Day on CAPITOL HILL....Carson meeting with our US Senators and Representative!!!!

So sorry to leave you guys hanging!!  Tuesday night, I could not get internet at the hotel and last night after an incredible, but exhausting day on the Hill, I just had to go to sleep!  I really don't know where to start....this has been one of the most life changing events in my life and in the life of my little boy...I have soooo much to share and so many pics ....so tired right now, but I wanted to share a few pics from yesterday and I will continue to share more each day...

Let me just say I have never been more proud of my 10 year old son!  Carson had three meetings with Congressional members today and a Senate hearing to be a part of...Being the only delegate from his state meant it was up to Carson to lead these meetings by himself....I was with him, but this is his disease and he took full responsibility for getting his message across loud and clear....explaining the bill that needed to be signed and why it needs to be signed by the two US Senators and a US House Representative....and , did he ever turn on the charm..I do not know who could say "no" to this kid.....He Rocked Capitol Hill....and ALL the kids did..It was simply amazing to see 161 kids in Blue CC shirts scattered all over capitol Hill speaking to their Senators and Representatives yesterday!  More later!

 Meeting with U.S. Senator Risch/  Senator Risch was soooo very kind to us and even invited us to ride the train with him over to the Capitol building from his Senate office.  Unfotunately we had yo get over to another senate building in a hurry for the delegate photo with VP Biden....Three great interns took us underground to get there quickly!

 Senator Risch and Carson....Sen. Risch signed on to the letter supporting the SDP last year and will again this year, we believe!

 Congressman Labrador was so kind to stop in and give Carson some time in his office......and although Carson did not get an answer from him about signing the SDP, we believe he was very touched by Carson's story and will give it some serious though!  When Rep. Labrador asked him what his favorite thing he had done so far in DC was, Carson smiled and said, "Actually, Rep. Labrador, meeting you has been my favorite thing to do so far"  Rep. Labrador was visibly touched and said after the day he had had, he really needed to hear a positive compliment......as many of you know, he is right in the middle of the Immigration Reform battle going on....and that is why we were thrilled he took the time in the midst of all that to meet with Carson.

 Rep Labrador wanted Carson to sit in his chair behind his desk for a pic

 Vice President Biden was very kind and had some really encouraging words for the kids...you can see him in the middle next to Ray  Allen...Carson is down toward the bottom mid-left.  Carson and two other delegates were pulled aside by White House Secret Service to get the last pic with Biden,but he by-passed them at the last minute...the Secret service were very apologetic and we were disappointed, but even the Secret Service doesn't have a say in the last minute decisions of the VP!

 Senator Crapo, me and Carson

US Senator Crapo was just the nicest, most encouraging man...told Carson of a family member who has T1D and of his continued support of the SDP bil!  Here Carson is telling him about his scrapbook he presented to him.

 US Senator Crapo told Carson about a family member who has T1D and of his continued support of the SDP!

Carson explaining the letter to be signed supporting the SDP (Special Diabetes Program)

A disease that does not differentiate!!

Ray Allen is here with his wife, Shannon, and little boy, Walker.  REALLY COOL, right???  And it IS, but funny thing is.....I haven't seen anyone ask for his autograph or take a picture with him.....why?  Because this disease called Type 1 diabetes doesn't have a certain population it chooses to attack or  socio-economic preference....it does not differentiate between skin color or nationalities......and Ray Allen and Shannon are here as parents of a T1D, just like the rest of us!  Parents who want soooo badly to see a cure for our children.  As I was talking to Ray at dinner and earlier today as Walker was playing around with Carson, mesmerized  by his unicycle,  I just thought about how we are all on the same playing field....advocating for a cure!   Suddenly, it doesn't matter that Ray Allen is a superstar worth billions of dollars and thousands of people would die to shake his hand or even be near him ...what matters is that he is a loving father who would trade it ALL for a  cure for his little boy, Walker....and that is the SINGLE REASON we are all here at Children's Congress!

Day 1 of Children's Congress and I am already a "mess"!

I really do not know where to start!  I have never in all my life seen my little boy so happy and full of life and joy.....I can only imagine what it must feel like to meet and be in the same place with 160 other kids who have the same disease as you!!  Carson just cried tonight...too full of emotion to even talk....just tears flowing...there are no words!  I am trying to wipe away my tears as I write this.

  We would LOVE to stay in this Children's Congress bubble FOREVER .... to have everyone checking blood sugar and guessing each other's number, to have pumps giving insulin, shots being given, carbs being counted  , juice boxes opened....well, it is a paradise of sorts that only a T1D family can really understand....this world where you aren't "different" or "weird" .....the kind of world, where your 10 year old child ,with a devastated disease, looks up at you with tears streaming down his face and says, "Thank you so much for bringing me here...I am really glad I have Type 1 diabetes so I could come here!"

