Long Time No Post

Well all of my friends have been wondering whats going on because I haven't blogged in so long. Life is busy in the Duff household as usual. We've been busy with our usual and more. Parker has been keeping us on our toes with his recent "cool guy behavior". That behavior wasn't a hit with his teachers (if you know what I mean). That was a fun parent/teacher conference. Dawson continues to struggle with his health and we stay busy day and night. Reagan keeps a constant schedule of 5 day preschool, 3 days of speech therapy, and the ever important weekly dance class.
My friend Karen recently posted on her facebook account a really fun search. You go to your favorite search engine(mine is Google) and type in "(your name) needs". The results are hilarious and I thought I would share mine with you. Try it with your name if you need a good laugh.

"Elle Needs"
1. Elle needs some opinions. (ok, you know what they say about opinions)
2. Elle needs to rent a tour bus. (maybe my kids will be the next Jonas Brothers and will start supporting us for a change)
3. Elle needs your help. (we all know that)
4. Elle needs some serious help. (as in psychiatric most likely)
5. Elle needs your numbers. (I am constantly telling Dawson this)
6. Elle needs to stop biting her bloody nails (didn't know this was a problem)
7. Elle needs to turn 6 (my birthday is next week)
8. Elle needs 2 omni antennas (I hope it gets me free direct tv)
9. Elle needs a virile young man like some older women need botox. ( you can't make this stuff up)
10. Elle needs a licensed attorney ( probably divorce attorney after #9.)

Date Night

Last weekend was date night that turned into a family night. When Dawson got home from school last Friday he asked me what we were going to do tonight. I told him it was date night and he was really disappointed. Usually my kids love date night because they get to eat pizza, watch a dvd, and play, all with their favorite babysitter Parker Booren while Matt and I go on a date. Dawson was disappointed because he had planned the "perfect" night for our family. He informed me that we should: go to dinner at Noodles and Company(my kids think they have the best Mac and Cheese), then go Glow Bowling and finally ice cream.

I had to admit that it did sound like a fun night. So with a little convincing from Matt he agreed that we could add few more to "our date".

The lights were off and the pins and bowling balls were glowing, the music was blaring, and we had a blast. Then we all piled into the van to go to McDonalds to get ice cream cones and a hot fudge sundae for me.Although I love date night with my husband I do have to admit that this was a perfect night.(Yes I have my own bowling shoes. No shared foot fungus for me.)

4X4

This post is in response to a 4X4 challenge tag from my sister in law and friend Anna. I'm supposed to go to my fourth folder in my computer photo archive and pick the fourth picture. I always do my photo archives in months and Holidays so that put me back in the November file. When I saw this picture was my 4X4 it brought tears to my eyes.

Two years ago my middle son, Dawson, was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Not long after his diagnosis we also found out that Dawson has Chronic Kidney Failure. The combination of these two diseases has been devastating for our family. Dawson has daily struggles with these two conditions. Every month I fill 13 prescriptions for him and we get two large boxes of home health care supplies delivered. Instead of a medicine cabinet we have a medicine closet for everything that he needs just to get through the day.

It is rare to have a day that Dawson doesn't feel the side effects related to these incurable diseases. It is heart breaking to see him go through it but he does it with a smile on his face. For at least the first couple of weeks after diagnosis I found myself asking "Why Dawson"? I now realize the real question is "Why not Dawson"? He is so strong and so brave. He never complains about the pain, about being different, about all of the things that he has to endure when others his age live a carefree life.

I am grateful for every day that we have with all three of our kids. As a family we are determined to not let these diseases shorten our time with Dawson. I look at everyday as a fight that I am determined to win for him. A future full of daily carb counting, multiple insulin injections, 10-12 finger blood sugar checks, infusion set changes, dialysis, and eventually a kidney transplant will not discourage us. We are going to win this battle and be a better family for it.

So that's my 4X4. Thanks Anna for the great idea. I hope others will take the challenge and blog about their 4X4.

My Idea of Heaven

Ten years ago today I married Matt. I love this song by Leigh Nash because it seems like it should be our song. In my early 20's dating just seemed like a game. It wasn't until I met Matt that I realized everything changed. I knew he was the one. As mush as my head told me he wasn't my heart was telling me he was.

This is my idea of heaven.

I know our life together has not always turned out as we have planned but I wouldn't change it for the world. Matt is my best friend and my soul mate. When I look into his eyes I do see my future and my fate and it makes me happy to think I'm going to continue to have such a wonderful man by my side from here until eternity.

Happy 10 year Anniversary Matt. I love you.

