Help Mia Find a Cure!!

I haven't written in so long. Boo. By the time I get around to any quiet time for extracurricular activities, it's 10 pm. And I just want to throw on the TV and fall asleep. But I was thinking I need to get off my butt and get blogging again. I was happier when I was blogging, venting, babbling. So I'll start of with the most important post I've ever written, Mia's JDRF donation page.

Please follow this link to donate, join our team and read her story in numbers. We are forever grateful for your contribution to our family. Thank you.

http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk-FL/Chapter-TampaBay4140?px=1006091&pg=personal&fr_id=1261

Toy Story 3

Pete surprised Mia today with the Toy Story 3 DVD. She's on antibiotics again for another double ear infection. Took her to the pediatrician yesterday and we both figured out she's had an ear infection every month since starting preschool, with December being pretty harsh. She was only on antibiotics one other time in her life before October, but I feel like those bottles are always in our fridge now. And of course she gets sick and then Kai gets it. Rinse and repeat.

Anyway sickness and severe weather called for a lazy movie day, so we popped in Toy Story 3. And almost instantaneously my eyes welled with tears. I don't want to give too much away if you haven't seen it, BUT the cute little boy with the cool little toys grows up and leaves for college...

...which is like, pretty freakin' sad in many ways.

I mean, they grow sooooo fast. I look at Mia each and every day and wonder where the time has gone. I feel like just yesterday I was swaddling her and finally moving her from the bassinet in our room to the crib in her room. And now she's such a big girl, a big girl who begs for you to push her higher and higher on the big girl swings. And as much as I'm in denial over this, I have to start planning Kai's first birthday party soon. Didn't we just bring him home from the hospital?

So yeah Toy Story 3 had me ugly crying like a buffoon in a few parts. After the movie ended I quietly watched Mia in her playroom, knowing that I need to soak these magical moments in. Because before long I'll be walking into the kid's packed up bedrooms, wishing I could hold onto them just a little while longer.

Helloooooooo!!!!!

Okay the guilt I've felt for not updating this site has been TREMENDOUS. It's been so long I'm wondering if I even know how to do this anymore - no really - what happened to the tool bar? And what is with this font? Something is amidst. I don't even see my spell checker. So I apologize if this suddenly seems like I'm blogging under the influence, which I should probably try someday...

Did everyone have a happy holiday season in 2010? I think the last time I posted I was rejoicing that everyone was feeling better from the bubonic plague in our household. But oh no, it came back for more. And then a little more after that. Whatever that sickness was was no joke and we were all such babies, lol (speaking of me and Pete here). We were literally sick, horribly sick from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Feliz Navidad, my butt. I think we've paid our dues but that didn't stop me from hosing the kids down with that natural hand sanitizer stuff every waking moment we were at the kids museum today. I was one of those moms. But I swear if Kai smeared his mouth across one more thing in that place I was going to have a break down.

I have other things to add but wanted to share a link Pete sent me before it gets too late. It gives me new hope in 2011. We sat around talking the other day about what we would do if there was suddenly a cure for diabetes. People talk about what they would do if they won the lottery but this is our lottery. I think we'd cry the happiest tears ever. We'd scream too, like the jumping up and down-type screaming you did in middle school when the coolest thing in the world happened. We'd throw a BIG party. One for Mia. And one for us (with Mia and Kai at Grandma and Grandpa's). And we'd take Mia to the Bern's Dessert Room and say baby girl, you can have whatever you want. Whatever you want, and it won't make you sick anymore.

http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2010/12/13/6980/stem-cells-used-to-make-pancreas-gut-cells/

Wonderful Article. Thank you St. Pete Times and Nicole Johnson.

Enjoy the Silence

These gifts remind me of night time in our household (if we're lucky).  After the kids are down I can't wait to take a hot shower, put on comfy PJs and have some me time.  Here's some inspiration for moms, sisters, friends and neighbors:

From the top left:

Soy Travel Candles

Crochet Slippers Pattern

Leather Journal

Lilac Rose Soap

Ferris Wheel Print

Custom Name Mug

Sun Lip Tint

Chai Tea Soap

Lost in a Daydream Print



I suppose there is still time!

OK I meant to post this weeks ago. But we have had some sort of bubonic plague rip through our home.  Again!  And it's been relentless.  Just when Pete and I think it's over another cycle of it begins, takes on different ugly forms.  Has anyone caught that Walking Dead show?  Well that's us.  We have the fever.

Anyhoo here are some cool things I found for kids on Etsy, in case you're still looking. Most sellers ship super quick so I bet if you shopped now you could have it in another week, with plenty of time to wrap and stick under the tree.

Hope everyone is in good health, staying warm and crossing a lot of their lists.  We still haven't even done pics for cards yet, which is hilarious considering all the sessions I did for friends.  Oh well.  Ours just may be New Years cards.

From the top left:

Sweet Little Traveling Family

Camera Teether

Building Brick Crayons

Ten Numbers Puzzle

Your Neighborhood Play Mat

Play Sushi

Superhero Cuffs

Lion Softies

Wooden Dog

The Coolest Dollhouse Ever

Okay I can't take credit finding this one. I came across it over at Design Mom.  Welcome to the new eco-friendly era of modern, marvelous dollhouses.  Brinca Dada brings to the public its Emerson Dollhouse, both easy on the eyes and the environment. I don't know about you but I'm ready to shrink myself and move in. Be sure to check out the uber-hip matching furniture!