Nosy's Art Gallery

While O and I concentrate on his harder subjects, Noah is a very busy Boy. The other day, he could be found running around hunting for markers...paper...tape...scissors.

After school, he led us over to his art show in the entryway. Nice job, Nosy!

These are some of the first little people that Noah has attempted drawing. It makes me happy that they are all so smiley.

What Did the Mailman Bring?

What could it be?

A ginormous box addressed to Noah Halpin.

It's Nosy's Omnipods!!!!!

(tubeless/wireless/disposable insulin pump)

Check it out!
We have fifty of these babies just waiting to change Noah's life.

We "go live" on the pump November 1st.

Stay tuned!

Just the Four of Us

We finished up school in record time. It was absolutely gorgeous outside. So I packed up my three and a picnic and we headed to the Arbo. Just the four of us. No play date. No agenda. In fact, we stayed far away from the hectic pumpkin area on purpose. We just wanted to run and play. So we claimed a piece of sun-drenched grass, spread out our quilt and enjoyed each other. It was the best day.

How is it possible that the very same Mama and Daddy can make two such very different looking Boys?

This is what kept Jonesy busy while the biggies and I ran and ran and ran.

On the way out, the Boys did pose for just a few quick pictures for Mommy. They know this makes me so very happy.

Cheesy smiles

I got out my pocket full of jokes and silly songs.

LOVE those Guys!

Comforting Jones when he got tired of all the picture hoopla.

Then we headed for home. Three tired-out Boys and one sore Mama (from all that high-speed running!). What a wonderful, wonderful day of just soaking up each others' company.

Nosy's Walk

Whoo-hoo! Diabetes Walk Day was here! It was drippy and stormy and humid and yuck outside, but our spirits were high as we set out for Plano early in the morning to join hundreds of other folks in the Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes.

When we arrived, we found tons of fun games and prizes.

So excited! Noah was 100% convinced that every single person there was walking just for him. This was his day, his walk, his super huge party. I was not going to tell him otherwise!

Hooray for sticky, slimy, grassy bounce house slides!

Super cool train ride with the Boys' great pal, Ryder.

Walking for Noah

(everyone in our group except for Erica, Clayton, Oliver & Elliot)

So many thanks to each of you for giving up your Saturday to walk with us. It means more to me than I can even express. Truly.

So ready to get started!

A very damp Mommy and O

Check out those happy faces all full of love for our Nosy.

Papa setting the pace

Julianne and Erica getting in some good chatting time

Catching a lift from Daddy

Cutest kids I've ever seen!

This is Nosy right after he crossed the finish line. He leaped up and yelled, "I WON!!! I won the race!"

I can not even express how touched I am by the out poring of love and support, time and energy from our friends and family and a few people I barely even know. I am blown away and humbled by the generosity of those that love our Boy. Thank you all so very much, for loving Noah and supporting us so well. We could not make it without you!

Worry Wart

I am afraid he comes by it honestly. Both Jeremy and I struggle with worry and fretfulness. It is hard to trust the LORD at times.

O has been struggling with nightmares. He is terrified that a tornado will come and swoop him away. I guess it all started when we experienced some bad storms late in the summer. The tornado sirens were blaring, we were glued to the TV while tracking the storm's path, both sets of grandparents called concerned that the storm was coming our way.

The nightmares started about a week later. He will wake up shaking with fright, crying, and it will take him hours to calm down enough to get back to sleep. In one nightmare, he said he saw the tornado coming, but he was not too scared because he saw me in the distance. I yelled at him which way to run so that he could escape from the tornado. Only I steered him wrong, and instead of avoiding the tornado, I led him right into it. (That just broke my heart!)

We have tried so many things to help calm Owen's great fear: Before bed, we pray that God will take the fear away and fill his mind with thoughts of Him. We recite scripture we have memorized, especially Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid." We have even had very deep conversations about taking thoughts captive, a difficult concept for a five year old to grasp. Nothing has helped really. It takes the poor guy hours to relax enough to fall asleep since he is so scared. He is so very tired, as are we.

