Dream a Little Dream - Life After a Cure

What would life be like after a cure?  
 
I wouldn't WORRY  anymore that I will go upstairs and not be able to wake Love Bug up in the morning. 

I wouldn't have to listen to Love Bug cry and scream when she is LOW.

I wouldn't have to see her glassy eyes when she is HIGH.

I wouldn't have to POKE her little fingers 8-10 times a day.

I wouldn't have to look at her PUMP as a machine that keeps my baby a live.

I wouldn't feel the need to throw a mommy temper tantrum in the middle of the night when I am so FRUSTRATED I can't see straight.

I wouldn't find test strips all over my house ANYMORE.

I wouldn't have to tell Love Bug she CAN'T eat something because her sugar is to high or low.

I wouldn't have to hear Love Bug say, "I DON'T want to change my site mom, can't we do it tomorrow?"

I would be SHOUTING. (at the top of my lungs)  PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

I would start CRYING uncontrollably.

I would be full of HOPE

I would be giddy with EXCITEMENT

I would be able to SLEEP an entire night for the first time in over a year.

I would be able to walk out of the house with JUST my purse.

I would be able to talk to people about her diagnosis without bursting out in tears of sadness but tears of JOY.

I would be able to hug Love Bug and tell her everything will be okay, and REALLY mean it.

I would be able to BURN all of her diabetes supplies, and I would throw a BIG party to do it!

I would SLEEP, a lot. 

I would be able to CELEBRATE her CURE DAY instead of dreading her diagnosis day every year. 

I would be able to BREATHE  knowing Love Bug will live a full and healthy life without the worries of this horrible disease.

I would SLEEP . (did I mention that before?)

Now, if only the DREAM was a REALITY.

Love Bug's Diabetes Snapshots

Since I haven't really taken any "diabetes" Pictures.  Here are a few of Love Bug up to now...

2 months

At 1 Year

Fall of 2008

One Month her before diagnosis, Celebrating 3rd Birthday

One Week her before diagnosis

Showing off her 1st pump pouch - 6 months after diagnosis

1st JDRF Walk - 6 months after diagnosis and one week after pump start!

And Now, a little over one year after diagnosis

Part of Diabetes Blog Week!

To Carb or not to Carb... so Let's Get Moving! Days 4 and 5

Love Bug loves food! Basically, we haven't changed how we eat since she was diagnosed.  We let her eat what she wants and we bolus her for it.  We try not to give her too many carbs so it doesn't spike her blood sugar. At the same time she is VERY energetic so she needs carbs to keep her going!   She is a big eater, so it would be hard to tell her no. We don't offer too many sweets, I never have anyway. She does eat a lot of vegetables and fruits.

After talking with our nutritionist at her Endocrine appointment today we decided that we should start logging what she eats.  We already log her carbs, insulin given and bg at each meal.  I have never really wrote down everything she eats.  We aren't looking to change her diet, she see what is making her blood sugar spike and was doesn't.  There are somethings we already know.  We would like to be able to look back when she has those high spikes and see if there is a trend with certain foods.  Seriously, I don't need one more thing to keep tract of but I think in the long run Audrey will be better off. 


As far as exercise goes, she is 4 and we don't have an exercise "routine"  Now that is has started warming up here we have been letting her play outside for a hour or two in the afternoon after nap.  Seems to do her good since she is usually running a little high after her nap.  I do try to make a mental note if she has been too quiet or overly active on any given day.  Love Bug is definitely my active child so we don't really have any problems with "exercise".  If only mommy could find time to exercise then all would be right with the word!  Okay, maybe not but I sure would feel better!

Part of Diabetes Blog Week!

A BIG Shout Out to my Biggest Supporters!

Part of Diabetes Blog Week!

You know, when Love Bug was diagnosed I thought that everyone would just jump on board and not be "scared" to take care of her, boy was I wrong. I had to deal with it, why couldn't everyone else?  I was very surprised at who was there to support me and who decided to distance themselves from the situation.  I know some people, at first, thought it would just go away.  It would be something she would outgrow.  I wish that were the case, but it's not.  The reality is, that this is a grueling disease that has taken over my daughters body.  It wears on her and our whole family.

There are certainly days when I still need that little "pick me up".  There are still days when I cry, wondering why?  Why Love Bug? Why our family? Through it all though, I have still had some big supporters, those who have been there for me through the thick and thin and given me moral support that I have needed. The people I know I can call and "vent" too if I need it. They have helped me out in more ways then I can count. I am so grateful for them.

Those of you that have been there, you know who you are and I just want to say Thank You!!

Thank you for the meals and last minute babysitting.
Thank you for answering any diabetes question I may have.
Thank you for being such a great friend and introducing me other D-Moms.
Thank you for giving me a passion for sewing again. 
Thank you for listening, lending a shoulder and being sympathetic.
Thank you for praying for me and encouraging me when I have needed it most.
Thank you for taking the time to educate yourselves about Type 1, and learning how to care for Love Bug. Thank you for helping me with the JDRF Walk.
Thank you for walking for the cure last year.
Thank you for donating to the cause, helping me to reach my goal fundraising goal. You have no idea what that has meant to me (and our family).
Thank you to all my D-Moms out there, those of you I have met and those of you who offer your support when I haven't even "met" you in person.  You have ALL been such blessings in my life and Love Bug's. I am so grateful the Lord has brought you all into my life! 

