Taking it one day at a time.

Mia is sleeping - it's been a few weeks since she's gone down at a normal time and slept through the night. Poor girl has been through so much, but she's so tough and brings us all so much joy and laughter still everyday, singing and dancing and talking all day. I just want to hug her and squeeze her, I love her so much.

She's on Nuvalog now in addition to the Lantis. If her blood sugar is above 200 before lunch and dinner, she gets between 1 to 2.5 units, as well as her regular insulin in the morning. It breaks our hearts to have to give the injections and prick her little fingers throughout the day. She hardly cries at all though. In fact, she puts up much more of a fight trying to brush her teeth. Hates it.

Her numbers are finally leveling. We didn't have to give the dinner Nuvalog today because she was well within range, so we all did a happy dance. Anyway, I should go to bed. I'm running on empty and probably not making a whole lotta sense.

Sweetie Pie.

See these pictures? That's the face of the sweetest, bravest, most wonderful little girl on the planet. She's adapting well to the changes in her life. Mia holds out her finger without a fuss for finger sticks, and hardly cries for her lovebug bites. She's too busy being a curious toddler to even notice what's going on. Her latest thing is singing. Check back soon, I'm going to post some videos of her singing along to some of her favorite tunes. It's hilarious. I love her so much.

Our Journey with Juvenile Diabetes.

As soon as I figure out add a permanent link to this, I will. Blogger is giving me some problems with that right now. Anyway, here is another blog from Daddy:

http://type1daughter.blogspot.com/

Mia's got a little boo-boo.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we found out yesterday Mia has juvenile diabetes.

The last 2 - 3 weeks I noticed she's been very thirsty and soaking her diapers, extremely irritable and clingy. So I went to the pedi, more for peace of mind because I thought I was just being paranoid mom, but they tested her sugar and it was very high. Further testing showed she is most definitely diabetic and insulin-dependent. We spent 3 hours yesterday at the hopital with the best endocrinologist in Tampa, and with that they sent us home with a whole new way to care for our baby. I still can't believe it.

She needs a shot once in the morning (more as she grows) and several finger pricks a day to determine her sugar levels, as well as a structured diet of healthy complex carbs and balanced meals. Regular exercise and activity. It's not fun to poke her, she cries and I try my best not to too (don't want her to see Mommy upset), but we'll all adapt to this and soon it will be second nature for everyone. A piece of cake. And Pete is the best Dad ever - he loves his little girl so much. It just breaks our hearts. I'm hoping in her lifetime, and Corey's, we'll see a cure and an end to diabetes.

We go back next week and are taking classes once a month to learn everything we can, do everything we can to make absolutely sure she lives a long, productive, healthy, happy life. She's going to be fine. If anything, she's going to be one heck of a spoiled child, LOL. She'll get her pony! Anyway, send good thoughts her way. She is such a sweet little girl.

Here is a site with a lot of hope, promise and knowledge for children and families dealing with JD. There is a walk in Tampa next April, and we'll get everyone and anyone we know there to raise money for their cause. http://www.jdrf.org/

6 years

So today will be 6 years since my Mom died. I ran into someone this morning who had not seen me in a very long time and asked how she was doing, today of all days. This happens now and again - it's always so weird explaining that she is no longer with us. It doesn't make sense. The whole story - the whens and wheres and whys - still seems so bizarre and surreal. Anyway, with that I'd like to just say that I miss you Mom, and hope you are happy and in excellent company. I'm always thinking of you. Everyday.

Thanksgiving Fun

Watching the Macy's Day Parade with a tub of butter, does it get any better than that?

Kenya, you want some of this on your dog food?

Best buddies.

Pretty girl.

Not letting go of her butter. No way.

Mia goes down for a nap. Here are the old folks.

Chili is already worn out from playing with her cousin Izzy.

Kenya patiently waits for a piece of friend turkey.

Corey: Turkey Fryer Extraordinaire.

The spread: fried turkey, glazed ham, 2 sweet potato casseroles, green bean casserole, mac-n-cheese, cornbead casserole, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce and about half a dozen different desserts.

Sitting down to enjoy our meal.

Mia has a new friend!

Our buddies John and Amanda have a little boy to bring home for Thanksgiving, Mason Lucious Rigby. Congrats to the new parents. Babies rock.

Sicky-poo.

Little MiMi has a runny nose and mild cough. It's no fun seeing her all stuffed up and raspy. Despite everything though she is still in good spirits. We got together with la familia earlier and eventually she loosened up. It was all a little loud at first and overwhelming, lots of people grabbing at her, singing, etc. By the end though she was happily playing with her little cousin Amelia. And she descovered Legos for the first time. Loves them. Not really sure what to do with them exactly, but they fit perfectly in her little hands.

Kate Jackson Park

My little cherub princess.

Look how big she is! When did this happen?

Surprised her clippie stayed in... she always pulls them out.

Doesn't need to hold Mommy's hand anymore.

Just want to pinch those cheeks.

Cutie patootie.

Brown-eyed queen of the playground.

Halloween Photos

Pumpkin Head showed up on our porch that night. Scary stuff, I tell you.

