The Dresses So far...

So here is Anna's dress so far. I have been really happy with how they are coming out. There will be a bow in the front of the dress made out of the ribbon.
This is the bottom of the dress. The ribbon is actually going to be peeking out from the bottom of the dress.

The sleeves were a challenge for me. I have never put in sleeves or a zipper before. My mom was gracious enough to come and sit by me and tell me how to do it. I did all the work, but she walked me through it.

I am very excited about these dresses. Abby's is coming along too. I have not done her sleeves yet, but it will be finished soon after Anna's. I tried to put a pocket in Anna's just incase we got an insulin pump before Christmas (not going to happen). The pocket wasn't going as well as I had hoped. Not to mention, while sniping a string from the pocket, I also sniped the skirt in two different places. And of course the piece I sniped was the largest piece of the skirt!! So, I had to rip everything apart and basically start again. I hadn't gotten very far, but it was still frustrating. I took a couple of days off from the dresses before getting back to work on them. Then I realized, because of my stupid mistake, I was short on fabric for Abby's dress. Luckily the store still had the same bolt of fabric (which I actually kind of think is drapery liner!). I just can't believe that they look like I had visioned, and they are most likely going to be done it time for Christmas!!!! So we are off to the mall tomorrow to buy full, twirly slips to wear under the dresses and maybe some cute ballet slipper shoes.

Is 2009 over yet? Let's go out with a bang!!

So, Not to throw myself a pity party, but we have had a tough year. From a car being stolen out the driveway, broken arm, and now diabetes, I have never been more ready for football season to be over!! But Klein keeps winning! GO KLEIN!!! The Lord sure picked a year that is keeping us busy! Klein went into the playoffs, I think in 4th place in district. Now, 6 weeks later, we have made it to the semi-finals!!! Go Klein!! It really is an amazing thing. We won the quarter finals today against Tyler, John Tyler with a score of 31-7~ Who would have thought?!?!? The Bearkats have definetley proven themselves as a team to wrecken with! Of course, this means Joel is still working 7 days a week and traveling on the weekends. We miss our Daddy! When I told Anna today that Daddy's team was winning she was so excited! That is until I told her that he will have another game next weekend. Then she changed her mind and said she was ready for Daddy to be at home! So, for the Reichling Girls, it's kind of a bittersweet celebration. We love our Daddy, but with only 2 more games left, Let's take it all the way! We play Abilene on Saturday at Baylor Stadium at 2 pm. Then if we win that game, it's on to the State Championship Game! (Which is also the day I turn full term!) So say a prayer that the baby can wait till after football! I would hate for Joel to have to miss either the game or the birth of his child! I am ready to end 2009, but let's go out with a win!

Me and My Big Ideas!!!

Ok, so I don't know exactly what I am thinking, but I have decided to try and make the girls Christmas dresses. Yes, it is already December 3rd, and hopefully before Christmas, I will be having a baby. But what the heck ~ Joel is still in Football, so I have my nights to myself. We will see if I can pull it off. I chose colors that would work for Easter too, just in case. They are going to be hot pink and green. I am really excited about how they look in my head, we will see if that is how they come out! I am using the pattern of the black and white dress, but tweaking it just a little. I have never been one to follow the rules exactly. I always have to put my little spin on it. So why am I blogging about it instead of actually sewing?? Good question! But I hoping that I can get more into this blogging thing, even if no one reads it, for my kids! I think it will be fun for them to read later. Alright, no more procrastinating! I am off to make dinner and work more on the dresses!

The Princess with the Crooked Tiara

Just thought I would add some picture of Abby. Anna's will come soon.

Whew!

So, as it turns out, I am horrible at this blogging thing. When do people have time to sit and write??? Sorry about the absence.

We have been doing great. It's hard to believe that Anna was diagnosed a month ago! In the past month I have discovered that Anna is a lot tougher than I ever gave her credit for. She doesn't cry for the shots anymore (3 a day). Every time we get ready to give her a shot, she will say, "Ok, Can you do it softly, gently and fast?" Every single time. I think it's all about the routine. I have only had one night that I had to wake her up to eat something. She was 59 at 5 am one morning. I think it was due to the fact that she went swimming on Thanksgiving. Yes, I know, who in their right mind would want to swim in 60 degree weather. All it took was for Anna to bat her eyes at Grandpa and say please and he heated the pool for her.

Yesterday Mom and I went down to Texas Children's Hospital for a class on how to use a sliding scale for her insulin dosages. Now we can eat what we want and give insulin to cover it. Before we were on a set amount of insulin and had to make sure to eat the set amount of carbs to cover the insulin. I am hoping it will be easier, but we shall see! I have always loved math equations, but never thought I would have to work math problems to figure out how much insulin to give my daughter before every meal! The next step is to get on the pump. Anna will wear the pump at all times and it will administer the insulin. More on that later! We should get one after the first of the year.

As for everyone else in the family...

Joel is heading to round 4 of the Playoffs this weekend in Waco. They have made it to the quarter finals! Go Klein!

Abby is my princess with a crooked tiara. She loves her sister and runs and hides every time Anna has to get a shot. A couple of times she has tried to hold Anna's hand during the shot, but as soon as I get close to Anna with the syringe, Abby runs behind the couch. And every time, she comes back and says, "Nana shot, Abby - No shot" She was tested for a growth hormone deficency about 2 weeks ago. The results came back okay, but they were concerned that her carbon dioxide levels were too low. It could just be because she was screaming her head off when they took her blood, but now they want to do a urine sample just to be sure. Seriously?!?

And for me, I have a whole new list of reasons I am thankful, and a new pet peeve list. I am reading this book, "Think like a Pancreas." It is so good. It gives all kinds of good information including the history of Diabetes. Only 100 years ago, the life expectancy of some one diagnosed with type one was 1 to 4 years. I almost started crying when I read that. I am so thankful that we live in a time of modern medicine. Diabetes has gone from a slow painful death sentence, to something that is totally manageable. THANK YOU, LORD! As for the pet peeves, it basically all boils done to the this - There is a difference between the 2 types of diabetes. Type 1, also known as Juvenile Diabetes, is caused by a virus that attacks your beta cells that make insulin (in your pancreas). This virus kills those cells and the body will never again make insulin. There is no cure. No diet, or exercise will make her body make insulin again. This is why she will have to have a pump or shots forever. So, what is the pet peeve you ask?? I have had read an article in the paper and seen a clip on a talk show about diabetes that referenced diet and exercise can control your diabetes. While it is true that everyone needs to follow a healthy living style, they need to clarify that they are talking about Type 2 diabetes that can be controlled with diet and exercise. I guess it's a pet peeve because it eludes to the fact that maybe I don't exercise my child enough, or give her the proper nutrition she needs.

Well, I think that is an ear full for now! I will try to write more often, even if it isn't a whole novel at once! Thank you everyone for your sweet words and prayers. I still need them and couldn't do this without them!