Our Gender Reveal and Homemade Scratch Card Instructions

    This weekend we revealed to our family what our next baby would be.  We are having another BOY! That makes 3 boys for us!  I had my heart set on using balloons for the reveal but when we realized that wasn't going to work (due to city ordinances), I decided on making some homemade scratch cards. They were super easy to make!  Here's how:  

•Choose your paint color to scratch off and mix it with dish soap; 2 parts dish soap, 1 part paint 

•Paint your mixture onto contact paper or packing tape (I stuck strips of packing tape on wax paper)

•Let dry over night (or at least for several hours, but the longer it dries the less likely you will be to accidentally scratch it) 

•Cut the painted tape into the size and shape you want for the scratch pad

•Peel the backing off and stick it over the area you have prepared for the reveal. 

•Give to your lucky guests, and make sure to take pictures of their faces! 

*I used Glue Dots to attach the popsicle stick that I had painted for them to use to scratch it off.  You could use coins.  The Glue Dots worked well, because then were able to easily pop off the popsicle stick, and reattach it when they were finished. 

Boaz's 3rd Diagnosis....

    Early last week, we had to get blood work done for Boaz. It was just routine endocrine blood work and he did AMAZINGLY getting it drawn. Then we got a call that some of his levels were elevated and we needed to do a repeat.  So we went back to Nemours (which thankfully is only 30 minutes away now) and had more blood drawn.  I got a call from his doctor ealier today telling me that his levels were indeed too high, and that he officially has Hashimotos's.  We are starting him on some thyroid hormone therapy, and....yeah, that's all I've got to say.  We have a lot to learn! 

    Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when the levels of thyroid hormones in the blood are abnormally low. Thyroid hormone deficiency slows body processes and may lead to fatigue, a slow heart rate, dry skin, weight gain, constipation, and, in kids, slowing of growth and delayed puberty.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which results from an autoimmune process that damages the thyroid and blocks thyroid hormone production, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in kids. Infants can also be born with an absent or underdeveloped thyroid gland, resulting in hypothyroidism. It can be treated with oral thyroid hormone replacement.

Cloth Diapering: Rookie Mistakes

    I have only been cloth diapering for two months, (except for that week where I couldn't get them clean, but we'll get there), so I know I will have many more rookie mistakes but I figured I could share what I have learned so far. 

1. Not owning enough.  I made this mistake when I first started cloth diapering. I was so excited about the concept of cloth diapering, and I bought as much as I could afford: two. Now quit laughing. Ok. I knew then that two wasn't enough, but I was determined to cloth diaper. But even with determination and excitement, part cloth diapering and part disposables, does not work for one day.  

2. Not having a network of cloth diapering friends.  I had ONE friend that cloth diapered, but that is not enough.  I found a couple cloth diapering groups on Facebook, and have never looked back. They are SO useful, I don't know what I would do without them. I also have a couple of internet friends that I have bought cloth diapers from (and also some that have given me a couple). Without my internet friends, I would only have 4 diapers. Also, make sure to find your local babywearing/cloth diapering group on Facebook.  I have only met a couple of those 'friends' in person, but it is very helpful to have local people to help answer questions.  

3. Using 'Cloth Diaper Safe Detergent'.   Ok this is a super easy rookie mistake to make.  It says it's FOR cloth diapers, so why wouldn't you use it?  Well, because it doesn't clean well, that's why!  This is what happened when I had to quit for a week.  I had been using a cloth diaper safe detergent, and I COULD. NOT. GET. THEM. CLEAN. It was driving me insane. I posted in tons of different cloth diaper groups and could not figure out what was wrong. My cleaning ritual was perfect, so what could be going wrong? Finally someone asked what I was using for detergent and she told me to use an all and clear detergent instead of a cloth diapering one. Sounded insane, but she has been CDing for a lot longer than I have so I gave it a try. A lot if people use tide, but I LOVE all things Method, so of course I used my Method Free and Clear Detergent. Completely solved the issues of smelly diapers even after washing!    I did strip (or bleach) a couple of inserts that I was still having problems with, but for the most part just switching detergents took care of all my issues! 

4. Not putting an extra insert in the diaper for nighttime. This one didn't take long to figure out.  Once your child soaks through his diaper, you'll realize that you need an extra insert. 

