Shew Wee... is it Friday yet?

What. A. Week. AND IT'S ONLY WEDNESDAY (it is Wednesday... right?)

Sunday: We recovered from the absolute madness of Saturday and Evans Orchard. We all took naps (well Mawmaw who never naps) didn't take one... but I'm pretty sure the rest of us did. I did. And really... that was all that mattered. Sunday night we took the kids to Gattitown for Diabetes Education Night which was sponsored through the company Animas. We were one of two families there. We got some sweet free diabetes swag. Harper scored 15 dinosaurs, and two stuffed animals. This girl is either super lucky or really, really, good at playing "carnival" games. Jeff swears the latter is true. Either way... she had a total blast... and... well... Saul ran around like a crazy TWO YEAR OLD... screaming "No" at everyone and everything. Pictures can be viewed here.

Monday: I did an observation of Harper's Montessori classroom in the morning. It was incredible. I was amazed.. It made me miss my kiddos at school. I am blown away by the progress Harper has made in just a short two months. She is already reading simple words, spelling and mastering so many skills. Her ability to focus and concentrate on work is fascinating to watch in the Montessori setting. I hugged Ms. Watt (her teacher) and told her I was grateful- I would have kissed her but I thought that might have crossed the line. From one teacher to another I will forever be appreciative that Harper's first introduction to "school" was in a caring, rigorous learning environment, with a teacher who encourages her to be an independent, well-rounded, life-long learner. *Can I also give a heart-felt-shout-out-virtual-hug and kiss to Grandma & Pap... without them... Harper would not be having this experience.

Tuesday: Saul had his 2 year checkup. Prepared for the inevitable meltdowns... a possible "hulk out" high or a "lethargic low" I packed as much "crap" as I could fit in my book bag purse…it entertained him about half the time we were there... the other half of the Dr's apt was spent with me repeating "no" and chasing him around as he attempted to pull off the tegaderm on his leg site. Stats: 30 some inches tall? 27 some lbs? (I think?) not really sure about percentiles and all that jazz... just know we got a clean bill of health and are growing and gaining weight beautifully... normally... like any kid... like a kid who wasn't diagnosed with diabetes at age 15 months. I have quickly learned that growing and gaining weight is critical for young children with an early T1 diagnosis. So far... 9 months in to diagnosis... we're doing great.

The girls had and eventful Tuesday afternoon- filled with a trip to the library for new books AND meeting a not-so-friendly, overly-feisty, fast and furious "turtle" that came to visit the Grimes-Sebulsky house for a few hours. Folks... it's the little things in life. lol. Seriously.

Now that I've bombarded you with 500 links... I'll leave you with a few pictures.

 

We've had some random breakfast guests lately

Solly & I enjoying a ride.

Little Solly looking not so "little"

Scored "D" swag

 

Girls making Saul bday cupcakes

The boys enjoying aforementioned cupcakes 

Harper's 2-hour pet "Leslie"
 

EH & MD posing with "Leslie"

 

A quilt in progress by one of Harper's classmates. 5 year olds in EH's class are sewing individual 9 piece quilts. I love it!

 

One of the books we checked out at the library yesterday. Preparing our kiddos for our future DAD!!!

 

Oh... yeah... have you heard!?!?! Solly is on his way to getting a diabetic alert dog? Keep up to date here and here. Thank you to everyone who has donated and spread the word! Keep the donations rolling. Lil buddy says "Tank Tu!" 

Birthday Weekend Re-Cap (with still more to come)

What would a birthday be without a 3 a.m. BG reading of 501? Or... a day full of running and playing and treating lows with delicious home aide Evans Orchard apple cider... Or... being so exhausted that you can't treat nighttime lows... Or TURNING TWO YEARS OLD and suddenly REFUSING every attempt to treat a nighttime low... "NO!" to skittles "NO!" to juice "NO!" to cake icing... Thank goodness for one lonely pack of Cars "gummies" which ended up being the ONLY thing this stubborn TWO YEAR OLD would allow us to put in his mouth.

But... This weekend hasn't been ALL about "D."

Friday (Saul's actual "birth" day) was spent playing with Trippy. He got an awesome new "Thomas-piano-book" from the Neely's which he LOVES.... and better than the book was the wrapping paper it came in... "DUMP CAR" wrapping paper. He has carried it around all weekend.

Maw-maw braved stormy weather and eventually made it down Friday afternoon. We spent the evening celebrating Saul's bday going "out to eat." Saul managed to shove in 91 carbs (thanks in large part to a 45 carb chocolate chip cookie) and survive the experience. Following the carb overload... and in one of my favorite moments of the bday weekend - we took Solly to Target to "pick out" his bday gift from Aunt Chris & Uncle Joe. I wish we'd videoed (how many times do I say this?) or attempted to document the experience... SOMETHING to capture the moment.... moments.... HOURS... it took him to pick something out. LOL. This kid is so much like Sebulsky it's not funny. He pondered. He carried around certain toys. He tried things out. He REFUSED to decide quickly... He reminded me so much of Jeff I wanted to scream. "Methodical." Then (just like his Dad) once he FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY decided (on a set of Matchbox Cars which included a dozer and a "dump car") he hasn't let them out of his sight or hands since (fully satisfied with the ultimate decision). Saul also scored with a Cars book (that includes a set of cars) and a new Umizoomi video (Thanks again Aunt Chris & Uncle Joe!). We topped the evening off by going to Half-Priced books to load up on some new reading material which made EH a very, very happy girl.

Madison and Wynne came over Saturday morning and we loaded up and headed out to spend the day at Evans Orchard. What a day! I think we're all still recovering from the excitement. Check out pics here. We picked apples from the orchard, we picked pumpkins from the patch. We ran, slid, jumped, climbed, rode, hid, walked, ate (apple cider donuts... yum) took lots of pics and made lots and lots of great memories. We even ran into some old friends and got to enjoy their company.

I'd like to say we came home and "crashed" but how could these kids rest when they had the "hugest... funnest... bestest ever birthday box!!!" to open from Grandma and Pap. Dinosaurs! Trucks! Legos! More Dinosaurs! Seriously.... will I ever. ever. ever. get them to go to bed ever again? So many new- cool-awesome-"perfectly selected presents" to play with!!! Leave it to Grandma to always send lots of love & fun! We miss you Grandma and Pap!!

Tonight we are supposed to go to Gattitown for a "family diabetes evening" with vendors, information and lots of free stuff. I'm hoping a family nap will give us the energy we need to round out this non-stop, fun-filled birthday weekend.

Thanks to all our family and friends who have "celebrated" from a-far, who have sent "special birthday wishes" and thought about our "sweet boy" on his special day. I hope he knows how much he's loved.

PS. ignore all the typos and terrible grammar... I've got what can only be called a "too-much-two-year-old-partying-headache-hangover"