Kaci's First Holy Communion

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Dodgers take another WIN!!!

I love this little boy with all my heart!

Something about this uniform...It just makes me smile!

Dodgers walked away with another win last night! What a team. They are really working together to make it work. This is one proud Mommy!

All because of a popsicle...

On Thursday Kaci was supposed to receive the *reward* of extra recess and a popsicle for all of her hard work at 200 Club! I was devastated when I saw her come out after school with a HUGE frown on her face. I immediately knew something was wrong and when I asked her she began to cry.

She proceeded to tell me it was supposed to be the "Best Day EVER!" - as she had many things to look forward to that day. She had earned the *reward* of sitting at her teacher's desk all day. She was also excited to have Good Friday off the next day for Easter weekend...but most of all she was excited about making the 200 Club for the last time and earning her extra recess and popsicle.

When it was time to go outside- 2 of the 3rd grade student teachers were put in charge and took the children to the playscape. When Kaci got in line to get her popsicle, she informed one of the student teachers that she was going to have to go to the nurse's office to get her shot. When the student teacher questioned her she explained that she is diabetic and has to take a shot each time she eats. The student teacher told her she didn't think a popsicle was worth a shot, took the popsicle away from her and told her to go play!

So....did you just lose your breath??? Do you have a hard knot in the pit of your stomach?? Can you feel how out of place and defeated Kaci must have felt? My heart breaks....

We teach Kaci to advocate for herself. We tell her she must speak of for herself and let others know that she requires more than the average kid when it comes to eating meals or snacking. I am so proud of her for speaking up to the student teacher. For letting her know that she has diabetes and that she would need to go in to see the nurse and get a shot.

We have also taught Kaci to be respectful of authority. We have taught her to listen to adults and to respect what they say. It breaks my heart that that popsicle was taken away from her. That she was refused her *reward* that she had worked so hard for. That she had to watch while all the other children ran around the playground with purple, green and blue lips- while she had to wait for someone to play with until they had finished their treat.

At 9 years old she already had to daunting task of deciding if a snack is "good enough" to take a shot for. At 9 she has to endure 6-7 shots in a day. It is her decision ....and her decision alone to make. How DARE someone else step in to her shoes and make that decision for her....How DARE they!!!


One of the MANY things I HATE about diabetes is that fact that you can't see it. When you look at Kaci she looks healthy and happy- she looks like a normal kid. Not a kid that has to test her sugar BEFORE every meal, snack or in between bite. Not a kid who relies on insulin and shots to live. Not a kid who has to carry a medical bag with her every where she goes counting every morsel of food before it enters her mouth. Not a little girl who has to go the DR. every 3 months to have her A1C1 tested and every 6 months to have her blood drawn. Not a little girl who at age 7 had her WHOLE world turned upside down and inside out for the rest of her life......

So I ask that today you look at yourself and your life and ask.....Do you know how lucky you are?" I hope the student teacher questions herself and her actions today after talking to me....


If you never spent a week in the hospital learning to keep your child alive.

If you've don't have to poke your child's fingers everyday until they bleed.

If you don't have to count every carb that goes into your child's mouth and figure their carb to insulin ratio. (Carrying carb books in your purse and downloading carb aps on your phone)

If you can send your child to school without any extra care, notes for teachers, needles, medicines, glucose tabs etc.

If your child is not under a 504 Plan. (there's a whole other story....)

If you can let your child go off to play at a friends house without constant worry and extra explanation.

If you don't have to set your alarm for 2, 4 and 6 a.m to make sure your child is not going "low."

If the place you used to store the butter in your fridge is not filled with Novalog pen refills and Lantus pens.

If you don't visit the doctor every 3 months.

If you don't have an old plastic soda 3- liter bottle on your counter that serves as your sharps container.

If you don't visit a Lab every 6 months to have bloodwork done.

If you don't have a prescription for numbing cream.

