The Faces of T1D

Zane was featured on a poster during the 4-mile walk during Beat the Bridge again this year - we didn't do the walk, so did not see the poster out there - but have heard it was there!  I was sent a copy of what it looked like though - so here you go :)

Beat the Bridge - 2015 Team Zane

Team Zane was at it again this year and we will be every year in some capacity or another until a cure is found or until Zane tells us he's done!  It's the least we can do as his family and friends.

Nothing ceases to amaze me with these kids - they are out there running their hears out, checking blood sugars, chugging juice and all with smiles on their faces.  I don't know how they do it, I really don't. I've poked my finger by accident with his poker and wanted to yell out a non-kid friendly word or two...so to see these kids of all ages (including babies) doing it with out even a flinch brings a tear to my eye.  Sure there are many nights that Josh and I have very interrupted sleep because of diabetes; sure there are days that Zane says he hates it and doesn't want it anymore; sure there are days that I cry over it after I go to bed so no one will see me; sure there are days that I have to break the news to him that he can't have that coveted ice cream he wants so badly because his blood sugar is over 500; sure I want to cry with him when I break that news and sure there are days that I say f*ck it and let him have the ice cream even with a blood sugar of over 500.  There are many crappy things about diabetes, but there are many great things we have gained through it as well. We have really learned who our real friends are.  The friends who relentlessly get up early every year to fight traffic and crowds to come out and show their support for Zane.  The friends who even when they can't be there always go out of their way to make a donation to JDRF to find a cure for him.  The friends who ask us about Zane and the ones who just know by the look on our face that it hasn't been a good day or night and try to be there for us even though they don't know how to fix it.  These are the friends that we will carry with us for a lifetime.  These are the friends that Zane will carry with him for a lifetime.  And to all of you and you know who you are THANK YOU.  It's life, it's our life and it's one that we have adapted too and one that we don't know any different from anymore.

It was a great day out there today!!

Most of Team Zane...a few are missing.

Zane, Logan, Landon & Blake

Zane and his oldest friend Bashir!  Bashir has been out for EVERY.SINGLE.ONE!

Landon, Omar, Bashir & Zane

My perfect little family!

Omar, Neimeh, Bashir, Zane & Yours Truly.  This one raises more money every year
for Team Zane than I'm even able to do - she's amazing and has been a huge supporter!

Some of the boys warming up before their big run, haha!!

On your marks, get set, GOOOO!

Zane & his Diabestie Lukas!

Zane and his neighbor friend Elliott!

Two beautiful brothers!

Zane and Leo the Lion!

Team Zane {2014}

We had another successful year for Team Zane and Beat the Bridge.  I'm amazed every year how much our friends and family still are willing to do for us and make our lives a little easier and help us have a great team!  We truly are blessed.  This year was extra special for Zane, both of his teachers and two of his classmates came out to celebrate the little man - he was thrilled!

This was the first year that Zane ran the 1 mile and thankfully many of his buddies wanted to run too!  I knew he was excited to run - he and I had done a couple training runs and he couldn't get enough of it. What I didn't know - was that this kid was FAST!  He and one of his buddies Bashir ran an 8 minute mile!  Holy crapola!  Not sure who's running DNA he got, but it sure wasn't his dad or I's!

It was great to see the new Husky stadium - beautiful!  Landon was nice enough to christen the field for them by up-chucking his breakfast all over it.  Poor kid.  We knew he wasn't feeling well, we just didn't know it was that sort of not feeling well.  He is such a little trooper.  He was so sick all of yesterday, never cried or complained once.  Hit the bowl or bag (in the car) every time.  Heartbreaking as a parent to watch your child feel so terrible and know there is nothing you can do about it.  Thankfully he is on the mend and doing much better today.

Now for the photo dump that I know you've been waiting for :)

So glad one of his teacher took a picture of this for me on the walk.

Kaitlyn, Charlie, Bashir, Zane

Zane and Charlie

Zane & Bashir (friends since in the womb)

Zane, Kaitlyn & Charlie (classmates)

Zane & Mrs. Boysen (K teacher)

Zane, Mrs. Pusich (K Aid), Mrs. Boysen and classmates

Most of this year's team...missing a few...

Zane during his 8 minute mile...

Josh & Landon running the mile...

Belia & I right before the 8K

Beating the bridge baby!!

I did it - another 8K under my belt!

After run - with sicko; before we knew he was sick!

The ride home - poor baby with his puke bag.

Playing with his puke bowl!

Awards & Baseball

We were invited to the JDRF Awards Event on Tuesday this week and it was followed with an M's Game!  I wasn't thinking we'd actually receive an award this year as we didn't raise as much money as we had last year (last year they mailed us an award)...but I was wrong and I'm glad I was.  I had already told Zane that we probably wouldn't be getting a plaque this year and that that was OK, but we would have a good time watching other people receive some awards as well as his friend Luke receive a plaque for being one of the ambassadors for Beat the Bridge this year!

The awards event was at the Ellis Pavilion inside Safeco - right after we checked in and got our name tags the guy behind the table said he had something for Zane...it was an award!!  The smile on Zane's face was priceless - he was/is so proud!

After checking in - we headed to our table where our good friends the Bergman's sat with us!  Luke and Zane were having a little too much fun and we had to remind them to be quiet a few times - but I LOVE watching these two grow into such good buddies and have such a good time together!  I really think they are so good for each other!

After the awards were all handed out and dinner was over - we all headed into Safeco to enjoy an M's game!  This was Zane and Landon's first time (that I can remember anyway) inside Safeco -  they thought it was pretty cool.

Josh explaining the game a little to Zane.

He is so stinkin' cute!

Landon clapping when everyone else does!

Trying to entertain him!

 We last for I think half of the FIRST inning, haha!  Neither Josh or I are very big baseball fans and Landon was beyond restless - we decided to go over and check out the playground they have inside the stadium (whoever thought of this idea is a genius).  The boys had a great time running around like the crazy boys they are!

We had another event that we wanted to hit up that night by the house, so after playing for a little bit the boys and I started to head out.  Just as we were getting ready to leave the playground, Luke and his parents walk in!  The boys said a quick good-bye; Josh stayed to hang out with them (since he had to work in a couple hours right next to the stadium) and the boys and I headed for the car.

One last tourist pic before getting to the car!

What a fun night - thank you JDRF for inviting us and paying for our game - sorry we didn't make good use of the tickets!