EZ's "blank"

This is actually kind of amazing so stick with me on this long post.

First of all...this kid loves his blanket. He really started to get "attached" to is when we moved. it really became a security thing for him and he just loves it and gets very very excited when he sees it or we hand it to him.

So, today he came down stairs this morning (with the blanket). When nap time came I couldn't find said blanket. Chloe and I searched and searched and no blanket. Finally I tried to put him to sleep without it and he just whimpered so sadly and pathetically that I had to keep looking. I remembered he came down to the basement with it while I was doing laundry. Sure enough he had dropped it through the slots in the stairs and it lay there crumpled in a forgotten corner behind all our "shtuff!"We were saved and he was so happy and it made my heart smile to see his face.

He wakes up from nap and we were rushing to get to a birthday party. I literally woke him up, lifted him from bed (blanket in all I now find out) put his shoes on and carried him out to the stroller where we then proceeded to walk to the birthday party. I do faintly remember putting the seatbelt on him and having to move something out of the way to get to the seatbelt but we were in a hurry so whatever.

As we were walking and collecting leaves along the way, EZ started to cry a little and say "blank" "blank" which kind of sounds like "dink" "dink" which is drink. Whatever EZ we're in a hurry to get to the party stop your whining dude. So we went on. To my credit I did look to see what he was pointing at and I couldn't see anything in the basket below his seat.

So now it's bedtime and we (chloe and I, brad is at work) began the process of looking for his blanket again. Couldn't find it. I went down to check between the slots in the stair...no blanket. Finally, I couldn't bear putting my little guy to bed without his comfort when it hit my like lightning. I bet it fell on the walk! Seriously, that's how it happened. So, I ran quickly (locked the kids inside) ran up the road and found his sweet blanket crumpled in the middle of the dirty road but safe. I grabbed it and ran back past my nice neighbor who inquired about my run and I said, huffing mind you cause these pregnant bones haven't fun fast fast for a while, "i found my little guy's blanket in the road" And he said, "wow you just got some help from you know who." and he point to heaven.

it's true. Chambers sleep well tonight.

20 years ago...seriously?!

I can't believe it's been 20 years.

20 years ago (today, give or take a day because really i had been sick for quite sometime)

My mom held the hand of her 60 lb frail and pail 11 year old and took her to the doctor to see "what was up."

We left with the words "possibly diabetic" and a were told a time to go to the nearby hospital for a glucose test. All I new about diabetes was what Ms. Macky had told us in 5th grade and I still remember her making it sound very very grim. Without going into lots of details that can't ever be changed I was official labeled a DIABETIC 20 years ago today. I really cannot believe it's been 20 years that I've been Melanie the Diabetic. Sometimes I don't think that it defines me but then I remember that as I test my blood 8 times a day and give a shot for every little thing I put in my body or think about ever little carbohydrate I've eaten or will eat or when the next meal will come or what I will do if there is no meal for awhile or what happens if for some reason I can't feel a low bloodsugar...i remember that being diabetic is really a very very significant part of who i am and a very big part of my life.

I prefer most people to not know I am diabetic. I realize that some people just don't know about diabetes and what it is and how to approach it. But just know, most people could care less that I'm diabetic and that's cool. I do like to talk about it if it comes up but usually it comes up in some setting where it would be awkward to interject that piece of news. I think I went through all of highschool with just a handful of people knowing, college even less knew, and then when I started having these babies, well, everyone finds out everything about you (there's just know privacy anymore, right?)

1. Diabetis Mellitus (Type 1) is what I have. My pancreas just stopped working and won't ever start again. Most people get Type 1 when they are young which is why it's often called Juvenile onset Diabetes. It is controlled by artificial insulin. A normal person's body knows how much and when to give the body insulin. Diabetics check their blood sugar to see where the blood sugar is at then decide how much insulin to give in addition to calculating what they will eat and doing a carb to insulin ratio and give a shot based on that number. Math in everyday life! Yes, I love it!!So, contrary to oldschool diabetic info, diabetics can eat sugar (but really is that much sugar good for anyone) I just try to avoid lots of simple sugars like candy, juice, soda, syrups, jams, but I will eat sweet homemade treats.

2. Lots of type 1 Diabetics where pumps. You still have to have a brain to use a pump, it doesn't think for you...yet. The pro of a pump is that insulin drips into your body for 24 hours and replicates a human pancreas to some extent. You still have figure out how much to give and still have to account for all the food you eat. Others (me) prefer the multiple injection theory where you just give multiple shots throughout the day to act like a pancreas. I like being in control of when I give my shot. I don't trust that this little box won't malfunction and go off when it's not supposed to or what if it got jammed? Research supports both and doesn't say that the pump is better. But...I would say that the first question I always get asked is "Why don't you have one of those pump things?" Probably never, unless it can start reading your bloodsugars for a 24 hours time period reducing the amount of times I had to test my blood. Now that would be cool and I'm sure someone somewhere is on that.