That's all the rookie mistakes that I can think of, so when I make more, I will let you know so you don't have to make them too!  

A Great Reminder!

Matthew 5:14-16;6:1-4

      "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.......Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

World Diabetes Day!

    Last Thursday, November 14th, was World Diabetes Day and we had a lot of fun raising awareness and answering questions!  As promised, we posted every single diabetes related thing we did on Instagram. I also asked people to wear blue and/or write 'hope' on their hands to show their support for Boaz and to tag me in the photos.  We had a lot of submissions and Boaz loved looking at the pictures! 

Here is what our day looked like on World Diabetes Day! 

 Reading the label to count carbs. 

 Breakfast: 32g of carbs. 

 Sometimes, Dexter and his meter numbers don't match. Thankfully, all we have to do is type the meter number into Dexter to calibrate it. 

 I needed to put some IV tape over his Dexcom sensor to make sure it didn't fall off. 

 We did check his sugar here and gave him insulin, but I showed that in a video and I can't upload it. 

Blood in the Pump Tubing? Problem Solved

     Sometimes super scary things like this happen.  But apparently, blood in the tubing is completely normal and just requires a pump site change. But until you figure out the cause and solution, things like this can seem pretty scary. 

497. 152. 155.

    We were so excited to see 497 on the meter! Weird, but that meant his insulin was working! When we checked an hour later, he was 152 and 155, and Dexter is working again!  Yay!  Thank you all for your prayers! 

Pray for Boaz

Yesterday I posted this picture for Diabetes Awareness Month, today, it couldn't be more true.  As I write, Boaz's sugar is over 500 (his meter reads HI over 500, so I'm not exactly sure how high) and we have given him several boluses and he has not come down for hours.  He so high now that Dexter can't read it and decided to fail.  The doctor I spoke to just wants me to keep giving boluses (and a shot if needed) until it comes down. Pray that his sugar comes down quickly.  At this point, I'm ready to just be in the hospital to get him fluids. Pray also for our judgment, that we would make the right descision in taking him, or not taking him to the hospital. 

Type 1 Diabetes Day!

    I made a mistake in my last post about this.  I thought T1D day was November 1st, but it is actually on November 14th!  So join us November 14th on Instagram (@dayinthelifeofboaz) for a play by play of everything diabetes related that we do that day!  You will get to experience what Boaz's day is like with Type 1 Diabetes!   Also, don't forget to tag @dayinthelifeofboaz and #dayinthelifeofboaz in your T1D awareness photos that day! We will be reposting your T1D support pics!*

*Day in the Life of Boaz has the right to not repost a photo. Photos with foul language or photos that are inappropriate will not be reposted.  

ToddlerMeal: Garbanzo Beans

    Garbanzo beans (or chick peas) make a great toddler meal.  They are super easy to heat up (I just use organic canned ones right now, one day I will try making them) and are great for little ones who still use their fingers. They are also great when they are learning to use a fork, as garbanzo beans are easy to pick up.  To give the garbanzo beans some flavor, I ground a little bit of sea salt and peppercorn onto them and then sprinkled a little bit of cumin.  They tasted really good and the boys ate them up! 

Toddler Meal: Pimento Cheese Recipe

 

    I was trying to decide what the boys were going to eat for lunch, and for some reason I thought of pimento cheese.  I started googling some recipes and learned that it is just Miracle whip, pimentos, cheese, salt and pepper.  Super easy!  I don't usually keep pimentos in my kitchen, so I just decided to omit those since the boys won't know any better.  If I were to make it for myself, I would definitely want to add the pimentos.  This turned out to be a perfect meal because it was low carb and the boys loved it!  I think it totaled to be 25g of carbs (including the animal crackers).   So give the recipe a try!  I hope your kids enjoy it as much as mine did! 

Toddler Pimento Cheese: 

A small handful of shredded cheddar cheese

1/2T of Mircle Whip

A pinch of salt and pepper 

Mix together and enjoy! 

Yields: 2 sandwiches 

Pray for Emory

    Emory has what the doctor called 'the beginning of staph'. He is currently on two creams and a strong antibiotic. He is being a champ taking his medicine (which smells horrible)!  

