Mom's Day in Pre-K

Wednesday was "Mom's Day" in the twins' pre-k class. Such a sweet idea, and very sweet crafts and songs they had prepared for us.

Ask me later how much fun it is to go back and forth between two classrooms for two children who wish that once, just once, they wouldn't have to share Mom. That's the only bad thing about having them in two difference classes--but other than that, the list of pros is very long.

How did I forget to ask someone to take my own photo with my children? How lame. That was the whole point of the day!

Singing a Mom song with her class.

Kyle making a bracelet for/with me.

I finally brought brother over to visit sister's class. She was happy to see him and he was happy to be there (because that's where I was).

The special wooden seats with trays you see them each in are the Rifton chairs. I'd get a couple for the house if a) I won the lottery and b) if they were vertically adjustable. Other than that, those are some pretty nifty sit-and-play chairs which offer ample trunk and head support.

My next project. Ahem--I'm talking to YOU, PVUSD.

My pregnancy with the twins was a high-risk pregnancy, and I fought to stay pregnant with them for thirty-six weeks and four days. I did this through enduring 11 weeks of bedrest, managing well my gestational diabetes, giving up general possession of my body (sigh), and taking the medications my doctors told me to take.

My twins' diagnosis of SMA was even tougher, but I fight for them by taking them to the best specialists around, in-state and out-of-state. And I fight for them by adhering to a strict germ-free lifestyle and by subjecting them to daily respiratory treatments and yucky-tasting medicine.

My twins needed expensive respiratory equipment last year--which our insurance company deigned to pay for--but before I could fight hard for that, the manufacturer donated it. All of it. Muchas gracias, Respironics.

My twins deserve power wheelchairs in order to move themselves. Studies show that toddlers are developmentally able to manage powerchairs as early as 18 months of age. We applied for their powerchairs at age 24 months, and I fought for eight months to get Lauren's powerchair. Kyle's paperwork was inexplicably put on hold by our insurance company, so the fight for his chair is just beginning.

My twins qualify for an amazing preschool curriculum offered by our state/school district. I met the staff there and toured the facility on Tuesday. The twins will love it! The adults-to-children ratio is 1:5; the classrooms offer challenging yet developmentally appropriate centers and activities; school bus transportation is included for free--including for wheelchair-bound children; there are physical, speech, and occupational therapists for every classroom. There are even a handful of "typical" children in each classroom to act as models for the rest, and those kids pay handsomely for the education and experience.

However.

Sigh.

This special-needs preschool has two playgrounds, and neither of the playgrounds are wheelchair accessible. Yes, the school built especially for special-needs kids, with a playground designed by their physical therapists, excludes my children from participating in that activity, and by design. The playground, where arguably some of the most important preschool social experiences take place, is off limits to my babies due to their physical limitations. Wha...?

You want a fight? I can give you a fight. Are you familiar with the roar of a mother lion?

I fought for months to bring them into this world. I fight the daily fight to keep them happy and healthy. And--oh yes--I shall fight to get them the accommodations they need to board that playground and play with their friends. Reference this info from the University of Colorado and this useful advice from Kompan, a playground equipment manufacturer.

Paradise Valley Unified School District? Get ready. I am a whole-lotta woman to deal with, and you're about to meet me. You have 6 months.

It. Is. On.