Natalie is Three!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe our little girl is three! Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Normally I would let there be only one big thing at a time on one day: a birthday is enough. But today Natalie also started preschool. For those not familiar with special needs kids in California, the Regional Center (a state contractor) payed for Natalie's therapy from birth until yesterday. As of today, until she turns 18 (I think), the local school district pays for her therapy. And the school district wants to provide that therapy in a school setting, so they provide "special day classes" for special needs kids. Natalie's class is 4 days a week, for 2.5 hours.

As I said, under normal circumstances, I would say, "Today is your birthday, let's start school on Monday." But when are things normal? Because of our disagreement with the school district over her speech therapy (or lack thereof), Tom and I decided that she would start school today, so Natalie has as much time to get used to the new environment, and her new speech therapist has as much time to observe her and work with her before Natalie's next IEP--just for speech--on December 18.

The bus was supposed to arrive at a certain time today; when it hadn't shown up 15 minutes after the appointed time, I called and said that I would take Natalie to school (so she wouldn't be late her first day, of course!) Just as I got her strapped in the car, the bus pulls up, so we switched gears again and got her situated in the bus, got the cell number of the driver, and off they went.

I had the two boys in the car, ready to follow the bus to school and make sure the transition to the school went ok. We followed the bus...where is she going...this is not the way to the school? Oh yeah, there must be OTHER kids getting on the bus. One kid besides Natalie got on the bus, then they went to the school. Lukas, Konrad and I watched the aide meet the bus and help Natalie down the stairs, then the aide held the hands of the two kids and they walked to class. I could see the other kid pulling on the aide's arm to go faster, but she could tell she had to go more slowly with Natalie, who was also distracted by new items in the pavement on the way there.

The boys and I sneaked behind them, watching as they turned a corner, then coming up behind. The teacher knew I would be there, but I didn't want Natalie to see us, so I could see how she did in her new class. Of course she did fine...I only went along to make myself feel better, not to make HER feel better! We watched her for 30 seconds in the class and then went home (Konrad needed a nap). Now I get to wait for her to come home in a few hours! I'll give Natalie's report on her day at school when she gets home.

There is some psychological difference in her going to school, but I tell myself it's very similar to leaving her at the therapy clinic for two hours twice a week, or in the church nursery for almost three hours. Natalie loves those environments, and I'm sure she'll love this too. Her class has 10 boys and now it has two girls...Natalie knows how to rub elbows with boys, and I'm sure it will be a fun environment for her.