If you don't worry when your child falls down when playing or falls asleep in the car that he or she is actually passed out from a hypoglycemia.

If you don't have to carry a bag full of medical supplies everywhere you go with extra batteries just incase the old ones run out- and juice boxes and glucose tabs.

If you don't know what normal blood sugar is. If you don't know what low blood sugar is. If you don't know what high blood sugar is.

If your life has never been divided into BEFORE and AFTER.

If you don't have to FIGHT so that your child can be like everyone else EVERYDAY!

If you don't know how to give a shot.

If you don't know what insulin smells like.

If you don't juggle carb counts, insulin to carb ratios, daily blood glucose averages, correction counts and A1C1 results.

If you have no idea what any of that means.

If you never had to learn how to give a shot.

If you've never had to answer your child when she asked, "Why me and when will it go away?"

If you don't feel lumps in your child's arm where you have given the shot one too many times.

If you don't stare death in the face every day.

If you don't really know anything about Type 1 diabetes.

If Type 1 Diabetes doesn't live in your house.....because it lives in mine and it NEVER sleeps.

Before July 28, 2009 - I didn't. I had no idea how lucky I was.

Going to bed at night with sweet dreams of the next day. Waking up and letting Kaci sleep in until she woke up on her own- not having to wake her to check her sugar. We could eat breakfast without thought...no counting or adding or dividing. We could go to the park with no "extra baggage." On a hot day we didn't need an ice pack to keep her insulin cold. She could run, swim, dance, and climb- with no worries of "going low." She go to her friends house on a whim.....But now....it has all changed.


And If I try really hard....I can find the good things in our new life...


I know how to count carbs and calculate insulin doses.

I know how to give a shot.

I have a great Endocrinologist to treat my child.

I have enough supplies to keep my child alive and healthy.

I have a school nurse and 3rd grade teacher who take care of my child like she is their own.

I have learned to ask for help, because the Lord knows I can't do it all.

I have learned to cry in the car, the closet, the bathroom, the grocery store and anywhere else I feel the need.

I have been humbled by something that I can not control.

I have learned to enjoy the moment.

I have learned how fragile life is.

I have learned that I am much stronger and braver than I ever thought.....but I still have my weak moments.

I have learned that I can't "kiss it" and make it go away....So we must make the best of it.

I will work hard everyday to make sure that Kaci is not left out, discriminated against or made to feel different. We will always hold HOPE in our hearts. HOPE for better understanding of this disease, Hope for better treatments and of course...HOPE for a CURE!

All because of a popsicle.....

Happy Easter!

The kids decided that we should leave the Easter Bunny a treat (kind of like we do for Santa). They couldn't decide if we should leave him cookies, jelly beans or carrots.....so we left him all three~


Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right...
~Phillips Brooks, "An Easter Carol"



The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world.
Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice.
But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work,
accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice.
~Henry Knox Sherrill

Veggie Tales

Bailey has been working hard at writing time at school to create a story about Super Hero fruits and vegetables! This weekend, his homework assignment, was to build his story characters out of the real fruits and vegetables he writes about in his story.

So....6 peas, one celery stalk, an apple, 2 macaroni noodles and 6 toothpicks later.....TA' DAAAA!

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~S.D. Gordon

Easter just wouldn't be Easter without a "GingerBunny" house.

“Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.”

Today was the Annual San Gabriel Park and Picnic field trip day at Grace Preschool. Fry's Farm came out with some of their animals so that the kids (and teachers) could have some close up time with the animals! Love this picture of me and Bacon!

Why did the Easter egg hide? He was a little chicken!

Well everyone knows you can never have too many hard boiled eggs, right? LOL!

Even though we just dyed a dozen at our house....Papa was still in need of some pretty Easter eggs. After Good Day Wednesday at the mall (with some Dippin' Dots and pictures with the Easter Bunny) we stopped by Papa and Grandma Dee's house to make sure that Papa had a dozen of his own eggs.

