There's Ups and Downs...

I have had my share of personal struggles while dealing with Justin's long history of "challenges". I just don't always write about them.

Well, let me rephrase that... sometimes I do write them, but I don't hit the publish button. I have plenty of drafts that will not see the light of the computer screen.

I often go back a while later and read those unpublished posts as a reminder that I can survive. I did survive. So I guess they do serve some purpose.

These days... things are looking up. There's a possible solution to some struggles we have been enduring as a family. I am praying that things fall into place and make that possible. Even the possibility of this solution has returned a smile to my face, even if it proves to be temporary. 

I also found a way to save money on test strips thanks to a conversation I had with Hallie the other day. Thanks Hallie!!!

And I have two great kids... but I already knew that :)

Point is... its okay to have these ups and downs. I try to remember that. It doesn't matter how long ago we were diagnosed. It doesn't matter how we look on the outside. His age doesn't matter. Diabetes can knock you on your ass quicker than Laila Ali. 

I wrote the following post on April 9th - right after we found out Justin also has a form of Epilepsy.

This day was a little dark... but I survived and I will continue to survive. We all will.

****************

“The most important questions in life can never be answered

by anyone except oneself.” ~John Fowles

I never use to question my strength. I knew I was strong. I was not without challenges. Something came up... I handled it. No problem. I knew who I was and what I was capable of. I felt I could take on anything and survive.

These days I question...

I question how much more I can take. How much more I can handle. How much more will I be expected to handle.

I question how many more nights I can go without sleep.

I question how I find myself again.

I queston when I will stop being consumed with guilt and worry.

I question when the next thing will sneak up on me. Will I see it coming this time?

I question my mind. My abilities. Where my hope and spirit has gone.

I even question my faith.

****************

Hugs to all my friends. May your days be full of love and strength. And may you know you have enough of both to survive.

I'm in... are you???

I'm all signed up for this weekends Virtual 5k.
 

click on the link for more details

A special thank you to Tara over at Mommy's a Runner for coming up with the idea and working hard to make it a success.

REMEMBER: It doesn't matter where you live.

It doesn't matter if you run, walk or skip.

You can do it alone or with a group.

Just do it and help raise money for a cure!!!

I'm in... are you?



Guess What...

It's been an exciting week over at Hallie's, and today, its my turn to bloggy sit at The Princess and the Pump. She's been a little active today. Understandable considering the week she's had.

On Monday... Reyna was is charge. I can only imagine what went on over there after Reyna whipped out the Onion goggles.

On Tuesday... Tracy loaded her up with some kick ass chocolate cake before she sent her over to Heidi on Wednesday

But no worries...

On Thursday... Mama Wendy took charge and she didn't get away with anything. Don't mess with a mama that has three girls!!! For serious!!!

Yesterday... Heather came by to sit upon the blog and they went all country.

Tomorrow... well, you will just have to wait and see, but I hear its going to be sa-weet!!

But for now... grab a bag of tortilla chips and head on over to The Princess and the Pumpbecause I am getting her ready to throw a PAR-TAY!

Happy Saturday!!

Pieces with Purpose...

Everything that I understand, I understand

only because I love. ~ Leo Tolstoy

Recently I was blessed with not only one, but TWO awesome charms.

The first one I won from a Sugar Bolus on The Princess and the Pump. I was SOO excited because it was the first Sugar Bolus I've won... even if it was by default after the first winner didn't claim her prize.

This one is from Sugarfree Jewellery. You can click on the link to check out her super cute stuff. AND 100% of the profits go to JDRF. It's a win win!!


I learned about the second one from Heidi at D-Tales. As soon as I saw it, I started putting the bug in the hubbies ear. He finally went and bought it for me a couple weeks ago.

This is the ABC Ribbon Charm by Brighton.

I love Brighton Jewelry! I have several pieces, but I somehow missed these ones until Heidi posted it(thanks Heidi :).

Not only is this charm beautiful, but it also supports JDRF. $20 of the $25 sale goes to JDRF. How awesome is that!

Either of these charms would be a gift to own and I now have both. I am feeling like one lucky D-Mama.

BTW: Go check out The Princess and the Pump today... it is the last day to enter for a chance to win some AWESOME bows. If only I could get Justin to wear them. GOOD LUCK!!

Happy Thursday!!!



The Heart of an Older Sister...

I was sitting at the kitchen table torturing Leighanna because of her teen-a-tude. Believe me when I tell you... I am a pro at torturing her. During the conversation she asked "why is it okay for Justin to get C's on his report card and not me?

Oh hell, here we go!!!

This is a hard enough thing to justify as a parent. I can only imagine there is no excuse in the world good enough for an eleven year old girl.

My answer to her was this... "you and Justin are two different kids. You are capable of straight A's yet I didn't get upset about that B you brought home.