    This started out with a simple diaper rash. We already has prescription cream, and it was definitely not the first diaper rash we have delt with.  Then after a day or two, he had a new rash on his lower back (the part still hidden by the diaper). After consulting google and a friend, we concluded that is was Diaper Burn caused by chemicals in a diaper. We started treating it like the diaper rash (that's what Dr. Sears and a few other sources recommended) and switch to chemical free diapers. After treating it for a few days, it didn't get better.  So the boys and I loaded up and trekked to the doctor, since we love and cannot part with our doctor that is now 45 minutes away from us.  She said that it was indeed Diaper Burn but she is concerned about it being the 'beginnings of staph'.  Even after one dose of his antibiotic, Emory seemed to feel better.  We are a little concerned still though, because even after a few days of the creams and antibiotics the rashes aren't going away.  So we are asking for you guys to keep Emory in your prayers. Pray that he will be healed and that it will not spread to anyone else in the family!  

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

    Ok, I know we are halfway through October and I am just now posting about this, but at least I'm doing it now!  So, to celebrate, I am going to post a lot of info from the NDSS. Ready? Here we go! 

WHAT IS DOWN SYNDROME? 

• In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes.  Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes.  Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.

Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.

• There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21 (nondisjunction) accounts for 95% of cases, translocation accounts for about 4% and mosaicism accounts for about 1%.   

• Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome.

• There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States.

• Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels.

• The incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother. But due to higher fertility rates in younger women, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.

• People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives.

• A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees or not at all.

• Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 60 today.

• People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways.

• All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.

• Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.

USE THIS LANGUAGE WHEN REFERRING TO DOWN SYNDROME AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOWN SYNDROME:

• People with Down syndrome should always be referred to as people first. Instead of "a Down syndrome child," it should be "a child with Down syndrome." Also avoid "Down's child" and describing the condition as "Down's," as in, "He has Down's."

• Down syndrome is a condition or a syndrome, not a disease.

• People "have" Down syndrome, they do not "suffer from" it and are not "afflicted by" it.

• Down vs. Down's - NDSS uses the preferred spelling, Down syndrome, rather than Down's syndrome. While Down syndrome is listed in many dictionaries with both popular spellings (with or without an apostrophe s), the preferred usage in the United States is Down syndrome. This is because an "apostrophe s" connotes ownership or possession. Down syndrome is named for the English physician John Langdon Down, who characterized the condition, but did not have it. The AP Stylebook recommends using "Down syndrome," as well.

• While it is still clinically acceptable to say "mental retardation," you should use the more socially acceptable "intellectual disability" or "cognitive disability." NDSS strongly condemns the use of the word "retarded" in any derogatory context. Using this word is hurtful and suggests that people with disabilities are not competent.

 

Buddy walk!

 

    We are currently in Savannah ready for the Buddy Walk tomorrow!  We are really excited to be celebrating Boaz!  We will be walking as Team Boaz! Also, this time last year Boaz was diagnoised with Type 1 Diabetes.  That makes Sunday his one year diaversary!  It's very bittersweet, but we are excited to celebrate how strong he is! He really is a little HERO!  Happy diaversary, Boaz! 

Our Crazy Night with Diabetes

    Last night Boaz's sugar was 578. Obviously, that was really scary. Thankfully Boaz did not have any ketones, otherwise we would have had to go the hospital to get fluids.  We gave him some insulin and checked in another hour. That time it was 408. Still too high, but at least it was coming down.  

     Now the issue with Dexcom was that it was not registering his sugar and it hadn't for three hours. After three hours, you are supposed to change the sensor if it doesn't start working again. So we got him up to change his sensor. He did so good with the sensor change, he didn't fuss at all!  I think he was just happy to be with us!  After the sensor change (and some more insulin because his sugar was still high) we headed to bed.  When we got up again the sensor had failed.  We checked his sugar (350 so more insulin) and restarted the sensor again. When we got up this morning his sensor had failed again. The problem with this sensor failing, is that it is the last one we have. So we are desperately trying to get it to work. We should have received more sensors not long ago, but we cannot find where they ended up.  So we are praying that we can find the package and get some more sensors soon. We are trusting the Lord in this! 

