Welcome to our Saturday Night Video Premiere of the 2011 We CARA Lot Walk Team Video
ENJOY!!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Our 2011 We CARA Lot Walk Video
This has been one of the MANY things that I have been up to these last few days.
Welcome to our Saturday Night Video Premiere of the 2011 We CARA Lot Walk Team Video
ENJOY!!
Welcome to our Saturday Night Video Premiere of the 2011 We CARA Lot Walk Team Video
ENJOY!!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Chickens and Organs...It's A Bust!
Well all I can say is that was a BUST!!
Life has gotten ahead of me and HAWMC took a back seat in order for me to keep my sanity. It is just the way it works around here. Sometimes I just can't keep up and things need to be dropped.
I'm only human!! even though I'm working as an organ and I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off...YUCK. What a funny saying that is, were do we come up with these things?
Anyways today we meet with the "pump lady" and check out the Animas Ping.
And I really liked it, Cara just smiled the WHOLE TIME!! Half was through our meeting the "pump lady" said to her "you know I'm not a rock star or anything" because Cara was just in awe of this women and her pumps.
We LOVED the remote/meter combo...LOVE LOVE LOVE. Cara is on the go go go all the time time time and I really just think this would be great for us and her. I know that she must be within 10 feet of the remote to bolus but it is still great that I don't need to mess around with her and the pump to bolus and work the pump.
We like the waterproof option as well. and YES to all the waterproof haters out there who say that a pump can't be 100% waterproof blah blah blah...I still like it!!
and Cara LOVES every thing about it that a 5 year old little girl would love. She loved the colours and the covers and the vibration that the pump made when bolusing. She just thought it was the coolest thing.
So now we wait until May 3rd to meet the "pump guy" for Medtronic. and then the big decision!!
Life has gotten ahead of me and HAWMC took a back seat in order for me to keep my sanity. It is just the way it works around here. Sometimes I just can't keep up and things need to be dropped.
I'm only human!! even though I'm working as an organ and I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off...YUCK. What a funny saying that is, were do we come up with these things?
Anyways today we meet with the "pump lady" and check out the Animas Ping.
And I really liked it, Cara just smiled the WHOLE TIME!! Half was through our meeting the "pump lady" said to her "you know I'm not a rock star or anything" because Cara was just in awe of this women and her pumps.
We LOVED the remote/meter combo...LOVE LOVE LOVE. Cara is on the go go go all the time time time and I really just think this would be great for us and her. I know that she must be within 10 feet of the remote to bolus but it is still great that I don't need to mess around with her and the pump to bolus and work the pump.
We like the waterproof option as well. and YES to all the waterproof haters out there who say that a pump can't be 100% waterproof blah blah blah...I still like it!!
and Cara LOVES every thing about it that a 5 year old little girl would love. She loved the colours and the covers and the vibration that the pump made when bolusing. She just thought it was the coolest thing.
So now we wait until May 3rd to meet the "pump guy" for Medtronic. and then the big decision!!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Short & Sweet...Well Kinda!
Day 15 of HAWMC Two sentence story. Beginning, Middle, and End. Today’s prompt is to do this very thing – but cut it down. Simplify! Do the whole beginning, middle, end in just two sentences.
With Easter near, the dreaded chocolate covered bunnies and gummy Easter eggs are quickly on their way and today they made their way to Cara's class for a hoptastic Easter egg hunt. After coming home she was not able to partake in the sugary spoils of her hunt, unfortunately for Cara the blood sugar gods were not looking down on her; however that did not stop her from going threw each and everyone of her treasures and sharing them with all of her siblings with a great big smile.
WOW I think I may have done it and that was tough!!
I had to leave out how proud I was of her that there was no tears, no, I hate this, I hate that, no, please please please mom!! I took her blood sugar, I told her the number (18mmols, they had unplanned cupcakes for snack at school too) and she just said "awwww, OK" and started flipping through the candy, checking each and everyone out almost to make a mental note of which ones she was going to eat first and without any hesitation she shared her candy with all the kids, I did not even have to ask her. I really can't believe what just happened!!
I wanted to say it is not only that Cara has type 1 diabetes and that we are on MDI that makes me hate candy in my house. I hate the fighting, the crying, the arguing that it causes when one kid comes home with a ton of it and the rest have none. I hate the begging and the pleading that happens when candy is in the house from all my kids. It's not pretty, it's a hassle and I HATE IT! I wish schools would just STOP with all this DAMN candy!!
I also wanted to say that as soon as we start pumping I will not have to dread Easter egg hunts, cupcake birthday surprises at school, Christmas parties, Halloween and birthday parties as much. We are meeting with the pump reps that Cara affectionately calls "the pump guy" at the end of this month and we just can't wait!
Speaking of pumping, something that would really help us out once we start pumping is something I hope to win over at The Princess and The Pump. Go check it out this Pump-Tastic Sugar Bolus...if you want?
OK so not exactly 2 sentences :)
With Easter near, the dreaded chocolate covered bunnies and gummy Easter eggs are quickly on their way and today they made their way to Cara's class for a hoptastic Easter egg hunt. After coming home she was not able to partake in the sugary spoils of her hunt, unfortunately for Cara the blood sugar gods were not looking down on her; however that did not stop her from going threw each and everyone of her treasures and sharing them with all of her siblings with a great big smile.
WOW I think I may have done it and that was tough!!
I had to leave out how proud I was of her that there was no tears, no, I hate this, I hate that, no, please please please mom!! I took her blood sugar, I told her the number (18mmols, they had unplanned cupcakes for snack at school too) and she just said "awwww, OK" and started flipping through the candy, checking each and everyone out almost to make a mental note of which ones she was going to eat first and without any hesitation she shared her candy with all the kids, I did not even have to ask her. I really can't believe what just happened!!
