First Day of School -- Times Five!

     Today all five of our kids had their first day of the new school year.  My high schoolers seem happy with their teachers and classes so far.  Tomorrow they'll switch and do the other half of their schedules.  My middle schooler is especially excited about her second year of band.  They do a lot more activities and events, so she is looking forward to that.  My youngest boy likes his home room teacher and the other teacher who teaches Reading and some other subjects.  He is eager to start his gifted program in a couple of weeks.  He's had the same teacher for gifted for the past 3 years now and really enjoys her class.  She is focusing on Greek mythology this year.  He also was invited to join the safety patrol and is excited about doing that like his big sister did a couple of years ago.

     And our little girl went to her first day of preschool today.  She has Head Start during the beginning of the day, and an actual PreK class towards the end of the day.  It is the first time she's been away from home and family, but this child care facility watched my older kids -- all of them -- when they were very small and I trust them a great deal.  I know she is safe and happy and learning a lot while she is there.  They said she cried for us a little off and on during the day, but was distracted when they offered her a puzzle to do and felt better.  When we came to pick her up to come home, she cried that she didn't want to leave school!  She even walked away from us to the other side of the classroom and yelled at us that she wasn't going.  (No, she's not strong willed at all.  LOL.)  She's a very good little girl but definitely very opinionated and not afraid to tell you what she thinks.  I think that's a great quality to have.  Yet when we got her home she was excited to see her own blankie and teddy bear, and her big brothers and sister.

     As for the kids, they had almost no homework for tonight but I had a giant packet to fill out for my youngest boy, and a few papers to go through for each of the other kids.  Thank goodness I stock up on school supplies all summer long as various items go on sale.  We have most of what they need already on hand.  I keep a big tub of school supplies in the garage so they can pick throughout during the school year, too.  There are a few odds and ends to get but nothing urgent.  I think the most expensive things will be items my daughter needs for her band class, but even that isn't too bad.

     I talked to my parents tonight.  My aunt's viewing was yesterday and the funeral was today.  I've been worried about how my mom might deal with all of this grief, seeing as how they were first cousins who were more like sisters.  They grew up in the same house together, did their chores together, went to school together . . . .  But she sounded a lot more upbeat than I expected she would.  She's had a heart attack and a stroke in the past, and this year has been hard on her physically, with a lot of aches and pains and even back surgery going on.  But she seems to be dealing with this pretty well, for which I'm relieved!

     This morning I had my check up with the ob/gyn.  The baby's heart beat is good, and he scheduled me for an ultrasound next week.  I am guessing that he wants to see how much the baby weighs and how big she is getting, as well as if she is still breeched or not.  My last ultrasound was in May and she was breeched then, but of course a baby can move around a lot, right up until the last minute.  Either way it's going to be a c-section so if she's not turned quite the right way she will still be okay.  The main concern with the gestational diabetes seems to be that if the baby gets too big, she could get stuck in the birth canal if labor gets going.  So it sounds like he is taking precautions to make sure that doesn't happen, including scheduling my c-section for around 37 1/2 - 38 weeks, instead of waiting until 40 weeks.  They also re-faxed my info to the dietician, as I haven't heard from them yet and would like some better advice on how to handle the diabetes.

     I start my school classes tomorrow. 

     Yesterday I asked if you could please pray for my hubby, as he had some corporate execs coming to evaluate his work today.  It sounds like everything went well there as we haven't heard any negative feedback at all.  I also asked if you would pray that I would feel better, as my sinuses were going crazy yesterday.  I do feel much better; I thought a sinus infection was coming on but most of it seems to have passed.  Also, I heard from my employer today and she may be able to offer me some hours in the next few months!  So thanks so much -- prayer really works and I am grateful for those that prayed for us.

     So all in all it was a really good day and I have pretty much taken care of most of the things I had on the to-do list.  I am ready to get a good night's sleep tonight!