First Day of School

Today marks another big milestone for Stephen; his first day of school!!!  Stephen started daycare/preschool for the very first time!  It's been quite a challenge getting to this day, and I'm still a bit nervous about the whole g-tube feeding thing is going to work at school, but the hardest part is over with....the drop-off.  And I think it went really well (minus the fact our garage door was frozen shut this morning)!

We've been talking about going to school for weeks, and we visited a few times, so Stephen was well aware he was going today and that he would be there all day.  But of course, on the morning of the big day, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed and didn't want to go.  As I pulled him out of his car seat at school he even said, "Mommy, I don't want to get out of the car."  Ugh.  That's like a dagger straight through the chest!  But once we got inside and everyone asked him if he wanted to go play, he walked down the hall and into his classroom.

Once we got into his class, he became pretty hesitant and wanted me to pick him up, but his teacher came right over, scooped him up, I hung up his bookbag and coat, gave him a hug and kiss and Bill ushered me out the door.  Thankfully, he waved to us and said, "Bye Mommy and Daddy" with a big smile, so I felt good about our chances for no tears.

It's now 11:40 AM and I haven't gotten a phone call, so I'm assuming all is good!  I do have to go back shortly and give him his tube feed, so I'll be able to check on him, but honestly, I think he'd do better if I didn't go.  But, he needs those fluids to keep his kidney happy, so I don't really have a choice.  I'm hoping that once he gets acclimated to school and napping at school and his teachers feel comfortable enough, they'll be able to give him his feed during nap time.  Or even better, he starts eating and drinking more and there will be no need for the stinkin' g-tube at all!

For the first two weeks, Stephen will be at school every day, all day, and then after that we'll taper down to either two or three full days (depending on my work schedule and how he does).  But all-in-all it's just awesome knowing Stephen's healthy enough and so far beyond all of his delays that plagued him for over two years that he can be at school with the other kids his age!!