To iPad or not to iPad? That is the question.

One and a half years ago, my mom called and asked if she had permission from my husband and I to get the boys iPad minis for Christmas. She wanted to give all of her grandkids an awesome Christmas and knew this would do the trick! My initial thought was, "Heck yeah! Now, I don't have to buy them!" My very practical hubby was initially against it. He claimed they were too young for such an expensive device. "What would happen if they were on them all the time?," he asked. I reassured him that we were responsible parents and such devices would come with rules (yeah, right!). After my mom and I worked our magic and wore him down, we all agreed to spoil them and let the games begin! Literally!

That Christmas was everything my mom hoped it would be! It quite possibly might go down as the greatest Christmas in the history of Christmases according to all five grandchildren! The kids loved them. However, this was the problem. They LOOOOVEEd them. Every. Single. Day. I became one of the many generations of mothers who's children receive "the coolest game system ever" and then turns into a lunatic every time they play it - for more than the one hour that "the experts" say they should play. By the way, is that still a rule? I really need to know the rule but I am too afraid to look it up, and see the result, in case it really still is an hour a day. Oh God! It must be up to three hours per day for screen time by now, right? Doesn't it increase once more kids get the devices? Apple had a record year last year! Kindle? Same. Surely, this means the screen time limit went up, right?

Anyway, multiply my screen time anxiety by 10 when you throw diabetes in the mix. Not sure about your children but Rocco's blood sugar rises when he is sedentary. It also rises when he is stressed out. So now, take a nine year old Type 1 kid, give him an amazingly, cool piece of machinery and load up the Hunger Games for Minecraft and watch the blood sugar soar! Mix in a little lunch before and wait about an hour. Yep! Within about an hour, he is usually climbing into the 300s. So, I curse myself almost every day for not, once again, listening to my very practical husband.

In the non-D world, most moms let their kids turn on their devices and enjoy the silence for the duration of the game time. Let's be honest, the devices are like little off switches for kids. I'd be lying if I didn't enjoy the automatic ability to hear my own thoughts when those flat, little machines power up. Sometimes I even sing the line from that Depeche Mode song- Enjoy the Silence while I do a little jig in my kitchen. But then, after the first half hour and groan from his direction (because he lost or got killed or got kicked out) my D-Mom spider senses start to tingle. I know the trifecta of the sitting around, the anxiety of the game and the lunch, are running a number on my guy. The silence is different for a D Parent. We are on the clock. So, at first I pretend not to hear his frustration from the other room. The silence is too alluring. Wily temptress. Luring me back. Enveloping me back into her warm blanket which are my thoughts and laundry folding. "Argh!" I hear it again. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. Then I mentally add 100 blood sugar points to his perfect 125 pre-lunch blood sugar. "Argh!", I say to myself mirroring his comment but for a much different reason. Thoughts of telling him to dose himself another .5 units of insulin to offset the spike go through my mind. Sometimes, I do tell him to dose himself. However, when the next groan is heard, I don't know if he is spiking or dropping. Usually the extra squirt of insulin just confuses my DMom internal voice. 

So sure enough, once "my time" (Oops! I mean their iPad time) is up. I go to check his blood sugar and yep, the monitor reads in the 300s. That's usually when I silently curse myself for trying to be a cool mom and let them have the devices. Also, for letting them play on them for more than the expert recommended time. I do believe kids should have downtime. Whenever I go to their classrooms, I just want to take them home put them in a quite room, bundle them in blankets and hand them their iPads. Their days are exhausting! Then, after I doubt myself about six ways from Sunday, I turn my anger to the little fuzzy monster, I sometimes conjure up in my imagination, called diabetes. Even a little bit of downtime has to be considered a potential threat to these kids. Grrrr! I can feel my blood pressure rise with my anger and silently appreciate that it's not my blood sugar, like my poor little guy. However, like every single D parent on the planet we would happily take over this disease for our kids. Any amount rising blood sugar would be fine with us, if our kids didn't ever have to live with it again. My mind floats to better days of a diabetes free world until I snap out of it and realize the kids got another five minutes out of me! So, I yell at the kids to "Turn those stupid things off and go outside and play!" I silently giggle as I hear my mother's words erupt out of my mouth! "Go outside and play!" are words that never out of style. Diabetes or not! So, I decide, while I watch them play in the snow (enjoying the dropping blood sugar with every running step he takes) tomorrow is another day. I will do better tomorrow.