I wanted to say it is not only that Cara has type 1 diabetes and that we are on MDI that makes me hate candy in my house. I hate the fighting, the crying, the arguing that it causes when one kid comes home with a ton of it and the rest have none. I hate the begging and the pleading that happens when candy is in the house from all my kids. It's not pretty, it's a hassle and I HATE IT! I wish schools would just STOP with all this DAMN candy!!
I also wanted to say that as soon as we start pumping I will not have to dread Easter egg hunts, cupcake birthday surprises at school, Christmas parties, Halloween and birthday parties as much. We are meeting with the pump reps that Cara affectionately calls "the pump guy" at the end of this month and we just can't wait!
Speaking of pumping, something that would really help us out once we start pumping is something I hope to win over at The Princess and The Pump. Go check it out this Pump-Tastic Sugar Bolus...if you want?
OK so not exactly 2 sentences :)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Everything BUT The Truth
HAWMC day #14 misconception poem. Write a poem using lies about your disease :) You all know I love poems.
type 1 diabetes it's really not that big of deal,
maybe you should have thought about this and made her a healthier meal!
a bunch of pills, some healthy eating, a little exercise can cure that "disease" right up
but no more cookies and nothing with sugar, what are you doing? don't give her that lollop!
you will just have to deal with diabetes for only a few more years
and once she grows out of it she will be just like her healthy peers.
I am smart with facts thanks to the wonderful diabetes knowledge I get from the media
and I have learned there is no need for walks and fundraisers because a cure is here, I'm telling ya!
so take you sob stories, your school troubles, stories of sleepless nights, I truly don't want to know
because in life there are a hell of a lot worse things that can happen to a child then when blood sugar goes low
type 1 diabetes it's really not that big of deal,
maybe you should have thought about this and made her a healthier meal!
a bunch of pills, some healthy eating, a little exercise can cure that "disease" right up
but no more cookies and nothing with sugar, what are you doing? don't give her that lollop!
you will just have to deal with diabetes for only a few more years
and once she grows out of it she will be just like her healthy peers.
I am smart with facts thanks to the wonderful diabetes knowledge I get from the media
and I have learned there is no need for walks and fundraisers because a cure is here, I'm telling ya!
so take you sob stories, your school troubles, stories of sleepless nights, I truly don't want to know
because in life there are a hell of a lot worse things that can happen to a child then when blood sugar goes low
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Mere Household Events
Our days are made up of tiny, seemingly non important decisions and actions.
Go left or turn right, each decision takes us in a new and unknown direction.
Fate...whatever you will, there are no little decision in life.
Our daily actions and reactions are decided usually in an instant, without much thought, sometimes without any thought at all. Mere household events are anything but, my house is full of growing, thoughtful, learning, listening, sponge like minded little people and every single action that I make leaves a mark on them. I am molding them in my actions, my words and my decisions.
However in my daily life there is no one more dependent on my every decision and action then Cara. We D'rents are so hard on ourselves when it comes to A1c's, blood sugar numbers, endo appointments, highs and lows that totally come out of no where, with NO ONE IS TO BLAME however we still blame ourselves because our actions, our every decision impacts someone else. This is not our lives we are changing with a miss step from a miss calculation of carbs or insulin or an unplanned sleep-fillled night. We do not want to "fail" these children. These children's lives are literally in our insulin filled syringe wheeling hands.
One small miss step, one left turn when you are meant to go right could have a huge impact not only on ourselves but for everyone we are responsible for.
So in my life there is no such things as mere household events, and that is very stressful!
HAWMC day 13, Open a book to any page and the words your read is your title. Whatever you found in the book is your blog post diving-board – use it to stand up on, then dive in from. Take 15-20 minutes (or less) and write. My book Poe's Masterpieces of Mystery
On A Side Note: while I was in the middle of writing this post a screeching scream came pouring down the stairs calling for me. It was Kirstin who had sprayed tile cleaner into her eyes. Tile cleaner that I had left out on the bathroom counter, the kids bathroom counter. Every small, what seems to be mere action in this house has the potential of a huge impact on others.
P.S. we flushed out her eye and she seems to be feeling better...thank goodness!!
Now go check out this weeks sugar bolus go to Life is Like a Box of Chocolates Blog
Go left or turn right, each decision takes us in a new and unknown direction.
Fate...whatever you will, there are no little decision in life.
Our daily actions and reactions are decided usually in an instant, without much thought, sometimes without any thought at all. Mere household events are anything but, my house is full of growing, thoughtful, learning, listening, sponge like minded little people and every single action that I make leaves a mark on them. I am molding them in my actions, my words and my decisions.
However in my daily life there is no one more dependent on my every decision and action then Cara. We D'rents are so hard on ourselves when it comes to A1c's, blood sugar numbers, endo appointments, highs and lows that totally come out of no where, with NO ONE IS TO BLAME however we still blame ourselves because our actions, our every decision impacts someone else. This is not our lives we are changing with a miss step from a miss calculation of carbs or insulin or an unplanned sleep-fillled night. We do not want to "fail" these children. These children's lives are literally in our insulin filled syringe wheeling hands.
One small miss step, one left turn when you are meant to go right could have a huge impact not only on ourselves but for everyone we are responsible for.
So in my life there is no such things as mere household events, and that is very stressful!