I have to give a very special shout out to my biggest supporter, by far.  My husband, Tim.  
(that's Tim and Love Bug below)

From day one, he has been there.  Not just because he has to be, but because he wants to be.  He is a great defender of Love Bug.  He protects her like no one else. He has always been involved in her care, Checking in with me during the day to see how she is doing, learning how to give shots and then learning to change infusion sites with her pump. He comes to all the Endocrinologist appointments that he can. He is always asking questions and trying to learn more about the disease.  He is always networking to help me find other D-Moms out there or other Type 1's that I can gleam information from. 

He is always there to encourage me.  He gives me the love and support that I so desperately need some days.  He understands, he is with me all the time, he sees what Love Bug goes through.  He has let me cry on his shoulder so many nights. He gives me "breaks" when I really need them. It's not just the big things he does either, it's a lot of the little things.  I seriously don't know what I would do with out him! 

I never in a million years would have thought something like this in our lives would bring Tim and I closer together, but it has. Our love for each other has deepened so much over the past year it is just simply amazing. I didn't think I could ever love him more then I already did, but I do now. I love you babe! 


I am just so blessed!  Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!!!!

I LOVE the idea!

Diabetes Blog Week! 
I read about the idea over at Karen's Bitter-Sweet Blog  . I am going to participate will you?  Make sure you go over to her blog and comment so she can put you on the participant list.  It will be neat to see all the different posts and how everyone looks at each topic differently!

Here is the information from Karen's Blog:

Participation is easy.  Below I've listed seven blog topics for next week - just in case you want to start drafting your posts in advance.  Use these topics as a starting point for your post each day and see where it takes you.  Write as much or as little as you like.  There are no right or wrong answers - just read over the topic and start blogging!  I've also included a wild card topic - use that if you find a day when you just can't think of anything to write about the chosen topic.

Monday 5/10 - A day in the life . . . with diabetes. Take us through a quick rundown of an average day and all the ways in which diabetes touches it. Blood tests, site changes, high and low blood sugars, meal planning, anything that comes along. This can be a log of an actual day, or a fictional compilation of pieces from many days.

Tuesday 5/11 – Making the low go. Tell us about your favorite way to treat a low. Juice? Glucose tabs? Secret candy stash? What’s your favorite thing to indulge in when you are low? What do you find brings your blood sugar up fast without spiking it too high?

Wednesday 5/12 – Your Biggest Supporter. Sure, our diabetes care is ultimately up to us and us alone. But it’s important to have someone around to encourage you, cheer you, and even help you when you need it. Today it’s time to gush and brag about your biggest supporter. Is it your spouse or significant other? Your best friend, sibling, parent or child? Maybe it’s your endo or a great CDE? Or perhaps it’s another member of the D-OC who is always there for you? Go ahead, tell them just how much they mean to you!

Thursday 5/13 - To carb or not to carb. Today let’s blog about what we eat. And perhaps what we don’t eat. Some believe a low carb diet is important in diabetes management, while others believe carbs are fine as long as they are counted and bolused for. Which side of the fence do you fall on? What kind of things do you eat for meals and snacks? What foods do you deem bolus-worthy? What other foodie wisdom would you like to share?

Friday 5/14 - Let's get moving. Exercise . . . love it or hate it? Do you have a regular exercise routine? Or do you have trouble finding your exercise motivation? How do you manage your insulin and food to avoid bottoming out during your workout? Today is the day to tell us all about your exercise habits, or lack thereof.

Saturday 5/15 - Diabetes snapshots. Inspired by the Diabetes 365 project, let’s snap a few d-related pictures to share today. Post as many or as few as you’d like. Be creative! Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures. Or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.

Sunday 5/16 - Dream a little dream - life after a cure. To wrap up Diabetes Blog Week, let’s pretend a cure has been found. We are all given a tiny little pill to swallow and *poof* our pancreases are back in working order. No side effects. No more insulin resistance. No more diabetes. Tell us what your life is now like. Or take us through your first day celebrating life without the Big D. Blog about how you imagine you would feel if you no longer were a Person With Diabetes.

Wild card - Blood Sugar Nirvana or Moronic Moment.  (inspired by the lovely Kelly Kunik) Blog about the time you ate a meal that tends to spike you to the moon, but your perfectly calculated and timed bolus kept your blood sugar happy. Or tell us about that time your brain had a little diabetes-blip and you did something you think is “stupid”. (Because chances are, we’ve done it too!!) Go ahead, brag about your triumph or commiserate about your d-blooper. 

The key to making Diabetes Blog Week a success is YOU!!  Together we can make Diabetes Blog Week a success!