The real picture of courage.

Fear is a real emotion. And as brave as my children are...when they show fear, it is as real as the day is long.I've done it before. If one of them complains I have said, "oh! It doesn't hurt that bad!" Or. "It will only hurt for just a minute...you'll be fine."Sure, most of that is encouragement, letting them know that all will be well. But really I think I was undermining their intelligence.Because HOT DANG! It really does hurt.I don't think pretending the fear does not exist is the way to go. The victory isn't ignoring the fear, the victory is in acknowledging it, and then overcoming it.Yesterday L had his 3rd swimming lesson. He...

Read more »

Last Lenny Winner! Booya!

It is Saturday and I am being lovingly pampered by my dear husband as I have a couple blisters on the bottom of my feet from Reyna's Sister's Virtual 5K. Nothing virtual about it. It was very real! And very awesome! Ryan has cleaned the kitchen and made me a beautiful tomato/onion/avocado omelet. THAT my friends is what you get when you marry an amazing man. As my nephew would say..."write that down."But enough about me...who won the LAST Lenny???I know you are all dying to know. :)The winner was #4...who just happens to be KANDICE!!!!!Congratulations Kandice! If you are the Kandice that wrote the fourth comment on my blog yesterday PLEASE contact...

Read more »

Lenny the Lion Giveaway, LAST DAY: Support

**********SORRY, THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***********One last day of my blogiversary Lenny the Lion Extravaganza!But before we get to today's way to win...we must revisit yesterdays puzzle: What was Lenny thinking when I put him in charge of carb counting the boys' dinner?Two of us chose Denise, AKA Mom of Bean's quote: "...so, sandwich plus grapes, carry the one...plus muffin, carry the two...um..it's gonna be...um...give me a sec...um...MERI, HELP ME!!" (Entries #1 and #4)One of us chose Lora's entry: "Back away from the sandwich and no one gets hurt!!!!" (Entry #2)One of us chose Jennifer C's answer: "Hmm...How sneaky must one be to get a bite...

Read more »

Lenny the Lion Giveaway, Day 4: Nutrition

*******SORRY, THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!**********We are in the home stretch! Two more chances to win Lenny!But before we get to today's thought bubble...we need to revisit yesterdays query...what was Lenny thinking as J's head?We had some GREAT entries! Here are the top 6!One of us chose Allison and Tommy's entry,(again!): "Not only has my head shrunk,....but I just puked on my new red shirt. Cuz, that's how I roll." (Entry #1)One of us chose Ashley's quote: "Wait!!! Why are you running away?! I just want a hug!!!!!"One of us chose Cameron's entry: "I wish my head would grow to match my heart , body and courage." (Entry #3)One of us chose Stacey...

Read more »

Lenny the Lion Giveaway Day 3: A sense of humor!

*********SORRY, THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED*********The Lenny saga continues!But before we begin todays giveaway...I must first get to YESTERDAY'S big winner!I have to say that our family has had SUCH a fun time going through all the quotes. We are bonding thanks to you! (See how awesome you are!!)Yesterday there was a pic of Lenny strapped to B's bike with goggles. Here are the top entries chosen by the crew:One of us chose Stacey B's entry: "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPER LENNY!!! WOOHOO -- I'm FLYING!! (who says lions can't fly!)" (Entry #1)One of us chose Denise's quote: "Um, is this a sheet knot or a double sheel bend?" (Entry #2)Two...

Read more »

Lenny the Lion Giveaway Day 2: Exercise!

**********Sorry! This giveaway is closed! ***********Before we get to today's giveaway picture, it is my pleasure to announce YESTERDAY'S big winner!We each looked at the comments individually, and chose our favorite without the influence of others.Two of us chose Michael: "If that thing comes near me, I'll have to slap you with a slice of bacon. Yes, I said bacon." (Entries 1 and 2)Two of us chose Misty: "You got this L! Just squeeze me really tight...WAIT! NOT.THAT.TIGHT.I.CAN'T.BREATHE!!!" (Entries 3 and 4)One of us chose Allison & Tommy: "You can do this L!- I'm not lyin...well, I am Lion, but not lyin, but I AM LION....oh, you know what...

Read more »

Lenny the Lion Giveaway Day 1: COURAGE!

********Sorry! This giveaway is closed!*********Happy Blogiversary to me!Happy Blogiversary to me!Happy Blogiversary dear meeeeeee!Happy Blogiversary to me!And many moooooooore!This week marks two years! Two years ago I wrote my very first post! Now, 270 posts later...here I am...a little bit wiser...with my brain, a little bit swellier...and my heart, a lotta bit stronger!More than anything I want to celebrate! This blog is my lifeboat. On my hardest days I have jumped in and it has saved me. All that saving is absolutely thanks to you! You have listened, loved and more than anything, UNDERSTOOD me. How could I ever thank you!??Oh I know...but...

