We ate the Big Apple

This weekend we were invited to attend the Diabetes Research Institute Conference "Focus on Technology" in New York City. It's hard for me to pass up an opportunity to be surrounded by the best minds in diabetes research. It gives me hope to hear about all of the research that is being done to find a cure for this disease. Just last week we got some bad news about Dawson's health. For months Dawson's endocrinologist has been worried about Dawson not gaining weight. We have been watching him closely. Since Dawson's diagnosis almost 2 years ago Dawson has only gained .5 pounds. He weighs 48 pounds. The weight of an average 5 year old. Dawson is now 7. He has a BMI of 5. I was anxious to talk with the specialist in New York about different injection treatments that are used by many diabetics who struggle with gastric digestion issues. We are going to take it one step at a time. Lots of new doctors will see Dawson in the next couple of weeks. Between Diabetic Dietitians, Gastroenterologist, Endocrinologist, and Nephrologist appointments we are going to do our best to try and get Dawson healthier and fatter. This weekend was also a first for Dawson because he had a session with a child psychologist who specialized in children with diabetes. He was able to talk about his feelings about the disease and what he doesn't like about diabetes. It was a first for him and he told me later that day in the car that it felt good to talk about all of the things the disease makes him feel. I was glad he had this opportunity. I am not a touchy feely kind of person or mom. I don't walk around asking my kids how certain things make them "feel". I was glad he had this opportunity and I am going to try to talk about our feelings more.

The DRI conference was the perfect excuse to take the kids out of school for one day to spend 3 days and finally do New York City. Parker loves American history and this year Dawson learned about the statue of liberty so it was perfect timing. We had a blast as a family and made memories that I hope the kids will not soon forget. After looking at all of the pictures it looks like all we did was eat. In between eating we saw Time Square, went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, saw Radio City Music Hall, Wall Street, Central Park and we even ice skated at Rockefeller Center.


We ate New York Pizza
Cupcakes and White Kastle Burgers




And to top it all off, we happened to experience one of New York's famous street festivals on Madison Avenue on Saturday. They closed the entire street and vendors from food, arts, crafts, and musicians provided a true sense of what it is like to "live in the city".

On the way home I asked the kids what they thought of New York City.
Parker "There are too many people and the city is filthy but it was a fun weekend."
Dawson "I loved it all. I could live there."
Reagan "It has really good food."

1988

A couple of years ago Matt and I went to a Def Leopard concert. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Love Bites" were number one songs the year Matt graduated from High School. When the concert started Matt couldn't believe how old the band looked. When he looked around everyone in the audience looked old to him too. It didn't occur to him that he was old.

They say that time increases in value as we age. After attending Matt's 20 year high school reunion I would say his time is getting pretty close to priceless.

I don't think anybody can attend their 20 year high school reunion and not feel old. Matt didn't care. He was really looking forward to it. Matt and his friends started talking about it on the phone and on their myspace pages months before the weekend arrived. Matt was so excited to see everybody and catch up on what has happened in the last 20 years. It surprised me that he had such genuine interest to find out and see how everybody was doing. I look at my high school years as a transitional time in my life. Not Matt. He loved high school and has wonderful memories of the time and people he grew up with.

Matt was a great guy in high school. He was well liked and respected. He had really great friends and seemed to always have a good time. People enjoyed being around him and he was always good for a laugh. A lot has changed for Matt in 20 years, however this weekend I realized a lot is still the same. Matt is still well liked and respected. He is genuine and sincere with his friends and he makes us all laugh.

A little grayer, a little balder, only a little wiser but still the same Matt. I love you honey. Thanks for a great weekend.

Fall

Fall in Virginia is one of the best times of year. It is beautiful. Because I grew up in Southern California where December looks and feels no different than May, I can really appreciate the change in seasons. Fall can be a busy time of year at our house. Between school and sports our time is pretty well taken up. Spending the day with hay rides, corn mazes, slides, kettle corn, apple cider, a pumpkin patch and my family made for the best fall day I could have wished for.

