Happy Turkey Day!

Riley's Coloring

Ivy's Coloring

And of course Mom had to get in on it too!



TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.



MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

Feeling a bit better...

Here it is Friday, and Ivy's transition into her new class has been utterly seamless.

So it turns out that I misunderstood how fast they were working her into the new class: Monday was 30min, Tuesday was supposed to be 1 hour, but she was doing so well that they kept her for 1 1/2 hours and Thursday she sprinted to the door at 1pm and stayed there until 15 minutes before class ended. Apparently she loves it. Go figure!

I've come to the conclusion that Ivy will never be predictable. When you expect her to have problems with something or act badly (like 4 hour plane flights) she is cool, calm and collected. Then there are the things she throws ya for a loop on...like having her hearing tested. An utter ballistic fit. And it wasn't just a tantrum, you could tell she was terrified, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why. Her hearing is just perfect, but she has this sensitivity with her ears...no clip-on earrings, no head phones, and she plugs her ears when she's scared. Odd.

I also found out that Ivy's new class doesn't do much paperwork / worksheets, so I've been feverishly printing and creating worksheets for her to do between school. I'm surprised at the things I've already made for her that she can do with out explanation or help. Matching a letter with the animal (T for Tiger), coloring specific shapes certain colors...etc. She really is a smart little cookie.

On a side note...making all these worksheets for her has caused the teaching bug to bite me again. I think I want to go back and finish my associates degree but change it to teacher's aid for now. I really like the little kids in Ivy's class so maybe working at a preschool could work for me. I think I'd enjoy that.

Um...not too sure about this...

Well, last Thursday we had Ivy's Evaluation review / IEP meeting (Individual Education Plan) to help her speech along. On the positive side, they found no cognitive delay. No Autism or any other disorder. The speech and language however...is rated at the same level as a 3 year old. We were expecting that as Riley can hold little conversations with Ivy, and they understand each other. Very cute to just listen to.

And now for the eye-brow raising part. They decided that instead of pulling her out of her class for 30 minutes with 3 other kids that need help also, it would be better for her to be taken out of Mrs. Briggs / Ms. Kristina all together and placed in a Special Education class with other kids with the same problems.

Now I know what you're all thinking...What's the big deal? If you've ever met our daughter, you'll understand just how bad she does with change. Especially when it's change taking people that she loves away from her. Daddy leaving for work used to be hell, not to mention dropping Kim off at the airport. Getting her to understand that they were in charge and that mom will back them up almost no matter what was a huge challenge, as was Fall break. Geez, I hate to think of how she's gonna handle Christmas break...

Now she has to start all over. New teachers, new friends, new routine. They don't even start at the same time so that Ivy can't see her friends anymore. 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Plus, they don't even have recess. How is she gonna contain all that energy? At least now that it's under the Special Ed program, I don't have to pay her tuition anymore...but I HATE those words...

Special Education. I freakin' hate the stigma that follows those two words.

I really feel like I've let Ivy down somehow...I wasn't helping her develop as she should...I suppose. All these thoughts just run thru my head...should have put her in daycare/preschool to be around other kids. Should tried for State help programs earlier...shoulda...shoulda...shoulda...

Well, today is her first day over in the new class room. They wanted to just put her in permanently, but Briggs and I thought...not with Ivy. They are now going to gradually ease her into it...one day this week, two the next and so forth. It will probably help that Ms. Kristina will be taking her over to the other classroom, but being left there without knowing anyone? Hopefully I'm just overreacting and she'll be just fine. We'll see in about 1 1/2 hours...