The bus...

We have anxiously awaited Arwen's first day on the school bus.  She has talked about it for a week!  Today was the day!  We were ready!  There was a 2 hour delay today.  We were outside before the scheduled time. We waited happily.  ...........and we waited........counting the minutes.......the time came and went.  That was ok...they had to work her in.  We waited....21 minutes later....I call.....i was watching Rowan through the window laying on the couch watching tv.....waited.....
I was on the phone for 30 minutes.  We waited outside for nearly an hour. The bus never came.  they finally radioed the driver and discovered that she had never gotten the information. !!!!!!!!!! :/
At this point, Arwen was going to be late for school.She was trying to play in the dirt.  She was restless.  We had to rush in and wash her hands.  They apologized and assured me that the matter was resolved and that the bus would bring her home today.  I am understanding of these things.  During the call....Rowan peed on the floor.  I had to rush and get him ready to go ...to take Arwen to school.  While driving, I called the school and explained why she was late.  I also had to walk her to class and interrupt to tell them what was going on.

Also...this morning I had Rowan in his underwear. I smelled something...but he was dry.  I took him potty.   He was very shifty....I knew he had to poop.  He didn't go.  I left his underwear off, so that we could rush back to the bathroom if there was any sign.  Then... I received a very important phone call.  I'm giving information to the caller when I notice.....poop coming out.  I said....oh my gosh.... just a second please.....i grab Rowan and start carrying him to the bathroom  His turd falls on the floor!  I'm on an important call with a brown emergency.  HAHA  
Anyway....amidst it all...it's a good day.

My anxiety builds...

September 2nd both kids start new schools. Arwen begins a full day kindergarten.  This makes me nervous for so many reasons. 
She must be taken to the potty every hour or so or she will pee her pants trying to get there. She struggles with using utensils to feed herself and is very picky about how food is presented.  She has never gone anywhere away from us more than half day preschool.

I know that once she settles into a routine she'll be fine. This is a mainstream school but she will be with a small group for special needs. She will get many sensory breaks,  have occupational therapy, speech therapy, and be included in social groups. These are all great things. My fears are the possibility of her being bullied by neurotypical children. ...And being labeled. This brings me to the dilemma if the Autism model school would be a better fit. I want her to feel as normal as possible and learn to fit in with neurotypical children.  So I've been battling internally for some time on the matter.
Next week she has to take the reading test. She'll nail that because she can read like a first grader. Then placement.  We go to the school orientation the next day. I truly hope she will adjust easily. I'm so scared for her. Then there's the issue of transportation.  They offer transportation with a special helper on the bus for her. I know I should trust these people,  but her complete lack of knowledge about where to go and what to do. ..coupled with her desire to run scares me to death.
Now the subject of Rowan.  This scares me even worse. He starts preschool on the same day as Arwen. I have not received any contact from the school. I have called and emailed and was told to wait.  This is a half day preschool with transportation included. I've debated on the transportation issue because my car is on it's last leg.  I suppose it would be a learning experience for them...but I'm still afraid. Rowan has never been away from home without me or his dad.  He is highly anxious around new people and places.  He panics easily and has sensory problems, especially sounds.  He is not potty trained. He barely communicates. This program will also offer occupational and speech therapy. 
Like I said before,  once a routine begins it will all be ok. I feel that I should be with him at first to transition him and also inform his teachers about his needs. The thing is....His third day I have to meet with his therapist. I know he'll panic. It makes me panic. I don't want to put him through that. I'm anxious to hear from the school about how all this will happen.  I'm anxious for an orientation and meeting his teacher.
I need to stop worrying.  I'm having a lot of trouble sleeping lately.
We also have to work in speech therapy,  occupational therapy, behavior therapy and developmental visits outside school on a weekly basis. It's a struggle fitting it in.
I am very much like them in that I need a schedule, routine,  and know what to expect or I get anxious. Without a schedule we just couldn't function.