-jons. So between now and D-Day, I will try my best at online shopping and sneaking my finds into the house unnoticed. Good thing I have my own embroidery machine.
Another obsession I have is diaper bags. Unfortunately for Nick, my taste in bags has been refined in the last 5 years, thanks to my BFFs Louis and Gucci. (yeah, that's a hint). This is my favorite part of preparing for baby....shopping - shocking, I know; picking out the perfect going home outfit; putting the crib together and getting all the bedding in it; designing the nursery.... For a split second, it makes me forget how uncomfortable I am.
Went to see the Dr. the other day and everything looks good. Blood pressure was a little high, but with Sam, summer, vacation, Nick's new business venture, and all of the projects we have going on around here doc gave me a little break. She did not, however, give me a break on how much weight I gained in 4 weeks. But if you look at it cumulatively, I've only gained a pound a week - somehow explaining it to her that way wasn't amusing or up for discussion. I did point out that it is WAY better than Caroline's pregnancy....where I got so fat I can't recognize "who that fat chick is" in pictures. 74 pounds. Not only did it really look like I ate a baby, it unfortunately looked like I ate it's family too.
Still lots to do around here. Painting...will it ever end? I feel like I live at Home Depot - I'm there all the time! The good thing about that is mama gets it done when Nick sends me by myself to HD. Its amazing how helpful everyone is when you have a pregnant woman waddling around your store: I don't have to search for someone to ask a question, people are putting heavy things in my cart for me and employees carry things out to my car...maybe they're just worried about a full out pregnancy meltdown in the store?
Speaking of painting, look what I did? All by myself (with the exception of the varnishing b/c the odor was too strong)
We had this old dresser of Nick's when he was a kid. (Sorry - got a little excited and took the drawers off before I remembered to take the official before picture).
Turned it into this! Used the Zinser Stain Sealer stuff and painted over the original stained wood. Didn't have to sand a thing! Then painted it turquoise, put some updated knobs/pulls on it and now it's ready for Caroline's new room!
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