Your brother has always struggled with writing(Justin is capable of writing. He has a vivid imagination and beautiful penmanship... he just hates to do it. We have always felt that his mind runs 500 miles per hour and his hand only writes one... therefore he gets frustrated and shuts down. So when I say "struggle... this is what I mean). Besides, Justin has a lot more to deal with at school. He misses a lot of information because of the seizures, he is at the nurse a minimum of two times a day and that causes him to miss stuff too. On top of it... he is in gifted classes. I am sure you would prefer me expecting good grades from you rather than dealing with the challenges that Justin has to face everyday.

Then it happens. Those beautiful blue eyes of hers fill up with tears and she broke my heart with the words I often say myself... "why does all the bad stuff always happen to Justin? Why couldn't it have happened to me instead?"

Through teary eyes of my own all I could really say is that I wouldn't want it to. I told her that I wish it could have been me. I told her that I love how much she wishes better for her little brother, but he is okay. He is happy and healthy and he can handle this.

Maybe this is something I should be telling myself.

Bird Making 101...

Dare you write something as innocent as "bird making" in a post and all the mama minds perk up like I've done something kinky or something?!?!.

It's not as interesting as it sounds... but here it goes!

Justin had to create his own "original" bird for a life science project. It had to be well adapted to its environment.

Justin had to decide where the bird would live, what it will eat, its mobility and if its male or female. He also had to write a report naming the bird, its food sources and describing its habitat.

THEN he had to make a model of this bird with necessary modifications based on the above criteria.

LUCKY FOR ME(haha). Justin wanted to paper mache his bird and we only had one day... after school. So lets make that... we only had a half a day.

What does this have to do with D??? Well this bird is part pump supply.

Does this count as Diabetes art?

And just like in real life... D becomes invisible.

Now for the completed project...
I introduce you to the "NASA Bird".

Not bad for an afternoon worth of work.

This is a list of the "advantages of the adaptions".

I thought #1 was interesting. It says " tail helps find a mate". Whoa nelly... your 10, lets not speak of this mate stuff! Stupid life science.

So in the end... now we have a bird to go with our giant paper mache egg. Don't ask!

Happy Saturday!

The Young and The Worn.The.*F*.Out...

Leighanna has had such a HUGE month! I, however, have just been along for my skills as a taxi driving cash machine with a little display board making and proud mommy on the side.

I guess I'll take what I can get.

I don't think I mentioned it here, but Leighanna made All County Chorus. There were only 6 students chosen from each school in the county and there was plenty of competition. She had to audition and she was so excited when she made it. These things are right up her alley.


My BEAUTIFUL daughter... growing up.



2011 All County Chorus

So for several weeks we had to drive her to another elementary school to practice. We were on a final countdown with only a week to go when I get a call from school. "Mom, my team won the egg drop. Now we go to Universal next week(at 7:30 AM on a Saturday) for the county competition".

BTW: I will need to stay after school every day next week to work on the egg lander.

Say wha??? NEXT WEEK??? You have chorus practice and your performance next week. AND I  am scheduled to work everyday and I also have to find you a black skirt. ACK!

Rule of thumb... everything falls in the same week.  



Now just in case you didn't know(because I surely did not), these egg drop competitions are big business. There are size, weight and materials rules. Oral presentations, dramatic countdowns, costumes and judges from NASA. Research based display boards based on the scientific method. If your lander lands on its side... you loose points. If you can't answer the questions from the judges... you loose points. 

Who knew its no longer just about whether or not you broke an egg!

That aside... I am excited to announce that Leighanna's team, "The Egg-vaders", won 2nd place overall in the county competition.

*Justin was scoping out the ideas from the other teams for next year. That's my son for ya!

Side note... this was an interesting display board.

Did the teacher not see the issue here??

In the mean time...(again in the same week) Justin had a science project due. I will post "The making of the "NASA Bird" next".

This was just one week. The rest of the month has been much of the same.

One more week... One more week... One more week! There is going to be some Mama tears, but I can handle it.

Oh... and Justin got a hair cut :) He told the hair dresser "my dads doing to KILL my mom". I'm not dead, but I warned him hours before he came home... plenty of time to get over it.

See how smart I is??!!??

Happy Sunday!

Sum it up Saturday...

We thank you for you patience... blogging will return to its normal scheduled posting soon.

               You can learn many things from children.

              How much patience you have, for instance.

                                                  ~Franklin P. Jones

This last several weeks has been re-double-diculous. That's the only way I can describe it. Good news is... there is an end in sight with the ending of school next Friday.

There has been...
All County Chorus... practice and performance.
Egg Drop Competitions
Spring concerts
Anniversaries
5th grade trips
Ice cream socials
Bird making
weekend getaways
birthday parties
work
diets
diabetes educating
meetings with principals
and some forgotten stuff in between.

Next week we have...
Pizza parties
5th grade banquets
clap out
teachers gifts
more birthday parties
girl scout picnic
work
more diets
posts to write
and a few surprises, I'm sure.

I have been trying to read a few blogs here and there. Google is not letting me comment with my account???? So I am doing a little Anonymously :(

GOOGLE... PLEASE FIX THIS!!! Its pretty annoying!!!!

There have been a lot of proud mommy moments.
Diabetes is being... well, Diabetes.

I am looking forward to summer and I have lots to blog about in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

I hope everyone is doing well :)