Kindergarten Fiesta Parade

 The kindergarteners all decorated floats for the annual Kinder Fiesta Parade.  Gee, it seems that it wasn't that long ago that Matthew did this!

Here she comes!

There she goes!

 Dancing.

 Melissa's turn in the middle.  She's leading the dance moves for her class.

The kindergarten class.

Melissa's buddy, Oliva.

Melissa with her teacher, Mrs. Chandler.

School Daze

Melissa had an interesting first day of kindergarten back in August. I was hesitant to write about it then, but things have settled down. And it is quite the story, at least in retrospect.

Jonathan picked the children up from school that first day. Matthew's old kindergarten teacher, Ms. Pleak, was directing the children out door when she had a brief word with Jonathan. Apparently Melissa's teacher, Ms. C, spoke to her about Melissa's first day and told her that Melissa pinched her! Jonathan tried to elicit more detail from Melissa on the way home from school, but Melissa was quite subdued and wouldn't elaborate.

Twenty minutes later I got a phone call from Melissa's teacher. The day had gone well up until the end when her teacher announced that it was time to clean up and get ready to go home. Melissa was still coloring and NOT ready to stop. So Ms. C bent down and started assisting Melissa in the crayon cleanup and informed her it was time to go. Melissa did not like what she was saying so she reached over and pinched her lips closed. Ms. C told her that was inappropriate and that she needed to speak with the principal. Melissa got upset and then pinched the back of her leg! The principal came down to the classroom to speak with her, and thus the day ended.

Needless to say we were pretty shocked. How many kindergarteners get a visit from the principal on the very first day? We sat Melissa down and had a serious discussion with her about our expectations. Afterward she was uncharacteristically quiet, and remained so the rest of the day. The next day Jonathan walked her to her classroom where she apologized to her teacher.

Six weeks later it was time for parent teacher conferences and I did not relish the thought of going. Being a decent parent, well, I went anyway. I entered the classroom with some trepidation, but Ms. C greeted me warmly and had nothing but praise for Melissa which she gave liberally. After Melissa tested the boundaries, she'd settled right in and was behaving beautifully. Not only that, but Ms. C found her very bright, eager to learn, and a friend to everyone.

Whew!

Since then Melissa has come home with smiley faces every day in her behavior folder. She's also told me that she loves her teacher. A kindergartener should love her teacher. All is well. :)

Melissa's first day of kindergarten

Melissa's first day of kindergarten
Originally uploaded by jbellis

Last Day of Kinder*

Matthew had a great year in his class. His teacher sent me an email saying "Matthew has been such a joy to have. I have never met such a wonderful little boy in all my years. You have truly mastered great parenting in my eyes."

Wow. Little does she know. Matthew is a good kid- but great parents? Hah! Good thing she doesn't read the Savage Peanut! Fortunately Matthew seems to be doing well despite his amateur parents.

Matthew with his teacher on the last day of kinder.


At the awards ceremony on Tuesday Matthew received the "good citizenship" award. 12 kids out of 6 kindergarten classes received one.

Matthew informed us that on the last day they were just going to do "fun things." We teased him and said, "How boring not to learn anything. How about you stay home? You can learn at home." He was horrified at the prospect. Miss the last day of school? Never!

I'm glad that he had a good year despite changing schools 3 times, a brother in the hospital and then home under stressful circumstances, moving cross country, and everything else that has occurred in this nutty year.


*Kindergarten is called "kinder" here.

Kindergarten Parade

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Fiesta San Antonio is a big deal here. A lot of San Antonio shuts down to party every night for a week and a half. At Matthew's school they had the annual kindergarten parade and dances last week.

Melissa waiting along the parade route.


Here comes Matthew!

After the parade they danced for us.


Matthew with his buddy.

Matthew's class. Melissa snuck into the picture, much to Matthew's annoyance. She wishes she was in kindergarten too. There are 6 kindergarten classes at his school, so it was a long and colorful parade.

The best day ever

Matthew was looking forward to Monday. I'll let his teacher explain:

Matthew has been just a joy! In fact this morning he was on announcements for winning the CHAMP of the week. His picture will be posted in the front of the school hallway. He won out of all K, 1, and 2nd grade. Children receive blue tickets when they are caught showing good character. Their name is placed in a box and one name is drawn every Friday from the K, 1st, and 2nd box. He was the winner this week and since this is the first week we have started the system he is the first winner as well. He receive a metal this morning. You should be proud!