Read more »

Challenges, and their infinite perspective.

(Before I begin...I want you to know that next week is my Blog-iversary!! I'm going to be having giveaways Monday through Friday...and as a hint...Lenny the Lion will be involved! It all begins on Monday! So mark your calendars!)Now onto me writing out my train of thought...It's been a rough month for a lot of us. It's funny how things run in waves.Rough times, problems, challenges...they can throw off our perspective.And perspective is such a tricky thing. When we go through hard times, the problem sits directly in front of us. We all know if you put something right in front of your eye, or your face, like an orb for instance, it will block...

Read more »

We can do this. YOU can do this.

The worry began the day my first son was born. Let's face it, worry and babies go hand in hand.But that was the kind of worry you could head off with cautiousness. It was the kind of worry that you didn't stay up at night with.The new kind of worry...the helpless kind...well that came the day J was diagnosed.Seeing him on the table in the emergency room with a swarm of doctors and nurses shouting orders and worried acronyms...well that is when I found out what I was made of.At the tender age of 24...I hadn't found my center yet...and when it came to worry, I was spineless...or at the very least, a rookie.Once I saw my baby seizing...well, I...

Read more »

The headache remedy.

When I was a little girl I used to get migraines. Not all the time, but one or two a summer for sure. They usually came after days of swimming and a lot of sun.You can imagine how scary the intense pain was for a child. I would sink into the covers of my bed and rock back and forth with tears streaming down my cheeks. I wouldn't speak to anyone...Except my father.My father was the only one that could make it all better. I don't know how it started, it might be that he had migraines as a child too...or maybe he came up with the magic cure all on his own...but however it came along, it worked. And only HE could make it work.He would sit by my side...

Read more »

Our Disneyland/Wally World Vacation

So since we just returned from our Disneyland vacation...you probably thought that this post would be all about the fun fun fun things we did while we were there! Because honestly, we did a TON of fun stuff!Sadly, nope. This post won't be about those things.Now, you are probably thinking I'm going to write about how all the boys got Scarlet Fever days before we left on our trip.Nope. Not writing about that either.Or you might be thinkin' I have an entire post lined up about how L broke out into a Scarlet Fever rash THREE TIMES as worse than the others, hours before our departure...Or maybe your hoping for the play by play of the previous hour,...

Read more »

Guest Blogger-polooza Day 5: Gina

Gina Capone is the President of The Diabetes Resource and writes at The Diabetes Talkfest Blog.I've gotten to know her personality a bit on facebook and have found her to be just a downright amazing person. Her story of inner healing is moving, and also a reminder how community makes all the difference in the world. Thank you Gina for taking time to writes for us!When I first found out what blogging was from my husband (when we were dating) he said I should write a blog. My first thought to myself was… what the heck is a blog? Then, what the hell am I going to write about? I don’t even know how to put a sentence together. Who is going to even...

Read more »

Guest Blogger-polooza Day 4: Jessica

Jessica Collins at Me and D is a complete sweetheart. She is always on Twitter to lend an ear, and has just the best personality! Her post today is testament to her beauty. Thank you Jessica for sending out this message to the readers of Our Diabetic Life! Life Is MessyFirst of all, I want to thank Meri for the opportunity to guest post on her blog. This was the first D-mama blog I read when I first became involved in the DOC. So thanks, Meri!Now I read a lot of PoCWD blogs. And I love it. It helps me understand some of what my own parents must have gone through. I’ve written multiple posts about parents of CWD... (like this one from D-Blog Week.)...

Read more »

Guest Blogger-polooza Day 3: Kelly

She is bubbly, wonderful, kind and giving. But don't let the sweet demeanor fool you...Kelly Kunik from Diabetesaliciousness is a fighter! She is an advocate if there ever was one! She has lifted me up more times than I can count...her posts let us all know that no matter what is thrown in our way, or our children's way...all will be well! Thank you Kelly for your powerful words of comfort!Your Children......To the parents of the DOC - I know that you worry about your children, their diabetes, and how their diabetes will effect their childhood & their future. You worry 24X7, 365 days a year, with no time off for vacations or good behavior....

Read more »

Guest Blogger-polooza Day 2: Michael

Michael Hoskins writes The Diabetic's Corner Booth. And it is always just like that with him. His writing, and his comments on my blog and others oozes the comfort of a caring friend...a friend that you are sitting having a casual lunch with in the corner booth of a diner. This post below is no different. Little things make a big difference. Michael's wife and mother inspire me! Thank you Michael for taking the time to write such a heartfelt post!A Note In My LunchEach day, little handwritten notes grace my lunch bag.My D-Wife calculates the carb counts for the lunches packed, even on days when I've made my own meal by just sticking a PB cracker...

Read more »