Grace's Rules

If you want to enter Grace's room, you'd better be on your best behavior. She made this list and posted it on her door.

Grace's Rules

P.S. You better follow them and I meen it!

1. No fighting
2. No jumping on my bed
3. No bad words
4. Play nicely
5. No screaming
6. No yelling
7. No loud noises
8. No coming in when Owen is asleep
9. No sucking any part of your body
10. No crazyness (climbing on each other, or whatever Emme's doing)
11. No hitting
12. No punching
13. No pinching
14. No spanking
15. No biting
16. No sticking out your tongue
17. No pouting
18. No people in my room when I'm getting dressed.
19. No tooting
20. No burping
21. No boys in their underwear

2012 Recap

The Scoresbys' Year in Review: 2012

The highlight of our year was the birth of Owen William Scoresby in September. He's a beautiful, healthy, chubby-cheeked baby. He's the calmest and most content of our babies and will happily sit and watch the chaos surrounding him. All the kids adore him and fight over who gets to hold or kiss him. I should have guessed he'd have a chill, relaxed personality because he was certainly in no hurry to get here! While the other three children were all at least 10 days early, I had to be induced with Owen just a day before my due date. It was my longest pregnancy and my longest labor, but he was worth every second! The time is flying by and I can hardly believe he is already 3 months old.

Max turned 4 in September. He had a big party with all of his friends and a magician! (I'd definitely recommend this man--he managed to keep 8 four year old boys completely entertained for an hour and a half. Worth every penny!) Max loves to ride his scooter, play with play-doh, and wrestle with anyone (willing and unwilling participants included). He is not a fan of going to church or finishing his dinner. He's still a bit of a weasel, but his big brown eyes always find a way to melt my heart.

Emmeline is 7 going on 13. Her favorite thing to do is walk around the house with earphones in dancing and singing along to her "rock n' roll" music. Her reading has improved so much in 1st grade this year. She is a smart girl who is always coming up with an idea or plan for something. Jon and I compare her to evil Dr. Doofenschmirtz from Phineas and Ferb. Seriously. The other day she was busy at the craft table, and when I asked her what she was working on, she nonchalantly replied, "A prototype." I didn't dare ask more. She will be the president of something someday. Our sweet, sensitive Emme never ceases to surprise me.

Grace is 9 and growing up too quickly for my liking! She's in 4th grade this year and loves reading and art. She is a little social butterfly and loves being with her friends. Fortunately, she counts her sister as one of her dearest friends and they can usually be found together. She has an infectious laugh that keeps the tone in our home joyful. She played on a basketball team this year, coached by her dad and was a mean defender. I saw her set a pick that sent a 6th grader to the floor! It was awesome! She loves going to Activity Days and reading Harry Potter. Grace's innate desire to choose the right is an example for all of us.

Jon and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary. Jon's time at WisdomTools has come to a close and he's busy looking a new job and the next adventure for the family. Remember how awful it was waiting for your mission call and wondering if you were going to be spending the next few years of your life in Siberia, Sicily, or Sacramento? It's kind of like that, but worse. We've both enjoyed our time in Bloomington and feel blessed by the dear friends we've made. If we don't stay here, we hope our next chapter takes us closer to loved ones in Utah.

Here's to 2013. . . may it bring us big changes, small miracles, and even a few more blog posts!





*All photos taken by my talented friend Melissa Maynes.

Story by Grace

Happy Birthday Emme

It's been 6 whole years of having our little Emme. She has been a delight to our family and has brought a lot of happy moments to us. She is our sweet little sensitive daughter. She's had some rough times like rubbing her face off on the sidewalk and some good times like dressing up and crazy outfits. She loves to laugh, smile, and joke around. She is very smart and is interested in many things. She loves to cuddle and hug when ever she can get one. Emme, you are a ham and I love you for it. Happy Birthday sweety, I love you very much.

Love Dad

Grace Loves...

Found this video of Grace on my computer. I think she has some explaining to do.

Grace's To Do List

On most Saturdays, Mary makes a list for the kids which includes the chores they have to do that day. This is a to do list the Grace made by herself.

1) Glad the week is over and 2) Grateful

Glad the week is over:

A little back story:
Mary and I moved across the country to Indiana to start a new job and in the process have been searching for a new house.

Thursday: Closed on our house (see previous post) We are really excited and glad.

Friday: Started to move a few things and tried to finish packing. Waited all day for our fridge to be delivered after being told that it was lost and then told they call and didn't. Finally delivering it at 9:30 at night while I had the kids running around the house/neighborhood for an hour because I was told they would be here in 15 minutes. Also found out that the stove range collapsed when they took it out of the box and would have to order another one.

