Feeling Like This Today! :)

It Takes a Village

Last night I was at a Walk a Thon meeting for the kids' school. There were several moms there, many who have become close friends over the years. After the meeting ended conversations moved to our kids and the camps they are currently attending and it eventually moved toward a conversation around Annalyse an how her blood glucose numbers have been low at camp. As an observer/listener, I listened to this group of moms problem solve how to keep her bs number up at camp. It was amazing. So much love and care for my little Anna. I am so lucky!

Two full days and it's going ok....

Well, it's been two full days at work. Monday was a pretty late night. I had meetings until 5 o'clock and tehn worked until 6:30 in my office until I met with the "leaders" from First Pres. Church of Bellevue who has adopted our school this year and will spend Saturday with our staff getting ready for school to start. Very nice people with very big hearts. Today was a "regular" day at work.......sort of. I spent the day with the other principals in Bellevue learning about professional learning communities and getting ready for staff development for this year. It's a big change for me to be full-time, it's been eight years. On one hand, I love the challenges that are being set forth for me at school. On the other hand, I really miss the kids. My mom has been great as have all of my friends. It's just not me........ transition.

This week the kids are going to VBS. Julianne told my mom today how thankful she was that God created plungers because last night the toilet overflowed and "daddy" had to use the plunger to fix it! Too cute.

Once Upon a Time

Where does the time go? Back in the spring we had some very generous people help Annalyse in her fundraising and/or walking for Diabetes. Together, very close to $1500 was raised to help find a cure for Diabetes. Most importantly, Annalyse got to shine in a light that was not shed by needles, insulin, carb counting, or numbers. Instead, she shone in her bright yellow shirt labeled, "Team Annie". I'm pretty sure she smiled all day! It was such a joy to see her enjoying life as a "normal" child. I've heard several moms say that they take a day off from Diabetes, no insulin, no needles, etc. to avoid burnout. We haven't tried this but may very soon as we've seen definite signs of Diabetes burnout around our house. Anywhere from Annalyse "sneaking" food (which breaks our hearts because we don't keep any food away from her other than that we would from our other kids). She does it because she just doesn't want to deal with counting the carbs and then having us give her insulin. I too have become more lax. In turn, her last visit wasn't the best. Her A1C number which indicates how she's done over the past three months moved from "normal" to above normal. Guilty mommy feelings. So, we're back to being more vigilent and her numbers are getting better. The school district (whom we continue to battle with) agreed to a nurse again for Annalyse after trying very hard to convince us she should go to another school with medically fragile children. No.

Living with Diabetes, we're lucky it's only Diabetes, but it sure would be great to find a cure! Thank you!!

Summer is winding down

Great week here for the Carrolls. I started back to work, Joe's at work and we've slowly started having my mom back to help with the kids. Routine. It can be a really good thing! Jackson and Jules went to golf camp. They really liked it. They played with tennis balls so everyone would be successful. They tell me they had to wear "helmets" though because balls were flying everywhere. Annalyse went to craft camp where she made a scarf, a book, and many drawings. She also went to work with me on Friday where she attended a Microsoft One Notebook training from 7-9 a.m. She was quite the trooper. Later, she set up her "office" in the half of my office that used to be my job share partners. She set up her own files, drawers, and desk. It was so cute! She told me she wanted to be called Miss Carroll while there. :) Joe made a one hour presentation of our trip to Alaska to show to his group at work. In usual fashion, he made it "engineer" like with many tips on Alaska that he knew as well as some found on Wikipedia. When looking for a door prize, I told him to bring in a six pack of Alaskan beer.... Joe decided he didn't want to get fired so he bought a five dollar coffee coupon. Not Tullys comes from AK.

Went to an outdoor movie last night. Should have reviewed it first. It said it was G rated but in my opinion, it was not. Princess Bride. Definitely good for 10 and above audience but pretending all was ok, we sat through the show with tons of other families camped out in sleeping bags and lawn chairs. Oh parenting!

This weekend is our first weekend on our own. My sister and Brad are fully into their new home and busily sanding down the hardwood floors and tearing down wall paper (only to find plaster and lath behind it). My mom is in Oregon helping her best friend who just had eye surgery and we are "committed" to doing home projects that we have let go all summer. I'm not talking big things, just basics like laundry, clean bathrooms, and rooms. :) Joe may powerwash the deck and prepare it for staining but it's almost 11 and he's drinking coffee and enjoying reading the paper. This project started last summer so we'll see if gets moved into the next summer......time will tell.

I'm moving into my last week in the 30's and heading into the big 40! Hard to believe. At this time in my mom's life, I was 19 and my sister was 16. Big difference. She also got to retire at 55. I'll be propped up at my desk at 75 with my retirement plan. :) Fun times!

August 6, 2009

Well, my sister and Brad have moved out and into their new home a few blocks away. Joe and I are happy they are close but also happy to have our "home" back. My sister is up to her eyes in boxes and Brad is busily sanding down and refinishing the hardwood floors. While tearing down wall paper, my sister learned that there weren't really walls behind the wall paper and thus, they will be having their walls in that room sheet rocked.

Joe has been busily putting together a slide show for his work of all of our trips this summer....Juneau, Mt. Baker, Camano Island and a small trip to The Great Wolf Lodge. I have been busy trying to put our house back together and ready for some upcoming home "projects". I've also been putting in more and more time at work as I transition back into fulltime employment.......ugh! Eight years of jobsharing was great. :)

The kids have enjoyed our trips as well as various camps over the summer. This week Jackson and Jules learned to play golf while Anna spent a lot of time "crafting". Tomorrow Anna is going to my One Note class with me from 7-9 a.m. Should be fun!