In the midst of all the diabetes updates and activities, I sometimes wonder if I am giving Tasman enough attention. Tasman is a sweet and remarkable child. There are times when there is a lot of chaos going on around him, or we are traveling and our schedules are all messed up, and he just rolls with the punches and adapts. For this, I am truly grateful. Tasman is always happy and has a smile that will warm your heart. I love him dearly and am so thankful he is my son.
Friday, we'll all get on an airplane and travel to Bandera for Carita's 75th birthday. We are all really looking forward to this! Last night, we called Uncle Charles and Chance got on the phone and told Uncle Charles that he was getting on an airplane to see him. It will be so nice to have us all together to celebrate such a significant milestone!
Tonight, I went to dinner with my boss who is just awesome and some of my colleagues. Spent Saturday morning with a new babysitter who has type 1 diabetes. She was fantastic and we all loved her - YAY!
Signing off to get some sleep. Up at 2am for a basal BG check. These are wearing on us since we have been doing them for about 6 weeks now. I hope the growth spurt ends SOON so we can SLEEP!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
11 Months and Counting
I don't think I have blogged much about Chance's diabetes lately becasue it has become so much part of our everyday life, but I decided to use this entry to provide some details. It has been 11 months now, coming up on his one year anniversary.
For the most part, I think we have great control over Chance's diabetes. Of course, I say this on a day when he woke up at 348, then dropped to 54 by lunch time. However, this is typically not the norm AND we were able to identify both of the situations and act on them quickly. We are making the right decisions now, which feels great. There are many days when we can keep Chance in range or close to being in range all day and night.
One thing I have come to grips with though over the last few months is that there are just going to be times where Chance is high and we have no good explanation. That, we couldn't have done anything differently. It is just the nature of this crazy disease.
On our recent vacation, week one Chance's numbers day and night were awesome. Week two, we saw big surges at night primarily due to growth hormones. As a result, we had to check him EVERY night on our vacation in Massachusettes. I think Chance may have had a surge last night, which brings to mind the second thing I have come to grips with. Until Chance gets MUCH older, his treatment and insulin levels will be a moving target us us. We'll always be testing and adjusting since so much is going on inside his tiny body. It is our job to stay on top of the trends and make insulin changes.
Speaking of tiny body and our vacation, Chance can hike and hike with the best of them. He is extremely strong. I believe he will be very athletic and not let his diabetes stand in his way. Tas likes to hike, but prefers at times to be a lap child and have us carry him, which we deny.
Heath and I have been asked to speak at the JDRF Triangle Walk for the Cure luncheon to inspire new captains. There will be about 350 people there. We have five minutes. I will really need to think about this becasue there is so much I want to say. A lot of the people in the room will have walked in our shoes so don't want to dwell too much on the tragic beginning but rather on the stride we are making thanks to advancements in technology thanks to JDRF.
Heath and I think a lot about how different things will be when the first release of the artifical pancreas comes out. Hopefully, we'll all be able to sleep at night. We look forward to this day! Thanks to our co-Captains' outstanding efforts - Aunt Lala and Mark the OB, Team Chance's Champions have raised $3,525 of our $6,000 goal two months in advance of the Oct 30th Walk in Raleigh. We will fundraise hard in the next two months becasue every dollar will make a significant different in Chance's life and the lives of other diabetics.
Lastly, I would like to say that I am learning to give myself a break. I don't beat myself up when something goes wrong with Chance's diabetes and I have increased my personal time activities. This week, Heath and I will have three nights out (one thanks to Ladonna and Charles). We saw Lyle Lovett, went to the NCMA last night to see the The Great Labowski (hysterical movie with lots of profanity) and tonight game night with dear friends. I also went and did the Saturday morning yoga class this morning - a class I haven't done since before the kids were born. Before I left, Tas asked me if I was going out with my friends. To which I replied, "I am going to do yoga". Then, Chance said "Mommy is going to do yogurt". He is such a foodie.
In September, I am going on a business trip to San Francisco, one I would not have considered just 3 months ago.
Namaste.
For the most part, I think we have great control over Chance's diabetes. Of course, I say this on a day when he woke up at 348, then dropped to 54 by lunch time. However, this is typically not the norm AND we were able to identify both of the situations and act on them quickly. We are making the right decisions now, which feels great. There are many days when we can keep Chance in range or close to being in range all day and night.
One thing I have come to grips with though over the last few months is that there are just going to be times where Chance is high and we have no good explanation. That, we couldn't have done anything differently. It is just the nature of this crazy disease.
On our recent vacation, week one Chance's numbers day and night were awesome. Week two, we saw big surges at night primarily due to growth hormones. As a result, we had to check him EVERY night on our vacation in Massachusettes. I think Chance may have had a surge last night, which brings to mind the second thing I have come to grips with. Until Chance gets MUCH older, his treatment and insulin levels will be a moving target us us. We'll always be testing and adjusting since so much is going on inside his tiny body. It is our job to stay on top of the trends and make insulin changes.
