Meet 1 of the 40

These are the posts I hate writing.  

It means another family is hurting.  Another baby doesn't understand what is happening. Another mom is spending her days crying and her nights not sleeping.  

It opens the scabs of wounds that will never really heal, and makes me remember things I'd rather forget.

But I'm also glad I CAN write these posts.  That connections will be made.  A whole community will show up and welcome a new member.

And that a family can find hope.  A baby will grow and thrive.  And a Mom will realize that she can do this, and it's going to be okay.

And it helps me to remember just how far I have come since those first days.

DOC, meet Alyson and her precious little guy, Carter.  He was diagnosed back in November at 17 months.  Please go show her the awesomeness that is the people of the DOC. 

Lights

Once there was this Mom.  She was in a very dark place.  Her heart ached and she seemed to spend most of her waking hours weeping.  She couldn't remember ever feeling so alone in all her life.  All she had were her words, so she threw them out into the void hoping that somebody, anybody was listening.

Somebody was.  Lots of somebodies.  And little by little, the door to where she was hiding inched open and lights started to shine.

Lights like Penny.  And Jill. Meri.  Laura.  Jessica. Wendy. Tracey.  Misty.  Amy. Kristi.  Lora. Heidi. Kelly. Chasiti. 

And Shamae.

I count these ladies as people who helped save me, and Shamae was one of them.  She was so positive and encouraging; as well as a fierce D-advocate.

My favourite memory of her is when she blogged about a terrible Letter to the Editor someone had written to her local newspaper. The person took issue with a little boy injecting insulin at a table in a restaurant. Shamae was fired up and wrote this blog post, encouraging us all to write the paper.  My response was published and Shamae was so sweet, sending me a copy of the paper and proclaiming me a "published writer in Idaho!"

I was shocked to find out on Sunday that she had passed away in her sleep. I am still in shock, it just doesn't seem possible.

So once again, this Mom is weeping.  For the loss of a friend.  A fellow D-mom, and a sweet soul who was taken way too soon.  I cry for her husband and three little girls; who shouldn't be saying goodbye, but have to.  

How can you mourn so deeply for someone you've never met; never even talked to, except through the written word?  I think it speaks to the bond that we D-Moms all share.

Thank you Shamae, for being a light in my very dark world.  

My sisters from some other misters

Awesome Things - Friday

I grew up the middle child, the only girl sandwiched between two brothers. I never had a sister. I never felt like I actually needed one.

About 1 year after Elise's dx, some strange lady left a comment on my blog. That weirdo turned out to be Laura. The day I met her, I knew I had made a friend for life. She was uber-fabulous, and just wonderful to be around. She has been through so much in the past few years and I am astounded at her courage and determination. She is also one of the most generous people I have ever met.

I can't remember how I met Jess, but trust me when I say she is just as uber-fabulous as Laura. Jess is the only one I know as crazy-anal as I am, and I love her for it! Our families had Thanksgiving dinner together last year, and she put together a list of all the carb factors for the feast, including hand-drawn pictures. If you haven't read Liam's dx story... you should. You'll get a glimpse of just how strong of a person Jessica is.

Girls... I would not be this okay without you in my life. I love our Monday nights together; whether we're ordering french fries from our table in Mooya by phone, eating hibatchi in our sweats, or cackling like a bunch of crazy ladies over a cinnabon, I am a better pancreas because of you.

My awesome thing that I have done because of diabetes has been gaining two sisters that I never knew I needed.

D-Buddies!

I can't believe I forgot to post my pictures of our play date with Nate and Liam! Granted, I didn't get very many because my memory stick filled up and I didn't feel like going through 600+ pictures to see which ones I could delete.

Anyway, there's nothing like hanging with a couple of girls that are not only fun to be with, but totally, 100% get what you're going through. There was much laughing, chatting, carb-counting, weighing, eating, child-wrangling, and eyebrow-furrowing (when a weird number would pop up on someone's meter).

A lovely time spent with lovely ladies. Oh yeah, the kids are pretty adorable too!

Nate and Liam cooking up some fun. Keep it up boys, a girl loves a guy who knows his way around the kitchen!

Elise and Liam eating lunch. Elise told me the other day, "I just love Liam so much!"

Mini-chefs!

Liam is such a gentleman!

Calling all D-Moms!

I have a new friend in the blogging world that I want to introduce you to... Her name is Jessica and her 3 year old son Liam was diagnosed with D in September. She just started a blog, so I think we need to head over and show her some D-Mom love!

Even better? She lives in the Dallas area!

Click here to get to her blog

P.S. (shameless plug alert) I have more cute snow pictures up on my other blog.