Back to work

Yesterday I went in to my office for the first time in over 8 months! I walked in to find rice krispy treats, a big bag of peanut m & m's, a Christmas plant and balloon - it was awesome. The girls all know food is the way to my heart! As expected, I didn't get much work done, but it was nice to be back, even if it was just for the day. Joel took a day off to stay home with Riley so I could go in and get organized. The boys had an okay day, but Joel said Riley didn't seem as happy as he usually is. I'm sure he knows now how hard it is trying to find things to keep Riley happy and occupied each day. This is such a terrible time of the year for Riley to be on isolation. If it were summer, I think we would be having a ball!

I'm continuing to chip away at the "to do" list I've created since we've been home. One of the big things on it is to register Riley for school. I tried to do that at lunch yesterday, but the Hamilton County Schools were closed because of rain and flooding. I have never lived anywhere that closes school as much as Chattanooga! Although Riley attended a wonderful private school last year for Kindergarten, Hickory Valley Christian School, we have found that he needs to be registered in the public school system to take advantage of any programs offered for special needs children. Also, they will be required to provide Riley with a teacher while he is homebound,at least through April 2010. After that, we are really not sure what the plan will be. We have started looking into different options for Riley's care. Right now, we feel it is best for me to be home with Riley, but if he does continue to improve and is able, at some point, to attend some type of school or special program, we may consider a nanny. Actually, we are already considering this as one option. It literally would take us finding THE perfect person and fit with our family to go this route. Unfortunately, time is what we need now to see where Riley will be both physically and mentally at one year post transplant. Until then, things are just up in the air.



Today it has been too cold to get Riley out, and thankfully, he isn't asking to "hop in the van." Even inside, Riley is ALWAYS cold and wants to be covered up from head to toe. Right now, he is napping in his bean bag, which is allowing me to post. Getting to do it before 11pm is a real treat! Especially since we have other plans for this evening - decorating the Christmas tree. It has been "up" since Sunday, and by up, I mean standing in the middle of the floor with one strand of lights on it. Christmas is going to be very low-key at our house this year, basically just the tree and what Joel has already done outside. Next year will be better!