just showing off

I poked around here yesterday (it may have been quite a while, I try not to keep track, in case I have a problem, I really don't want to know about it) and figured out how to load up pictures!

(I think) so without further ado......auntie goodness!

early bird

I have had a super busy summer. Possibly the busiest EVER (for me anyway). I think I am needing a week or 2 of uninterrupted sleep and rest (a tropical island with the aunties sounds just perfect) to be up to my old self again. As I was getting a few more minutes of sleep this morning, Maggie snuggles up to me in bed and says, "I have a tummy ache" aw-poor baby "why don't you try sitting on the potty?" (sage mama advice) "Why don't you try getting me some breakfast, probably I am just hungry" (if you are familiar with Maggie in the morning, you know that she asks for, and receives, no less than 2 or 3 breakfasts each and every morning, she calls them breakfast, second breakfast, and snack) I roll over to see what time it is (breakfast or otherwise) it is not yet 7am. "You are quite the early bird aren't you?" to which she pulls off my warm covers and says "no mama! you are just a late bird". indeed.

We are trying to get back into they groove of regular life, with bed times and coffee breaks and every other predictable thing that it brings. Have I mentioned that I am a fan of predictable? We have started easing into our first year of home school with some work books for review, so far the girls are loving it. We have also been focusing on brushing teeth and hair and washing up in the mornings (you know, things that kind or got rushed through when we had to get ready at mach speed in the mornings) So far, so good.
We have one last big event of the "summer", the JDRF walk is taking place on October 4th this year. The walk is always kind of a crazy time around here, fund raising is a pain (literally) and organizing everything is kind of a lot. But it really is a great cause and Layla gets to be a celebrity for a day (or so she is convinced), and this year the AUNTIES are coming to walk. First time ever in person, though every year have been our biggest supporters and ghost walkers, we are super excited to have them with us. They are even staying for a visit, we are really excited (even though we have already gotten to see them quite a bit this summer-we are spoiled, and will take as much auntie as we can possibly get) If this was a picture blog, I would constantly be showing off my aunties-they are 2 of my very favorite people on the planet. Since it is not a picture blog (I am not tech savvy enough to figure it out--Erika-any help?!) you can meet the aunties in person at the aforementioned JDRF walk taking place on October 4th. (did you get that yet?) Maybe I am circle talking because my mind is completely used up or because I am just this shade of crazy, or maybe, just maybe, it's because the JDRF walk is coming up (October 4th) and no one (but the aunties) are registered yet, and it is kind of a big deal.
ok, time to hike and journal (or maybe just get a second cup of coffee and referee the girls in the kickboxing match that looks immanent)
catch you the next time.....
ps-we survived the 9th annual Blochtoberfest. It was awesome. I know I am getting older because every year it takes longer to recover. At one bonfire I casually mentioned that next year would be the last one, you know, 10 years is a long time to party. You should have heard the instant and passionate response. wow-needless to say, people will show up whether they are invited or not. Not sure if that's good or bad, guess I'd better just embrace it. I didn't really mean it would be over-I was just hoping that it would be happening in Mexico. A girl can dream.(or drink-either way is fine with me)

happy camper

last night I got home from camp. I promptly fell asleep on the couch. It was a camp for 6 year olds and since I wasn't 6, it was too much for me.
We are lucky to have as a resource, Gales Creek Camp for children with diabetes a little over an hour from here. As a parent of a diabetic child, with no family in close proximity, this disease is ours alone to handle, with no back up 98% of the time. I do have a good friend that helps out a couple of times a year, and my mom is usually good for a week or so break every year as well, but the other 355 days a year, it's just Alan and I, on our own, us against diabetes. This year, Layla is 6, and that is old enough to go to family camp. Family camp is when your family gets to come to camp with you and see what camp is all about. This is because 6 year olds haven't been to camp before and they might be nervous about being away from home, but I think really it's so the mamas can come, and see what goes on, so they might have a lower incidence of nervous breakdowns when they leave their babies behind for a week the following summer.
Camp was awesome. Really, unbelievable. The counselors were amazing (especially considering they were probably all between the ages of 19 and probably about 23 or so) they had endless energy, patience and understanding. Remember these kids were all around 6, which is really young with a pretty short attention span. We were constantly entertained with skits, hikes, songs and games, I was impressed. These counselors were always kind and smiling no matter what they were asked to do (and in the 2 short days I was there, the task list was long, and included everything from acting silly to distract campers to mopping up scrambled egg barf-really).

