if you can't beat 'em...

Everyday at school,  Zeke collects rocks. He puts them in his pocket. Everyday, I wash the pants (and rocks). Everyday, I open the dryer because he rocks are loud and annoying. I worry that they are going to dent the dryer, scratch the dryer or rip the clothes. So, I pull them out. You would think I would check the pants pockets before I wash the pants so I don't have to hear them in the dryer, but I don't. Don't know why I don't. I just don't. 

I hate the rocks!

Well, I hated the rocks until today...

Today, I pulled out a rock from the dryer and I actually looked at it. Usually, I just throw them in the garbage or outside. Stupid annoying rocks...

The rock was pretty. Actually, really pretty. In a rock sort of way. 

Then, I imagined my little guy finding such a pretty rock. He must have been delighted by it. So much so, that he decided it was good enough to save. I thought about him on the playground taking a minute for himself. Away from all the kids, the teacher's demands and the noise. Only for moment he took some time for himself everyday and found a cool looking rock. "Good for him!", I thought.

So, I went into the kitchen and I found a pretty vase and I put all this week's rocks in it. I will use it in my laundry room as a reminder to myself to take simple moment everyday for me. Just me. 

I won't tell my little guy that I am collecting his rocks though. No. Then, he would start collecting them for me. That will change which rocks HE chooses. It will make me part of his alone time. He needs this and I won't butt in. I will leave it sacred. 

One day, when he gets his first office. I will transfer the rocks into a manly jar and I will give them back to him as a present. He can use it as a bookend or a cool decoration. But, more importantly he can see it as a reminder to stop and take a moment out of a new busy day - just for himself. 

Hope Zeke inspires you too to collect a rock now and again!

Disney Loves Kids with Diabetes!

Like almost every mother out there, I have always wanted to treat the boys to a trip to Disneyworld.

I went when I was four and I still remember It's A Small World, the way the fur on Pluto's suit felt when he hugged me for the picture and the way my 1970's polyester dress scratched my first degree sunburned shoulders. I also remember the magical world that is Disney.

As much as I think of the magic, every time I have considered a trip to Disneyworld over the past six years, there are other thoughts that entered my mind:

• Screaming infants on a delayed flight

• Portable cribs in a hotel room

• Heavy double stroller.

• Hot sweaty babies.

• Toddlers having tantrums

• Grumpy four year olds.

• Blood sugars rising because of tantalizing treats beautifully displayed.

• Blood sugars falling because of walking for hours.

• Heavy $5 bottles of water.

• Pumps being taken off and put back on because of pools and water parks.

• Security for twin toddlers.

• Packing all of the diabetes supplies.

• Spending at least $4,000 in five days.

• Heavy backpacks filled with kid stuff.

• My own healing heart as I troop through 90 degree weather with two toddlers and a husband who doesn't like crowds.

So, needless to say, we never went.  Anywhere.  Any consideration of a family vacation also brought up the same thoughts.

Until last Thanksgiving, when we went to Texas to visit my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their kids. You know what? It was awesome! The packing of the diabetes supplies wasn't bad at all. Blood sugars ran well. Family was awesome! And the boys LOVED their first flight!

This experience made me brave enough to research a Disney trip. We haven't booked it yet, but I was talking to my friend Amy about ripping the Band Aid off once and for all and she sent me this link:

http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-type-1-diabetes/

It is Disney's on-line parenting site. Much to my surprise, they have a separate tab about Type 1 Diabetes!  I have learned that Denise Jonas (diabetic Nick Jonas's mom) and Lilly Diabetes have teamed up with Disney to launch an area in the Disney world that is all about Type 1 diabetes!

Denise and Lilly also feature Coco the monkey, a new character that has Type 1 diabetes. Wow!! This is so exciting!  Click here for the details:

http://www.diabetesdaily.com/edelman/2011/07/meet-coco-1st-disney-character-with-diabetes/

Another "diabetes mom" friend told me that when you book on 1-800-Disney, all you have to say is that your child is diabetic.  Then, they start asking you his or her insulin regiment, insulin type, special dietary requirements and all sorts of other questions on taking care of your child! Wow! Thanks Nick and Denise Jonas and the folks at Lilly! I am less scared to go now!

Once I actually book the trip, I will blog the entire experience and keep you all in the loop on the pitfalls and exciting things that happen to us during the trip. Stand by...

Anyway, let me know if you order anything from Cindy or if you go or have gone to Disneyworld. I would love to hear about your experiences!

Here are three other wonderful websites I found that you may enjoy!

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/know-your-rights/discrimination/public-accommodations/air-travel-and-diabetes/

http://allears.net/pl/diabetes.html

http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/lifestyle/traveling_with_diabetes/disney_with_diabetes

Robyn at Travel with the magic travel agency says she knows everything there is to know about diabetes at the park! Her husband and her son both have Type 1 diabetes so she knows first hand the perks and pitfalls of traveling to Disney with diabetes. You can see her website at www.travelwiththemagic.com and you can reach out to her at Robyn@travelwiththemagic.com.
Tell her you got her name from www.everydayhighsandlows.com and she will treat you extra specially!

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/passengers-diabetes

http://childrenwithdiabetes.com/clinic/flying.html

I need a shower!

I came up with a great idea today! 

I went to a friend's bridal shower and she opened a present that was a cool bowl that can convert from a cake plate to a veggies and dip plate to a trifle bowl. It was awesome and I wanted one. Then, she got a new shiny toaster. Ooohhhhh! Then, she got a new matching set of kitchen utensils. 

Right there, I flashed to my current week's project - the utensil drawer. Ugh! I hate this drawer so it only gets attended to about once a year. Obviously, now is the time. 

See, nothing matches. Nothing is shiny or new. It is used up, broken up and mismatched. It is an array of 14 years worth of stops at the store to replace what's broken.

When I got home, I made chili but as I opened my least favorite drawer in the house, I could not find a scooping spoon. Nowhere! I looked in every drawer. The dishwasher. The cabinets. The only thing I could find was a slotted spoon. For chili???

I ended up taking the pot and dumping it into the bowls. Very classy.

I thought to myself, "I need a shower". Not the kind that makes you clean (although most days I need that too) but the kind where your best friends and family bring you new, fun stuff for your house! Various beautiful towels, a new bedding set, or new tissue holder. Yes, I need a shower. 

So I have an idea. Let's make a universal rule that if you stay married for twenty years- you get one. That's fair right? If you muster up enough energy to put up with the same person for twenty years, you deserve a treat. No, I don't need a cruise with my man. I need new stuff! 

The best part is you can register again!!! And this time you won't be needing the cappuccino maker, donut maker, parifin wax hand thing, or even the foot soaker. You will register for stuff you use everyday! You will replace your gross nasty pans, your warped cookie sheets and get a set of utensils that match and can scoop chili.

While we are at it, let's create a spinster shower too. If you have turned forty and have never had a bridal shower and have gone to more than three showers in your life - you get one too! My best friend has attended and bought over 100 gifts for friends and has yet to find the love of her life. She has gotten ripped off! She needs a shower too! Sorry, Jen that I called you a "spinster" but I am attempting to get you free stuff so I didn't think you would care.

Ok, are you in? Feel free to "like" this post on Facebook! Tweet it to your friends! Let's spread the word so we can let everyone know about the new American expectation. Hell with it. Let's call it the new Universal Rule because I have readers all over the world and I am sure you ladies in Dublin or India want some new cool stuff too, right? Isn't this how Valentine's Day got started? And we didn't even have Twitter then! With your help, it should work.

I will keep you posted and let you know when the rule becomes official! Thanks for your help!