Feeling like a Successful Mom

Well, after feeling like a lame mom with the coconut episode, I feel like I have redeemed myself this week. I successfully navigated the first week of having school aged kids! I never thought it was a big deal, but it sure has felt stressful, and I have made it!

Cooper was a champ on the first day of school, so confident and nonchalant about the whole thing. Cooper's school has all the classes line up on the playground, and when the bell rings, the teachers come to lead their kids in to the building. I was among all the kindergarten moms waving and getting all choked up watching their kids bravely walk away in to the unknown building.

Savy and I then rushed to Oak Hills Elementary to meet her preschool teacher and register for the school year. I was so nervous because how do you approach the teacher and start the "I have a child with a disability" conversation with a room full of parents. I was so surprised to see that Savy's young teacher uses a cane for support, and who previously worked at IHC with 2-3 yr olds with special problems! What luck! All my stress of "Will Savy's teacher be willing to accommodate her needs and treat her as an equal" just melted away. I can not believe what a blessing this has felt like.

Now another major stress in my life is that Savy and Cooper get out of school at the exact same time at 2 different schools every Monday/Wednesday. I am very lucky that Cooper has a neighbor friend who's mother is willing to carpool on the days I need her to get him and keep him until I get back from Savy's school. And Savy has a little neighbor friend in her class who's mother has also volunteered to bring Savy home from school if I have to get Cooper! What luck. One more stress handled. I did feel a little sad that I did not get to pick up Cooper the first 2 days of school because of Savy's school. The poor kid said, "What is car pool mom, and when are you going to come get me?"

This very same day Savy started Ballet at the Bountiful School of Ballet with her friend Aubrielle. She felt so special in her school approved leotard, tights, and ballet slippers (yes, you have to conform to the schools dress code, from the color of tights, down to hair must be pulled back, away from the face. The school is lenient with the 3 yr olds and allow pony tails instead of a bun! Aubrielle has short hair and is unable to do a pony tail). Savy loved her new class and can't wait for it next week!


Wednesday was Savy's first day of Preschool. We took Cooper to school then rushed over to her school. (Their classes start 10 minutes apart) Now to preface, Savy did not qualify for special ed or 504 advantage. She has a TVI (teacher for the visually impaired) who will come observe her in class monthly, and make changes or accommodations as needed. Well, I have not been able to contact the TVI and was a little bugged, because I was hoping to meet with Savy's teacher and TVI together to decided what services she needed before school started. When I picked up Savy from school her teacher was excited because the TVI had stopped by to make an appointment for the month to observe! Hooray, maybe things will just happen, and things will be completely handled without a neurotic hovering mother!


Now this is beginning to get long so bear with me. The best news is saved for last. Savannah had her yearly ophthalmologist appt Thursday (yes, Spence had to work from home so he could take Cooper to school because we have no morning carpool available). She tested amazingly well. She still has astigmatism which may require glasses for reading when she starts reading. But her macula is still perfect, which means she has perfect "vision" not requiring glasses for near or far sightedness.


The great news is that her vision improved from 20/400 as a 2 yr old to 20/80 at her 3 yr testing! That is just dumbfounding to me that there could be that vast of an improvement! The Dr said it is a combination of being older and testing better, and adjusting to her limitations by using her null point. I cannot believe this good news. When she was first diagnosed with albinism and I did my research, 20/80 was what I hoped Savy's vision would eventually be. And to be there at only 3! Her vision is supposed to continue to improve until her teenage years, and now I can hope that she may end up with near perfect vision.

All I can say is that I feel blessed that this stressful week has gone as well as it has. I love my little family and cannot belive at how fast we are all growing up.