It is time!! 


 Time to announce the winner of THE ULTIMATE GIVEAWAY!! 


 The winner of this fantastic giveaway will win coordinating products from Too Sweet Boutique and Skidaddle Bags!


One lucky winner will be getting their very own Dot Hipster bag from Skidaddle Bags!  

This bag is chic and sweet and built to carry your most important diabetes medical supplies. There are three outer pockets ideal for your cell phone, keys and small items. Inside are three netted pockets, four elastics, one hidden pocket and a center pocket ideal for your Glucagon. The inside is insulated and the canvas fabric has been laminated with a matte PVC to keep the bag looking like new.


The winner also wins an incredibly cute coordinating pump or cgm pouch from Too Sweet Boutique!

How darling is this?!? This design is perfect for a stylish gal of any age!

The winner can choose the Simply Practical or the Perfectly Clear pump pouch.  Never fear if you don't wear a traditional pump or even if you are not a pumper!  If you use the Omnipod, you can get the pouch sized to fit the PDM.  You can also get the pouch sized to fit the Dexcom receiver (This is what we do since we are podders!  We love it!).  Or you can use the pouch as a great way to carry a cell phone, clicker, meter, and some tabs!


So you probably want to know who the lucky person is who will be getting these incredible products???


After counting all the entries on this blog and the entries from new fans that were posted on the Facebook walls of Too Sweet Boutique and Skidaddle Bags, we had a total of 247 entries!!!  That's a lot of love!!!  And we all so appreciate your excitement about this incredible giveaway!


After entering the total number into Random.org's random number generator, the lucky number was 160.  


And that number belongs to......


BETHANY RANES!!!


Bethany, you have 48 hours to contact me at theprincessandthepump@gmail.com to claim you wonderful prizes!!  


If you didn't win, that does not mean you are left out!  You can still get your own Dot Hipster from Skidaddle Bags and Black Dot Pump Pouch from Too Sweet Boutique!  I know you will find that the quality is wonderful and you will fall head over heels in love with both of these products!  


Thanks so much for playing!  


 

Too Sweet Boutique and Skidaddle Bags: The Ultimate Giveaway!

Today I have the privilege of sharing with you an incredible giveaway!

Two of my favorite diabetes retailers have joined forces to create some super cute, super functional coordinating products!  They are proving that while we might have to live with diabetes, we can certainly look good doing it!

The first awesome prize is from Too Sweet Boutique! 

Too Sweet Boutique offers fun, functional and fashionable pouches for insulin pumps and diabetes supplies.  If you've been reading my blog very long, you know that Too Sweet pouches are the ONLY pouches that Sweets will wear.  She loves them so much that I often have to sneak them off of her in order to wash them!  They are discreet and easily hid under clothing.  However, they are also so darling that you might just want to show them off! 

Amy, the owner and designer of Too Sweet Boutique, started making pouches after her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 11 months.  Her little sweetie started pumping at 13 months old and Amy decided that to get the best, cutest, most functional pump she was going to have to make it herself!  Amy makes each pump pouch by hand with the very best materials and lots of love!

Too Sweet Boutique is giving away a Black Dot Pump Pouch!

How darling is this?!? This design is perfect for a stylish gal of any age!

The winner can choose the Simply Practical or the Perfectly Clear pump pouch.  (Click HERE to see the different options!)  Never fear if you don't wear a traditional pump or even if you are not a pumper!  If you use the Omnipod, you can get the pouch sized to fit the PDM.  You can also get the pouch sized to fit the Dexcom receiver (This is what we do since we are podders!  We love it!).  Or you can use the pouch as a great way to carry a cell phone, clicker, meter, and some tabs!

The second incredible item is from Skiddadle Bags!
 
Skidaddle Bags are changing the look of diabetes - one bag at a time!  Skidaddle Bags are made from the finest materials to ensure easy care and durability.  We all know our diabetes bags take a licking - and we need something that can hold up to everyday use. But we also want something that is cute!

That is exactly why Maria, owner of Skidaddle Bags, started designing bags!  Maria has a super sweet little girl of her own who was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 4.  One day her daughter told her that she wished she could have a "happy" bag for all of her diabetes supplies.  And with that - an idea was born!  Skidaddle makes bags that are functional and durable - but also CUTE and nothing to be embarrassed about carrying around.

Skidaddle Bags is giving away a Black Dot Hipster!

