Batter Up!

So, C had softball tryouts on Monday night.  Yes.  7 year olds...trying out for a sport. 

Now, both the boys are deep into baseball.  Our family lives it...breathes it.  However, I guess it never dawned on any of us that, though, C is constantly there, at all the games (since life began for her)...she never really has played the game.  Hmmm...

Just after dinner, they began to practice.  Throwing, pitching, batting, catching.  A crash course for sure!  I was nervous for her.  I didn't want her to feel the pressure.  So, we hopped in the car and headed for the field...all of us, brothers included.

While I checked in at the registration table, Big C took her to the practice field to give her a few tips.  (This warmed my heart.)  It would be quite a wait for C's group to be called.  Group #1 was finished.  Group #2 was being rounded up.  C would be in Group #4.  So, we chatted with other parents.  Middle C met up with a friend.  We watched as the other girls were "trying out."

Group #2 was finished...on to #3. 

I began to fidget.  C needs to get checked, I thought.  I tried getting her attention on the practice field.  Big C was still giving her some catching advice.  I tried waving to him.  They're absorbed in practice.  Okay, it can wait.

Group #3 was half way through.  She's got to be tested, I thought.  And though I tried setting her up well with the dinner bolus, you never can tell what surprises diabetes will hold.  Dad was now out on the practice field as well.  I didn't want to make a scene...so I whipped out my new fancy phone and texted him.  "C needs to test!"...no response.  I texted Big C.  "Bring C over so she can test..."  Neither one reached for their phones.

"Group 4!" a lady called out.  Finally, there they all came, in from the field.

C seemed fine enough.  She grabbed a helmet and started over to the group.  "Hold on," I said.  "You've got to test."  5...4...3...2...1...54!  Darn it.  Juice box.  She scooped up all her equipment and headed to the dugout.  I motioned for Dad to follow with her kit.  "Let someone know she's low," I said.  They would have to skip over her until her number comes up. 

I sighed.  Apparently, I sighed heavily.  An older lady, standing nearby looked at me and said, "Oh, we have some diabetes in our family too.  It's just great how the kids can take care of it themselves and it's no big deal, is it?!" 

What?  What???!  "It's a bummer," I said.  "It's a huge deal."  I forced a smile.  Then I got up and walked away.  I guess I wasn't in the mood for a new year's resolution.
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Oh, C's tryout?  She hit the ball 2 out of 3 times.  She never caught it, but she threw it hard!...Like an All-Star!!

Whenever I Meet Another D-Mom...

Would you just look at this picture!  I mean, I nearly broke down in tears when I saw this. 
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We were at C's soccer game last Saturday.  When we arrived to meet up with the rest of the team, one of C's little teammates came running up to me and said quickly and energetically with a BIG smile, "We brought snacks today.  And there's Twinkies, chips and a drink.  The total carb count is 55 grams.  My brother is diabetic."  And just like that, she was gone.

I looked around.  Did she just say what I thought she said?  Where was her mom?  Who is her mom?  This was only our 2nd game and I didn't have all the faces matched with names yet.  And, because of all the Southern California fires, we really only had one practice for the girls.  So...I looked around for the mom.

She actually, came up to me and handed me the bag.  "Just thought you may like the carb count on everything beforehand."

I was down on my knees tying C's shoes.  "Oh," I said, as I got up.  "Thank you, thank you!"  I gave her a big hug.  I don't know this lady from Adam, but...she hugged back.  "That is so great," I said.  "Thank you!"

I didn't know she had a diabetic son.  Rarely do I step up and ask for any accommodations for C's diabetes.  But this lady had heard me at our first team meeting simply explain that C is type 1 and tell all the parents it's perfectly okay to tell me or the coach if she looks "out-of-sorts" on the field...that she may be experiencing a hypoglycemic episode.

Our families sat next to each other during the game.  We talked "diabetes" but we also cheered on the girls, and laughed at her husband's jokes.  Instant unspoken bond...whenever I meet another D-mom.