2010... In Review

Today is the last day of 2010.

All in all, it's been a good year!  Yeah, we've had a few bumps in the road - but who doesn't really?  This was our first year... our first ENTIRE year... with D along for the ride.  And I must say, it did make things a little more - exciting!

2010 was also my first full year blogging.  I switched my blog from "Window to My World" to "Bittersweet" and then decided to go with a dot com at "The Princess and The Pump".  I like it here!  I think we'll be here for a long time.  
 
Yesterday, I was reading Kelly Kunik's post over at Diabetesaliciousness about her year in review.  It was fantastic!  I loved rereading her posts... and so... I decided to do the same thing over here!  What better way to end the year than by a stroll down blogging lane to relive all those memories?


I have to say... I originally planned to just list ONE post for each month... and you can see that I failed miserably at that.  It's just that my writing is SO personal for me.  I pour my heart out here.  My posts are kind of like my children. I love them all... for different reasons.  


Please know that I don't list them all to say, "HEY LOOK!  I am so incredibly awesome that you just MUST read all of my stuff!"  No, no... it's not like that at all.  I put them here because they all represent a specific moment in time.  A special part of our history - for better or for worse.  

And my hope is that you just might find some useful information or read something that will let you know that you will never be alone on this crazy journey.  That what you feel and experience is normal... and it's OK.  And it's going to be OK.  And that, with the support of this amazing Diabetes Online Community, you will find the love, humor, encouragement, and support to keep on LIVING an incredible life with diabetes.


So, without further ado.... here are a few of my favorites from the past year.



December 2010:     

I Want You to Know  This post came alive after a discussion with my mom about how much those on the "outside" don't know about living with D.

Do You Know How Lucky You Are?  This post was written on one one of those days when I wished that something like feeding my child, something that other people don't think twice about, seemed so hard.  And I wondered... do others have any idea?


November 2010:


This was the month of NaBloPoMo.... I blogged EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 


The Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad... Week talked about an insanely crazy week.  So insane that it was actually pretty funny!


Isn't It Ironic was about how we spend World Diabetes Day... in the ER.  


Reality Bites was about how the reality of diabetes is sometimes pretty sucky... and it can be too much.


You are More was a love note to Sweetpea... telling her that she will always be MORE than just a child with diabetes.


October 2010:


Sweet Dreams and The Morning After both were both written after hearing the horrible news that another child had lost her life to T1 in her sleep.  We all mourn these losses... even if we don't know the child or the family.  It always hits so close to home.  


JDRF Walk to Cure 2010 was where I wrote all about our walk!


September 2010:


FLOCKED was about getting a special blue flamingo from Super Nate and The Diabetes Dude in the mail! 


She Doesnt' LOOK Sick was about invisible illnesses and how one tiny mistake can be deadly.

Back to School as a Parent of a CWD and as a Teacher was about just that... going back to school! 


Do I Make You Sad? came out of me not wanting others to pity us... just wanting them to "get it". 




August 2010:


First Words was written after Sweetpea read her first real word... thanks to D.


We Aren't in Kansas Anymore showcased our SUPER SIZED medicine cabinet.

July 2010:

The Green Eyed Monster was about what happened after I saw a little girl 
drinking a juice box at Ikea.

Imposter was an angry look at what it's like to be a pancreas - when you're not really a pancreas at all. 


Dear Saleslady at Macy's was an open letter to a clerk who decided it was ok to share her D horror story in front of Sweetpea.

 

June 2010:


I'm Not a Doctor - I Just Play One in Real Life  The title really says it all!


She's a Keeper was about Dexie (the Dexcom 7 Plus CGM) joining our family.


Disney and Diabetes was about visiting the big Mouse with D along for the ride.


May 2010:


If I Have to Explain... was about trying to help others "get" this crazy new world!


April 2010:


Parade of Pumps: Animas Ping was about our choice of insulin pump.  This was a post I wrote with Laura (who talked about the Omnipod) and Meri (who talked about Medtronic).