HAWMC day 13, Open a book to any page and the words your read is your title. Whatever you found in the book is your blog post diving-board – use it to stand up on, then dive in from. Take 15-20 minutes (or less) and write. My book Poe's Masterpieces of Mystery
On A Side Note: while I was in the middle of writing this post a screeching scream came pouring down the stairs calling for me. It was Kirstin who had sprayed tile cleaner into her eyes. Tile cleaner that I had left out on the bathroom counter, the kids bathroom counter. Every small, what seems to be mere action in this house has the potential of a huge impact on others.
P.S. we flushed out her eye and she seems to be feeling better...thank goodness!!
Now go check out this weeks sugar bolus go to Life is Like a Box of Chocolates Blog
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Elephant In The Room
Day 12 and I'm back. Yesterday was a crazy busy day and I'm very thankful I used my "get out of jail card" for that day. I had a meeting with a hostess, a JDRF support group meeting about Registered Disability Saving Plan (RDSP) P.S. if you live in Ontario this seems like a wonderful thing to look into for you or your child with type 1 diabetes. If you would like some information send me an email and I can forward your information to the "RDSP man" I was running a little late to the meeting so I missed a lot however my mother is going to explain it to me in plain English, Nicole style hopefully soon, two phone calls were made and appointments booked to meet the "pump guy", one is a female soooo I hope she is not offended, I started planning a fundraiser for this weekend for The We CARA Lot Walk Team and the JDRF...it was a crazy day to say the least.
So today for HAWMC we need to find a picture or photograph online that inspires you in some way and free write about it. It may inspire you positively or negatively. Give yourself exactly 15 minutes to write without stopping.
I want my children to feel that safe when they are with me, I want them to know that I will not let anything cause them harm to the very best of my ability, which I believe is every mothers duty...to love and protect their children. However sometimes there is just nothing that a mother can do but sit by, support and offer a hug and a hope that the pain and the hurt will be over fast.
So today for HAWMC we need to find a picture or photograph online that inspires you in some way and free write about it. It may inspire you positively or negatively. Give yourself exactly 15 minutes to write without stopping.
My very favorite animal for a very long time have been the elephant. There is just something about them, they are beautiful yet tough, they are immense creatures yet they walk without making a sound (so I'm told). They love and they morn and they protect and they are strong, they are connected to each other and nothing can break that bond. The elephant herd is made up of mothers and their babies and the mothers RULE!
For all these reasons and many more I love these animals but the one thing that I love the most is they protect. Nothing comes between a mother and her baby, nothing comes between the herd! That baby elephant in the picture knows that his or her mom will be there and will stop anything that has the potential of causing harm to her baby. That little elephant has total confidence that his mom will do anything in her power to keep him or her safe, that mom has his or her back. There is nothing in nature that threatens or causes harm to the elephants, the only thing destroying these wonderful animals are human.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Busy With Phone Calls
Today, my list is long of things that I need to get done therefore I am taking my one allowed day off of HAWMC.
I know that I'm going to kick myself for doing this only 11 days into HAWMC because I have many more days to go BUT today it is!!
On a side note...the phone calls have been made to Medtronic and Animas Canada now just waiting to make an appointment and check out our options. Also I'm going to try and make a call to Omnipod Canada, I'm not sure if they are up and running just yet...I'm going to check it out! I want to make sure I look at all Cara's options.
I'm very excited and Cara will be very happy to know that the "pump guy" has been called!
I know that I'm going to kick myself for doing this only 11 days into HAWMC because I have many more days to go BUT today it is!!
On a side note...the phone calls have been made to Medtronic and Animas Canada now just waiting to make an appointment and check out our options. Also I'm going to try and make a call to Omnipod Canada, I'm not sure if they are up and running just yet...I'm going to check it out! I want to make sure I look at all Cara's options.
I'm very excited and Cara will be very happy to know that the "pump guy" has been called!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Shhhh, there is something I need to tell you!
Today is day 10 of HAWMC and today I have a secret to tell you...well if you read this BLOG you probably already know it, but I'm still going to tell you anyways.
If you want to make this fun take a second and think, what could nicole's little secret be?
Day 10, Post Secret. You know the beloved PostSecret blog? Today’s prompt is to write down a secret that …really isn’t a secret.
Ok so you think you know what I'm about to say right?
well here it is...
That's right, I HATE the word diabetes almost as much as I HATE the disease it refers to. Now, I know that may not be a big secret to some of you but I just needed to get that out.
I think that the term diabetes causes more confusion and spreads more misconception about type 1, type 1.5 and type 2 diabetes. Did you notice I did not mention gestational diabetes? People USUALLY don't lump gestational diabetes into the term diabetes. The actual full and right name is used and therefore actual facts are shared, listened to and understood.
I think anytime that you don't clearly define or use the proper full name of a disease or any topic that you are discussing for that matter, you are going to cause people to assume things and facts fly right out the window.
Here are some other post that I have blogged about this topic:
REVAMP, RENAME OR STAY THE SAME...WHAT TO DO ABOUT TYPE 1 DIABETES
WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE NAME DROPPING
If you want to make this fun take a second and think, what could nicole's little secret be?
Day 10, Post Secret. You know the beloved PostSecret blog? Today’s prompt is to write down a secret that …really isn’t a secret.
Ok so you think you know what I'm about to say right?
well here it is...
I
HATE
THE
WORD
DIABETES!!
That's right, I HATE the word diabetes almost as much as I HATE the disease it refers to. Now, I know that may not be a big secret to some of you but I just needed to get that out.
I think that the term diabetes causes more confusion and spreads more misconception about type 1, type 1.5 and type 2 diabetes. Did you notice I did not mention gestational diabetes? People USUALLY don't lump gestational diabetes into the term diabetes. The actual full and right name is used and therefore actual facts are shared, listened to and understood.
