Grandma turns 60!

Chase has been getting extra Grandma and Grandpa time lately. We decided that Grandma only turns 60 once, so we hit the road once again and helped my mom ring in a new decade. My folks invited about 40 of my mom's closest friends and co-workers. I knew the turn out would be great because I know what a great lady she is and how well liked she is by others. I also know that I have the best mom in the world. And I'd beat you up if you said otherwise, but my mom taught me not to fight.

She once told me that a mom's job is not to be your best friend, it's to be your mom. I think that's the best parenting advice I've ever received. Although...when I get after Chase for doing something wrong, I usually hear, "Be nice to my Chase!".

Thanks for being a "mom" to me, Mom. And a "grandma" to Chase. Happy Birthday 60th!!!

A Boppa and a PaPa

Dad, a.k.a., Boppa, celebrated his 62nd birthday with us on Thursday. Mom was in town for a conference so we got to take advantage of the swimming pool at the Comfort Inn and my dad's manual labor!

--

-

-

September 24, 2006 - PaPa's Pumpkin Patch

It's that time of the year again - time to go to PaPa's Pumpkin Patch! This was Chase's 3rd annual outing to the patch. He asked right away this morning if we would take him. It must have been worth the wait because he had a ball. There are pumpkins everywhere, activities for the kids and best of all - pumpkin pie!

Riding a tractor at the patch.

In the "patch".

Going on a horse ride!

Pumpkin face Chase.

Fun, fun, fun!

The highs are making me feel low

I hate diabetes - there, that must be worth $250 of therapy. Good thing Blogger's services are free.

Chase's blood sugars have been running very high at lunch and supper for the last few weeks. On average, they run about 300 mg/dL. This could be due to a growth spurt or he may be coming down with a cold. Or, more than likely, it is just the nature of this beastly disease.

We are doing everything by the book - raising his insulin amounts, limiting his carbs, encouraging him to move around - and it just doesn't seem to be working. We are afraid to raise his insulin too much because even slight increases in insulin can create low blood sugars and that creates a whole new set of problems.

Chase seems to be handling his highs better than his mother, though! You'd never know that he was "running high". He use to be a bear when he was experiencing hyerglycemia. And getting him to move - forget about it!

For some reason, I'm reminded of an incident that happened a few months ago. Chase did not want his blood tested and was screaming, crying and pretty much throwing a fit. And, against our diabetes educator's recommendation, I started crying in front of him. We had been doing battle with the blood tests for a couple of days and I was emotionally drained. Amazingly, Chase stopped crying, took the wash cloth I was using to clean his fingers and wiped away my tears. He then hugged me, told me not to cry and that I was okay.

The lesson I learned from that incident is that as much as I try to be there for him, he is there even more for me. Come rain or shine...

This is my land...

Chase and I are in Devils Lake this week. Gary has a conference in Grand Forks so I decided that what I wanted the most for my birthday was to be dropped off at "home". The pace is a little slower here and Chase gets what he's wanted for months - to go for a tractor ride with Boppa.



I've tried bribing Chase with offers such as, "If you poop in the potty we will go see Boppa." To which Gary's son replies, "Go Devils Lake, poop in Grandma's potty." It's going to be a long journey to being free of Pampers.

This is my favorite time of the year to drive to Devils Lake. The farmers finishing up out in the fields, the trees are starting to turn colors, and the air is usually cooler. Once we arrive in about the Harvey area I really start to feel like I'm home. It also gets me thinking about my grandpa Wally.

Grandpa Wally would look out on his fields while driving from Leeds to Devils Lake and sing, "This is my land, this is my land." This was while he was either smoking a cigar or cigarette. He also swore quite a bit and I have some pretty interesting songs/poems that I learned from him as well. He was also a charmer and I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't think about him. His first great-grandchild was born about 4 months after he died and I often wonder what he'd think of Chase and the rest of the crew. I can't wait to tell Chase more about him.

I'm having trouble posting pictures so I'll add some when I get back. I also need to give Grandma a break from a little boy that is more than likely wearing her down.

Top 10

Making lemonade out of lemons, making chicken soup out of...well, never mind you get the idea.

I've compiled a list of 10 "good things" about having a diabetic son. Doing things like this helps me keep life in perspective:

10. We always have yummy ice cream in the house to treat low blood sugars.

9. We can tell the difference between a good carb and a bad carb.

8. The human body is an amazing machine and we have a whole new respect for it.

7. Seeing family and friends willing to learn how to take care of Chase.

6. Meeting Dr. Kumar, Maysil and Kelly from MedCenter One.

5. Seeing just how brave and resilient a two year old can be.

4. Dancing, having races, going to the play ground...all great excuses to get high blood sugars down.

3. Learning that you can, and will, do just about anything when it comes to the health and welfare of your child. I think diabetes has made us better parents and even stronger as a couple.

2. Seeing an unbreakable bond between my dad and Chase.

1. Best of all, knowing that there are so many people out there that care about Chase.

A laborious Labor Day

It has been a crazy, busy last few weeks. We've been busy building our lawn shed. Gary took off a few days to get it started while I put in a few extra hours at work to help pay for it. My folks came on Thursday and stayed for 4 consecutive nights - a record for my dad who usually has "projects" to get home to. I'm not sure if he stayed until the plywood was put up on the shed or if it was the little boy that told us that he only loved Boppa (that kissing up earned him a new John Deere tractor with a trailer by-the-way)! And, 99 year old Great-grandpa Art even joined the crew and made a few cuts here and there! Amazing man.

August also marks the beginning of a lot of family & friend's birthday celebrations. So much so that I'm usually sick of cake by the end of September.

August includes sis-in-law Cheri on Aug 21, Gary on the 29th, & mom-in-law Connie on the 31st.

Grandma Connie and Chase on her birthday last Thursday

The month of September includes roughly 99% of our family and friends birthday's - Nephew Connor on 6th, Chase's buddies Brett on the 8th and Bailey on the 15th, bro-in-law John on the 16th, my dad on the 21st, sis-in-law Michele on the 25th, my mom on the 29th, and even #33 for myself on the 13th (no cake please!).

Chase's friend Bailey spent a 1/2 a day with us last week. She will be turning 3 & is quiet a little character (I'm guessing it comes from her mom's side). I've enjoyed watching Bailey grow and hearing her mom Karla's stories about her while at work. Karla & Bailey were our first visitors in the hospital when Chase was born and they were also our first visitors in the hospital when Chase was diagnosed. Good friends to say the least. We're hoping to hook these two up for the prom. They've come a long way from their very first meeting!