Grade 5 off to a Great Start

We are 7 days into the new school year. Ayden Jane is confident and happy and learning. Whew!!!

K-3 were such amazing years. There was struggle for Ayden Jane and much to overcome but she was supported in all the right ways and each year brought many moments of joy and much for her to be proud of.

Grade 4 was rough. I honestly did not write much because I did not have a lot that was good to say. Something in the combination of personalities at school, the transition to a new school, me going back to work and who knows what else made for a train wreck of a year. It effected Ayden Jane deeply to the point that her anxiety was through the roof, she was acting like a cornered animal behaviorally, panicky at every minor thing, having night mares, developed significant tics, and even her labs were getting screwy. We pulled her and placed her on medical homebound to get everything to settle.

Needless to say, this year HAD to start well. After the last month being home last year, a summer of pouring positive into her and rebuilding confidence and reteaching behavior, it HAD to start well.

So happy to say it has. Honestly, I don't know what exactly her academics have been these first couple weeks but I do know she is happy. She is confident. She is excited to go to school each day. She is communicating beautifully with her teacher and at home. She talks of friends and things she is doing with a smile and no worry. She can problem solve and not just melt down.

As far as energy goes, the first couple days were exhausting as expected. So much to process, so many new faces, new routines, new books. I imagine old fears were lurking. It zapped most of her energy the first 3 days but this second week she has done fantastic. When I pick her up she is silly and chatty and NOT tired. She's able to just be a typical kid. Can't ask for more than that.

Summer

I know it is cliche to say that summer is going by/went so fast! That's the truth though. I'm not saying there weren't days I thought might not ever end, but overall I am feeling the "I can't believe it is August!!" 

Summer brings reduced stress. Opportunity for camps and fun. Lots of swimming and boogie boarding and a bit of surfing. Lack of schedules. This summer, a return to horse back riding and learning to ride on her own.  Lots of laughter. Ayden Jane is refreshed and ready to tackle grade 5. 

On the medical side, labs are good. Eyes were checked and we don't return for a while. Scoliosis check will be sometime in the fall. Next trip to UFL for endocrinology the end of October. Pitolisant still waiting on the eap to help with the financial piece but importation still open until that happens.

We have managed to do a bit of reading over the summer but little to no math. I expect this year to definitely be a challenge for Ayden Jane. She learned things last year, but I just had the feeling they didn't quite sink in like they needed to and she will have to fill in a little bit shaky foundation as well as build on that foundation this year. 

One thing we typically do during the summer was skipped. No running. It has been a very hot and humid summer. Then came lots of camps. Then the past few weeks rain and storms.... I am still hopeful we will get back on the running trail. Mostly because it is so good for her and she is super motivated to be in great shape when we see Dr. Miller in October. It's going to be a challenge but I will do my best to get creative and find the proper motivation for her. Truth is, she is a decent runner. Somewhere along the way though, she has decided she's not able to do it. I miss that confidence she had before the struggle of last year and the illness of last winter. 

Her health has rebounded. Still hoping for the confidence to make a full recovery. Of course, she is at an age where that can be hard!