Our goofy James and the Giant Peach-ish pumpkin.

Daddy and his little ballerina walking down to the neighbor's house.

Some of them went all out with the decorations.

Mr. Pumpkin, would you like a lollipop?

What's in there?

Mia hanging with her buddy Ella during the playgroup Halloween party. It was a little too chilly out that day for her ballerina costume.

I was one of those moms today...

I met a couple of the playgroup moms and their little girls out for lunch at Estellas on S. Dale Mabry. Well now that Mia is walking she thinks she is way too cool for high chairs or any sort of restraining device (strollers, car seats). So it wasn't long before I was feeding her from my lap, and she was elbow-deep in guacamole and rice. And from there she wanted to have 2 feet on the ground - you get the picture. The other 2 little girls were behaving the same, growing more and more impatient with us silly moms trying to sit and enjoy a lunch.

Anyway the restaurant was practically empty, so while waiting for our checks, we decided to let them have their way and play around the table, which quickly turned into wanting to roam to other people's tables, bang on chairs, etc. Oh boy. We were all quite the site I'm sure, chasing our crazy kids down while trying to sign receipts and grab our leftovers and diaper bags. I swear one of these days I'm just going to cave in and get a leash.

Mia added 3 new words to her vocabulary today, out of nowhere: gum, keys and light. Amazing how they just pull this stuff out of nowhere.

More pics coming soon!

Got the camera back in order. But I have a pile of laundry growling at me on the bed, so I'll probably get the rest of the photos up tomorrow.

Technical difficulties

Okay so my camera isn't letting me import pictures at this time. I'm working on it. And when I update the blog there's going to be a whole lot of photos to catch everyone up on.

Mia is walking, basically running everywhere now. She's so cute. Everyday I love her a little more, which seems almost impossible, like I may burst at the seams with complete adoration for her. And tomorrow will be even more so.

Some new tricks she has is spitting all of her food out. Yes my good little eater has transformed into a veggie-hating sweet tooth. No matter how I try and disguise food, she knows. And out it goes. So if anyone has any pointers, let me know.

Sending a message to the world...

The next President of the United States - Barack Hussein Obama.

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who’ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America."

Happy 15-Month B-Day Mia!

I can't believe my little girl is a walking, talking 15-month old now. Took her to her well check appointment today - she got 2 vaccinations (did not like those one bit) and found out she is 32-1/4"L (94%) and 21.3lbs (25%). She is a bean pole. Doc says she is proportionate height and weight wise, so this is okay. Looks like her body type may lean more to being long and lean.

Mia is a little shy around unfamiliar people and tends to cling onto either Pete or I for dear life in these circumstances. And she's pretty slow to warm up to scenarios that are out of her element. We're thinking partly because she spends the majority of her time all day with me, in our little routine she's comfortable with, and partly because we may just have a bit of an introvert here. Doctor says this is normal and putting her in preschool part-time in another year would be a good solution to this stranger/separation anxiety. Anyway, should be an interesting photo op with Santa next month. Yikes.

Her new favorite word is DUCKIE. Everything is duckie or doggy. Another new thing is when you ask her what sound a cat (DUCKIE!!!) makes, she meows. It's pretty darn cute. And of course we have the word balloon, more like BRROOOON. We can't get out of Publix without a friggin balloon these days. Luckily they are free over in produce. Also she is starting to say OUT! OUT! when she wants to go outside, which is a whole 'nother thing...

Mia is obsessed with going outside. Obsessed. After breakfast every morning we take Chili down to Rivercrest Park. She points out the sky, the trees and the cars. And she looooves the breeze blowing her hair all around. Usually we are in the buggy and toward the end I let her out to get on the swings and toddle around the playground, back to the car. Well she doesn't like to get back in the car. No sir. Tempers flare. This goes for being in the backyard too. She does not like to go back inside, in fact I'm convinced she'd walk around out there all day and night if it were up to her, after all she's just getting the swing of this walking thing anyway and being inside is boring. She knows perfectly well how to walk on her own. BUT she prefers to hang onto one of our fingers and lead us around where she wants to go.

When we are inside her favorite things to do are read books (especially the ones where she can identify objects like shoes, dogs, cats, frogs, bananas, etc). She loves to reorganize things, whether it be the pile of laundry in the basket, her bookshelf, etc. And opening and closing cabinets is super fun. Throwing dog food around is even more fun. She definitely gets into things she's not supposed to, testing her boundaries as toddlers do. I'm getting pretty good at redirecting her attention and showing her what's appropriate. Still, I can see the terrible two's setting in, and it scares the crap out of Pete and I. We were just saying today that we have the next year or two cut out for us with this one. She definitely lets us know when she doesn't get her way. At this point she is too small to try and reason with, so we're just trying the distraction approach and keeping our fingers crossed that she moves on.

Anyway I think I'm starting to babble now and not make much sense, it's been a long day and I have Election Eve coverage on, which is making my head spin. Hope everyone is doing well. Glad the holidays are closing in and we'll get to spend more time with a lot of you. I'll be posting Halloween pics in the next day or two, so keep on visiting.