The Day We Became a T1D Family

    I am excited for November, I have always loved the cool weather, beautiful leaves and upcoming holiday season, this year I am excited because it is National Diabetes Awareness Month.  As a mom of a three year old diabetic I would like to share a little of the start of our journey with you.  February 13, 2013 is a day that will forever be branded into my memory.  I had been watching some of B's behavior for over a month and had researched it; "extreme thirst and increased urination" led me to websites about Type 1 Diabetes but symptoms also included increased appetite which wasn't present (if anything he was eating less) and things I couldn't ask him about at 22 months such as blurred vision and dizziness. 
   Finally, I didn't know what else to do- I could tell something was wrong, friends were commenting how sick he looked and that he had lost weight- I took him to the doctor.  After discussing symptoms, his blood glucose was checked three times, it didn't register on their meter and he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  That was it.  So final.  Even though I knew it was a possibility it still hit me like a ton of bricks.  The doctor could see my concern and stopped talking mid-scentence to say, "Taking him to the emergency room is a matter of urgency not emergency. Get him there today, it will be okay."  I came out and called Leo, he miraculously was out of clinic already for the day and five minutes away and he met me at home.  I called my mom and heard her cheery voice say, "Hello!" I broke down and started sobbing.  "Jamie, what's wrong?  Are you okay?"  "Bax has diabetes!  We have to take him to the emergency room to get his blood sugars stabilized." I cried a little bit more, my mom tried to comfort me from across the country and I promised I would call when I knew more.  We went home and packed a bag and got B lunch because we knew he wouldn't be eating any time soon.  We called Leo's parents and Leo answered questions that I had no answers for as I drove to the hospital.
    We showed the nurses at check-in the note from Bax's doctor and were ushered into the back to be treated before we had a chance to ask how long it would be.  Bax was put into a gown and had IVs and tubes sticking out of his arms, he was crying, "Home, Mom, please! Mom, PLEASE!" as I held him as tight as I could as I cried when he was snuggled into my chest so he couldn't see me.  We waited for an ambulance to take us to the downtown children's hospital because the site that we were at couldn't admit him because of his age and needing insulin.  While we waited the doctors and nurses brought back lab results and played with our tiny boy.  His blood glucose came in at 724, not as high as most when they are initially diagnosed but high enough to cause problems.  His potassium levels were 9 (normal is 4) and he was required an EKG to make sure there were no heart problems related to increased levels, his triglycerides were not able to be measured in their lab because they were too elevated.  The next morning we found out that he was over 4000, a normal is below 150.
Bax had a wonderful ride to the other hospital in an ambulance and the staff were all impressed at how sweet and alert he was.  They said that most people are so out of it when they are first diagnosed that they can stick the IVs without any fight and they are usually too dehydrated to produce tears.  They said that B was a fighter.

    Dad stayed at the hospital with him that night and I went home to get bags for us and a few toys and movies for Bax.  When I got back to the hospital in the morning, B was up and was drinking his first juice in about 16 hours, he didn't want anyone to help him and he struggled to drink from the straw on the juicebox with the boards on his arms.  We were treated to visits from dieticians, nurses, diabetes educators, residents and specialists for three days and were taught how to care for him, how to count carbs, how to calculate insulin dosing for food and high blood sugars.  By the second day in the afternoon we were both pricking his finger to check his blood and by the next morning giving him insulin injections under the supervision of nurses.  I didn't know how we were going to do it, it went against EVERY fiber of my being to inflict pain on our son and here I was, hurting him to keep him alive, with a smile on my face so he couldn't tell how totally freaked out I was.
    After three days we were being sent home with supplies, ten prescriptions to pick up, emergency numbers and hearts full of sorrow, terror, peace, and gratitude for the events of the past days.  I don't remember a lot about our first days, I do remember waking up every 3 hours (if I got to sleep at all) and dreading each time I had to find him to check his blood. 
    Fast forward 20 1/2 months and we are where we are at now.  B is fluent in diabetes, he helps check his own blood he has an infectious smile and is my hero.  He is so sweet and talks about diabetes with anyone that asks and he has accepted it for now.  Each day is an adventure that I didn't anticipate and as bad as it might sound, I don't know that I would change it.  We have learned much as a family, we have witnessed B's strength and wisdom as his childhood was stripped from him and we try to preserve what is left of it.  B is an inspiration to others and a lot of people have been educated about this auto-immune disease including me.  We still don't sleep through the night most of the time but it is a small price to pay for the blessings and lessons we have been privy to.

