Happy Birthday Elly!

My "little" girl Elly turns 5 on the 18th, and this weekend we had a birthday party for her. I just can't believe that she is going to be 5. I remember the day she was born like yesterday! And next week we will go to Kindergarten Round-up to get her registered for the fall. Ahhhhh!!!!

It was such a fun day and Elly had a great time. She actually appeared kind of overwhelmed most of the time.

She got a lot of really nice things and even was able to have a friend from school come to her party.

The cake was my pride and joy! Since Elly has celiac (as well as being VERY picky!) the option of buying her cake wasn't an option. I wanted to try and make her a cake that didn't totally look homemade, but I also have no training in cake decorating. Elly kept talking about wanting an "Ariel that she could eat" on the cake, and I was able to find a website that sold sugar screens that can be placed on a cake. Elly loved the "baby princesses" one so that is the one that I got. Then, the day before the party, I had to get to work on making her cake. I decided to make a rainbow cake, which means that when you cut into it, the inside is a rainbow of colors. It was super easy to do, but very time consuming as well. But, in the end, everyone loved it and it was TOTALLY worth the time and effort it took to make the cake.




I did find out later that Anne must have REALLY liked the cake, because after finishing her own piece, she was going from plate to plate, finishing other peoples left overs! Little turkey! Needless to day, her blood sugar didn't do well, and it took me most of the night to get her back into range.


For Elly, "D" actually played nice and didn't play too much of a role in the festivities. I was so glad for that and Elly was able to be as much of a kid as she wanted at her own party. Elly got to be a princess and have her own fairytale day, and for that, I am grateful.

Happy birthday to my beautiful girl!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the mother's out there, I hope you have a wonderful mother's day. To my fellow "D" moms, I hope you have a spectacular day. To be a "D" mom is such an extraordinary position, and it is a place that I don't wish on anyone. Every mom worries about their child, but a D mom's worries are beyond comprehension for most "regular" moms. For a D mom, just putting our child to bed at night is terrifying, as we fear that they may not wake up in the morning. I am constantly causing my girls to bleed so I can make sure their blood sugars are OK. I am constantly causing them pain to change infusion and sensor sites. I am constantly scrutinizing everything they eat and counting every carb so I can dose their insulin accordingly. I am constantly sleep-deprived, as I am checking their blood sugars and making sure they are breathing all night long. I do this because I love my girls more than life itself and can't bear to think about my life without them.

I read this on another blog and felt that it was especially pertinent today.This is my life and the life of most other D moms around the world.

A Mother's Promise by Gary Hempleman

She walks down the hallway in silence so deep,
Keep watch over him, as her little one sleeps.
With meter in hand, she opens his door,
Making sure not to wake him as she crosses the floor,
She sits on his bedside and brushes his hair,
As he dreams of shooting baskets, without a "D" care.
She holds his hand softly; his fingers so small,
As she watches and wonders why "D" came to call.
While she watches him sleeping, so peaceful and warm,
The forces inside him fight a constant "D" storm.
Will he ever be free of shots and blood testing?
She sits and she wonders as she watches him resting.
The beep of the meter breaks the silence of the night;
A small drop of blood tells if everything's right.
The seconds count down to the final display,
I hate this damn meter; i want to throw it away.
The number is fine, one down, a lifetime to go,
As he turns in his sleep, will he ever know?
Why does this "D" happen to someone so small?
My son is my hero, but my baby most of all.
She turns at his doorway, looking back one more time,
It's a nightly routine of the very worst kind.
She walks down the hallway and time passes by,
As she sits in dark silence and quietly cries.
I have to stay strong, and for him i will fight,
We'll battle this "D" with all of our might.
I'll teach him to master and conquer this foe,
This "D" will not stop him, I promised him so.
Gary 2001


Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!