I'm Too Excited to Sleep

When good things happen, it is hard for me to stay calm.  I just get very excited.  Thanks to a friend of mine, John and I are going to the circus.  Not just any circus but Ringling Brothers!  It is, after all, the greatest show on Earth.  I'm so excited about it that I can't stay focused.  I know that it's silly but I have always been a big fan of watching the elephants, clowns and even the high wire acts.

As a kid my dad would take me to the traveling circus that stopped in our little town each year.  It almost always corresponded with my birthday and was a major highlight for me.  We would watch the elephants put the tent up, go to the show and eat lots of junk food.  As I got older I never lost the excitement.

This year I am probably going to pass on cotton candy.  I'm not sure my pump could even handle it without bursting into flames.  But peanuts are probably a necessity.  I wonder what kind of crazy tricks the elephants will do.  Someday, I should get an elephant (ok, that's probably not realistic but a girl can dream).  Last year there was a little dog that dressed up in costume like an elephant and I considered finding a similar outfit for Tater Tot (our dog).

Until we go, I guess I'll have to keep dreaming of the amazing things I will see and the delicious snacks we will have.  Remember that old Disney commercial where the kids are "too excited to sleep"?  That's me.

A Lesson from the Field

For those of you who didn't know, I sell ads for a small town phone book.  It's not really glamorous but it does leave me with lots of happy customers and even more funny stories.  Sometimes you can't help but laugh when a customer tells you their views on life, religion, or politics (especially politics).

Just last week I sold an ad to a man who was proud to tell me that God gave him instructions to advertise on the front cover of my book.  This week I had a woman tell me that our President was going to tax her over $2,800 a month because she could not provide insurance for her employees so she was going to sell her business, buy a gun and live off the land.  You just never know what you're going to hear when you walk into someone's office.

I am happy to report that today I met with a nice woman who said, "I have a political opinion but I don't have to share it with you.  I trust you to do your research and pick a candidate that best matches your beliefs".  I really liked their approach.  Sure, I can tell you my views and talk until we're both blue in the face but I trust you to make a good decision.  Do your homework.  Who shares your values, morals, goals and passions?  Pick a good match and don't let people bully you into changing your mind.  Choose wisely because the worst decision is not making one at all.

What ISN'T Broken?

Every once in awhile I have a day where I'm just mad.  Mad that I have to check blood sugar, mad that I have diabetes, mad that I can't eat a piece of cake and not stress about it.... just keep the list going.  The last few days I have been stuck in this mindset.  I want to shake it off and be happy, I really do.  It just seems like I can't get anything to go my way.

Yesterday I got my blood work back and aparently my thyroid isn't working properly.  GREAT!  I'll go ahead and put that on the list (see, I told you I was angry).  On top of that my husband's car broke down (again!).  It seems like Diabetes makes everything amplified.  It can be easy to become discouraged and angry but I have to remember this is just a season. 

Anyone struggling with a chronic illness can attest to the fact that happiness is a choice.  Contentment is a choice.  Yep, things haven't been perfect and times have been hard but I'm going to choose to be greatful.  I have a great family, supportive friends and I live in a time where medical advances are happening every day.  No matter what you're facing, choose to be positive.  It's going to be ok.  And in the mean time, for inspiration, I'll be reinacting the following youtube video.  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

A Visit to the Endo

Over the last year John (that boy that calls himself my husband) and I have been through a lot of changes, diet, carb counting, and most importantly a new endocrinologist and diabetes care team.  I can't stress enough that finding a good endo makes a world of difference.  She is awesome.  Unlike the Dr. we were assigned by the hospital, she takes her time, listens to our concerns and is willing to help me live a "normal" life.

I had my appointment with her yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that my A1C was 5.7.  All of the days that I struggled with post breakfast highs and leaking pump sites I thought I was a complete diabetes failure.  She had a few minor pump changes and sent me on my way with paperwork to have blood drawn.  I guess I wasn't doing so poorly after all.  

Take it from the Top

I supposed it would be good to start at the beginning of this crazy ride.  Last summer, while on vacation with my family in Minnesota I got really tired.  Ok, not just tired, exhausted.  I started sleeping a LOT.  Family and friends assumed I was pregnant or getting the flu.  After sleeping the entire way home I couldn't even stay awake to unload the car.  Four days later, my mom arrived and decided I was going to the emergency room.

Two hours in the waiting room and ten IV attempts later I was told my sugar was over 750, I was severely dehydrate, in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and had a severe infection in my finger.  Tests later confirmed that I was Type 1 diabetic.  Now I have always thought I knew a lot about many things.  In my mind,  Type 1 diabetics are always children.  They are really sick.  They have a lot of walks and fundraisers but they probably won't live to be grown ups.  All of the sudden I began to realize I knew nothing.  My hospital assigned endocrinologist spent less than five minutes with me over the next three days.  I was sent home with insulin, needles and orders to 45 grams of carb per meal.  Check back in three months.

I was left alone to manage a disease I knew very little about.  I can never know everything about diabetes and every day is a new challenge but what I do know is that there is power in conversation.