Horses in Cate's legs.

Today was what I would call Kindergarten Round-Up at Cate's soon-to-be school. I had been psyching her up for the past week because she is eager to begin school. Kyle and I got up at our usual time and, to our surprise, the kids were still sleeping. I informed Cate to get dressed while I jumped in the shower so we could be ready to go in time.

I did my bathroom deal and came out to hear Cate crying. I went in and found Cate still in the upper bunk. But before I could get upset, she looked at me in distress and said, "I can't get down! My legs don't work! They hurt, momma!" I told her that it was probably growing pains and I helped her down. She replied, "but I can't see them growing!" Once I started rubbing her legs however, I noticed it wasn't growing pains, but a terrible charley-horse in not one, but both calves. Ye-ouch! I felt terrible for her because she had never had them before and I get them occasionally so I can really appreciate the pain she was experiencing. I explained the only ways to feel better are to walk them out and drink more water. Boy, was she scared to walk. She was a trooper, though--I helped her get ready for the big event and we walked the two blocks to her new school.

Registration went well. She was shy and didn't want to talk, which I can never understand from our overly-charismatic child. But she was able to tell everyone she could that she was walking funny because of the charley-horses. She worked on an art project (which I suggested she bring for today's "Sharing Time" at Tiny Tots), rode on a school bus with Kyle, visited the kindergarten rooms and planted some seeds for the school's garden.

We walked back home, hopped into the car and headed over to Tiny Tots. On the way, she asked me if I would tell her teacher about the horses in her legs. I said, "you mean the charley-horses?" Yes. I suggested that she should tell the teacher instead. So she repeated it three times in order to commit it to memory: "Charley-horses, charley-horses, charley-horses!" We got into the classroom and she immediately told her teacher about the charley-horses in her legs.

And, sure enough, it wasn't long after I got to work that my mom called to let me know Cate informed her about the charley-horses. Boy, you'd think Cate was more interested in her charley-horses than her first visit to her new school...