Diabetes Rebels

Is it so obvious when I'm on vacation?  I get time to w-r-i-t-e! : )  Nobody needs wiped or washed or fed or disciplined.  Or hugged or loved on..wahh!!  Miss my babies already.  (but I'm going to work really hard to enjoy myself in Atlanta for the next few days!)

time for nap.

rug shopping!

So seriously.  Those big kids and their stupid diabetes have been quite the trouble-makers lately.  They are in a mood and it's cramping my style.  And my Mommy-Has-It-All-Under-Control Persona (haha, like I ever had it!!).  Clay won't carry a meter to school.  He has one in the nurse's office and says he'll use it.  Umm..what about the bus?  Going LOW on the bus, dude?  He says Mary Claire has hers, and he'll borrow it.  (Like he'd ever talk to her.  In public.  In front of people who know them BOTH.)

this awesome photo courtesy of Temme Green!  My boy at Solo & Ensemble.  He earned two blue ribbon medals for 1's!

But get this.  She's quit carrying hers, so he can't borrow it.  Rebels.  Haters.  She says she'll use her friend, Alyssa's meter.  What is with these kids?  and not taking responsibility?

beautiful.

I can't stand it!!  And now..they don't go to the nurse's office for checks.  She has to call them to come down.  Like they are 6 years old.  So..I'm planning to set up alarms on Clay's pump.  So the plan is he'll die of embarrassment when it alarms in class, so he'll book it to the nurse's office BEFORE it alarms every day.  I consider myself smart.  (unlike what they consider me.)

more beautiful in watercolor?

Mary Claire, on the other hand, is prancing in and telling the nurse what she is.  (And she isn't taking her meter to school!)  She is on the Enlite sensor..but she turns it off half the time.  Again, she hates the alarms!  Yes, usually it's because it senses she's low or high, but won't take the five minutes to go check herself.

cake decorating class at Briar Rose Bakery

So..if you know a preteen (ok..11 or 13 year old) who is having trouble with diabetes..it could be the CHECKING YOUR BLOOD part.  Or the eating normal-sized portions and getting insulin for it.  Or eating the lunch your momma packed and counted the carbs for and not buying cookies in the cafeteria.  And getting two packs.  Or learning to give a square wave bolus for half the big tub of Nutella you ate instead of all of it normal and making yourself, oh I don't know..THIRTY-NINE?!

Using the Little Door at Briar Rose Bakery

So, yeah, diabetes is hitting hard right now.  And I haven't had lots of control.  They are as tall as me..and trying to take over.  It's not going so well.  The rebels need to be reigned in.  (good time for a vaca, huh?)

She's just growing up too fast.

Ok..my three things to be thankful for today (since D can make me a bit complainy)..safe travels even though we had some "plane problems" right before the flight, seeing Stone Mountain today and respecting the people who risked/lost their lives on it, and the amazing fresh, fried okra I had today (the seeds were just huge and crunchy and juicy..and the outside was so crispy..mmm..delicious.)  I almost went to the counter to yell back to the cook they were a-m-a-z-i-n-g, but Ches thought I was just starving and delirious.  And I do have weird judgment when I'm hungry.  But I might just tell them on my way back. You know..when I'm so much more full of sense. : )

in memory of the first casualty in the carving of the memorial : (

Stone Mountain, Georgia in honor of my mom who remembers being there as a child.

Just to show you the man rappelling down the face of the mountain..he's above the horse on the right, almost in the center of the picture.  crazy man.

ps-if you'd like your own picture turned to watercolor, you can use the Waterlogue app for only $4.99 on itunes, or you can email me a picture and I can try to do it for you? : )  I think my email is still on the tab up top under contact me!

Poo Position

Ok, so I started writing this at least a week ago!  Think it's been a bit busy. ; ) I'll just let it go..it makes me laugh now. haha! : )  ....

Do you have a favorite food?  Or even a favorite food ratio?  I like Reese's peanut butter cups, and I really like them refrigerated.  My grandma used to keep them in there for us.  (She always had some..did she let all that goodness just sit..or did she eat and restock them?)  I also prefer the "regular" size.  When you get into Reese's hearts or minis or even the big cups..the ratio is all wrong.  Somehow though, they get the ratio right at Easter with the Reese's eggs.  The big flat ones AND the mini eggs (which I haven't been able to find this year?!).  The thicker chocolate shell around the outside is just right.