I think anytime that you don't clearly define or use the proper full name of a disease or any topic that you are discussing for that matter, you are going to cause people to assume things and facts fly right out the window.
Here are some other post that I have blogged about this topic:
REVAMP, RENAME OR STAY THE SAME...WHAT TO DO ABOUT TYPE 1 DIABETES
WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE NAME DROPPING
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Insulin, Accessible Necessity OR An Unattainable Luxury
Today is a free day on HAWMC, that means I'm free to talk to you about whatever the heck I want.
Sooooo, here we go...
As much as I complain and whine and cry about type 1 diabetes and how our life has changed, our daily challenges and the future bumps in the road that we may come upon, I AM THANKFUL!
I am thankful, that my daughter is alive,
I am thankful that there is insulin to keep my daughter alive,
I am thankful that I don't have to make a choice between buying insulin for Cara or food for my family.
I am thankful we live in a country that believes insulin is a necessity and not a luxury.
Many families around the world are not this lucky, they do not have this luxury and this breaks my heart.
BUT there is a way that WE can help please click on the link for more details Life for a Child Candy Hearts Collection
Candy Hearts has partnered with several businesses and is proud to present to you the Candy Hearts Collection of blue circle merchandise. These artisans have used their time, talents, and resources to create a practical line of products that I am certain you will enjoy. Some of these vendors do not have a direct connection to T1D, yet they recognize the global crisis that exists, and want to be a part of the solution.
Please take sometime to check out this amazing campaign!
In addition to making an investment in the Candy Hearts Collection, you can also make a direct donation. Donations are accepted on behalf of Life For A Child through HOPE Worldwide. (For more information about this partnership, click HERE.)
The donation button below will link you a page where you can make the contribution amount of your choosing in support of Life For A Child .
All contributions are U.S. tax deductible. For information about tax deductibility in other countries, click HERE.
Please take a few minutes, purchase some amazing products or make a donation and help make insulin an accessible necessity and not a unattainable luxury for families around the world.
THANK YOU!
Sooooo, here we go...
As much as I complain and whine and cry about type 1 diabetes and how our life has changed, our daily challenges and the future bumps in the road that we may come upon, I AM THANKFUL!
I am thankful, that my daughter is alive,
I am thankful that there is insulin to keep my daughter alive,
I am thankful that I don't have to make a choice between buying insulin for Cara or food for my family.
I am thankful we live in a country that believes insulin is a necessity and not a luxury.
Many families around the world are not this lucky, they do not have this luxury and this breaks my heart.
It is estimated that there are 100,000 children with type 1 diabetes around the world who are in need of assistance to access insulin. Without insulin, these children will die within 1 week.
Candy Hearts has partnered with several businesses and is proud to present to you the Candy Hearts Collection of blue circle merchandise. These artisans have used their time, talents, and resources to create a practical line of products that I am certain you will enjoy. Some of these vendors do not have a direct connection to T1D, yet they recognize the global crisis that exists, and want to be a part of the solution.
Proceeds from this campaign will provide insulin and supplies to
children in need around the world:
Please take sometime to check out this amazing campaign!
In addition to making an investment in the Candy Hearts Collection, you can also make a direct donation. Donations are accepted on behalf of Life For A Child through HOPE Worldwide. (For more information about this partnership, click HERE.)
The donation button below will link you a page where you can make the contribution amount of your choosing in support of Life For A Child .
All contributions are U.S. tax deductible. For information about tax deductibility in other countries, click HERE.
Please take a few minutes, purchase some amazing products or make a donation and help make insulin an accessible necessity and not a unattainable luxury for families around the world.
THANK YOU!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Who Needs It Anyway?
Day 8....Write a poem where every line is a health question. Today’s prompt is to write a 5-10 poem where every line is a question.
How many hours of sleep do mom's need in a night?
Is it 6 hours or 8 hours? that sounds just about right,
What happens to a person who does not get a good night sleep?
What happens to ones health, ones mind when you can not see the sheep?
What happens when your can't listen to your natural clock?
I wonder if it's dangerous? but I may learn to sleep walk!
I bet you thought this was going to be type 1 related...ha tricked ya! and you probably guessed it, I'm a little tried and I'm still a little sick.
How many hours of sleep do mom's need in a night?
Is it 6 hours or 8 hours? that sounds just about right,
What happens to a person who does not get a good night sleep?
What happens to ones health, ones mind when you can not see the sheep?
What happens when your can't listen to your natural clock?
I wonder if it's dangerous? but I may learn to sleep walk!
I bet you thought this was going to be type 1 related...ha tricked ya! and you probably guessed it, I'm a little tried and I'm still a little sick.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Hello Type 1 Are You There?
Day 7 of Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge: and we are leaving some messages!
Leave your health a text or voicemail. Time to check in with your health! You call, ready to talk, but it turns out that your health isn’t exactly responsive and is probably screening your call. No matter – leave your health a voicemail.
Type 1 diabetes: You have reached type 1 diabetes, I can't answer the phone right now I'm a little busy causing hell...leave a message! PEEEEEEEEP
ME: Yes, hello it's me again Nicole, Cara's mom/pancreas, I'm really just calling to ask what the hell is going on? I'm really just at a loss? So if you could, give me a call back...maybe we can chat, come up with a game plan that will work for the 3 of us. That would be great!! You know where to find me!! Oh and ya, like always if you just left, if you just went away and NEVER came back it wouldn't hurt my feelings!!
Leave your health a text or voicemail. Time to check in with your health! You call, ready to talk, but it turns out that your health isn’t exactly responsive and is probably screening your call. No matter – leave your health a voicemail.