Grandma Dee had the eggs boiled and ready so it didn't take us long to make them pretty!

She bought the special glitter kit. Hard to see the glitter in this photo, but these were 12 of the sparkliest eggs I have ever seen! Ber Ber missed it again!

Papa is ready to make some tuna salad now!
Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

Good Day Wednesday....Mom's Choice!

Good Day Wednesday- Mom's Choice is finally here! Guess that means we will be making a trip to Lakeline Mall to take our picture with the Easter Bunny and enjoying a treat from the Food Court. Pictures to follow shortly!

Hippity~ Hoppity! Easter's on it's way!!

Hard to believe it is that time again! Time to dye the eggs! This year I bought the marble kit. Not only do you drop the color pill in vinegar and water, but you also add some oil to each cup!

The kids had so much fun dying the eggs. Even Bailey took his time with each egg - mixing colors until he got each egg just the way he wanted it to be.

I was sad that Aunt Amber didn't get to join us. She enjoys it more than the kiddos!

Powell's Plunderers!

Finished up Bailey's Field Day class flag today!

They are Mrs. Powell's Plunderer's!

Definition of Plunderer: To take the good by force:

to steal the loot or booty!

ABC's of Diabetes

Here is my Diabetic Alphabet:

A 1c1

B olus

C ure

D umb

E ndocronologist

F inger prick

G lucose tabs

H igh

I nsulin

J DRF

K etones

L ow

M eter

N utrition

O nset

P ancreas

not for Quitters

R estless nights

S ugar

T est strip

j U ice

fore V er

W alk to Cure

X

mY kaci

and

many Z ...sleepless nights!

I need some help with a couple of letters. Any suggestions?

After Bailey's baseball picture we headed over to Spring Fling at the kid's school! The weather was perfect! I left the camera in the car so that I could hold all the tickets, snacks and of course...prizes!

*so this is the only picture I got*

Kaci won two 2- liter bottles of soda by playing ring toss! She had to ring 5 out of 6 soda bottles! WOW~ She can't wait to drink them just as soon as Lent is over - since she gave up soda. She choose a Diet Coke for herself and a Dr Pepper for Bailey. So sweet!

Baseball is a fun game. It beats working for a living. ~Phil Linz

Bailey had baseball pictures at Town and Country this morning. I can't wait to see the team pictures and the trading cards are always my favorite! I love my Dodger!!

A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.- Humphrey Bogart

Today was Scouts Day at the UT Longhorns baseball game. Any Scout that attended the game got a special "Game Day Patch" Clint is still in Dallas for work - so he had to miss out on the fun. Papa was happy to join us and even took charge of getting our tickets....Thanks, Papa!

In order to get a patch- the kids had to wear a piece of their scout uniform. Kaci decided to wear her vest. Here is a cute picture of her and Papa walking to the stadium. Bailey wore his Cub bandana.

This was Bailey's favorite billboard at the game! LOL! Too bad they didn't hit it while we were there.

The weather was perfect and the Horns ended up winning the game! It was a great night and we can't wait to go back again with Clint.

The highlight of the game was this game ball that Kaci received from one of the stadium workers! HOOK 'EM!

Good Day Wednesday!

Today was Kaci's pick! She choose Yogurt Experience again!!

Peg- Legged Parrots!

Field Day is almost here! This year the them is "Pirates" Each class is asked to pick a name for thier class that goes with the theme. Kaci's 3rd grade class is, "Mrs. Peterson's Peg-Legged Parrot. Kaci volunteered me to make their flag for them and I was so glad she did.

I love drawing and painting and don't get to do it near enough anymore. I think it turned out really nice! Now I have to get to work on Bailey's class flag. They are "Mrs. Powell's Plunderers"

We will be FREE / 12th Annual JDRF Hope Ball

Today Kaci and I spent a little part of our day volunteering our time and talent for the JDRF Austin Chapter at Painting With A Twist. So much fun and for such a great cause.

