Thank you for helping me grow... Here I go!!

Today was Noah's last day at BMH-BJ Preschool, as Noah is going to start at his new school this month for the beginning of the school year. Jason and I see this transition as bittersweet. We are sad to leave BMH-BJ, but looking forward to the new chapter and hopefully something great for Noah.

Bittersweet (leaving BMH-BJ) 

Noah has been at BMH-BJ Preschool since he was 3 months old. Leaving your new baby with people you don't know is hard, which is why we decided to take Noah to BMH-BJ. On top of all of the lovely staff and the school being housed within our Shul, Aunt Sami works in the giftshop down the hall from the classrooms and was able to sneak pictures of Noah for me throughout the day. I think she was bribing the teachers with treats, but who cares. :) Liliya, Yelena and Nataliya took amazing care of Noah and even helped us to realize he may need glasses during his time there.

 

The transition to the next class when Noah was 11 months old was difficult for all of us, except Noah. There was a lot of change happening all at once. Noah was being called a "toddler" and that means new environment and new expectations. At 10 months, Noah got his hearing aids, so we were also dealing with that. In his new class, there were a lot of small differences from the baby room, which seemed huge; New teachers who we didn't know, the kids ate at a table with little kid chairs, no high chairs, the bottles changed to sippy cups and most of the kids were toddling around, crawling or walking. Noah at 11 months was not quite sitting up on his own without assistance. These teachers had their hands full and had  not yet had the privilege of working with a toddler with special needs. Around his 1 year birthday, Noah started to become toddlerish. He did not want to wear his hearing aids anymore and would pull them out as soon as they went in. Noah was also the only kiddo who wasn't mobile yet and this was a challenge while other kids would take his toys and he was left without. At this point, Jason and I spoke with one if his therapists and got some recommendations for some new schools which are more specialized. We visited one in particular which we loved and got onto their YEAR long waiting list! In December of 2013, a few months into Noah's school year, I went to India. One morning I open my email to find an email with the subject line "From the Butterfly classroom" .... 

Enter, Chaya. 

From that day on, we received an email every single night detailing what the kiddos were doing throughout the day, what songs they were singing, challenges and upcoming events. On Saturday after Shabbos, Chaya would send pictures of them from the week. Each and every day from then on was amazing. I do believe that Chaya was one of our many miracles. 

Chaya is absolutely amazing! She helped us with some lunch ideas for Noah which would have more protein so he would get through the days better and sleep better, she kept us updated on Noah's progress and asked tons of questions about him so that she could do her best to help him move forward. Chaya is amazing with our therapists and takes what she learns from them and applies it to the rest of Noah's daily activities. She is always coming up with new projects for these toddlers from sensory activities and nature walks to art projects. Chaya is genuinely excited each time Noah reaches a new milestone and pushes him to his limit which only she and a couple others know. Chaya does her best to include Noah in every activity and weighed down a "shopping cart" with water bottles so that Noah could use it to walk with the kids to the playground or fisher hall to play!  

When Noah got his diagnosis, Chaya wrote to me that night to see how we were doing and offer to help. I told her about the diet we wanted for Noah and the very next day she had Organic milk with DHA, Organic unsweeted applesauce, chopped fresh spinach and flaxseed for Noah!!! She has been praying for him and she is one of our answered prayers. 

Bittersweet (new journeys) 

Noah's new school integrates therapy throughout his regular school day. Their mission is to make sure everyone regardless of their ability level is being challenged and is ready for their next school. I love that Noah will be in an integrated environment where about half of the kids are typically developing and half with special needs and all of Noah's teachers will be involved in meeting his IEP goals. Noah will meet kids of all abilities and hopefully learn from each of them. We see in the testimonials, the compassion that each child has for one another and we are excited for this new journey. 

Jason and I have really struggled with the decision of where to put Noah this fall. Do we keep him at BMH-BJ where he is loved and cared for by Chaya and the rest of the staff or do we change it all up and hope that this new school provides the same feelings of comfort to us and love to Noah? Ultimately we decided to send him to this new school. . . I think. ;) Right now Noah needs all the help he can get to stay strong and progress. 

Without a doubt, we will visit Chaya and keep her updated on all of Noah's milestones. 

If you read this, Chaya... Haha, I put you on social media again. 😁 We love you!! 

Shehechiyanu...!