Chase went to school again :)
He got up super early in the morning, though, and had OT before going to school. I warned the teachers that he may (will) be especially tired today. I left him with his green frog just in case (but no pacifier! I'm trying to get rid of that thing in a slow but semi-effective way).
When I picked him up, he was all happy, paging through books and crawling around. Apparently he had folded himself in half on top of green frog in the middle of the room for a 15 minute power nap and was all recharged by the time I got there.
Which is great...I'm glad he did that instead of cranking out and being a whiny mess, but it did not help me at all when I took him home, fed him lunch, and attempted to lay him down for a real nap.
We still have a few bugs to work out, but this school thing will work out eventually :)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
She shoots, she SCORES!!
I was digging through my freezer trying to find some veggies to go in my chicken pot pie tonight, and I found some leftover chocolate ice cream cake!!!!
And then, I dug a little further and found one last frozen twizzler!!
Woot! Afternoon snacks? Check.
And then, I dug a little further and found one last frozen twizzler!!
Woot! Afternoon snacks? Check.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Chase at School
I don't have a lot of time to go on and on about this right now, but:
Chase had a great day at school!! He loved it and did great!
And while he was gone, William took a nap and Ian and I made cookies together (and then ate them).
All good, all around :)
Chase had a great day at school!! He loved it and did great!
And while he was gone, William took a nap and Ian and I made cookies together (and then ate them).
All good, all around :)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Tomorrow!!
Well, I listened to you all, picked the brain of one of Chase's therapists, talked with the mommies in my group, inquired at the preschool, and trusted my gut...
...and Chase starts school tomorrow!!
He will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12, which I think is perfect, aside from the fact that those are the opposite days that Ian goes, so I will not be gaining any alone time. That's ok, though. I wasn't really ready to send him away 3 days a week, and even though it makes a little more hassle on more days of the week (getting 3 children up and out the door before 9am) it makes for some time alone with Ian and Chase on their respective mornings at home with me, so that's cool.
The director of the school was really encouraging. She said she had another new one starting this week, too. She thought he'd fit in perfectly. She's going to make sure that the teachers in his room start to learn some sign since it's his main (ok, only) mode of communication right now.
Drawback to looking at the school:
It was impossible not to look at those other little kids in the one year old room and not think about what Chase isn't doing yet. The director made some comment about how the kids in the class I was watching were a little older than Chase (I was looking at the MWF class)-- that most of them were about to turn 2-- and that the other class had younger kids in it. And I couldn't help but think that um, Chase is almost 2. Well, closer to 2 than 1! I mean, we have 3 months left until the big 2. And the kids in there were walking all over. Not even that drunken sailor walk, the real one where they weren't so wobbly. I even saw running. And talking. One of the teachers said something like, "I love this age because they are saying new things every day." And I was like..."Yeah. Me too." Only Chase doesn't say new things every day. He isn't picking up words. He doesn't repeat everything I say. That hurts. A lot.
I know that Chase works at his own pace. And that he is learning new things. And he is starting to say things ('Hiiiiiiiii' and 'Dada' and the occassional 'Mamamamamama'). And he knows and can use over 30 signs. Some in 2 word sentences. He asks for help. He tells me what he wants to eat (as long as it's ice cream or banana or popcorn or cheese or apple). He stands up in the middle of the room and cheers for himself. He does awesome things.
But it's hard sometimes not to be slapped in the face by Down syndrome. I try really hard not to let it do that to me, but it's definitely there and I think acknowledging it is better than pretending it doesn't matter to me, even a little.
Ok. Pity party over. I'm off to fix my mascara.
...and Chase starts school tomorrow!!
He will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12, which I think is perfect, aside from the fact that those are the opposite days that Ian goes, so I will not be gaining any alone time. That's ok, though. I wasn't really ready to send him away 3 days a week, and even though it makes a little more hassle on more days of the week (getting 3 children up and out the door before 9am) it makes for some time alone with Ian and Chase on their respective mornings at home with me, so that's cool.
The director of the school was really encouraging. She said she had another new one starting this week, too. She thought he'd fit in perfectly. She's going to make sure that the teachers in his room start to learn some sign since it's his main (ok, only) mode of communication right now.