I also have a thing for plain Lay's potato chips and Hiland French Onion Dip.  I like the small chips since I don't double dip..and the folded over ones just make me mad.  They mess up my ratio of dip to chip since I have to guesstimate on the larger amount of dip I need.

I also like Chick-Fil-A french fries..and only the small ones.  I don't like reapplying ketchup or double-dipping (see above).

So..imagine my un-surprise when I have a child that has special things he does that makes the world feel "right".  (Maybe we all do?)

Anyway, yesterday..we were coming home from taking the big kids to CYM (youth group), when he starts yelling that he really has to go to the bathroom.  Like bad.  I tell him we'll be home in a minute (like two actually), and he should hold his b-u-t-t cheeks together.  He says it isn't working and starts screaming that it's going to come out!  So, we are laughing hard (and apparently a friend sees us wheel into our neighborhood and we start texting..), and Ches is laughing that the child sharded.  We have a conversation that it's shart-ed!  (If you haven't seen Along Came Polly, you need to. .if just to learn about a shart!) (and I should mention Ches uses this word anytime he possibly thinks someone sharts..he loves this word.  It's almost wrong how much he loves it.)

So we get home, and he RUNS into the bathroom (the boy, not Ches, haha!). He pulls his pants down, and tells me how awful it is!  And his tummy hurts!  It's kinda noisy, and I ask if he can wait 10 minutes for me ('cause he needs a wiper for this one) so I can go give Carter a bath really quickly since it's already after 8:00 (and Ches had to go back to get the big kids!).  He says he'll wait, and I tell him to flush every now and then so he won't stop up the toilet.

I give Carter a fast bath, don't wash his hair, and get back as soon as I can.  My bigger boy's crying that he wants UP!  I run get the baby wipes from Carter's room, and get back asap.  When I see him, he's crying that it took me too long..and he's in his favorite poo position.  He has to have his pants pushed down to his ankles, his shirt hiked up to his armpits, and if he has long sleeves, they have to be pushed above his elbows.  Then..he grabs the toilet.  Like, he's spread-eagle and he holds the front of the seat.  For a good grip.

So when I get in there, I can see that when he pulled down the pants/undies, the ickiness rubbed all the way down the back of his thighs, and then he sat in it.  And when he got into position, he smeared it on the seat.  And then grabbed.  Ok, let's just say you know me, and how I have a disposition leaning toward..umm..like..type A..cleanliness?  So..I kinda freak the heck out about now.

I yell to not hold the toilet since it's smeary, so he leans right to hold the wall (and to shut the door since Carter's hot on my trail), and then all craziness breaks out.  I'm Clorox-wiping the door and wall now, and trying to hold Carter out with my leg/foot.  I get the seat wiped between his legs, and I tell him not to touch ANYthing.  So, he does his automatic, hand tuck under his armpits (second position choice), and I freak since now there are poopy germs under his arms.  So, I have him stand up and flush/wipe, wipe/flush, until I feel like his legs and hiney are clean.  (well..clean enough to make it to a shower to clean those germs a-l-l the way down the drain!)

I took the pants/undies completely off, socks included, and trashed them.  I should mention today was his Famous American presentation (he was Paul Revere!), so they were his getup.  Navy corduroy pants rolled to his knees with navy knee socks (of Ches'), and the pants had either been worn one or zero times.  I had to cinch the buttons at the waist yesterday morning to get them to stay at his waist.  Poor pants.  But..that poop just wasn't going into my washer.

I had him wash his hands twice while I kept cleaning the toilet and walls and door..and floor.  And took out the trash.

And then I escorted him to his shower.  I wouldn't let him touch anything, so I got his water ready, and put him in!

Whew..it was quite an evening.  He's such a sweet boy, and I hate having to yell and tell him what to do.  I hate that I freak out about the germs.  And bacteria.  And potentially spreading it to the other kiddos.

So...it's all better now.  (Yay!)  Another *exciting* day in our crazy life.  Thankful for these little cuties.  And their quirks.  I mean..they put up with mine!  ..and even buy me Reese's on holidays! : ) 

Do you have a favorite food ratio?  (you didn't seriously think I'd ask about your favorite poo position?) 

What a Dish!

