okay...so this post is just a *little* late...but hopefully you'll forgive me....our week ended up being a ZOO last week...including another visit to the hospital for jilly (fortunately, it was brief this time!--more on that later).
last monday was our official first day of school...our first full day.
the girls, as you can see, were really excited!
elizabeth even let me do her hair...something she is become increasingly more tolerant of and excited about (sometimes, at least...other times she begs me to get it cut or let it be wild and crazy all over the place)
this might be my favorite of libs...it captures just how excited she really was. she even wrote and illustrated a 5 page story for her kindergarten teacher.
i have to admit kate cried almost all the way to school after realizing she and elizabeth really wouldn't be in the same class. but, when we arrived, she confidently and happily walked right into her classroom. i think it was a hard day for her though...she really missed elizabeth (which is so precious and sweet). she did have fun with the other little girls, but she also just wanted me. its going to be a learning curve for her to navigate on her own, without elizabeth, but her second day this week was a bit better. honestly, it was a big eye-opener for me. at home kate is outgoing and rambunctious and likes to "run the show"...however, at school and church, i am realizing she really has sort of been elizabeth's shadow AND most of her teachers would describe her as reserved (she tends also to cling to her teachers...following them, sitting in their lap whenever possible, etc.). most of the little girls she would call her friends are elizabeth's friends (i'm so thankful elizabeth and her friends include kate...BUT i also want her to start developing her own little social skills). ;) so that is something we are working on...and i am intentionally working to invite some little girls over just for KATE to play with while elizabeth heads off to playdates of her own. it really has been valuable insight into our little kater-girl...pray for me as i sort through how to best reach and encourage her. i want to push her out of her comfort zone, but slowly and kindly rather than brusquely.
as for elizabeth, well, she waltzed right into the massive room full of kiddos. they have devotational to start the day, so it is the entire school (K-12) to start with. she sat right down, smiling and excited to see all of her little friends...and, oh my, what a dear group of kindergarten kiddos it is. and after school, well, the sweet girl never stropped talking about her day...she learned about the trans-continental railroad, starting memorizing a poem "The Statue of Liberty for Kids", learned about kinetic energy, had art and music class...and so much more. she LOVES it...i mean, really, truly loves it! what a gift to see her thriving.
and jilly and luke did a fabulous job in the nursery. however, poor jilly had some terrible diarrhea. she'd been struggling at the end of the week before, was finally much better sunday and monday morning before school...so, off we went...but then monday in the nursery it started again. i ended up heading straight to the pediatrician after our LONG day at school. the pediatrician wanted blood work to see just how dehydrated she was. the results showed extremely low electrolytes and acidosis...and then tuesday morning mike had to take her to the ER, as she just wouldn't keep anything "in". fortunately, they prescribed her zofran, and that helped turn the corner. 24 hours later she was 100% better. the lab results from the ER showed nothing virus-wise, so they are thinking the dehydration from the original virus just zapped her, and she couldn't kick it. praise the Lord that she is better now. poor girlie has been through so much in the past year!
and then there is me...wow, i am LOVING the opportunity to teach in this setting. when i left teaching i had no desire to ever teach again...and i must admit, i was leary when i headed into this venture. but it is amazing. the kids are so neat...full of questions and excitement, quirky, eager, and totally middle schoolers. ;) it has been a neat outlet for me. i truly love my kiddos, and i want to be home with them, but this affords me an opportunity to use a different part of my brain...and to be around older kiddos (a good reminder that my kiddos won't be this little forever...and that is both a hopeful and terrifying thought!). and, at the same time, my kids are being cared for so well...learning, playing, socializing...even the nursery has lessons and crafts and an incredible structure. what a blessing! (and, for the record, many of the books are ones i hadn't read before ("the hound of the baskervilles", "treasure island", "farewell to manzanaar", and "the red scarf girl")--though i have read some ("the hobbit", "anne of green gables", "the hiding place", "call of the wild"), and the writing program is incredible...progym...a very classical program...amazing!