Type 1 diabetes: You have reached type 1 diabetes, I can't answer the phone right now I'm a little busy causing hell...leave a message! PEEEEEEEEP
ME: Yes, hello it's me again Nicole, Cara's mom/pancreas, I'm really just calling to ask what the hell is going on? I'm really just at a loss? So if you could, give me a call back...maybe we can chat, come up with a game plan that will work for the 3 of us. That would be great!! You know where to find me!! Oh and ya, like always if you just left, if you just went away and NEVER came back it wouldn't hurt my feelings!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Why I BLOG
I write about my health because...the prompt for HAWMC day 6.
Well first off I should start by saying that I don't write about my health at all, I write about my daughter's. The funny thing is I'm not sure if it was me who had type 1 diabetes I would still be writing? I really don't know what gave me the idea to start this here blog, I felt drawn to do something, I felt alone, and I felt I had something to gain and something to give through blogging.
So I write about my daughters health because I wanted to be surrounded by people who "GET IT". Type 1 diabetes can be very frustrating, it is very confusing and very misunderstood. It is a head banging against the wall, blood boiling disease that can cause you to feel completely and utterly alone when being completely and lovingly surrounded by people who just don't get it. I'm so thankful for all the people who try their hardest to understand what it is we do every day, I'm thankful that you don't need to do what we do, I thankful for your love and support BUT it is so nice to talk to people who know type 1 and who are living it.
I want to be connected, I wanted to be in the KNOW, I like being on team DOC. I like to read and share in people's experiences with type 1 diabetes and learn from mistakes and celebrate in their victory's.
I want to educate people, I want people to know that Cara did not eat too much sugar to "catch" type 1. I want people to know you don't "catch" T1. I want people to know that there is no cure for Cara, healthy eating or a little exercise is not going to change a thing. I want people to understand type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease!
I write because I want people to know what our life is like
I write because I want people to understand what our life is like
I write because I want people to take this knowledge and use it for good, use it to make change.
I write because I want to stop the media from doing this
Please read wonderful post written by Texting My Pancreas, Diabetesaliciousness and The Princess and The Pump. about how you can be heard and voice your opinions and make change in the media.
I write because I want Cara to be safe, live long and have the same rights as everyone else.
I write because I LOVE my family in the DOC,
but most importantly I write because it makes me happy.
BTW have you check out this weeks sugar bolus? Don't know what a sugar bolus is? Well check it out...go to Sweet to the Soul written by Heather and enter to win!! See how fun the DOC is free stuff given away every week...why wouldn't you want to be surrounded by these people!!
Well first off I should start by saying that I don't write about my health at all, I write about my daughter's. The funny thing is I'm not sure if it was me who had type 1 diabetes I would still be writing? I really don't know what gave me the idea to start this here blog, I felt drawn to do something, I felt alone, and I felt I had something to gain and something to give through blogging.
So I write about my daughters health because I wanted to be surrounded by people who "GET IT". Type 1 diabetes can be very frustrating, it is very confusing and very misunderstood. It is a head banging against the wall, blood boiling disease that can cause you to feel completely and utterly alone when being completely and lovingly surrounded by people who just don't get it. I'm so thankful for all the people who try their hardest to understand what it is we do every day, I'm thankful that you don't need to do what we do, I thankful for your love and support BUT it is so nice to talk to people who know type 1 and who are living it.
I want to be connected, I wanted to be in the KNOW, I like being on team DOC. I like to read and share in people's experiences with type 1 diabetes and learn from mistakes and celebrate in their victory's.
I want to educate people, I want people to know that Cara did not eat too much sugar to "catch" type 1. I want people to know you don't "catch" T1. I want people to know that there is no cure for Cara, healthy eating or a little exercise is not going to change a thing. I want people to understand type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease!
I write because I want people to know what our life is like
I write because I want people to understand what our life is like
I write because I want people to take this knowledge and use it for good, use it to make change.
I write because I want to stop the media from doing this
Please read wonderful post written by Texting My Pancreas, Diabetesaliciousness and The Princess and The Pump. about how you can be heard and voice your opinions and make change in the media.
I write because I want Cara to be safe, live long and have the same rights as everyone else.
I write because I LOVE my family in the DOC,
but most importantly I write because it makes me happy.
BTW have you check out this weeks sugar bolus? Don't know what a sugar bolus is? Well check it out...go to Sweet to the Soul written by Heather and enter to win!! See how fun the DOC is free stuff given away every week...why wouldn't you want to be surrounded by these people!!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
A Pumping Haiku...
Today's prompt for day 5 of Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge is to write a Haiku poems about your health condition.
A Haiku for those who don't remember (me included) is a poem written with 5 syllables for the first line, 7 syllables in the second and 5 syllables in the third line.
OK and there you go, I think that is my Haiku about how I have managed to put off calling and making appointment's to meet the "pump man". Cara asks me everyday did you call the pump man yet? I keep on telling her yes I'm just waiting for a call back...that is a lie, I have not yet called!
WHY? I'm not sure? I know we are ready, I know they are wonderful, maybe I want to wait and see what is new to come out soon, I know that we will be so happy when we make the switch but for some reason the calls have not been made yet.
A Haiku for those who don't remember (me included) is a poem written with 5 syllables for the first line, 7 syllables in the second and 5 syllables in the third line.
A pump is her wish,
for type 1 diabetes
mom needs to make calls
OK and there you go, I think that is my Haiku about how I have managed to put off calling and making appointment's to meet the "pump man". Cara asks me everyday did you call the pump man yet? I keep on telling her yes I'm just waiting for a call back...that is a lie, I have not yet called!
