Don't Say First Day

Elizabeth was discharged from the hospital late Monday afternoon. Yay! We are always so happy to come home to our loves and to be away from the hospital. She'll follow up with all of her specialists in the next two weeks and she'll get blood counts again soon to make sure her counts have come up some.
Liz is doing pretty well. She is having some bleeding from her stoma, so we will go to the doctor tomorrow to get it looked at. Last night she woke up in pain, but she never lets her pain get in the way of what she wants to do........
which today means attempting her first day of middle school! She is half crazy, half stubbornly resilient, and she insisted on going to school just like everyone else. I knew I needed to let her attempt the day because we have no idea what this year will bring. If she is not able to fight infections or if she is too sick, she'll be forced to stay home again this year like she did all of last year.
I have been crying for the last two hours since I dropped off the kids at school because I am so worried about Liz. We have been together, literally, all of the time for over a year. My gut says she is not ready for school today as she is still recovering, her counts aren't great, and her stamina isn't there, but for her emotional and mental well being we had to let her try.
Jackson and Kaitlin were happy to walk into school this morning. How in the world can I have children of my own who are old enough for middle school?! It just seems impossible. I pray the girls have a great experience and make lifelong friends in these middle school years, just as I did.
Jackson started Kindergarten! How sad that for the first time in seven years, I will have an empty home during the day now that all three are in school.

Here's to a wonderful, happy year of learning and firsts. As Travis said when he was little, and we continue to say now, "Don't say first day!"

First day of Kindergarten and first day of 6th grade.
Jackson- 6  Liz and Kate-11

Look how they've grown. This was last year.

My beautiful, hard working, pleasing, kind Kate.

Jackson's teacher is amazing (!!!) and happens to be our neighbor,
He is hilarious and told us "I don't think having my neighbor for my teacher is such a good idea".
He is totally prepared for Kinder and is going to have a great year!

My shadow for the last year is attempting to leave me and have the normalcy of
school that she deserves. She is an example to us all of never making excuses, practicing mind-over-matter,
 and believing that strength comes from within.

The girls have always been in class together. This year they will separate for the first time.

Jackson and Taylor are at  the same school and in the same class!
I just kept telling him "Do not hit your cousin at school!!!"