We don't know what else to do to help him. My friend Cindy pointed this verse out to me today. Proverb 3:24 "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet." How very appropriate! We will memorize this and pray it over Owie. I pray this helps my sweet Boy, that he can take refuge in the One who loves him best. What a tough lesson for my Guy!

New Bracelets

When Noah first got diagnosed with diabetes, I hunted high and low for a medical alert bracelet that would be comfortable for him to wear yet durable, washable and cheap. Maybe my expectations were way too high. I was envisioning a bracelet made out of flexible plastic, similar to the yellow Livestrong bracelets I see everywhere. The only thing I could find was a canvas and stainless steel bracelet, and it did not come cheap. Over the course of six months, we had to buy two since 3 year olds are not the most reliable of folks.

On a friend's blog, I stumbled across a bracelet exactly like I envisioned! It even comes in toddler sizes. It costs $8, comes in a zillion colors and even ships for free! HOORAY! (It's the small things in life...you know?) We let Nosy choose three super special bracelets and he wears them with pride today. Sometimes even all of them at once! They are comfy, cute, can be washed after Nosy goes for a roll in the mud, have no itchy clasp...they are perfect for our active Boy.

Needless to say, Noah was ecstatic when the bracelets arrived in the mail. He put them all on right away. As he danced around the house, he kept singing, "These bracelets are not crappy (I have a hard time even writing that word and it is not used at our house) like my old bracelets. They have no crap at all!" It took me most of the day to figure out he was rejoicing that his bracelets did not have clasps like his old one. I am so glad he likes them, but we had to nix the song!

Lunch with Papa

Papa has been working so hard. Sometimes we don't get to see too much of him. The Boys and I decided it would be so much fun to take him lunch at work, have a picnic in the beautiful sunshine, and get to spend some time with him. So we gathered up Gigi and some yummy Bueno and headed up to Bank of America for some fun.

Notice anything strange about Nosy? The poor Boy was drenched from head to toe. He asked if he could play for a bit after he finished eating. Of course! He hopped up on the edge of the fountain and started walking carefully around. Usually he has excellent balance. The next thing I knew, he was sobbing hysterically, bobbing around in the water. He had slipped right over the edge and become completely submerged. I fished him out and gave him a bunch of Mommy love. He gave me a very wet skirt and shirt! I am sure we looked ridiculous to all the other Bank of America employees milling around: a drenched mother and drippy, bawling son. All was soon well again. I hope we didn't embarrass Papa too much!

Such beautiful green, soft grass. Perfect turf for races!

My Little Hot Shot

Nosy's Big Day finally arrived. His very first official soccer practice! He was so excited he could barely take a nap beforehand. Thankfully, he got a good rest because he got a great workout at practice!

Some of Noah's teammates.

The team voted on their very favorite name. Hot Shots won by a landslide. The kids are all so tiny and cute. Too bad half the team doesn't really seem too interested in actually playing soccer.
Team Leader!

Answering a question for Coach. At practice, even Nosy calls him "Coach Jeremy."

Look at that kid go! He's got moves. I can. not. wait to watch this guy play at his first game. He's going to do great!

Under 4 Division

Our city soccer league opened up an under 4 division for the first time. Three guesses as to who was the first one to sign up. Our very own Nosy. He can. not. wait. We headed to Dick's to suit him up with his very own soccer gear. I don't think the grin left his face for a week!

You know another thing that has not left Noah? His shin guards. He plays in them, eats in them, naps in them, runs errands in them. I have drawn the line at sleeping all night in them, especially after seeing how sweaty and gross his little legs are underneath once I finally pry them off of him for his bath.

While trying to persuade Nosy to take the shin guards off to go to Daddy's softball game in the 90 degree heat, he had a very specific reason ready for me as to why I needed to let him wear them: "I might trip and fall on the curb and hurt my kin (shin), Mommy. I have to wear my kin guards!"

This Boy makes me smile from the inside out. I can't wait to watch him play soccer!

Takes My Breath Away

14 weeks old

Tickled

Photo Shoot

I was so blessed to be able to take pictures of this sweet family this weekend. It has been so much fun watching them enjoy their spunky daughter!

Look how much Baby Girl has grown since the last time I took her pictures!