2. Type 2 Diabetes is what a majority of the world has and what all the Biggest Loser contestants cry about getting (they cry about that more than high blood pressure, high cholesterol, aching joints, sore muscles) It's usually brought on by weight gain or high BMI and can be controlled by meds, diet and exercise. In many cases it goes away or severely improves with weight management.

3. I've known a lot of diabetics. Most are very very very attentive to what they eat and are kind of crazy exercisers (me.) Others are very very very out of control and you may know some that are blind, have amputated limbs or fingers or toes or who have severe kidney, heart, or eye issues. The body is funny...it's all connected and when one thing is broken other things don't really appreciate it so much so you have to be careful.

4. Being diabetic and pregnant is doable (3rd time baby!) but you have to be very cautious and careful and go to the doctor, oh say, like 100 times a pregnancy. It makes for some great times:)

For the most part I can honestly say that I have never really been mad that I'm diabetic. I remember learning how to give my own shot the first night in the hospital and asking when it was time for me to leave and get home and get on with my life. I think they were shocked and impressed that an 11 year old would take it that way. I think that because I knew it was so permanant and would never go away I have embraced it and never once resented it and my life has been dreamy and not full of sickness or illness brought on by not taking care of myself.

I listened to General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints (most people can link up to all these cool things but I'm not really sure how to do that so if you want to learn more go to lds.org) this weekend and I am so proud to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My knowledge of the gospel and the plan of salvation and the Savior's love for me individually helps me so much...every moment of every day. I know that I get down during trials, especially the trials I really hope will go away but I've been so glad that at somepoint when I was a weak 11 year old that I had prayers said in my behalf and a priesthood blessing given to me that all blessed me to "be able to bear the burdens this illness would bring" and man have I been blessed by those blessing for the last 20years.

So, here's to 20 more years...plus 20 more.

We're having a baby!!

We are having baby number 3. So, miracle Chambers baby number 3! I've had the big anatomy ultrasound to see that everything is alright and so we felt it was time to share the news.

We made the decision to not find out if it's a boy or girl. I was so nervous the whole ultrasound because I kept thinking I would look over and see the sex written on the screen. They assured me they mark my file so the nurses won't ever "give it away"

We are so so so so so super excited for this little baby to come.

SO, we waited about 1 month and went out and bought a van. I have really wanted to have a van for so long for so many reasons. And now... we have our van. we all like it alot. I like being able to take other kids in the car with us and help out when needed. it's just a joy. We're really happy with our purchase. Now if I can just figure the automatic door buttons out?!#

Due leap year. (they think that due date it just hysterical in the office:) Will actually by 2/22/12.

We've been riding bikes and EZ loves to push his cart around. We finally found the piece to our bike trailer and had such a fun time riding bikes as a family with EZ in the trailer. It won't be long before he rides a bike. (He went to the bathroom on the toilet today!! well, near the toilet...i wasn't patient to wait for him and shut the lid and then he had to go and went right in front of the toilet. So, that counts right?)
B-rad celebrated a birthday a little while ago. We sure love him and I am sooooo lucky to be married to him and the kids to have him as their dad.
EZ loves to have his "blank" on his head. I love it.
She could be dancing all day. Just bought her first ballet shoes and taps are on the way.
Such a handsome little dude.
These two are the sweetest together. She loves having someone to "lead" around. And he loves to be "led". They play and play and play and then ask me to play some more.

Chambers family is happy and good. Hope you all are too.

Our dog Starsky

Our little dog Starsky died unexpectedly. We will surely surely miss this little guy.

Brad and I decided we wanted a dog about a year after we were married. One day we went to a little pet shop and this adorable dog named Murphy met us at the door. He looked like Starsky. From that moment we knew we wanted a Boston Terrier. So we started checking the newspaper and finally the stars aligned and we found someone who had 2 boston terrier pups for sale. The guy brought a girl and boy dog to my parents house where we were living at the time and "tested" us out with the dogs. First we held the girl and she was kind of hyper and then we held Starsky and he just cuddled right up to me. The man was really pressing that we buy the girl but we fell in love with Starsky from the beginning. For a couple of days we called the guy and he decided he wasn't going to sell the dogs. We were heartbroken. But then shortly after he called us and decided that we could have the dog but he wanted us to take the girl and we told him we really wanted the boy dog. So eventually, we met him at a neutral location and he told us we "fit" the personality for owners of his boston terrier dogs. We both recall him telling us he would call us shortly for a reunion with all the dogs. Weird. So Starsky came home to our family. Brad, Starsky, and me. As we had kids my lap just got bigger for a baby AND Starsky and then 2 babies and Starsky. He will move himself right into the center of whatever we are doing and I'm certain he thought he was a person.

