what gets us through these days

It's been a month already since Addy's diagnosis! Can you believe it. Definatly a month of learning, growing and figuring out how to live with diabetes. And totally a month I am eager to leave behind!
 
 
 
 

These get us through. The top photo is Addy's blood glucose meter, which we use at least 6 times a day. She gets her blood checked before meals, before bedtime and if she is active outside.
In the next photo are Addy's insulin pens and supplies. We use these at least four times a day, throughout meals and at bedtime.
The third is the cady I have sitting in the dining room. This holds lots of extras like syringes and alcohol swabs. I try to put everything back in there at night so the next morning I can restock before we leave the house. (We've been going lots of places lately!)
And the last photo is what I use to chart her food with. I am constantly using the calculater to calculate food carbs and the scale to also do so. It's mostly meal time that takes a little extra effort but I cook from scratch already, so whats another few minutes :)
Enjoy your day! It's beautiful out!

busy, busy

Life has been sooooo busy here! For the most part a good busy but a few times I feel like I'm about to lose it. I have to remind myself that it is not mine, that God has it and He is in control. My only brother left for the Army a little over a week ago. We put our house up for sale that same day. Diabetes suck! And Aaron still needs to defend his thesis. Elliot cut a tooth a few days ago and has more coming. Trying to clean up a flooded basement is so not fun. We do not know where we will be living in three months...
whew.
I'm done ranting. Hope everybody who stops by is well. May God bless you and keep you!

We have winners!!

 
 
 
 
Addy picked them out of the bowl for me. Shelley, you won the the book and Claire, I get to make something for you! I'll just facebook message you guys for your addresses.

Thank you girls for participating in my first giveaway! It was a lot of fun and I just might have to do it again!

Carefree clothes for girls

 

 

So, I've had this book for some time now, Carefree clothes for girls. by Junko Okawa and love it so. I made this skirt and a few aprons (Addy pictured wearing one of them,) during my blogging hiatus. It's from this book and everything in there is absolutely adorable. Non-hemmed skirts, aprons and leggings? On my three year old? Um yes please!!! The great thing about this book is that seam allowance is not included in the patterns, starting at 4T so I am able to make them for Addy, (a size 3T.)
I have two copies of this book. Aaron bought it for me after is was already in the mail :) So, I'm thinking - giveaway? How about 2 giveaways?

Leave me a comment and I will enter you into a drawing. Winner one will receive the book and winner two will receive something handmade by ME! Does that sound good? And I'll close comments and pick a winner Saturday morning.
:)
This should be fun!!

Good morning!

 
How are you guys?
I'm going to be doing my first giveaway tomorrow! So exciting!!

Happy Birthday Aaron

 

On the same day of Elliot's half birthday, Aaron had his gold birthday! Happy birthday babe! I love you soooooo much!

Happy half birthday, Elliot!

 

Back on April 28th, you were 6 months old and I cannot believe how fast that went! I love you sweet baby girl!

3!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Saturday before Addy's diagnosis, (April 24th,) we celebrated her THIRD birthday! 3! I cannot believe my baby is that old already! The mama-mades were her birthday banner, cake and "A" cape. She helped me decorate the cake that morning and asked to eat about ever 15 minutes there after. Grandparents and an uncle and aunt were there making it intament and memorable.
(That last picture- window crayons by crayola - I totally recomend! So fun!)

knit birthday dress

 

 

I finally finished a knit project last month. It was the first project I had taken on in a few months. This is the free pattern and I loved it. It was super easy- very basic knit and purl stitches, knit without seams and finished in a couple days. However, it does need a ribbon on the top to keep the shoulders from falling down.
I used 3 skiens of cotton goldfish peaches n cream yarn from walmart, totalling about $4.50. Not bad, I say, for a spring/summer/fall 2010 mama made knit dress :)

prom 2010

 

This dress was almost the death of me! No, not really, but it sure felt like it at times. I can now say that I've made a prom dress - apart from attaching the skirt and finishing the trim, but I have done those a million times. Luckily, my aunt is an amazing seamstress and finished it the day before prom, since we were in the hospital that day. But, onto the dress.

 

This is my sister, Jenny. She wanted a sweetheart cut, not too poofy and one that no one had. She got her wish! I can't find the pattern on line and have a baby on my lap or else would share. Just know that the pattern was a McCall's from walmart for 20 bucks and I think all together they spent $80 on fabric from JoAnne's.
I say, not bad for a prom dress. Of course if I were to pick the fabric out I could have found some for wayyyy cheaper but that wasn't the case.

I also did her hair, at the hospital. I assume she had a good time... even though I haven't seen her since then. She's got a nasty cold... Oh prom. I'm so glad there are only two years of you.

Right before it rains,

I like to take pictures!

 

 

 

I might have to go out this morning... it looks like it might rain soon :)

this morning

 

We are trying to get back to our (new) normal. After breakfast and insulin, Addy and I went for a nature walk and made some new discoveries.

 

Like a water snake in the canal. Um, creepy! Addy kept waving to it, being the ever polite girl she is.

 

I found a giant clam shell in the woods for Addy.

 

So, of course we had to take it home and clean it up. I drilled a hole in it and it's now hanging on the wall next to her bed.

 

I could feel the wind, hear the leaves rustling, smell the dirt and see green! It was a much needed activity, this walk.

 

Found wild rhubarb in multiple places. Am going to pick some in a week or two when it's a little bit bigger.

 

Addy loves throwing sticks in the water. I tried explaining littering to her also, as there was a LOT of garbage underneath of us in the water. That was an interesting conversation to say the least.

 

And we found mulberry babies! I've been calling all the produce we are growing/finding wild babies so she knows not to pick them yet.

I've got lots to update on. Addy's diabetes, of course, but there were two and a half special birthdays last month and lots of other things we've been up to, including mama mades and food!
God bless you guys who are reading this page again and thank you for your prayers,
Natalie

Just for funsies

(Elliot at 6 months)



(Addysen at 9 months)

Those silly smiles just make day and I hope they make yours too! I love how much they look alike already :)