Saturday: Grace got up at 4:40am screaming that her head hurt and then went into a stupor that we've seen once before. We took her to the doctor at 8 and people started to show up to help move at 9:30 or so. I was finally able to hear from Mary around 11 and found out that Grace was being admitted for having concussion like symptoms without ever hitting her head. After a million tests they think she is have low blood sugar related seizures. With all of the tests we did find out that she had strep throat without any of the symptoms. So while Mary was with Grace at the hospital, I finished packing and moving our stuff to the new house.

Sunday: Mary stayed with Grace at the hospital while I was at home with Max and Emme and our new "friends" the boxes. Grace came home that night about 8pm. We decided to give the kids a bath and while we stepped out for a minute to get beds and pjs ready, Max flushed a toy down the toilet.

Monday - Thursday: Emme and Max have be coughing now for a while after a visit to the doctor they too are on antibiotics. Max doesn't sleep very well with his coughs. Grace's insulin routine has been changed and the doctors want to follow her numbers so that means we have to wake her up at 12 and 3 am to make sure she isn't going low. When I got home from work, Emme informed that she decided to hang on the towel rod and that is now broken off and there is hole in the wall. The range was dilivered on Wednesday and broke it in by cooking frozen pizza for the kids.

Friday: Kids are still sick with fevers and didn't sleep well. Just glad the week is over.


Now Grateful:
When I found at that Grace was being admitted to the hospital, the people that were helping us move said to just go. Our Bishop took me since we only have the one car and everyone else stayed there and helped move our stuff without me there. Our neighbors took Emme and Max while I was moving/going to hospital. Luckily, Mary's aunt was coming into town (which we completely forgot) and Mary explained what was going on. Her aunt went to our neighbors house and took the kids and played with them from about noon to 9 that night. Thanks Chris. When I got back from the hospital, my neighbor/friend was still packing the truck with the rest of the boxes by himself. He helped me with the last few trips before he had to leave. Food showed up for dinner Saturday night and on Monday night as well.

So this is what I am grateful for:

• Neighbors/friends who took the kid on short notice
• an Aunt who was willing to watch the kids all day while I moved
• Ward members who were willing to help move us while both of us were not there and while our daughter was in the hospital
  
• Ward members who made fantastic dinners for my family for the few days follow all chaos
• A friend for coming over late to help us dislodge the plastic toy from the toilet
  
• Friends and family who have been supportive and shown concern for my family's well being
• Three kids who make me laugh and love me just as much as I love them.
  
• Parents who show us their love through everything. Letting us know that they are suffering just as much as we are because they love us all.
  
• A wife who has worked so hard to take care of the kids and put our house back together while I go to work. A person who has made me a better person in so many ways.

Thank you all for helping us during this crappy week.

Moving On

I don't know what to say. . . .Nothing much has happened the past few months. Ha ha. Okay, so everything has happened. I'll try to make this short and sweet.
* Jon accepted a full time job at USU.
* We moved from our apartment in Logan to a house in Smithfield. Still renting, but a house! With a yard!
* Jon was offered an interview with a company in Bloomington, Indiana. We had applied months before and hadn't heard anything.
* Jon had 3 interviews with the company, aced them all and was offered the job of Senior Instructional Designer and Research Scientist at WisdomTools.
* Mary and Jon prayed, talked, discussed, made lists and ultimately decided to take the job.
* Jon worked like crazy (!) to finish his dissertation and successfully defended it.
* Mary worked like crazy (!) to pack the house (again!) and prepare to move across the country.
* Jon defended on February 4th and we moved on the 5th. Here's a wise piece of advice: Don't finish a PhD and move on the same weekend. :)

We are extremely grateful for everyone who helped watch kids, move boxes, and feed us. Especially the feeding us part. We miss our families and friends but feel like we are in the right spot. Our new ward is fantastic and we feel at home here. The final piece of good news. . . we bought a house. Yes, we felt it was time to finally grow up and join the ranks of homeowners. We close on May 6th. It is a new house and is still in the final stages of construction. Here is a picture of the front. I think that is Grace, maybe Emmeline standing on the front porch.

Success

I've always wanted to go back to school for a Master's degree. Now my dream can be a reality, thanks to this gem of an email that appeared in my in box this past week:

Success...how does it come?
For each person is important to get a success. Success comes when a person moves toward him.
A Major step towards the creation of the new views on the life and career is an EDUCATION.
The purpose of education can be to give a possibility to get a GOOD PERSPECTIVE JOB.
That’s why so many years we are helping those people who have NO TIME FOR Colleges and Universities, but have the skills, commitment and desire to achieve success in their careers.
You need to have just 4-6 weeks to get a Diploma (PhD, Master’s and Bachelor’s).