Creamy, Delicious Alfredo Sauce

Sauteed veggies with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese nestled up to our creamy alfredo sauce poured onto chicken tenderloins and delicious Amish noodles=one delicious meal that I felt guilty eating the whole time.  But I didn't have too, all that guilt I could have saved up to use on Leo or Baxter later, wasted over this sauce.  The basic alfredo is cream, butter, parmesan cheese.  This sauce is chicken broth, garlic, light cream, light butter, CAULIFLOWER.  It is delightful! 

I did weight watchers points plus program, they assign "points" to food, 1 cup of rice is 5 points while 1 cup of pasta is 10-10 WHOPPING points for pasta!  I found these Amish noodles that have only 5 points-delight!  Grill the chicken seasoned with pepper and garlic salt, delight! Add this delectable sauce, perfection! 

The sauce recipe:  Bring 2 cans of non-fat chicken broth to a boil, add 1 medium sized head of cauliflower chopped into pieces and cook for 10-15 minutes, the mushier it is the better it will blend.  In a separate sauce pan, saute 1.5 TBSP minced garlic, freshly ground pepper and 1 TBSP butter then add a splash of cream ( I used about 1/4-1/3 cup). Throw the cauliflower in the broth and the cream mixture in a blender until it is smooth and serve over your noodles or pizza crust or whatever tickles your fancy!

My Favorite Goodies (all on one plate)

Since September I have been baking, every fall it is the same ol' story, I bake for four months straight and try to perfect my favorite recipes.  This year I tackled chocolate cupcakes with peppermint butter cream frosting, sugar cookies and royal icing and something that I refer to is "ooey gooey deliciousness".  I am going to share the recipes with you now, you can stop salivating and start cooking. 

I don't mind work but I am super busy with everything I have going on so I like to find the easiest way to do things.  There is nothing easier than this recipe. 

Mix together in large bowl:
6.5 Cups Rice Chex                   
6.5 Cups Golden Grahams
1 Cup slivered almonds
1 Cup coconut

In a large saucepan combine:
1 Cup butter
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup corn syrup
Bring to a boil and boil for 3-4 minutes, pour over the combined dry ingredients in portions, I normally pour on 1/3, stir, add another 1/3, stir, add the last 1/3 stir.  Lay out on wax paper to cool while stirring occasionally.  Go ahead and steal a few bites before it is cool, the burnt tongue is totally worth it!

I found the recipe for these sugar cookies at this amazing blog. These are the easiest sugar cookies I have ever made and delicious!  The only thing I will say is that I use salted butter so when doubling I only add a single portion of salt otherwise it is just too much.    The cookies are beautifully buttery, a simple yet comforting flavor, a delightful crisp texture and are so fast and easy to make.  I doubled the recipe and made about 30 cookies a little larger than a softball and decorated them in just under 2 hours.  The best part is no refrigeration time! 

Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt (remember to only use a single portion when doubling if using salted butter)
2 cups flour

Cream butter, add the rest of the ingredients in order.  This is a soft dough but if you roll it out on a lightly floured surface it will form perfectly and be a great texture, if you add too much flour it will be dry and brittle.  Roll out to about 1/8"-1/4" thick and cut. Bake at 325 for 12-15 minutes, cool and frost as desired.

I have always made my own frosting without measuring, I just add ingredients until it looks and tastes right.  A few TBSP melted butter, about a TBSP hot water, a splash of vanilla and a mound of powdered sugar, yum!  But I wanted to try a more finished look so I wanted to use royal icing.  Royal icing is gorgeous, it can be a finicky medium but if you work quickly- and with some practice- it goes rather quickly.  I use Alton Brown's recipe.

Royal Icing

3 oz (6 TBSP) pasteurized egg whites beat until light and frothy
add 1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar (add gradually until you reach the thickness you want)

The best way to check the thickness is to allow some of the icing to drip back into the bowl, if it melds back within a few seconds you are good to go.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Butter Cream Frosting, is there anything more Christmas-y and refreshing?  I love these little babies!  I am going to disclose a recipe that won me second place at the Brown County Fair last September.  Since then I have tweaked the recipe a bit and I won't disclose it here just yet as I am competing with it again next year, but I will give you the original.

