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thecarstensclan.blogspot.com

Lessons Learned

The first week of school has come to an end and I, as a mother of a new Kindergartner, have already learned so much. Those schools really don't waste any time do they!

TIRED
Anna is wore out! She would play all day long at daycare but there was also good downtime that she could have at any moment. I am sure the excitement of the first week plays into it but this week has really reinforced how important an early bedtime is going to be!

HUNGRY
She comes home so hungry. I am not sure what time she actually eats lunch but gosh is it at 10 am. Again a difference between school and daycare. At daycare Mary was there watching to make sure she ate everything up before she could go play. She also had an afternoon snack at daycare which she doesn't have at school. I am reminded that she has more choices at school and can in fact choose to not eat all that she is offered. She likes vegetables but apparently is not always choosing to eat them! At least we did convince her that she doesn't need to have chocolate milk EVERY day! Yesterday she chose white milk. :)

FUNDRAISING
They didn't waste any time here. Anna came home on Wednesday, the second day of school with a Happenings Book and an order form. And the brainwashing has begun (just kidding) as she was adamant that I needed to buy one, PPPPLLLLLLLLLLLEASE! In this case, yes I will buy one as I usually do anyway. But don't count on it when you are selling wrapping paper and chocolates.

VOLUNTEERING
This lesson is a good one! It does take a village. Hehe. I understand that our school are there to educate and that is getting harder to do with funding struggles and mandates. What makes it easier? I believe parents that take a responsibility at home with their children to engage in their children's education and continue the learning at home with every day activities. I also believe that parent volunteers in the schools are a great way to make an impact on a child. Anna's school appears to have a wonderful volunteer coordinator and efficient system that makes it easy to volunteer and help in so many different ways. I am looking forward to being a part of that!

PTA (I have a hard time not singing Harper Valley PTA)
The slippery slope. I had some anxiety prior to school starting about working mom's guilt and mommy cliches in the schools. Even the feelings I had from touring the schools and orientation when I heard moms talking about other moms in a negative tone. Just because Anna was starting school, I didn't want to feel like I was back in school too. That all led me to have a negative impression of the PTA or stereotypes that may be true or maybe they are unfounded. I really should give it a chance before I start judging, right?

Then at orientation last spring the incoming president of PTA stood up to talk to the parents about the organization. I recognized her. She is my neighbor. Granted, I don't know her well but I was a little nervous about neighbor pressures to joining the PTA now too. Yesterday as I was walking Anna home from the bus she calls out to me. We chit chat about Anna being such a big girl and in school already. Seems like she was just a little baby not that long ago. How she has 3 kids at Woodland Elem with her last one going there next year in K. How wonderful Woodland is and how much she loves it there. I think I am going to escape when as I am saying "see you later" she throws it in quickly. "Will you be coming to the PTA meeting on the 22nd? Would love to get some new K mom's there!" I tell her I have it on my calendar (true statement) and that I would like to check it out (semi-true) and that maybe I will rope in other Woodland mothers that I know to join me (ok, Pam and Laurie!!!) :)

Ok, I am being a little dramatic there since I have been impressed with what the Woodland PTA has accomplished in the past for the school and the students. They raise a lot of money throughout the year that even helps fund extra technology staff people that other schools don't get. And I also learned that many neighbors come to the meetings so it may be a good way to get to know other parents in the neighborhood. There may be positives.

I will keep you posted but wish me luck! If any hair pulling and cat fights develop I will be running out of there so fast! Ha! Again, just kidding. I don't mean to offend anyone that has strong ties to PTAs. I guess this topic could be a post all on its own!

PAPERS
A LOT of trees are cut down for the first week of school. I understand there is a lot of information to send out but man, will this pace continue. I have stacks and stacks of papers. A good system needs to be developed ASAP!

On a side note, lots of information about Swine Flu has been sent and I am expecting a notice today about a confirmed lice case in the school. Chad saw a notice when he dropped her off this morning. We have a long road ahead of us!

BUS DRIVER
My last lesson learned is that I need to have much gratitude for bus drivers. I give people who do that job a lot credit because I think it would be a difficult job most days. And their job of safely bringing our kids to and from school is so important.

I am very thankful for Jim, Anna's bus driver. The first day he called me over to the door and told me he was watching out for our little Kindergartner as she looked a little nervous on the first day! And then yesterday I saw him wave to Anna as she crossed the street. She waved back with much enthusiasm. Brought back some fond memories of my bus drivers, Owen and Betty! Loved them!

First week is almost done and Anna has had nothing but good things to say! She loves Kidstop and loves her teacher and class! So much fun to be had. We'll see how long the enthusiasm continues for but so far so good!

Our Life in Pictures....

Yes, I take a lot of pictures. I put them on Facebook but for those of you that aren't on Facebook here are some links to pictures from the last several months!

Click HERE for pictures from the summer minus our trips!

Click HERE for pictures of our Colorado trip!

Click HERE for pictures or our California trip!

Click HERE for pictures of the first few days of September.

Click HERE for pictures of Anna's 1st Day of Kindergarten!

Enjoy!

Much Anticipated....

I have written before about my thoughts and anxiety about the first day of school! Each year around this time I think about all those parents that are sending their kids to school for the first time. I saw the school buses around the neighborhood.

Now all of a sudden it is our turn! All summer we have been talking about school. Anna got more excited with each day that passed. Mom on the other hand got more and more anxious. And now that the day is here it is a day of mixed emotions.

