Happy Halloween!

We did it!

We do it EVERY year!

I am so glad it happened AGAIN!

I am almost POSITIVE it will happen again next year!

We had a GREAT and a very HAPPY Halloween!

Bailey as Ash (from Pokeman) 2011

Kaci as Oscar the Grouch (from Sesame Street) 2011

Awards Assembly!

So proud of Bailey! He received 2 dog tags at the Awards Assembly this morning: Reading and Writing and Math Award. Way to go, Bailey! You always make me proud to be your Mommy!

Say...."BOO!"

The day we have been waiting and working for all year is finally here! Today was the Say Boo to Diabetes Walk at Mueller Park!

True- it got off to a rough start- with a quick trip the Emergency Vet Clinic for Ellie (she is home and doing better now) We still made it to the walk. A little later than planned, but we wouldn't miss it for the world!
Kaci's Krushers ended up raising $3,342.22, and still counting~ (donations will be accepted through the end of November!)

It was a beautiful day and we had a nice group with us to help support and cheer Kaci on!

Thank you to everyone who came out today to walk with us: Grandma Dee, PaPa, Aunt Amber, Mark, Colton, Uncle Chad, Christi, Margaret, Grayson, Bailey and Mrs. Cindy!

Our shirts turned out super cute and went well with Kaci's Oscar the Grouch costume!

We loved seeing Lenny the Lion and his pump! He is kinda' a big deal in our world!

Here is Kaci's BOO BUDDY sign! I just love how they make these signs to place along the walk! So cute!

Here is the whole gang- minus mom! Way to go, Kaci's Krushers!!!

Thanks again to the following people: Pa Pa and Grandma Dee,Herb and Craig Eskew,Amber and Mark Eskew,Uncle Chad Borchgardt,Charles and Jessica Felchak,Cindy Bracken,CindyScott,ConnerMullen,CustomInk.com,Denise Simons,Ford Nascar Contest,Jackie Baker,Mrs. Garrett,The Chester Family,The Walker Family,Walker Family,Company Foradory Lawn Care & Powerwashing,Zulema Aguero,Linh Nguyen,Joe and Kelly Armstrong,John and Tracy Moore,The Zavala Family,Dominic Ramirez,Linda Schultz, Patricia Johnson, Mrs. Peterson, Leah Leerssen, Laura and Ali McGovern, Margaret Cromwell, Elizabeth Doyle,Christopher Hall and Holly,Sherry Smith,Dot Borchgardt,Rob Johnston,Bj Rosow,Auntie and Bubba Hargrave,The Crowley family,Thuy Tran,Michael Berry,Bobbie Wisnoski, Jennifer Yeatts,Margaret Mallard,Christi Borchgardt,David Murray, Phillip Bogucki,John Welch, Linda and Billy Keeton ,Melissa Enochs,Michelle Hall,Josh Hargrave, Aunt Ginny Hill,Diane Wischnewsky, Brad Finch and the Enslow Family!

We really worked up an appetite and hit Mighty Fine after the walk. I love these silly boys!

The meter keeps growing and 1 day to the WALK!!

So far- Kaci's Krushers has raised $3,332.22 for the Say Boo To Diabetes Walk!

That is absolutely AMAZING!! If you donated to her Ford Race Car Competition- your money also went towards our walk team....so THANK YOU! Thank all of you- and saying it just doesn't seem like enough! So- we have listed your names below so that EVERYONE can know just how much all of you mean to us!

Pa Pa and Grandma Dee,Herb and Craig Eskew,Amber and Mark Eskew,Uncle Chad Borchgardt,Charles and Jessica Felchak,
Cindy Bracken,CindyScott,ConnerMullen,CustomInk.com,Denise Simons,Ford Nascar Contest,Jackie Baker,Mrs. Garrett,The Chester Family,The Walker Family,Walker Family,Company Foradory Lawn Care & Powerwashing,Zulema Aguero,Linh Nguyen,Joe and Kelly Armstrong,John and Tracy Moore,The Zavala Family,
Dominic Ramirez,Linda Schultz, Patricia Johnson, Mrs. Peterson, Leah Leerssen, Laura and Ali McGovern, Margaret Cromwell, Elizabeth Doyle,Christopher Hall and Holly,Sherry Smith,Dot Borchgardt,Rob Johnston,Bj Rosow,Auntie and Bubba Hargrave,The Crowley family,Thuy Tran,Michael Berry,
Bobbie Wisnoski, Jennifer Yeatts,Margaret Mallard,Christi Borchgardt,David Murray, Phillip Bogucki,John Welch, Linda and Billy Keeton ,Melissa Enochs,
Michelle Hall,Josh Hargrave, Aunt Ginny Hill,Diane Wischnewsky and Brad Finch!!

