Top "From the mouth of babes" - 2007

This is my favorite from the mouth of Chase story for the year 2007:

It all started when I took Chase for this 4 year photos and Leah for her 3 month photos back in October. I told Chase that we would go look at Halloween decorations after we were done if he was good. Well, let's just say that he didn't hold up to his end of the bargain. As I was strapping him into his car seat, he asked, "Can we go look at Halloween decorations now?" I told him, "No, you didn't behave so we are going home and then I'm going to beat you." (I was kidding - seriously). A couple minutes later I heard, "Mom, when you're done beating me, can we go look at decorations?".

And, then there was just this weekend when I was scrubbing off a tattoo on Chase's arm with a bath mit of my mom's. Chase said, you have one of these. To which I replied that I didn't. Then we went back and forth with "Yes you do" and "No I don't" for a while. I then asked him where it was if I had one. His reply was, "It's under the tree. Grandma bought you one. Wasn't that nice of her?"! Moral of the story - don't take Chase Christmas shopping with you.

Merry Christmas!

As I write this, Chase is in our bed watching his Star Wars DVD for the third time today. And I just removed a Cabbage Patch doll Leah received from Santa from her sleeping grip. Christmas was good to the children and adults. We spent time with both of our families, which really was the best gift of all.

7.3 - Wee hee!

Chase had his A1C test today. His test came back as a 7.3. His last test was 7.7. Any drop lowers his chances of diabetic complications (kidney disease, nerve damage, and eye problems).

After the age of 7 we will need to get his number closer to 6 (blood average of 135). Hopefully by then BlueCross BlueShield of ND will finally approve continuous glucose monitors. (I'm extremely jealous of a mom in Minnesota that has 2 of her children on the monitor.) Or even better yet - a cure.

Once there is a cure I'm going to rent a steam roller and let Chase drive over all of his diabetes "stuff". Oh, how much fun it will be to see the pump, Humalog bottle, glucometer, lancet, test strips, and pump supplies smashed to smithereens. And afterwards, we'll go out for the biggest Dairy Queen Blizzard they make. Now, I just need to know where I can get my hands on a steam roller...

Brotherly love - Part 2

Chase has been obsessed with giving people cards lately. It all started when I gave him some cheesy cards that I knew I'd never send out. Then, my mom did the same. She even sent him a package with cards and envelopes today.

It is kind of fun. You never know what kind of card you are going to get. My niece is still shaking her head over the card she received from him praying for her recovery. Although, I'm no too sure about the card above for his sister. Poor Leah.

2 years and half a life time

Last week while I was preparing supper, I asked Chase to test his blood. While he was washing his hands, he turned to his baby sister and said, "Leah, I have diabetes. You don't have diabetes." To which I quickly added, "And we don't want her to ever get diabetes because diabetes stinks. Right, Buddy?" In a "mom you're crazy" tone, he simply replied, "No it doesn't."

Tomorrow marks the day that Chase will have had diabetes for half of his life. He hasn't known life any other way.

Two years ago, Gary and I were trying to figure out why Chase was drinking water constantly. He'd wake up in the middle of the night and ask for water. We'd get up to get him a glass only to discover a saturated diaper and wet bed.

Were we concerned he had diabetes? Yes and no. A few weeks prior to his diagnosis, he was in the clinic for his 2 year check up. I brought up our concerns about his "drinking problem" to his former pediatrician. She waved it off - even after I brought up our family history type 1 diabetes. For two weeks we went with her advice of waiting it out - that it would clear up on its own.

He wasn't getting any better. He became more and more irritable and his breathing started to become shallow. We prayed it was just a cold. On the advice of a mom at his day care who is a nurse, we took him to the public health office to have his blood tested. 348. He had diabetes.

I haven't really touched on faith much since starting this blog. It is something that is rather personal and private to me, but in two years, it is what has keep me going.

Two years ago I asked God, "Why my child?" and "Why not?" is what I heard back. Not really the response I was hoping for at the time. But, in that time, I've realized that we are lucky. We have awesome health care coverage, a wonderful medical team, and Gary and I will do whatever it takes to insure that Chase is happy and healthy. Some kids aren't so lucky. Mine is.

Little Man Turns 4!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, CHASE!!!

We love you!

Single parenting

I'm a single parent this week. Gary flew out to Reno this afternoon to attend an "International Association of Emergency Managers" conference. Last year, his conference was in Orlando and Chase and I joined him. This year we're saving our frequent flier miles (I'll just say that I've been to Reno...enough said). Hopefully the conference will be in Hawaii next year. Or some where international. One can dream...

Chase has come down with a cold, so he's been sleeping much of the day. The poor kid even "looks sick". He has dark circles under his eyes and has a lot less spunk. Luckily, we all have tomorrow off to sleep in and relax. We may just have to take in the SpongeBob Squarepants marathon on Nickelodeon.

Last weekend, Chase's friend, Brett, joined us for supper. The boys had a lot of fun in Chase's Spiderman costumes (Chase is in the black one). This was the best photo I could get because that little guy Brett moves fast!

My folks also sent Chase a Darth Vader costume in the mail this week (Mom likes after Halloween sales). It was a huge hit - so much so that he slept in it and wore it to day care.

And Leah...I was finally able to lay her down in her crib. She really likes to be held, which is fine for about 5 minutes but, after that, 16 1/2 pounds gets mighty heavy.

Chase took this photo of her today. I think we were preparing for outfit change #2 of the day. One look into those blue eyes and a little poop here and there (some times it feels like everywhere) isn't so bad.

Brotherly love

Halloween 2007

Two costume changes and a lot of candy later...

Chase had me guessing up until the last minute as to what he was going to go as this year. A trip to Devils Lake last weekend didn't help because Grandma bought him a skeleton and black Spiderman costume.

My dad gave Chase this large pumpkin from his garden. He insisted that he could fit in the pumpkin. I didn't believe him, but he was right. My little pumpkins...