P.S. I found a website that agrees with me that screen time can be two hours now. So, feel free parents, iPad away! Yay us! Oops! I mean yay them! Permission granted, at least from me...

My, My! Flying sure has changed!

In my twenties and thirties, I used to travel almost every week. I was a regional sales director and my region spanned half of the US. It was a blast. I loved airports, I loved people watching and I loved my job. To pass my time while flying, I had a Gameboy and I played Tetris!

Once I had the boys, I didn't fly hardly at all. Life kind of just kept happening and there wasn't any room for jetting anywhere, especially not with two infants or, worse yet, two toddlers!

We did take one flight to visit my in-laws last year, but I was so busy watching the kids experience their first flight, that I never even looked up or had any thoughts of my own!

Last week, I went on a flight to Boston. It was so funny to see everything that changed since I last flew by myself.

The first thing I noticed was how PC (politically correct) and accommodating we have become.

The flight boarder guy called out the first set of passengers allowed to board the airplane:

"At this time, may we please have our first class passengers board the aircraft." That was expected.

"Next, can we please have people that need wheelchair access to board the aircraft." That's nice.

"Any uniformed military service men or women, please board." Awww, that's awesome! They deserve that.

"People traveling with children under two." Please, God not by me!

"Anyone traveling with dividend miles." Shoot! I forgot to put my miles number in the reservation.

"Anyone traveling with a dividend plus MasterCard." Crap! I have a Visa. Does that count?

"Anyone that is a Star Plus member." How the heck do you get to be a Star Plus member?

"Anyone that has service animals." Okay, I'll always wait for those cuties.

"Anyone that is gold member...."Really?

"Anyone that is a silver member..." Oh COME ON!!

"Anyone that has a blue preferred status." now thiiiissss one was my favorite. When I did the kiosk to print my boarding pass, it asked me if I wanted to pay $20 to have blue preferred status. Seriously?? Even if I had loads of cash, I wouldn't spend it on getting onto the airplane three minutes before everyone else! Especially since it was ten minutes behind all the other people that just boarded! What the heck?!


By now, I had been standing for twelve minutes. I was impatiently doing the mommy sway. You know the one that you do side to side when you hold an infant. However, after the infant years are over, it becomes part of your genetic DNA and for some reason you sway every time you wait in line. If you don't know what I am talking about, go to the grocery store. Look at all women who have a slightly poochy belly they will ALL sway side to side while waiting to pay for their Go-gurts and fruit snacks.

As I wait, I start to become a smart ass with the guy next to me. We giggle while we make up new groups of people that can board the aircraft in front of us.

"Anyone who has a chihuahua named Pico, please board the aircraft..."

"Anyone who has unicorn named Starlight..."

"Anyone who has ever worn plaid pants..."

It was fun to make fun of an annoying situation.

Once we finally were able to board, I noticed the technology.

First, I saw that the "NO SMOKING" sign that had previously inhabited the overhead lighting system was gone. It was now replaced by PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR MOBILE DEVICES. I chuckled as I thought about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. I silently gave them credit for the transformation. Then I imagined them looking at each other and Steve saying to Bill, "Didn't see that one coming!"

Next, I noticed that everyone on entire plane had devices. iPhones, iPads, Macs, laptops, cell phones, iPods, Kindles, Nooks, and even DSs (no more Gameboys, however). Only two people had an actual book. A girl next to me was reading one of them. She kept laughing as she read. The book was called "Let's Talk About Diabetes in Owls". I went online to iTunes and ordered it mid-flight right onto my iPad so I could see for myself how good it was! Talk about amazing technology. I looked hard for a magazine- nope! I cringed for the publishing industry but then realized people are still paying for the magazines and books they are just reading them on their devices. I then got excited for the trees in the forests! Go trees!

I laughed at the fact that the TURN OFF ELECTRONIC DEVICES sign may have changed from NO SMOKING but the dinging of the signal as it turned off created the same behavior! The minute that light turned off everyone desperately grabbed for their devices like they used to grab for their cigarettes! Ha!

