We've made the decision to switch Benny's insulin pump. Most insurance companies will pay for a new one after four years and, as hard as it is to believe, we've hit that milestone. After researching different pumps and talking at length to our incredible diabetes educator and endocrinologists, we've decided to stay with Animas and upgrade…
Last week, my friend and co-host Al Gardner had surgery for prostate cancer. He was diagnosed last fall, but chose to keep his fight mostly private until recently. You can read more about Al's story in his blog here. This isn't my journey to share. I'm writing about it here because Al was kind enough…
Great time at last week's Tommy Bahama Fashion Show to benefit JDRF. I'm always nervous to take part in events like this – especially when there are professional models in the group! But we have fun and if it helps raise money for diabetes, no question I'm happy to help. Here's a look just before we…
Benny's used an insulin pump for almost four years. We love it, but every once in a while there's a hiccup. Sometimes it's the pump and sometimes it's, um, operator error. Our most recent trouble came when Benny's teacher called and said the battery had fallen out. Slade fixed it up ("I MacGyvered it with some gaffer's…
Great to see Linda Matney featured in The Charlotte Observer this weekend. I first talked to her about 3 years ago when she asked if I would contribute to a book she was writing. Imagining Heaven was to be a collection of ideas and stories from dozens of contributors from all walks of life. Matney's husband…
Every year, parents at our elementary school pitch in to make the teachers a take-home dinner. It's a big deal, but usually by the time I respond, the sign-up sheet's full. You know how the mommy guilty goes, so this time I was ready. When the request from my daughter's class mom came through on a Sunday morning, I…
How is it possible that this summer will mark 4 years on an insulin pump for Benny? He started on July 4th, 2007 – six months after diagnosis. He was only two and a half and I couldn't imagine he'd keep this new, weird thing on. It all worked out beautifully; he only threw it across…
Fun pictures of the doggie fashion show in our local paper this week. Click here to see the entire slideshow. See how closely I'm holding Pickles? You can read this post to find out why!
Never work with children or animals, right? I knew to expect the unexpected at the Charlotte Humane Society's Runway for the Rescues presentation at Neiman Marcus. High fashion and rescue dogs – what could go wrong?! It turned out to be a ton of fun. Meet Pickles, my runway partner. What a cutie-pie, right? She's also quite an escape artist.…
The 6th birthday party is the one parents around here have somehow agreed we'll start dropping the kiddos off. Unless the invite says Please Stay With Your Child, we just don't. The kids are getting used to their independence, and if something goes wrong, we're a phone call away. Not so simple for children with diabetes, though. Do I stay or…