My First Blog Carnival Post to the Family of Life Carnival This week I finally remembered to submit my first post about,"What makes Grandmothers so special." This weeks host are Hsien & Kerri of Play Library. Deadline for submissions is Sunday, October 1st, time TBA. For more info on submitting a post or hosting a future carnival edition, please visit Kailani of The Pink Diary. Here's last week's Carnival of Family Life #20, which was hosted by Be A Good Dad. Stop by and check out all the fantastic family-related posts.

Friday Funny! The 8th Dwarf has been found! My husband took this pic of the baby, and it was just too cute not to share! Look at those dimples and all those teeth!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Appetizer

What is your favorite herb or spice?

Cinnamon in my coffee .

Soup

Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.

On the Radio by Donna Summer

Salad

If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?

For tomorrow, I need to get the bills ready for the first, of course dishes and laundry, my son's insulin pump needs to be changed. Get breakfast and lunches ready, get 3 kids dressed. Run them all to school. Come back, clean and sweep the floors, and clean the bathrooms.Then I run to the nurses at noon for my son at lunch. Come back get the girls down for naps, by then I'm completely exhausted. Some days I do grocery shopping, but I'd get the kids from school, help with homework, get dinner ready. After dinner a trip to the park, give them all baths, read bedtime stories, and then it's goodnight to them. Get ready to do it all again tomorrow!

Main Course

Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).

Other than both my husband and son are Type 1 Diabetics, my oldest daughter plays the violin very well.

Dessert

What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?

I worked a back-to-back shift more than once at a resort hotel in CA.I got off around 2am, went out with friends, came home showered and changed to be back to work at 6am, so no sleep, until after my shift around 2 or 3pm.

To participate in Friday's Feast go here.

Since blogger is being difficult today with comments and visiting everyone today, I'm just putting the finishing touches in this Autumn design. There are a few things I need to fix , but I love the colors!

For my Thursday Thirteen this week, #21

13 Famous Proverbs

1.)A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Arab Proverb

2.)A broken hand works, but not a broken heart. ~Persian Proverb

3.)A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom.~ Chinese proverb

4.)Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own.~ Chinese Proverb

5.)Fortune is a woman; if you neglect her today do not expect to regain her tomorrow.~ French Proverb

6.)God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

7.)He who has once burnt his mouth always blows his soup. ~German Proverb

8.)The light heart lives long.~ Irish Proverb

9.)The road to a friend's house is never long. ~Danish proverb

10.)The world is a rose: smell it and pass it on to your friends.~ Persian Proverb

11.)To be rich is not everything, but it certainly helps. ~Yiddish Proverb

12.)To deny all, is to confess all. ~Spanish Proverb

13.)Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to This Day.~ Sanskrit Proverb

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday -Where I'd rather be!

Wanna play? Get the Wordless Wednesday Blogroll Here!

Have you caught your kids doing something good this week? This weekend, I caught glimpses of my son trying so hard to be good, you could see the mischeif in his eyes. He knew it was hard work being good, at least for him. Don't get me wrong, he's a great kid, but he's just learning a behavior that doesn't come easy for him. I've been told I have the Patience of Job, but my son in that respect is quite the opposite. Let's just say he gets it from his Father. Saturday, my husband told him he'd take him bowling. If you tell my son something you better be prepared to keep your word. You better believe it. For the better part of Sunday morning, he couldn't stop asking to go bowling. My MIL had to remind him to be patient. He just nodded OK! It seemed like every half hour he was asking if we were going yet! I reminded him we were visiting family first, and that we would go bowling after. Finally, I just told him the next time he asks he wouldn't get to go, because he wasn't listening. That worked, and we left not too long after that. What caught my attention is the game of bowling? How is this related to being patient! My son loves to just go head first, no holding back, and gives everything he does all he's got. Which isn't a bad thing it can accomplish so much in the right way! With bowling, you have a lane next to you on either sides if you aren't on the end lanes. What my son had to do was before he bowled he had to stop, look both ways, and then continue having his fun knocking all the pins down. You could see him struggling with it. In a way too, he needed to be aware of who was around him and take his turn. Sometimes this comes easy to some people and children. My son's just learning that he needs to slow down be patient and wait his turn. He was so cute, because he knew what to do, and he wasn't frustrated, you could tell he was getting it, but it wasn't as easy as he'd liked it to be. Which means he just has to work at it, and it will come.