My flight even had free wi-fi and it worked! I watched the latest episode of Chicago Fire on NBC.com 30,000 feet in the air! It took a couple of tries to grab the signal so out of habit held my iPad above my head to help it grab the signal. I laughed that even 30,000 feet above the Earth the signal was still spotty. I reminded myself next time I am on land and hold my cell above my head to grab the signal, that even if I had arms 30,000 feet long, it wasn't actually me putting it above my head that fixed the problem. I promised myself next time, just to wait patiently, save the energy and the phone will most likely grab the signal whether it's above my head or not.

Once we landed and we were all allowed to check our phones for messages. One of the phones rang. It was an iPhone that had the old school ring. The ring that is like the old, 80's phones that used to hang on your kitchen wall with the loooooonnnngg, tangled cord! Talk about a flashback! It was the kind of flashback feeling you get when you see a picture of MC Hammer in parachute pants. That noise in such a modern world was an oxymoron, it confused my brain.

When I walked through the airport it was more of the same. Everything was based around technology. No more sitting in "pleather" rows of seats with a laptop cord stretched all the way across the waiting area while you charged your laptop for the flight. Nope! Now, there are areas with lattes and high top tables which house a stand of outlets with which you were not only encouraged but expected to hook your device. People chatting as if they were at a bar while their devices charged. There weren't any clocks anywhere because now people check their phones for the time. The smoking lounge was replaced with a spa and people of all ages were getting massages and pedicures! I'm not joking!

All in all, I realized the world had morphed. While, i changed two sets of diapers and checked blood sugars, it morphed into the dreams that Steve Jobs and Bill Gates once dreamed in their garages. Only now that dream was on steroids.

I remember a picture of Steve Jobs delivering a speech saying "One day every singe home will have a computer." Well, I guess it's officially "one day."

I am sad for the world that will lose the connection of people. Once the "it's ok to play on your phone now" light came on. All talking stopped. Heads went down and people got lost in their technology. No more meeting someone on a flight and doing business with them in the future.

It was sad to think of all those connections lost. However, when a nice man struck up the "What do you do?" conversation, I found myself becoming impatient with his inquiries and just wanted to start playing Candy Crush while listening to my iPod. I may be sad but I, too, am on of the technology-addicted minions!

On the way home, I wondered what the flights will be like when my boys bring their kids on a flight. I decided to keep my old Gameboy with my Tetris cartridge because something told me my grandkids will one day make some money on such an old piece of "technology"! My old Gameboy might be worth some money to them. 

P.S. I posted this to my blog while I was flying! Go wifi!

Thank you everyone!!

When I am old and I look back at my life, I'm sure I will say that staying home with the boys was the happiest time in my life! 

I can't imagine there being anything more fulfilling than being part of every step they took in their developmental years. 

I also know I will say that writing this blog was a major part of that happiness, as well. When you do something for many hours straight and the time flies, you know you are doing the right thing for yourself. When I write, I get lost, and when I look up, hours have past. Writing is my happy place. Fortunately, I am lucky enough to have people, like you, who want to read it and maybe even relate to it. Having a bunch of strangers become your "virtual friends" is the gift I have received for the work. I have met so many people that are sharing our same life through sharing this blog. Many of you have reached out and helped me through some dark "mommy moments". I thank you for your kindness and compassion.  Also, thanks to you, in 2013 we reached our goal of 100,000 hits! 

Reaching this goal was the original reason I started this blog.

Two years ago, a friend’s mom who had just retired from a major publishing house gave me advice on how to approach publishing companies to publish a book I wrote more than ten years ago during my/our infertility experience. It is a raw account of the emotions one goes through during infertility.  My friend's mom said, "Start a blog and reach 100,000 hits. Once you do that, you will have the backing of an audience and then you can approach publishing companies." She told me that publishing houses want you to come with a book AND an audience who want to buy the book. Well, two years to the day, thanks to you, we reached our goal!!!

When I actually saw the number I worked so hard to get. I smiled a private, slow and proud smile. I sent a screen shot to my friend and asked her to send it to her mom. I also sent the screen shot to my mom and a few friends who encouraged my writing along the way.

Then, I cleaned the bathroom.

