Daycare

Three weeks ago this week we received a phone call from our daycare provider. Miranda has done our daycare since the first day we needed daycare when Brenna was three months old. We lucked out when I was about five months pregnant with Brenna, getting into her daycare and once Kara was born, continued to send our girls to her house.

Miranda truly cares for our girls as if they were her own. Upon Kara getting so sick and her second six months of life where every day was a question, Miranda was with us through it all. We'd share with her how she'd been up all night screaming in pain, we'd have her watch for dirty diapers and to give us a report of what they looked like. For a while, she would put her dirty diapers in a plastic bag and send them home for me to investigate myself! (YES, we really HAD to do that. Gross, but it is what it is...any FPIES Mom will agree with me on this one!) She was on the phone with me, taking care of Brenna while Kara was in the hospital, not coming out of the anesthesia the way she should be and she's been with us on each and every food trial we've gone through so far. She's seen Kara as the tough little girl that she is despite everything she has been through. She watches Kara like a hawk and even changed rules around the daycare to cater to Kara's safety.

Three weeks ago we received a call that she has taken a new job and will be quitting daycare. This Friday is her last day.

The last few weeks have been filled with every emotion possible. The first few days had me crying my eyes out every day. I couldn't imagine how anyone else could take care of Kara in a daycare the way she takes care of her. I imagined a little toddler sharing a cookie with Kara and getting her sick, her getting a hold of someones milk sippy, Kara reaching over and grabbing food on the plate next to her. Where Kara has spent her daycare days so far, the kids know her - they know she has different food, they know she has a special sippy, they know and it's natural to them. It made me panic but I realized I had to let go and start to trust.

We got in with a wonderful provider with about as many years of experience as I am old. We visited as a family and she took the girls with open arms, the girls walked into her home like they belonged there. On a recent Mommy Day we also went and spent a few hours while the daycare was open. Again, the kids adjusted wonderfully and our new provider asked many questions and was very interested in Kara's diet and what she could do to accomodate her. Last week, I brought the girls for a trial day and went to work. They gave me their usual hugs and kisses and ran to play with their new friends. They had a perfect day.

Our life has had a way of working itself out lately and I'm grateful for that. With a crazy week this week, tomorrow will be Kara's last day there and Brenna will be there on Wednesday. I'm really trying not to think about the end but instead looking into the new change that next week will bring.