While I was enjoying catching up on reading everyone's post at Kailani's Carnival of Family Life, hosted by Be A Good Dad, this week, one post by Bonnie, really hit home. Before my son was diagonosed Type 1 Diabetic, some of you may know that my husband is also a Type 1, who in the 70's lived with a different type of treatment and diet than my son can enjoy now, because of the Technology available today. If it wasn't for my husband, and the knowledge of how to treat diabetes is so much better, I think things could be a whole lot worse. My concearn after reading Bonnie's post is Halloween time, and all the Chocolate and candy that come with it. I'll admit as a kid growing up, my brother and I would eat all the candy we could, on the verge of getting sick to our stomachs. I agree with her, I literally am so scared of what will happen this year. Last year was a nightmare. My son wasn't on the insulin pump, and so, it was a battle, to hide the candy, to keep him from sneaking it. Only limiting him one or two pieces of chocolate, how hard that was, with me knowing one more piece could send his normal blood sugar of under 200, skyrocketing to 500. Another reason, without the pump, if he couldn't wait until lunchtime, considering it an extra snack, meant an extra shot, which is not my option of choice, but that's the option I could give him, UNTIL I read Bonnie's post. Please stop by and read her wonderful post and in all honesty, even if my son was never a Type 1 Diabetic offering non-candy Treats for Halloween would be a wonderful option this year. Also, It's Pass The Torch Tuesday, stop by and visit Kelly, (she's moved) and read all the wonderful posts there about Catching Kids doing something Good.

Writing Collaboration at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas The ladies at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas are holding a writing collaboration (episode eight)! To participate, write a post on "The Best Part of Fall is....".Then email Crazy Hip Blog Mamas the link to your actual post(not the main blog page) to be included in the post on the CHBM site! All participating members will have a link to their entry. Questions? Go here for more information on the writing collaboration at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas. Not a member? Join Crazy Hip Blog Mamas today!

The Best Part of Fall is.....

Growing up in Southeren California, there wasn't much of a change to Fall. September was still HOT, and I knew it was Fall only because of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Going to New England is one of my dream vacations. Not just to see the leaves change color, but for all the historical sites, and not to mention I'd love to go skiing in Vermont!

Back to the best part of Fall, I have a few memories that make Fall a really special time.

I'd mentioned before,that Halloween was great. My favorite Halloween memory, if I can find the picture, was of the year my brother and I took a picture with our dad all dressed up. Me as Strawberry Shortcake, my brother as Count Dracula, and my Dad as the Incredible Hulk.My dad had a fun night, scaring kids,and then making them laugh.

Once we moved to Albuquerque, this was the first time I'd seen leaves change color and it was gorgeous. Another thing happened, while I was sipping my coffee early in the morning, I witnessed one of the most amazing sights I'd ever seen.Hundreds of Hot Air Balloons were floating on air right past my apartment out in front of me. It was the first time I'd seen the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, we went a couple of years later, and I'd still like to go back and watch the night flights.

Here in AZ, there is a place that reminds me of Fall.

Oak Creek Canyon, in Sedona. The canyon is filled with Oak Trees and if you catch it just right, it's blazing with Red colors of Fall.

My all time Favorite thing to do for Fall is to take the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

We've been to Schnepf Farm here in Queen Creek,AZ, and Youngs Farm in Dewey,AZ. I love to help the kids search for that perfect pumpkin.

Drinking hot chocolate, because Dewey's almost a mile high, and it gets pretty chilly. I almost feel like an impatient kid waiting until October, so I can run through a corn maze and eat apple fritters, while drinking hot chocolate and looking through a sea of orange to find a pumpkin.

Those are some of my favorite memories.

What are some of yours?

What started out to be a boring weekend of endless chores and cleaning, actually turned out pretty fun. One of my husband's aunts from CA who was coming out for a surprise visit, I wasn't quite sure if she'd make it or not, did in fact come out. She popped in my door around 3pm Sat afternoon with my husband's grandmother. I should name them Grandma Carol, and Aunt Renee. They invite me and my husband out for dinner, but my husband said just for me to go. We headed for Outback SteakHouse, home of the Bloomin' Onion. Yumm....! It really was a treat, because I've known Renee half my life, and have only been out to dinner with her sister my MIL, and her other older sister Kathy. I love it, because there are 6 sisters in all. A couple of them, includind Renee are considered black sheeps of the family, but I get along with her,Kathy and my MIL the best. Sat Night was movie night, so we didn't even have to rent movies this week, 50 First Dates, and POTC 1, was on TV ,and Sunday night we watched Forrest Gump. All movies we could watch over and over again, without getting Burned Out on. Sunday, I took the kids over to Grandma Carol's to visit Renee and Great-Grandpa Bill. He always gives the kids chocolate,ice cream or Oreo's when they come to visit. My MIL was there which was a surprise visit too, because she lives about an hour away and with the prices of gas hasn't come down to visit very often. It's kind of sad in a way, because our family is so close, and because of gas prices, how hard it makes it on some people. After visiting, Josh and Katelyn had their hearts set on bowling, so we went, and I signed Josh up for Fall League which started a couple weeks ago, but they still had room for one more. He's a natural. I know this may sound funny, but with bumpers, he still bowled a 110 with 2 Strikes and a spare. He has a passion for it. After he gets a strike he gets so excited he smiles from ear to ear. My 'lil girl on the other hand bowled one time, and said the ball was too heavy. That's OK, she's my little cheerleader/drama queen, I think she'd rather be in some type of Dance class. That's our weekend wrap up! How was your weekend?