Drawback to looking at the school:
It was impossible not to look at those other little kids in the one year old room and not think about what Chase isn't doing yet. The director made some comment about how the kids in the class I was watching were a little older than Chase (I was looking at the MWF class)-- that most of them were about to turn 2-- and that the other class had younger kids in it. And I couldn't help but think that um, Chase is almost 2. Well, closer to 2 than 1! I mean, we have 3 months left until the big 2. And the kids in there were walking all over. Not even that drunken sailor walk, the real one where they weren't so wobbly. I even saw running. And talking. One of the teachers said something like, "I love this age because they are saying new things every day." And I was like..."Yeah. Me too." Only Chase doesn't say new things every day. He isn't picking up words. He doesn't repeat everything I say. That hurts. A lot.
I know that Chase works at his own pace. And that he is learning new things. And he is starting to say things ('Hiiiiiiiii' and 'Dada' and the occassional 'Mamamamamama'). And he knows and can use over 30 signs. Some in 2 word sentences. He asks for help. He tells me what he wants to eat (as long as it's ice cream or banana or popcorn or cheese or apple). He stands up in the middle of the room and cheers for himself. He does awesome things.
But it's hard sometimes not to be slapped in the face by Down syndrome. I try really hard not to let it do that to me, but it's definitely there and I think acknowledging it is better than pretending it doesn't matter to me, even a little.
Ok. Pity party over. I'm off to fix my mascara.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sunday Shoppappalooza
Another successful grocery-gaming day :) Ian had a sleepover with Gaga and Papa last night, so Bryan and Chase and I went grocery coupon-mania shopping with a break in the middle for CiCi's Pizza.
Not only did Papa bring Ian home after 8pm dead asleep in the backseat of the car, but Chase also caught some zzzz's in the middle of the grocery store. You know, some people just can't handle all the excitement in our lives.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Dilemma
I'm mulling this over, and I could use some advice.
I stay at home, but Ian goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Chase stays with me all day.
Chase has always been a really social little kid. He wants to be where the action is. He follows Ian around all over, he follows me all over. I watched Tiff's kids yesterday (4 of them) and Chasey was all about being part of the group. He sat and listened to stories as Kenna read, he went down the slide with everyone, he even tried to participate in a game of "chase Ian around the house screaming and running". He just likes to be around other little kids.
So, do I explore the possibility of putting him in pre-preschool 2 mornings a week at Ian's school? Is that weird, that I stay at home, but ship my kids off to school in the mornings? Doubly weird, I watch another little boy, so I would be staying at home with a kid that is not mine, so that I could pay for school for both of my kids...?
I just don't know if it's worth it at this point...would he get much out of being away from me 6 hours a week at this age? Or would it be more practical to wait until next school year when he is walking (like the rest of his class will be). Or would this be the motivation that he needs to practice more gross motor skills as he watches other little kids doing it or tries to keep up with everyone?
I just don't really know what to do.
I stay at home, but Ian goes to preschool 3 mornings a week. Chase stays with me all day.
Chase has always been a really social little kid. He wants to be where the action is. He follows Ian around all over, he follows me all over. I watched Tiff's kids yesterday (4 of them) and Chasey was all about being part of the group. He sat and listened to stories as Kenna read, he went down the slide with everyone, he even tried to participate in a game of "chase Ian around the house screaming and running". He just likes to be around other little kids.
So, do I explore the possibility of putting him in pre-preschool 2 mornings a week at Ian's school? Is that weird, that I stay at home, but ship my kids off to school in the mornings? Doubly weird, I watch another little boy, so I would be staying at home with a kid that is not mine, so that I could pay for school for both of my kids...?
I just don't know if it's worth it at this point...would he get much out of being away from me 6 hours a week at this age? Or would it be more practical to wait until next school year when he is walking (like the rest of his class will be). Or would this be the motivation that he needs to practice more gross motor skills as he watches other little kids doing it or tries to keep up with everyone?
I just don't really know what to do.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
One More Time
Well, I'm sick again. I'm blaming Monkey Joe's and their kid/germ infested play equipment.
This is getting old. Seriously.
In other news, the boys seem to be mostly healthy.
This is getting old. Seriously.
In other news, the boys seem to be mostly healthy.
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