Sunday, August 24, 2008

First Week of Kindergarten Updates!

Okay, I realize that I've been seriously remiss about posting this week. After all, this was a super big week for our little family. Jonni's first week in kindergarten! All I can say in my defense is that I have been beyond exhausted this week. Getting up at quarter to eight is kind of killing me. But enough about that! Let's get to the good stuff;
So you all know that I've been giving myself ulcers worrying about how this was going to go. My beautiful daughter has kind of a fit-throwing nature, and coupled with a shy streak ten miles wide, leaving her with strangers, or even people she knows reasonably well, can oftentimes be...difficult. Doing new things is also something she doesn't handle well. A good description would be "slow to warm up". So we were expecting her to do about a million new things, from getting up at a totally different time, to transportation, to spending the entire day with someone she'd met once. I really wasn't looking forward to this, not to mention the fact that I would have to get up with her. I've never been a morning person (much to my mother's chagrin). Lay on top the fact that I've been ill this year, and am still recovering, which translated means I still sleep a lot, I just didn't know how on Earth I was going to be physically able to do this! Well, my smart husband gave Jonni and I blessings the night before, and immediately we all felt better. Of course, I still had my misgivings, but do or die, we were past the point of no return.
Monday dawned, and just a little later, my alarm clock went off. I cannot express the enormous amount of will power it took to peel myself off my bed, but I did it. I even managed to portray some semblance of alertness, and made the kids breakfast. Whilst they were eating, I showered. After the shower, I quickly decided that showering would be a nighttime thing from now on, that way I could sleep an extra fifteen minutes. (*side note* this was the first time in our marriage that I was up before John went to work. He said it was ultra weird to have everyone up while he was getting ready for work, but nice) I got Jonni and Erik dressed. I had some fore site, and had packed Jonni's lunch and her backpack the night before. Genius on my part, I think if I had had to do it on that fateful Monday, I would've cracked. I got us out to the bus stop, two houses down from us, in plenty of time. Jonni so far had been bouncy with happiness and excitement, but here was the first real test. She had to actually leave me behind, and get on the bus her own self, by herself. The bus pulled up, and I literally held my breath. I told her that I would follow the bus, so when she got off at the school, I would be there to help her find her classroom. Jonni gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and (here it comes! The first fit!I thought) got on the bus with a grin. No problems whatsoever. She found a window seat, and waved to me, smiling, as the bus drove away. A miracle!, I whispered fervently to myself. But no time to dwell, I had to book it back to the car and throw Erik in his car seat, and somehow beat the bus, and park, and get Erik out, and get to the school where the bus drops off the kids before Jonni got off. And I did it. I had to park a couple of blocks away, and pick Erik up in my arms, and walk as fast as I could, and somehow manage to not pass out, but I did it. Another miracle! (for those of you who don't know, this recovery also means I am hideously weak right now. Much better than a couple of months ago, or even a couple of weeks ago, (thanks to "let's get svelte!"), but still nowhere near normal) I even had to wait on the bus! Hallelujah. Now here it comes, I thought. The real test. The biggie. Jonni now has to enter school, and be left behind with her teacher and a room full of strange kids. She got off the bus. She's still smiling and happy and excited. Number three miracle. We walked down the halls of the school, and finally arrived at the classroom. I took her aside at the door. "Here it is, and I can do this tomorrow too, walk you to your door. I can do this all this week." Jonni stepped inside the door, and pulled me with her, and gave me another hug, and a kiss on the cheek, and said "No, you don't have to do this again mommy. Love you, bye!", and walked off to greet her teacher. I stood there for a moment, completely and utterly dumbfounded at miracle number four, the biggest of them all. Her teacher caught my eye, and said "She seems fine, you can go now." I shook myself, gave her a slightly sheepish smile, and walked out, and to my car. And here's miracle number five; I felt fine. I even felt excited! I had a whole day, and no Jonni! Now, I love, adore and cherish my daughter, but she's not what you would call an easy child. She takes up a LOT of attention, and makes it nie unto impossible to get anything done, let alone any kind of lengthy project. Erik is the complete opposite. He likes to play by himself. He likes to play with other people too, ah heck, he's just a happy kid doing whatever. Having just Erik is almost like being by yourself. An entirely different vista unfolded before my mind's eye. I had days and days filled with no Jonni. The sheer amount of things I could get done in just one day was staggering. I made it home full of hope, and yes, happy. Tired to the point of nausea, but happy.
The rest of the week has gone just the same. Jonni is still over the moon about kindergarten, I've accomplished more this week than in the past two months, and we're slowly but surely adjusting to the early morning schedule. Another benefit of no Jonni during the day is I can take actual naps. Jonni has never, ever been a naptaker, or a very good sleeper overall, but Erik always has been. So I can nap during the day. I wouldn't be able to make it otherwise, I'd be dead. So we start a new week, and I'm excited to meet it. My fitness blog is also doing well (if you want to join it, you have only to send me your email, and I'll send you an invite. Or you can do what one other so far is doing, and just post your workouts in the comments) and is helping me tremendously in the getting in shape department. We still love our new town, our new house, and John's new job. I think that next week I might actually be able to make it to Church on Sunday, something I haven't been able to do since April. (I've been trying for two weeks now, and I'm getting closer to being able to get up in time) Overall, life is very, very sweet.
The Almighty Liz

6 comments:

lizS said...

in case your wondering why i don't have any PICTURES of this sacred event, it's because my husband left the camera on saturday night, and the batteries went dead. I haven't gotten any new batteries yet, cause i keep forgetting. i'll post some fake first day pics when i get new batteries.

Anonymous said...

WOO HOO! Happy Kindergarten! You deserve this time to get your life back in balance and your body strong! Blessings!

Dana Cheryl said...

Great news Liz! What a wonderful time for your entire family. Thanks for sharing your fabulous news!!!

Trisha said...

Liz I'm so glad that things have been so well for you and for Jonni! It's such a blessing that she seems to truly enjoy school. That's awesome!

Bruce said...

mark got into trouble on the first day. the teacher said he said the "sh" word. mark claims the "sh" word he said was "shut up." so this year starts off with a bang.

lizS said...

thanks guys! and stacey...do i know you in real life? i'm having trouble placing you, forgive me! and got in trouble the first day, eh, bruce? maybe he'll get it all out of his system early...