orsa aetas

Want to win a free Ipod Shuffle?

2009-04-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been forever since I've been here. No apologies though; It is what it is.

BUT I did want to promote a website and an opportunity to win a free IPOD shuffle.

Here's the link: http://technewsmadesimple.com/2009/04/02/ipod-shuffles-promotion/

The promotion ends April 15th -- Tomorrow.

So, go take the short survey and then get back to doing your taxes!

2008-07-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

I was reading another d-blog and actually clicked on the link to my blog to see if I still existed in on the internet and I do.

Things have been entirely too stressful. Work, diabetes crap, work, did I mention work?!

The exciting diabetes news (I'm not ready to share the bad) is that I got my One Touch Ultra Link. I love it. The only two things I'd change would be to make it smaller... it's pouch is the size of a small purse. I went to the cosmetic aisle at target and bought a small make up bag to store it in instead of that huge black pouch.

And, I wish there were an option from the meter to tell the pump to bolus. Like a remote option. That would be sweet. I like that there's one less step to get my blood sugar in for a bolus though.

I'm off again... as if anyone reads this, but oh well. I don't blame ya, nothing new ever happens here!

Mel needs...

2008-04-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

You have probably seen others who have googled "[their name] needs" and reported the results. Here are mine... (I had to ignore a few that refered to Mel Gibson in particular; who knew, the man needs help!)

Mel needs help.
Sure... if you can cook, clean, and pay my bills. wonderful!

Mel needs to handle the sales end while some one else runs the company.
um, ok. no thanks?

Mel needs to relax.
Amen! However, I need to get a ton of stuff done too (see above--Mel needs help)

Mel needs to focus on herself and heal.
Probably not extremely relevant currently as I'm not sick.

Mel needs to learn from Martha.
I don't know any Marthas except for the Biblical Martha, but she was kind of the negative example in the story, so maybe not so much.

Mel needs a blog.
Have one, thanks.

Mel needs a laptop computer.
Again, have one, but if someone's giving away a new mac laptop, that's be amazing.

Mel needs to sit the ---- down and shut the hell up.
ouch. Don't really know how to respond to that!

Mel needs your prayers.
Certainly wouldn't hurt at this point--ridiculous early morning blood sugars and stressful life right now!

Mel needs an English class.
Well, I don't think so, but I'd love to learn Spanish. Close, I guess.

6 word meme

2008-04-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Lili for the 6 word memoir.

I'm just getting around to it now. I really had no idea what to say.

Here are my 6 words:

Much I know; But don't wanna.

-------------

I've been having a rough week. Haven't been feeling well and am feeling a little stressed.
Tuesday's dinner was going to be an english muffin from Dunkin' Donuts. As I pulled up to the drive thru it struck me a little differently--I know how many carbs are in an english muffin. I don't want to. I wish I didn't.

Tonight it occurred to me that I don't want to know about pumps and infusion sets as I changed mine.
Many of us in the OC have complained about the ignorance of diabetes and especially type 1 that we encounter in others. I have a confession to make: I wish I were one of the ignorant people pissing you all off with my questions and wrong assumptions.

I suppose this phase will pass soon enough. Perhaps after a good night's sleep--or a couple of nights. I can only hope.

silence and my trip

2008-03-15T04:21:00.000-07:00

Well, there's been a silence over here. I was posting quite a bit, but then I was sidetracked by a project and an upcoming trip. I leave today for Honduras for a week. I'm a bit more nervous about the diabetes element of this trip than any of the other places that I've been, so wish me luck. If you'd like to know more about the trip, you can see the other project I was working on here.

Happy St. Patty's Day! (I'll be far away at that point and missing the corned beef dinner I love so much. However, I did suggest we have corned beef for Easter when I return and was told that wasn't an option! We'll be having a clam boil--so much more traditional!)

whoa.

2008-02-07T17:59:00.000-08:00

Long time. I've been working on another project and have been so busy with that, that I haven't gotten to post here at all!

I put a site in my leg for the very first time tonight! If you haven't tried it, I have no complaints so far. I'm pretty much betting that I'll rip it out very very soon... but I'm hopeful.

I had an endo appt recently and it went much better than my last few visits with her. She was pleasant and I didn't feel like a failure or disappointment. I'm even considering weight watchers like she suggests EVERY appointment! Does anyone have experience with the online program?!
My A1C went down from 8 to 7.8 or was it 7.6... I think it was 7.6...7.8 was my guess before my appt. Anywho, the logs I showed her were HORRIBLE, but due to her illness my appt was bumped back two days, so I was able to correct the issues and go into the appt with some better numbers. She suggested I print my logs every two weeks in order to see these issues and be able to motivate myself to get back on track. I think that's exactly what I need.

