Paige Barnes

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Reason #9 that I love my husband: He can handle things. You know most guys can't handle all the "mom" stuff that we do. I work weekend nights and hubs has the kids all by himself. He's doing a fabulous job! In fact, this weekend he will be taking Big Red to two birthday parties and take care of a sick newborn. Fatherhood looks really good on him and there is no one I trust more with my babies than their wonderful daddy. ~Paige

Reason #13 that I love my husband: He always listens. And I talk a lot. And have given birth to at least one child who talks a lot. (The other one can't talk yet). So we are talking a lot of listening. I'm convinced that he starts to tune me out at some point, but he always knows what I've said. ~Paige

Reason #15 that I love my husband: He tells me everything will be ok and I believe him. Like when our apartment building was destroyed in a fire when our son was 3 months old. I didn't know where we would go or what we would do. We were so young and didn't live near family and my husband was still in college. But he said it would be ok, and God showed up. And when our son was diagnosed with diabetes. And when I was put on bed rest at 30 weeks with my second pregnancy and then our daughter came early and had to be in the NICU for over a week. But through it all he assured me that everything would be ok. And it has been. ~Paige

Reason #18 that I love my husband: Some of the things he does. Like he went and bought me feminine products when we were on a trip once. Keep in mind this was before we were married. We were engaged at least! He commented that in that particular country town in Alabama that probably made us legally married! :) Like the fact that today he is going to buy special formula and gas drops because I can't get out with the baby and she's not tolerating her formula well. Like the fact that he could hold his own with a Diabetic Educator on such topics as insulin pumps, carb counting, and diabetic foot care. Like the fact that he is learning infant CPR because we have a new baby who was sick when she was first born. Like the fact that he hates needles, but can give an insulin shot or implant the new insulin port without flinching. (Although he, we both, hate having to do that). Like the fact that he is now our son's new Cub Master, even though he doesn't like standing in ...

Big Red the cowboy! Daddy and his girls. Reason #22 that I love my husband: He has given me two beautiful children. Big Red (7 1/2) is outgoing and outspoken. He is funny and creative and so smart. He has a tender heart, and is very inquisitive. He likes to learn about all sorts of things. He is a strong, brave boy, who truly is my hero. He prays every night for lots of interesting things, but he never forgets to pray for all the kids who have diabetes that don't have access to health care - that they will be taken care of. That humbles me. He is the most beautiful child in the world. Baby Girl (3 weeks) is dainty and girly already. She has her daddy and mommy wrapped around her small little finger already. She is a happy, contented baby and is such a joy to us already. She gave a quite a scare during my pregnancy and when she was born. We look forward to watching her grow. She is the most beautiful child in the world. ~Paige

Matthew and his second grade class recently learned all about manners. At the end of their month of learning, they were given a chance to practice what they had learned at a special brunch at the Decatur Country Club. The boys each escorted a girl and they were also given a short speaking line to tell about all they had learned. We are very proud of Matthew and since he is having a baby sister soon, he will get many more chances to practice! ~Paige

Big Red is still loving soccer! He has team pictures not too long ago and we are so proud. Wanted to share a couple with you. I haven't been able to attend his practices, but have tried to make the games. He is learning new skills at every practice and game and we think he is doing great! ~Paige

Big Red is enjoying an active soccer season this year. Mommy and Daddy are enjoying watching him. This year he is playing a lot more skillfully and purposefully and that's exciting to watch! While both sets of grandparents live a few hours away, they try to get down for a game as often as possible. Last night Granmama (Cole's mom) was able to come cheer Big Red on. She also brought him a surprise - a shirt that says "I'm the Big Brother". He was very excited as the countdown for Baby Kate's arrival has begun. My doctor said that at this point they would not try to stop the labor. I am still on bedrest because I have been so sick this pregnancy and my body is, in a sense, kind of beat up! But we are comforted to know that the doctor thinks she is ready to come at anytime and would be healthy and strong. Big Red is very excited, as are we, and the rest of the family. So we are taking in our last moments as a family of three, and preparing for the blessedn...

So today was a good day at Casa de Barnes. We let Daddy sleep in. He's been doing most of the 2am blood sugar checks since mommy has been so sick. He woke up on his own and was ready to finish the painting in our front bathroom. We are very close to being finished. Just have to put the floors down, install baseboards and the vanities. I can't wait to see the finished product! Today was also the first UT football game of the season. Daddy is not one of those die-hard sports types, but he pulls for Auburn. Mommy goes for the Tennessee Volunteers. Apparently, Big Red is the only kid in his class that didn't understand his sweet teacher's zeal for "Roll Tide"! In fact, she said he didn't know what "Roll Tide" meant! So, I made a point to squeeze my very pregnant self into my Big Orange shirt and sit myself and my boy down in front of the TV to watch the Vols whoop up on WKU. Go vols! ~Paige

Our diabetes talk at the boy's school went well today. I am so proud of my son and how he is so brave and courageous to deal with this on a daily basis! Paige

Last night we took Big Red to the Jonas Brothers concert. We have been waiting several months for this. Matthew loves the Jonas Brothers. Nick is his hero, as Nick has Type 1 diabetes just like our boy. So amid all the screaming tween girls, is my boy. Waiting to see his hero. He'd even been practicing singing the songs for about two weeks. At some point during the concert Nick comes out on stage with just a white piano. He begins to play and sing his song "A Little Bit Longer', which he wrote the day he found out he had diabetes. He told the crowd that diabetes had changed his life. He thought he was going to die. He was scared. But then he told those who had diabetes, to "never let diabetes slow you down". He talked for about 10 minutes and it was very inspiring. I watched my brave boy, my hero, out of the corner of my eye and he was listening ever so intently. I was trying not to let my tears turn into a sob, and I'm pretty sure I saw the hubb...

