Thankful

God ~ my Heavenly father, whose grace is astounding
Hubby ~ whose drive to support his family and the love he shows me daily is overwhelming
Kiddos ~ even with Cameron's blood sugar out of whack, Dylan puking as I set our Thanksgiving dinner on the table, and Peyton's "Missy Diva" in full force
Grandmother ~ who raised me and laid the foundation of what NOT to do as a parent
Dad (& Carpenter side of the family) ~ who I never in a million years thought I would be so close to, and who, despite all my flaws, loves me, respects me, and is there when I need them
Angelique ~ my best friend, who I have known for 29 years, she is my sister in every sense of the word
Friends ~ we can't pick the families we come from, but we can make our friends our families
Digital Camera
Pictures
Home movies
Turkey sandwiches we'll enjoy tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday Peyton

Happy 1st Birthday Daughter!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...November 24th

Outside my window...a black cat, we don't know who he belongs to, is resting on my porch taking in the sun.

I am thinking...what a difference 7 days make.

I am thankful for...the brilliant doctors and hospital staff who took excellent care of my first born.

From the kitchen...we have chili that didn't get made last week, and loads of high protein and sugar free snacks for Cameron. Don't forget the turkey!

I am wearing...cropped sweat pants and a T-shirt (the same thing I was wearing last Monday).

I am creating...a to-do list for the next 3 days in regards to Cameron's doctor appointments, school, etc.

I am going...to do some more research on Type I diabetes.

I am reading...The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (not much reading for myself got done last week).

I am hoping...we're able to afford a decent Christmas for the kiddos.

I am hearing...the hum on the fridge.

Around the house...the kiddos are still fast asleep.

One of my favorite things...Cameron, rolling with the punches, telling me where he wants his next shot.

A few plans for the rest of the week: make doctor's appointments, get Cameron caught up with school work, read, blogging, maybe some cleaning, make a turkey, and take my niece to see Twilight.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Menu Plan Monday

We are catching up on dinners that were neglected while we stayed in the hospital last week. Everything is discombulated right now, but this is what I've come up with so far.

Sunday ~ Classic Chicken Parmesan with Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce and Smoked Mozzarella, Salad, & French Bread

Monday ~ Grilled Cheese & Soup

Tuesday ~ Chili

Wednesday ~ Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Baked Potatoes, & Broccoli w/ Cheese

Thursday ~ Happy Thanksgiving

Friday ~ Leftovers

Saturday ~ More Leftovers

Breakfasts: Eggs, Waffles, Pancakes, Cereal w/ Fruit

Lunches: Roast Beef w/ Swiss, Turkey w/ Provolone wraps, PB&J, Leftovers

Cameron's Snacks: Celery w/ Peanut Butter, String Cheese, Sugar Free Jell-O, Hard Boiled Eggs

Routine

Although Cameron hasn't been home a full 48 hours, we have been able to begin some sort of routine. I am still completely sad over his diagnosis, but I realize it's manageable. Since Cameron came home I have been the one counting the carbs and giving the shots, so today we told Mike it was his turn. Mike was the first one to give Cameron his insulin shot in the hospital, but it's the whole procedure that takes time. From beginning to end it takes about 20 minutes. Cameron has to wash his hands and then we check his blood sugar. After that I make the meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) and count his carb intake. I figure out how many units of insulin he'll need for his body to process the carbs, plus if he needs extra based on his blood sugar check. He sits down to his meal and gets the shot. In two hours we're rechecking his blood sugar. Then he gets a free snack, string cheese, sugar free jello, etc. Routine, routine, routine!

He sat down and read his Get Well cards from his class today. We took pictures to send to the class tomorrow. He also wrote a letter answering some of the questions his classmates had. Cameron is such an amazing kid! Just when I think I can't possibly love any of my children more than I do, my heart expands and fills with even more love. I couldn't be prouder of him than I am right now. His life has been turned upside down, yet he rolls with the punches.

I got to admit, I'm a little disappointed nobody has come to see him since being home. I expressed my wishes to our family and friends, asking them to come through over the weekend and let him know they were thinking about him. I didn't ask for an hour visit, a 10 minute visit would have sufficed. The only one's who have called to check on his are Auntie Angelique, Grandma, Auntie Pam and Gina, otherwise I'm the one calling with the updates. I take into consideration that some of our family, like Auntie Sara, is so far away that this blog is their update. Maybe I'm just frustrated. I know I am emotionally fried and I could just be making a mountain out of a molehill. I just want Cameron to know everybody still loves him and is thinking about him. I don't think that is too much to ask.

