School Days

Rylynn began 3k at the beginning of September.  It's a five-day a week program for just three hours each morning.  I was very nervous about how she would do on so many levels. 
First of all, I worried about her dealing with the separation from me.  Since the time she got sick two years prior, I was with her constantly.  Now looking back, maybe that wasn't the best thing for either of us, but it was the only way I saw fit at the time.  I am lucky enough to work from home so even when she was not in the hospital, she was at home with me and a care taker.  And for so long, it was truly just me and her because Gilly was displaced from us in Dallas and Waco for much of the time.  Wow, looking back I sure hope we don't ever have to separate our family again.  That was the pits!
Second of all, I worried about her social character.  For all of her life we have restricted her interaction with other children.  She is lucky enough to have cousins that she adores and that are wonderful about getting together when they are all healthy, but the poor girl just never had the chance to be super social or just didn't feel well enough to leave my or Gilly's arms.
Third of all, I worried about her potty skills.  You may all remember that Ry was potty trained early (before her second birthday) and did great.  But of course we regressed for about a year when she was sick and then her meds made it EXTREMELY difficult to physically have control over her bowels.  And I'll say at the beginning of September I seriously doubted she could do it.  But luckily we backed off meds at her 11 month appointment during the first week of school and it made all the difference.  She's a total potty rock star!
And mostly, I worried and still worry about her health.  In fact, I kinda had a panic attach just days before sending her.  I called our transplant coordinator and asked one more time... "are you sure it's ok if we send her to school"?  They assured me it is ok and we'll just have to monitor her health to make sure she can manage all the germs.  We know she'll get sick easily, but we have to do all we can to find the balance that's right for Ry.  So we've asked the school to use sanitizer like crazy!  And we've gotten our flu shots.  So far only a cold and double ear infection in the first two months, but I know our real tough season is yet to come.  We're praying she can handle it.

And how, you ask is she doing?  A-mazing!  I want to warn you that I'm about to brag about our wonderful three year old.  If it annoys you when parents go on and on about their kids thinking they are exceptional even when they are doing things that most kids their age do, then you might want to get back to whatever it was you were doing.

So Ry was nervous about Gilly and I leaving her on the first day and there were lots of hugs and kisses goodbye and even a few tears, but I was very proud of her.  Each day got better with fewer goodbye kisses and by week two she was hopping out of the car to Ms D and walking down the hall all by herself to her room. (This is what they encourage of parents. It's an important transition for the kids.)

While Ry was already doing so well with colors, counting, letters, etc. here at home with Gilly and me, we've seen a HUGE change in her.  All day, every day, she wants to play school.  She wants to know what every word says.  She is no longer content pretending to read a book.  I have to actually tell her what it says.  She can spell her first name and last, she easily counts to 20, she knows all her colors and shapes, and she is associating letter sounds with words.  She is now beginning to write her letters and make shapes and she has worked really hard to write her name.  She is great at RYLY and then asks for help with the NN.  Below is her very first R, isn't it beautiful?  She surprised herself when she did it and now loves to mark everything with Rs!  I love it!

We talked with her teacher about her physical ability and asked to be kept up with how she develops.  In the first many weeks, Ry often stayed by Mrs. L's side and didn't get on the playscape much.  She said that it was intimidating to Ry when all the kids would climb up and run around while she would try to climb up on her hands and knees, but we know she is slowly improving and getting more confident.  Then, a few weeks ago we received this note!

We are loving watching our toddler turn into a smart little girl.  It's such an awesome transition.  I can't wait to continue to report how she's doing.