Is that not one of the most stylish bags you've ever seen?!?

Chic and sweet, the hipster is built to carry your most important diabetes medical supplies. There are three outer pockets ideal for your cell phone, keys and small items. Inside are three netted pockets, four elastics, one hidden pocket and a center pocket ideal for your Glucagon. The inside is insulated and the canvas fabric has been laminated with a matte PVC to keep the bag looking like new. Just wipe and go. The dimensions are 7" x 9.5" x 2".

To see a look at the inside of this beautiful bag, click HERE. 

Can you just imagine how awesome you or your sweet one would look with these coordinating diabetes supplies?!? 

I know you want to win these prizes....  So here's what you need to do.  Pay attention.  The rules have changed!

1.  You must do all of these things to get ONE entry. 

- Like Too Sweet Boutique on Facebook

- Like Skidaddle Bags on Facebook

- Like The Princess and The Pump on Facebook

Once you have liked all three pages, leave a comment on this blog saying that you have done so.

2.  You can earn an extra entry to doing each of the following:

- Blog about the giveaway
- Facebook about the giveaway
- Tweet about the giveaway

Once you have done one of these things, leave a comment on this blog saying that you have done so.
 

3.  You can earn UNLIMITED entries for each new fan you send to both pages.  So ask your friends to head over to Too Sweet Boutique and Skidaddle Bags on Facebook and leave a comment on each page saying that they are a new fan sent by "Suzy Q".

Don't forget to leave your first name on all entries.  Entries with no name will not be counted.

Once the giveaway has ended, we will count and number the entries.  The winner will then be selected by random draw at Random.org.  

You have until Monday, March 26, 2012 at 12:00 am EST to enter.  The winner will be posted on this blog on Wednesday, March 27, 2012. 

Good Luck!

Happy Birthday, Sweets!

Today, my baby turns SIX years old!

How did this happen???

I keep telling her that she is not allowed to be six.  I told her I was only putting five candles on her cake.  She said that she was turning six no matter how many candles she had.  So there. 

What's a mom to do?!?

We are in the midst of BIRTHDAY WEEK!  We had her birthday party for her friends Saturday night.  In the past, we have always combined our family party with our closest friends.  But this year... she wanted a REAL friend party.

The plan was a gymnastics party.  We had it booked and everything.  Then she broke her arm.  And out the window that went...  That was really the biggest thing that she was upset about concerning her arm.  I felt bad.  So I asked her what her second choice was...  And she said a sleepover party.

Ugh.

How much did I NOT want to do that?  But....  It's what she wanted!  So we did it!

She invited three of her closest friends and they had a BLAST!  She was a little miffed about having to stop the fun and test but other than that it all went well!

In fact, I had to laugh.  One of the things that she wanted to do was decorate cookies.  So we did.  But with all the excitement and running around, she was running on the lower side.  Not low.  Just low-ish.  All the kiddos were sitting around the table ready to decorate and waiting on Sweets to test.  They all have known her forever - so they all know about diabetes and testing.  And as we are testing Sweets, they all start saying, "Test me next!  It's my turn next!  Me!  Me!"  Only at a CWD's party would one of the games be "testing our blood sugar"!

There was pizza, cupcakes, sugar cookies, globs of icing....  And I totally SWAG'd it all.  And lookie here.... 

She even held steady between 90-150 all night - with about 20 g free before bed!

I'd DEFINITELY call it a success on the bg front!

But the best part was that she had FUN!  She got to do what her friends do.  She was so incredibly happy!  No matter that she has a broken arm and type 1 diabetes... she was just like everyone else!  That is priceless!

So, on this day, I will leave you with a special birthday message for my little girl.

Sweetpea,

I can't believe you are six years old!  That's not a baby anymore... You are growing up so fast I can hardly believe it.  No matter, you will ALWAYS be my baby...

You are such an incredible little girl.  You are so full of life, so full of excitement and joy and wonder!  I love how independent you are and how you insist on doing things for yourself. 

You are such a fighter.  Nothing holds you back.  Nothing stops you.  Your spirit and strength is such an inspiration to me. 

You are the bravest person I know.  You never complain.  You just keep going. 

I would do just about anything if it meant that you could live your life without diabetes.  I would give anything to be able to take it from you.  As your Mom, I want so desperately for you to live a long and healthy life.  And I despise diabetes at times for messing with you.  No one messes with my little girl.