Whew!  Today was great.  We had our JDRF photo shoot for our gala.  Our theme is Run for the Roses, and it's a Kentucky Derby theme!  All the little (and big) kids were decked out in their derby best.  I mean adorable little boys in seersucker and girls in flowers, flowy dresses, and HATS!

Group Picture outside!

Upstairs inside the Barn

Inside one of the horse stalls : )

Mary Claire went in a mint dress with an ivory cotton lace overlay.  It had a little mint leather bow belt..so cute!  We really looked for an ivory or mint fascinator (since she won't wear a hat!!), and we got a cute ivory one at Dillard's with a tiny bit of pink on it.  I thought she looked darling darby prep in the pink sweater with the mint..but she said no.  And then her daddy backed her up, hmph!  My fashion gurus.

I told her if she kept that sassy face up, I'd use these pictures.  So..I told you so, Sissy!

Pretty. : )  She got her hair highlighted on Monday.  A big girl first.  *Tear*

Happy now that pictures are all done!  And she got the sweetest coke float Friend necklace from Ashley!  Love  her and her sisters!! : )

Anyway, they were all adorable.  They seemed to loosen up a little after the big group shots. I think they all felt Sunday-stiff at first and a little awkward around each other. ; )  We were at Pratt Place Inn and Barn (so beautiful!) (except the horse poop), and did the group shots out by a fence..I totally would've gotten the huge red barn in the shots (but they didn't ask me).  We also did some inside at the end of the barn where there are a couple staircases converging and turning.  Then we did individual shots.  We stayed until some friends got their turn..last.  It was fun, we went to get some lunch while we waited on their turn. ; )  The girls were SO sweet!!  I only wish I'd gotten pictures of them at Chick-Fil-A!

I'm making slow progress on the house.  I'm happy with it, and it is starting to feel like home.  Thank Goodness! : )  We have a lawn!  And landscaping now after several shopping trips to local nurseries, deliveries, and lots and lots and lots of plants.  The first three days were a total of 89 plants and trees.  Talk about a lot of dirt-digging.

The pool is all filled and sparkly.  The fence is finally up! (and the trampoline, hooray!)  We are waiting on the city to come and do our final inspection for the pool, so we can take down the permit and signs out front.  I think that's our last hurdle.  Well..we need to get our seasonal meter hooked up for the irrigation so they can make sure it all works..but that'll be after our last hard freeze.  Which could be a while!  We just had another 2" of snow yesterday!!  Good grief.  We have THE weirdest weather.  Especially for the South.

We went with a four foot fence, and iron.  Ches wanted to see the (scrubby) trees and the view behind us.  Clay got a gate to walk over to the creek way back behind us.  He is keeping it busy!

But all those flowers I planted?  Gorgeous!!  The daffodils are waning, the hyacynths are amazing (albeit strong-smelling), and the tulips are budding.  Love!  (..except when I need to open my front door.  The smell kinda hits, and I get all sneezy.  I have to even tell the Collier's Pharmacy delivery man to step inside since I have to hurry and shut the door!)  (Sorry Fed Ex!!) 

I have been working on the drapes in the dining room.  I think I showed you my fabric a long time ago.  (December, maybe?)  I finally have three of them hanging up.  I then jumped to another little project..plates!  I have been really wanting some plates to hang in there.  I thought the navy would just sing with some white or blue and white plates.  I have been scouring flea markets and even Craigslist!  (and can I say that I'm seeing navy EVERYwhere now?  Magazines, catalogs, and online!  Just got my Traditional Home in the mail yesterday..and yep, you guessed, navy blue!)

This is the layout I decided on..I still have four more to hang!

The white collection : )

First, I planned one huge grouping..but then realized I didn't have a wall big enough!  So..I broke them down into an all-white grouping and a blue/white grouping.  I am using these really cool plate hangers this flea market lady (ok, that sounds bad.  She doesn't have fleas..she works/owns it) told me about!  They stick to the back of the plate (after a good wash, wetting and sticking them, and then letting them shrink-dry all night!)..and they don't chip the plates or show from the front!  Only thing is..they are $4 each.  I think it's kinda steep for a hidden sticky pad.  But that's me.  I guess if the plates don't fall off the wall..and my Johnson Brothers plates don't bust that's worth it!  (ok, I have no knowledge of plates, but this lady kept telling how valuable and important they were!)