It's Ok To Cry:  A Dad's Perspective was written by J!  


Happy Diaversary is about celebrating our first year with D.


One Year Ago... was about looking back on our last day without D.


March 2010:


Flashbacks was about meeting the nurse - almost a year later - that did Sweepea's bg test on dx day.


Lost was written during a time when I was feeling all consumed with D... and very lost.



February 2010:


Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This was an emotional look at life with D.


Drama Queen is a little note to D to tell it to KNOCK IT OFF!


January 2010:


Checking *MY* Blood Sugar is about just that... and how I feel about NOT being the one with D. 



*I'm still working on getting all the old posts over here!  It's a BIG job!*


Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy 2010!


With Love... from our family to yours 
 

Heads Will Roll

I've found that the best way to deal with D is to laugh.  A sense of humor can really help when the going gets tough.

So....  I thought you might enjoy this!

J came home with the chills, aches and a horrid headache the Tuesday before Christmas.  He ended up in the ER.  Then he had a reaction to the pain meds.  Then, in the middle of Christmas with my family, he went to his family doc for some more help.  I had to drive him... and while there I saw this:

Ok, I know it's type 2... but I thought it was funny.  LOOK!  It's a big pancreas book!  No one other than someone living the D life would chuckle at this.  Or maybe it's just me.... I don't know.  It made me laugh.

Could be the fact that since J got sick, I was taking care of Sweetpea 24/7 on my own.  ALL the night checks.  ALL the carb counting.  EVERYTHING.  And she was super duper excited about Christmas.  And to that... all the building of the play kitchen.  The wrapping.  The baking.  All the other Christmas stuff.


I know some of you go it alone all the time.  And to you I say... "WOW".  I don't know how you do it.  Seriously.  I did it for a week.  The week before Christmas, mind you.  But just a week.  And it about killed me.

Sweets has done her part to keep me laughing.  She's at the age where "potty humor" is king.  She had a friend over the other day and was showing her our new kitten.  "Just don't kiss him on the mouth" she said.  "He licks his butt." 


I guess she does have a point.


Then the other day, she was taking a bath in our master bathroom while I was in the shower.  All of a sudden, I realized that she was not in the tub.  Next thing I knew, here comes this naked flash.... running and jumping in the tub.  "Where were you?  What were you doing?" I asked.  "Moooom....  I got water in my butt.  And it itched.  So I itched it.  But then I needed to go wash my hands cuz that is gross."  


O-kay.  Not only was she IN the bathtub, but she passed up TWO perfectly good sinks to go wash her hands in her bathroom... dripping all over the floor between here and there!  Good grief!  I just had to laugh.


This is the special ornament that we got this year.  It plays different songs and quotes from the movie.  

What's that?  It's missing something, you say?


Oh, yes.  That would be THESE:

Sweetpea dropped it.  The DAY WE GOT IT.  Off came the heads.  Every single one.  


J put them in a bag for me to attach.  I walked by the counter and saw it sitting there... headless.... next to a bag of heads... and it made me laugh.


Are you thinking I'm seriously weird now?  Delusional?  In desperate need of sleep?


Maybe.  But hey... LAUGH!  The only other choice is crying... and well, I've done enough of that.  


So when the heads roll.... I giggle!  


And I think of the Christmas of the pancreas book and the rolling heads!


ps- J is FINALLY better!  Praise the Lord!  We missed him!

I Want You to Know

My mom and I were talking the other day.  As it often does, the conversation turns to something diabetes related.  

She always asks me how Sweetpea's numbers are.  What's been going on.  And so I was explaining a how her arms seems to be a "sweet spot" for good numbers but we have had some lows... like that 45 on Christmas morning... that come out of nowhere.  

She was expressing her frustration that diabetes doesn't play but the rules.  They take care of Sweetpea every afternoon.  They know how to bolus for food and how to treat a low... or a high.  But that's it.  And Mom was saying how she realizes that they don't REALLY know how to take care of her.  They know nothing about basal rates and ISF's.  It makes her crazy that doing the same thing one day can cause a completely different result on the next.  "It just doesn't make sense!" she says.