As I cleaned, I wondered why I wasn't hopping on publishing sites or going straight to the Amazon self-publishing website. I started thinking about all of the reasons I wanted to publish my infertility book in the first place. For the 100,000th time, I imagined the women it could help during their struggle. Spending untold hours seeking a publisher (time which I now no longer have since going back to work) felt overwhelming to me. The thought of writing hundreds of anonymous emails and receiving hundreds of rejection notices was a non-starter. It was easier cleaning the toilet.

I said to myself yet again, "If I don't send it, I can't get rejected." That thought has overshadowed my desire every time I began to attempt publishing. Over the five-year time span while I wrote, I giddily imagined it in the front display of every Barnes & Noble and Borders, as i am sure all writers dream. I imagined being on Oprah and Regis & Kelly explaining how hard my infertile years were, hoping to reach the masses that were also struggling. Well, fifteen years later, Borders has gone out of business, Barnes and Noble sells more books online than in stores, Oprah retired her show and Kelly is now with Michael.

So I think I am going to have a new goal this year. Instead of publishing a hardcover book and getting rich and famous, I think I will publish an online copy and hope it gets around to the one in every four couples dealing with devastation of infertility in their lives. As I grow older, I am realizing helping these people is way more important to me than my own recognition. Plus, thanks to you, I have already reached "fame" by actually connecting with people during their difficult times dealing with childhood diabetes and hopefully helping them feel a little better.

Helping moms and dads cope with diabetes in their children, through my blog, has fulfilled me more than I could have ever imagined. With each new comment on a post and every "Like" on Facebook, my yearning for fame has evolved into something different. Writing this blog satisfied my need to help others going through a struggle, but to my surprise the struggle was actually with diabetes and not infertility. I never knew the infertility was actually the path to the diabetes. In more ways than one. Lol! 

As I cleaned the toilet, I realized that the rich and famous part I craved had already been satisfied through my journey in learning how to write and have people want to read my words. Getting to 100,000 hits was actually an added bonus. The 100,000 hits for me is like $100,000. Apparently, I am already "rich" and "famous" and it had nothing to do with my infertility book.

I will still try to publish an online version of my book because I am motivated to see that goal actualized. However, now it will just hold a little less weight than it once did. I want to say thanks so much to you for helping me reach my goal. I appreciate you taking time out if your day to share in ours. I promise to write more in the new year! It's my happy place and I hope for a quick five minutes a week, it can be yours too.

Here's to safe New Year for us all! 

Back to School with Type 1 Diabetes

 

Hi everyone, 

How was your summer? Mine has gone by fast! Working full-time has zapped me of my creative, writing juices. Darn it! Getting home at 6 pm, then cooking something edible, then showers for the boys, then trying to read so they are not completely illiterate by the time they re-enter thier school, has been kind of a whirlwind. 

One thing I am trying not to stress about this year is bedtime. Usually around 9 pm, I am yelling at two "not-so-tired" boys to "GET IN BED!"  so that they aren't falling asleep by lunchtime.  However, I am learning that this actually works itself out without any pushing from me. The kids are always so dead-dog-tired that first week of school, that they usually beg me  to get in their cozy beds by 8:30 pm. For me, that is good enough. So, I am going to try no yelling this year. Hope my plan works! 

Another thing I'm going to do is cheat. I'm not sure if it is cheating, if I cheat off myself and I wanted to invite you to cheat from me too. I'm a giver. Lol! I am re-posting last year's post that was a big hit with parents of what diabetes supplies to pack for your child's school days. 

Please note: this is NOT a comprehensive list. It is only the best way that works for Rocco and I. Think of it as a springboard for you and your child/children. Also, please share. If I have left something out that works for you, please leave it in a comment below so myself and everyone else can see your good idea too! It really does take a village! 

Click here for last year's post on going back to school:

http://www.everydayhighsandlows.com/2012/09/back-to-school-is-full-time-job.html

I hope and pray each of your children have a safe and healthy year! 

XOXO, 

Shari 

How will the siblings feel?

When all of the excitement from our thrilling, educational and inspiring Washington trip calmed down, I woke up one morning with Zeke. 

