Jale at school

It is 12 weeks now since Jales school enrolment and yesterday was our first date for a talk with Jales teachers at school.
Some of you may remember our doubts in summer if we should really send Jale to school already. We were in doubt especially because all the experts (kindergarten, therapists) advised us not to send her to school but to kind of a pre-school kindergarten for a year.
In the year Julia and me made our decision against all the experts advises and sent Jale to school.

Yesterday we talked to Jales maths teacher, to her class teacher and to an educationalist. They all were surprised of how good, motivated and dilligent Jale is at school. From her cognitive abilities there is nearly no difference between her and other pupils her age. She still has some lacks...many kids that age still have that. And she is getting additional support lessons at school.

But generally, Julia and me have been very proud to have made our decision and did not listen to others. The educationalist even gave in that she also was wrong with her first judgement about Jale in August 2008. YYYYYYYEESSSSSS!!!

Jale at school

Yesterday was Jales big day at school.
Julia went to catch her at school as usual at 11:50h a.m....but Jale did not come out of the school building. What happened? Julia went in towards the classroom when 2 of Jales classmates came along, shouting: "Jale still has to do an additional exercise". The thing was that Jale and 3 of her classmates were joking and playing around even when their teacher wanted to start the lesson.

So, all 4 of them were kept in after school to make a drawing, showing some silent, silent pupil.
Seems as if she really enjoys school.

Deep thoughts of a 5 year old

Some days ago we sat together in the kitchen when our 5 y.o. daughter JJ all over sudden asked me:

JJ: Papa, who is the oldest of us 3?
Winni: Me
silence....thinking...

JJ: So, you're gonna die first
Winni: probably. You will be alone with Mom then
long silence...thinking
...thinking...

JJ: Ah-that doesn't matter. We will find a new Papa.
after a short break
JJ: But a YOUNGER one then!!

Julia: NOOOOO...please!!!!

Julia and me looked at each other and burst out laughing.
So, what should make me think more? JJ's words or Julia's words???
Maybe none??

Jale's 5th birthday

On June 4th Jale celebrated her 5th birthday. She was still weak and ill that time and so we promised to do a big party for her. So we invited her friends for a party on sunday, 10th. She wanted to invite nearly everyone of her kindergarten kids...that would have been about 12 children. Way too many for our flat and for our nerves! But we have a general agreement: 1 friend per year, means, 5th birthday=5 friends, 6th birthday=6 friends etc etc.
For sunday she invited her friends: Marvin, Sabrina, Melanie, Alina and Ebru. Unfortuntaley Ebru was ill and could not be with us. Her party started at 2.30h p.m. and the parents picked up their children again at 6.30h p.m.
It was hot that day... 26-28°C but the kids were playing outside for some time and we only went inside our flat to have some cakes and cookies. All in all it was a loud and wild party but they all liked it and nobody wanted to leave.
After all kids had left and we cleaned up everything again, we had a cool drink to relax. Next morning I got up at 6.00h again and I felt as if I was boxing 12 rounds.......;-)

Jale in hospital - review of a day

First of all, let me say "thank you" to those of you who knew about Jale's disease, the surgery/opration and my thoughts and doubts about it. None will ever be able to follow my thoughts in detail, but everyone who talked with me about it, helped me and lifted me up.

Thank you friends!

Today was a special day. Jale had to go to hospital for a little, ambulant surgery. Her adenoids (palatine tonsil) had to be removed. She was having trouble with ear infections since nearly 8 months and so we decided to let them be removed and to let the doctor make a cut into the eardrum.

That's how it works in germany:
We were in hospital at 7.15h and she could choose a bed to relax. At 7.45h she got a little "drink"...to cool her down, to make her a bit dizzy. At 8.15h she had to change clothes for one of the ugly hospital-skirts - at least there were some mussels, fishes and seahorsed on it. Lying in her bed,we carried her to the Operation(surgery) zone and then had to wait 40minutes until she came back. The operation was being made under full anaesthesia.
When she came back to her room, she cried from 9.10 - 10.10h. She cried and raved, shouted and screamed. Everyone of the hospital crew was very astounded, shocked, worried...whatever....about Jale's behaviour. No child ever before had the energy to scream and rave as loud and as long as she did.

We were worried too of course but we know that Jale does everything very intense and excessive...whether good or bad doesn't matter. The only thing we were really worried about was that she would probably keep this bad moment in her head, just as all her bad and hard experiences with any doctor before. But the (real good, feelfull and perfect Turkish) anaesthetist promised us that she won't remember anything at all and that all her impressions will be lcoked in amnesia. That was hard to believe because Jale spoke quite clearly after the operation. She said like: "I want to change my clothes now and go home." Or "This bed is not comfy...let's go home-my bed is much better"

After all, she really did not remember anything between 8.00h am and 1.00h pm.
She slept in hospital from 10.10h a.m. til 1.10h p.m. and when she woke up, she was thirsty and hungry. She ate some soft kiddies sandwich and drank a lot of water. Then she began complaining about her throat ache. The throat ache was just because of the laryngeal mask used during anaesthesia.
So, at 3.00h p.m. we left hospital and prepared a nice, comfy bed for Jale at home. She slept a lot and while I am writing this, I am expecting her to cry again and complain about her throat ache...

To be brief: even at home she was still suffering a lot from throat ache. She was not able to eat and drink. But she was not bleeding anywhere anymore and did not complain about any pain in her ears anymore. She even mentioned that she was able to hear better now.

I really hope that we made a good decision and that Jale will have a better life now. Those thoughts are constantly in my head now. It is easy to decide but it is hard to get along with such a decision if it turns to be wrong.
Our daughter missed more then 50% of her kindergarten days and every second weekend we had to spend inside because of her ears infections. Jale was very sad about that and said like: "I think I will never get healthy anymore". Jale must have a better quality of life and I hope that I decided right...in the end.

Anyone of you with similar experiences/thoughts? Share them...would be nice and helpfull maybe.

Easter bugs

Easter was nice and quiet. But look what you see on this pic:



Did our daughter get smaller?? Or do we have any monster bugs, chairs and flowers in our shopping mall??