"Mom, You've got to get over that.  Diabetes DOESN'T make sense.  Don't expect it to.... you'll just pull your hair out."

"It's so hard to explain to people.  People ask me all the time how Sweetpea is doing.  But they just don't really understand." she said.

Yeah.

"How is she doing?"

Seems like a simple enough question.  

But it's not. 

I never know what to say.  It's such a loaded question....

If you don't LIVE with diabetes 24/7 - you don't know.  And explaining it can be as difficult as nailing jello to a tree.  Or herding cats.  

BUT...  I have to try.  It's my JOB to try.  It's my MISSION to try.  (See also:  If I Have to Explain...)

So....

For all of those on the "outside" - there are a few things I want you to know.

I assume that you already know the basics...You know.... that T1's an autoimmune disease.  It wasn't caused by eating too much sugar.  There is no cure.  She won't grow out of it.  


But there's more...


I want you to know....


that there is no "good" or "bad" kind of diabetes


that diabetes is not a disease where you take your medicine and forget about it


that I think about diabetes all. the.  time.  I'm always thinking about what her current bg is, or what she's eating, or what she's going to eat, or wondering if she's rising or falling, or what's going to happen next.


that diabetes is unpredictable.

that diabetes is always changing.

that calculating insulin doses is extremely complicated - and it's NEVER a+b=c

that diabetes is deadly.  Not in 50 years.  Not if we don't take care of her.  It's deadly NOW.  No matter what we do or how hard we try.  


that calling the hospital does not mean that her diabetes is "bad".  Calling the hospital for help is a normal part of life for us.  The more we learn, the more capable we are to make changes on our own.  But we still call.


that when you have diabetes, there are no small illnesses.  Diabetes makes a simple cold anything but simple.

that wearing a pump does not mean that you're cured or that life is easy

that the pump site and cgm site is inserted with a NEEDLE every 3 days

that having a CGM does not mean that we don't prick her fingers anymore

that we still get up in the night.  Sometimes once.  Often more.  And I've just accepted that that is the way it is.  It is not going to change.


that EVERYTHING affects blood sugar - exercise, illness, excitement, nerves, growth, hormones....


that she really CAN eat ANYTHING she wants

that sugar-free is not always better



that she MUST test her bg first.  Not after a few bites.  Not later.  BEFORE.  

that there is little room for error


that we go to the hospital every 3 months for a checkup


that I know how to handle my child's diabetes better than any nurse or doctor - not that I don't need help and advice... but I know her body and her disease

that being a perfect pancreas is pretty much impossible


that it hurts to be left out


that I don't want your pity.  I don't know want you to feel sorry for me - or her.  


that I want you to FEEL for us... and then take that empathy and put it into action to help us find a CURE.

that people who don't care to learn about diabetes because it's "no big deal" make me so angry steam comes out of my ears


that it costs a LOT of money


that we can never leave home without our supplies - it's life and death


that nothing is as easy as before... not holidays, not school, not church, not playdates, NOTHING

that diabetes changes EVERYTHING

that you can't - for a minute - let your guard down or get "lax" in your care or attention to detail


that I am tired


that I often look like hell, can't think straight, sport dark circles under my eyes, don't hear what you're saying... because I live in a parallel world where diabetes hijacks my brain from time to time... and my energy.


that my husband and I rarely have time together... alone.  Date nights are pretty much non-existent.  So, while I will genuinely happy for you that you get to go away for your anniversary or that you got to go out together for dinner and a movie - I'll also be very jealous!

that I don't mind answering your questions.... BUT -

that I really don't want to hear about your Great Aunt Sue who lost lost both of her legs and went blind


that I do NOT want to hear about cinnamon or some tree moss (see Joanne's video) that you think is going to cure her.  If it was that simple do you really think I wouldn't know?

that no, I'm really not glad she "got it so young" and that "she'll never remember life before".  No, that's sad. 


that you have no idea How Lucky You Are


that my medicine cabinet is taller than I am

that it is incredibly painful to hold your child down to give her shots or insert pump or cgm sites

that I've already cried enough tears to fill an ocean


that it does get better with time


that it will always hurt


that I will FIGHT for my child and her health

that I will never let diabetes stop her or hold her back 


that diabetes makes you stronger


that my daughter is the bravest person I know

that while I long for you to "get it" and to understand this crazy new life we live.... I also pray that you are ALWAYS an outsider and that you NEVER experience this first hand.

