First Day of Preschool!

So. much. excitement.  Seriously!  She was ready to go.  Watching sissy catch the bus, get her backpack in order and head off to school...it was finally Mei Mei's turn :)

Of course, the first-day-of-school pictures.

And some silly ones as well.

We had talked about what to expect and she had so much fun when she went for her orientation morning.  She was silent a bit more reserved when her teacher came for the home visit but still pumped.

This week she'll only go for an hour, but next week, three mornings a week she'll be heading off!

Not a tear or a backwards glance (small sniff from me) and ready to greet "Tick Tock", which is what she calls her teacher because of the clean up song they sing.  Love it!  Now I just need to remember to call her by her correct name and not "Tick Tock".  Ha!

Here's to new beginnings!!

Reflections on work

Since it is the Labor Day weekend, and I've been now back to work for about 2 weeks, I thought I'd sum up my feelings.  Overall, the transition back to school has been very smooth.  Perhaps I said in a previous post (or perhaps not), but all of the students that I have this year, I had in elementary school.  That has made a WORLD of difference, since I know exactly what their strengths and weaknesses are, what kind of behaviors we are dealing with and what they are working on academically.  Certainly they are in a different place and have progressed from 3 years ago, but many of the issues that they were experiencing in 2008 are still reoccurring themes now.  Such is life when you are working with children with Autism...at least that has been my experience.
 
The Chinese Noodle LOVES going to the babysitter's house and is quite happy to head off each morning.  Starting tomorrow, she'll be at a new preschool (5 mornings a week) so that will be a new twist, but I feel confident that she'll handle it in stride. 

In all honesty, I feel like going to the babysitter's house has been best thing for her, in this whole situation.  She is surrounded by children of different ages and has to interact and play with them in a less structured situation.  While the nursery school that she has attended the past 2 years was play-based, it was only for 2 hours and with peers that were her same age.  Unfortunately, she's not such a big fan of the tot group (toddlers and babies), mainly because she doesn't want them to get "their glop" on her stuff.  Learning tolerance, communication and empathy are something that can only be learned 'on the job'!  Besides, it is good preparation for when we go back for Mei Mei (settle down, no immediate plans as of yet).

J has been a great support for me, as I knew he would be, and steps up all the time to help out either with the Noodle or around the house.  We seem to have established a 'new normal', and overall it is working. 

While I still wish I was able to be at home with the Noodle, I know that the Lord has blessed me with talents that many people do not possess.  I don't write that to sound egotistical, but the truth of the matter is that most people hear what I do everyday and shrink away.  They cannot fathom spending 5 days a week trying to teach a child who is non-verbal how to read (it can be done!) or how to calm a 215 lb. student who is in a rage.  Many days I have no idea what to do or how to help my students.  Often I leave physically, emotionally and mentally drained (but honestly, who doesn't from their job?!) however I also know that I run a tough classroom, expect a lot out of my students and will not tolerate them not performing to their highest ability.  I can only attribute this to the gifts and abilities that the Lord has bestowed upon me.  I know that I bring him glory when I am at work, and so for this season of my life, I will do so.  Much like I know I brought glory to Him by staying home with the C.N. for that season and will (hopefully) do so again when it is time to get Mei Mei.

The last change that we have made was for the Noodle to stop the violin, at least for now.  Practices had been becoming harder and harder as the summer wore on, and she was starting to make comments like "I want to make ugly sounds with the violin" or "I reeeeeealy don't like the violin".  I had thought that maybe we'd stick it out until Nov. (which would be a year), but by last week, decided it was silly to keep going when she obviously wasn't interested...she is only 4 and a half after-all! 

So....that's what life has been like around these parts lately.  A bit more hurried and scurried in the mornings and late afternoons but still lots of laughter, hugs and love :)

Last Day of Leave

Today is the official last day of my extended leave of absence.  Monday I go back to teaching.  It has been SUCH a blessing being off this whole time.  As J and I were in our waiting phase, I couldn't begin to fathom what the Lord had planned and why it was taking SOOOOO long.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  Traveling on Sept. 11, 2008 allowed me to start the 2008 school year, but then take the rest of that year plus the 2 additional ones allowed by our contract (totaling almost 3 years).  Only He could orchestrate such things. 

We decided to go downtown and meet J one last time for lunch.  It is always great when we get to see him during the day!

 Side note here--I think this picture is so funny!  For those of you who have been to China, you know that many Chinese will squat while they wait--whether they are at a bus stop, playing cards, having a snack, chatting, talking on the phone, etc.  It is such a common sight, both for men as well as women.  The Chinese Noodle will frequently drop into her "Chinese person pose" as J and I call it whether she's playing, outside, or like here, eating an apple!  Ha!

After that, the Noodle and I decided to try a new frozen yogurt store that has just opened up in our area.  They have all these flavors and you pick as many or as few as you want, plus all kinds of yummy toppings and sauces.  You pay by the ounce.  Not too bad you may think, but they totally fool you by having these HUGE cups.  Major portion control is needed, otherwise you have a nice, full bowl of frozen yogurt but it is probably 20 times the serving size that you actually need!  That soft serve machine was also hard to control, but let me tell you it was delish!!

For me--cappuccino and red velvet (I'm obsessed w/that flavor lately) and for the Noodle--York peppermint and red velevet.  We both added a few turtle candies and I had a small dab of hot fudge!

See what I mean about the size of the bowls?!

The first step

Today was a first step.  Not a big one, but that first, initial one...The Noodle went to the babysitter's house for the morning.  I am taking a workshop this week and so we thought it would be good as a "trial run" for her to stay.

Both J and I dropped her off.  She was ready.  She was excited.  "It's Jennifer (the babysitter) day" she told us.  What a relief!  We had talked about it over the weekend...talked about our feelings and the changes that were coming to our family...talked about how some things would be different and other things would be the same. She seemed ready.

Thankfully everything about the morning ran smoothly.  Getting dressed, breakfast, scooting out the door, etc.  Nice and smooth.  When it was time for J and me to leave her, she just gave us BIG hugs and then got down to her business of playing.  

When I picked her up, she pretended like she didn't see me and kept right on playing.  She was right there in the thick of it with 2 other boys and thoroughly enjoying herself.  Obviously having a grand time!  What a joy to see and a blessing.  To know that your child is completely happy (even on the first day) and feels safe and secure.  Thank you Lord for this gift!

A little teary

The past few days I have been at a training for school.  My M-I-L watched the Noodle for the first full day and my mom watched her for the other 1/2 day.  As always the Noodle had a great time and was busy, busy, busy.

Today when the timer went off signaling that quiet time was over, the Noodle came bounding into the office so I could silence the noise.  Something in me snapped and the tears started rolling down my face...all of a sudden it became real that I would soon be going back to school and would miss the day to day goings on of my sweet, little girl!

She of course looked at me weirdly and said "You're crying!  Why?"  and I answered her that I was sad because I was going to miss her.  She reminded me very matter of a factly that she wasn't going anywhere and would be right here.  Then she went and got her stuffed panda, her lovie blanket which she spread across my lap and a Kleenex and proceeded to lovingly poke dab my eyes.  I gave her a big hug and a kiss, whimpered a little bit more and then realized I needed to get a grip--millions of women do this everyday and that I have been sooo blessed to have off the time that I have.

Up until this point I have been feeling calm and at peace, but I think with the 4th fast approaching (I always think of this as the halfway  mark of summer), reality is setting in!  I've just got to keep telling myself to take one day at a time and to enjoy EVERY SINGLE minute!

Yes, she wanted hot cocoa...in the middle of summer!