Home

Cameron came home tonight. Dylan's eyes lite up at the sight of Loody. We are very excited, but nervous too. Everything is on our shoulders and does a 5 1/2 hour crash course cover everything you need to keep your child alive? Everything still seems so surreal at this point. At dinner he asked for his first belly insulin shot. Cameron just keeps rolling with the punches! I can't ask for anything more from him. We got to surprise him with get well cards his class made him. He was so happy that they all were thinking of him. Some were very poignant and seriously heartfelt for such little people. He is also on independent study until further notice. One of the doctor's told of us a Diabetic Camp for kids and I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for Cameron to interact with fellow diabetic kids. He needs to learn that life does not stop because of this. He has to remain normal! I am over the moon at how awesome the staff at the hospital was and completely indebted to them for saving my child's life!

Twilight

OME! For non-Twilighters, that means, "OH MY EDWARD!" Let me start by saying I enjoyed the movie. It was a 2 hour distraction from my life that I needed oh so much. I decided to hit the midnight showing at about 10:30 pm. I asked Hubby and he said he didn't know when we would be able to see it together, so go ahead. My head was fried, but I knew I would just be tossing and turning like I did the night before. I got to the theatre at about 11:30 and asked the lady at the ticket window, "You got any tickets left?" She said, "LOADS!" I looked at her, and then around the completely packed theatre. She explained that as each theatre sold out, they just opened up another one. NO WAY! They were already selling theatre 7, and I'm not so sure #8 didn't open up. Okay, so, how was the movie?

Disappointed:
Bella never cooked for Charlie. I don't even think we saw their kitchen. They always ate at the diner.
The original biology lab scene (where Edward smells Bella for the first
time) was a little too campy
I missed Mike saying, "So, did you stab Edward Cullen with a pencil or what? I’ve never seen him act like that."
No blood typing scene (which is one of my favorites)
Serious Edward (too brooding, not enough of his wicked wit or smiles)
Flirting banter between Edward and Bella
No REAL meadow scene (it seemed forced and some cheesy dialogue)
Sparkle in the sunlight???
In the bedroom scene, Alice saying, "It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share."
Not enough Alice & Jasper (in the hotel when they flee)
MOST DISAPPOINTED in the phone call between James and Bella. In the book you FEEL his strength, his power, his evil when he gives Bella the instructions. They seriously should have left that whole dialogue in the movie. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

LOVED:
Bella narrating
Edward growling at the men stalking Bella in Port Angeles
Lion and Lamb quote
The Cullen Clan was cast perfectly
Mike did say, "He looks at you like… like you’re something to eat."
Bella meeting the Cullens
The Baseball Scene
Fight scene with James (who I find yummy)
The stare down between Edward and Jacob at the end

I realize that fitting a 400 page book into 2 hours is a daunting task. However, doesn't the Harry Potter movies do just that? I have never left a Harry Potter film where I thought it missed crucial elements of the story. I also realize that the book is never as good as the movie. Was it the low budget of the film? The director? I feel the movie was forced in areas, not giving us the time we needed to fall in love with Edward, or showing Edward's passion for Bella. I must take this time to admit that Robert Pattinson did a fantastic job as Edward. He still isn't my Edward, but I honestly don't see how anybody else could have done a more fantastic job. If you have only seen the movie, please don't let that deter you from reading the books. The books are fantastic!

Now that New Moon has been greenlighted I am concerned. First, let me explain that I am die hard Team Edward. However, I feel if I had to pick teams based on the movie(s), I might switch sides and go Team Jacob! I can't wait to see Jacob and Bella's relationship unfold in New Moon. I think the main dilemma of bringing New Moon to screen is that lack of Edward in the book. Will the same die hard Edward Cullen Robert Pattinson fanpires rise to the occasion? Or will Team Jacob win out?