The 12th Annual Hope Ball is coming up in May. Each year they hold a silent auction to raise money to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. This year one of the items they will auction will be this large collection of butterfly canvas paintings all painted by children with Type 1 Diabetes. When attached all together it is expected to make a 8 by 6 wall painting.

I would give my right arm to win this at auction time. It is going to be BEAUTIFUL- and PRICELE$$~ I just can't wait to see it all together.

When we arrived, Kaci was able to choose the butterfly with the design that she liked best. Then she was set free to paint it however she wanted to. It got more and more beautiful with each color stroke she added.

First came the blue.... Then the pink came in next.... After she finished her first canvas- she was offered another one by Ms. Amy.

Just look how beautiful they turned out! I love this picture of my little artist.

So cute with the smock on all splattered in paint.

Here are some of the butterflies up close!

It is going to be BEAUTIFUL! Not sure if I will get to attend the Hope Ball or not- looking for a date to go with. If I do- I will certainly post a picture of the finished piece!

210, 88, 320, 76, 56, 101......

We had a Girl Scout meeting tonight and the girls earned their try it badge for "Math Fun" So we talked about all the ways we use numbers everyday. We use them to tell the time, to complete our school work, to know which building to go to for our doctor's appointment. We use them so that people can call us on the phone, find our house, or bake us a cake! Got me to thinking about my numbers post from a few months back. In case you missed it, here it is..... "If you know me....you know I hate math. Welcome to my world of numbers..... Wake up and check Kaci's sugar at 6 a.m. Her meter reads 108. Perfect...no correction! A great morning reading is between 80 and 130. She wants a smoothie for breakfast. Weigh the banana on the carb scale....it is 23 carbs. Add 1/2 cup of milk...that is 5 carbs. Add a yogurt cup .....that is 13 carbs. Put 3 strawberries in...they are 4 carbs. Add that all up and the total is 45 carbs. Breakfast insulin coverage is 1 unit for every 8 carbs, so I divide 45 by 8 and that is 5.625- Round up and that is 6 units of insulin. She is taking her lunch today, so I have to write all the carbs down for the school nurse. I am making her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Each piece of bread is 10 carbs, a tablespoon of peanut butter is 7 carbs and 1 tablespoon of sugar free jelly is 5 carbs. She wants to have pringles...they are 12 carbs. A pickle pack is 0 carbs. She is having water with sugar free add in and one cookie for dessert...it is 15 carbs. So add all those together....59 carbs. Her insulin coverage for lunch is 1 unit for every 12 carbs. So divide 59 by 12 and you get 4.916. She checks her sugar for lunch at about 11:37 (** When the nurse checks her sugar at lunch it is 188. So to figure her correction you have to take her current blood sugar and subtract 130, then divide by 40) So 188 - 130= 58.....divide 58 by 40 and you get 1.45 for correction. Add that to her meal coverage of 4.916 and you get 6.366... Since her sugar was a litte high at lunch I will round that up to 6.5 units of insulin. Now I have to pack her snack. To avoid having to get a shot at school for snack, Kaci usually takes a FREE snack. This means a food that contains no carbs: pickles, cheese, pepperoni, ham, or sugar free jello. Today I pack pickles. When she takes her blood sugar at 9:55, if it is above 129 she must eat her FREE snack. If it is above 130- she can eat her carb snack and her FREE snack. Today I will pack 3 carbs of crackers...Much more than that will require a shot. For 6 carbs she gets to have 3 Ritz crackers. When she checks her blood sugar today at snack it was 201. She eats the FREE snack. When she comes home from school she is hungry. We check her blood sugar at 3:00 and it is 110- We pop a bag of popcorn and add a few M&M's for fun! The popcorn is 17 carbs and the M&M's are about 7 ....Add those together and her total carbs for snack are 24. At snack her insulin to carb ratio is 1 unit for every 15 carbs. Her blood