One day it will be different!

On July 28, 2009-
I got the news,
that Kaci's blood was not fine,

Type 1 Diabetes,
What the heck does that mean?
Does it mean no more sugar
no more sweet jelly beans?

In two years I have learned,
That it means so much more.
It means poking and testing
and counting galore!

It means testing and bleeding
and peeing on strips
It means checking your ketones
Whenever your sick.

It means feeling shaky
Whenever your low.
and having your medical bag
Always in tow.

It means taking shots
Each time that you eat.
It means always paying attention
And being on your feet!

In means feeling different
when you want to feel same.
And wearing your medical bracelet
With condition and name.

But it also means HOPE
Being brave, being strong!
Knowing that everyone is working
Though the hours seem long!

One day it will be different!
One day you will see.
A CURE will be found-
And Kaci will be FREE!

Way to go, SCRAPPERS!

Tonight was the first game of the Tournament. It was a single elimination tournament. Unfortunatley, it was the last game for the Scrappers! They played their hearts out and lost the game by 1 point. It was crushing! However, I am so proud of the baseball player Bailey has become. He really works hard at practices and games and always does his best.

Here is Bailey with Coach Tom before the game! They got to practice hitting with water balloons!
How cool is that? Look at this one EXPLODE!!

`

Just 7 more days.....

Just 7 more days until the BOO Walk is finally here. We are so excited to have such a great group of people walking with us. Some of them have walked with us since the first walk in 2009 ( less than 3 months after Kaci's diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes) More people added to our group in 2010 and this year we will have even more people walking with us to show their support for Kaci and the thousands of kids and grown ups that are just like her. We will all be wearing our AWESOME new shirts - sporting our AWESOME new team name...Kaci's Krushers!!

Upon Kaci's diagnosis- I must admit that Halloween was one of the things I worried about the most. How would we ever go trick or treating again? What would we do with this holiday that is so much fun, but yet completely revolves around sugary candy and treats??

Well, turns out it has worked out pretty good. There are so many other things we do each year to celebrate Halloween- and we still continue to do all of them....even Trick or Treating.

We visit the Pumpkin Patch.


We decorate/carve pumpkins.

Can you guess which one is Kaci's and which one is Bailey's?

We make/wear Halloween shirts.



We buy and wear costumes.
Sometimes we are Minnie Mouse.
Sometimes we are a Pirate! ARGHHH!!!

Some years we are Luigi and Lola!

Sometimes we are Peter Pan!

And sometimes we are Hannah Montana!

We decorate our house and make Haunted Gingerbread houses.

We trick or treat for UNICEF!!

We buy candy to pass out to our neighbors and friends!

Since Kaci's diagnosis with diabetes we have added these traditions to our Halloween list of fun!

We raise money for JDRF.
We order team t-shirts.

We walk in the Say Boo To Diabetes Walk!

Grandma Dee, PaPa, Aunt Amber, Uncle Mark and Colton still come to our house for a pot of chili or stew before we head out Trick or Treating. A few of us stay back to pass out candy- (usually Grandma Dee and Uncle Mark)- while the rest of us head to get our buckets full of trick or treat loot. We DON'T eat ANY candy while we are collecting. (This is no different than we have done in years past before Diabetes) The candy has to be well checked before we can eat it. When we get home, Kaci and Bailey usually sort through their candy and make trades with each other. Then they make a pile of the candy that they do not like and Clint puts it in a bag to take to work to share with his friends and co-workers. Then they are each allowed to eat only a few pieces of candy(This is no different than we have done in years past before Diabetes) They each the grown ups take a couple of pieces too! We usually pull out the smarties and other candy that is good for LOWS and put them in her "Diabetes Bag" Over the next few weeks- I will, occasionally put a piece of candy in their lunch or we will have one with dinner. Then....once we hit Kaci's birthday- the rest of the candy disappears. (This is no different than we have done in years past before Diabetes)

Who needs all that candy just lying around anyway!