Zeke is our early bird. Always has been. If it weren’t for Zeke, Michael, myself and Rocco wouldn’t wake up until 11 a.m. We are grateful Zeke gets up to get the day moving. He is a 7:00 a.m. kid during the school year and 8:00 a.m. during the summer. The hours are great.

I am usually the next to wake up. My mommy senses one of my bear cubs is awake and I need to feed him some breakfast. The great news is, I get “special mommy-Zeke time” which is what we nicknamed it. We make Eggo waffles, I make some Chai tea and we sit on the deck. Now, our new puppy Shay joins us. I actually think it’s my favorite time of the day. 

As any mom (or parent) knows, getting one of your children by themselves for any time alone is a wonderful treat for you both. The quality time during those moments are better than any Disney trip or new toy you could ever buy. The best news is we don’t have any agenda. I think of it as a time to just talk and listen but most importantly to hear. I like to hear his take on the/his world. I like to hear his fears or joys for the moments. Also, I like to hear him grow-up as he discusses friend conversations or school worries. 

However this specific morning, I looked at him with his speckled body and his boxer shorts. Zeke has recently gotten vitiligo. It is an autoimmune disease whereby your body attacks your skin pigmenting cells. It happened a couple of months ago. At first I was terrified. What would this do to my beautiful, little boy’s self esteem? As I watched helplessly as it spread from his torso to his arms, legs and slightly to his face. I felt frozen and out of control. The same way I felt as Rocco’s diabetes attacked his pancreas. Currently, we are treating Zeke with a steroid cream to dull the spots and stop the progression.  My mom, mother-in-law and two of my best friends swear it is barely noticeable. Thank God for my pale, Norwegian heritage. The spots are less noticeable with paler skin. 

Regardless, as I looked at him with his newly, speckled body shoving his waffle in his mouth talking light-heartedly about yet another “COOL” thing on Minecraft, I wondered. As I often do, I wondered. 

How will Zeke perceive Rocco’s diabetes?
How will Zeke feel about being the one who didn’t get it? 
Will he resent the fact that every day is dictated by his brother’s disease? 
Will he feel grateful and, at the same time, feel sorry for his brother once he fully understands what his twin will endure throughout their separate lives? 
Will he feel Rocco’s pain when they are across the globe from each other pursing their careers? 
Will he feel a responsibility to care for his brother in college and in their adult life?

Whenever I meet a sibling of a person with type one diabetes. My first question I ask them is, “Were you ever resentful of the attention they got from your parents as a child.” 
Over the years, I have asked about 30-40 siblings. Thankfully, they all look at me as if to say, “How dare you ask that!” and answer, “NO! Of course not, I was always sad that my brother/sister went through so much pain.” I keep asking because that answer is what I want and NEED to hear. I somehow HAVE to know that as hard as I try to make this “no big deal” and “part of our lives” that it is not secretly saddening, harming or infiltrating my other child. That it is not permanently damaging him in a long-term way. It is incredibly difficult to be the sibling of a child with any affliction, especially a life-threatening one. The parent’s attention doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring the situation for a day or even an hour. I am sure this is felt, seen and heard by the sibling. However, it is what it has to be. The parents can just do their best to wake up early with their non-afflicted children, steal precious moments and somehow make them feel “as paid attention to”. 

Sometimes, about once a month, I check in with Zeke. I sometime just ask him. “How do you feel about Rocco’s diabetes?” or “Is mommy loving you enough?” So far I have never asked him, “Do you feel left out?” Because I have had friend’s do that and it became that child’s “thing” to pull out if they ever felt treated unfairly. KInd of like if you put the idea in their head they will make it part of who they are. Which ironically is the EXACT reason you asked the child in the first place... 

My perfect little Zeke gets what I am asking, I think, and sometimes will talk to me about it. Sometimes he does tell me about a time he didn’t feel heard or loved. I try to explain  to him what was happening in my brain at the time, I apologize and it kind of clears the air - even if does kill me a little each time. Because the boys are my “first child” I am trying to navigate my way through each scenario without a compass and without perspective of a previous child. Maybe this is the reason I worry so much for Zeke. I am desperately nervous about making him feel slighted during his childhood.

