The D Mother of Invention...

Since the school nurse makes an appearance only one morning a week at our school, I get five phone calls a day, and a text. Well...that is the way it is supposed to be anyway.It is a brilliant plan I hatched under the guise of necessity. I'll be the boys virtual nurse! They can push the buttons. They can follow direction. I'm pretty good at SWAGing meals...seriously...it was a brilliant idea in conception.At snack the two youngest would check their sugars and call me. At that time they would correct if need be, and I would decide what snack they would eat out of their lunch according to the number given me.Then, before lunch, the youngest would...

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Hello exhaustion my old friend...

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There are some things you need to know...

A year ago I wrote a blog post called, "I want you to know something." It is one of Our Diabetic Life's most visited posts, still to this day. I feel strongly I need to add some things to the list. I feel strongly that today, there is something you need to know...You need to know that when you check your child's blood sugar, no matter what the number...you are winning.You need to know that the worry you keep in your heart all day long is only proof that you are a good pancreas.You need to know that when your child lashes out against diabetes, he or she isn't lashing out against you. You need to know that you can switch endos if your endo isn't...

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Laughter and Insulin...the best medicine.

J: "Mom, I'm high."Me: "J, this is the third time this week! Don't you think you are enjoying this high thing a little too much!"J: "But it makes me feel crappy mom, and it is SOOOO fun feeling crappy!"Real conversation that took place in Costco this summer. Were people listening in? You bet your blood ketone monitor they were! And that is ok. We gotta have fun with diabetes sometimes or we'll CRACK! Like split in half...I'm serious. If I didn't laugh about diabetes, I'd probably be committed to a padded cell.There is so much REALITY with this disease, sometimes we need to take it to another place just to find our footing. Come on,...

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Conflicted.

I'm sitting here waiting patiently for two new Medtronic Revel Insulin Pumps to grace my front porch. And as I reflect, the heaviness of its meaning fills the room. The air is getting thinner and my shoulders are aching from the enormity of it all.Every four years my boys get new pumps. J just celebrated 8 years on the pump. B just finished up 4 years. L is on his second pump and still has a couple years before he is due for an upgrade. All the memories of starting the pump are flooding back. The excitement, the concern, the fear of the unknown. Insulin pumps are certainly worth their weight in gold, but whether I have the courage to come to...

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Meri's 30.

This week is National Chronic Invisible Illness week and some friends of mine around the DOC, (Diabetes Online Community,) have been completing this meme. Below is my 30.1. The illness we live with is: Type 1 Diabetes.2. My boys were diagnosed with it in the year: 1998, 2006, 20073. But they had symptoms since: J had symptoms up to 2 months before, L and B were diagnosed the day we saw a hint of a symptom.4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Living with the worry. Living with another cog in my brain that is set to "diabetes" and is never shut off.5. Most people assume: Most people who don't know me assume that I'm probably a nervous...

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Me, Myself and My Gut

My eyes flash open.My stomach hurts. Something isn't right.I check the clock: 4:00amMy first thought is the boys. Did Ryan wake to test them last night? They were swimming the night before...maybe they are tanking now...I roll over."Shut up brain and go back to sleep."10 minutes later:My eyes flash open.My stomach hurts. Something isn't right."Meri you are so dramatic. You aren't magic. You aren't waking up for a reason. You are stupid. Go back to sleep."10 minutes later:My eyes flash open..."ARRRRRG!"I slip out of bed and make my way to the station. Thankfully there is only one monitor there, so I don't have to look through three different histories...

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Yeah, that's a new one.

He nudged me pretty hard."Please?" He asks."umhum," I hum almost inaudibly.He has been doing most of the nighttime checks lately and I've been encouraging him to wake me to help out.I would do them...I just don't wake up for the alarm anymore. Alarm fatigue. I suppose, after so many years my body decided it wasn't going to put up with it anymore. My husband sets the alarm to a local music station and has it turned ALL the way up. The music BLARES, like scare the crap out of you blares, and I don't even budge.Hence the nudging.I skirted out of bed catching myself from buckling under my exhaustedness and made my way slowly to the blood sugar station...

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Shockaprising!

Earlier this week my status on facebook read: L just called. "I'm 69. I know mom, shockerprising!" That is his new word this month...and I LOOOOOOVE it!Two days later I was schooled by my boys, telling me it isn't "shockerprising" it is "shockAprising!"I totally feel like one of those old people who is trying to be hip, who say things wrong. Like when my mom said "off the hanger," instead of "off the hook."Regardless, shockaprising has been the best thing since sliced bread around here. (HELLO! OLDNESS! Who says that saying anymore???)Instead of L silently checking his sugar, and picking out his own appropriate snack before I can confer...he...

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A1C from A to Z

Ask yourself, "does this number define my worth?"Be mindful that this number shows where you were, not where you are today.Cast out the feelings of guilt and ineptitude.Don't give up on yourself.Every number is a springboard to another. Use this number to help you get where you want to be...or to motivate you to stay where you want to be.Forget the highs from last month. That is over. Today is a new day.Give yourself credit where credit is due.Have a heart to heart with your doctor. You are a team.Invite friends to support you. Invite them to learn about diabetes...invite them to cheer you on!Just keep swimming.Keep some records. Writing things...

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