Some Call Us Crazy

    These past few weeks have been crazy!  In one weekend, we found a place to move into and Josh got a new job. From then we had two weeks to get packed and moved.  Thankfully we had help so getting packed wasn't that bad. The week we were to move I noticed things were a little off with me.  I had been exhausted, nauseous, and of course, I was late.  I knew that I had to take a pregnancy test that week, because I needed to know before I carried heavy boxes. I sent Josh on the awkward run to target, to pick up some tests, and of course they were positive!  We were super excited, and a little bit nervous.  Our plan was to get settled after the move and then buy a van (our Element does not hold anymore than our current family) before we had another one.  But God's plans were different!  Of course our family and close friends were ecstatic, (a few of them may have possibly laughed, but they were excited!).  We announced it to the world of Facebook on Friday and people couldn't have been happier!   

    Even though we were worried about getting a bigger car, we knew God would work it out (He always does!). On Tuesday, my mom sent me a Craig's List listing and this one caught our eye, a Honda Odyssey EL-X at a price we could actually afford!  We called the people up and asked a lot of questions about it. No wrecks, two owners, maintenance was kept up; it seemed almost too good to be true, but we knew with God's provisions nothing is too good to be true!  I sent my dad to look at it (because we lived two hours away, and he was right there) and he said it was a great car. On Friday, we went to go look at it ourselves and loved it!  We ended up leaving with a brand-new-to-us van and we are extremely excited about it!  We love to watch God work things out for us; how wonderful that he provides for His people! 

Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day!

    November 14th is Type 1 Diabetes Day and we are stoked!  Be prepared to see every single detail of a day in the life of Boaz!  We are going to be posting on Instagram a live feed of every single thing we have to do! Had to look at Dexter, INSTAGRAM! Had to count carbs, INSTAGRAM!  Had to give him Insulin, INSTAGRAM!  You guys are going to get a front row seat to see into Boaz's life!  And feel free to ask tons of questions!  Also, tag @dayinthelifeofboaz and #dayinthelifeofboaz on your diabetes awareness Instagram pictures and I will be reposting those as well!*  It could be anything, from wearing blue to just saying you long for a cure!  

Follow us on Instagram! 

*Day in the Life of Boaz has the right to not repost an Instagram picture.  Inappropriate pictures or pictures with profanity will not be reposted.

DIY: Washi Tape Candle

    Since we are moving, we had to say goodbye to two wonderful therapists: Boaz's speech therapist and his physical therapist. I bought them each a candle, but of course I can't give them a present that I have not altered in some way!  So I decided to put my washi tape to good use to make a simple, personalized candle. 

This is really simple.  Just tear strips of washi tape the length of the lid.  I eyeballed the stripes but you could measure them if you would like.  Then just stick the washi tape down and trim the edges with scissors. Make a cute tag and tie it on with a ribbon or string, and your done!  It was really simple to make and the washi tape added the perfect little touch. 

Please Pray!

    Boaz had to get his first shot since we've been on the pump today.  When he woke up his sugar was 524 and he had moderate ketones.  I disconnected his pump and gave him a shot :(. His sugar is now 600 and his ketones have come down to small ketones.  I have called the doctor and we hp are waiting for a call back. Please pray that his sugar comes down and we can get rid of the ketones all together.  

Why Another Church?

Posted originally by Josh Hinson on Covenant Life Presbyterian Church's website. 

Why Another Church?

THE NECESSITY OF THE CHURCH

   

When the Son of God took upon flesh, he assumed the role of Mediator between God and man. As mediator, he exercises the offices of prophet, priest, and king. As king, Christ is ruler over a kingdom that has been inaugurated (Matt. 3:2; Mark 1:15), but awaits consummation in the new heavens and new earth.

The kingdom of God is certainly bigger than the church, and includes the uniting of all things in Christ in heaven and on earth (Eph. 1:10), but the clearest visible manifestation of this kingdom is found in the church. It is here that the King’s law and gospel are heralded and his ordinances are carried out through the officers Christ the King has given to the church by the Holy Spirit. In this sense then, “the church is an embassy of Christ and the age to come even in this present evil age.”