Anyway, on this morning he said, “Mom, when am I going to go to the Congress?” 
I giggled a little about the words he chose to explain his brother’s activity. 
“Whenever you want.” I said kind of wimping out and tossing the control back to him. Hoping to empower him. I knew it worked when he stood up, smiled a big smile, made his body into an eqyptian-type stance and then, his speckled self, said, “SAVE THE WORLD FROM VITILIGO!” 

As Zeke does many times a day, once again, he reassured me that he his growing up juuuuusssttt fine! 

Thanks Zeke! 

Again...

So much for being a "bird dog"! Good girl!

Rocco speaks on Capitol Hill for JDRf Children's Congress 2013!

There have been times in my life when I was proud. Proud of myself, proud of my husband and proud of my kids. It is every mother's right and her duty to find moments that bring her heart that swelling feeling. 

Most of those times, it was when my guys have been brave. We have a term for it in our house, I tell the boys to "Find your brave!" 

 

"Finding your brave" means they have to push themselves past their comfort zones. Push themselves past their mental blocks of which they believe their abilities lie. It means to get that feeling in their belly that makes them angry for NOT doing the thing that scares them and to just do it already! Besides the concept that "Everyone has a story", this is the other concept I want the boys to carry with them (even when I am gone). It will help them sky dive, travel, ask for promotions and raises. It will help them get married, by an amazing sports car, or rock climb up the grand canyon. It could even help them make history! 

This week was a full week of Rocco "finding his brave!"

Before today, when we first applied to the Children's Congress, I was fearful. I wasn't sure that a seven-year-old boy was mature enough to handle the responsibility of speaking to adults about his disease. Much less represent the thousands in his state and country that shared his daily struggle. Especially to some of the most important people in the United States. However, after watching the video on the Children's Congress 2011. I was compelled to try! What an amazing opportunity. 

When I found out he got accepted to be a delegate for Children's Congress 2013, instantly I was thrilled. I mean dance-around-the-kitchen kind of thrilled. However, after the first, fun, five minutes - fear set in my belly. Could he do this? Should he do this? I knew I had to practice what I preached and "Find my brave!"

So we carried on! I learned as much as I could about the Congress, the economy and the task before JDRF - to urge lawmakers to renew the funding for the Special Diabetes Program. This program is on the cusp of so many advances for Type 1 diabetics. The artificial pancreas is one and islet encapsulation is another. Not to mention the technologies that are breaking ground to make Rocco and millions of other Type 1 Diabetics' lives easier every day. These technologies will let people with diabetes' bodies control their own blood sugar with sensors, insulin pumps, more advanced insulin, and auto-controlled blood sugar monitors. If the funding weren't renewed, these technologies will stop. I mean stop. JDRF contributes $110 million to the program and the government contributes $150 million. The moms, dads, companies, grandparents, aunts and uncles are doing bake sales, walks, school fundraisers, and family fundraisers everyday to make up that $110 million but we are tapped out there. It would be impossible for JDRF volunteers to make up the other $150 million. Therefore the funding MUST continue. This is the only path to a cure and also to a better way of life. 

So, this was Rocco's job. He was to visit two Senators and one Representative from his state. He would then, along with four, other fabulous, delegate children from our state urge lawmakers to show their support by signing a letter supporting the Special Diabetes Program. 

So, we woke up that morning and along with Mrs. Cynthia Ford from the Ford Motor Company stepped on a bus to make our appointments! Both Rocco and I were excited and nervous. 

On the bus! On our way! 

We made it! 

Rocco yelled to me, "Let's do this!" when I snapped this pic. 

We had a little while to wait before our first meeting so I thought I should check Rocco's blood sugar. 

Yikes! Normal is 100. Guess he is a little nervous! Blood sugar rises with stress. This just gave us the fuel for the fire we needed for the day. 

"Darn it!" 

When it was time to meet our Representative, we started to walk the important hallways of the House of Representatives. I laughed as I said, "Rocco, please put away your Minecraft so you can speak on Capitol Hill!" 

And then this happened. 

Not sure if it's just because he my kid, but in this picture, I saw it. I flashed forward to a time when this little boy might be in a business suit and about another two feet taller. Walking down this important hallway to go and change the world -again! The confident way he held his shoulders walked ahead of me, as if he knew the way to go, made me proud! 

