First Day Of Third Grade!!

First Day of School Picture

     Well, we made it through a great summer break.  Marques (8) is going to be hard to break out of the TV routine, he became accustomed to over the summer!  He went to sleep concerned about starting third grade and going back to school.  I assured him it would be great and not to stress, because last year he woke up with a gray hair.  It was the craziest thing!  Well no gray hair the first day of school for either one of us.

    
This year I was prepared with my Teacher hemophilia information booklet, my hemophilia information sheet from the Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) with their information and the school medical information for the nurse. 
    

At the open house, the night before, I gave the information to the Teacher and asked was she aware that Marques had hemophilia.  She informed me, she was and the nurse had already discussed it with her.  Surprised, I asked her if she had any questions and she said, "no" and didn't look too concerned.  I did let her know that Marques had to wear his helmet at recess and gym. 

    
     I know some mothers don't require their son's to wear a helmet.  I went to a hemophilia event years ago when Marques was 3 or 4 and some of the Mothers were against it.  I choose to have him wear it because his first major bleed was a head bleed, from falling from my bed when he was about one.  After that, he had another bleed in the same area and there was no accident.  I am very paranoid about that area.  I know at 8 years old and almost 5 feet tall, he is not thrilled to wear a thick blue helmet.  Since he has worn a helmet all of his life, it is still normal to him. 

     The first day of school is a little difficult for Marques.  He has new people in class asking him questions about why he needs to wear a helmet and what hemophilia is.  After that though, his friends start making sure he wears his helmet to recess and gym.  I am almost ready to let him stop wearing it but before school ended last year the nurse literally called me everyday regarding Marques falling, hitting his head or running into someone.  The week finally ended with me picking him up from school with a busted lip, scratched forehead and knee.  Thank the stars he was wearing his helmet, because it could of been worse.  I told him, when I feel he's calmed down a bit as he gets older, he can stop wearing the helmet.

    
     So anyway, Marques went off to school and I was off to take Laithan (18 mnths) to the HTC for a followup regarding his abscess (see previous post). While I was there my cell phone rings and it is the school nurse!!  (Yes, I have her number in contacts!!)  OMG!  I am thinking,  "already....the first day"!  The first thing she says is "He's okay, nothing happened, he just came to see me so I could call you and let you know he forgot his helmet."  "He said he would be careful and take it easy outside playing."  How cute is he and how mature he has become to want to call and let me know. 

    
     Later that night as I am giving him his wednesday prophy treatment I ask,  "So how was recess and did you take it easy." He said "Yes, I just played basketball," and he looks at me and smirks!  All I could say is, "Go put your helmet in your book bag!"