But I want you to know that although we may struggle with this disease, it never lessens my love for you.  I love YOU for who you are.  And that includes diabetes.  Diabetes will never change the way I feel about you.  I knew you were a miracle the minute I laid eyes on you.  And nothing has changed that.  If I could go pick out a child from all the people in the whole world, I'd pick you.  Just the way you are.  Each and every time.  With never a hesitation. 

You are such an incredible gift!  You may get presents on your birthday - but your Dad and I got the best present ever the day you were born.  YOU.

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl!  I love you more than you will ever know!

Love, Mom

Today is the Day

Today is the day.

Today is the day we join together in lifting up the Schuhmacher family in prayer.



Today I heard a song on the radio that I felt was perfect.

It was "Today is the Day".  It's playing right now on the playlist.

Listen to the words...

Today is the day you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

Today is the day you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

I putting my fears aside

I'm leaving my doubts behind

I'm giving my hopes and dreams to you

Jesus

I'm reaching my hands to yours

Believing there's so much more

Knowing that all you have in store for me is good

Is good

Today is the day you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

Today is the day you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

  

And i won't worry about tomorrow

I'm giving you my fears and sorrows

Where you lead me I will follow

I'm trusting in what you say

Today is the day

This has been an emotional week.  I don't know about you, but I'm a worrier.  I worry a lot. 

This week I've been worried about Meri, Ryan and the boys.  I can't stop thinking about them.  My heart hurts for what they are going through.

And I'll be honest.  In true worrier fashion, this news has made my worry explode.  I have been worried about not just them but myself and my family.  I'm embarrassed to admit this.  I feel guilty worrying about us.  It's just that I know how fragile life is...  and how it CAN happen to you... 

Something that I have really held to this week is the command God has given us to "fear not".  God tells us over and over again to not be afraid.  I have a feeling that there is a reason for this...  He knows that lots of us struggle with this. 

This is also something I've prayed about for Meri and Ryan...  I have prayed not only for a miracle and for healing... but also for peace.

Hearing the words of that song...

"I won't worry about tomorrow.  I'm giving up my fears.... I'm trusting in what You say...."

This has helped to calm my anxious heart. 

But not just these words...  Something else has really worked on my heart as well.

As I posted a few days ago, we (some amazing D Mamas) have created a Facebook for people to post well wishes and prayers to Ryan and Meri.  And the love started rolling in....  Prayers from all over the world!  Facebook became a sea of this photo...

It gave me chills.

But that's still not all...

We also have created a place where people can give financially to the Schuhmacher family.  Because we know that medical expenses can be overwhelming.  And for those of us living far away....  We can't take over dinner.  We can't help watch the boys.  We can't be there physically....  but we can send prayers and we can send money. 

And then the financial support started rolling in...  And it's not about how much people give.  It's that people care enough to send something.  No amount is too small.  People are seeing a need and meeting it in any way that they can.

It's simply amazing.

Through the love of others I have seen my worries begin to subside.  The love of others has truly strengthened my faith. 

I have gone from being very, very worried for my friend to being so full of love and wonder that fear has no place.  I have gone from being anxious to being ready to see them receive their miracle. 

You know, I didn't grow up learning a lot about God.  We went to church - but I never learned anything is Sunday school.  And then when I was a teen I just detested the hypocrisy that I saw in organized religion.  It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I found a church home and really started learning about God.  It wasn't until then I really had any kind of relationship with God.

So praying was something that was super uncomfortable for me. But thanks to some wonderful ladies in a prayer group, I learned to pray.  I learned that I didn't have to be formal.  I didn't have to follow a script.  There wasn't some kind of secret language to make it work.  I learned that all I really had to do was talk to God like I would a close friend.  All I had to do was express myself with a humble, open heart. 

So maybe you don't feel like you know how to pray.  Maybe you don't know what to say.  Maybe you aren't even sure about God.  That's ok. 

Today, I don't think it matters what religion you are.  I don't think it matters if you don't really have a religion.  I don't think that how you worship is what is most important. 

I think what is most important is that you just do whatever you feel in heart.  Just take a look at the Facebook page.  Take a look at the giving site.  And then join with us in praying for a miracle. 

Today is the day.

Today is the day we join together in lifting up the Schuhmacher family in prayer.

Today is the day we bombard the gates of Heaven asking for a miracle.

Today is the day.

And tomorrow, and the next and the next and the next... 

