The Chronicles of School Days, Issue 7

So, it has been awhile, but let me update you on school. There have been lots of ups and downs, but we now have an IEP in place for Taylor. The speech therapist at his school didn't think that he qualified for services any longer. Since Josh and I disagreed with his initial findings, we asked for a second opinion. While the district is supposed to pay for an independent therapist to evaluate students when the parents request a second opinion, we were asked and agreed to allow another one of the district's therapists evaluate him. Fortunately, this was one of the parents of fellow soccer campers last summer. So we had a rapport.

Her report was incredibly thorough and professionally prepared and had some of the same findings, but also disagreed with some of the findings. It determined that Taylor is, in fact, qualified for services. Some of his mistakes are not age appropriate, even for a 4 year-old Kindergartner. His goals were re-evaluated and amended to goals that we find will be beneficial. The proposed goals were those that he had already met. It didn't make any sense. So, we were happy that the second evaluation had an outcome that will help Taylor's speech improve.

Taylor also qualified for a 504 which is a blessing too. The school psychologist also evaluated Taylor and agreed with his pediatricians, Taylor suffers from anxiety. The 504 will ensure that we can help him recover and learn to minimize the impact of his anxiety on his life. Overall, these are two huge victories for him.

We are guaranteed that he gets to meet his teacher for next year and build a rapport with him/her before the transition to first grade. However with the budget issues this year, they haven't narrowed down who will be teaching first grade, making it impossible for Taylor to get to know his future teacher. This is very frustrating for me. I talked to the school psychologist briefly today, though, and she will be working on this issue for me.

I find myself obligated to mention that landing at the elementary school that we have has been a total blessing. While we desperately tried to get into a different school district only to be shot down by the school board, twice, God's will was done, in Taylor going to school where he is. Every time that I go to the school, it is a daily reminder that God's will and plan are perfect. He knows what is best and will make it happen. Thanks be to God.

SLOCMiversary

Today is the first anniversary of my membership on slocountymommies.com. I am celebrating today because this site has been a blessing in my life. I have made some wonderful friends for myself and my children through this site. If not for this site, I would still be a lonely stay-at-home mommy. Thank you to the founder for starting the site. Thank you to the site administrators, the mangers, and the moderators for volunteering your time to make this a wonderful place for moms to connect. Thank you to the mommies who commented and reached out to me at one of the saddest, most desperate moments of my life. Thank you to the host of last year's Mother's Day gift exchange and the members who attended for welcoming me so sweetly. Thank you all.

Disneyland Days

We have successfully waited four years to take the kids to Disneyland. We wanted to wait to because it is so expensive and the kids weren't big enough to enjoy it or remember it or go on many rides. So we finally did it. We took them over Spring Break and they loved it!!!

Taylor is a roller coaster junkie!!! Josh took him on Space Mountain, then we all went on the Matterhorn. I took him on Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones. We tried to get him on California Screaming in California Adventure, but they said he was tall enough. That's a bunch of crap, but also a rant topic for another post.

Tacey wasn't much for the roller coasters, but she excited to see the castle and loved meeting all the Princesses. Just that totally made her trip. Although it was extremely expensive, we had lunch with them and were fortunate enough to meet all of them. It was worth it, just to see Tacey's little face light up when Cinderella walked up to our table and introduced herself.

I got to spend my birthday at Disneyland. That was pretty cool. I'd always wanted to eat at that restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Turns out, it is called Blue Bayou. We had a lovely dinner there on my birthday. The food was great and the service amazing.

Thank you SLOCM friend for letting me borrow your Ergo! It was a life saver when Tacey got tired. She was able to take a nap and we were still able to enjoy Disneyland as a family.

Despite the fun we had and the memories we made, Walt was rolling over in his grave over the poor customer service that we received by some "cast members." This piggy-backs the height comment above, but it is best mentioned in a rant post or a "Disney Dos and Don'ts" post. Let me just say that make sure your shortest members are two inches taller than the posted height requirements if you intend to take them on any of the bigger rides.

We are looking forward to going back at least two or three times over the next 12 months. And I will be running in the Disneyland Half Marathon in September.

