Update

It's been awhile since I posted, as usual life seems to get in the way! A lot is happening in the Meinweiser home so I felt it was time for an update!
Isabel: She is doing great! She is now crawling, cruising and is just a bundle of ATTITUDE! Boy, this girl knows what she wants! She has quite the personality and makes the funniest faces and gestures. She is going to be a handful!
Caden: He has recently moved up to the "Yellow Team" at school. This is a big change for him but he is taking it in stride. The "Yellow Team" is comparable to full day preschool. He has learned a lot already and now has homework to complete every night and a writing journal. He has been very whiny lately too...I feel like I have almost forgotten what his normal voice sounds like! He gets very jealous of Isabel and is constantly taking toys from her, just because he can...he calls it sharing, but I think he is a bit confused! He has also started to go pee and poop all by himself, he doesn't need our help to wipe (TMI I know) anymore or button his pants etc etc. It's a nice change but it does make me a little sad...our baby is growing up!
Me: Well a lot is going on with me. First off, I am taking a much needed vacation to Las Vegas this coming Monday with a friend. It's only for 3 days but the break will be very nice! Second, you all know that I have had type 1 diabetes since I was a year old...well I am currently participating in a research study with the University of Penn. Hospital in Philadelphia. They are going to transplant islet cells from a deceased donor's pancreas into the portal vein in liver. After a few months I will be taken completely off insulin and the islet cells will be producing their own! The procedure is just a few tiny cuts in my abdomen but the tests that I need to complete before I get put on the transplant list are daunting. I am heading up for a one night stay at the hospital next month and that will be followed by a two night stay. After I complete those tests I will have to go up one more time then I will be put on the active transplant list. It could take up to a year to get a pancreas or it could take only weeks. I need to be ready at a moments notice to drop everything and head up for my transplant. I am excited but very nervous. I will be put on antirejection medicine after the transplant and will remain on them until the islet cells stop working...no one knows how long that will be. The first few months are supposed to be very tough until they can regulate the dosage. It is very exciting news, I don't know what life is like with out diabetes but I can't wait to find out!
Brian: He is doing very well. He is very excited about his upcoming camping trip with a bunch of his buddies from here and also some from NY. I am thankful that he is being very supportive of my transplant...it means lots of nights alone with the kiddos but he never gave it a second thought and I love him for that!

This time last year...

September 2009...

Not much happened this month and if I remember correctly it was very low-key. We had no visitors but were busily trying to prepare for Isabel's arrival. Caden was on a cleaning kick and constantly had either a broom or a dust-pan in hand! I only wish that he still had this love for cleaning because I could definetely use the help right about now!