Join

This week, while visiting my husband's grandmother, I snapped a shot of her Mandevilla.I just love it. Of course all the good blooms were at the very top! It's easily over 6 feet high. She's only had it a year, and it must like the heat, because it made it through the Summer.

Katrina at Callapidders Days has come up with a great idea for this fall. She's created the Fall Into Reading Challenge. She's asking us to come up with a list of books we'll read between September 23rd and December 21st. OK! I love to read.So, while I'm waiting in the car to pick my kids up from school,I'll pick up a book and read as well. I'd also like to read one book to each of the young ones, have my 6yr old help me read them, and have my oldest daughter choose one, so both of us can take turns reading outloud to each other.

HERE'S MY LIST

1.) Eleven on Top (A Stephanie Plum Novel) .If I like this one I might start at #1!

My Goal is to finish this in 6 wks, and

2.) The Christmas Angel ,

the last 6 wks. It doesn't come out until Oct. 6, so I'm pre-ordering it. It reminded me of , Gift

I love Thomas Kinkade's pictures, and I was looking for a good Holiday Book.

3.) Death on the Nile: Hercule Poirot Series .My oldest daughter loves everything that has to do with Egypt. I read this several times, a very long time ago. This book, I thought she'd enjoy a quick read with me, and she even requested I not SPOIL it for her.

4.) Stuart Little , If the kids like this one, I'll add

Charlotte's Web .

The Twelve Dancing Princesses ,for my 3yo daughter, and

Jack and the Beanstalk . I can't resist a good Fairy Tale, can you!

So come and join us! You might even find some new books to pick up and never put down!

*I just love Eleven on Top, Had me laughing from the beginning. I don't think I'll be able to put this one down!*

It's Emmy Time! Blog Emmy's! Mysterious Lady is hosting her FIRST quarterly Blog Emmy Awards! So stop by her site and vote! You have until Sunday 9pm.

Feast One Hundred & Twelve

Appetizer

Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?

If chasing my children around the house, making bottles, taking care of a house, and driving the kids to all their activities not to mention I'm a cheerleader for them,

I'd say easily more than 6 hrs.

Soup

If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?

I've always liked how Another Day In Paradise sounds!

Salad

Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.

Hard to pick only one. My all time Favorite Show would have to be Gilligan's Island.

Main Course

If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?

Books for the children. You can never have too many!

Dessert

Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?

I look really good in Black or Navy blue, and another favorite color a Dk. rose or Mauve color.

More Great Places to Dine!

1.) Higher

2.)WideImagination

3.)Caylynn

4.)Wendy

5.)TC

6.)Ghost

7.)Grey

8.)PaperBack Writer

9.)Logtar

10.)Connie and Rob

11.)Deb

12.)Paxil Princess

13.)Kailani

14.) An Abundance of Blessings

For my Thursday Thirteen this week, #20

13 My Favorite Soft Rock Songs

1.) Air Supply-All Out Of Love 2.) Rick Springfield-Jessie's Girl

3.)REO Speedwagon-Keep On Loving You

4.) Robbie Dupree-Steal Away

5.) Jackson Browne-Somebody's Baby

6.)Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes-Up Where We Belong

7.)The Police-Every Breath You Take

8.)Lionel Richie & Diana Ross-Endless Love

9.) Foreigner-I Want to Know What Love Is

10.)Foreigner-Waiting For A Girl Like You

11.)Air Supply: Even The Nights Are Better

12.)Chicago-If you Leave Me Now

13.) Phil Collins-Take A Look At Me Now

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Southeren Girl

2.) Chelle Y

3.)Cozy Reader-Jane

4.) Pass the Torch

5.)JAM

6.)Kailani

7.)Patchwork Anahata

8.)My 2 Cents

9.)Nat

10.)Blue Moon

11.) Brony

12.) TC

13.) Frances

14.) Momma K

15.)Lily

16.)Mar

17.)Amy

18.)Carmen

19.)Barbra

20.)Caylynn

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants After thinking about using Mr. Linky or not, I've decided that I will use Mr. Linky as a quick way to Visit Everyone. I've experienced difficulties in the past about leaving comments, If you leave a comment or if you email me in case of a difficulty, I will LINK you on my own. Be nice, if you LINK and RUN, I will delete your link from MR. LINKY!I'd love to hear from y'all, so feel free to email me your comments too! Everyone Have a Happy Thursday!!