And I finally got that beautiful gray rug out of its packaging.  It's open, in place, and I really love it.  I feel like it's finally starting to come together.  I also got a call yesterday, and the furniture I ordered is on a truck headed this way.  (Yippee!!)  It'll be delivered on Wednesday morning.  I hope I'm all ready.  I need to move some stuff out of the way..and decide where things will go!  Green chairs upstairs!  Upstairs chairs gone!  Kitchen table-find a new spot!  Kitchen Chairs-need a new home!  Etc.!)

Did I tell you my barstools finally came too?!  I *love* them!!  But a little too much.  They have white slipcovers..and I don't really want anyone to sit in them.  Except I did once..but I was very careful..and didn't eat.  (Tiny problem for my roudy fam of six.  Maybe I just need a break-in period.)  (As of 3/17, Ethan has now christened them.  With fruit punch.)

Oh..and I should mention that the Apple iPhone 5S is super breakable.  I got a new one last week (thank goodness I bought the insurance!).  And..Friday the new one shattered.  I know..Suck City.  I called them all weepy again.  And/But..get this.  First, I can have it replaced four times in my two year agreement (yay!).  Second.  I can't open a new claim until they receive the phone I returned via Fed Ex and close the last claim.  So..I'm razor slicing my finger.  Again.  I even added *fancy* scotch tape over the broken glass so I don't cut my finger..it seems to be a sucker for shards.  I tell you, I'm stylin' with my tape and chippy case.

And I DiD already order a new case (so this might not happen again).  I know this cutesy one I have obviously isn't doing the trick.  I ordered the new one from Lipstick Shades, which is where I got the last good monogrammed Otter Box.  And that old iPhone 4 is still kickin'.  No shatters or anything.  Here is my new design:

I know, cute, right?!  It's sweet, Southern, and ready for SUMMER!!!

I can't wait to see it.  And hold it!  And put it on my newest (third!) iPhone 5s, haha!!!  Let's pray it's my LAST one.  Seriously.  At $49 a claim..I don't want to waste another penny.  I could be buying FABRIC! ; )
 

Just cause you might want to see what I really like for my entryway..but it's still too much for this piece (IMHO).  And I'm not sure I like the hanging down wood in the middle.  I'd really like to be able to put a little bench/stool underneath.

..because no post is complete without my littlest handsomest man!

Hope you are keeping your fingers un-bloody (unless you are checking blood sugar of course..) and your phone in one piece, ha.  (If not..just use Scotch tape..I've heard great things about it!)

Have a great weekend, hugs!

Grubby Hands

Some people drink, some take a hot bath, some people shove their mouths with chocolate, and some just write.  I do a few of those.  When I have had it up to here, and I just can't handle much more.  God is trying to hand me some grace, and I'm trying my best to receive (with grubby little hands).

Today is not quite halfway over, and I just need a time out.  For me.  And apparently some airing of my complaints!  Today we'll not use any more mechanical thingies with glass screens.  We've broken two already.  Today.  Fortunately, thank you, Jesus, I purchased the warranty for my new iPhone, so for the deductible of only $49, a new one will be here tomorrow (thank you, Square Trade).  (and Lord help me transfer all my stuff over, since I don't have a clue how!)   Unfortunately, I don't have a warranty on the iPad.  Another trip to the fixer for $100 will do.  (Crap, says my husband.  Or what he'll say when I break the news.)

We've also lost a sensor again to crazy blood sugars.  Last week I called to find out when the bad ones would be replaced, and they did come immediately, but I also have $1500 in new charges on my credit card.  They are just too expensive.  When I told the girl that Medtronic agreed to replace them, she said since we are using them "off-label" (under 16 years of age), they don't replace them for free.  So..that's the charge?  I didn't get a bill or ANYthing.  Frustrated.

We're on like the 14th snow day this year.  The kids are loud, riding Carter's toys around, and they are generally bored with the Apples to Apples we've been playing.  I can't let them go wild, since ambulances and fire trucks happen when I'm not looking.  (Yes, had both here on Sunday when oldest hit youngest accidentally with the swing.)  (Try explaining that one to the 911 operator.  And then to the paramedics.)