Today has been a good day. I had a little energy and spunk so I decided to paint the trim in our front bathroom that we are remodeling. I so hope we can get it finished before the baby is born. I worked until I was exhausted, and I hope the hubs think I did a good job! I got several calls today from the school about the boy. His blood sugar was running high and he was struggling. I was worried that he might have to come home or they would send him home, but he hung in there and made it the whole day! I cried because he was struggling today and then realized that maybe this is harder on me and the daddy than the boy. I sent a note to his teacher just to check in and see how things were going on her end. I keep in daily communication with the worker in the health room, but I had not touched base again with his teacher. He has to scoot out a few minutes early several times during the day to go check his blood sugar and get his insulin. She had the sweetest words to say. She said ...

Yesterday was Big Red's first day back to school! This was a huge milestone for him (and us) as we homeschooled last year due to his diabetes. It has been a tough, long year for our family. But we have grown in so many ways, and I wouldn't trade a minute of it. He was so excited and picked right back up with his friends as if he'd never been gone. It so blessed my heart. Of course after a year of having my boy with me everyday, I came home to an empty and quiet house. So I promptly did what probably most moms would do. I sat down and cried. And prayed. And cried some more. The tears were bittersweet of course, excited for my boy and missing our sweet and hard year together. I so hope God has helped all of us to be stronger after this past year. So, we are geared up for a great year! Blood sugars were great yesterday. I made 4 different trips up there to help the health room nurse learn about his pump, but that won't be going on much longer. She'll bei...

Matthew, Today is your 7th birthday. I've been meaning to write these down every year. I guess better late than never. Here are a few things about you at age 7 and the past year. ~This year you were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It has been the hardest struggle of our life. And you have triumphed through it. You are so brave and strong. ~This year you were home schooled due to the diabetes. The hardest thing you and I have probably done. But I have so enjoyed our time together and will miss you dearly when you go back to school in the fall. ~You love anything Star Wars. You are currently "writing" the 7th episode. You've even made clay models of the new characters in your "movie". ~You are very into history and love learning about the Civil War. Your great-grandfather passed away this year and gave you some of his medals from World War II. They are a few of your greatest treasures. ~You are very good at math, just like your daddy. You still nee...

So last night we just happened to stop by Petsmart to see the kitties and there was the cutest little 2 month old black kitten there. I know the hubbs was amused by the pitiful looks on the face of the mommy and the boy. But he wasn't sure about us adopting this little kitty until we knew how he would get along with our 1 1/2 year old orange tabby who is affectionately named Tiger/Carl/Milo, but answers to "Kitty". So the hubbs went home and got the big kitty and brought him back to Petsmart on a leash with a collar. Yes, we got a few stares. I mean, there are dogs in there all the time, but how many people bring their cats in? And on a leash? (In our defense we didn't want the cat to get loose since he's a house cat and only gets out to go to the vet). I realized that we had become....the cat people. And then I laughed out loud, cause, well, it was funny. So, we soon discovered that big kitty wouldn't try to torment little kitty too much and, much to...

If you are reading this, please send up a prayer for my 24 year old sister. She was told today by her doctor that while they "couldn't tell her she has cervical cancer" they "can't rule it out for sure just yet". So Tuesday she will go for more testing. I am hoping to be able to do down there (she lives in Mississippi) to be with her during this. I am not sure if my schedule will permit it. She has a 3 month old little girl. On another note. I took the boy in today for his first real eye exam. He's had the basic one for kindergarten, but since the diabetes diagnosis everything has changed. So we have a wonderful eye doctor and Matthew did great. But he's farsighted! So he will need glasses to read. After careful consideration and much trying on of frames we settled on blue power rangers frames. The boy was pleased and he looks too cute! Tune in on Monday for "Monday Mercies" - a weekly post to help us get the week started off on...

Halloween this year was celebrated with our friends. We had so much fun! Since this year was our first Halloween with diabetes, we weren't sure how the boy's blood sugars would run. We gave him insulin to cover him for a s'more and he so enjoyed having the experience of eating it. He said to me "Mommy, real chocolate (as opposed to something with a sugar alternative) tastes so good". Yes, son, it does. And it keeps me going most days! Anyway, he got a bag full of candy. We have decided to let him have one piece per day with a meal. Hopefully this will keep his sugars in his target range or at least very close to it. We had a great time this year and hope you did too!