It's a New Year

I would never admit to getting old. However this New Years Eve made me feel old. All day Reagan, Dawson, and Parker begged me to stay up until midnight. I agreed knowing that they would crash before midnight but it was easier than telling them no. To my dismay Parker made it to midnight and almost an hour after. Dawson made it until 11:30 and Reagan was dead to the world just after 10:30. They all tried so hard to stay awake but I think I had to try harder than all three of them combined. They say that youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. I am far from middle aged but let me tell you staying up until midnight just isn't as much fun as it used to be.

So I don't make new year resolutions. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.

Hope you all have a healthy, happy and prosperous 2009!

A Beach Christmas

This year my parents and my grandma,who we lovingly call GG, flew to Virginia to have a beach house Christmas. We were so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa and GG is 92 years old so we were thrilled she made it out here. We got to the beach house a day early so we could decorate a beach Christmas tree. It was covered in shells for ornaments and had a starfish for the star. Luckily the kids wrote Santa a letter to tell him the beach house address so Christmas day was a huge success. We were blessed this year to be around family and to all be healthy including Dawson which was the best gift of all.

Santa was great to the kids. Spending this Christmas at the beach was more than memorable. Thanks Mom, Dad and GG(and of course Santa)!

Merry Christmas

Since the economic weather outside is frightful, we decided to forgo our Caribbean Christmas tradition. The kids tried to make do.

Wishing you a warm Christmas and hope you have a healthy New Year.

The Duff Family

Family Home Evening

Tonight for Family Home Evening we listened to our favorite Christmas CD (John Denver and the Muppets), finished decorating the tree, and made our Gingerbread house. Yes the gingerbread house came in a kit but we had to do all of the work. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Tomorrow we'll eat it. Hope you are all having a great time getting ready for Christmas.

Diabetes for a Day

This year my sister took the challenge to be a diabetic for the day to help raise awareness about the disease and the need for a cure.

Thank you Heather for being a wonderful sister and aunt.

Please follow the link to Heather's blog and read all about her day.

http://www.heatherhatch.typepad.com/

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we had so much to be grateful for. We went to West Virginia to spend Thanksgiving with 19 of the Duffs. It was a great meal followed by games, golf, sleep and shopping.

Unfortunately the day after Thanksgiving Dawson got sick. His immune system just can't keep up with all the viruses that go around during this time of year. We spent the next 4 days at Farifax Childrens Hospital. He endured a lot this hospital stay and he never once complained. We are so thankful that we were given this brave and courageous little boy. We are truly thankful for him.

Our friends and family rallied to help and support us and for that we are really grateful. My sister-in-law Anna brought me over a warm bowl of soup and 3 of the most delicious chocolate covered strawberries.

My friends from work made a great spaghetti dinner for the family once Dawson was home from the hospital. It was so nice to not have to worry about making a meal. I was really enjoying it until Dawson said, "Mom you should get the recipe for this. Its the best spaghetti we have ever had." Thanks D. The meal ended with great Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies that were out of this world. No picture to show you because they were gone in no time. The recipe can be found at kraftfoods.com.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

What a weekend for Parker!

This weekend couldn't have gotten any better for Parker. This weekend Parker turned 9. He had a wonderful birthday. Parker got the ever coveted Lego Star Wars 1000 + piece Millennium Falcon and the new Star Wars Clone Wars DVD from Grandma and Grandpa Parker. Of course it had to come from the Grandparents because they don't care what his room is going to look like and they won't step on lego pieces every morning when I wake Parker for school for the next week or longer. (yes all 1000+ pieces are now all over his floor as he assembles) He also got a dirt bike. This is something that Parker has been begging us for. He wanted a real dirt bike that has a gasoline engine but that is just crazy. So when Matt informed me that Razor made a dirt bike that was designed for kids and was battery powered and "only" went 15 miles an hour I conceded. (even though it boldly states for ages 12+ right on the box.) I had a feeling that this was going to be a gift like the bb gun from The Christmas Story movie. I think he is too young to be flying through the trees in our back yard. He won't shoot his eye out but an oak tree at "only" 15 miles an hour is bound to do some damage. He was so excited. He just had to wait over night until the battery was fully charged. First thing Saturday morning Parker was off on his dirt bike. And less than 1 hour later.

Road Rash. I hate to say I told you so. It wasn't as bad as it could be. Thank goodness he was wearing his helmet.


This weekend was also Parker's football party. Parker had a great time and was awarded his team's MVP award. The coach told Parker how valuable he was to the team. Parker played both ways every game of the season. He was a great team leader on and off the field and ended every practice and every game by shaking his coach's hand and thanking him. He is a wonderful example to his peers.

We are so proud of you Parker. You are a wonderful young man. Happy Birthday buddy. You are an inspiration. We love you so much. We can't imagine the last 9 years without you.

Preschool Thanksgiving Program

Tell me this is not the cutest pilgrim girl you have ever seen.

Boo!

Happy Halloween from

Hannah Montana
Washington Redskin Clinton Portis (the white version)



El Eskeleto

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."