My husband has been teaching online only this semester (but he still goes in for office hours Tuesday through Thursday, so don't be all sorry for me), but this week he's a ghost.  He was out till almost 10 last night, and out the door before the kids were up today.  So..they never saw him.  (Of course I didn't tell them there was no school today! ..so they bathed and were in bed by 8:30.  This momma's got s-k-i-l-l-s.)  He's out all day, but said he'd be home by six, and not to make dinner. (No need to tell me twice.)  We're going out!  (Ok, with kids.)

Anyway, my days continue..and I did sheets today.  After my bed was nice, fresh, and scrumptious (don't you *love* sheet day?!), my baby wallowed all in the big pillows up at the top.  All 11 of them.  They were all squished in, messed up, and flattened, and he was laying right in the big middle, almost passed out from the intoxicating Downy softness and comfort all around him.  Ok, I've always wanted to jump into them too, but you just don't.  'Specially when you're the one making the bed. 

And the floor.  I swear I dust mop at least 7 times a day.  And I've already met my quota today.  Sucks.  I try to think of meals that don't require crumbs.  Lasagna (if you don't allow extra parmesan).  Broccoli, chicken, rice casserole (ditto).  Spaghetti (if you don't let them cut up any noodles) (and no bread).  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans.  Chicken and dumplings.  Beef stew, no crackers.  Potato corn chowder, only shredded melty cheese on top.  Ok, that list took me a while.

And I got this beautiful new Pottery Barn gray rug (took six weeks to get back into stock!), and it's in my entry way floor.  Rolled up in plastic. (I'd snap you a picture.  You know, if I had a camera that didn't cut my fingers when I *slide*.)  There hasn't been 30 minutes to get help to cut it to freedom, and put it in the middle of the living room floor.  (again, probably need help, and not from kids!)

My baby doesn't stay in bed anymore.  He's not quite ready for a big boy bed, but he scales the sides and plays around before he goes to sleep.  And when I ask him to "Look at Mommy", and say "Don't Get Out of Bed. (!)"  He laughs.  Like throw your head back, and find your unshowered mommy hilarious.  She just wishes.  Silly old thing, wanting a shower.

So, there's the lack of shower.  I had a bath last night, but hate to wash my hair at night, 'cause then I have bed head.  So, I still need a shower.  I mean, hey, I'm going OUT tonight!  (remember, for dinner?)

And also, the (girl scout) Cookie Invasion of '14.  They need to be delivered, yo.  And they don't drive themselves.  I had a flat last week (long story short: nail too close to the edge of my tire, didn't want to replace just one or two tires, so I got four new ones).  Then Ches had a flat on Saturday (long 4" screw).  So, let's just say we are being extra cautious now that we have wheels again.  And there's ice on the ground hiding the nails and screws just waiting to nail us.

My laundry is making babies faster than me, and I'm just trying to stay in the clean.  They wear them and dirty them faster than I can say, Stop Wearing Clean Clothes!  So, there's the constant music of my washer and dryer (no way to silence the machines' sing-songy happiness).  And then, I have to vacuum the floor/rug to fold them, and then the actual folding, and then the putting away, and repeat.

And the ice (again).  We are this Arkie family that creates stupid solutions.  We actually put our electric blanket out over the pool pump and equipment to keep it from freezing up in our 6 degree temps.  Yes, we covered it with a waterproof air mattress.  And six just-washed quilts and blankets and comforters for insulation.  (I told him they'd just been washed! and he asked if I wanted to buy a new pump after it busts or wash the quilts again.  Duh.)  At least they're in the back of the house.  (No, those dinosaurs and denim and stripes hanging out there are not for sale.  We're using them.)

K, I'm feeling all aired out.  Thanks for that!  No need for me to continue.. with the baby carrying around the toilet brush (touching only God knows what-seriously, He knows!), or the snotty noses around here.  Or the prescriptions that need filling.  And missed conferences and appointments due to snow and no babysitters.  Like my missed mammogram today.  (I better not have cancer, or I'll be ticked I didn't find it sooner.) (My make up date is in APRIL!).

It's a good thing I have good color on my hair.  And my heat is working.  And we have food to eat.  And faces to kiss.  And you know, the clean sheets.  And dinner out. ; )  God is giving to me, let me just open my hands.

Praying you are feeling the blessings, and you open your little hands too. : )
Hugs, y'all.  Stay warm.