Superstar

Cameron had a terrific night stay in the PICU unit. When I called at midnight, his blood sugar was 156. I couldn't have been happier. When I called at 5 am, his nurse told me that his acid levels were evening out, however, his blood sugar dropped to around 50, so they had to give him something to bring it up. He already had the orders to transition Cameron to food for breakfast. This was VERY good news. When Hubby & I got there, his color was great, his acid levels were fine and his CO2 were a half a point below normal. Cameron had dried hot chocolate around his mouth, playing the Playstation 2 and ALL smiles. I couldn't have been more pleased. Somebody is constantly stopping by his room and he chats up everybody. He doesn't know everybody, but they all know him. One doctor even said, as he was passing Cameron's door, "Get your pen ready, soon you'll be signing autographs!" There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The hospital is working very hard to get our insurance to approve Cameron as an outpatient at their Pediatric Diabetic Clinic where we will take classes and have check-ups every 3 months. We also discussed a clinical trial where they would monitor Dylan and Peyton to check their markers over a period of time. Today we attended about 5 1/2 hours of classwork. We learned how to check his blood sugar, Cameron even poked himself in the finger to draw his own blood. We also learned how to use a syringe, pull insulin out and give him a shot. Hubby & I practiced on each other (yes, you heard me right, I let my husband give me a practice shot) with water. Cool side note: the nurse teaching us this was all decked out in Mickey & Friends, where I couldn't help but ask how his diabetes affects our visits to the Happiest Place on Earth. She informed us that the Nurses Station has a refrigerator and we check our goodies in there! Disneyland really does think of everything! After we learned the basics on insulin and shots (Cameron will receive 4 shots a day), we learned our basic food groups. I realize we already know this, but we needed to know it in such a way where the food breaks up into sugar and what that means to Cameron's pancreas and body. Everything was so positive until we found out how much Cameron's supplies would cost us a month. I was ... there are no words, I was sick to my stomach. His supplies will run us $200 a month. A MONTH! We are already on such a tight budget. Now I go into research mode. I pray we can find some kind of help. I am FRIED!

Rock My World

My world was rocked yesterday afternoon at 12:53 pm. The doctor called with Cameron's blood test results, she said he has diabetes. The wind was knocked out of me and my head began to spin. "What?" "How?" Her instructions were to take him to a bigger hospital about an hour drive from our home immediately. I called Mike at work, asking him to take the rest of the day off. When I told him what the doctor had told me he said, "I knew it!" Thanks Husband, I really wish you had let me in on it. My Mama's heart had gone to the worst case scenario. I thought if he had cancer and needed some sort of donation that he has two parents and two siblings. Fears, we both had them but neither spoke to the other about them.

Thankfully our pediatrician faxed all paperwork to Loma Linda and we were taken right in. His sugar was at 415 when we arrived at 3 pm. His CO2 levels were down, his acidity levels were up, causing heavy breathing, and protein in his urine. He had labs drawn (through his IV line), he was IV'd (the nurse rocked getting him the first stick), and papers were signed for admittance within an hour. They pushed a bag of IV fluids for an hour bringing his sugar down to 330. WOO-HOO! This was promising. He was rolling with the punches, getting his finger pricked, and they even brought him a Nintendo Wii right to his bed. Then we got the news that they had to start a second IV line. They were going to insulin drip him. They poked at him 4 different times before getting a second line going. He began screaming, "I want to go home!" As a parent there is no greater pain in the world than that of your child hurt but you know it's the best for them. Prior to the fourth stick, they pricked his finger to get a blood sugar read. It was 266 which looked promising! FINALLY, that fourth stick kept and we were moved to the PICU.

The initial, and pretty confirmed diagnosis, is Type I diabetes. This is the kind you keep forever. He will be forever dependent upon insulin. My 9 year old, the healthiest child I have EVER known, has Type I diabetes. The child who has NEVER ran a fever in his entire life (including a 2 day hospital stay at 6 months with RSV). The child who I could count on 1 hand how many times he has vomited in his ENTIRE life. My perfect, intelligent, hysterical, handsome...my first born has Type I diabetes. How do I process this? How can I not feel like I failed him somewhere? His number was at 294 at 10 pm and had come down to 158 at midnight. Over night he dropped around the 50 range, they had to give him something to bring up his sugar. His CO2 levels are rising, his acidity levels are decreasing, everything is going in the direction they need to. The orders have already been drawn to transition him to food this morning. The next step is for us to receive our training and education for this new life.

Wordless Wednesday: Great-Grandma

"Peyton give Grandma some of your birthday cake!"

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Simple Woman's Daybook

This is my first time joining Peggy for her Simple Woman's Daybook Meme.

FOR TODAY...November 17th

Outside my window...the sun is shining, making it hard to believe it's Fall and not Summer. Don't you just love California?

I am thinking...4 more days until I see Twilight.

I am thankful for...my hubby, the fierce provider, who (since having Cameron) has worked 2 or 3 jobs at a time, so that I can stay-at-home with the kiddos.

From the kitchen...Potato Soup with Shrimp leftovers, complete comfort food.

I am wearing...cropped sweat pants and a T-shirt.

I am creating...Christmas Cards.

I am going...to water aerobics this evening and enjoy the company.

I am reading...The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

I am hoping...whatever is ailing Cameron's is not serious, but rather a good old fashioned stomach bug.

I am hearing...Dylan & Peyton giggle in the play room.

Around the house...I should get off of this computer and start cleaning the bedrooms.

One of my favorite things...watching Peyton walk.