Friend's Day Weds. #16

Here are 5 things I found today that brought a smile to my face, or that I would enjoy doing!

1.)I'm a true chocoholic, and these Chocolate Crumb Bars look really delish.

2.)I really liked these garden pics that Pamela from The Dust Can Wait posted.

3.)I found this post very interesting by Erica from Little Mummy.

4.)I'm wondering if my son will try This,

by Natalie from A little bit of this, and A little bit of that!

5.These pics from Guppyman are gorgeous.

After reading Kelly's post at Pass the Torch, really made me think. I've also been participating in Tricia's Green Thumb Sunday. You see my mother had a gorgeous garden, and I have pretty much a black thumb. Thinking back, it would have been cool for her to share her passion for growing things, but I think now, it was a type of therapy for her, where for me it just would mean another responsibility, to have to take care of. My kids on the other hand are getting curious at the new things I'm doing. Growing vegetables, and tending to my plants. My little one,actually enjoys helping me water them. My son helps me plant the seeds, and is so excited when he gets home from school to see his new baby plants grow. And my oldest likes helping me in setting the plants out in the garden.So in a sense what I thought would be more responsibility for me is actually a great way to pass on my passion and dream in sharing it with my kids, and having them help. Is there something that you enjoying doing with your children?

Even though we hit some rocky times this weekend, we enjoyed ourselves. Lunch with my MOM was nice. We ate at Olive Garden. Love the breadsticks. I was hoping for to order their Spinach Alfredo pasta, but because of the Spinach scare, they weren't serving it! The highlight of lunch of course was dessert. We shared a Raspberry Cheesecake with a chocolate crust! I love my mom to death, and I don't write to much about her, because I don't understand a couple things about her. For instance she didn't visit with us before or after lunch on the Saturday, she just came over to have lunch and left. She wasn't busy, she does this all the time. She's a wonderful grandmother, and yet it seems like she doesn't want to be around us. Some of it has to do with and I"m just assuming, which is one of my faults, but because I don't share her idea of going to church 4x a week, I feel she treats me differently, if I did go as much as her, she'd spend more time with us! This is just how I feel. After my mom left, my oldest and I went shopping for my niece's birthday present, which my SIL said she wanted a CowGirl hat. So we went and found a plain pink one, which while I took my son to his friend's birthday party, my daughter decorated it with rhinestones. She's always been very creative. Onto the adventure of finding my son's friends birthday party. It was at a PeterPiperPizza, and I just assumed (again, one of my faults) it was at the closest one to their school. From the beginning I should have called my husband to find the correct address of the one it was, but sometimes I just feel I can do it on my own, kind of like my husband and drive around for a couple hours before he listens to me and pulls over while I ask for directions. My son was on the verge of tears after an hour or so later we made it to the right one, and then he had a blast. He shared a piece of cake with me, and it's nice to spend some one-on-one quality time with him. Sunday morning I started getting this horrible headache. I think it had to do with, not knowing how my husband's kids would be. After getting all the kids ready, we made it to my SIL's right on time, his kids got there a few minutes after we did. My husband's family is one that loves to give hugs, I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I also understand that there are families that this just isn't their thing. I personally like it just because I like to keep a ceartiain closeness to the ones I love. My husband's grandmother is one who went through a very bad childhood, and has been through a lot in her life. Understanding, that she can be a little cranky sometimes, I believe she's earned some respect in that she is a very thoughtful and giving person. My husband's son who just turned 18, in my opinion was very disrespectfull to her, and I thought I caught a glimpse of my husband who understood his son's meaning as being also disrespectfull. Both me and my husband were taught to be respectfull to our elders, teenagers or not. That was the only rocky part of the birthday party, the rest of the day was GREAT!! The kids had waterballoon fights, and my son and 3yo love my husband's kids, so they really liked spending time with them. Since my husband's son isn't going to college or working, and my husband is starting his woodworking business offered him to come and help him, which I thought was great! My neice loved her present, and all day the kids all got along. The most hilarious part of the day was watching my son try and do the Hula with a HULA-HOOP! And then my BIL trying to explain why girls are better than boys when it comes to doing a HULA! Thank God for that, because my son wouldn't make a very good Hula dancer! LOL!!

Everyone have a Great Monday!!

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I was so thrilled this morning when I walked out to the patio to enjoy my cup of coffee, when I looked at my Portulaca. It was aburst of colors. Besides the salmon color when I first bought it, there was a canary yellow, and a bright pink, but by the time I got around to taking a pic of it, the pink had faded. There were also blooms of white and a very pale yellow.

With fall coming, for the next week temps are coming under one hundred, so I actually could enjoy a little bit of gardening.