Speaking of tiny body and our vacation, Chance can hike and hike with the best of them. He is extremely strong. I believe he will be very athletic and not let his diabetes stand in his way. Tas likes to hike, but prefers at times to be a lap child and have us carry him, which we deny.
Heath and I have been asked to speak at the JDRF Triangle Walk for the Cure luncheon to inspire new captains. There will be about 350 people there. We have five minutes. I will really need to think about this becasue there is so much I want to say. A lot of the people in the room will have walked in our shoes so don't want to dwell too much on the tragic beginning but rather on the stride we are making thanks to advancements in technology thanks to JDRF.
Heath and I think a lot about how different things will be when the first release of the artifical pancreas comes out. Hopefully, we'll all be able to sleep at night. We look forward to this day! Thanks to our co-Captains' outstanding efforts - Aunt Lala and Mark the OB, Team Chance's Champions have raised $3,525 of our $6,000 goal two months in advance of the Oct 30th Walk in Raleigh. We will fundraise hard in the next two months becasue every dollar will make a significant different in Chance's life and the lives of other diabetics.
Lastly, I would like to say that I am learning to give myself a break. I don't beat myself up when something goes wrong with Chance's diabetes and I have increased my personal time activities. This week, Heath and I will have three nights out (one thanks to Ladonna and Charles). We saw Lyle Lovett, went to the NCMA last night to see the The Great Labowski (hysterical movie with lots of profanity) and tonight game night with dear friends. I also went and did the Saturday morning yoga class this morning - a class I haven't done since before the kids were born. Before I left, Tas asked me if I was going out with my friends. To which I replied, "I am going to do yoga". Then, Chance said "Mommy is going to do yogurt". He is such a foodie.
In September, I am going on a business trip to San Francisco, one I would not have considered just 3 months ago.
Namaste.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Back in the Saddle
We're back from our two week NE vacation. Wonderful time with the boys. They are really talking a lot more now and singing and impacting the world around them. It is great that we can ask them questions, like "how was your day?" and "what was your favorite thing you did?" and get answers.
This week has been hectic as Heath and I live life in warp speed. Work has been very busy due to a two week back log. Aunt Lala, Uncle Charles, Pop and Caitlyn all came over to see the boys on Tuesday. The boys were so happy to see them. Tas calls Lala "Donna" now. Want is there favorite word. In five minutes they can probaly say this word 100 times.
Last night, we took a break from the parenting routine and went to see Lyle Lovett at the DPAC (the place to see a show in the Triangle) with a bunch of friends including Ladonna and Charles. Had dinner at Revolution - the place to be seen. How hip are we? Lyle sang happy birthday to Hannah Lee, our friend's 11 year old daughter. How cool!
Tomorrow night, Heath and I are off to another date while Aunt Lala and Uncle Charles watch the kids for us. Yay!
This week has been hectic as Heath and I live life in warp speed. Work has been very busy due to a two week back log. Aunt Lala, Uncle Charles, Pop and Caitlyn all came over to see the boys on Tuesday. The boys were so happy to see them. Tas calls Lala "Donna" now. Want is there favorite word. In five minutes they can probaly say this word 100 times.
Last night, we took a break from the parenting routine and went to see Lyle Lovett at the DPAC (the place to see a show in the Triangle) with a bunch of friends including Ladonna and Charles. Had dinner at Revolution - the place to be seen. How hip are we? Lyle sang happy birthday to Hannah Lee, our friend's 11 year old daughter. How cool!
Tomorrow night, Heath and I are off to another date while Aunt Lala and Uncle Charles watch the kids for us. Yay!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Taking time to see what's around us
So here we are in the Berkshires staying at a very secluded cottage on a lake community. We are a little far south in MA but it is lovely nonetheless. One great thing about kids is they force you to slow down and see the world around you instead of blowing through it.
Yesterday, we had a big day. We drove to Adams and biked the Ashuwillticook Trail - a rails to trails bike path. The boys did great and we had no crying. On the way home we stopped at the local butcher and picked up our duck dinner that he prepared for us - YUM!
Today, we hung out at our lake beach (cranberry pond). There were lots of small children there including 3.5 yr old twin boys and lots of girls for Tas and Chance. We were there all day, something we ordinarily wouldn't have done on a vacation. We swam, rode in one of the locals kayak and played on the beach. Tonight, we grilled and let the boys run around some to wear them out before bed.
Tomorrow, we'll head over to Great Barrington and BishBash Falls. The second night we were here, we went to my first boss Lou's house in Otis for a cookout. He is the nicest man and was a gracious host. The boys really enjoyed running around beautiful property.
Thank goodness for the iPhone. Keeps me (us) connected.
Yesterday, we had a big day. We drove to Adams and biked the Ashuwillticook Trail - a rails to trails bike path. The boys did great and we had no crying. On the way home we stopped at the local butcher and picked up our duck dinner that he prepared for us - YUM!
Today, we hung out at our lake beach (cranberry pond). There were lots of small children there including 3.5 yr old twin boys and lots of girls for Tas and Chance. We were there all day, something we ordinarily wouldn't have done on a vacation. We swam, rode in one of the locals kayak and played on the beach. Tonight, we grilled and let the boys run around some to wear them out before bed.