Brad worked nights and I worked days so Brad pretty much trained the dog. He did good from the get go and was just a cuddle dog with big eyes and big pointy ears.

From the beginning Starsky had a soft spot for me. He always laid right behind my knees and everytime Brad left in the morning he jumped up and laid right next to me. He knew just where to lay to be snuggled and stroked. He'd follow me everywhere (to the bathroom where he'd wait on the carpet) and today Brad commented that I don't have my "shadow" anymore.

He let us pet him and play with him and run with him.

Brad took him on overnight backpacking trips to the Uintahs.

One time we camped and as we were settling in for the night, I heard a pee sound and Brad say, "oh man." Starsky had whizzed all over his sleeping bag...the entrance to his sleeping bag right where his head should go. Starsky new where to run and always did...right to me. He slept in my bag with me that night and kept me cozy warm.

We enrolled Starsky in a dog trick school. He would run those dog obstacle courses so fast and he was so agile. The instructor told us we should consider getting private lessons and entering him in contests. He was a pretty fast trickster.

Above all else, Starsky has been with us for every move, every house rental, every night I had to go to sleep alone because of medical school, every long trip back and forth to Utah. Chloe tells people we have 3 kids. Chloe, Ezra, and Starsky.

When the kids are in bed for the night it's me and Starsky and reality tv. He was the man of the house while Brad lived in Cincinnati and Seattle for 2 months last summer.

Whenever we'd take him for walks people would always comment about what a goodlooking dog he was. We lucked out with all our moves and trips back to Utah with people who would care for our dog for free. We only kenneled him once and we found that he has depression. He just loves us so and does not love being cages in a kennel. Brad picked him up and they had him in a diaper. A diaper! Brad said it was pretty embarassing picking your dog up and seeing him in a diaper. So after that we always had neighbors who loved starsky like their own for weeks on end.

He was a free spirit who introduced us to what "fleas" are and gave me a quick introduction to the courts/legal syster of Kirksville, Missouri.

Once he ate a package off of someone's porch and when I went to return the eaten goods I found it was a house full of college students and they didn't mind a bit. He said his mom sent him stuff all the time and he was glad the dog enjoyed it.

Part of our trips back to utah always include the awesome dog park at Tanner Park, planning hikes up Millcreek (which is dog friendly) and hiking Ensign peak.

He would bark when people came over and demanded attention whenever me and Brad were together for a few minutes talking.

He was a perfect companion and friend and we will forever miss the little guy.

Chloe will miss feeding him and getting him dog toys and using his new dog bowl. After he died Chloe said, "it's okay. He'll be resurrected like grandpa and atleast you still have me and Ezra."

Ezra will miss feeding him all his table food.

Brad will miss his late night walks and waiting for him to go to the bathroom each night.

Luckily, our sister in law and brother in law are in town and they are making the transition a little bit better. Tuesday morning, when Brad goes to work and it's just us at home, i'll be listening for his little footsteps and probably tap the bed once and hope to see him soar on top of me and put his head right under my arm and wait to be snuggled.
STARSKY CHAMBERS 2006-2011

I've been wanting to post some things

I've been wanting to post some randomness for awhile and the thing that got me motivated to sit down and dedicate the time was an unopenable dietcoke.

So stroll down this experience with me...

I made burgers tonight and I love me a good "spicy beverage" with fat food. So, I had the kids all set, my plate all fixed up and i ran to the sink to open my drink. I have to do it incognito or they just want to drink it. Don't judge! To clarify before we go further, I am not a DC addict nor do I have dreams about where my next DC will come from. I just like one every once in a while like with mexican food, chinese food, or fat food. So, back to the bottle. I start opening it and it wouldn't budge and i laughed a little and tried again. Still, no budge, AT ALL. I started thinking, "surely my muscles have no atrophied in the last couple of days" I got the towel out and tried for some traction and still...nothing. Really! At this point, I'll admit, there was some saliva forming at the corners of my mouth and I was really starting to (whisper) kind of panic. I was really wanting that dang drink. So I tried again. And 3 more times. Nothing. By this point I was kind of sweating and I won't mention the hallucinations my mind was playing on me at this point at the possibilities of how i might obtain a spicy beverage to accompany my caloric meal. So...I tried one last time and...Nothing. So, i busted out the knife and started irrationally cutting at the lid. Pause. Has this ever happened to any of you?? I started thinking that if perhaps I actually did get into the drink it may be poisoned because is it possible that someone opened the bottle, put something dangerous inside, and the sealed it with glue? I'm just saying?

So, anyway, I used the knife to go around the perforated part and I had connection but the lid still would not budge. At this point I started to think about aborting the plan and making crystal light. My burger was getting cold. But I persisted with the knife and found that it I inserted the knife at just such an angle I could produce several drops and then it occured to me rather than just watch those drops like they were the first and last dew drops on a desert leaf, I could put my cup there and catch them. Eventually, I got a full cup but the culprit still sits "unopened" in the fridge. What an endeavor for some cola, I say.

