Preschool Drop-out

We decided to pull Robbie out of preschool. His last day was Thursday. And we are happy with our decision.
We have already had him in a cooking class. Which he loves and he is signed up for more. He has had 2 great playdates, which we were there for and have been able to direct his social skills. We have had time for his OT homework. He is going to a Fancy Nancy Tea Party tomorrow. And playgroup is up and running again next week. He is happy, well rested and having fun. That is what being 4 is all about. Not, complaining about preschool, not eating breakfast and being down.

In other news. AF is coming really fast and often every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks. I am going to the dr. and ask why. I hope this does not mean menopause. And I have a cold. I haven't been blogging much we have been getting a ton of snow and ice and that makes me blah.

Confused about Preschool!?!?

I am so confused. We are thinking about pulling Robbie out of Preschool. Preschool was never in our plan, a few professionals recommended it last fall.

My son has a great preschool the teachers are nice. But, several things are going on. He has just been assessed with a number of problems by a developmental team. He has some social skills problems, fine motor delays, learning style differences and trouble staying in his seat. I feel that most of these issues can be worked on outside of preschool. Preschool is helping him learn to stay in his seat, but that does not seem like a good reason to continue. As for the other issues, they are too busy a class, to take care of my son's special needs and my son does not have a shadow. This is not the fault of the preschool it is just life.

He goes to OT (Occupational Therapy) for his motor skills every week and they work intensely. He attended a group last fall for social skills and will be attending another in the spring (He loved these groups, loved the kids and the speech therapist that ran it). I feel like I can help encourage him with his social skills in groups and activities with myself to guide him, along with the social skills group in the spring. The same with his motor skills, I feel I can reinforce what he learns in OT. And I can help him with his learning style differences.

He is also unhappy in preschool. He has expressed it to me several times in the last few weeks. He misses going to playgroup and some of his other activities. He really wants to attend a cooking class that's time conflicts with preschool. He has not made any real friends in preschool, while he had several friends at playgroup and his social skills group. I feel like if he was happier, it would help development.

I also know that kindergarten is around the corner and their is only so much time for me to help him, before he is on his own in the classroom. I feel like preschool is not giving the skill he needs to be school ready, and we have the individual time to give him. I am feeling confused about the whole thing.

Not to mention I am playing with the idea of homeschooling. The professionals said in Kindergarten he would have trouble because of not wanting to sit still, because of his need for movement and because of his learning differences. I will give kindergarten a chance. But, my son is bright. If these factors interfere with him learning and loving school, I will pull him out. I think movement is natural and all kids should have movement in their school day. And hopefully the school will work with his learning differences. We all have different learning styles, I know I do. That is what makes us unique and human.

You have to look everywhere when you have a 4 year old

Robbie has a little table and chairs. He eats breakfast there, meals if he has friends over, and snacks. We always clean the top and sides. On a whim we turned it over this morning, and OMG It was filthy. A little science experiment of dried food. We asked what is going on. Apparently he has been wiping his hand under the table instead of washing them It took 25 minutes to clean and lesson learned. I encourage others to peak under their kids tables too!

Sick Boy

I haven't updated in awhile. It is because I have a sick boy, for almost 2 weeks. And we are both sick ourselves. Robbie started out with days of a fever and cold symptoms. And a cough so bad that we all did not sleep for 7 days. It woke him up crying for me ever 15-30 minutes all night. Took him to a clinic, they said it was a small ear infection, got some antibiotics. The next day he was falling on the floor coughing and turning purple. Took him to the ER. They did some x-rays and found pneumonia. Gave us some puffers and told us to come back the next day. The following day all he did was sleep and lay on me and throw up. Back to the ER and got a new antibiotic and a medicine for the cough (we started sleeping though the night after this). Saw, my dr. 2 days ago and she said the ears are healing but his chest is still a little rattley. He has slept and enormous amount 12 hours at night (since the medicine last friday) and naps during the day. He usuually sleep 10 hours at night and hasn't napped since his second birthday. Yesterday, seemeed to be a turning point. He did not nap, played and gave me a hard time about bed time. He is still coughing and wheezing, but his energy and appetite are better. Hopefully, after missing 2 weeks of preschool we will be able to send him back next week.