And then he turned back into the little boy again and was impressed that garbage can said House of Representatives. I breathed a sigh of relief that my little guy wasn't quite grown up yet and that I still has a little more time with him. 

So cute to see him sign in to the Rep's visitor book. He wrote that was with JDRF but he made the J backwards. It looked so cute, I didn't correct it. 

Impressed with the flags! 

Waiting in the office while we waited to see if the Representative could see us. 

Then his aide came out and said the Representative was in Utah. They were "very sorry the Congressman wasn't here but Meghan would take the info and make sure he got it" Ugh! What a disappointment! 

Oh well, at least she was nice and not scary for Rocco. He showed her the scrapbook he explained what it was like to live with type 1 diabetes at seven years old and to please ask the Representative to support the Special Diabetes Program.

Next, we were on to gather with the four other people from our state and speak with our two Senators! 

I laughed at the fact that his feet didn't reach the ground. I thought of that quote that said "Reach for the stars but don't let your feet leave the ground!" 

Senator Stabenow stepped out off the Senator floor to meet with us and listen to what the kids had to say. She was so nice and said she was fully in support of the SDP! One down, one to go! 

Rocco and I walked off for a little tour on our own for a minute before continuing on our important day. 

On to Senator Levin. 

Photo op with Medtronic's Lenny the Lion while waiting in the Senator's office. 

Again with the feet! 

This was my favorite part of the whole trip! Ok so at this point, Rocco had been "on" and "acting appropriately" for three days. He was getting tired. At a certain point, while we were discussing the issue of curing his disease to one of the most influential men in the US, he got up, walked over to me and said he was scared. He said he wanted to speak to the Senator but he didn't know the words to say. I looked down at my poor son who had tears in his eyes. I felt bad for taking him on this trip for the first time in three days. He had been so good and did everything he was instructed to do but everyone has a breaking point. This was his. I kissed him on the head and said not to worry, that I would be happy to tell his story when it was his turn. He whimpered a little and "No! I want to but tell me the words to say." I whispered in his ear to tell the Senator his name, where he lived and how old he was when he was diagnosed. He said he was still scared but he wanted to try. It was nearing the end and he was still stuck to me like glue. When the other kids finished talking. The Senator said, "Okay kids, thanks for coming by..." One of the other moms who didn't know he was crying and didn't want the Senator to forget about him said, "Rocco, don't you want to tell the Senator your story?" My brave boy quickly jumped back in his seat. The oldest boy of the group gave him the scrapbook that housed all of their pages/stories and whispered in his ear "Just read the words". Rocco dutifully started to read the words quietly. "my name is Rocco. I am seven years..." Then the Senator interrupted him. "Sorry son, I can't hear you, what's your name?" Rocco took a quick deep breath pushed the book away, looked the Senator in the eye found his brave, and in a large voice said "My name is Rocco. I am seven years old, actually almost eight. Diabetes infects my life everyday. When I am outside and playing with my friends I always have to stop the game and go home to check my blood sugar. It takes too long so I want a cure for diabetes." If I wasn't afraid of embarrassing him, I would have stood up and put him on my shoulders and paraded him around the room! I was so incredibly proud of him that he "found his brave!" What a moment for me! What a more important moment for him!  The Senator was great. He said, "Rocco are your friends nice to you when you have to go home to check your blood sugar?" Rocco nodded yes. Then the Senator said, "Ok Rocco but just so you know. I have the entire United States military at my disposal in case they are not!" The room exploded with laughter. I imagined getting up and kissing that old, important man hard right on the cheek! Instead I silently thanked him. 

Next, was the hearing. For me and all the other parents in the room this was a very big moment. 

It was funny because at one point, Rocco asked if he had to sit on the floor again. I laughed and said yes, knowing what was going to come next. "Ugh!" he complained. "Sitting on the floor makes my back hurt!" I jokingly replied, "Rocco, please do not complain about sitting on SENATE ROOM FLOOR!" Haha! 