There was a pediatric endocrinologist there (I learned that all of the staff docs are volunteers) the entire time, and he was who decided how much insulin the campers got and helped them make their meal choices, ok.....please hold...this is HUGE!!!!! for those of you not familiar with specialty doctors, you really have no idea, so let me try to begin to explain it....(catching breath) These are not just doctors, but SUPERdoctors-they have been to school longer, studied harder, and taken a lower paying job than surgeons, even though that job is more prestigious and pays better. They know almost more than anybody about this disease, and they are here, for us and our kids-in person-for the entire time-unpaid. (and since it is during the week, actually have to take vacation time to be here). I Almost cried. (or maybe I did, but just a little,when no one was watching) I don't care about celebrities, I have met a few, and found them, for the most part, not to my liking, but being able to hang out with an endo! I felt like a groupie. Poor doctor, I was stumbling around behind him the whole time, just to try and absorb a little of his awesomeness. I wanted to hear everything he had to say, I wanted to hear the stories about the 90 year old lady that had diabetes since she was 6 in the 1800s (or whatever) and how the cure really was right around the corner, since he knows the fellow that is going to find it (ok maybe not, but close enough-eep!-a CURE!) The story that follows is true and accurate (according to me) and was the highlight to my camping experience: during our only night at camp, the counselors put our kids to bed (sounds dreamy already right!?!) and we hiked across the creek and down to the lodge where the doctor was waiting for us WITH chocolate bars. (this may have something to do with me asking the counselors at every possible chance if there were any cocktails available, and them laughing, and me responding with, well, I could make do with some chocolate). There he proceeded with candor and honesty to talk to us. To us, not at us, not to someone else while we were there-but TO US. (sidebar, if you have dealt at length with doctors, you know that this DOES NOT happen). He didn't even ask for our insurance card or anything. He was not in a hurry, he did not have an agenda, he just sat there, open, and answered questions that we had. And then---when we were out of questions--he brought up things we hadn't thought of. For me it was worth the cost of camp just to hear what he had to say-it was amazing.
When the talk was over we headed back to our cabin to try and get some sleep. I knew this probably wasn't in the cards for me, as I had the top shelf of a rather high bunk (with a 3 inch plastic covered mattress), the room was full of other mamas and daddies and kiddos (all making various sleeping noises), and the staff came through twice in the night (at midnight and 3am) to do blood sugar checks. On top of that Layla had lost a tooth during story time, so the tooth fairy made the rounds as well. (not me-the REAL tooth fairy, she left a note and a goody bag and everything) I was glad when I finally rolled over once and realized that people were stirring, it was time to get up. Day 2 included swimming, a hike to the magical bubble gum tree, games, food, awards and things I can't even remember since every minute was more fun than the last.

I went to camp every summer when I was a kid, and I loved it. I remember crying the last year I went, knowing I wasn't going back since we were moving. This camp blew my mind. I still can't believe everything that goes in to making this process work, and succeed. The camp is just a place, the heart is the people there. I left camp knowing that now I have a place Layla can go-without me-where she will be safe. Not only will she survive there, she will have a great time, and they have the resources to take care of her there, even better than I can. I cry when I think about it, just that she can go and have fun like regular kids, that I don't have to worry, and how lucky we are to be able to take advantage of such a wonderful program. Camp has now been added to the list of things that diabetes can't stop us from doing. take that.

you can't always get what you want....

so, I have heard say that the economy is in the tank. I think this may be true, I have heard it more than once. One thing that is hard about low funding is that you want more things, and you get less things. I am wanting a new camera really badly. I want a nice camera really badly. One in particular, and it is more than clear (from it's price tag alone!) that this is something that won't be happening for me any time soon. I have this little ache inside, a longing, it reminds me of when I was little, and more than anything wanted a cabbage patch kid. Everyone had one, I remember the sweet smell of the plastic face, the feel of the yarn hair, everything. Then in Junior high, I wanted to date Nelson (hair band, twins, blond, you remember) either one, didn't matter to me, just to have the love and affection of one of these beautiful boys. More than anything. I remember one particular day, I found out that they were playing a concert in Medford, a mere hour from where I was, and my heart hurt. I was in physical pain. Oh, to be 12 again, to have my biggest worry be about my hair, or a math quiz.
I really want the camera, and it will happen, sometimes wanting something badly makes the getting all the more sweeter when it finally happens. The reason I want the camera is so I can take lots of pictures of my girls, they are growing and changing so quickly, I don't want to miss anything (or to be there, only to forget about it afterwards--like I do).
We have food and our health, and our beautiful life happening around us -which we are trying to live to our best every day. This is more than enough.
....and if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need. (ah yeah)
update-I never hooked up with either Nelson brother, but my friend Jen did get me a cabbage patch kid for my 28th Christmas....life is good.