I Heart My Family

Over the weekend, I got an email from Parent's Magazine saying that I had been nominated for a Best Mom Blog Award in the category of Kids Health!

By Best Kids Health Blog

WOW!  I was speechless!

There are lots of wonderful blogs nominated.  I am definitely in good company!  And I found some really cool blogs in the different categories.  One made me almost spit coke out my nose!

I would be totally honored if you went on over and voted for me!  All you have to do is click HERE.  If you don't already have an account, you'll be asked to create one.  I know that can be a pain so THANKS for doing it for me!

But it's not just for ME.  It's really for all of us.  We stand united in this community.  We work together to raise awareness.  To educate.  To advocate.  This is a wonderful way to get the word out about what it's like to live with type 1 diabetes.  It is a fantastic opportunity.  And I am so completely honored to be representing "us"!

We are a family here in the DOC.  We stand by each other.  We work together.  We care.  We encourage.  We support.  With every post.  With every email.  With every comment.  And I am so thankful to be a part of this community!

I really do consider you all to be family!  And I (heart) my family!

To the person who nominated me - whoever you may be...

THANK YOU.  Your love and support for me and my blog is amazing.  It truly means the world to me.

Especially today.

Because, you see, this is not the post I had planned for today.

Because as you are reading this, I will be sitting in a hospital waiting room while my Dad has open heart surgery.

If you are the praying type of person - prayers are much appreciated!!

I normally don't write about things that are not - in some way - related to diabetes.  This IS a diabetes blog, after all.  However, diabetes does seem to soak itself into many aspects of our lives.  And this is no exception.

As you may know, Sweetpea LOVES her Mimi and Gaga.

They have taken care of her every day after school for the past two years.  She rarely goes more than a day without seeing them or talking to them on the phone.  They, of course, think the sun rises and sets in her.  And the feeling is mutual.

Sweets and Gaga are a pair.  They are always together.  Great buddies.  He can get her to do things that no one else can.  He can calm her down when she gets into a mood.  She even lets HIM brush her hair!!  (That's HUGE!)

We love him very much!  He's not only a wonderful Gaga, but he's also a wonderful father.  And I do (heart) my Dad!  He was at the hospital every day when she diagnosed.  He learned how to count carbs and test blood sugar and give shots.  He comforted Sweets AND me.  He will drop everything to bring her blankie over when she's left it at their house.  He will play cars for hours.  He drove J to the hospital not long ago when Sweets had the seizures and she and I were taken by ambulance.  He scratches her back.  And reads her stories.  And he always gets more kisses than Mimi!

So, naturally, she would be worried about him being in the hospital.  Any child would.  But most 5 year old just don't quite "get" what goes on there.

Unless the 5 year old has type 1 diabetes and has spent quite a bit of time in hospitals herself.  More than your average bear, anyway.

She's worried.  She asks questions.

"When is the ambulance coming for him?"  (SHE went to the hospital in an ambulance.  So she thinks he will, too.)
"Will he be in a wheelchair?"
"Will he have tubes hooked up to him?"
"Will he have to get shots?"
"Will they take his blood?"
"Is there a playroom?"

"WHY does he need a new heart?"

She thinks about it.  And has been asking questions for a few weeks. She's even started to cry a few times.

Which is not good.  That makes ME start to cry.  But if I cry, SHE will totally lose it.  So I have to keep it in check.

It's just another example of how diabetes affects all aspects of life.

Not necessarily in a bad way - because I think it has definitely made her more empathetic to other people. 

It just makes our lives... different.

So... THANK YOU!

Thank you for the love.
Thank you for the support.
Thank you for VOTING for me!!!
And thank you for the prayers!