Are You Artsy???

Well, even if you're not, I hope you'll join in on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 for Diabetes Art Day.  Lee Ann, over at The Butter Compartment, has initiated this project.  I am really looking forward to seeing all the art posted on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, TuDiabetes...wherever!

 courtesy of http://www.thebuttercompartment.com

This is another opportunity to spread awareness.  Please go to Lee Ann's blog and read all about it.  You don't need to be a Picasso or Van Gogh to participate.  I know C has something up her little 8 year old sleeve.  And I'm going to try and coax creativity out of her brothers as well!

If you write your own blog, you can post an image of your diabetes art right there!  If you don't have a site, don't worry...Lee Ann gives us several ideas of where and how to post our pictures.  She'll even do it for you if you email your stuff to her!

So, go gather your crayons, finger paints and old diabetes supplies, and let the creative animal free!!

See you back here on Wednesday!

Back to 3rd Grade

So, the kids went back to school this week.  All things considered, it was a smooth transition.  We officially have a 3rd grader at one school and the 2 boys are at the middle school (6th and 8th grades).  I know that kids all over the world grow up to the next grade each year.  But I find this truly remarkable...right here, under my own nose!

This has been such a reflective summer for me.  It started off in June, when I celebrated my 5 year mark...5 years since my cancer diagnosis.  And even though I thought this time would pass...that I would be able to fold up the last 5 years, neatly, and put them up on a shelf...it's the strangest thing.  I haven't been able to do that.  I'm reminded of it every day.

I was reminded of it on Monday, as I walked onto campus with C.  There we walked, hand in hand, to the classroom where 5 years previously I had walked Big C to 3rd grade.  (Well, different room, but same teacher!)  I remember shaking the young, first-year teacher's hand.  I remember explaining to him about my cancer, as I peered from underneath one of my many hats.  I remember his eyes, big and round as saucers.  "If you could just keep an eye on Big C," I said.  "It's been a tough time on him too."

I remember.

I remember being so thrilled that I felt well enough to take the kids to school that day 5 years ago.  I had already begun my chemo treatments.  Little C was just 3 years old and was still home with me.  I remember thanking God that I was the one to send the boys off to 1st and 3rd grade.  It was a prayer answered.  I remember.

So Monday, my mind was flooded with thoughts of the last 5 years, again.

We had brought by C's supplies to class, earlier the past week and talked diabetes with him.  And, since he is already familiar with our family, the diabetes issue was not a surprise.  We greeted Mr. H.  We talked for just a few minutes.  Soon, we will be scheduling a 504 meeting soon, after things settle down a bit.  I really just wanted to go over the very basics with him.  C handed him a very cute pink box, loaded with D stuff.  Teacher and C decided together where the best place would be for it...easy access to her extra meter, juice boxes, snacks and such.

We shook hands and turned to leave.  He expressed to C how happy he was to see her name on his class list.  "This will be a great year!" he said.  "I remember having Big C in class 5 years ago."

"Yes," I replied.  "I so remember.  This will be a great year!"