My sister Ashley called me today and told me that her youngest son Matthew, 8 years old, was just diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. My mom left immediately to drive to Nashville and I started working out things with friends and hubby to take over my responsibilities with entertainment night and the Hannah Montana concert (movie) that we had purchased tickets to. Matthew is now the second child in our family to be diagnosed.
Please keep him his family in your prayers as they start their transition into the world of Diabetes. I'll keep you updated as things happen.
Alison
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Lock In
I'll add the pictures as soon as I get them downloaded from my phone.
Nolan had his first lock in this past weekend. Our church has a fairly new "club" called the 56 club, for the 5th and 6th graders. I offered Todd up as one of the men who would spend the night at the church and mediate the night. I can't believe that after all this time I've found out something new about Todd. He has never been to a lock in before. Growing up it seemed like we had them every 3 months or so and it was a great time. As I began explaining what a lock in was and what all they were going to be doing during the night he just looked as puzzled as ever. He kept saying "They don't sleep?" "What do they do all night?" Well this is a little of what happened. Everyone arrived at 8:00 pm with a bag of salty or sweet treats for the night. They started the night with relay races. You had the girls vs. boys, various teams, and the 5th vs. 6th graders. Benny got up and gave his testimony while juggling and telling jokes, they ate pizza, had more races, and then at 12:00 the girls went upstairs to the Fellowship Hall and the guys stayed in the gym. The girls had dance revolution going on, a spa for nails set up, snacks, video, cards, and much more. They guys had basketballs, footballs, xboxs and Playstations, videos, and a ping pong table. Only one boy has fallen asleep at night the three years that they have done this and I think a handful of girls. Todd was wiped out when they got home at 7:00 am and Nolan headed straight for the 360 to start playing. I'm pretty sure I'll be the one attending next year while Todd stays at home, I guess you have to get hooked on lock ins while you are young!
Nolan had his first lock in this past weekend. Our church has a fairly new "club" called the 56 club, for the 5th and 6th graders. I offered Todd up as one of the men who would spend the night at the church and mediate the night. I can't believe that after all this time I've found out something new about Todd. He has never been to a lock in before. Growing up it seemed like we had them every 3 months or so and it was a great time. As I began explaining what a lock in was and what all they were going to be doing during the night he just looked as puzzled as ever. He kept saying "They don't sleep?" "What do they do all night?" Well this is a little of what happened. Everyone arrived at 8:00 pm with a bag of salty or sweet treats for the night. They started the night with relay races. You had the girls vs. boys, various teams, and the 5th vs. 6th graders. Benny got up and gave his testimony while juggling and telling jokes, they ate pizza, had more races, and then at 12:00 the girls went upstairs to the Fellowship Hall and the guys stayed in the gym. The girls had dance revolution going on, a spa for nails set up, snacks, video, cards, and much more. They guys had basketballs, footballs, xboxs and Playstations, videos, and a ping pong table. Only one boy has fallen asleep at night the three years that they have done this and I think a handful of girls. Todd was wiped out when they got home at 7:00 am and Nolan headed straight for the 360 to start playing. I'm pretty sure I'll be the one attending next year while Todd stays at home, I guess you have to get hooked on lock ins while you are young!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Winter Wonderland
well...Alabama style.
It was said that you had to be older than 9 years to remember the last significant snow that we had in Alabama. When the weather called for snow this past weekend everyone was in a tizzy. I know that our friends and family in places like North Carolina, South Dakota, and Montana will NOT understand the Alabama way of taking on a storm...but here it is.
At the first hint of a "storm" everyone rushes to the grocery store to stock up. Milk and bread are piled high in grocery carts as well as dry firewood. People stock pile to survive a few days stranded at home possibly without electricity. When we first moved from Montana I remember my mom being so frustrated at Alabama drivers in the winter. How could they not know how to drive in a few flurries, it wasn't even sticking to the ground! If we get a significant 3 to 4 inches of snow, the electricity will certainly go out in a few places, roads will be closed because of freezing, and stories of how people survived the storm will be born.
Don't laugh...but this was our storm.
The kids were so excited to see the flakes coming down. They donned their outdoor gear and headed outside to play in the snow.
I was glad that it stuck enough considering it had rained the night before. At least now my kids will have snow memories until the next "big storm" hits.
It was said that you had to be older than 9 years to remember the last significant snow that we had in Alabama. When the weather called for snow this past weekend everyone was in a tizzy. I know that our friends and family in places like North Carolina, South Dakota, and Montana will NOT understand the Alabama way of taking on a storm...but here it is.
At the first hint of a "storm" everyone rushes to the grocery store to stock up. Milk and bread are piled high in grocery carts as well as dry firewood. People stock pile to survive a few days stranded at home possibly without electricity. When we first moved from Montana I remember my mom being so frustrated at Alabama drivers in the winter. How could they not know how to drive in a few flurries, it wasn't even sticking to the ground! If we get a significant 3 to 4 inches of snow, the electricity will certainly go out in a few places, roads will be closed because of freezing, and stories of how people survived the storm will be born.
Don't laugh...but this was our storm.