Christmas in Pictures

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you are having a restful day after!

Reyna and I must have been on the same wave length.... because during our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebration, I couldn't help but think about how diabetes didn't leave us alone.... not even on Christmas.  

Here are some photos I took of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....

 

Technically Christmas Eve - It's 1 am.  I'm coming upstairs from having spent the last 3 HOURS working on a kitchen for Sweetpea.  J is sick in bed.  It's 1 am.  Time for blood sugar check and a site change.  I was hoping to get it over with so that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day would be free from needles.

 

For some reason the tubing wouldn't prime.  I went back downstairs and got a new set and a new cartridge.  I attached the new set and tried again.  Nothing.  In another Reyna moment, I'm sure I uttered a "For F&@!$ Sake!" under my breath.  Calling customer service at 1 am is NOT what I wanted to do.  I was exhausted and I just wanted to go to bed.  "Are we going to have to go to MDI for Christmas?"  I sure hoped not.  So I kept trying.... and finally it worked.

 

Sweetpea's trashcan.  Full of medical waste.

Checking bg a little later that night... uh, morning... showed a low.  This is Sweetpea's dresser.  Her juice box.  Bitty Babies juice box.  A used site.  And a blood stain from a test strip.  

 

But... Sweets hardly flinched and sucked down her juice in her sleep.  

I was worried about blood sugar on Christmas Eve.  Last year she was sick.  This is our first experience with D and Christmas... without illness.  Would she be high with excitement?  Nope!  Beautiful bg's... It's a Christmas Miracle!

Until she saw this when she got her home and snuggled into bed to wait for Santa.  In case you can't read it from the blurry phone pic, that says ERROR.  *sigh*  This Dexie site has been giving us wonky numbers from Day 1 - so we pulled it.  Literally.... and put in a new Dexie site. 

So much for no needles on Christmas.

At least she slept peacefully and never even knew it happened!

Santa came to our house!  He left some fun toys for Sweetpea!  She asked him for a new kitchen... and he delivered!  Gotta love Santa!  

He even ate the cookies and drank the water we left him!  Sweetpea also left him a present.  GUM!  This was totally HER idea.  And he must have liked it because all that was left was a wrapper.

Oh, Look!  Sweedish Fish!  Sweetpea was sure excited!  

Sweetpea also got a Hannah Montana guitar!  She was THRILLED!

Can you read that?  The bg on the left says 45.  I guess I didn't have to worry about highs!  And as luck would have it, we had some  yummy red fish for Sweetpea to eat and bring up her bg!  So a 45 bg on Christmas morning wasn't TOO bad!  This was only the FIRST of about 3 or 4 lows....

Getting ready for dinner.... must measure out mashed potatoes and all of the other things that Sweetpea wanted to eat!

A chocolate Santa for snack.  Why not?  It's Christmas.... AND her bg was nice and steady in the low 100's.

Santa is a tricky fella!  I had NO CLUE how many carbs so I weighed him and compared it to Hershey Kisses.  I thought I gave it a pretty good SWAG.  Apparently not as I saw a 321 staring back at me a little while later.  Oh- Well!  Correct and move on!

All in all it was a nice Christmas.  Did D leave us alone?  Of course not.  You can SEE that!  But I hope that you also see a little girl filled with excitement on Christmas morning!  I hope you see a normal little girl enjoying her presents and sleeping peacefully while visions of sugarplums dance in her head.  

Yes, Diabetes changes everything.  Even Christmas.  You can't escape it.  Not for one day.  Not for one minute.  