WHY? I'm not sure? I know we are ready, I know they are wonderful, maybe I want to wait and see what is new to come out soon, I know that we will be so happy when we make the switch but for some reason the calls have not been made yet.
Ambitious Activist Challenge Add-on: Make your haiku into a tanka. A tanka is a haiku (5-7-5) with two extra lines (7-7). The last two lines, called the shimo-no-ku, can be used to wrap up your poem a bit more succinctly.
A pump is her wish,
for type 1 diabetes
mom needs to make calls
So today is the big day,
the "pump man" will get a call
Monday, April 4, 2011
Get Your Mouse Ears HERE... HAWMC
Today is day 4 of Health Activist Writing Month and the prompt for today is:
Ludicrous headline or cure:
What’s the most absurd thing you’ve heard about your condition? Whether it’s a cure you’re clearly supposed to try or a headline you’ve come across? Or, as your creativity continues to lead you in HAWMC – make up your own!
This is a very hard topic for me to write about, I'm not sure if it's because of the increasingly worse head cold that I'm suffering from or the 3 screaming kids that all want to play with the 1 toy out of a million toy's in their toy room or because of the dog that for some reason will not stop braking out the window. However I'm pretty sure it is from the over load of articles and headlines spouting off information about cured type 1 mice every 3 months or parents that have tried to pray their child to health and without insulin the child passes away or the never ending articles telling people that a little exercise some healthy eating maybe even a dash of some raw vegan food thrown in there will "cure" my daughter.
So if we put that all together I guess my absurd headline would read:
Mother Of Child With Type 1 Finds The "Cure":
After 2 years of close mindedness and listening to professional doctors that were all very well educated in type 1 diabetes this mother of 20 decided to open her mind and try to wean her daughter off insulin taking notes from the famed actress Hallie Berry as she once did in search for the "cure". The first step of this amazing crack headed idea was to stop at the dollar store and purchased a fuzzy, cute mouse eared bandanna, some cute whiskers and a pink nose and a wonderful long gray tail. This mother then constructed a giant mouse running wheel with a giant dream catcher in the back to utilize the power of dreams and wishes. Lovingly she forced her child to run on the wheel for 3 hours a day (3 was the mothers favorite number) while wearing the mouse costume and ingesting nothing but raw vegan food with a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkle of moss that grew under a tree in the wild Amazon. All of this and a little bit of pixie dust this mother was successful in tricking the diabetes into believing her child was a mouse that received a lot of exercise and ate an amazingly healthy diet and she was cured.
With a little bit of magic and combining all the absurd headline this mother read she found a cure for diabetes, unfortunately for the rest of you T1's, once the pharmaceutical companies heard of this "cure" they purchased all rights and now as we speak, fuzzy, cute mouse eared bandanna's are being pulled off dollar store shelves everywhere through out the world.
Next question from HAWMC: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of “cures” and incorrect information – do you have a go-to plan-of-attack for dealing with these in your community or blog?
When the letter writing companions and phone calls don't stop the ignorance a little humor is sometimes the only way we can deal with the absurdity and ignorance that people have for type 1 diabetes. Joanne over at Death of a Pancreas made this great and very funny video Check it out!! What Not To Say:
Ludicrous headline or cure:
What’s the most absurd thing you’ve heard about your condition? Whether it’s a cure you’re clearly supposed to try or a headline you’ve come across? Or, as your creativity continues to lead you in HAWMC – make up your own!
This is a very hard topic for me to write about, I'm not sure if it's because of the increasingly worse head cold that I'm suffering from or the 3 screaming kids that all want to play with the 1 toy out of a million toy's in their toy room or because of the dog that for some reason will not stop braking out the window. However I'm pretty sure it is from the over load of articles and headlines spouting off information about cured type 1 mice every 3 months or parents that have tried to pray their child to health and without insulin the child passes away or the never ending articles telling people that a little exercise some healthy eating maybe even a dash of some raw vegan food thrown in there will "cure" my daughter.
So if we put that all together I guess my absurd headline would read:
Mother Of Child With Type 1 Finds The "Cure":
After 2 years of close mindedness and listening to professional doctors that were all very well educated in type 1 diabetes this mother of 20 decided to open her mind and try to wean her daughter off insulin taking notes from the famed actress Hallie Berry as she once did in search for the "cure". The first step of this amazing crack headed idea was to stop at the dollar store and purchased a fuzzy, cute mouse eared bandanna, some cute whiskers and a pink nose and a wonderful long gray tail. This mother then constructed a giant mouse running wheel with a giant dream catcher in the back to utilize the power of dreams and wishes. Lovingly she forced her child to run on the wheel for 3 hours a day (3 was the mothers favorite number) while wearing the mouse costume and ingesting nothing but raw vegan food with a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkle of moss that grew under a tree in the wild Amazon. All of this and a little bit of pixie dust this mother was successful in tricking the diabetes into believing her child was a mouse that received a lot of exercise and ate an amazingly healthy diet and she was cured.
With a little bit of magic and combining all the absurd headline this mother read she found a cure for diabetes, unfortunately for the rest of you T1's, once the pharmaceutical companies heard of this "cure" they purchased all rights and now as we speak, fuzzy, cute mouse eared bandanna's are being pulled off dollar store shelves everywhere through out the world.
Next question from HAWMC: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of “cures” and incorrect information – do you have a go-to plan-of-attack for dealing with these in your community or blog?
When the letter writing companions and phone calls don't stop the ignorance a little humor is sometimes the only way we can deal with the absurdity and ignorance that people have for type 1 diabetes. Joanne over at Death of a Pancreas made this great and very funny video Check it out!! What Not To Say:
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Does The Colour Of Your Clothes Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Today is day 3 of HAWC and the challenge is to write your own yahoo questions about your condition/disease and then answer it.