This wasn't one of my best pics, and I'm sorry it's a little blurred, but these little beauties brought a warm smile to my face.

Everyone have a great Sunday!

Imagine my surprise when I saw ERROR 500 message this morning!! My blog went MIA, which sucked. I thought it was gone. I'd backed up my posts on Wordpress. So just so everyone knows I don't plan on going anywhere just right now! This weekend is pretty hectic. I don't know what it is, but it seems like half my family is born in September. My Mother calls them New Years Babies....My mother's bithday was yesterday, so I'm taking her to lunch tomorrow. Then my son has a friend's birthday to go to, and Then on Sunday is my neice's 6th Birthday. My husband's kids will be there too, so I'll be sure and post a report on Monday how everything goes! My dad's was the 4th, my husband's grandmother and 2 of his aunts are all in the same week. Then it starts Oct 31-there are like 4 more.... What are your plans? Anything exciting this weekend! I'll take a nice quiet weekend, which I know this is not going to be one of those weekends! Everyone have a great one, and Take care!

Appetizer

What was the very last song you listened to?

-Because of you by Kelly Clarkson.

Soup

What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?

- Circuit City absolutely the worst customer service, I have ever seen or have had to deal with.

Salad

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?

- 5 depends if I am in a picture taking mood, or If I am having a bad hair day!

Main Course

Besides a bookmark, what is something you haveve used to keep your place in a book?

A love letter from my husband.

Dessert

Name a food that you like that most people don’t.

- I do not know why but my whole family does not like Italian food, so I would say my favorite Italian dish Manicotti!

Wanna join the Feast? Go here to play!

Beautiful Banner Courtesy of Wystful

It's Quote time again.

Here are 13 great Quotes!

1.)I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home late at night. - Author: Marie Corelli

2.)Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts. Author: Sigmund Freud 1856-1939, Austrian Physician

Rose Art Print Haas, Marianne Buy at AllPosters.com

3.)I like nonsense -- it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope... and that enables you to laugh at all of life's realities. Author: Dr. Seuss 1904-1991, American Writer and Illustrator of Children's Books

4.)Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!

- Inigo Montoya The Princess Bride

5.)A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. Author: Bernard Meltzer

6.)Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought. Let us have faith that right makes might and in that faith let us; to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. Author: Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865, Sixteenth President of the USA

7.)All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

8.)Do you love me because I am beautiful, or am I beautiful because you love me?Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderalla

9.)Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.Charles Dickens

10.)I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.Mother Teresa

11.) Chinese proverb -The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.

I can totally relate to this one, especially when it comes to coffee, chocolate and blogging! :P

12.) Donald Rumsfeld -As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.

WHAT!

13.)Theodore Roosevelt -Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

This is how I feel this week!

Poppies of Toscano I

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Something happened yesterday,last night and this morning that truly enforced my belief in Angels watching over us and God protecting us. In my family's time of real need God has always been there. Most of you know my son is a Type 1 Diabetic and has been on the insulin pump for almost a year now. He's was diagnsed when he was 3, and just celebrated his 6th birthday in July. With the insulin pump it simulates his pancreas in giving him small amounts of insulin every hour. The pump is programmed automatically to do this. Last year in K, everyday I put the pump on the child safety lock so curious hands of all his school buddies wouldn't think it was a Game Boy and push buttons. My son knows it's not a toy and knows how to work the buttons to give himself his medication after meals and snacks, but not to program the background every hour dose. It's a very complicated 5 Step process. I had the pump therapist do it for me when he got it on, and at his doctor's visits every 3 months the doctor has seen no need to change it, So.......I don't know what happend, but he normally gets about 15-20 units of insulin a day, and yesterday his total was 35. It was a really strange day yesterday the nurse at school called twice to tell me she couldn't get his blood sugars up and when he came home from school, he had juice, cereal, crackers....I felt like I was pumping him with Sugar and Carbs. My husband told me to give him a HONEYBUN, which has like 40g are Carbohydrates. My sons blood sugars wouldn't go up. For us normal is 80-140, his was floating between 80/90, so that's not bad, but because he's so active I like it at 150. Just because I like worry about him going LOW in the middle of the night I checked him, and he was low, I gave him some OVALTINE, and went to bed. Checked him 2 hrs. later, and he was even lower....I got really scared at that point,because I didn't know what was going on. An angel had to be watching him, because he was getting almost an extra unit of insulin every hour. I finally checked it, and that's what it was. Instead of .2 he was getting 1.0....Like I said he knows not to play with it like a toy, I'm definetly putting the lock back on, so no other children play with it, but it's not an easy operation to reset it where a child could do it, so I just don't know, but I just Thank God for watching over my family! And thanks to everyone for your kind supportive comments on his condition. I do have faith he will see a cure in his lifetime!