Because of this, the church is unique to every other institution on the planet. “This is why we must assemble at a place where the gospel is truly preached, the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s institution, and there is a visible form of Christ’s heavenly reign through officers whom He has called and sent.”1

THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN

America’s brand of evangelicalism, with its massive crusades and revivals, has been largely about people making decisions in favor of Christ and the gospel. As noble and important as this is, the pattern of the apostles and of the New Testament is the establishment of local congregations, uniting those who have come to Christ with other members of his body and under the leadership he has appointed. The apostles planted churches, returned to strengthen churches, wrote to churches, and appointed leadership for churches. The Great Commission is about more than making decisions; it is about making disciples.

Among the many metaphors used to describe the church, one of the most common is the body of Christ. Individual Christians are members who jointly make up the body of Christ, having union and communion with one another in her living head, the Lord Jesus. In the church, the body is nourished by Christ and built up upon the foundation set by the prophets and the apostles (Eph. 2:20), with Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone. It is in the church that the “one another” commandments are carried out, the faith once for all delivered to the saints is upheld and contended for, and the gospel of Christ is  proclaimed to the ends of the earth.

WHY YET ANOTHER?

We have no lack of churches in the South. From large historical buildings with noted ecclesiastical lineages to new nondenominational “ministry centers” which open in store fronts – we have our share. So why do we need yet another one?

We believe that the Reformed tradition of the Protestant Reformation (those churches represented by the Reformed of continental Europe and the Presbyterians of Scotland) is the ecclesiastical tradition most consistent with Scripture. We long to extend a passion for knowing and delighting in the glory of God by planting a church from this rich tradition in Camden County, which by a recent estimate has a population of over 50,000.

By saying this, we are not claiming to have a premium on the gospel or to be the only faithful Christians in the Kings Bay area. However, it would be foolish to assume that all churches are faithfully preaching the gospel of Christ. There are many churches who are faithful in this regard. To those churches, we pray that you would not see us as another fast food chain competing for the appetite of consumers in the community, but as another farm in a starving country providing a feast with the means God has provided.

Soli Deo Gloria

1. Quotations are from Michael Horton, No Church, No Problem?

We're Moving!

     On Saturday, we are moving further south to help our dear friends with their church plant, Covenant Life Presbyterian Church (PCA).  We have been serving the church by attending services, assisting with meals, and working on the building.  We will be able to serve a lot more once we are in the area.  We had been feeling called for a long time, but God hadn't opened any doors.  It took us several months to find a home and a job for Josh, but all at once Josh got a job, and we got a home.  Literally, in the same weekend!  So, while we are sad to be leaving our friends and current church family, we are excited to see how God will use us to do His work.  So, please pray for God to grow his church, and that he will use Covenant Life in mighty ways.  

Pump Tips (So Far)

   

    Boaz recently started using the Animas Ping for Insulin Pump Therapy. Here are our tips so far:

• Get on the Pump as early as you can. A lot of people wait, but then when they start Insulin Pump Therapy they have to basically start over with figuring out how much insulin they need and so forth (so I've heard). Since we started within our first year of diagnosis, we haven't had to go back to ground zero because we hadn't left it yet. 

• Find a Pump Pouch that works for you.  To do this you may have to try several.  When we first started, I had bought one from Etsy (this was the only place I had heard of that sold them). It was a nice pouch but it had a clear viewing window which just tempted other children to press buttons on the pump and Velcro to strap it to his waist. Boaz constantly pulled off his pump pouch since he loves to undo Velcro.  We now use a pouch that just has pockets. It slides around his waist and you just put the pump in a pocket. This has worked so much better for us!  I have also seen pouches you can wear on your leg (so you can wear a dress), and ones that look kinda like fanny packs (which a lot of people love these, but I didn't want Boaz to wear a fanny pack :/). 

• Tuck the pump pouch into their PJs. We had a lot of issues with the pump falling out while he was sleeping, or it sliding to the front and he then pulling it out. Then we had a genius idea!  If we just tuck it under his PJs, it won't move!  And guess what, it's been the greatest thing!  

Mommy Fail!

    When you only have one Pump Pouch it is very difficult to keep that pouch washed.  We have only had this pouch for about 2 weeks so this was my first time washing it.  I decided to wash it right after he had his bath while his pump was already disconnected. I threw it in the washing machine and it took a lot longer than I thought it would!  I ended up taking it out of the washing machine during the last spin cycle and rinsing the suds off in the sink.  I didn't want him to go to bed without his pump because I thought it would be too hard to put it on him while he was sleeping, or worse before him or Brother actually fall asleep and cause chaos!  So, poor Little Man is wearing a very wet pump pouch.  He doesn't seem to mind, though.  