Lows and Basal Testing

2008-01-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

Doing things "one day at a time" is not just about losing weight, but about overall health and accomplishing things that I've just put aside in life.

I've done fairly well to be disciplined and not eat after 8pm, BUT like all things I've been thrown some curves. Namely, A TON OF LOWS. I went through my meter's history and 16 out of my last 50 readings were under 90. I woke up last night at 2 am with a reading of 37! The night before 40. And the night before that 3 readings in the 60s before my head even hit the pillow. OH and I'm sitting here sipping a half glass of OJ because I'm clocking in at 91 after 2 hours of volleyball and my track record doesn't exactly indicate that I'm going to hold steady!

This all means that, while I've not eaten between 8pm and bedtime (most nights), I've been eating sometime between midnight and 7am most mornings!! One seems to negate the other, no? So, this week I'm aiming to get in two overnight basal tests. Tomorrow night (Wed) and hopefully Friday or Saturday night. Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm exercising after dinner, so it's really hard to gauge and I think I can only take one night of up every hour and still make it to work on time! Hopefully, since I'll still be keeping up with the absence of food after 8pm, having my basals in order will make it a little more fruitful!

I really hope I can wake up to each alarm tomorrow night... getting half way through the night and having to do it again just isn't going to work for me!!

How often do you do basal tests?

My job can be pretty exciting...

2008-01-12T16:03:00.000-08:00

when we're up to stuff like this . Scroll down the page to the video player and then choose "Fitness Challenge" from the list of videos.

The kickoff was today and we saw over 150 people join the challenge! That's 150+ people either controlling or preventing Type 2 diabetes (There may be a few T1s in the mix as well). That's 150+ people trying to improve their health and a city joining together to get healthy! The community that I work in has the third highest incidence of Type 2 diabetes in the Commonwealth, which is staggering. Our programs aim to lower this rate, by teaching people to be healthy and work to prevent T2 diabetes. (We offer programs for T1s as well).

2008-01-07T17:54:00.001-08:00

There should be a rule against food commercials after 8pm! It certainly would help!! I'm trying not to be really really hungry, but I think I should probably crawl into bed if I expect to make it the rest of the night!
---------------------------
Bernard commented on my last post and reminded me of our meet up with Allison in Boston. I never blogged about it and wanted to share this photo of Bernard and Allison at Harvard!

Better late than never...

This blog's changing :)

2008-01-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

To track the changes I'm making this year, I've added three columns to my blog. The left-hand column will contain the usual blog stuff, such as links and previous posts, etc. The right hand column is for my One Day at a Time progress.

I thought about this and wondered, "Why do I feel the need to share this info?" And I don't really, but I think it's a good way to keep myself somewhat accountable--because this community is really great about commenting and encouraging each other. I also think it's a great way to look back and see what I've been able to do. So, I won't replace the information to the right each time, but instead I'm going to add to it each time and keep a running list of what's been changed.

--------------------------------------

If it hasn't already become clear, I'm also attempting to be a little more present here too. This means more commenting and more posts. To those of you who are still reading despite my long absence and irregular posts, thanks for sticking with me! Leave a comment and let me know you're still here!

The how...

2008-01-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

But first, on a diabetes related note:

Has anyone heard of Monogenic Diabetes? A client's father just recently came to the office with an article from a People magazine about this. I'm unbelievably skeptical. I think it comes with the territory-- you know loads of pills to reverse diabetes, that don't reverse diabetes. But, they seemingly have a legitimate website and JDRF's support? So, check it out, let me know if it's bogus, etc.

**********

One day at a time. What does that look like? For me, right now, it's making one change at a time. I started yesterday and for the next week and a half or so (depending on how well I do, I guess) I'll be cutting out all eating after 8pm. I don't think I really ever thought about what time it was when I wanted a snack. I am hoping that this will teach me to be more aware of that and to really cut back on some of those calories and carbs that slip in after dinner. Exceptions will have to be made. For instance, yesterday I didn't really manage to get dinner or lunch, but instead three small snacks leaving me somewhat unsatisfied when I got home around 10, so I had a small piece of chocolate before watching an hour of tv. This wasn't a failure to me. So, I'll be taking things into consideration and of course, being reasonable where diabetes is concerned (Last night, I did end up low in the middle of the night).

This is my strategy. Small changes; one at a time. Other changes will include portion sizing and types of food that I'm eating as well as packing lunches and eating more veggies, BUT now is not the time to think about those things.

