Seeing Leah tonight, playing in the marching band, dancing and smiling, you might think that the only difference from a year ago, besides the haircut, was that she was a year older. It's hard to believe a week ago tonight we found out about Leah's diabetes. And nearly 10 weeks ago, she was recovering from spinal fusion surgery. She has (okay, we have) been through a LOT this year.
Read MoreOne week ago, we were in the ICU, in a state of shock of the news that Leah is a Type 1 diabetic. This week, she's back to marching band, full of life, and smiling that beautiful smile.
Read MoreToday was a roller coaster kind of day. We buckled ourselves in and started the upward climb...Leah and I stayed home this morning as I didn't want her to start out with a full day of school. Plus, we needed to run through her morning routine, which now takes about 20-30 minutes longer than before.
Read MoreRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Leah was released from the St. Joe Regional Med. Center around 3:00 this afternoon. On our way home, we stopped at CVS to drop off a PILE of prescriptions (for needles, lancets, glucagon injection thingys, etc.), and this was after we had our insulin pen prescriptions filled yesterday. I had no idea the amount of meds and tools and thingys that people with Type 1 diabetes required!
Read MoreThis is my first "everyday" blog entry. While I've blogged our family vacations before (because vacations are fun and interesting, right?), I have never felt like our everyday lives were interesting enough to warrant a blog, i.e. why would someone want to read about a mom, a dad and four kids, leading ordinary lives? But thanks to Leah (I love you, honey!), our lives have become a little more interesting lately.
Read MoreOn our last day in Colorado on our great Southwest trip, we finished up our crafts. We were all pleased with how they turned out!
Read MoreToday is the last day we can really spend with Seth, as he goes back to work tomorrow, and we fly home tomorrow night. So we wanted to get in a good family hike.
Read MoreSince Seth is volunteering for ACMNP (A Christian Ministry in the National Parks) this summer, he and his team are responsible for putting on the worship services in the NP campground amphitheaters. Today it was Seth's turn to "preach!"
Read MoreWe had decided that today would be a "kick-back" kind of day, so we awoke at about 8:30, and realized we needed to rush to get breakfast, which ended at 9:00. After that, the girls and I relaxed in the lodge room…
Read MoreWe had a relaxing morning as we enjoyed breakfast out on the restaurant balcony of our hotel. Then the girls and mom walked down the street to do a little souvenir shopping in Moab.
Read MoreWe wanted to get an early start to beat the heat today, so we awoke a little earlier, had breakfast and headed out to Arches National Park, just about 10 minutes from our hotel in Moab. By the time we got there at 9:00 it was already 85 degrees.
Read MoreWe rolled out of bed, a little stiffer and sorer than the day before. But after a little stretching and a decent breakfast at the East Zion Thunderbird Lodge, we were ready to hit the trail again.
Read MoreToday was the day for Zion National Park. We woke up after a fairly short night of sleep, and had breakfast at the East Zion Thunderbird Lodge (it came with our room). We pulled our hiking things together and headed for the park. Zion is an incredible park with a wide variety of marvels and wonders.
Read MoreWe woke this morning, looking forward to our day at the Grand Canyon. After a less-than-thrilling, mediocre breakfast at our Days Inn, we headed toward the park. On the way there we drove through Williams which was plastered with signs for Route 66, on gas stations, cafes and gift shops.
Read MoreWe had just finished our yearly trip to Minnesota for fishing and family time, and rather than going all the way home, stopped at Barb & Fred's house in Tinley Park, Illinois, for a short night of sleep and a ride to Midway airport. We awoke around 3:00 a.m…
Read MoreOur flight left early Sunday morning, and after a quick transfer in Minneapolis, we were home in South Bend (Niles, MI). Since we had just driven by car from home to Minneapolis a few weeks earlier…
Read MoreSaturday, we spent the day driving from Banff back to Helena. On our way, we were able to stop by Gord and Annie's home in Calgary one more time.
Read MoreFriday morning, we headed out to Lake Louise, about 60km Northwest of Banff. Lake Louise was beautiful and the Fairmont Hotel there is amazing. But we were surprised at the crowds. We kind of felt like we were at Disney World.
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