I Am Not Strong

    The thing I probably most often hear is 'I don't know how you do it.'  I typically respond with something along the lines of 'You do what you have to.'  But I am here today to tell you I am not strong!  But guess what, 'I am tethered to Someone who is strong!" (Nancy Guthrie in Be Still, My Soul).  Hebrews 6:17-19 says "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul..."   This is why I can have hope. I can secure myself to the promises of God, and in that, I have hope.

 

    I have been reading a lot on pain, and I have learned that pain is warning signal that something is wrong.  We feel heat so that we won't just stick our hand into the oven and thus burn our hand; we feel pain in the soul to remind us that this is not our home.  The pain we feel from suffering will push you into God if you will let it.  Don't let pain make you feel like God doesn't care, but rather that He does!  Tim Keller points out that 'Paul says that the suffering and hardship he has experienced is not a denial of the gospel, but a confirmation of the gospel.' Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death is at work in us, but life in you...He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.  For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."  What a wonderful promise!  With God as our Anchor, no matter what is thrown at us, we will never be destroyed.  Even though it may feel like I have nothing left in me at times, God will still use me to show his glory!  

I Am Not Strong

 

    The thing I probably most often hear is 'I don't know how you do it.'  I typically respond with something along the lines of 'You do what you have to.'  But I am here today to tell you I am not strong!  But guess what, 'I am tethered to Someone who is strong!" (Nancy Guthrie in Be Still, My Soul).  Hebrews 6:17-19 says "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul..."   This is why I can have hope. I can secure myself to the promises of God, and in that, I have hope.

 

    I have been reading a lot on pain, and I have learned that pain is warning signal that something is wrong.  We feel heat so that we won't just stick our hand into the oven and thus burn our hand; we feel pain in the soul to remind us that this is not our home.  The pain we feel from suffering will push you into God if you will let it.  Don't let pain make you feel like God doesn't care, but rather that He does!  Tim Keller points out that 'Paul says that the suffering and hardship he has experienced is not a denial of the gospel, but a confirmation of the gospel.' Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death is at work in us, but life in you...He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.  For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison."  What a wonderful promise!  With God as our Anchor, no matter what is thrown at us, we will never be destroyed.  Even though it may feel like I have nothing left in me at times, God will still use me to show his glory!  

Myth: Type 1 Diabetes is Caused by Eating Too Much Sugar

    Fact: Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It is cause by Boaz's body attacking his pancreas.  Eventually his pancreas will not produce insulin at all, but it is NOT caused by eating too much sugar. 

Pump Start!

    Sunday night after church, Emory had a fever.  We were planning on spending the night at the Ronald McDonald House, but I knew that would not be a good idea since Emory was sick. So I called and told them that we would be unable to stay there that night. They ended up paying for our hotel room instead!

 

     We were expected to be at the hospital to check in by 7am. We had to pick up breakfast for Boaz before we checked in but he was not allowed to eat until the Educator arrived to help us get his insulin pump set up. 

    We carried pancakes around the hospital for about half an hour before we checked in. 

    Once the Educator arrived, we put the pump site on him and let him start eating.  

   We were allowed to walk around the hospital in between blood sugar checks but were told to come back if he went low.  I think he went down to 66 before lunch so we headed back to the room. 

    After lunch, we started walking around again.  Both boys fell asleep for a short time while we walked around, but then Boaz's sugar went low again. 

    We headed back to the room again, and had to wait out there for a couple hours because his sugar would not come above 80. 

    Boaz fell asleep again during that time and by the time dinner came he was done for the day!  We could not get him to eat anything at all.  

    Thankfully they were understanding and let us leave anyways.  

 

    After the hospital, we headed to a basketball game put on by the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville.  Boaz loves basketball so he enjoyed the game. We met a few people, but we were unable to stay for the entire game because the boys were so tired. 

    Overall the pump has been working out very well.  Boaz has been sick this past week so it is difficult to know whether the pump needs to be adjusted or if high blood sugars are a result of his illness. We did make a couple of adjustments today, so we will see how things work out!