School Days

I sit here in bed and am emotionally and physically exhausted from the days leading up to today and today it's self. My big boy started Kindergarten today and big girl, pre-school. Exciting, terrifying, emotional, great, and sad all at once.  On one hand it went better than expected and on another it was a mini-disaster. 

We have been talking about school, visiting school, reading books about school, doing everything we can do to prepare both of them. Here we were practicing waiting for the bus. Corbin will take the bus too and from school each day. He expressed feeling the most nervous about this unknown part of kindergarten. Three days a week he will get off on the next stop with friends instead of at home since it's such a tight squeeze for me to make it from school to home in-time. 

Backpacks packed, lunch made, signs ready. 

And yet, as I was making these, Eliza was either being bitten alive by fleas or starting some weird allergic reaction to something while she was sleeping. We notice what appeared to be flea bites on her Wednesday and yesterday. She woke up 2 times last night to ask for itch cream.  Then this morning at 6 am she was screaming in pain from huge welts all over her body. The apparent bites had been bothering her so much over the night that she had been scratching them in her sleep. Her whole body was red and itchy. I gave her a small amount of Benadryl and waited till the advice nurse at our doctor's office was available.  By then we were in the car getting ready to take Corbin to school.   

Check out this big kindergartner! 

How sweet... he went from super hero to daddy...which is almost the same thing!

My big kids ready for school!

 A mommy pirate! Love it! 

She was such a trooper once the small amount of Benadryl was kicking in. And excited to wear all pink!

When I finally talked to the advice nurse, we determined it was getting better and that she had no fever and could have more Benadryl than I had given her. So the decision was made to take her to school after Corbin. 

We walked in the pouring down rain to wait outside with all the other kindergarten parents. 

Still pretty happy at this point, but also nervous.

It was a little crowded getting into the classrooms and the nerves started kicking in. But luckily the legos helped and a few familiar faces. 

  Here is his new buddy Lucy.  It was here that we said goodbye. I was almost expecting him to be peeled off me... which he wasn't and didn't. He did not want me to leave but after daddy left and we had a few extra hugs, I left and there were no tears! 

 It was now Eliza's turn! Two drop off's in one morning is hard! 

She was super excited about her cubby. And just felt like she knew what to do. We washed hands and then she instantly found the dress up clothes, put one on, and then proceeded to play while I filled her teacher in on the bites/hives.  

 She then found this little area and was in heaven! It might have also helped that she got more Benadryl after talking to the nurse and was a little out of it or that she got to play with pink toys! But she barely batted an eye when I left. 

And her is Corbin all smiles after getting off the bus! He said he LOVED it. The best part was music class and recess! Even though he couldn't play as much as he wanted! He wanted to go back tomorrow... Adam and I are so proud and excited for him!!

They said Eliza did a great job all day and had a few moments of sadness but did really well. Except when I picked her up, her rash got even worse. After our treat of ice cream she was a mess. Her bumps were so raised and irritated, her little hands swollen, and she was just miserable. It didn't look like bug bites any more. Another call into the advice nurse. They had no room. Her advice, if it doesn't get better within an hour of a new dose of Benadryl then the emergency room. Ugh! Feeling like a terrible parent for sending her to school, Corbin wants our attention to tell us all about his day. Her whole body was just inflamed. It was kinda scary. After consulting with the advice nurse and my parents, she actually fell asleep in my arms completely naked from a failed attempt at a cool bath. It was only 5:45! We were not sure what to do but since her breathing has been good and she has stayed asleep, her hand appear to have gone down and nothing is getting worse, for now we will wait till the morning to take her in to the doctor. She is asleep next to me in my bed and will stay her the whole night. 

It's been quite a day! But we are on to the next chapter and adventure!