Here is a picture of him during one of the many naps he has had in the last week and half.

Things are kind of sucky

I have been worried about money lately. I haven't been called to supply teach since the holidays. It always happens, as it is high school exam and turn around time. But, this year we have a few more bills from the damage to the house before Christmas. Just as I was trying to make a plan to pay stuff off. Karen tells me that her company is discontinuing monthly bonus. She gets a bonus every month, based on stats. And she always gets the top bonus or the second(she is such a hard worker). We have officially been hit by the recession. This going to make a difference of 3,000-4,000 a year. Which is big bucks for us. So, we are trying to regroup and figure out some options. I wish I was better, so I could go get a full-time job and save the day. But, at least with 2 part-time flex hour jobs, I am saving us daycare fees.

And the boy is sick. He has had a fever for 2 days, is stuffed up, and coughing. He has been sleeping in bed with us. And he has been up a dozen times a night. And no one is getting any sleep. Well, except the dog she is doing great.

Ten Years Ago Today...

Ten years ago today, Karen and I became involved, I would like to say girlfriends but that took 4 more months. I had met her at the Concordia Women's Centre a few months before. I took one look at her at it was like lightening, I knew she was the one. I don't how, because I had other relationships and crushes. But, this was instant knowing for me. Of course through a serious of misunderstanding, she thought I was wild, and while attracted to me was intimidated by me. It was because of a infamous, not so g-rated girls party that happened at my house. That was not my personality and not my usual kind of party. I just happen to live by campus, so it was my place by default. Anyway, she and I started talking on the phone as friends over the next few months. I lost hope that she would see the light.

Then on January 5th 1999, the day I had come home from Christmas break, she showed up at my house. That was it, that visit changed our lives forever. We were in each others lives for good and fell in love in that moment in time. After, that she was always around. She would be at my place rearranging my furniture while I was in class. We were on the phone at night until we were almost asleep and then first thing in the morning. Things were volatile in the beginning, others lose ends and relationships to close. We were immature and went to the bars too much. A lot of people said we would never last. But, we settled down after the first year and here we are ten years later more in love then ever, and parents of the best boy ever.

Karen is still the one and will always be.

P.S. I have included a picture of us taken that first year.

Year in Review (Poached from Lisa)

I poached this from Lisa at Baby Makes Three.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Bought a house

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I tryed to cut back on chocolate last year, sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. My new year's resolution is to use the reusable shopping bags and stop taking the plastic ones at the store.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Some Mom's at Playgroup, but no one close

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, knock on wood

5. What places did you visit?
Bangor & Portland Me. and Moncton N.B.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A larger family and more money

7. What day from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The day I was in the ER, with my first episode. I don't think I was ever more scared and alone

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?

DS, is overcoming some of his obstacles, new house and new job

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not expanding the family

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Developed a heart condition, that will be fixed hopefully in the spring

11. What was the best thing you bought?
DVD/VCR combo that records DVDs and converts VHS into DVDs.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My Mom for always being there to help out when we needed her.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The Minister of Education

14. Where did most of your money go?

House repairs

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Moving into our new house

16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
I don't want to live on the Moon (Ernie, Sesame Street)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
I think I am happier. Same weight, same money situation

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travelling

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2008?

With my Mom, Robbie and Karen, perfect!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
still in love

22. What are your three favorite photos of 2008?

Robbie as pumpkin, Robbie on the slide and Robbie in Children's Museum

23. What was your favorite TV program?

One Life to Live

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2008?
Thai food and Cake with my Family

25. What was the best book you read?

Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

None, Robbie owns the stereo

27. What did you want and get?

The new house

28. What did you want and not get?

Another Child

29. What were your favorite film this year?

Sex and the City Movie

30. Did you make some new friends this year?

Yes, some great new ones at playgroup

31.What is one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having another child

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

I lost my fashion sense when I got pregnant, so it is kind of old mom style

33. What kept you sane?

Lesley, Josee and my Family

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

French Immersion changes

35. Who did you miss?

Dave, Dad, Lena, Ernie

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Amy

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

To be happy for what I have, I could always have less. Enjoy, each day and appreciate how truly lucky I am to have my family and friends.