We know that Meri and Ryan won't stop fighting. 

The least we can do is continue lifting them up and wrapping them in love and prayer.

Won't you please join me?

For more information and to keep up to date with Ryan's progress, like The Schuhmacher Family's Miracle page on Facebook. 

To donate, click HERE to be taken to the giving site.

Medical Fundaising Made Simple

 

The Smell of Life

A smell can instantly bring to mind a memory.

I'm sure there are smells that can transport you back in time...  Your Aunt's apple pie, the smell of your high school boyfriend's cologne (J wants me to clarify that is not necessarily a GOOD memory!), freshly cut grass, salty sea air, the baby shampoo you used on your newborn, a certain kind of flower...

Smell is a powerful sense.

Can you guess the smell that reminds me of Sweetpea's first year? 

Nope, it's not J&J Lavendar Baby Bath.  It's not that new baby smell.  It's not warm milk. 

It's Spray-N-Wash.

Every time I smell it, it's like she is a baby all over again!

You see, about a week after Sweets was born she was diagnosed with reflux.  And it was bad.  I'm talking projectile spewing bad.  All the time. 

A few examples: 

Sweets and my Mom went with me to my 8 week post delivery appointment.  In the waiting room, a sweet older lady stopped by our seats to Goo and Gah over baby Sweets.  We informed this sweet woman about her tendancy to projectile spit.  She pretty much ignored us and took a seat close by.  It wasn't but 5 minutes later that Sweets spit up and it flew from where she was sitting in her car seat across the room in this huge arc and made a mess all over the floor.  The look on the woman's face was priceless!

When Sweets was about 6 months old, I had to go back to work.  She was being taken care of by a wonderful woman who lived down the street.  She had grown kids of her own and had watched other children for years.  I told her about the spit.  I could tell that she didn't really believe me.  The first day I packed a LOT of bibs and burp cloths.  She thought I was nuts.  But when I picked her up that afternoon, after telling me she had a great day, she said, "You weren't kidding about the spit.  I've never seen a kid spit so much!". 

Sweets spent the first year of her life dealing with this.  She took medicine which kept it from burning her throat but didn't keep it from coming up.  Sweets lived in bibs.  She wore "fancy" ones that matched her outfits when we went out but for everyday use nothing was better than the cheap ones from Wal Mart with the plastic backs. 

The only thing we could find to get the spit out of the cloths and bibs and her clothes and our clothes and her toys and the cat.... was Spray-N-Wash.  And that smell reminds me of that time in her life.

I was thinking about this the other day after we had done a pod change. I got insulin on my hands while we were switching pods. 

And that stuff is STRONG. If you've never smelled it...  a lot of people think it smells like band aids.  But it's more like band aids - if you were in a room so full of them that you couldn't move.  It is a REALLY strong odor.

And it doesn't just come off with a little soap and water. It sticks around. 

Later that day, in the middle of doing something totally non-D related, I smelled it. Insulin.

And I wondered... Will THAT be the smell that reminds me of her childhood?  Will I forever associate the smell of insulin not just with diabetes but Sweetpea's life? Will I be 80 years old and smell that smell and be instantly transported back in time?

I am pretty sure the answer is yes.


And that makes me feel a few different ways...

Part of me feels sad that I associate my little girl's childhood with the smell of a drug. Aren't little girls supposed to smell of Barbie perfume and Hello Kitty bubble bath?  Aren't you supposed to associate the smell of childhood with things like the smell or warm suntan lotion after a day at the pool?  Or freshly washed hair?  Or bubble gum toothpaste?  Or newly mown grass clinging tolittle bare feet?  Or the sweet smell of their breath at night when they have fallen asleep on your shoulder?

There's a part of me that feels sad that there is this OTHER smell hanging around. 

And really, not just insulin.  But the smell of alcohol wipes and adhesive remover, too.  A clinical smell.  It makes me sad.  And a little mad.  And a lot wistful.

But there's another part of me that doesn't feel that way.

There is a part of me that smells that strong odor and feels....  Grateful. 

Because without that smell.... I wouldn't have my little girl. 

And I wouldn't have all of those good smells. 

So, whenever I smell that insulin... before I wrinkle my nose...  I'm going to try to remember to feel thankful and grateful that we live in a time and in a country and in a place where we have access to insulin.  I'm going to feel grateful that my little girl is happy and healthy and thriving. 

Because insulin is really the smell of life.