I have spent a lot of time on my blog trying to bring awareness to type 1 diabetes and have tried to stop misconceptions by educating but a little humor is always fun....RIGHT?
So I thought I would ask an off the wall question about an aspect of type 1 that drives me crazy, blood sugar numbers and the "causes" of highs and lows. This I can NEVER figure out for Cara, we are up and we are down, what causes a low one day will causes a high another day, frustrations does not even begin to explain my feelings when it comes to this. Then I will answer it with a little humor and of course in a very mother bear kinda way answer it correctly.
Question: My name is Lucy, I work with a woman who has type 1 diabetes and it always seems on days she wears black she is always going low. So my question is does the colour of the clothes a type 1 wears affect their blood sugar?
False Answer: Thank you Lucy for your question and a wonderful one at that. You may be surprised to hear but yes there has been a few studies that have made a correlation between the colour of your clothing to your blood sugar number. These studies, though small and limited have suggested that the colour clothing a person with type 1 diabetes is wearing can have a huge affect on the bodies ability to absorb insulin and therefore affect ones blood sugar.
Their findings found that yellow (or very bright) articles of clothing cause the type 1 wearer to run high all day, where as black (or dark) articles of clothing caused the type 1 wearer to run low for the day. Now, and this is where it gets a little tricky, in the case the wearer is wearing black under garments (panties and or bras) with a yellow shirt or pants findings were inconclusive. Also findings found that the colour of the socks seem to hold no value. Therefore nudes and neutral tans are recommended to be worn by all those with type 1 diabetes to ensure a balanced and "stable" blood sugar.
Thank you for your question,
Dr B.S. Footloop
On a more true/serious note, today I am the mother of a 14 year old...I think I want to go back to bed! Today is Kailyn's birthday!! Happy Birthday Kay!
I have spent a lot of time on my blog trying to bring awareness to type 1 diabetes and have tried to stop misconceptions by educating but a little humor is always fun....RIGHT?
So I thought I would ask an off the wall question about an aspect of type 1 that drives me crazy, blood sugar numbers and the "causes" of highs and lows. This I can NEVER figure out for Cara, we are up and we are down, what causes a low one day will causes a high another day, frustrations does not even begin to explain my feelings when it comes to this. Then I will answer it with a little humor and of course in a very mother bear kinda way answer it correctly.
Question: My name is Lucy, I work with a woman who has type 1 diabetes and it always seems on days she wears black she is always going low. So my question is does the colour of the clothes a type 1 wears affect their blood sugar?
False Answer: Thank you Lucy for your question and a wonderful one at that. You may be surprised to hear but yes there has been a few studies that have made a correlation between the colour of your clothing to your blood sugar number. These studies, though small and limited have suggested that the colour clothing a person with type 1 diabetes is wearing can have a huge affect on the bodies ability to absorb insulin and therefore affect ones blood sugar.
Their findings found that yellow (or very bright) articles of clothing cause the type 1 wearer to run high all day, where as black (or dark) articles of clothing caused the type 1 wearer to run low for the day. Now, and this is where it gets a little tricky, in the case the wearer is wearing black under garments (panties and or bras) with a yellow shirt or pants findings were inconclusive. Also findings found that the colour of the socks seem to hold no value. Therefore nudes and neutral tans are recommended to be worn by all those with type 1 diabetes to ensure a balanced and "stable" blood sugar.
Thank you for your question,
Dr B.S. Footloop
The REAL answer: NO, although there are many, many things that can effect ones blood sugar such as activity, hormones, growth spurts, sicknesses, insulin amounts, and amounts of carbohydrates eaten, just to list a few the colour of ones clothing has NO affect on their blood sugar!!
Your question was dumb,
Nicole d mamaOn a more true/serious note, today I am the mother of a 14 year old...I think I want to go back to bed! Today is Kailyn's birthday!! Happy Birthday Kay!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Today's Post Is Brought To You By The Letter U
Today's HAWM challenge is to write a post about your condition/disease using the "word of the day" from dictionary.com
Sounds kinda fun right? RIGHT! until you get a word like UNCTUOUS pronounced UNGK-choo-us and the meaning... is even more funner!! are you ready for this?
Can't wait to read what Tracy from The Superhero and The Princess is going to do with this one...good luck!!
Sounds kinda fun right? RIGHT! until you get a word like UNCTUOUS pronounced UNGK-choo-us and the meaning... is even more funner!! are you ready for this?
1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy.
2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals.
3. Insincerely or excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. ( I have NO idea what #3 even means)
So HERE WE GO!
There are only 24 hours in a day divided by 6 kids, one husband and a crazy dog then take away time spent cooking, cleaning, laundry minus the time spent dealing with type 1 diabetes, sugar checks, carb counting, food measuring factor in the mental games you play with yourself and add a little time during nap time...you get my point! Soon 24 hours start to look like 2 hours and there is just no time for yourself.
Sometimes type 1diabetes can easily be ALL CONSUMING. You can spend all day and night thinking and doing and talking and even dreaming type 1. I guess that is where the saying comes into play, type 1 diabetes does not define you. It really was one of the first things our D clinic drilled in our heads when Cara was diagnosed, even before I learned how to draw up a syringe of insulin. Cara is a kid let her be a kid, type 1 does not define her. It is way too easy with a disease such as type 1 were you are consistently monitoring and making changes and monitoring some more to lose sight in who you are and not become consumed in the daily interactions with this disease.