Cupcakes

Sift together:
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add:
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla

Slowly pour in 1 cup boiling water and mix well.  Pour into pans, bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes (I like to lightly touch the top and if it is still a little soft but bounces back it is done and not too dry).  I also like to pour the batter into a pitcher for easier pouring.  This will make a 9x13 pan or 2 dozen cupcakes.

Here is the deal folks. I do not have frosting recipes.  I mix and measure and add until I like it.  I will tell you about how I do it and hopefully you will find success as I have.  First I cream about 1 cup of room temperature butter until it is light and airy.  Then I add about 1.5 cups2 cups of powdered sugar, a little milk, a little more powdered sugar.  If I had to guess I would say I end up adding 3.5 - 4 cups of powdered sugar total.  I then smash up 6-8 peppermint candy canes in my tiny handy food processor and add it to the frosting for flavoring. 

I hope you enjoy your frosting and the rest of your goodies.  PLEASE tell me how they turn out! 

A New Song for Your Listening Pleasure

Toby Turner's The Sideburn Song

I was just introduced to this by one of my seminary students and oh. My. Gosh.  I have watched it a few times and downloaded it from itunes.  It cracks me up!  I never really thought to much about sideburns not having them myself and I love how Mr. Turner has taken a mundane, everyday inanimate object such as side burns and writes a song about it.  This may or may not be the best link for me to post as you will undoubtedly think, "Wow, this girl is ridiculous!" and you will never look at my blog again, but to myself I must be true so I am going to share this slice of comedic heaven with you.  Smile big ladies and gents!

A New Year, A New Goal

Hi all!  It is a new year and I am adequately jazzed!  I am going to try to change the tone of our family blog instead of just being my insights to the events that happen in our lives to a review of projects, recipes, activities with the family, books, music, etc.  Hopefully you will find something here that you enjoy and will bring a smile to your face.  I love to create and make, but I am also a little lazy (honesty-just one of my best qualities) so I aim for all things simple.  I turn to pintrest for inspiration but tend to simplify things just a bit or tweak them to make them my own.  I hope to share with you through out this year some of the things that I love about being a mom and housewife.  I am looking forward to the recipes I will share with you (all will be tested and Jamie approved- I see no point in passing on sub par info, only the best from me!) and hopefully we can laugh and giggle a little together.  Next week I am planning on posting a recipe and hopefully some pics from a project I am going to do.  See you next bat time same bat place!

Family Update

I love my life.  I have a sexy husband and an incredible little boy, great brothers and sisters on both sides of our family and amazing parents (both sets!).  We live in a comfortable home with great neighbors, we are blessed to have our needs met.  We are learning about being apart and hating it, so that's always a good sign, yes?  B is growing and learning so much and I love watching him, he is different every day.  I am so blessed.  Heavenly Father takes wonderful care of us, supplying us with what we need, compensating for our shortcomings as individuals and parents, I am thankful for a God that is present and aware of our family.  Leo works so hard and has been blessed with a firmer, fuller understanding of his studies as he is preparing for his boards.  I have been blessed with projects and the ability to work on school for myself while Leo is working on his degree.  I do miss my family in UT but I am finally realizing that I do know what I am doing and I am a competent person that can do all with God on my side.  I am thankful for the experiences that I have had in my life to prepare me for this grand adventure that I am on with my eternal family.  We genuinely enjoy each other.  That is a huge blessing to me and one that I don't take for granted.  I love it all.  Every moment of responsibility and the "payoffs" that come after fulfilling that responsibility.  I wouldn't change a thing about my life (except maybe having Leo home more).  

What a delightful 9 months

Baxter is such a big boy! We can't believe how much fun we have with him and the joy that he brings to our lives. This is his Halloween picture, at playgroup he dressed up as a bear and for trick or treating he was a monkey.
Baxter is also doing great at growing his teeth, getting his haircut, army crawling, and (dah-dah-dah-dah!) pulling himself up! He has been trying for a while but on Friday he finally did it and since then he has pulled himself up on toy boxes, his walker and the couch! What a big fella!

He says "Hi" and "dada, daddy, dad". He waves and can even walk when we hold onto his hands. The other day we went in to get him out of bed and he was trying to stand up so we had to move his crib mattress down.

We also went to see Santa yesterday and he loved it! He was quite taken with Santa's beard and kept smiling at him. We are getting excited for Baxter's first Christmas season and can't wait for him to get to open his presents and play with the paper and boxes but leave the actual gift for next year.