You, gentle reader, have it easy: before Rachel mailed his teacher (about his report card -- she volunteered the rest), we'd slowly puzzled out much of the above from fragmented kindergartener explanations. ("I got a blue ticket!" "Why?" "They caught me doing champs!" "What's champs?" "I don't know." Later, I explain to Rachel, "they caught him doing stamps." "Not stamps!" Matthew interrupted angrily. Maybe he thought I was making a joke at his expense, but I couldn't remember. "Well, something like that. What was it?" "I don't know." In another moment of lucidity he explained that it had to do with being quiet while the teacher talks and sitting with your legs crossed. So we supposed it was something good.)

The initial ticket was last week. Then, Matthew told us, they were going to draw all the blue ticket names from a hat "in front of the whole school!" And if your name comes out, you get a medal!

Matthew was sure his name was going to be drawn. I tried to prepare him for a let down: "all the other kids want their name to come out, too. It's all right if it's not yours." But he was sure, and I warned Rachel as I left to work, "he is going to be really pissed after school." Matthew does not take disappointment well.

Instead, he came home on cloud nine. His name really was drawn. God loves Matthew, I guess.

So, that is why he couldn't wait til Monday. It was a little surreal: normally little disappointments draw out the Grumpy Matthew inside. But today little pleasures drew out the Happy Matthew instead. He opened the lunch Rachel packed last night, and exclaimed, "Fruit salad! I love fruit salad! This is the best lunch ever!"

Busy Day

First Day of Kindergarten

Matthew started kindergarten this morning. I think he was a little apprehensive, because he was somewhat grumpy this morning. When we dropped him off, Melissa cried because she wanted to go too. I called Matthew up after school and he was so excited to tell me all about praying mantises. "Guess what...? Did you know...? Guess what Mom...?" He was also quite pleased that there were more boys in his class than girls (someday he will wish it otherwise, I suspect). He seemed pretty happy with his first day of school.
At the Hospital

After dropping Matthew off at kindergarten, Jonathan and I headed up to the hospital where we met the Dr. Z and the phlebotomist to draw blood for the genetic testing. I have to say if you ever need blood drawn and happen to be at Primary Children's, request Lou. It took her just a split second to get the needle in Isaac's vein- no hesitation, no probing. Then she drew from Jonathan and me, and I suspect she could have done us blindfolded. That's 20+ years experience poking the tiniest veins. The lady is good!

Since he's had such high sugars, his kidneys have had to work overtime resulting in low sodium in his blood. They are supplementing with sodium now. The day nurse tried to give it to him straight which resulted in a lot of gagging and ultimately upchucking half his lunch. Can't say that I'd blame him, blech.

Starting the Lantus again today. So far the glucose levels have look very good on the Lantus, under 100 even! Isaac continues to impress his nurses with his appetite (that's my boy!). Jonathan graphed Isaac's glucose levels and insulin intake while on and off of the glyburide (excluding the times on Lantus); we're not noticing a significant difference...

Back Home

Matthew went shoe shopping with Grandma, while I napped on the couch. Grandmas are great!!! They found a pair for school and a pair for church. Grandma said that Matthew took to shopping like a typical guy. That is to say, he was bored out of his skull until he got to pick out a treat of oreo cookies. Melissa slept while they were gone, so I got a nice nap too. Getting up twice a night to pump is more time consuming and tiring than getting up to feed a baby. Meanwhile, Jonathan went back to work for a few hours. When he return, he brought beautiful flowers. What a sweet husband. A friend brought dinner by, which was appreciated. Thanks Jenny!

And Back at the Hospital Again

After dinner and dishes, I headed back up to the hospital with Mom to feed Isaac once more. (I want to make sure that he doesn't forget how to nurse with all the bottles he receives...) He's looking very good. I warned the night nurse about the sodium incident and advised she put it in some milk first. She did, and down it went without protest. Now it is bedtime. 'Night 'night.

Kindergarten Countdown

Everyday Matthew announces how many days left until kindergarten starts. Three days left. He is very excited.