Tomorrow, we'll head over to Great Barrington and BishBash Falls. The second night we were here, we went to my first boss Lou's house in Otis for a cookout. He is the nicest man and was a gracious host. The boys really enjoyed running around beautiful property.
Thank goodness for the iPhone. Keeps me (us) connected.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Great Day on LI
The beach was not very crowded, which was nice, but there was some trash on the beach, which is really too bad.
The boys are having a wonderful time with their grandparents and I am feeling nostalgic of being back on LI after not being here for so long. Our boys need to know this place even if I need to fly them up here once a year to acomplish this. 
My Dad and Ro have been a tremendous help and have kept them very busy. The boys keep asking if Daddy and GiGi (Gibson) are coming back. I assure them they are and that we'll see them on Saturday. I have told them that he is hiking, but I guess they want to be reassured that he is in fact coming back.When we got back from the beach, the boys slept for 3.5 hours and I relaxed and went for a bike ride. Then, we had home made spagetti and meatballs - YUM! We all ate well!
Tomorrow, we are meeting Nana Carol for a visit to a new Flight museum, which the boys should like and it looks like I'll be able to meet up with a bunch of my high school girlfriends Thursday after missing my 25th reunion - YAY!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
A Strange Sort of Familiar
We are in Strasburg, PA. A beautiful area of you if stay south of route 30 - seriously. At route 30, it turns from beautiful Amish country into into a congested LI traffic jam filled with NY tourists who are as rude as can be.
We arrived last night at 7pm after a 10 hour journey on I 95. We ate at the Hershy Farm buffet restaurant, which was yummy. After dinner, we took photos by the giant Amish statue and pet the farm animals. Then, we checked in and crashed out at the Historic Strasburg Inn ou home for the next two nights. An excellent value for the money.
Today, we road the Historic Starsburg RR, which was delightful. They have done a spectacular job refurbishing the train so it looks like it is brand new. They take you for a 30 min ride with about 10 mins in stops along the way. The boys just loved this!! After the train, we did some fun train rides at the station and watched the train come a go a few times while Tas waved to everyone. Then, we had lunch in downtown Strasburg and then the boys took afternoon naps.
My brother and his wife Laura came to our hotel around 4:30pm since they live in the area. We swam in the hotel pool, then went for dinner at the Fireside Tavern, which would get mixed reviews from our crowd. I think I was the only one who loved my dinner.
What makes this a bittersweet visit for me is that my mother has a lovely second home here in Strasburg. The main reason we chose Strasburg in the first place was so the boys could see my family. Grandpa Ralph and Granma Ro were going to come too so we would have the whole family together. About three weeks ago, my mother decidec that she was "too hot and tired" to see us so she wasn't coming. She also declared that we weren't welcome to stay in her house so here we are at the Historic Strasburg Inn. This is not only extremely sad, but embarrassing for me as well so I figured I would go ahead and face my demons and and post this for the world to read.
Tomorrow, Kevin is picking up Heath at 7am at our hotel. Uncle Freddie is coming at 8am to help his beloved sister and nephews to get out of the hotel and go for breakfast and do a morning activity. Thank you Freddie!
After our visit, the traveling Clayton twins are going to LI for a week to see their Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Ro. What fun this will be!
We arrived last night at 7pm after a 10 hour journey on I 95. We ate at the Hershy Farm buffet restaurant, which was yummy. After dinner, we took photos by the giant Amish statue and pet the farm animals. Then, we checked in and crashed out at the Historic Strasburg Inn ou home for the next two nights. An excellent value for the money.
Today, we road the Historic Starsburg RR, which was delightful. They have done a spectacular job refurbishing the train so it looks like it is brand new. They take you for a 30 min ride with about 10 mins in stops along the way. The boys just loved this!! After the train, we did some fun train rides at the station and watched the train come a go a few times while Tas waved to everyone. Then, we had lunch in downtown Strasburg and then the boys took afternoon naps.
My brother and his wife Laura came to our hotel around 4:30pm since they live in the area. We swam in the hotel pool, then went for dinner at the Fireside Tavern, which would get mixed reviews from our crowd. I think I was the only one who loved my dinner.
What makes this a bittersweet visit for me is that my mother has a lovely second home here in Strasburg. The main reason we chose Strasburg in the first place was so the boys could see my family. Grandpa Ralph and Granma Ro were going to come too so we would have the whole family together. About three weeks ago, my mother decidec that she was "too hot and tired" to see us so she wasn't coming. She also declared that we weren't welcome to stay in her house so here we are at the Historic Strasburg Inn. This is not only extremely sad, but embarrassing for me as well so I figured I would go ahead and face my demons and and post this for the world to read.
Tomorrow, Kevin is picking up Heath at 7am at our hotel. Uncle Freddie is coming at 8am to help his beloved sister and nephews to get out of the hotel and go for breakfast and do a morning activity. Thank you Freddie!
After our visit, the traveling Clayton twins are going to LI for a week to see their Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Ro. What fun this will be!
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