New School Year...New Explaining To Do

     "Hi, I'm Lovee', Marques Mom.  He is looking forward to the new year in your class, did they inform you he has hemophilia?"  I'm cutting the conversation a little short, but that's the gist of it.  '

First Day of School 4th Grade

     In the past, I would bring the teacher a info pamphlet on hemophilia so I knew she knew.  This year, I wasn't as prepared.  I don't know, maybe I was more relaxed because he is older going into the 4th grade.  He's not that little boy anymore jumping around.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am still requiring him to wear his helmet at gym and recess...He is still all boy and just as ready to play some football and play as hard as everyone else. 
    
     The Teacher was aware he had hemophilia.  The school nurse already informed her and gave her basic information. 

Marques told me, the first day of school the class had to go around telling everyone something about themselves.  He answered, "I have hemophilia and that is all I'm saying about that and I want to be a trillionaire".



     My first response to him was, "Marques, you can't just blurt that out with no explanation".  Short in sweet would of been, I have hemophilia which is a bleeding disorder and I have to wear a helmet during recess and gym to protect myself from injury.  I don't think that would be hard to say, but he does.  I'm not there in his shoes and he has to deal with all the question, so I remained quiet.  I know he has been frustrated in the past trying to explain it to his class.  However, I don't want him to not want to discuss it. 

     Hopefully, one day this year he will take the time to discuss it and I'm sure if someone directly asks him he will explain it.  Unfortunately, I don't think he will fit his helmet the entire year....so we may be retiring it soon!

No School Missed Due To Hemophilia!

     Well, in less than 30 days the kids will be back in school.  This summer went by so quick; yet not quick enough.  I am starting to schedule the kids doctor appointments so they can get their factor levels checked.  I think Marques has not been to the Hemophilia Dr. in over 6 months and Laithan has not been to the Dr.'s since January.  I'm hoping that is a good thing.

     One thing I never mentioned was, Marques made it through the entire year only missing one day of school.  The one day was maybe 2 weeks before school ended, he caught a bug.  He was so disappointed because he really wanted the perfect attendance award.  I had to let him know he already received his award by having a bleed free school year!  Yes, the nurse did call a few times for falls, but nothing major that required additional factor. 

     This is his first year not missing school due to his hemophilia.  My father would be proud because he use to tell me about all the time he had to miss from school.  I pray that next year we have the same luck.  I'm thinking about letting him not bring his helmet to school to wear to gym and recess, but as I write this....I'm getting nervous!

     How are your kids doing with attendance at school?  Is hemophilia becoming less of a reason for being absent?

A New Phase Of Life

     So it has been awhile since I've posted anything....not for a lack of having anything to say. I have been spending all of my time trying to free myself from a business I started, that did not work out. Those issues are holding me back from completely moving on to a new phase in my life.  It is funny, now that I have 4 kids with the oldest and youngest having an 11 year age difference, I think I just may be replaying a previous phase differently. 

     With MaRee' (11) and Marques (9) I was a workaholic Mom.  Maree' stayed with my Mom for the day until she was about 4 before we sent her to Chesterbrook Academy (daycare).  Being the first grandchild my parents had around, they were uncomfortable with her going to daycare with out being able to talk...in case someone did something to her she could tell us.  With Marques, he stayed 6 months with my sister then off to Chesterbrook. 

     It would seem, we would be more worried about Marques.  He had hemophilia and he was the first grandchild with it.  I did make sure a nurse visited the daycare to do a presentation about Hemophilia to his teachers.  When he was about 3, we even had the nurse start going to the daycare center for his prophy treatments.  Chesterbrook provided a spot in the refrigerator for his factor, so I really became removed from the process. 

     Besides educating the staff, Marques also wore a helmet and knee pads from the time he started walking.   As I think back, we had a very successful time with Marques at daycare and I need to thank the lord for protecting him from any major issues.  Like I said, I was a workaholic Mom, I was working close to 12-14 hours a day and I did that from about 1999 to 2007!
 

     Now, with Layla and Laithan (1) I am a stay at home Mom.   So, in this phase of my life I get to take care of my children differently.  I have to say, I feel more protective of them.  Maybe, because I have more time to think instead of just doing.  I can not imagine putting Laithan in daycare and not worrying about him getting hurt.  Shucks, I'm at home with him everyday and I worry about him hurting himself; the boy is bonkers!!! Another concern for me is that in SC I don't have a nurse that can come out for emergencies....I am the "nurse" for those emergencies.  (previously lived in NJ) 
 

     I'm glad I have the opportunity of re-doing the toddler phase and having the opportunity to re-do it being a stay-at-home Mom.  (Even though, at times I have an urge to work... but don't all recovering workaholics!)  I know, my older kids like me being home now and I think they need me more even if it's only to drive them to activities!  I pray my husband can keep maintaining us so I can maintain the family!

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!"