 It is a magical place where moms aren't "crazy" and "overprotective"..and dads aren't "wimpy" because they shed tears for their precious little boy or girl who lives with a disease that they can't "fix"! We are instant family and we haven't even done what we came here to do yet.....go to Capitol Hill and advocate for a day when Type 1 diabetes is NO MORE!  But, we will be ready come Wednesday, because there is something quite empowering that is happening right now, not only among parents and families, but the T1D's themselves......they are just children, but they have a voice and TOGETHER they can't help but be heard!

LIVE STREAMING OF Children's Congress events tomorrow and Wed....Senate hearing at the capitol...

• ‘Role Models in Diabetes’ town hall session, hear from those living with type 1 diabetes and how they overcome it every day in their lives—Tuesday, July 9 at 10am (ET) until 11am (ET).
• ‘Diabetes Research: Reducing the Burden of Diabetes at All Ages and Stages’ hosted by the U.S Senate Special Committee on Aging, will also be LIVE-streamed on the Committee’s site – Wednesday, July 10 at 2pm (ET). Witnesses include:
• Jean Smart, Emmy-winning TV, film and stage actress
• NBA All-Star Ray Allen and his son Walker, who is a CC Delegate from Florida;
• Quinn Ferguson, who is a CC Delegate from Maine;
• Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; and
• Jeffrey Brewer, President and CEO of JDRF

Again, please remember, find us on the JDRF Advocacy YouTube channel and just look for the LIVE event at the times noted above.

A day on the Mall!

This is Carson. I had a really a fun time in DC today!  We spent 7 hours at the Air and Space Museum.  It was so worth it!  I really liked the APOLLO exhibits because my granddad worked for NASA and worked on the APOLLO 4 and some more.  I also got to ride in a flight simulator.  We walked to the Capitol and it started raining on the way back to our hotel.  We were soaked.  Tonight at the hotel, I met Olympic gold medalist and T1D, Gary Hall, Jr. and more CC kids!  I CAN'T WAIT TIL THE MORNING !!!!   Here are some pics from today!

 Smithsonian castle

 me in an airplane

 Air and Space museum

 the fam!

 Diabetes never takes a break.....Capitol Hill here I come!!!!!

 getting an insulin shot!

Carson's blog post

Hi -  This is Carson.  Today we had a great time in DC!  We went to all the Monuments and Memorial in the Tidal Basin and Mall.  I liked the Jefferson Memorial best because you could take the elevator underneath to the museum.  I rode my unicycle everywhere we went. It is really hot and humid here.  Trying to keep my BG up with all the exercise is tricky!  Here is a video clip I made for KXLY's Good Morning Northwest tv show/  Mark Peterson wanted something from me to show on the show next week! I made another one in front of the Jefferson Memorial.  Oh yeah, we met our first CC family tonight in the hotel lobby.   I can't wait til Children's Congress starts on Monday.  Here are some pics from today.

 WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

 IDAHO at the WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

 REFLECTING POOL

 LINCOLN MEMORIAL

 VIETNAM MEMORIAL....notice the Washington Monument in the reflection!

 KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL

 JEFFERSON MEMORIAL

Relaxing after a long day of Sight-seeing!

ARRIVAl DAY IN D.C.

Left home a little after  4 am this morning...it has been a long day. My 10 year old advocate was going to blog tonight, but he is exhausted!! Tomorrow!  I have never flown into DC..always driven in and and I got really choked up flying right over the Capitol and the  mall...we saw it all just below us, the WA monument, Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, etc!!  Really cool flying in! We figured out the METRO subway (kinda) and are LOVING the JW Marriott right on Pennsylvania Ave....gorgeous!!!  Walked 2 blocks over to the White House and Treasury, etc tonight...beautiful when it is lit up at night!!  I have forgotten how much I love this city!  Carson likes sightseeing ok, but he wants Children's Congress to start tomorrow!!!!  I think being in the same place with 160 other T1Ds at the same time is what he is most looking forward to...when does that ever happen!?  Night, all...thanks for tuning in!!  See you tomorrow!

 We wore our JDRF walk t shirts across country and may people asked questions and we got to tell them what we were doing!  Even had some T1D families come over and introduce themselves at airports!

 At Reagan International Airport, Washington, DC  Flying into this city was breath-taking!

 Carson at the METRO subway station

 On the METRO subway headed to our hotel......made it to Pennsylvania AVE...where our hotel is!