Home a week now and Noa has transitioned by to Big Apple life with her usual gusto - already back in school, back to therapies, back to throwing blocks around the apartment dramatically and then laughing hysterically.
Believe it or not, we've already had one meeting with the Board of Ed here, still getting things in place for Noa's transition to a new school in the fall. We're feeling good about the direction things are going, but it is astounding how much paper and how many meetings are generated by one tiny whirlwind of a girl!
In other school news, I just learned that the Early Intervention Program at the Jewish Guild for the Blind (where Noa has been in school since she was 18mos old) is closing after the summer session. Of course we're relieved for ourselves that Noa was just at the point of transitioning, but frankly this is devastating news for the blind community in New York/New Jersey as it was one of only two programs for blind/VI toddlers (the other is the Lighthouse for the Blind which has a program that includes non-VI kids: a boon for toddlers with milder VI, but extra challenging for severely VI or blind kids like Noa). And of course, all these lovely people who have been central to Noa's development will be out of jobs as of August.
Noa's newest sign is "nice" and she is working on blowing a kiss. Her feet are growing so fast that she literally seems to have skipped a half size! In general, her legs have been changing alot - they are just sturdier as a result of all her walking. They used to look kind of spindle-y, but now they just look like legs (she actually has calves now!)
The photo above was taken by Talya Arbisser, Noa's personal paparazzi who happened to visiting NYC and stopped by to visit us and take some (as usual) great new photos. Thanks Talya!