This year I learned that the key is just keep going and not focus on the crap that goes with D.  Not to let myself go to that place where my heart breaks because even on Christmas, I have stick my child with needles.  I have to see her blood.  I have to count her carbs.  I have to WORK to keep her alive and healthy.  No... I just tried to focus on the FUN.  To focus on how thankful I am that she IS alive and healthy.... and a very happy little girl!

Take a look and see for yourself!
(Pause the playlist before viewing our future ROCK STAR!)

All I Want For Christmas

We've been listening to Christmas music for a month.  Sweetpea, of course, likes the kid songs best.  Especially when sung BY KIDS.  So I've listened to Rudolph, Frosty, and Friends countless times recently.

One song got stuck in my head.  All I Want for Christmas.  

Sweetpea is fascinated by this song because the thought of losing her teeth is quite intriguing for her.

It took up residence in my brain and played over and over again.

I'm not sure at what point I created my own lyrics.  Probably in the middle of the night....

But here goes... I created a CWD/PWD version AND a Parent of a CWD version....

Enjoy!

CWD/PWD Version:

All I want for Christmas is a cure for diabetes.

A cure for diabetes.  A cure for diabetes.

Gee, If I could only have a cure for diabetes....

Then I could wish you Merry Christmas!

It seems so long since I could eat

Without having to test my bg first

Gosh oh gee,

How happy I'd be

'Cause all the shots and needles are the worst!

All I want for Christmas is a cure for diabetes.

A cure for diabetes

A cure for diabetes.

Gee, if I could only have a cure for diabetes

It would the best gift on earth!

Parent Version:

All I want for Christmas is a cure for diabetes.

A cure for diabetes.  A cure for diabetes.

Gee, If I could only have a cure for diabetes....

Then I could wish you Merry Christmas!

It seems so long since I could say

A night of long and peaceful sleep I got

Gosh oh gee,

How happy I'd be

If I never had to give another shot!

All I want for Christmas is a cure for diabetes.

A cure for diabetes

A cure for diabetes.

Gee, if I could only have a cure for diabetes

It would the best gift on earth!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

With Love...

From Our Family to Yours

Gone Fishing

I love Sweedish Fish.  I find them to be especially yummy when eaten poolside or beachside when they have sat in the heat a little while and are nice and soft.  Mmmmm!  

The pool that we go to in the summer sells them at the snack bar.   I can't resist!

That is how Sweetpea first tried one.  She never really paid attention.  I didn't think she'd like it.  She doesn't like most candy.  And she doesn't like gummies at all.  But this one.... Oh... She LOVED it!

And ever since then she's been asking for the "red fish".  

I bought a small bag.  ONCE.

She loved them.  It's ok for her to have them as the occasional treat.  Or to have when low.  But once she knows we have them.... she asks for them constantly.  She doesn't WANT to eat just a couple at a time.  She doesn't WANT to have wait if her bg is too high.

We tell her candy is not healthy.  That NO ONE should sit down and eat an entire bag of fish.  You'd get a tummy ache.

But she knows there's more to the story.

She was playing "cut the rope" on our iphones the other day.  If you don't know this game, the object is to cut ropes in order to feed the cute little monster at the bottom.  And you're trying to touch all the stars in the process.  It involves skill and it's a good game for her to play.  Guess what he eats?  Candy.

Yesterday she said, "How come he gets to eat candy and I don't?"  Well....
I told her it was because he was a monster and that was what monsters eat.  And that she DOES get to eat candy.  

"It's because he doesn't have diabetes and I do, isn't it?" she said.  

I didn't lie to her.  I told her the truth.  (Hey, Monsters might eat only candy.  You don't know!)  But she knows there's more to it.  She knows that when she gets to eat candy it's because she's low.  She knows diabetes is involved.

A few weeks ago, I was at Target buying stocking stuffers and things for our advent tree.  And they had a holiday pack of Sweedish Fish.

