We relaxed the rest of the day and I feel so lazy that I just whipped up a green salad for dinner. It has just been one of those days. I did try to convince Owen to let me take him for a haircut since his messy mop of hair makes me a little crazy. It grows every direction and just looks messy all the time. He agreed that Daddy could cut it tomorrow.. he pinky promised.
I received an email early in the week that we only have until Feb 1st to turn in our open enrollment forms and Kindergarten registration! I may have temporarily had a panic attack as I have no idea how to go about picking a school for Owen. I started by calling the district and first speaking with the Kindergarten director. She gave me the names of schools with half day Kindergarten programs, which are {apparently} unpopular. Yay for smaller class sizes! I then spoke with the district Health Director and asked her about the school nurses and was pleasantly surprised to hear that there are full time RN's at every elementary school. She even added a few that have a background in cardiology. I then spoke with the special needs director to find out what I may need to get together for Owen's 504 and if/when he needs to be re evaluated for an IEP (Individual Education Plan). You may remember that he was tested in the fall and tested out of an IEP because his strengths are too great and it brings his weaknesses to an "average" rating. I think he's going to thrive and do great in a regular Kindergarten environment, but I do have a few concerns about his lack of strength and coordination. He still cannot climb, run, jump and has a hard time stepping down from a small curb. We still have at least six months to work on these goals, but we need to have a plan in place for him as well. I don't foresee him needing tube feeds or medication while at school for two hours.
Anyway.. I took Owen to the schools with me so he could check out the playgrounds and he is just SO excited!! He does say he's "a little nervous because I won't know any of the kids' names." I hope that we hear back from our schools of choice that he was approved so that he can join in with his peers for Kindergarten round up, which usually happens in the early spring. Still can't believe Owen will be in Kindergarten, but we are thrilled for him!
Have a happy weekend!!
3 comments:
Confused. You would not send him until after his heart transplant?
Kindergarten is a breeding ground of bad germs for someone waiting for a new heart and low immune system after. Mama can't follow with Lysol and hand sanitizer there :(
I'd wait a year. Noone knows, none cares. School him at home for now.
His health is of utmost importance now.
We obviously will not send him to school unless we get full approval from his transplant team. The reason I don't send him before transplant is because of his increased need for oxygen and heart failure. Post transplant, if stable, and his team at Stanford gives us the go ahead, he will be able to attend Kindergarten. He may not start right away, and that's okay. Also, if he is ENROLLED in Kindergarten, and cannot attend, then the district will send out a tutor to help me out with homeschooling to ensure he is not getting behind. :)
Andrea you are such an inspiration! Keep up the good/hard work - Owen is amazing and it shows!
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