One thing that I am trying to curb right from the beginning is to eat when I'm hungry and not just because it's lunch time or dinner time. I think having this attitude towards food throughout, will really help me in the long run.

A little Help, please

2008-01-02T14:19:00.000-08:00

A client called the office today and she was looking to purchase a pin for a mother whose son was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and couldn't find any high quality pins. She is specifically looking for the gray/silver ribbon with the drop of blood. Does anyone know where one could be found? She and I have both searched the internet. I thought someone might have purchased one in the past. Thanks in advance!

One day at a time

2008-01-01T18:42:00.001-08:00

I tried to lose weight in 2007 and failed, so why not give it another go?

My attitude this year has to be, "One day at a time." I don't see how else it's going to work for me. I'm overwhelmed with loads of changes I'd love to make, but I know that I'm not going to be able to do everything. I just need to take it slow and not give up.

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

I've been silent again and am just popping in to say, Happy New Year!

I hope everyone enjoys celebrating safely!

I'll be back in 2008.

post number eighty

2007-11-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

I changed my site today; 5pm to be exact.

Site just ripped out; 6 hours later.

Hurt a lot. Bled some.

I'm not cool with putting another site in.

I miss NPH and syringes.

I'm temped to call my doctor and switch. She'd probably kill me and not know what to do. I've never been on anything but the pump with her and as far as I know I have an allergy to Lantus.

Maybe I should try Levemir.

I really don't care to be thinking about these things. I want to go to bed without another poke in the @$$. I'm afraid of it hurting; of it bleeding; of it coming out again. Two years and two months is a long time to stick with something.

Twenty years is a long time to wait for a cure.

I hate you, diabetes; more. than. anything. even onions

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T07:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a wonderful day with family and friends and the best of luck guessing the carbs! :)

The pastor showed this cartoon last night at church--I thought it was pretty funny.

D-Blog Day

2007-11-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

I've been absent from blogging for the most part and almost completely absent from commenting. Even so, I've been reading consistently and am still inspired, challenged, encouraged, saddened, angered... every day by the posts of the DOC. Regardless of how faithfully I post and comment, I am thankful to be a part of this community.

Thank you.

juice!

2007-11-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it's the low blood sugar or the fact that this is my first post since Sept. 12th, but I had trouble logging in. :) Honestly, it's been a while and I wasn't going to post tonight, but I am sharing my low blood sugar story.

First, I wish I had some one who understood handy for lows. I felt particularly blindsided and crappy all at once from this low. As I pull a strip from the vial, I ask my dad, "Dad, do we have juice in the fridge?" (I'm used to treating with glucose tabs, although I dislike them). He responded that we did in fact have juice, but didn't get up to get me any or even ask. Sometimes it'd just be nice to have some one ask. That's all.

I went to the fridge on my own to get the juice and pull out the bottle in the front. Oh, look at that, the purchase of this juice helps find a cure for diabetes through JDRF. Wonderful. I'll just poor me a glass. But wait, 75% less sugar. Uh oh. The irony isn't lost on me though. That bottle of juice can help cure diabetes, but didn't do a whole lot for treating my low :) Thankfully, hiding behind it was a perfectly sugary bottle of apple juice.

2007-09-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

My banner was broken, so I changed my template and things were looking a little boring around here at Orsa Aetas. I fixed that by adding a new banner. Get your own and spread the word about World Diabetes Day!

The Blogging Scholarship

2007-09-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what my readership is for the college age group, but if you are in college and you have a blog, you might want to take a look at this scholarship and apply. Applications are due Oct. 6.

Twenty years ago...

2007-08-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

The date 20 years ago was August 22, 1987.

--------------------

In the weeks prior to August 22, 1987, I was spending time in Florida with my Mom, Dad, and older brother. We were staying at my aunt’s house with my two older cousins in West Palm Beach. I was five. I think we went to Disney that year. I somewhat remember a family photograph that shows my brother and I eating blue cotton candy at SeaWorld and I have to assume that it was this taken during this particular trip.

What I know for sure is that I was sick. I remember wetting the bed EVERY night and how upset everyone was that they had to change the sheets each night. I remember the trip to the doctor’s office and the diagnosis-I had the flu. And as for the bed-wetting: his advice was to give me nothing to drink after dinner.

I remember looking up at the cabinets that held the glasses that were out of my reach and wondering how I could get one. And if I couldn’t get a glass, then how could I get water from the automatic dispenser on the refrigerator? I was desperately dehydrated. I remember that I would sneak into the bathroom, run the cold water over a facecloth and suck the water out. They couldn’t figure out how I was still wetting the bed and I wasn’t about to tell them my secret!