Personally, I know I've always wanted to get a success. Who hasn't? I'm still wondering how much a GOOD PERSPECTIVE JOB pays. Luckily, it will only take me 4-6 weeks to find out. Wish me luck!

A Pensive Max

What are you thinking about my boy?

Thanks For Supporting Grace

We just wanted to send out a thank you to everyone who thought of Grace and supported her on her walk to find the cure for diabetes. Here's a little video of the day.

Max Update

So yesterday while Mary was away I decided to give Max a haircut. I think it turned out great. Here's my boy!!!

Celebrity Look a Like

My sister-in-law Ashley did a great post on celebrity look a likes, with a twist. Awhile ago, the Facebook fad was posting a picture of your celebrity look a like in place of your profile pic. The only celebrity I've ever really been told I look like (not often, maybe twice) was Jennie Garth.


I think it was mostly the big eyes and mouth shape. But I love that I found this picture of her because it's a classic facial expression. My sister Alyson tells me that I give this same terrible expression that looks like "Who Are You, and What Are You Even Talking About, You Fool." But I always telling her that she misinterprets it, and really it's my "I'm Trying to Really Listen and Understand You, You Precious Soul." So if I have ever given you this expression, please know that I meant the latter and not the former.
Anyway, Ashley's twist is that she tried to identify her celebrity male doppelganger. She picked Sean Astin, but I think she's infinitely cuter! I had no problem coming up with mine. In fact, it was suggested to me years ago by none other than my fabulous sisters-in-law. And if you've ever wondered what I would look like as a 9 year old boy, wonder no longer. . . .

Sponsor a Shot!

On September 25, our family will be participating in the Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes, which is a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association. We've established an official team in Grace's honor and we want you to join us! The walk will be held at This Is the Place Heritage Park and begins at 10. There is a 1 mile and 3 mile route. After the walk there will be a petting zoo, train rides, face painting, and other entertainment.
Between now and then, Grace will check her blood sugar at least 4 times a day and have at least 2 injections of insulin a day, for a total of about 200 needle pricks. In her honor we've decided to set our fundraising goal at $200. To contribute, you can choose how many shots you'd be willing to sponsor and donate $1 a shot. You can send checks made payable to the American Diabetes Association to us.
We are so grateful for the good care Grace has received and are happy that she has adjusted well. But the reality is that Diabetes is a disease with no cure. The responsibility of careful management is constant. And we want Grace to know that we are doing what we can to help support her and contribute to the search for a cure. Please join us and show your love and support for Grace by Sponsoring a Shot and helping us reach our goal!
Please call or email if you have any questions!
Click here for more event details.

Emme's Outfit Naming Competition

We are holding a competition to name this outfit of Emme's. I had to run to the store and Emme wanted to come. However she said she had to get ready first, and this is what she came up with. Take a minute and view previous outfits here, here, here, here, and here to prime yourself for this competition.

Holy Bat Batman

So the other day while eating lunch in my office, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw a bat flying toward my head. After I gained composure and stopped fumbling over my words, I grabbed a garbage can and after a couple of tries, I finally caught it. So in short it was not a boring lunch break.

The New Normal

What We Thought We Knew about Diabetes
People with diabetes had problems with sugar and couldn't eat treats or desserts.

Julia Roberts played a character with diabetes in Steel Magnolias.

Old people with diabetes had problems with the blood circulation in their feet. (I'm a podiatrist's daughter!)

What We've Learned
Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in kids and young adults. Only 5-10% of people with diabetes have Type 1.

For some reason (most likely exposure to a virus), Grace's immune system attacked the cells in her pancreas which produce insulin. Without insulin, her body can't process carbohydrates and turn them into energy. Because her body no longer produces insulin, Grace must rely on insulin injections to survive. She also must monitor her blood sugar levels several times a day with a simple blood test.

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, cured, or reversed with diet or exercise. Even if she ate nothing but raw, organic fruits and vegetables and did triathalons, she would still be dependent on insulin for the rest of her life, or until a cure is found.

Grace's current insulin routine is two injections a day, one at breakfast and one at dinner. She has to eat 60-70 grams of carbs at each meal and 15-20 at each snack. It's also important for her to eat her meals and snacks at the same time every day. With careful planning, she is able to eat pretty much anything she wants, including cake, ice cream, fruit snacks, and candy. Sugar is not the enemy. As far as managing her diabetes goes, carbs are carbs, whether they come from a candy bar or a piece of fruit.

What We Want Our Friends and Family to Know
Grace is still Grace. She's a beautiful, smart, funny, kind girl. She wants to do everything she used to do--play with the same friends, enjoy the same activities, etc. And for the most part she can. The key is PLANNING.

