So, as it turns out, "time flies when you're having fun!" (or something like that.)
I realized the other day, on Ella's last day of preschool, that I had not updated this blog since her FIRST day of preschool this year. It kind of proves that this has been a pretty busy school year for us. Rather than re-hash everything...I will just give a few highlights (some longer than others).
- I laugh when I read the "No more Tears" post below, because Ella did GREAT her first week of preschool...the second, third, fourth (I lost track, actually) weeks weren't so wonderful. She cried. Every. Day. In fact, I WORK at the preschool where she was attending, and while I had Mondays off, she did not. One of those Mondays, I received a call...an hour after school had started...that Ella was STILL crying. Hysterically, actually. They managed to calm her down, and she transitioned into the rest of her day ok, but I was noticing that she was falling apart over EVERYthing that first month of school. Well, one October day, she had a sore throat and a fever. I had just received a notice from Ryan's school that Strep was going around. So, I thought that perhaps that is what we were dealing with, and I made an appointment with her pediatrician. During his exam, the doctor was checking her belly, and he noticed that Ella's spleen seemed slightly enlarged. We went down the stairs to the lab and she had some bloodwork done (yep...that was fun), only to reveal later that afternoon that she did in fact test positive for Mono. I could *not* understand how a 4 year old came down with mono, nor could I understand how she showed almost NO signs (other than the sore throat) of being sick. Now, however, I know that her "falling apart" at school was because she wasn't feeling well. She did not show the classic exhaustion symptoms that one would expect with mono. She seemed to be done with the symptoms a few days after her diagnosis, but because of the enlarged spleen, she had to take it easy (ha! she's 4!!) for about a month. It was difficult to keep her down, but after 2 weeks out of school, she ended up going back without issue...for the rest of the school year! Phew!
- Ryan has had a fanTAStic year in first grade. I just LOVE his teacher this year (as does he), and I am sooooo sad to see this year come to an end for him (though, we ARE all looking forward to summer vacation!). We found out during Ryan's preschool years that he had some vision issues. One of those issues is that he was seeing double (not all the time, but according to the vision specialist, it was a lot of the time). We went two (early) mornings a week to vision therapy last year, but didn't see much improvement. In fact, it was obvious to me at school, that the double vision was affecting his learning. His teacher *last* year told me that Ryan would shut down when it came time to do "table work" (worksheets and handwriting and such), and that he would have a REALLY hard time focusing on his work. Well, duh...he was seeing two of everything...couldn't follow a straight line (tracking issues) in his reading...and really just struggled. We were getting close to the end of our "recommended therapy sessions" with the one vision specialist that we were seeing, and decided to get a second opinion. We ended up switching to a new vision specialist and we have seen some MAJOR improvement this year. I am proud to report that Ryan is now reading ABOVE his benchmark for the year, and his handwriting (while still a little sloppy at times...more from rushing than ability) has improved by leaps and bounds! I worried so much that he would not be able to read, yet he has worked hard, and I give many thanks to his teacher for being so encouraging (not that last year's teacher wasn't...she was also wonderful), and for working with him to get where he is. He now LOVES to read, and let's just say our days of spelling ANYTHING in front of him (you know, to avoid him understanding what we are talking about) are over!! Oy. He has loved school this year, and I am just thrilled. We are looking forward to the summer reading program at our local library!!
- Ella is just finishing up her first year of dance, a combination ballet/tap class. She struggled in the beginning, like she was at school, but again, once she was over the mono bit, she got right in there and dance, dance, danced. She really seems to love it, and I have seen her confidence grow through this activity. She has a recital coming up soon, and I have enjoyed the couple of rehearsals I have seen on stage...adorable. She has the cutest bunch of girls in her dance class, and they are all love to hug each other...in their little tutus...seriously...adorbs.
- Ryan played basketball over the winter for about 6 weeks, and is now in the middle of baseball season. He loves it! He tried soccer a couple of years ago and didn't really care for it...told me he thinks he wants to try football. YIKES!!
- My Mom got re-married in April. We had some family in town to celebrate, and enjoyed visiting with those that we do not see very often. James and Ryan walked my Mom down the aisle, and Ella walked with me, as I was the matron of honor (there really wasn't a 'flower girl'). They had fun getting dressed up...and I wish I had recorded Ryan on the dance floor...HILARIOUS!
Between James' work schedule, me working two mornings a week, volunteering one day a week in Ryan's class, two vision therapy appointments a week, sports (basketball for Ryan in the winter, and now baseball), and dance classes for Ella...we have been pretty busy. Kind of the story of everyone's lives these days, but all that to say that blogging has not been on the top of my list of priorities this year. I hope to do better, as I do like to write, and I know my family enjoys seeing the pictures that I post.
I feel like I am missing a whole BUNCH of other things, but...I will try to be better about sharing now that summer is coming and things will slow down (hopefully!) a bit!!
