School Days, Day Two
August 09, 2006 4:26 PM

Juliana did so well at school the first day with her new day nurse (Nurse Margaret) that Tami felt confident enough to leave them alone together, already, on day two. Not confident enough to go anywhere or do anything except to go home and worry, but she did leave them at the school. She's never left Juliana anywhere with anyone, except with me or family, or if she was in the hospital, so it wasn't easy for Tami. They did fine however, except for a power struggle between Juliana and her teacher involving sitting down where you're supposed to sit. Juliana had a 30 minute tantrum before she gave in and sat in her spot. The next time it was time to sit, she ran and got in her spot. She learns fast!

I wrote last time about Juliana playing with her plastic bucket in her bed. Last night when I went in she was almost asleep with the bucket over her head like a hat. She saw me, sat up, and waved. I grabbed my camera and she gladly posed for a picture, which is why I'll be posting soon a picture of her in bed with a bucket on her head.

—Jeanne ("Party")

First Day of School!
August 07, 2006 12:13 PM

Today is the first day of Juliana's preschool. The day nurse is perfect—it has to be a "God thing"! She lives close by, which is great—a lot of nurses wouldn't travel this far (it's a 20 mile drive for me). She doesn't mind it being a 5 hour shift. And Juliana "took" right to her.

Tami is staying with them for the first few days, until she feels confident to leave Juliana with her, and she's not offended, she appreciates it. It won't affect my relationship with Juliana at all. When I first realized Juliana would have "another nurse", for school, I felt some insecurity and jealousy! But I can't be the day nurse and the night nurse too, and the new day nurse (Margaret) has more energy then me (to keep up with the busy little girl)! So, I'll let you know how school goes.

Here's something brief to hold you over—last night when I came in Juliana was already in her bed, watching her DVD player as usual. In the bed with her was a plastic bucket with her Dora doll inside. She'd take the doll out, play with it for a few minutes, then put it back in the bucket. After a while she looked over at her Sully doll, reached and got him, and tried to stuff him into the bucket—but he was too big. She put Dora back in the bucket, lay down, and pulled the blanket up over herself and the bucket, signed "love", and went to sleep. She's a wonderful little girl—probably one of the most cared for, and prayed for, people in the world.

—Jeanne ("Party")