If you are here for the 2,996 tribute, scroll down, it is below this post.

40 Things More About Me

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

I borrowed this From Shelli. 1.)Do you still have tonsils? Yes! I always wanted them out so I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted.

2.)Would you bungee jump? I don't think so! I'm a little scared of heights!

3.)If you could do anything in the world for a living, what would it be? Own a restaurant somewhere in Key Largo, FL.

4.)How many tattoos do you have? None. I want one of a 'lil hibiscus on my middle toe. 5.) Your favorite fictional animal? Stuart Little.

6.) One person who never fails to make you laugh: My son Josh. 7.)Do you consider yourself well organized? That's funny!

8.)Any addictions? Coffee and blogging.

9.)From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? FOX 10 at 10.

10.) Would you rather go to a carnival or a circus? The circus. I'd rather watch the acts than, ride those carnival rides. 11.)When you were 12 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? A travel agent. 12.)Best movie you’ve seen this year? POTC.

13.)Favorite alcoholic drink? Tequila Sunrise or any flavor Margarita. 14.)What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Make coffee ASAP!

15.)Siblings? One brother

16.)What is the best thing about your job? I feel I'm raising a self-aware and responsible next generation.

17.)Have you ever gone to therapy? Yes. For my father's drinking, and the affects it had on our family. It didn't do any good. I had to come to my own understanding of my father's addiction and the realization that he loved me.

18.)If you could have one super-power, what would it be? The ability to do a hundred things at the same time.

19.) Do you own any furniture from Ikea? No. My husband is a wood craftsman and makes all our furniture. How cool is that! The construction on his website has just begun. 20.)Have you ever gone camping? Yes. My favorite memories of my father are when he took us up to Northeren CA to go fishing. I love the outdoors.

21.)Gas prices? First thought? They are coming down. At least around here. I paid $2.45 a couple days ago. 22.)Your favorite cartoon character: The Little Mermaid.

23.)What was your first car? A White Nissan Sentra.

24.)The Cosby Show or The Simpsons?My husband would say the Simpsons, because he looks like and acts like BART. I'd say the Cosby Show. 25.)Do you think marriage is outdated or ritual? No. 26.)Do you go to church? I did growing up. I believe in God and know the Lord as my Savior, but unfortunately I have issues with the Church. I pray. I read the Bible, but my faith is with my Heavenly Father and not in man.

27.)What famous person would you like to have for dinner? The easiest answer would be Johnny Depp. Why? To find out what his secret to his success is. I've watched him since 21 JumpStreet, and every movie he's made. I can't say that about any other actor!

28.)What errand or chore do you despise? Doing the laundry. Folding clothes.

29.)First thought when the alarm went off this morning? What alarm. I have a 7 mos. old baby who wakes up at 6 am.

30.)The last time you puked from drinking? I can’t remember. It has been a long, long, time. 31.)What is your heritage? German and Scottish

32.)Favorite Flower?Stargazer Lillies.

33.)Disney or Warner Brothers? Disney.

34.)What is your best childhood memory?Blowing bubbles with my Grandma when I was 2.

35.)Your favorite potato chip? BBQ Lays.

36.)What is your favorite candy? 3 Musketeers. 37.)Do you burn or tan? I burn the first time, then I tan.

38.)Astrological Sign? Cancer.

39.)Do you own a gun? Personally, no. My husband used to have quite a collection, but not with all the kids in the house. Now we have a black lab, who's very protective!

40.)What do you think of hotdogs? I'll only eat ALL Meat Hot Dogs. Like Ball Park or Hebrew National.

I don't know what happened, but Kailani's comment got eaten by Blogger.

Here's her comment:

You and my daughter would get along great. Ariel is her favorite,too!

The Pink Diary

Thanks to Carmen, Kelly,TC for your comments too!

This remembrance is made possible by D.C.Roe's idea to commemorate the lives of those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

For a complete list of *2996 coalition of volunteer blogger participants, please click HERE*

This was wonderful me to feel some connection to the angels of 9/11. Naomi was the same age as my father when he passed away at 52. Which I consider too young! I also share her love and passion for the art of music. I enjoy Broadway musicals and I have a dream that my 12 yr old daughter will continue her love of the violin and one day play for a great Orchestra. Here is Naomi's story.

Naomi Leah Solomon lived in New York City until she was 10, but then moved to California when her father, Herbert, who took a job at Stanford University. Naomi, 52, enjoyed being a classical pianist in her spare time, and was also a big fan of musicals and Broadway show tunes. She became one of the first female vice presidents at Bank of America, and spent many years as an executive at Chase Manhattan.

