1,001

Today's post marks the milestone of 1,001 posts that I have written since I started this blog just over a month after Colin was born.  I only just discovered this number two posts ago on accident and it seemed like a little something for me to celebrate.  While I hadn't initially intended for this blog to become what it did, I have been so grateful for this outlet because it has chronicled the life of our family since Colin first came into it.  

 

 

Chris and I started out using this blog primarily as a way to share information about Colin as we navigated a new world of having a child with special needs but it very quickly turned into more than that.  After awhile, life was more than just about having a child with a disability; it was about family time and vacations, proud moments, challenges, smiles and laughter, events we participated in, and it was also about the daily things that can be difficult for anyone that has children.  We started sharing our life to show that it was defined by so much more than having a child with Down Syndrome.  Don't get me wrong, sharing the things related to the fact that Colin HAS Down Syndrome is incredibly beneficial as well because of a community of people I have found who can give advice, make suggestions, or sometimes just say "I get it". 

 

This journey that our family is on together is marked by lots of memorable events, but it's also filled with all of the little in between things that make every day something new, something great, and often times something really challenging.  I'm thankful to have this outlet so that I can share....because I do it for me, I do it to advocate for Colin, and I do it with hopes that maybe it can help someone else too, just like so many other blogs do for me.  Here's to 1,001 more posts about all of those moments that make our life together what it is...cheers!

Tiny Dancer

Earlier in the summer out of nowhere, Kailey started asking us to go to dance class.  She was even showing us some ballet dance moves and saying things like "this is how we do this, mom and you hold your leg like this".  We assumed she must have been picking it up on one of the shows she watches because she had otherwise not been exposed to any sort of dance class.  I had always had it in my head that I wanted her to at least try it at some point so I started looking around at local dance schools to sign her up.  

 

After finding a school that fit our schedule once I go back to work, I took her to sign her up and even had to purchase her a "uniform" that she would wear to class every week.  Words cannot begin to describe how excited she was to tell people that she was going to be starting dance class and every day she would ask me when she would get to go.  Well, the day finally arrived yesterday so we got her in her ballet "uniform" and I took her to class.  The teacher had the parents get involved to start since some of the girls were shy and timid but then eventually phased us out.  Kailey phased me out much more quickly than even the teacher phased us out (which I was thrilled about) and had a big beaming smile the ENTIRE time she participated.  It was absolutely adorable and the way she looked so happy and participated reiterated that this was a good decision for us to have her try it out.  Looking forward to seeing how much more she loves it each week!

 



Communication

Chris and I have been really happy with Colin's first few days of school so far but I am trying to keep myself from becoming a crazy parent who writes a million notes and sending emails all of the time.  I know that he only just finished his third day of school but I am having a hard time without knowing more specific information from his day.  In all of the times that we met with the staff he will be working with, we stressed communication as being a key component for us so that we can reinforce everything at home.  We don't want to just reinforce the academic components, but also the social and behavioral aspects as well. 

 

The positives are that he is happy to go to school each day, he has been independent with getting on and off the bus (and according to him, putting on his seatbelt by himself), he's been happy when he comes home, he's been in the same clothes so the potty aspect must be going well, and I am already noticing a change in his communication in terms of telling us more.  These are all great positives and makes me feel confident about his day BUT there are other specifics that swirl around inside my head every day that I am struggling with because I don't know and am not getting an answer from Colin about.  For example, when I asked him today if he was a good listener I got a bunch of different things ranging from "yes" to something about it being "not nice" in connection to the playground, and telling me about rest time. 

 

I am a teacher myself so I understand that it can be challenging in a day to respond to parents immediately and I also understand that I am sure right now, I am not the only parent with questions.   A lot of parents are sending their kids to school for the first time and probably have a lot of the same anxieties that I do.  I am just having a hard time finding the balance between wanting to reach out too much but getting the information we need to help Colin since he is unable to fully communicate it himself. 

As part of Colin's IEP meeting, the staff had requested in June to do a 30 day meeting at the end of September/early October which we were completely open to anyway.  I know that will come on pretty quickly and am trying to be patient to give time because this is a transition for his teachers as well.  Inclusion is new to them in that school so I know they need time to figure things out as well. 

 



I know that I am having some anxieties because I want Colin to be successful and independent but know that he does need help.  I don't want to be a helicopter mom but don't want to pull back too far and then find out that something has been going on when it becomes difficult to correct.  I don't expect a narrative on every part of his day, but also need some assistance with any bit of positives and negatives to address at home. 

 



Sometimes in writing these blog posts it's a reminder to myself to address the things I already know but it also helps me purge some of my anxieties.  Plus, we all know I have a lot of extra time on my hands as I am 7 days late waiting for baby #3.  However, even though I know I need to be a little patient, I also know that I still need to be a proactive parent as well.  Hoping that as everyone gets into a routine we receive a little bit more feedback about his day. 

