Jumpin' In With Both Feet

I figured if Kayla had to start over in a new environment at a new school, and meet new friends, that it was only fair that I have to just jump right in at a new environment and meet new friends too.

I'm actually a pretty shy person, not so outgoing, and don't just put myself out there to meet people so easily. But a few months ago I started corresponding with another mom from this area via Cafe Mom. Turns out she lives right up the street in the next development. She has 2 kids - one who is almost exactly 1 year younger than Kayla, and one who will turn a year old exactly one week before Lucas!

She let me know she was a member of a Moms Club chapter here. I figured I would get involved in this group once I was a little more settled here and eventually get around to going.

Last Thursday they had a meeting and initially I thought, that's too soon! I can't just attend yet, I'm not ready! But Kayla didn't have the luxury of saying she wasn't ready to attend a new school either, so I thought, what do I have to lose? It was only for an hour and I got to meet this lady who I had been corresponding with, plus some of the other moms. I joined this chapter on the spot. They have so many activities and groups to get involved with all during the month.

Tomorrow I'll attend the New Member Social; Wed night I'm planning on going to the H.O.O.T (Husbands Out Of Town) and H.O.W.L (Husbands Out Working Late) monthly dinner; there are playgroups, play dates around town, exercise groups, story time etc. So I'm looking forward to getting involved and I'm glad I went.

Kayla's first day of school went great! She was a little hesitant when we first walked in to the classroom. The lights were off as they were watching their morning announcements on the TV, some of the kids jumped up to greet her, and with 4 adults in the room too I think it was a little overwhelming. She didn't cry though, just stayed by my side with her head down and didn't want to say anything to anyone! It only took a few minutes to coax her to take her coat and backpack off and put them in her little locker. She willingly went off with the teacher, told me "love you, bye mom!" and that was that. So relieved that she wasn't upset after I left! She did ask for "mommy" a few times, but they said they were able to distract her and she was fine.

There is a little boy in her class who also has Down syndrome, and he came up to her and gave her a hug. He's so cute! I'm hoping to be able to get together with his mom. There wasn't one other kid w/Ds Kayla's age (or even close to it) that we knew in our last town and I'm really hoping to forge a friendship with this family.

In other news - I think God is trying to show me that yes, I made the right decision to move. First the incident with Kayla being sick and needing 4 arms when both her and Lucas were wanting/needing me at the same time. Sunday was my turn to get sick. I woke up at 330 and lost my dinner; it was just awful. I was pretty much out-of-commission all day. So thank goodness I was here so my mom could take over with the kids! I really admire you single moms out there; I just don't know how you do it when you get sick like that and can't function!

Then when Lucas got up this morning I discovered he had been sick last night. What a mess in his crib and all over his pjs...it looked like he threw up the entire contents of his stomach. Poor kid slept like that all night; and he slept 11 hours, I think that's the longest he's ever slept! I heard him coughing a few times, but didn't go check on him. Yeah, Mother of the Year. But he wasn't crying at all, not even fussing, just a few coughs and that was it. So I didn't want to go disturb him if he was sleeping. So far he's been fine throughout the day - I just hope we're all finally over this sickness!