Reagan is 5

Our baby is 5. It's hard to believe. When I had the kids I remember older women telling me to enjoy it because it goes by so fast. Taking care of a new born is 24/7 and it seemed like the longest days and nights I ever had. So I always questioned the validity of that comment. However it's been 5 years since Reagan was born and I can't believe it's been that long. It seems like yesterday. It does go fast. The old ladies were right.
Happy Birthday Baby Girl. You are so special and you bring so much joy to our family. We love you more than you will ever know.

Before there was Matt there was Jordan

New Kids was my first concert - I was 14 and in Junior High. I fell into hysterics when Jordan pointed to my handmade "I Love You Jordan" sign and smiled.
Surely that was a sign that we were destined to be together, right?

1998-1990 were my Jordan years. I was totally infatuated with Jordan Knight. One of the singers in the boy band New Kids on the Block. I would eat, drink, and sleep NKOTB. I bought every tape and later my first CD I ever bought was Hanging Tough by the New Kids. (Yes I still have it) Every poster they made hung on my bedroom walls. I babysat for weeks on end to earn $98 for the jean jacket with Step by Step (a song title) embroidered on the back. I had every video tape, button, t shirt, pillowcase and even swim towel that was made. I had the New Kids on the Block barbie dolls also. I loved the way they sang, the way they moved, and especially the way they looked.

Looking back I giggle thinking about my "love" for Jordan, the T-shirts, buttons, collectible cards and posters. But does the flame still burn?

I guess it does because I couldn't wait to get my tickets for their reunion tour. This time with my best friend Natalie. We are both in our 30's, have way too many kids between the both of us, have great husbands and respectable jobs, have mortgages and other responsibilities that we both couldn't fathom when we were 14. But I teased my hair, put on my torn jeans, made a NKOTB tshirt and grabbed my old tape and cd and headed for the concert. On the way there I asked Natalie whether she would marry a New Kid if he asked her. She said no. (she was never as big of a fan as I was). I say yes. Surely Matt wouldn't deny me the joy of crossing out one of the items on my adolescent to-do list. It was a night that I will never forget. I still knew all of the words. They still did all of the same choreography. It was reminiscent. And it makes me smile every time I think of it.

Lest you think I am totally blinded by warm adolescent memories I do recognize that there is greater talent when it comes to music. Natasha Bedingfield was the opening act and she could out sing all of the boys put together but there is something about donning matching outfits and executed synchronized dance moves that still makes my heart swoon.

GNO

Every mom has a calendar. My mother was like a super woman. She kept a mental calendar. Never having to write appointments or dates down, she would just remember. She is the type of woman who doesn't need an alarm clock either. She has some kind of super brain power that lets her remember things and wakes her up at the exact time that is needed. I unfortunately didn't inherit that brain power. I have three calendars. One for work that I write down all my lesson plans and work related obligations. One for the family that has every appointment, event, practice, school assignment and Matt's travel schedule. My third calendar is my diabetes calendar that I write down every site change and every sensor restart, every battery charge, when to order pump supplies, when to order prescriptions.

This week my family calendar looked not unlike every other week since school has started. 3 football practices, 1 football game, tennis lessons twice this week, scout pack meetings, dance class, PTA spirit night at a local restaurant, 2 spelling tests, one math test, one American symbols test, Reagan is in charge of bring snack for her preschool class all week, and Matt is out of town Monday through Thursday. There was one event on my calendar for Saturday that made me smile every time I looked at it. Its so fun to leave the kids and husband at home every once and a while and go out with your girlfriends for a good movie, good food, and good gossip. I had a blast. We saw the new Richard Gere movie "Nights in Rodanthe", ate great food (including dessert), and laughed more times than I could count.

Thanks Girls. Lets do it again soon.

Dawson is 7

This week was Dawson's 7th Birthday. He was so excited for this big day. Here was a conversation on the morning of his birthday.

Dawson: Mom was I born yet?

Me: No you were born in the afternoon. Right about now I was in a lot of pain and probably screaming.

Dawson: That's why I'm never having kids.