As a mom most everything is on me, doctors visits (not just type 1 related) teacher interactions, phone calls to RSVP for parties (which reminds me I need to do call a parent today). From the big things to the tiniest detail it usually is done by me. Being a mom who's child has type 1 diabetes, only adds to my list of "TO DO'S" and it is soooo easy to get lost in this list. I need to make sure I remember to take a few seconds a day for "ME" because being a mom and a d mama does not define who I am, it is just a part of what makes me, me.
We always need to remember it is OK and important to focus on all the other wonderful things that make you who you are, take a few moments and do something that you enjoy, take sometime and pamper yourself and do something that makes you happy. If that means stealing a few minutes to wash that unctuous build up out of your hair, so be it!!
and now that day 2 of HAWMC is complete it's time for me to have a shower....it's all about balance and not being unctuous!!
BONUS POINTS!! used the word twice in a post...who is keep score?
Can't wait to read what Tracy from The Superhero and The Princess is going to do with this one...good luck!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Acrostic For Type 1 Diabetes HAWMC
OK here we go! It's April and I have started blogging for 30 days, every day for Health Activist Writer's Month or #HAWMC for short and tweets.
Today's Challenge is to write a health acrostic using your condition (in my case Cara's).
What is an acrostic you ask? Well so did I...
An acrostic: An acrostic poem is a cryptographic form in which the initial letter of each line spells out a word, often the subject of the poem or the name of the person to whom the poem is dedicated.
OK, so lets hope I did this right!!
My topic :) TYPE ONE DIABETES
This disease in not mine it is
Yours my sweet!
People are often confused it is not caused by the things you
Eat.
Open your ears and listen pretty please,
Nothing we have done has caused this disease.
Everyone needs to understand it's an autoimmune disease
Diabetes has many different types and none are the same.
I am a mother of a child with type 1 and Cara is her name.
A lot of work, time and energy goes into keeping her safe and healthy,
Blood sugar checks, carb counting is never fun but I always make sure I have my Tim Hortons coffee.
Everyday I count my blessings that insulin is here to keep my daughter alive
That is fine for now but a cure is why we strive
Even though we do everything right she still can't make insulin on her own,
She is strong and she is tough but some days we just need to bitch and moan.
and day one is done, thanks for reading!!
Today's Challenge is to write a health acrostic using your condition (in my case Cara's).
What is an acrostic you ask? Well so did I...
An acrostic: An acrostic poem is a cryptographic form in which the initial letter of each line spells out a word, often the subject of the poem or the name of the person to whom the poem is dedicated.
OK, so lets hope I did this right!!
My topic :) TYPE ONE DIABETES
This disease in not mine it is
Yours my sweet!
People are often confused it is not caused by the things you
Eat.
Open your ears and listen pretty please,
Nothing we have done has caused this disease.
Everyone needs to understand it's an autoimmune disease
Diabetes has many different types and none are the same.
I am a mother of a child with type 1 and Cara is her name.
A lot of work, time and energy goes into keeping her safe and healthy,
Blood sugar checks, carb counting is never fun but I always make sure I have my Tim Hortons coffee.
Everyday I count my blessings that insulin is here to keep my daughter alive
That is fine for now but a cure is why we strive
Even though we do everything right she still can't make insulin on her own,
She is strong and she is tough but some days we just need to bitch and moan.
and day one is done, thanks for reading!!
The We CARA Lot Walk TEAM
CALLING ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS... THE WE CARA LOT WALK TEAM IS FORMING AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US!
Last night the WHOLE family attended our areas JDRF Community Kickoff. We had a fabulous time minus being 20 minutes late, Cody hitting his sisters NON STOP, the kids having to pee ALL night long, Kirstin and Cara having huge break downs EVERY... SINGLE...TIME they did not win the amazing raffle prizes they wanted to win.
BUT what do you expect with 6 kids? Well...I expected 6 very well behaved children!!
BUT now we are READY!
We are ready with pledge forms that are ready to be handed out to our team members. Email me at wecaralot@gmail.com or facebook me with your address, we would love to get some out this weekend!!
We are ready with new amazing shirts that yet again will be donated by VistaPrint!! Thank YOU very much VistaPrint for all your support.
We are now ready to grow our team with some new friends and some wonderful family. We would love for you all to join us on June 12th for our walk to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
The Telus walk to cure diabetes is an amazing event, with lots of food and tons of fun for the whole family. Here is my last year POST about our amazing time.
We are now ready to raise money for a cure for type 1 diabetes and have a lot of fun doing it.
I just need to get to work on our walk video...that is not ready :)
Last night the WHOLE family attended our areas JDRF Community Kickoff. We had a fabulous time minus being 20 minutes late, Cody hitting his sisters NON STOP, the kids having to pee ALL night long, Kirstin and Cara having huge break downs EVERY... SINGLE...TIME they did not win the amazing raffle prizes they wanted to win.
BUT what do you expect with 6 kids? Well...I expected 6 very well behaved children!!
BUT now we are READY!
We are ready with pledge forms that are ready to be handed out to our team members. Email me at wecaralot@gmail.com or facebook me with your address, we would love to get some out this weekend!!
We are ready with new amazing shirts that yet again will be donated by VistaPrint!! Thank YOU very much VistaPrint for all your support.
We are ready to get our amazing walk team back together! This is the amazing team that help bring the We CARA Lot team to the 4th highest fundraising team in our area WAY TO GO TEAM!
The Telus walk to cure diabetes is an amazing event, with lots of food and tons of fun for the whole family. Here is my last year POST about our amazing time.
We are now ready to raise money for a cure for type 1 diabetes and have a lot of fun doing it.
SO EVERYONE IT IS TIME TO GET YOUR WALK ON!!
I just need to get to work on our walk video...that is not ready :)
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