last monday was our official first day of school...our first full day.
the girls, as you can see, were really excited!
elizabeth even let me do her hair...something she is become increasingly more tolerant of and excited about (sometimes, at least...other times she begs me to get it cut or let it be wild and crazy all over the place)
this might be my favorite of libs...it captures just how excited she really was. she even wrote and illustrated a 5 page story for her kindergarten teacher.
i have to admit kate cried almost all the way to school after realizing she and elizabeth really wouldn't be in the same class. but, when we arrived, she confidently and happily walked right into her classroom. i think it was a hard day for her though...she really missed elizabeth (which is so precious and sweet). she did have fun with the other little girls, but she also just wanted me. its going to be a learning curve for her to navigate on her own, without elizabeth, but her second day this week was a bit better. honestly, it was a big eye-opener for me. at home kate is outgoing and rambunctious and likes to "run the show"...however, at school and church, i am realizing she really has sort of been elizabeth's shadow AND most of her teachers would describe her as reserved (she tends also to cling to her teachers...following them, sitting in their lap whenever possible, etc.). most of the little girls she would call her friends are elizabeth's friends (i'm so thankful elizabeth and her friends include kate...BUT i also want her to start developing her own little social skills). ;) so that is something we are working on...and i am intentionally working to invite some little girls over just for KATE to play with while elizabeth heads off to playdates of her own. it really has been valuable insight into our little kater-girl...pray for me as i sort through how to best reach and encourage her. i want to push her out of her comfort zone, but slowly and kindly rather than brusquely.
as for elizabeth, well, she waltzed right into the massive room full of kiddos. they have devotational to start the day, so it is the entire school (K-12) to start with. she sat right down, smiling and excited to see all of her little friends...and, oh my, what a dear group of kindergarten kiddos it is. and after school, well, the sweet girl never stropped talking about her day...she learned about the trans-continental railroad, starting memorizing a poem "The Statue of Liberty for Kids", learned about kinetic energy, had art and music class...and so much more. she LOVES it...i mean, really, truly loves it! what a gift to see her thriving.
and jilly and luke did a fabulous job in the nursery. however, poor jilly had some terrible diarrhea. she'd been struggling at the end of the week before, was finally much better sunday and monday morning before school...so, off we went...but then monday in the nursery it started again. i ended up heading straight to the pediatrician after our LONG day at school. the pediatrician wanted blood work to see just how dehydrated she was. the results showed extremely low electrolytes and acidosis...and then tuesday morning mike had to take her to the ER, as she just wouldn't keep anything "in". fortunately, they prescribed her zofran, and that helped turn the corner. 24 hours later she was 100% better. the lab results from the ER showed nothing virus-wise, so they are thinking the dehydration from the original virus just zapped her, and she couldn't kick it. praise the Lord that she is better now. poor girlie has been through so much in the past year!
and then there is me...wow, i am LOVING the opportunity to teach in this setting. when i left teaching i had no desire to ever teach again...and i must admit, i was leary when i headed into this venture. but it is amazing. the kids are so neat...full of questions and excitement, quirky, eager, and totally middle schoolers. ;) it has been a neat outlet for me. i truly love my kiddos, and i want to be home with them, but this affords me an opportunity to use a different part of my brain...and to be around older kiddos (a good reminder that my kiddos won't be this little forever...and that is both a hopeful and terrifying thought!). and, at the same time, my kids are being cared for so well...learning, playing, socializing...even the nursery has lessons and crafts and an incredible structure. what a blessing! (and, for the record, many of the books are ones i hadn't read before ("the hound of the baskervilles", "treasure island", "farewell to manzanaar", and "the red scarf girl")--though i have read some ("the hobbit", "anne of green gables", "the hiding place", "call of the wild"), and the writing program is incredible...progym...a very classical program...amazing!
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1 comment:
i'm so glad it's going well!
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