First pictures

School

I know dad told you there were two teachers for 10-12 children in Max's class... Let me tell you: it is even better! There are FOUR teachers on 10-12 children, plus there is a specialist teacher in the school (which has a total of 70 kids)!
In a "normal" class, there are 2 teachers on 18-20 children!
We are so lucky to be able to have Max in this school!!!
I decided there and then that we wanted him to go there!!!

The school's name is Rosegarden, and his class is the Porcupine! I was so excited when we got there today, that I forgot to take pictures, but they said we were welcome back to do that!

It has a art/crafts room, a computer room, a reading/physical activity room (with dress up clothes, gym things, books, and a big mattress with lots of pillows), a large playing room with a big mat on the floor, and lots of toys.
In the biggest room they had tables and chairs, a lighting table... oh, it's like I couldn't take it all in!
And all of this is just for Max's class!
They have their own kitchen/chef in the school, so the children will get nutritious meals, straight from there! In most schools they have the food made at another school or a retirement home!
One of the things I really liked hearing was that most of the staff had been there for several years; a couple of them had been there since it started 16 years ago; another one just retired; she had also been there for all the time!
That means they all like their jobs, the environment is good and of course that will be great for the kids!
We met the director; she said no parents, who had had their child in that class had ever regretted it!
It feels so great! I know the schools/day care in Sweden are good... but Liam's school and now this one are something extra! We are so fortunate!!!

Max will start on January 17 next year!!!

I need to get some sleep... will write more and post pictures later!!!

finally an update

I knew this would happen eventually... time to update the blog would just not be there! I went back to work this week! I have been back to work since Liam was born, but never for very long, or I have had a lot of absence because he was sick, had surgery, or I was just too exhausted to be there!

This time it feels different! Liam is being well taken care of in school and by assistants and Max is having daddy-time! Great!
I can relax from everything at home and focus at work, while there! And Friday was a really good day, workwise, because I felt I still got it; I still get people to talk, I ask the right questions and from 6 phone calls I have now figured out 10 stories to do in the next few weeks!!! I'm not quite there yet, but I know I will be a great reporter again! http://svtplay.se/v/2010710/se_inslag_om_nar_pappan_domdes_2003
This is one of my stories from 2003! Not one of my best ones, but it was just published again!

After the drama yesterday, it was even more great to have dad back home! Even though I knew he was safe at Lotta's it felt sooo much better when he walked in the door here! I feel so calm now! Pappa and Christina stayed for dinner! I did the burgur/ment/feta salad with garlicky oiled egg plant! And real chocolate spread for the hot chocolate afterwards!

Liam and his assistants, Ulrica and Adisa, went to the city park today. Pictures from there! Max stayed at home and helped his mom to rearrange some plants in the garden and being a crazy boy in his walker!
Dad read him a bed time story and he fell asleep just before pappa, dad and Christina walked in... if not, he would probably still be awake!

Progress 3

About a week ago, something just happened with Max... all of a sudden he started moving in the walker, to a specific place! He moves from the fridge, to the washer, to the table or into the living room! He is crazy about all open cabinets! The other day I was playing with him and started crawling to Liam's room. Max followed all the way to the door, got some help over the threshold and then left his mom to go see Liam in the bathroom! He hasn't started crawling yet but today he started to get up on his knees as he was already up on his arms, all by himself, for the first time! Since yesterday he holds his bottle to drink... not every time, but several times a day! Today, as we were about to take a nap, he realized that mom has eyes and that if he touches them she will open them! Oh, what a thrill! I got the biggest smiles every time! And yesterday the throwing down things on the floor really reached it's peak, as he was at Christina's. The spoon went down thirty-forty times! And oh, danish rolls are now part of his diet:-) or at least it would be if he got to decide! Sunday he finally decided it was time to really try it! He picked up a big piece and was eating from it for at least ten minutes! He is also making more sounds, and the intonation varies! But no worries... eeh is still the favorite sound! We went to see the physical therapist and the special teacher (Christin from Liam's school) today! They were both so surprised to see how much he had learned over the summer!

Back from camp

Wow, what a trip we had!!! It was so great!
The camping houses, eight of them (1 bedroom, kitchen, livingroom w/fold out bed and bathroom (even had a washing machine)) were situated just around a large playground. Right by the sea, next to nothing else but woods!
Liam and Max had a great time! Liam especially liked the bike... I think he was on it for at least a couple of hours every day! Max liked it too!















We were 19 people, including assistants! Four of my best friends were there and one that I think will be in that crowd soon!

I'm a bit behind on my blogging... so much more has happened... so I will just post the link to the facebook photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=233422&id=668848522&l=6e6e141505