She left behind the world of banking for Callixa, (a small California software vendor), and moved back to New York City. She was at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. attending a conference on information technology at Windows on the World, the restaurant on the 106th floor of Tower One.

Naomi was loved and will forever be missed by her parents, Dr. Herbert and Lottie Solomon, and her brothers Mark and Jed who are lawyers in San Francisco,CA.

You can view Naomi's United in Memory Quilt HERE!

Where was I when the world stopped turning?

My husband had called me first thing in the morning and woke me up with the news that All Fights were grounded because of the Terrorists Attacks, and the destruction of the Twin Towers. On my way to work in Scottsdale up the 101 Fwy, which is directly in the Flight path to PHX International Airport, you can see planes anytime during the day. All I could see were clear skies. And instead of the hearing the noise of Low-Flying planes, there was a dead silence.

What were you doing on September 11, 2001?

If you have a 2,996 post on your blog, please tell me in comments so I can visit your tribute!

Join

These Dianthus always make me smile. I love their beautiful "Pinks" color. I also picked up some bulbs for Fall planting. Some Blue Bearded Iris, some Tulips, Daffodils, and Freesia. One plant I could always seem to grow indoors for the Holidays were Red Lion Amaryllis, so I'm looking forward to Fall.

I'm planning two 8x4 raised beds. One for winter vegetables, and the other for my Spring Bulbs.

Feast One Hundred & Ten

Appetizer

Name 3 things that you are wearing today.

My jean shorts, tanktop, and sandals.

Soup

Who was the last person you hugged?

I hugged my kids before they went to bed!

Salad

What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?

My husband and I both LOVE IN-AND-OUT, Monster burgers with grilled onions and their French fries are freshly cut and fried to order!Nice and HOT!

Main Course

What time of day do you usually feel most energized?

I'm not a morning person, so I usually start getting energized around 11am-1pm. And then I'm geared up at around 3-5, and I'm up until 11pm maybe 1 am at the latest being the night owl that I am. It's because I worked nights in restaurants half my life from 5pm-sometimes 2 in the morning. I've been a SAHM for almost 2 yrs. now, and I'm still having a hard time shifting schedules.

Dessert

Using the letters in your first name, write a sentence. (Example: Sweet unusual spaniels are nice.)

CuteHamstersRaceInStyle! (Chris)

OK!That's not my whole given name, just the name my family really calls me!

13 Things I Love to do On A Rainy Day!

With today promising a major Thunderstorm, and temperatures dropping to hopefully 80Fs, I love rainy days!

1.) Curl up on the couch with a good book!

2.) With a nice warm fuzzy blanket!

3.)In my nice comfy P.J.s!

4.) With a nice HOT cup of Tea with milk and sugar!

5.) If I'm in a baking mood, it would be chocolate chip cookies, but today, I'm baking a Spice cake with Cream Chz frosting!

6.) I love to play games with my family. The new game the kids love to play is Sequence Jr.

7.) Taking a walk in the rain. A light rain, I wouldn't want to take one when it's pouring down buckets.

8.) Sit outside and feel refreshed! OK, it's my choice not to go outside when it's 110F during the summer, so when it rains I just enjoy the nice cool, and clean (not dusty) smell it brings.

9,)Looking at all the plants, and flowers come to life too! Most of them burned by the scorching sun, it's nice to see them enjoy the rain too!

10.) While I'm curled up on the couch and NOT reading, I'd be listening to some soft relaxing music and talking with my family! Finding out what my kids are thinking (inquiring minds want to know), or what's on my husband's agenda!

11.)Watch a good LONG movie like Titanic, or LOTR! 12.) While eating Kettle corn! 13.) Some times I just like to listen to the rain and the Thunder and Lighting. Reminds me of the Sound of Music where all the kids jump in bed and Sing ,"These are a few of my Favorite Things!"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

*PS...Not sure what happened, but with Mr. Linky, I had to adjust my sidebars, and now my Blog is off center....Can anyone help....Pretty, Please!! TIA!!**

Friend's Day Wendsday 16

Here are 5 things I found today that brought a smile to my face, or that I would enjoy doing!

1.) This was a new one for me when I read it! This post from Suz in VA about her

One Tired Computer, was just too cute!

2.) I don't know about you, but our house, if I cleaned, with my son and daughter, not an hour later, it looks like a tornado blew in! My husband has actually seen me clean, and then the next day, he's wondering what happened. That's OK! This post by Heather from

Everything under the Moon is how I really feel about it!

3.)Blue is one of my favorite colors, and I really liked this pic from On Top of the World!

4.) This recipe submitted to World of Bloggers Cookbook by Lindsey from

My Suspension of Disbelief,

is what I think will be my Dinner for tonight!