Chloe the fish. She swims from one side of the pool to the other by herself. She is "fearless" according to her teachers. She told them she wanted to learn a flip off the diving board so they spent 3 sessions one on one teaching her how. Finally, she said, "mom will you tell them I don't want to learn how to do a flip until i'm 7 or 16." She loves cannon balls of the diving board and spread eagles, too. It's fun to watch her and makes me so glad I can have eyes on EZ at the pool now and feel confident that she can swim.
I laughed the entire time shopping in Target. What is this thing???
Doctor Brad. So, so, so proud of him. His life is dedicated to helping others. Seriously, if I could name all the people and times he has just helped someone in their life for the better.
Where we live.

This post is gonna be about EZ

So here is the little dude. I love that every picture we have of him he is doing this face. This was the last picture we took of his luscious, flowing, feathery white hair. I knew the minute we buzzed his head he would "grow up" and that's what happened. He looks like such a big boy now.

In action.
The look.
Not really knowing what was going on but Chloe was closeby cheering him on.
The affectionately termed "stink eye".

A rare smile with the two of them together. At Cracker Barrel. I've decided I am going to document the dinner outing we will surely be doing on one of Brad's 3 days (total) off a month.
Ezra really likes to climb up on things. Because he is small it's easier for me to just tend to set him on things. he is sporting his squeeker shoes. I get more comments on these shoes than "hellos" in a day. chloe had a pair, too and we loved them. with Ezra I've noticed they actually fulfill a purpose by helping me keep track of this wandering free spirit.
We discovered McDonalds is just up the road from us and 3 dollars for 3 sundaes is well worth it (Ode to Grandma Ruthie). I hadn't eaten at McDonalds in years before I became pregnant with EZ and now we find ourselves eating there for playing there more and more. Those dang chicken nuggets and the sauces are so tempting. Really, are there people actually out there that order their "healthy options"??
Cutest mug ever.
So I'm not sure if you can tell the difference in the pictures but this one below is a picture of EZ in the ER with a broken nose. I regret not taking pictures of him with one hand while I tried to steer the car with the other as I drove as fast as I could to the ER trying to keep him awake because his eyes were rolling back in his head and he looked like he may slip into a coma. The doctor told me, " take someone with you to the ER so you can keep him awake." I told her i didn't have anyone. She said, "find someone" and hung up. So, anyway we made it there fine and met Brad at the entrance and, surprise, surprise, guess who made a turn in his recover?. Maybe he just needed to see me (he was at a babysitter when it happened), to see Brad, or just have some one on one time with both of us. In any case, he is doing fine. I'm not sure if his nose will need to be repaired later on. He can't breath out of it at all but atleast it doesn't look crooked. The part I couldn't capture on this photo is that his lip stuck out like the Jim Carrey Grinch. He was slightly horrifying to look at right after it happened but I can say that now that the swelling is going down and I would love him regardless:)

Lets see, what other things about EZ:

He loves to play in the sink, he loves books which he calls "boooots".

He loves loves his blanket and will cuddle it and lay it down and lay on it all around the house.

He idolizes Chloe.

He eats really good when we get him to stay in the chair long enough to sample what is in front of him.

I had him tested for speech and other things (it's a free service here in Illinois and I'm so glad i did it) and he passed with flying colors. Who knew that some kids (um...remember we had precocious Chloe first) don't readily speak at 18 months and some like to just play by themselves! He scored really well on the cognitive stuff and relationship stuff just like I thought. He's a happy little guy who will talk to most anyone after you pass the "stink eye" test.

Tonsils

The day came and here we are waiting for the surgery to start. They gave her a personal DVD player to keep her entertained.

This bandage was a highlight. The saddest part was going from this cute bandage to the boring brown bandage they gave her when they took her IV out. That really made her cry.
It was a successful surgery and recovery. We're 3 weeks done and she's totally back to normal.

Today, Chloe came into my room and said,

"How much do glasses cost."

"Glasses are expensive. Like 100-200 dollars." (I knew where this was headed)

"What do you want glasses for?" I asked her.

"I know Daddy really needs a pair but their expensive and so I want to give him my money from my piggy bank." She produces her piggy bank from behind her back.

Insert melting heart and big hugs and 1 hour of counting quarters and other change.

"I have 22 dollars" (in quarters, we didn't count the other stuff)

"Maybe I'll give dad this many (3 dollars) and I'll keep this for if I go to the store and want to buy something"

Later that day,

"What's that jar up there mom?"

"That's our Disneyland jar." (or just the jar to put loose pennies I find everywhere)

"Can I go get my piggy bank and we can count my money again and I'll put some money in there!"