Changes in our lives

This summer has been filled with changes...obviously. And they have just kept coming. We have had changes in jobs and schools for all of us. It has been a big challenge for all of us!

Rich is now the assistant director of nursing at RHA Howell-Clear Creek. This is a facility for children and adults who are mentally retarded and have significant health problems. He has switched to a 5 day a week work schedule which has been a big change for us. Rich has been on some kind of other schedule for years. It has been hard on the kids having him gone all week but we are getting used to it.

I am on a 12 month leave from my job as a part time special education teacher. I decided to take a leave at the last moment because I got another part time job. I am working a couple of hours a week at Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy which is a charter school for gifted students. They have had some students identified with special needs and just needed someone for a few hours. It is going to allow me to take the kids to school and pick them up, participate in school activities, etc. I am excited for a new challenge and for the chance to be home a little more. The plan is I will go back to my other job next year.

Declan has started kindergarten. We are on school #2. He spent a week at his first school. He started off excited about school and ended the week crying, not wanting to go, not sleeping well, not eating well, and generally overly stressed about school. After a very unsatisfying conversation with his teacher at the end of his first week, we brainstormed what we would do. Our plan had been to give it another week. Fortunately, we didn't have to. In the Sunday paper, there was an article about a school being modeled after the charter school we had really wanted him to go to. I emailed the director, we met with her and the educational consultant that afternoon, and Declan went to "open house" on Monday. After his first staggered entry day, this school got a two thumbs up. We are so excited that he is happy at school again and at peace with our decision to switch him.

Terefech has been dealing with all of this change like a trooper. She so missed Declan his first week of school. There were tears and lots of conversations about why everyone was leaving and she wasn't going anywhere. It was actually good for her I think that Declan ended up being home a couple of days before he started kindergarten. Gave her a little break. I do think she enjoys having me to herself as well as spending time with her grandparents when I do have to go to work. She starts preschool next week so we'll see how that transition goes. Declan has been telling her how much fun she is going to have and I think she believes him.

So...we are excited to get all of these changes in place and once again settle into a new normal for our family. Here are some recent pictures....