Etta's First Day of School

Today was Etta's first day in the Early Childhood program at the BIG elementary school! Remember a few months ago when we had her first IEP meeting? Well, it was in preparation for this school year and I can't believe how quickly summer flew by! Yesterday morning Keith and I got to take her up to her new classroom for Open House. We had already met her teacher and therapists in the Spring, but it gave us an opportunity to ask questions and meet a few of the para pros (teacher's assistants) and some other parents and drop off her school supplies and for Etta to check out her new classroom and meet some of the kids and teachers/therapists. I was excited to find out that one of Etta's little friends, Piper, is also in her class! Well, I'm not sure if E realizes that they're friends yet, but her mom, Shauna and I are friends. ;) So, we were there for about an hour (of course, I left my camera in the car) and Etta checked everything out and pulled things off of shelves and played with blocks and even sat down to eat a little fruit and then we left.

So, today was the BIG day! I had to set an alarm clock for the first time in a while and I woke Etta (instead of the other way around). We got ready and hopped in the car.

We got in the car line for drop off and her OT, Ms. Lisa, came and got her out of the car and Etta waved goodbye and then I drove off! Yikes!! I teared up a little, but mostly it was because I didn't get to hug her goodbye. They ask that the parents stay in the car so that drop-off can run smoothly, but *I* wanted a hug goodbye!

So, then I had three hours to myself to think about how much I missed her... I really had a few errands I could have run, but in the end, Shauna and I met at the nail place and got pedicures (those errands can wait till Monday)!

Then, I was excited that it was time to go pick her up! I got there about 10 minutes early and sat in the car line with other parents. One of the staff brought over a clipboard and I signed her out and then I got out of the car because I wanted my hug, dammit! The para pro told me that she'd had a good day, but was beginning to act sleepy (rubbing her eyes).

I'm not REALLY sure how her day went because, with the way that pick-up is set up, you don't really get the opportunity to talk with her teachers. Her "daily communication note" says that she ate all of her snack (but I don't know what snack was) and that she had a wet diaper at 10:45 and that her favorite activity was "music & movement. She is such a GREAT little dancer!". (okay.. edited to add that I just received an email from her teacher with a generic "daily note". It sounds like they had a fun day and the snack was goldfish and graham crackers)

So, we went home and Etta TORE UP her lunch and I put her in her bed for a nap... but you KNOW my kid didn't just lay there and go to sleep. She had to run around her room talking to herself for an hour and a half before FINALLY passing out. It's like she just gets overstimulated sometimes and has a hard time bringing herself down. Anyway, she fell asleep around 2:00 and I woke her up with the vacuum (in the living room) a little before 4:00 because Laura from KidTalk was coming at 4. Laura was here for about an hour and now Etta's just hanging out, but acting a little fussy. It was a BIG day for her!

We really are looking forward to all she will learn at school this year!