With our current insulin treatment, routine and consistency are very important. As long as we know ahead of time what she will be eating, we can plan accordingly and she should be fine. For example, we had FHE with some other families last week. I knew ahead of time what would be served for dinner, I prepared the dessert, we adjusted her dinnertime dose of insulin, and she was able to go, eat what everybody else ate, and enjoy herself. If she were to be at somebody's house, however, and was given an unplanned snack, even if it were something healthy like an apple, it could cause her blood sugar to rise too high. Please don't give Grace anything to eat unless we know first.

As Grace gets older and more comfortable with her diagnosis, she will be able to check her own glucose levels, give herself injections, track her carb intake, and be aware of signs of high or low blood sugar. Until then, she needs our help. If you are interested in learning how to do these things, please let us know.

We are very happy with our doctors and current treatment plan. We are not interested in pursuing alternative remedies or natural "cures."

What We've Lost
The ability to be flexible or spontaneous

Some of the innocent ignorance we had before living with a life-long disease

What We've Gained
Greater appreciation for many loved ones who deal with much more challenging health related problems. Your grace and courage have been our examples.

Profound gratitude for the help we received, especially the first week after Grace's diagnosis. Thank you for the fridge and freezer full of meals, babysitting, cards, gifts, and phone calls. You've taught us how to serve and love better.

Grace Update

Yesterday Grace was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Apparently, the problems began some time ago. Knowing what we now know, serious outward symptoms began a few weeks ago, but became impossible to ignore or dismiss this past weekend. We got in to see a doctor on Sunday and a few tests confirmed what we had begun to suspect.

We checked into the hospital immediately to begin treatment. Her blood sugar levels were so high that the doctors told us she was maybe a few days away from being in the ICU. We've now learned that her blood sugar level should be between 80-150. Her first reading after being admitted was 885. Since arriving Grace has learned to deal with IV's, insulin shots, and blood sugar finger pricks. She is very afraid of needles so this has been quite traumatic for her and us. She will learn to get used to it, but it all feels very overwhelming right now.

She was taken off the IV this morning and is happy to be more mobile. Today we will be meeting with a few different specialists to learn how to manage this disease. Hopefully, we will be home by tomorrow. Basically, Grace will have to carefully monitor her blood sugar and insulin levels and take daily insulin shots every day for the rest of her life. Overwhelmed is really the word of the day around here. We're dealing with things the best we can and we're confident that eventually we will find a new normal and let her concentrate on having fun and being a kid.

We want to thank everyone for their love and support. Thank you to those who watched Emmeline and Max so Jon and I could be together at the hospital. Thank you to those who called to give support and encourage Grace. Thank you, Thank you, thank you! As overwhelmed as we are by what is happening, we are equally overwhelmed by your love, concern, and generosity. We'll try to post updates as we move forward.

Love,
Mary, Jon, and Grace

P.S. If I was supposed to be anywhere, give rides, provide school snacks, or basically do anything responsible over the next little while, please forgive me if I drop the ball.

Going Undercover

Just in case Jon ever has to join the Witness Protection Program, now we know what he'll look like with one of those awful, fake mustaches. Sadly, this is an awful REAL mustache. When Jon went away to Dixie his freshman year, he thought it would be funny to grow a mustache to surprise his mom when he came home for a visit. Funny? Yes. Tragic? Definitely. Prime opportunity to mock 15 years later? Absolutely! Love you Juan! I mean, Jon.

Please Don't Read Unless You Occasionally Have the Sense of Humor of a 7th Grade Boy

Let's set the scene. A few weeks ago, my sister-in-law Jen wrote this gem of a blog entry. She was sick and her husband Sean stayed home to help her with things:

Jen: Sean, I'm so glad you stayed home from work. Seriously, I would have been an absolute wreck. Well, more than I already unbelievably was. Sorry about that...

Sean: No, way. I am glad too. I wanted to be here for your wreck-dom.

Jen: my what??

Sean: NO! your-- wreck! like w-r-e-c-k...

after 20 years of laughing, hunched over...

Jen: No.. no thanks. I think i'm ok in that department...

So. . . to completely appreciate the following story, you need a little more background info. When I was in college I took some classes in philosophy and literary criticism. One work in particular talked about how language is violent because it imposes names on things without permission. Lame, I know. Anyway, Jon and I have a running joke about it. And now. . .

A few nights ago at dinner, we happened to be eating peas.
Grace asked, "Why are these called peas?"
Jon took the opportunity to mock, and said "Yes, Grace. Excellent question. How do we know they wanted to be called peas? Maybe they wanted to be called something else. . . "
And I cleared everything up by saying, "Because of their inherent pea-ness."

After which there was much red-faced laughing and explaining to do.