Happy Birthday Tacey!

Happy birthday to my baby, Tacey, the baby of the family. I can't believe that she is 4! It is such a bitter sweet feeling. The birthday of the first born and second born are totally different, at least for me. With the oldest, it is a feeling of nostalgia, one of accomplishment, the firsts, the parenting mistakes, the uncharted territories. With the second, it is one of relief that we have both survived, the twos and the threes, and are safely headed into the fours. It is one of sadness, that this little person, was the last baby I nursed, the last one in a crib, the last nursery that was decorated, the last one rocked to sleep. But it is also liberating, free from bottles and sippy cups and feeding times and diaper bags and diapers and diaper pails and strollers and high chairs. Four is a milestone. It is that age when you realize that your baby isn't a baby anymore, she is a big girl now. She is capable of washing her own hands and putting on her own clothes and opening the car door on her own. It is a feeling of finally being able to reclaim my life. The person that I am and was before I was someone's mom. Don't get me wrong, I would never trade being someone's mom or wife for anything in the world. But now that my youngest child is four, I am Sunny again, not just Taylor's and Tacey's mom. I am free to peruse my own interests again, while the kids are at school of course. But for six beautiful hours each week, I am just Sunny.

Tacey, on her fourth birthday.

My angel, on the day she came home from the hospital.

Happy Birthday Taylor!

My first born child is six years old today. Yes, I am feeling nostalgic, wondering where the time has gone and reminiscing about the day of his birth, although I will spare you the long, gory details. Instead, check out my favorite picture of my baby and I when he was 12 hours old.





And one of us today.

Isn't he a handsome kid?


Happy birthday Taylor-made! You made me a proud momma six years ago today! I look forward to many more amazing memories with you. I love you, sweetheart!

Shout out

I would like to send a shout out to all of my friends that read my blog that I never knew because they don't comment! Welcome! Thanks for reading my blog. I'd love to have you comment, but I just wanted to acknowledge you and appreciate your reading! Love ya.

The Chronicles of School Days, Issue 6

One week of school under our belt and a three day weekend. Labor Day. I remember school starting AFTER Labor Day. Labor Day was the last hooray before going back to the grind of a new school year. But, not anymore. School is quickly in full swing before the unofficial start of fall graces us with its presence. Our first week went really well. But, our second week, wow, busy as a family of little bees.

We quickly learned how early we need to leave to get everyone to school on time. We found shortcuts and figured out the best routes and learned parking secrets. We had Back to School nights on back to back nights,costing $30+ for a babysitter. Yes, some preschools have Back to School nights. I really enjoyed Back to School night. I spent the prior week, wondering what the kids were doing in school all day. Typically when you ask a 3-year-old what they did in school today, you get little more than "Played." The 5-year-old isn't much better, "We read a story." So, both Back to School nights were enlightening for me. It was also very beneficial to how I could help the children learn by reinforcing their school lessons at home. For example at Taylor's school I learned that children do not know what an "Lmnop" is. Instead, it is now, "Lmn," clap, "op," clap. Hmm... okay, good to know. At Tacey's school, we learned that the primary objective is for the kids to learn how to sit, semi-still and listen to a story for three minutes. And that Deedee Dear says "duh."

Oh and at Taylor's Back to School night introduction, I was decisive enough to choose a seat right behind the bitch of a school board president, who patronizingly, turned around to ask how our son was doing. When we replied that he was adjusting well, she replied, "I just wanted you to try it." I am still kicking myself for not replying, "But you took away my fundamental right as a parent to decide what is best for my kid." Josh was right when he told me that it wasn't the right place or right time. I should've protested at the school board meeting a few eeks ago. Oh well. She is up for re-election and I know at least a few people who are unimpressed and unhappy, even, with how the school board has governed this school district. SAVE OUR STUDENTS, REPLACE THE BOARD!

Okay, enough of the tangent. I provided Taylor's teacher with a copy of his IEP for Speech Therapy and he saw the Therapist for the first time. Tacey had her first sick day from school. Not even a full week of school for her and she is already sick. I hope this isn't a precedent. Her illness was short-lived a night time fever and a runny nose. Back to school for her next week.