A few plans for the rest of the week: card making, reading, water aerobics, blogging, cleaning, and a date night with Hubby to see Twilight.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday ~ Potato Soup with Shrimp

Monday ~ Classic Chicken Parmesan with Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce and Smoked Mozzarella & Salad

Tuesday ~ Chili

Wednesday ~ Chicken, Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes, & Roasted Veggies

Thursday ~ Penne with Fresh Tomataoes, Basil, and Fresh Mozzarella & Salad

Friday ~ French Dip Sandwiches with Steak Fries

Saturday ~ Out

Breakfast: Cereal, Bagels

Lunch: PB&J, Turkey Wraps, Roast Beef & Swiss, Leftovers

Honoree

The picture doesn't do him justice. He came home yesterday from school and got sick a few hours later. He looked pale before he left, but my kid is a trooper and was adamant about going. Onward to the story...my oldest, my little genius, received 3 awards during yesterday's assembly. He was awarded Perfect Attendance (hence the going to school even if he didn't feel so hot), Outstanding Reader (his level is 7th grade), and Honor Roll. Woo-Hoo! Mama is so proud!

Tu-Pendous

Have I told you how much I love Dylan? He is nothing like his "Loody" at this age. Dylan talks circles around "Loody" (a.k.a. Cameron) at this age. While preparing for Peyton's birthday, Dylan was running down the list of attendees. When he got to Grandma (my Grandma, his Great Grandma, but we don't differentiate between the two), he asked, "What about walking stick Grandma?" My brows furrowed and I looked at him sideways, clearly I didn't understand the question. "What Dylan?" He looked at me, frustrated, "What about walking stick Grandma?" he reiterated. It dawned on me, he meant Grandma, only she has had to use a cane the last few years. I laughed, hugged him, and told him of course she was coming. Now he refers to her as "walking stick Grandma" and we can't help but giggle. We think he's "Tu-Pendous!"

Boo-Boo's

My poor little Peyton has had a rough first year. She has fallen out of our bed and dislocated her arm (twice in 24 hours). Have you met her Mama? Her latest boo-boo came a couple of a days ago, learning to walk is dangerous business. Her little feet were not in the correct position, and watching in slow motion and horror, I watched her topple to the side and hit her head on the corner of our TV stand. I scooped her up, held her tight, holding a compress to her head, and she passed out from the crying. As much as I loved the feel of her sleeping in my arms, something these little people don't do as much when they reach a certain age, my heart ached as the big, black and purple, knot formed over the gash in her head. I'm considering purchasing a helmet for her.

Wordless Wednesday: Ta-Da!

Ta-Da! I'm 1!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Works for me Wednesday: Toy Edition

EDIT: I missed Mr. Linky for this last week. I really wanted to share this, so I'm posting it today, November 12th as my Works for me Wednesday.

Shannon, over at Rocks In My Dryer, would love to talk about something other than politics and I couldn't be happier. Today's Works for me Wednesday is a theme edition, toys worth buying. Christmas time is a catch 22 for me, as I LOVE to buy presents, wrap them, and see my loved ones open them. However, all the toys, the toy parts, putting together, and inevitable breaking of the toys just destroys it. I have found several can't miss toys that my boys have grown with throughout the years.

LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnet Alphabet Set
LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set
Mr. Potato Head
Magna Doodle ~ it beats giving a Preschooler a pencil and paper
Hot Wheels

As for baby toys, we have to remember Peyton too. We saved many of Dylan's baby toys, just in case. She loves Fisher Price's Roll-a-Rounds and Peek-a-Blocks. Then there is always LeapFrog's Little Touch Leap Pad. Don't forget to check out LeapFrog's Learn and Groove Alphabet Drum and Learn and Groove Counting Maracas.

I also believe books are a great investment. Dylan is very fond of Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider. When Cameron was younger, one of his favorite books was How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and David Shannon. I also recommend The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka.

I hope these work for you as well as they have for me over the last several years.

Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Cake

Peyton's 1st birthday cake.

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Halloween 2008

We went to Disney's California Adventure for Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party. I love watching all the costume concepts, and get a little jealous at my lack of creativity to do the same. I saw a couple dressed as Prom Bella and Edward, way cool. I think my favorite was the Scooby Gang. Mom was Daphne, little guy about 4 was Shaggy, brother was Scooby, and Dad was Fred. My favortie cartoon has always been Scooby and I was over the moon when Cameron learned to love the show too. Dylan is still a little too young yet. When it came time to take pictures of the kids wearing their costumes, Dylan was less than willing. When we were trick or treated out, we were off to Disneyland to take in a few rides. At the end of the night, and after Dylan had taken in The Jungle Cruise, he was more receptive to take pictures. Brat! LOL

Tinkerbell Peyton

Peter Pan Dylan

Boba Fett Cameron