So....get ready for it....

A Happy Halloween is coming our way!!

4th grade memories!

I love this picture of my baby girl. I just wish she would stop growing. ACK! She is the sweetest and kindest girl I know- (must take after her Mommy! lol!) I know that one day she is going to grow up and change the world! The perfect 4th grade memory!

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ~From the television show The Wonder Year

I must admit- I think school photo packages are WAAAYY overpriced. I think the backgrounds are usually VERY cheesy! I think that most school pictures are not a good representation of how cute kids are! - But I must also admit.....

That I love Bailey's school picture this year! I love the brightness, I love his smile, his hair, his glasses, his shirt! I love this 2nd grade memory!!

Insulin is not a cure!

Kaci had to have blood work done this morning.....fasting blood work. I HATE blood work days. Actually....I HATE blood work week. The WHOLE week I am in a FUNK, because Kaci is in a FUNK! We have numbing cream and I think it is never as bad as she (or I imagine)- but the build up and the wait.....just get to be too much! She usually only has to have it done every 6 months. It was last done end of July and we are scheduled again for end of January- but with a new medication on board- the Dr. wanted to check in between to make sure it is doing it's job. I understand....I really do, but I HATE blood work! So, let's continue to fight for a cure.
And Remember....

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

It doesn't get cuter than this! Kaci and her BFF, Grayson decided to be twins at school today! They planned out their whole outfit- Kaci's team shirt, pink shorts, white tennis shoes and a white bow in their hair!

I love these girls! They are silly, fun and fabulous!
I hope they stay friends FOREVER!!

My own backyard!

So prous of Kaci's Independent Study project she completed for TAG. She had to create her own backyard. This project had so many components it lasted 9 weeks. She wrote poems, made power points, painted with water color, researched, made graphs and tables, created her own diaroma, made fact cards, constructed 3-D art work and the list goes on and on! Way to go, Kaci!

Whose is whose?

Can you tell which one is Bailey's and which one is Kaci's??

You got it!~ Kaci's has the bow!!

Josie and Stumpy!

I think Kaci has found her passion...and boy is she good at it! Here is some more of her artwork on canvas. This was a special order request made by her Uncle Chad. He has 2 tabby cats: one named Josie and one named Stumpy! He placed an order with Kaci for her to draw each of them on their own 10 x 10 canvas! The finished products are AMAZING!!

This is Stumpy- notice- there is no tail in this photo!

This is Miss Josie- she has the white chest markings and long fluffy tail!


I just love how well they turned out! Kaci is becoming quite the artist!!!

Thanks for placing the order, Uncle Chad!

Custom Ink!!

Look what we found on our porch today!!!!

They came! They came! - And they are CUTE!!

GO Kaci's Krushers!!!

Vote For Me....Bailey B!

**Bailey is running for Student Leadership Council in his class tomorrow. Here is the speech he is going to give in front of his class. He wrote it all by himself and I typed it up for him! Good job, Bailey! I am proud of you!**

Hi my name is Bailey Borchgardt. I am seven years old. I have been a student at Teravista for 3 years. I am running for Student Leadership Council and I am going to tell you what I am going to do if you vote for me.

I am going to be a good listener and help other people. I am going to show the new kids where they need to go and help them find their way around our school. I will be a good role model for other students.

I will be a good leader for our class because I am a Boyscout. I have been a boyscout for almost 2 years. Boyscouts help the community. I also volunteer for JDRF. Me and my family help raise money every year to find a cure for diabetes. About 80 people are diagnosed with diabetes every day. My sister has diabetes.

I am a good listener and I follow directions and rules of our school. I am a hard worker and make good grades. I always do my homework and my classwork. I always walk in the hall neatly and quietly and raise my hand to speak.

Thank you to all of my classmates for showing friendship and helping me not be nervous when school first started. I want to wish everyone who is running for Student Leadership Council good luck. It is a big job and I am ready for it.