sugar was 110, so there is no correction. I divide 24 by 15 and get 1.6. I will round that to 2 units for snack. I start cooking dinner and Kaci comes to me and says her legs feel shaky. This usally means that her sugar is below 70 and she needs sugar to raise her to a safer level.We check her sugar and it is 64. Guess I should have rounded down the insulin at snack. OOPS! She is excited to get to drink a juice box to raise her sugar to a safer level. It is 7 carbs and should do the trick. We wait 15 minutes and recheck with another finger poke. Her blood sugar went up to 164. That did the trick!Dinner is ready in the next 20 minutes- so we don't take her sugar again. We just use the last reading. For dinner we are having fettuccine, peas and butter bread. I boil her noodles separate because the box gives me the carbs for 56 grams of uncooked pasta. I weigh them on the food scale and they are 42 carbs. Add the sauce- and I make my best guess and say it is about 8 carbs. Bread with butter is 10 carbs. Peas are about 6 carbs. Add this all together and this meal is 60 carbs. Dinner ratio is 1 unit of insulin for every 10 carbs. So this one is easy....no correction since she was low before dinner, so I divide 60 by 10 and she gets 6 units of insulin. We usually do her shot as soon as she is done eating (just to make sure she eats everything or doesn't want more...since that will change her carbs up or down) but pasta and pizza take longer to digest. So, we wait about 30 or 40 minutes after she finishes to give her the shot. Getting close to bed and her sugar must be above 120. We check it at 8:00 and it is 110. She needs some carbs to raise her sugar. She has a sugar free ice cream bar that is 13 carbs and 1/2 a cup of milk that is 5. We don't give her a shot for this snack, because we are trying to raise her sugar- but we still have to give her her night shot. It is called Lantus and it is her long lasting shot. It lasts for 24 hours along with her meal coverage shots. She takes 18 units. We check her sugar again at 9, just to make sure it has raised above 120 and discover that even after eating 18 carbs her blood sugar has only raised to 111. Sure that the food will continue to cause a rise in her blood sugar we send her to bed and set the alarm to check her at 2 a.m. 2 a.m. rolls around and the alarm goes off. I check her and she is 88. We have now poked her finger 10 times and she has taken5 shots .With 4 and 1/2 hours more of sleep- I fear if I don't have her eat or drink something she will continue to drop and go below 70 (this is when she needs fast acting sugar) So, I decide to wake her and have her eat 3 vanilla wafers, they are 2 carbs a piece and a 1/2 cup of milk....it is 5 carbs. That is a total of 11 carbs....again with no shot....as I am trying to raise her sugar. When the alarm goes off at 6 a.m. I rush to her room to wake her for the day - and of course, check her blood sugar. The meter beeps and it is 112...... And the day begins again....."

SCREW NUMBERS!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

The Dodgers pull out another win! They beat the Mariners tonight with a 15 to 3 BIG WIN! I wasn't able to make the game (Kaci and I had GirlScouts)- but Bailey still had a great cheering section- Clint, Papa and our next door neighbors (Chris and Holly) made it to the ballpark to cheer the Dodgers to Victory! Way to Go!

A mother's treasure is her daughter. ~Catherine Pulsifer

Let's Race For A Cure!

JDRF and the Ford Customer Service Division are partnering again for the 4th annual JDRF Design Your Own Race Car Contest! Children between the ages of 5-18 are invited to enter for a chance to have their design displayed on NASCAR team, Wood Brother Racing's car! Deadline to submit entries to your local chapter is April 11, 2011. The top 5 designs that raise the most money will be reviewed by a committee to choose the final winner. The four finalists will receive $500 towards their Walk team and the winner will win a trip to the car unveiling ceremony at Ford World Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan and the opportunity to attend the NASCAR Sprint Cup race on August 19 and 21st!

Stay tuned for how you can help Kaci win by voting online for her car.