The kids were so excited to see the flakes coming down. They donned their outdoor gear and headed outside to play in the snow.
I was glad that it stuck enough considering it had rained the night before. At least now my kids will have snow memories until the next "big storm" hits.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Gluten, Gluten, Everywhere
I don't know how many of you have a wheat intolerance or celiac disease...but I'm finding out the stuff is in EVERYTHING. If you have this you can't lick an envelope (gluten), you have to be careful what kind of shampoo you use, Lipstick, makeup, toothpaste, soap, laundry detergent, and so much more as well as what you eat. I'm lucky that there is a teacher at her school who has had this for a long time and she told me where to go to get a book on all the gluten free foods in my local grocery stores. We also have a whole foods off of 280 now and I'll be visiting that very soon.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Guitar Hero
Today is Emma's 9th birthday! We started our day off by getting a to wear a new sweater (gift from Todd and I) to school.
Any girl knows that even if it had ended there, it would have been enough. A new outfit....totally cool. But, there WAS more. Todd and I also bought her a guitar and her grandparents (Todd's mom and step dad) are getting her guitar lessons.
She has been wanting this since the summer. I brought donuts to school for snack, which of course were a big hit. And what better way to end your day than a trip to the chiropractors office?
Dr. Jessica has been working on getting Emma aligned and did some testing to see why/what she was reacting to. It turns out that wheat was a source of blockage for her (boy, I knew that one was coming...most of the time when she eats something containing a lot of wheat she complains that her stomach hurts). Dr. J put her on some pills (food, all organic) to help unblock and flush out the chemicals. We go back for testing every week to see how much better things are getting. I used to be one of those skeptics that secretly laughed about these kinds of treatments. But when you have a child that is in the middle of a chronic illness and medications don't help, you will try anything. I was amazed at the way they tested her and how little interaction it took with the food (Dr. J had it in a bottle and laid it on her stomach while pushing down on her arm). She was able to resist the pressure and keep her arm up until she laid the wheat on her.
I'll keep you updated on how our 90 day gluten diet goes....aarrgghh
Any girl knows that even if it had ended there, it would have been enough. A new outfit....totally cool. But, there WAS more. Todd and I also bought her a guitar and her grandparents (Todd's mom and step dad) are getting her guitar lessons.
She has been wanting this since the summer. I brought donuts to school for snack, which of course were a big hit. And what better way to end your day than a trip to the chiropractors office?
Dr. Jessica has been working on getting Emma aligned and did some testing to see why/what she was reacting to. It turns out that wheat was a source of blockage for her (boy, I knew that one was coming...most of the time when she eats something containing a lot of wheat she complains that her stomach hurts). Dr. J put her on some pills (food, all organic) to help unblock and flush out the chemicals. We go back for testing every week to see how much better things are getting. I used to be one of those skeptics that secretly laughed about these kinds of treatments. But when you have a child that is in the middle of a chronic illness and medications don't help, you will try anything. I was amazed at the way they tested her and how little interaction it took with the food (Dr. J had it in a bottle and laid it on her stomach while pushing down on her arm). She was able to resist the pressure and keep her arm up until she laid the wheat on her.
I'll keep you updated on how our 90 day gluten diet goes....aarrgghh
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Weather
(picture NOT taken by me)
Another thing I LOVE about Alabama is the storms. I think if I could go back and change my career path; I would have to become a storm chaser. I know Hollywood has probably glamorized the whole thing with movies like Twister with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. Yes, I could see myself doing the Helen Hunt thing in real life. A woman that I used to work with had moved here from California and was terrified every time the slightest hint of a storm was around. She said that she would take the earthquakes over twisters and storms any day. She didn't seem to think much of my logic when I told her that at least you usually got a heads up when the weather was turning bad, but you didn't know a quake was coming until you found your ceiling on your head.Having never lived in California I never realized how rare storms really are (in certain parts). When I was living in an apartment we had a very bad storm come through that was producing tornadoes. Our apartment manager had to go pull two California natives inside because they were standing in the parking lot mesmerized by the beauty of the storm.
Anyway, we had one of those storms that come through and close down all the schools. I waited anxiously by the front door to see the display of nature but was disappointed as it passed North of our city.
Maybe when the kids are off on their own, Todd and I can take up a new career ....just call me Helen.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Aftermath
I had blogged earlier about how beautiful Alabama was in the fall because of all the colors of the trees. Our yard has a sizable natural area in the back yard with many of the yellow, orange, and red colored trees. I LOVE to see all the leaves changing. And then there is this...
The inevitable product of all the leaves! This is a SMALL sample of what I raked up this fall. Actually, this is the third pile of bags that I have set out for the wonderful trash men to take away. I know in all it has been about 45 bags of leaves. I still have the side of the house to rake but can't bring myself to do it. Wait, isn't that what we had kids for???
The inevitable product of all the leaves! This is a SMALL sample of what I raked up this fall. Actually, this is the third pile of bags that I have set out for the wonderful trash men to take away. I know in all it has been about 45 bags of leaves. I still have the side of the house to rake but can't bring myself to do it. Wait, isn't that what we had kids for???
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