That's him in kind of the center of the picture. I had learned a valuable lesson this week, each time he was in the crowd of children, it usually took at least an hour and half to accomplish the group's goal. Until now, there was no way to communicate with him when he was amoungst the other children to see if his blood sugar was falling low. During the song with the American Idol star and during the inspirational time with the celebrity role models, after about one hour every DMom in the room would get fidgety. We all were going too long without being able to check on our kids. I joked with one of the moms next to me however that I had never felt safer for Rocco than I did at this moment. This moment where he was surrounded by 146 Dmoms! Every single one of them had site change stuff, extra sources of sugar, insulin, almonds, beef jerky, water, glucagon pens, etc... Talk about a powerful and prepared group of women! Plus, we Dmoms run as a pack. In the diabetic community, we all parent each others children. Surpringly, without judgement. Which admittedly is odd for a group of women. But we all know that raising a kid with diabetes is never perfect and is never really anyone's fault. So "united we sat" in that meeting. It was cute because if one of the kids did have to get up from the floor to get their blood sugar checked from their mom, you saw 75 moms turn their heads to read that mom's face. We collectively know the facial expressions of a high blood sugar and a low blood sugar. If one of the kids got in trouble with a scary low, every mom in the room, silently prayed, and sent helpful wishes to that child. Talk about protection. I have seen it before with my DMoms back home but it was once again a cool thing to see on a national level. It takes a village to raise a DKid! 

Anyway, so when I seperated from Rocco this time, I was prepared. I knew this meeting would last at least an hour and a half. It was a Senate hearing, after all. So I gave him tablets, his monitor, and his phone. He was instructed that if he got bored and cracked it open to even peek at Minecraft,  I would take it away for a month. Then, I sat. I was in awe at the amazing process of the government. I was impressed with the speakers and their compassionate words. Then, I got a text half way through. "How much longer will we be here?" Ha! I laughed. I sent him back "30 minutes." 

When we went to gather up the kids, I saw him shut his phone off and put it in his pocket. I led him out of the room. Truthfully, I was going to let it go but then Honest Abe piped up. 

"Mom, if you saw me on my phone. It was because Zeke called me. Then I answered it and said,"hello." Then, he said "hi." Then he hung up. Then I called dad back to see what Zeke wanted and dad's phone went to voicemail. So I hurried up and texted Zeke. "What did you want?" And then that's when you came up and saw me on my phone. I WAS NOT playing Minecraft! I swear!"

 I stared to laugh so hard that my laugh echoed the whole Senate hallway.  I thanked him for being honest and reminded myself to teach my son some cell phone etiquette. Then, I realized it was probably worthless to say, "Rocco next time you are on the Senate room floor, please don't take any calls from Zeke!" Haha! 

As of our day wasn't cool enough already, THIS happened! 

Okay, so they wanted all the kids together in one of the Senate buildings to take one last picture before everyone went home. They told us someone really special was coming and not to send it out on any social media channels because they didn't want a crowd. So everyone assembled like this and we waited. And waited. 

Then suddenly HE appeared! Now, I don't care what side of the fence you are on politically, when your son gets this close to the Vice President of the United States, it's pretty exciting!  He was really nice and apologized for being so long but he was meeting with the President. Which was a funny excuse and got a laugh but then said "No really, I REALLY was meeting with the President! Everyone laughed. Then he said that one thing he does know about kids with diabetes is to leave them standing for a long time. All the moms fell in love with him and melted, as he lived I our world for a split second and understood that standing for a long time can drop a blood sugar fast. It was great! 

They snapped this picture. Rocco is in the second row and the fourth kid in. 

Then it was time for the Vice President to leave. I told Rocco to "find his brave" one more time and stick out his hand and the VP might see it and shake it. Look at the way he kind of has it out but kind of scared. My brave boy!

I was so proud of him because then this happened! 

VP: Hi Son, what's your name?

Rocco: Rocco.

VP: How old are you? 

Rocco: Seven almost eight. 

VP: You are getting big son! Very big! 

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED! 

Yep! He held his hand for almost a minute! 

In my mind, I said to myself, "Man! That VP sure is lucky to be holding my kid's hand!"   I realized one day when Biden was in his old folks home he would see Rocco on TV and say, "Hey! I knew that kid when he was almost eight!" 

Well maybe not, but a girl can always dream... Because so far this girl's dreams keep coming true! 

On the way home, we all thanked Rocco for helping us get to DC and experience so many cool things! 

He replied, "When you have diabetes you have to look for the perks!" 

To see all the press the hearing received, click here

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