I'm behind on my uploads so this one covers last week and the week before. Go me!

Dang - I forgot to hit 'publish' on this one. People keep sending this to me so I thought I would share because it's funny.  You know it is.

Working backwards through the last month . . .

Friday I was lucky enough to meet the Evans family.  We started discussing the meet-up about a month ago or so and you all saw my calendar yesterday so you know the big day crept up on me!  Let me just say O! M! G!  I love this sweet family.  Leigh and I have been DOC friends for a while ---- we've bonded over our sweet boys.  Not only do our sugary sweet boys have type 1 but they look A LOT ALIKE!  Earlier this year Leigh sent me a box of clothes that Aiden had outgrown and Nate has put them all to good use.  I know that when I post pics of Nate in Aiden's clothes it's like looking back in time for Leigh. The boys seriously look alike.

Friday afternoon I loaded up the littles and headed to the Galleria to meet Leigh and her gang IRL.  We started out at the American Girl store where all of the kiddos were in total awe.  My girls made Christmas lists at least a mile long each. Then to be fair to the boys we headed to the Galleria play area where are 5 kiddos had a blast running around and playing.  It's always so comforting being with another D family.  Play - check bg - play - treat low - play - check bg ----- same same.

After treating a few lows we decided to grab some dinner.  I'm not exactly sure what the hostess and waiter thought since there were 5 kids, 2 moms and 1 dad. Hmmm . . . they sat us in a booth so poor Leigh and Matt got the pleasure of sitting beside Super Nate.  Yep, he plopped himself down right between them.  He must have felt 'at home' with this fabulous set of D Parents.  Bless Matt he was so patient with my Super Naughty Nate. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with some antsy littles so we then headed outside to let them run it off a bit.





Leigh was so sweet not only did she bring us some delicious personalized iced cookies, she also brought Nate one of Aiden's walk shirts (SO EXCITED) and the girls each a shirt from Mary Claire's walk team (SO CUTE)!  Thank you, Leigh and Holly!

I am so, so, so happy that I got to meet The Evans family.  Thank you, Leigh and Matt for everything!!!

Hopefully, Leigh will post some pictures --- I believe she got some good ones!

This is for you, Leigh and Matt:

Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie!

Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie!

Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie!

Razorbacks!

September came and went so quickly . . .
It was an extremely busy month and I plan on working my way backwards through the month to get you (and myself) all caught up.  I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging! 

July was a tough month for Super Sweet Sophie.  It was by far the sickest she has ever been.  Here's what we were/are dealing with ---

Hematochezia

ESR Raised

Anemia

Anorexia

Ulcerative Colitis

Fatigue

Hypoalbuminemia

Yea - don't worry I had to google most of it too.  They're just a bunch of fancy words that mean she felt like total poop (haha - get it).

Can you believe it's been almost 2 months since she was in the hospital?



I am happy to report that she is feeling MUCH better.  MUCH, MUCH BETTER.  She started kindergarten last month and has just loved every moment.  She has gained 5lbs and happily tells me every day that her tummy does NOT hurt.

The Girls with their awesome principal - 1st Day of  School

I would love to tell you that she is in remission but we currently STILL have her on steroids although we are trying to taper her off of them.  She is also taking Azathioprine (ay za thye' oh preen) as her maintenance medication.  The good news is that her hemoglobin is back up to 13 so no more Super Sleepy Sophie!






We go back to see her doctor next week and I hope to be able take her down another notch on the steroids and work towards getting her totally off within the next couple of weeks.

I want to thank everyone for all of your continued prayers, good thoughts and kind words.  We feel so blessed to have so many people loving and praying for Ms. Sophie.


I also want to thank everyone that reached out to us, sent us emails, found support groups and got me in touch with other parents living with Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis.  You people are amazing!


Although many, many people have suggested eliminating food from her diet (gluten, dairy, refined sugar) or keeping her on a restricted diet (specific carbohydrate diet, anti-inflammatory diet) we have decided that at this time to just let her be a kid and eat what she likes.  There are certainly foods that we avoid but she is usually the one now to eliminate them if they make her feel bad.  We keep a food and poop journal (thanks to another Crohn's mom) --- don't be jealous! :)

We tried several things and for Sophie nothing has really helped except for medication.  It was a hard decision but she is feeling better, has more energy and is back to her super sweet little self. In the end that is what is important to us right now. 




Keeping calm and carrying on . . .

Another busy week ---
Keep calm and carry on -

September 1st - that's today!!  It's also Diabetes Art Day - - -

Lee Ann, Diabetes Blogger and Art Therapist from The Butter Compartment got the DOC buzzing about D art and here we are again.  The 2nd annual Diabetes Art Day submissions from HWHAP ---


From the girls (Nate decided not to participate this year - I was ok with that):




From me: