Izzy has made it through 6 days of middle school. The most amazing, happy, relaxed 6 days of school I can remember since maybe kindergarten. Maybe I think that just because middle school seemed such a daunting change and I expected days filled with tears and anxiety and calls from teachers, counselors and the nurse. I guess I don’t put a lot of faith into my girl. Maybe it’s all the therapy clicking right now; maybe it’s new meds; maybe it’s growth and maturation; maybe it’s God. Maybe it’s all the things working together. Doesn’t matter. She’s in a great place right now.

I’ve been driving her to school and there’s never a moments hesitation when we arrive for her to jump out of the car, blow me a kiss or hold my hand for just a few seconds, and head confidently into that school. It gives me this feeling of elation every morning. My girl is doing it! And not only doing it, but doing it with confidence.

She loves her new teachers! Math is fun, science is great, choir is out of this world. I’ve not gotten a single complaint from her. She’s actually done some of her homework IN CLASS! That’s unheard of for Izzy!

I hear about some old friends, but I also hear some new names. Again, awesome. She went to a callout for tennis and she plans to go to the callout for the Drama Club on Monday…Beyond my wildest dreams for her.

I have had several close friends wonder aloud if she’s being so successful because she needed a change. She needed a little freedom, a little challenge, someplace new to exercise her mind, new peers who didn’t have preconceived thoughts of Izzy. Maybe that’s it. I don’t know, probably never will.

She is still pulling. She has about 4 hot spots. But she’s not pulling as much or as often. She sometimes replaces pulling with pushing on that area of her head. She always comes to me after she’s been pulling and “confesses” to her pulling session.

She still takes Bearbear to class with her. I tried my best to have her keep Bearbear in one of her many purses I bought her, but as of now no one has made fun of her and Bearbear and if that day comes, I’m sure between Iz and her teachers or IAs, it will be handled appropriately. She has however taken to one wig for school. Her HCK wig. So we don’t have to worry about the hair question from peers who don’t know her.

She had a six week med check with Dr. Kledzik today. She answered all the questions herself and gave good honest answers. Things are so much better right now that we don’t have to make any changes! And maybe the coolest part of the appointment… Izzy has grown 1 inch and gained 8lbs in the past 6 weeks!! What?!?!

I am in awe of my girl every day. She fights battles no one sees or knows about. And she still succeeds and smiles and laughs. She is my hero.