5.)OK, I'm feeling FALL in the air, and I am so looking forward to the under 100F temps we're supposed to be having this weekend, but I just love Blog Design 1 and Blog Design 2! Makes me want to go to New England and see the Changing Colors of Leaves, and My favorite trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

Don't you just love long weekends!! Except for the part where I was having Blogging withdrawls. We actually had a weekend where ALL we did was RELAX! Me and my husband and the kids watched movies, and visited with family, and none of us ran around or really did anything.It was nice to sit and watch a whole program on TV. OK, I take it back, my husband and I did start going through MY STUFF in the shed out back, but only because he had my hands tied. That's how he got me away from the computer this whole weekend!!Just kidding, but I did miss reading everyone's posts, I'll be sure and catch up with all of you!

*******Kelly from Pass The Torch has a great idea! Pass the Torch Tuesday is an opportunity for bloggers to celebrate the ways they see kids/young people doing things RIGHT! These are the little things we witness everyday, that make us proud of and hopeful about the generation to whom we PASS THE TORCH!

Here's my story,

I was playing with the baby this weekend, and it got me thinking about my kids. How much they depend on me and my husband and eachother, to learn and grow, and how in reality, I've learned so much from each of them! The baby is starting to crawl now, and what I love most about that is the determination in her eyes and in her face! What is it that keeps them going? They could give up and say, this isn't working, I'm just going to quit! Does she, and never learn to crawl to get where it is she needs to go. No, she just keeps right on going. Getting closer and closer to her goal, which happens to be anything. Her little phone rattle, or a COKE can, or even my husband's TV Remote. The lesson I've learned from her is to never give up. Try, Try again! Things may get hard, and times may get tough, but I can just make it, if I don't give up and lose hope! Onto my 3yo daughter. She's the most loving,thoughtful and caring one of them all by far. She has a genuine affection for everyone, and she's just so full of life. Her valuable lesson, that I've learned from her is, her IMAGINATION. During my day to day life, just Full of grownup stuff, and everything that comes with Responsibility, she's taught me to not only LET GO of all my worry and perfectionism in dealing with my son's Type 1 Diabetes, and just have FUN again. How to laugh at all her silly imaginary friends in her world. My son's the hard one. He's been through so much for such a young age, and tears are rolling down my eyes as I'm typing this, because, I can't even imagine what living in his world is like!! His story is really the highlight of this post for the simple fact, he doesn't let being a Diabetic get him down. In a day filled with Testing Blood Sugars, counting carbs, and through all the Highs and Lows, it marvels me how grown up he's become. How he handles it so well? I'd be coming apart at the seams. He just goes to show me, that Living Life is all about the attitude you by which you live it. He could have a bad attitude and give me a hard time about everything he has to do, don't get me wrong in almost 3 yrs. I can count the times on my hands when he's told me how he's sick of it all, and I wouldn't blame him. Yet he still runs in the nurses office at school, does what he needs to and runs back to class. Everyday, until a cure can be found.

My question for you is, what have you learned from your children?

This made my day a little brighter, and meant so much to me!

Thank you so much to Kelly over at Pass the Torch for including me and my daughter for my outstanding Pass the Torch Tuesday post in August- Role Model Daughter!

It was a very nice surprise!

These are some more wonderful posts to read,

Unexplored Territory -- Servant's Heart

Drama Queen's Mama --Karate Kid, the awesome brother

Susan Stephenson --Sally stands up for herself

Mommy Needsa Mai Tai -- My Nephew Chad

Tired But Happy -- Teaching by Example

Looking for Hope -- San Francisco, Here we Come

WAYA -- Mommy's Proudest Moment

Wystful1 -- Mother's Pride

The Pink Diary - Girlie Girl's Note

Faerie Rebecca's Cleaning without Whining

Today she asks what are your Back to School resolutions?

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day weekend!

We'll be out to visit family all weekend!

What's your plan for having a fun weekend??

Participate in Friday's Feast!

Appetizer What are some lyrics you have misheard (such as, instead of "Gettin' Jiggy With It" you heard "Kick a chicken with it")? Gwen Stefani's song, "Don't Speak!", for the longest time I thought it was "Don't Speed!" Soup What is the worst movie you have ever seen? I'm not a big Horror movie fan, so I'll say the Ring2! Salad Using the letters from your favorite number, write a sentence. Example: Tomorrow has really easy experiences. Fall is very expected! Main Course What was the most interesting news story you have heard this week? I don't know if it was this week, but when "Snakes and Planes" movie came out, some teenage boys thought it would be a COOL prank to let loose some real snakes in a movie theatre here in the family! Dessert Which word(s) would you choose to describe your wardrobe? I have 3 types of clothes in my closet, my comfortable every day, my dress up clothes, and my After-pregnancy I need to lose 20lbs. more clothes!