September Already

Hello there...it goes without saying that I've been very tardy on the blog lately. We have been so crazy busy this summer. We went to Sunriver for 10 days in July, the NODCC conference in California at the end of July, and to Missouri for 12 days to see my family. In between, we've had water ballet, soccer camps, play dates, Whidbey Island week-ends and lots of therapy. I also went to NY and LA for a few days for work - phew:) We've also been working on hiring a new nanny. Our beloved Alison is leaving us - she told us in June, so we've had lots of time to find the perfect person. And I have searched. I interviewed over 15 people over the phone or in person and had around 5 people come to the house to meet the kids. It is such a big decision and one that weighs on me heavily. It's one of those unseen stresses - I didn't realize how hard it was for me until we found our new nanny. It's also stressful for the kids. They love Alison and don't want her to leave. The unknown is always scary. A huge weight was lifted and I am incredibly grateful. More on that later....

So, that is what we've been up to. Taylor had a big vacation because Susan went to Thailand for about 3 weeks. As much as we dread the chaos of scheduling, we really miss the opportunity for Taylor to learn new skills and she really loves her therapy sessions now. She so enjoys moving and Susan is obviously much better at helping her. So, it was a good, but busy, summer. We're ready for our normal, crazy routine and to get back to normal.

And it started today! I can't even believe it, but my big guy, Jacob (now known as "Jake") started kindergarten and Lauren started second grade. My heart was bursting with pride to see them in their uniforms. They both were so excited and a little nervous. Jake, in particular, could not wait. He was dressed and ready to go at about 6:10am this morning. He had a huge smile on his face waiting in line with his classmates and couldn't wait to tackle the world. I wish we could all take his confidance and spirit with us each day. He had a blast. Lauren was a bit anxious - she is struggling with reading some and I think she was anxious about being ready for second grade. She was excited to see her friends and she had a good day. David and I picked up Jake around noon - he gets out at noon for the next two weeks - and took him to lunch and a special outing. He ran out the door and gave me the biggest hug. He is so special and it was such a great day with him. I picked up Lauren at 3pm and took her for ice cream. We had a nice mom/daughter chat and it was great to get 1:1 time with them both today. She looks so big and is such a sweet, wonderful girl. We are proud parents tonight and feel so blessed.

In the back of my mind, I wondered if this is our last child to start their school career at ASB. It is such a special place, but time will tell if it is the right spot for Taylor. Her preschool doesn't start for 2 weeks, so she has a bit of relaxation and quiet in the house before her schedule picks back up. She is seeing Susan again and we're excited to get in a routine and help her make progress. We're also evaluating various feeding and speech therapy options, because we need to make progress in these areas as well. In our absence from the blog, Taylor turned 3 on August 22! We had a party with my family in Missouri and another party with our Seattle family. She enjoyed her new toys - sadly no cake (although David tried to make her an egg-free one) or special treats yet that she enjoys. She loved being the center of attention with the kiddos - it was super cute. We were glad she was able to enjoy her birthday in Missouri - she was super sick with the flu for about 6 days. It was a huge bummer for her, and for my family, who doesn't see her very often. She ended up at the ER for an IV and medication to stop the nausea. Then, she was very lethargic/sleepy for nearly 5 days. It was a doozy of a flu and she lost a few pounds from her peanut frame. She still weighs around 23 pounds, so a few pounds is a lot. Thankfully, she was all better for her birthday.

Our new nanny will start next week - we have a found a huge gift in Erin. She has a master's in special education and did her student teaching at the EEU (Taylor's school). She actually taught for Teacher Beth (Taylor's special friend that came over this summer to work with her) and she gave her a great recommendation. Erin was laid off from a school district and ultimately wants to return to teaching, but jobs are tight out here, so we are fortunate to get the perfect background for Taylor. She is great with all of the kids and as much as we will miss Alison, we have faith that Erin is being brought into our life for a reason right now. The next year is so pivotal for Taylor and we think Erin will be a very valuable member of our team.

So, that is a quick update for now.....I will try to write more frequently. I'm also planning to update the blog with more recent pictures - we've got some great ones that I would love to share.