School!!

Lucas started school this week!! So many emotions... I know a lot of moms have a tough time when their baby goes to school, so I'm no different with the feelings that come with realizing your little one is growing up. But, given where he came from and his low odds of being here and bleak predictions of his future, I've never been prouder in my life! You couldn't have convinced me three years ago that we'd be doing this today!

When we first got there, the teacher greeted us with smiles at the front door and Lucas warmed up to her immediately. She is so sweet and good with these kids, and comes from having vision challenges herself, making her such a unique fit for this role. She first led us into the area where the rest of the kids just got off the bus and made introductions before heading into the classroom. We sat in a separate area in the class for awhile playing with toys, so he could get acclimated as the other kids settled into their morning routine after being off for spring break. He was happy, interested, and had no problems with Mom & Dad leaving... when I told him I had to go to work, he looked up at me, as if he'd been in this class for weeks, and said, "see ya!" It was me that was crying as I left him, and teacher asked me if I would be ok! Ha. It was nice to watch the PT work with him to get him settled and sitting "properly" in his chair, so he could join the other kids in story time. There was one adult for two children, I was impressed to see the level of attention they gave him.

When I picked him up on his first day, the rest of the kids had just left on the bus and he was sitting on his teacher's lap in the hallway with the PT, with two teachers from other classrooms talking to him and laughing as he did cute things. The first comment to me was how pleasant, adorable, and easy his personality was. No surprise there.

He's doing GREAT so far and we're getting nothing but good reports from the teachers, and that he's very interested in watching and interacting the other kids. He hasn't cried at all (something I cannot say for the other kids!), and they say he doesn't seem bothered even when there is a lot of noise from the other children (which he's sometimes sensitive to due to sensory issues). He's already singled out a little friend, Oscar, who is 4 years old and kind of takes care of him. Its soooo cute. He's always the first one to greet Lucas in the morning, and is usually sitting next to him having lunch when he's picked up.

Now that we're past the first day, the emotion has turned into excitement as we can see how much he likes being there... I'm so happy we are entering this new chapter! Here are some pictures of the first day... I also just posted some pictures from the last few weeks, I'm getting caught up, look for some birthday party pics and our trip to Ohio shortly!

With his teacher, Miss Christopher

Sitting for story time

Video of his first day

Story time

Florida Trip

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Orlando the weekend of Lucas' birthday. We drove down to see my Grandmother on Friday, visited with some old friends on Saturday, and Lucas got his first exposure to Disney characters at the hotel... he was NOT a fan! Everytime a character would come around he'd say "No more" or "All done!"

We had so many pictures, I uploaded the rest in the album here... Florida.

Sitting with Great Grandma Treva

Kisses for Grandma

He loved riding on Grandma's golf cart. Every time we'd stop, he'd yell "more!"

Hanging out at the pool with Anna, who drove over from Tampa to see us!

Breakfast with Pluto

Notice his hand up... saying "no more!"

I'd be scared too... look how big he is compared to Lucas!There's the hand again with GoofyPushing Pluto away...haPlaying in the sand

Reflex Integration

Pictures and video of Lucas being the demo child for the Musgatova Training a few weeks ago. What an honor it was to be part of it!

He was smiling most of the time!

She's doing a few reflex exercises here with him; FYI --the singing is just to distract him and keep him still, which he responds to well. When they do exercises on right side, they speak and tell stories. When on the left side, they sing. This is recommended for development--you are supposed to read to your baby in the right ear because the left brain processes speech. You are supposed to sing to your child in the left ear, as the right side processes pitch. Just a little interesting tidbit.

She's walking him here, knowing his back organization is nowhere near ready to start supporting his body upright in this position... but she's actually looking at the reflexes he's holding on to by how he responds on his feet...too difficult to try to explain! I just think its a cute video.

This at the end of her 30 minutes of working with him and demonstration, giving him a little pep talk about walking. He tells her "Happy Birthday", and watch the whole group spontaneously sing to him. Hear him tell him, "again" at the end. It brought tears to my eyes. So sweet!