So today began like any other ordinary summer day. Well, okay, maybe not quite. I'm beginning to shift the kids' sleep schedules back after a long weekend of late nights and agitated days, so they were both awake by 8:30am and ready for breakfast, sliding right into a schedule-less day of Wii gameplay soon after. … Continue reading The Joy of…. Negotiation?

Yes it was a shock to learn our 2-year-old had T1 diabetes. Yes it was the single most stressful event to ever occur in my life to date. We'd had a taste of what it was like to sit hours in an emergency room with a small and very sick child, when a month of … Continue reading How We Got Here: Part 2 (and Where We’ve Been)

So here it is, the first product of my new "game." Brought to you this week by Treena. It was close, though... Amy had some great working answers, particularly the last one, as noted.SUPERSTITIONSAlthough we believe ourselves to be slovenly civilized, most of us are really fleas at heart, because we still believe in pasty … Continue reading Mad Lib Monday # 1

This is meant to be sung, to the tune of "A Few of My Favorite Things".Weeding the gardensAnd seeding bare patchesPicking up garbage And things the stray catchesDodging the dog pooAnd treasures he bringsThese are a few of my favorite things...Folding the laundry And washing up dishesPicking up hairballs andWhat smells like dead fishesWet soiled … Continue reading A Few of My Favorite Things

After this first quarter of 2011, I felt the urge to check in and reflect on my progress.In spite of a few personal stumbling blocks, I am still seeking out Joy whenever I can. Teaching the kids to find it outside of Wii, the Cartoon Network and torturing one another has been a bit of … Continue reading Resolutions Update: How Am I Doing?

I woke up a few days ago with a dazzling revelation - we were about to begin day 140 in school and, as we know, there are 180 days of school. Know what that means? Only 40 - FORTY - days of home-schooling left!! Mrs. Mom - er, this teacher - has already begun the … Continue reading Is it? Is it? Could it be…. will I find… Shangri La?

Ever wish you'd stood up and said something at a funeral?I'm Tara. I'm the first grandchild. Beryl June Freeman Keene was my "Nana." Nana was 41 when I was born, just one year older than I am today. From the time I was born until my college years, I spent nearly every Sunday with Nana … Continue reading What I Didn’t Say

This post was written several months ago and never published.7:00am - Test Ava, up for the day7:05am- Check messages online for 10 minutes, get shower, wake up Owen, take dog out, put morning drug on to brew, feed dog, call pediatrician's office for a CHOP referral, make breakfast for Owen, get him on the bus, … Continue reading A Day in the Life

That would be the number one question people who don't know about diabetes ask me. The answer is.... NO. Other questions often revolve around what she can and cannot eat - I guess she can't have sugar? Is she allowed to eat cake? Admittedly, that was one of the first things I thought of while … Continue reading Will She Grow Out of It?

100 days of school behind us.  100 days of tears, fighting, enthusiasm, screaming, laughing, rejoicing, threatening, pleading, failure and success.  100 days of brick-and-mortar school... and a reluctant 4th grader who stays up too late and refuses to get out of bed in the morning until I've gone in there no less than five times … Continue reading 100 Days