Diabetes Dilema

August 9th, 2012 was a big day for me.  A day I'll probably never forget.  No, nobody I knew died or was seriously hurt, and no one I know had a baby that day.  August 9th is the day I was diagnosed with DIABETES.

I figure I have just about enough medical knowledge to be dangerous.  I knew deep inside that the "d" word was pouring through my veins, I just didn't know to what extent.  I had been exhausted for some time: coming home from work and taking a nap, then having dinner and going right back to bed.  I'd been drinking like a fish... needing a big glass of ice cold water before even showering in the morning.  I drank 4 cans of sugary orange soda the night before diagnosis and was drinking bottle after bottle of water during the day.  With all the liquids I was injesting, of course I was spending lots of time in the bathroom as well.  It finally got to the point where I couldn't live in the "special land" of denial any longer.  I went over to my folks' house and asked my dad to check my sugar.  I know now that your blood glucose level should run between 80 and 120.  Mine was 490.  I asked what that meant and my dad said it meant I had Coke syrup running through my veins.  Hmmm.

I headed over to Same Day Care where they ran a bunch of tests including blood and urine and started an IV.  When the doctor came back in and said: "You have diabetes.", it literally hit me like I'd had the wind knocked out of me.  It didn't matter that I knew it, it was hearing it from the doctor that made it real.  So, of course, I started to cry.  She discussed admitting me into the hospital, but apparently I convinced her I am responsible enough to do what I needed to do, so she gave me instructions and we headed off to Walgreens to purchase my new constant companion, my meter.

The first month was rough... the first WEEK was really rough.  I had to mourn the life I had bd (before diagnosis) and accept the life I will have now.  I haven't had pasta in almost 4 months.  I have to count the carbs in every bite of food that I eat.  And I have to know the totals BEFORE I eat it.  I check my bg's at least 4 times a day, more if I'm feeling "off".  I take 2 kinds of insulin, a rapid acting insulin before meals and a long acting at night.  Giving myself the shots isn't too bad, unless I hit a nerve.

My cholesterol is the best it's been in a decade and I hope to get off my high blood pressure medication before too long.  I just need to amp up the exercise. 

I have a friend who is having gastric bypass surgery next week.  She has an 80% chance of her diabetes totally disappearing.  Makes it pretty tempting, but I need to do everything I can on my own before considering anything more drastic.

So... until next time, do what you can NOW to prevent my story from becoming yours.

To blog or not to blog....

Two of my friends have restarted their blogs. I admit that I've missed blogging, but Facebook has partially filled that void. I especially enjoyed the blog I did for my local scrapbook store, but that has since closed.

I think I'll give it a shot as I do have several friends and family who've told me they miss reading my blogging missives about the craziness and craftiness that is my life.... Plus, it might keep me off of Facebook a bit more!

The biggest thing I have coming up is the cruise Glenn and I are taking in January. I'm really looking forward to it as the beach is my ultimate "Happy Place". Snorkeling only makes it better! So to end this post... Lets try to add a pic...

Here goes nothing!

Smash Book

I don't know if everyone has heard of Smash Books, but I'm loving mine! It's kind of like a combination of a journal & a scrapbook.

I've enjoyed making a "bucket list" and starting list of books read & movies seen in 2012. It will be great to be go back & look at this years later. It's also more freeing than regular scrap booking. Goodness knows that I haven't been feeling overly inspired as far as creativity goes.

Hmmm, can't quite figure out how to add photos while blogging on my iPad. Sorry.

I'm looking forward to going to Vegas in April for Kim's wedding, but I'm nervous already about singing. I need to find someone local to play for me so i can practice. It's been a lot of years since I sang in a wedding. Heck, I haven't even sung at a funeral in over a year!

I need a real vacation. KWIM?

Still Alive!

I haven't blogged in pretty much forever, and I realized last night that I really miss it.  I need to get back into the habit.  I enjoy sharing with friends & family members what my family has been up to. 

Sarah received a wonderful email today from BYU informing her that they will be mailing out her diploma shortly!  Whoot, whoot!  This is a huge milestone... for her, of course, but for me, as well.  One item on my bucket list is to have both my kids graduate from college.  Come April, this should be a reality.  Now she just has to figure out what to do next!  :)

We are also having a big picnic/party for both of the graduates, here in Billings, in May.  Watch for more info...

Levi is doing really well in his last semester... he is working as a Teaching Assistant in Sociology (his major) as well as received an internship.  The next step?  Law School applications!

Glenn & I are just plodding along.  We were hoping to go on a cruise this year, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.  Maybe in 2013.  We sure enjoy the photos we took in the Bahamas January 2011.  I am going to Las Vegas in April to be in a wedding.  One of my oldest & dearest friends is getting married... for the first time!  Then right after that, they are adopting 3 children!  BOOM!  Instant family.  :)  She's always wanted children, so this is perfect for her.

If I could figure out how to post this to facebook, as well.... I would.  Maybe I'll just have to ask Sarah.  I imagine she can do it!

Be back soon!

Yeah... I'm still alive.

Not sure why I haven't posted, but I honestly had the best intentions. Of course, we all know what they say about good intentions!

I'm currently staying at the folks' house doing the whole house/dog sitting thing. They, along with my sister Katie are in New Zealand visiting my sister Aimee. Mom sent me an email telling me how beautiful the beach is and that the shells are covering the beaches. It sounds like they are having a wonderful time. Since it's been WAY below zero here, I'm thinking that NZ (earthquakes and all) might be the place to be!

Work is hectic. It's always busy... There is just so much to do and it seems like we are always being asked to do more with less. We have a new regional manager and he is different from the ones I've had in the past. He's a bit of a micromanager and its frustrating. Also, the new thing seems to be taking authority away from the local groups and giving it back to upper management. My boss now has nothing to say about raises for me or employees. Who else knows how we work? It just doesn't make sense.

Ok. No more whining. I should be grateful to have a job.

The kids are still in UT at school. I'm wondering if this is their plan for life. Stay in school, never graduating, letting Mom & Dad fork over the $$$$$. What do you think? Professional students? Let's hope not.

Alrighty then! I have no great words of wisdom this post. I'll see what I can come up with for next time. Have a great day!

Wow. Guess I've come full circle.

As I type, I realize that not a soul knows I've started another blog.  I really missed blogging.  I stopped my first blog because I took on the challenge on starting a blog for my local scrapbook store.  I really enjoyed it, but it outgrew me!  The store needed more technology that I possess in my poor, pathetic brain.  So I gave it up and the store now has a website.  This was a great decision for the store.  But I missed the creative outlet.

So here I am.  Fortunately for me, I found blogspot, which is free.  The other site I used charged a monthly fee.  I plan on posting photos of trips, of my family (including Jack & Daisy, my fur-babies), and random things going on in the lives of family and friends.  I'm hoping that in the future I'll even start scrapbooking again.  I haven't so much as cropped a photo since last October.  I guess I just lost my mojo.... my entire desire to scrapbook.  I never thought I'd feel this way, but the idea of starting again kind of scares me.  Who knows.

So, for my first post, I guess I'll just say that I returned home from visiting family back east and that I had a wonderful time.  I didn't want to leave... but buying 5 pairs of shoes, 2 COACH purses, 1 Vera Bradley purse, a trip to NYC as well as Cape Cod tends to inspire one to return to work to hopefully fund further trips.  The seafood was amazing and the time with my family was priceless.  I love you and miss you.

Hope to be back soon.  :)