 



Reflecting on the First Week

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Lao Tzu

 

 

 

Colin finished his very first week of Kindergarten yesterday (2 days) and we are thrilled at the way it went.  We are optimistic about the coming days ahead but know that the first 2 days were a transition for everyone.  As the students learn routines and get used to their new environment, a lot of change is taking place for everyone.  However, for a child who can have difficulties with transitions and change, he did really well.  We didn't receive a lot of feedback in terms of specifics from his teacher or para just yet, but we know that as they get into the more specific academic stuff next week and include pull outs with his therapists, we will start to receive more information.  The positives for us were that we had two really good notes and he came home happy each day (although he was also quite exhausted).  As expected though, the ONE thing he talked about (other than telling us the names of his teachers) was gym class (which makes me laugh).  

 

We have a long road ahead but will take things one step and one day at a time...

Last night, we had a much requested activity of riding bikes in the driveway on their "road".  Picture a 40+ week pregnant lady drawing a road in sidewalk chalk with the hopes of inducing labor (it obviously didn't work) and you can imagine what I must have looked like.  The kids had fun and it was a nice way to end the week. 

One thing about our little boy is that he WILL pick himself up and keep on going...

IMG 5919 from Kelli Tobin on Vimeo.

Colin's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Colin's first day of Kindergarten at Herbertsville Elementary School and the excitement and anxieties for this day have been building for a really long time now.  Ever since we had the opportunity to take Colin to visit his school and meet some of the people he would be working with, we have spent a lot of time talking about it.  The excitement started to build even more when Kailey started at her school on Tuesday and Colin wanted to do the same.  

 

 

For Chris and I, this was a really big moment.  While I was laying in bed last night thinking about today, my mind also wandered back to those moments after Colin was born when the diagnosis of Down Syndrome was confirmed.  I thought about how Chris and I felt and all of the tears that came those few days while we wondered what the future would bring for Colin.  However, at that time we made a choice; we decided that we wanted what everyone else wants for their children and chose to raise him just like anyone else would raise their children.  We believed that Colin had a very important place in this world and believed that he deserved the same things that everyone else did, even if it was a little bit more difficult for him.  

 

 

We have been pushing Colin every day since to do the very best that he can do and have found that there are so many possibilities and that he is capable of many things.  He has even proved us wrong at times when we thought that maybe he wasn't ready for something or wasn't able to accomplish it at that time. 

 

The road to get to this day hasn't been easy and we've faced a good amount of resistance along the way but we believe that Colin is where he belongs and we are looking at all of the ways we will see him grow and flourish this year.  I couldn't help but break down and cry as I watched my independent little boy get on the bus all by himself, very happily, and head off to his new adventures at his new school.  

 

 

There were some fears and trepidations as well but I know that as each challenge presents itself, we will find ways to overcome them. 

 

For now, we are going to bask in the fact we had a really good first day (he even came home in the same underwear!) and hope for many more to come.  We are SO PROUD of our little boy and will continue to push him to be the very best he can be.  

 

 

We love you Colin!

  



Our 2014 Summer

This summer was really a fantastic summer for all of us.  In a lot of ways it was different with me being pregnant because I didn't go to the beach quite as often as I have in the past but it also opened up other opportunities for us to try.  We are still anxiously waiting for the newest Tobin to get here but overall, we had a really great few months together...

Looking forward to the newest adventures as a family of 5!

Kailey's First Day of School

Today was Kailey's first day of school and she couldn't have been more excited.  

 

She has been talking about school and walking around the house with a backpack filled with random stuff (I dumped out pretend kitchen food, blocks, papers, Toy Story 2 DVD, books, and various other items) and a pretend lunch box for weeks now.  She has been asking about it, telling us what she was going to do, and talking about how excited she is. 

 

We weren't sure how this week was going to play out because of the fact my due date was yesterday, but I'm glad in the end I was able to be here to see my big (little) girl head off to school today.  She seemed far older than her 3 year old self really is and was just so excited this morning. 

 

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The only down side is that in being here for her first day I may be missing Colin's first day of Kindergarten (which I will be a wreck over).  It's also been hard explaining to Colin that he's not going until Thursday when we are getting Kailey ready and excited for her.  We've been talking about school so much with him to lessen the potential transition difficulties, but he's been excited talking about it that I think he will be ok. 

After an adorable goodbye between Colin and Kailey, and then Kailey and Daddy, we were off for Kailey's first day.  The whole way over there she kept asking where her school was and telling me all of the things she was going to be doing while she was there. 

 

My big (little) girl carried her stuff in, went right into her classroom, and was ready to start her day.  Until I sought her out, she wasn't even going to say goodbye to me!  (I'll take that over a clinging, crying child any day which I've definitely had in the past!)

 

 

I am so proud of her and can't wait to hear all about her day.  Our little girl is growing up!