Me: (Laughing) Well Dawson when you have kids it will be your wife who will be in a lot of pain and screaming.

Dawson: I know but I don't even want to hear all of that.

Parker: I know me either. Poor Dad he had to hear that three times.

Poor Dad? 9 months of pregnancy and hours of labor(with no drugs) and my boys are having sympathy for Dad. Where is the justice in motherhood.

It was a great birthday filled with cake, Chuck E Cheese, and the 15 mile an hour scooter he has been coveting for a while. What more could a kid want. Happy Birthday Dawson. We love you more than you will ever know.

7 Things I HATE about You

In our house there are certain words that you are not allowed to say. There are the standard 4 letter words as well as several others. Liar, stupid, jerk, shut up, suck, and hate are the big ones. Just recently we were driving in the car and the new Miley Cyrus song "7 Things" came on. I remarked to the kids that I couldn't believe she was saying the hate word. I always tell the kids that they can dislike something or someone but we should never hate. It isn't a Christ like quality. Dawson then asked me if he could hate diabetes. Tears welled in my eyes and I turned to my son and told him YES. He can hate diabetes. So in honor of Dawson and our new hate for diabetes I thought I would write down the 7 things I hate about diabetes.

1. I hate the way you make Dawson feel.

2. I hate that you have stolen a piece of his sweet innocence.

3. I hate that my son thinks about dying because of you.

4. I hate that you have taken away Dawson's independence and ability to be on his own.

5. I hate all of the sleep you take.

6. I hate the permanent damage you are constantly causing Dawson's body.

7. I hate that you chose my son.

I said it and its true. I hate diabetes. As much as I hate it, I know that this disease is making Dawson and our family stronger than ever.

My Princess

This was Reagan's week. Reagan started school this week. She couldn't wait until it was her turn. She has been waiting to wear her back to school outfit that she went shopping with Grandma and Grandpa Parker to get. She looked so cute. She was full of sass as usual. I'm glad I have one more year to share with Reagan before kindergarten.This was also a big week for Reagan because she started her tap/jazz combo dance class. When Reagan first told me that she wanted to take dance class I was shocked. I was never a good dancer. When I was Reagan's age our family friend, Martha Calder, was a dance teacher. My mom signed me up to take a ballet and jazz class. I only lasted two weeks before Martha told my mom that I should stick to swimming and dancing really wasn't my thing. I never really improved. Just a couple of years ago I got kicked out of a step aerobics class because I was messing up the entire class. My rhythm has always been questionable. I hope Reagan doesn't take after me and really enjoys her dance class. (she better after $60 month tuition, $28 tap shoes, $39 jazz shoes, $17 uniform leotard) I'm sure this class will be priceless.

I always knew this day would come. It happens to every mother. I got lucky with my boys and never experienced it. It figures that it would be my little princess. This week Reagan decided to cut her hair.(herself) I have to admit it isn't as bad as it could have been. However she has been growing her hair since she was a baby. I have never cut it. It is long and curly and beautiful. And now it is long and curly and beautiful with side bangs only on one side. I walked around sad for a couple of days until Reagan told me that I was just going to have to "Get over it." The next morning she brought me her brush and instructed me to "Make it Work". I guess that's what we are going to have to do. Make it work.

Little Tough Guy

Parker had his first football game of the season. It was so exciting. This is Parker's second year in tackle football. Last year was definitely a learning year. When he started practice this year it was remarkable how much better he was. This year he is bigger, stronger, older, and has a lot more confidence because of his experience from last year. He loves his new coach and all of his team mates. He was chosen to be a team field captain. He is such the little leader. His team is the Spotsylvania Dolphins. Parker was bummed that his game jersey didn't arrive before his first game. I'll post new pictures when they come in.

Parker played both ways the entire game. As you can imagine my voice was almost gone by the end of the game from all of the cheering. He plays center on offense and nose guard on defense.
Lot's of well earned sweat. The Dolphins won 19-0. Parker recovered 2 fumbles. Way to go big guy. We're proud of you Parker.