Gracie gets pumped!

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Rachel

It’s been a little over a year since Gracie was diagnosed with Type1 Diabetes. It’s been a year of trials, frustration, patience and learning. We knew that eventually we’d be putting her on a pump. A pump is a device that delivers small amounts of insulin directly into your body through a small tube throughout the day. Gracie has been taking about 5-6 shots a day and will now only be doing 1 every three days. (still poking her fingers about 8 times a day) At first I thought, GREAT! Less shots, more convenience…but Friday, after seeing her connected to a machine, dependent on a machine…my heart broke. She’s super excited though! I’m so grateful for modern medicine…

She also just finished her second recital. She played, “You’ve got a friend in me!”

March Madness

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Rachel

This was Gracie’s first year playing basketball. She LOVES it! She’s the Mark Eaton of 3rd grade girls basketball. She was at LEAST a foot taller than every girl on her team. She grew so fast, she still hasn’t quite lived up to her name! This was the only team they played against with girls as tall as her!

On the mend…

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Rachel

To give everyone an update on Dustin and Gracie’s health…
Dustin has been cancer-free since his tumor was removed in the Fall of 2010. He’s been seeing his oncologist about every three months and just made an appointment for six months out! He has CT scans about every six months to check for new tumors (which will soon be yearly), but all have looked great. He continues his once-a-day ‘chemo’ pill that is specific for fighting his type of cancer cells. He’ll continue to take these for the next two years…at least. (Every time we go, they change the duration. 1 year, 2 years, now 3). He feels great and is able to do everything a dad his age should be doing, (with exception to the extreme herniated disc in his low back that happened on 12/31/11, but lets not open that can of worms!!!) 😉 We’re hoping therapy will help and he won’t have to have surgery. He say’s he’d rather have cancer…no more jumping sports (basketball and ultimate Frisbee) upsets him.

Dustin doing one of his favorite things...holding a sleepy baby.

Gracie is doing remarkably well after being diagnosed with diabetes last February. She’s very smart, and knows her body well enough to know when her blood sugars are getting low. She can even give herself her own shots when she doesn’t have help at school. It’s been and continues to be an adjustment with our eating/snacking habits at home – especially with three ‘starving’ (growing) boys! She hopes to get on a pump this year to help out with ‘snacking’ and less shots, especially at school.

Brielle & Gracie

We’re hoping for a better year concerning our health, but if not, we know that the Lord loves us, knows us, and will help us through anything.

Gracie’s 1st Piano Recital

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Rachel

Gracie had her first piano recital since starting lessons in July. We asked her if she was nervous and she said, “no.” I asked her if her fingers were shaking. She again said, “no.” Her lack of nervousness is something she obviously doesn’t get from either me or Dustin. She played Fur Elise, and did a great job!