The 'A' Team

Before you read the rest, I am going to tell you there is a great story at the end.

Okay, now I have to do some bragging. Okay, well a lot of bragging.

When it comes to a teaching team, Camille got the top squad. The "A" team. The magna cum laude of preschool classrooms. The "all that and a bag of chips" group of mentors.

Camille had a rocky start to the school year. She wanted to go. She's already learning. But the darn phantom of prematurity threw her another curveball again as she seemed to have two seizure episodes in Mrs. Miller's class on her 3rd and 4th days of school.

Nothing does a parent's heart so good as watching their child's teachers rally around her and keep on going despite setbacks. And that's what our "A" team has done. How we love them for it.

Mrs. Miller is the incredible head of the class. She loves Camille. She challenges Camille. Without hesitation, she adapts Camille's classroom and when you have the chance to visit, you can see her implementing all of the suggestions that Camille's Teacher of the Visually Impaired has for Camille's education plan. Did I mention she's just a whole bunch of fun? And she's smart and she's kind and she goes to bat for the big C, all the while not putting up with any of her tantrums or manipulative behavior. And I get to hear conversations that she has with the class throughout the day as Camille pretends to be her at night in bed.

Jessy is para extraordinarre. The way that she cares for Camille's wellbeing sprigs up tears in my eyes. I kid you not, she would walk to the end of the world for this kid. I've seen her at work in the classroom, and she is amazing, paying attention to details and helping Camille understand with the kindest hand and detailed descriptions. I've also seen her tirelessly in the hallway, playing the fortieth round of "One, Two, Three, Run...run...run" to get Camille to the playround, and that is the heart of a saint at work.

Maria, para last year and school secretary this year, remains a constant in Camille's school life despite her job move. Camille visits her in the office daily and closely examines her nametags and tries on her bracelets. Last year, she picked up on Camille's love for music and burned her a CD of her preschool songs which Camille asks for on every van ride we take. Not only has this acclimated her to the classroom, it has allowed for many a sane moments for mommy in the car. Did I mention she was my conduit to the school when Camille had her seizures? She watches out for my mommy heart.

Pam has taken Maria's spot in the classroom as para deluxe. I've only known her a few days, but I already know I like her. A speech-language pathologist by trade, she now works the para circuit and brings with her Therapy Dog Moses. The coolest thing--she used to raise guide dogs for the blind and already announced plans for a dog for Camille someday. Smile. Isn't that a piece of irony?

Mrs. Headly, the classroom speech teacher. Kind and gentle. Sweet and smart. She gets so excited for all of Camille's progress and I see her heart at work with the kids when I am there. We all just feel better when Mrs. Headley is around, so if you ever need a pick-me-up, give me a call and I'll take you to meet her.

Jill, Camille's Occupational Therapist in the classroom, may as well be wearing a cheerleading sweater with a big "C" on it. She coaches Camille on with utmost enthusiasm and motivates her to do things in a way that only Jill can. And this year, we get to welcome back Amy as Camille's PT. Yeaaaa! Amy used to be with Camille when she got services at home for birth to 3 years.

And last but not least, Camille's Teacher of the Visually Impaired. We welcomed Carrie into our lives this summer after Beth left, and she's made our transition-- what could be a highly stressful change-- utterly flawless. She is amazing with Camille and she hit the ground sprinting this school year. It's PDS (Pretty Darn Special) when she already has personal copies of all of the stories for the year ordered and ready to be brailled. And has made large, simple illustration cards to go with the story for this week. And has plans to get story boxes together with all of the items in the boxes...to share with us at home as well as to use at school. Oh, and my heart melted when I saw that all of the teachers have braille on their nametags. Because of Carrie, my heart is still and I know that Camille is in good hands.

A high point after the trough of seizures came yesterday when I picked up Camille after preschool. The whole team was on high. Camille had not only asked to pee pee in the potty but had actually done it. Additionally, she rode a tricycle with assistance for ten minutes. The way they were seeping happiness, you would have thought they were the parents! Can you get much better than this?? I challenge you.

All of these amazing people, along with Mrs. Hinman the principal and Kerry and Sharon who work in the school health office, have made the medical setbacks bearable. I count my blessings.

And I don't forget even for a moment Jayme and Beth, her first two Teachers of the Visually Impaired, who are now gone but have helped bring her to where she is today.


Cool Story at the End:

This has nothing to do with my blog topic unless you tie it to cheerleading and enthusiasm. Tonight, after being in bed, Camille called to me that she needed to go potty. Common attempt to get out of bed, but we honor it once. Tonight, she actually did pee. Whoopeeee! And then she said to me,

"Way to go sista momma!"

I think this is somehow translated from my attempt to cheer her on in previous potty attempts with "Way to go, sister!"

Alas, I must close and go down the hall. I think I hear her out of bed....lots of clunking around in her room. Did I mention it's 10:30 p.m.? Sigh.