It is nearly impossible not to think about the day she was born. She was tiny, innocent, and totally dependent. Sending her to kindergarten seemed like a lifetime away. Images of her at days old flashed through my head as we gave hugs and said goodbye this morning. Maybe it is because she is our only child but I burst into tears. Another milestone has been met with many more to come. More flashes came but this time is was a flash forward to her high school graduation. Would never wish it all away quickly but it feels now like it is right around the corner.


Comfort came though in how ready and excited she was. Much anticipation last night as we bathed, picked out clothes, and packed up the backpack. She could hardly wait to go to bed last night so she could make morning come faster. Chad and I took the morning off of work so we could take our time and get her to Kidstop. I was being poky (ok, maybe it is called procrastination) but she wasn't having it. She was ready and wanted to go to school now.

Took some pics and headed to school. She almost forgot to even give hugs goodbye before she was running away and joining the rest of the kids. Mixed emotions. Happy that she was so excited and ready to go. Sad that she didn't indulge me in my anxiety! Ha!



So now we are just waiting for that bus to bring her home so we can hear ALL about the big first day of school! It is 430 yet?

Come and Gone

So, I guess I took the summer off from blogging. Here is is September and all of a sudden summer is over. Where did it go and what were we up to all summer long? Here is a peak at the Carstens' Summer! Lots of fun times with friends and family! You will notice though that there were no camping trips this year! Weird! We do have one planned though for October.

Bruce Springsteen Concert

Travels to Illinois with the Vosbergs for a wedding!

Celebrating my Grandma's 90th Birthday!

Travels to Milwaukee for another wedding!

Spent a week plus in Estes Park, CO!

Chad and I both had a great time at our 15 year high school reunion! Not sure what happened but didn't get any pictures at Chad's reunion!?!

Celebrated our 9 year anniversary and Chad's 33rd Birthday!

Spent a week plus in CA at a work conference and also visiting David, Emma and her family! Chad stayed behind for this trip. :(

State Fair 2009! Super fun time with friends and no kids!

Anna's Kindergarten Open House! Here with her teacher, Mrs. S!

Pictionary Fun with our Small Group

Back to the State Fair with Anna and my mom!

I will post some links to more pictures if you want to see the full pictorial. :) I was anxious about this summer with school starting for Anna but I would say that we lived it up to the fullest and enjoyed our summer 2009 very much! We are now looking forward to the routine and loveliness of fall!

How Are You?

That is a hard question to answer. Hmm, how are we? It is a question that we have heard a lot and the answer I give is mostly the same. Physically I am fine. Emotionally it has been two weeks of ups and downs.

But when I ask myself that question in my head over and over, the answer can change from minute to minute. It doesn't take much for my mind to go back to the moment our daughter was born. And I hope that I can always call that memory back. I am worried that there will come a time when I will forget about this experience. That I won't be able to remember what she looked like or what it felt like to hold her in our arms before we said good bye. And if I don't always remember then it will be like she never existed. That she wasn't important or a part of our lives.

This pregnancy was monitored pretty closely in the beginning. We were doing everything we could to make it to the end. She was important. She was everything I thought about day and night. And just because she was only 6 inches long and didn't make it past 17 weeks doesn't mean she wasn't our child and our daughter. That validation is so important to me right now.

That is why I really felt the strong desire to name her. We didn't name her in the hospital because they weren't able to tell if our baby was a boy or girl. That broke my heart. Then almost a week later the Dr called to tell us that the baby was a girl. And my heart broke again. It would have broke either way, boy or girl, it was just that important information that I had to know. And now we did. Again, this really did happen to us. And we had a daughter. Anna had a sister.

We labored over the name for a few days. And in the end decided on - Olivia Hope Carstens. Olivia was a name that we have always liked but has been so popular lately that we probably would not use it. And the middle name Hope, well Hope is what we have to have moving forward along with Faith. We picked Hope for the middle name but will be keeping our Faith close and strong.

Where Have I Been?

Wow - it has been over 2 months since I have been here to write to you all.   So, what have we been up to? 

Hmm....  Well, I have been in bed by 9 each night and laying on the couch most of the time before that.  I have been feeling nauseous and have no energy.  Thus, I haven't even made dinner for the last couple of month much less getting on here and blogging!  

If you haven't guessed it yet - WE ARE PREGNANT!   Today we are 12 weeks along and so far things are looking good.  We went to the Dr this afternoon and saw the little peanut and its little heart fluttering away.  The babe was actually moving around quite a bit and it was such a joy to see!

This hasn't been the easiest 12 weeks.   With two previous miscarriages I have been very nervous about the beginning of this one.  I have been monitored more frequently with blood draws and ultrasounds.  By now we are back to a more normal OB schedule.  But something abnormal did come out of all the screening.  

My blood glucose levels were elevated so I was referred to an endocrinologist for gestational diabetes.  It has been quite a learning experience.   I have to test my blood sugar levels 4 times a day and try to keep it in the appropriate range with diet and exercise.  So far my numbers have been all over the place but am seeing some patterns with certain foods.   I meet again with the Dr on Thursday.   So far they haven't recommended insulin but am pretty certain that will need to come later in pregnancy.  

SO - that is the news!   We told Anna a couple of weeks ago and she is over the moon excited.  She would like to have a sister so we can use all those girl clothes we have saved but she wants a brother because her favorite baby friend at Mary's is a boy!  We are all conflicted on what we would like.  But as long as the baby is healthy we will be thrilled!