I stood in that isle, holding that box of fish for a good 15 minutes.  Going back and forth.  Should I or shouldn't I?  Yes, she would love them.  She would be so excited.  But oh.... not great for the bg.  Do I even want to go there?

People probably thought I'd lost my mind.  Why is that lady standing there staring at a box of candy?  Is she lost?  Is she confused?  Does she need help?

Yes.  I am lost.  I am confused.  And I do need help.

Who stands in the middle of an isle holding a box of candy like it's either gold or a ticking bomb?  That inner struggle is something that only the parent of child with diabetes could understand.  

It's yet another one of those moments when you realize that although you look like everyone else..... you're different.  Why can't I be like the other shoppers dropping boxes of candy and tubes of m&m's into my cart without a second thought?  What I wouldn't give for life to be that easy for us.  

But it's not.  And those little things matter to us.  To us, they are big things.  

It's not just candy.  It's so much bigger than that.  There is so much more that goes into that decision.  Health vs. Normalcy  

I bought the fish.

They are still in the bag.  I have not been able to bring myself to put them into the advent tree.  I just have not had the energy to fight the "in moderation and only if you are at a good number" battle.  

It was the only candy I bought.  

But they will be in her stocking.  I'm hoping that with all the craziness of Christmas that she'll be distracted.  

But I know she's going to be excited.  I know that she will know it's something special.

It would be easier for me to have walked on by and ignored the fish.  She would never have known.  

But I would have.

And it's not about what is easier for me.  For me, it's about doing whatever I have to do make sure that she feels and IS as normal as possible.  

And sometimes that means buying the fish.

The True Story of Rudolph

The True Story of Rudolph
 
A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.
  
His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.
  
Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.
 
Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there.
  
The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.
  
In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.
  
Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."
  
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing. 

I got this story in an email and I loved it.  I don't know if it's true or not... It honestly doesn't matter.  This is exactly how I want Sweetpea to view Diabetes.  Yes, it makes you different.  But different is not bad.  It can be a blessing... if you let it.

Thanking the Academy

What a pleasant surprise!  I found out recently that I was nominated for TWO DOC Awards!  WOW!

I'm honored to be nominated!  Heck, I'm honored that people actually read my blog - much less think to nominate me in certain categories!  

The competition is stiff... and it really is an honor just to nominated!

I was nominated for two categories...

Best Writing?   No.


Best Use of Incorporating Music into a Post?    No.


Most likely to make you cry?   No.


Most creative?   Nope.


I was nominated for.....


BEST HAIR


and


MOST IN NEED OF COMMENT LOVE


I had to laugh!  


I'm guessing that it is really SWEETPEA that is up for best hair... but I take that as a compliment because I am her stylist!  Plus I gave her good hair genes.  She gets her ringlets from her Daddy and her thick hair from me.  

I mean.... LOOK at this hair!

I know I'm biased, but I don't know of anyone with better hair!  I wish you could see it in person - the child has beautiful hair!  Long and blond with cascading curls.  It always makes me smile!  And it always makes me think of my Great Aunt Virginia - who really was more my Grandmother than an Aunt.  She was a beautician.  She did my hair forever.  And she always went on and on about my beautiful hair.  She passed away when Sweetpea was almost two.  So she never got to see those beautiful curls.  But I KNOW she would have adored them!


And most in need of comment love?


Hmmm.... I wasn't sure if I should be slightly offended about this or not!  As J said.... It's YOUR FAULT!  LEAVE SOME COMMENTS PEOPLE!  


Just kidding!  I think it's funny!  And like I said.... I'm just surprised and honored that people would even think to nominate me for anything!  So, I'll take it!  I need comment love!  I do LOVE reading your comments!  I see you all lurking out there....  from places I may never had heard of... and places I know quite well.  Just knowing you are reading makes me happy!  Leaving me a comment is just the cherry on top of the sundae!


So.... If you would like to go vote for your favorite bloggers - click HERE!
You will see many names that you recognize, I am sure!  You have until December 31st to vote!


Thank you again!  The love you share through your comments really brightens my world and makes this crazy life with D so much more bearable!