Hello friends!
It's that magical time of year when the children return to school. Social media is clouded with photos of new outfits and back packs. Buses are clogging up the roads, sport's fields are swarming with kids of all ages. It's BACK TO SCHOOL!
Personally, I'm NOT the mom who counts down to the end of summer. I'm the one holding in tears, counting down to the end of the school year, or day! However, I've been very lucky, spoiled some may say. Of Killian's 6 years here, I've worked a total of 2 years combined. His pre-k was 3 days a week for 2 hours, and kindergarten was 5 days a week for 2.5 hours. I consider that lucky! Now I must send him away like the rest of the big kids...booooo!
Killian is off to the First grade! He is also off to the cafeteria for the first time. Because he's going full day, he will also be taking the school bus for the first time, and out for recess for the first time. This year is a year of FIRSTS. As much as I'm excited for him, I'm nervous.
Confidant but nervous.
There will be an aide with him on the bus...just in case! He will have an aide nearby in the cafeteria with an assigned safe seat, as well as NOT being allowed near the garbage...just in case! He will have that same aide nearby, on the playground...just in case! Lunch will be brought from home each day. There shouldn't be any reason to worry but I do. Especially the playground part; this is where he'll be playing with other kids from other classrooms who may not HAVE to wash their hands or deal with allergies. What if?? A thousand "what if" scenarios plague my mind. It's 1:40am the night before the first day of school and I'm up wondering...what if?
May 2012 was the last time Killian suffered from anaphylactic shock. Tony administered the epi and we raced to the hospital. He was given steroids, antihistamines, and more epinephrine. We waited 4 hours before he was discharged. The usual - follow up with allergist, continue steroids and antihistamines for 3 days. All has been well since. We've been educated even more on foods/labels since. So, thankfully, no incidents for over 2 years now.
Being no stranger to anaphylaxis, I know the next reaction can be very different. Much worse. I know sometimes epinephrine isn't enough. Sometimes time isn't enough. And so, once again, I'm panicking on the inside to let my boy outside. What if??? The fear of my son never coming home from school has returned and I hate it. My mind tries to take me to a dark place but I won't allow it. It's too hard to imagine and so I quickly change gears. Killian is in great hands and he's not afraid to speak up, I'm so thankful for this. Hoping his new classmates will be just as cooperative and understanding as the staff.
Here's to another successful school year! Don't forget to tell your children you love them before they leave!
Please check out our walk page, the walk is this Saturday!
Www.foodallergywalk.org/Albany2014
Team "Bovine Intervention"
Thank you!