On August 22, 1987, we were home from Florida and my mother brought me to see my pediatrician. I was still sick. I remember sitting in the chair to have my blood sugar tested. The doctor, however, was already sure of my diagnosis, having been able to smell ketones. The blood test confirmed his suspicions and changed my life forever.

The next week was spent in the pediatric ward of the hospital. I remember the Styrofoam cup that the nurse placed over my IV. I know now it was to keep me from pulling it out, but at the time I was told it was the house that my IV lived in (or something equally as juvenile). I remember hiding under the hospital bed in an effort to dodge my evening shot. I remember playing Tic-Tac-Toe in the playroom, the stuffed animals I received as gifts and visitors who came, the jello and the night that my Mother and Grandmother dutifully and lovingly separated the meat and potatoes from the corn and peas, so that I would eat dinner.

What I don’t remember is life before diabetes. It's been 20 years of ups and downs, of normal everyday living coupled with the demands of a broken pancreas. Here's to 20 more years--Bring it on!

Rollercoasters

2007-08-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

Some rollercoasters are a ton of fun like this one, Superman--the ride of steel--at Six Flags New England. That's where I was on Saturday; although not on Superman, since it is/was closed for whatever reason (major bummer!). However, there's also the blood sugar rollercoaster that I was riding and NOT at all enjoying!!

The day started out fine. I entered the park at a cool in range number that is so typical that I didn't commit it to memory. Fast forward four hours or so. A little bit after lunch; blood sugar: 173. I corrected and added an additional 1 and a half units to cover 2 hrs of bolus. This was an unscientific whim that I took to prevent a high while spending 2 hours at the waterpark. Did it work?

Negative. Blood sugar post waterpark: 275. 1 hour after correction: 274

The rest of the evening includes dinner, more rides, plenty of walking and more unmemorable blood sugars. An on the road check at midnight clocks me in at 113. A 1am check before bed: 67. Treat the low with glucose tabs and off to bed. 3:50 am: 45 (a frequent number for my bad lows, I guess.) 15 minutes later: 51 Another 15 minutes: 68

On the list of things I ate/drank to treat the low so I could just get back to sleep!:
3 packages of fruit snacks, 3/4 a can of regular sprite, 2 glucose tabs, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. That's what I remember anyway. Since the first 15 min check did not give me much hope, I ate more than I "needed" and then didn't bolus for any of it and went back to sleep after the 68 reading (close enough to 70 I think; Plus my stomach hurt from the snacks!)

6am blood sugar: 157 (what!? I was honestly expecting a much higher number and thought to myself, "perhaps I was going to go SO LOW that all those snacks were needed.")

This was not so. 9am blood sugar: 369 (Yeah, I felt it. It sucked.)

Not all rollercoasters are fun. I'd like to stick to the amusement park thrill rides, but sometimes I just don't know that I have any control over the situation.

I also learn from this. I seem to only overtreat at night. I think I'm so anxious to just get back to sleep that I rush the process and then feel like I'm not getting better and continue to treat. During the day I'm a lot more rational and only want the one juice or 4 tabs (I don't enjoy them enough to eat more than that!)

Overall rating on the day-

Great day for the park
Bad day for Diabetes

Forty-five

2007-08-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

I'm back from England! Truthfully, I've been back since July 14th. Long enough to catch a PawSox game with a couple of fellow bloggers, celebrate my one year blogaversary (this is post #70), start swimming at the local boys and girls' club as a form of exercise, celebrate several high school graduations and birthdays, baptisms, general cookouts and all the normal summer activities! I sure have kept very busy!

England was amazing! I haven't felt quite that refreshed in a long time. It was great to just get away and relax. I was able to read a couple of books; including The Kite Runner, which I couldn't put down. This cost me a little bit of sleep at the beginning of the trip.

Another highlight of the trip was the last day we spent in London. We had hit all of our "must see" spots and even a couple of other sights. All but one; I wanted to get to St. Paul's Cathedral and in particular climb to the top of the dome.

Before climbing to the top(not the first observation deck above the statues, but the second one, below the gold topper thing), we toured some of the cathedral and stopped to sit outside of the cafe in the crypt. Feeling a little shaky, I checked my blood sugar and came in low. Found some orange juice and set a temp basal rate as we were then off to tackle the dome. As it was the end of the day, we were some of the last people allowed up, which didn't allow for much stopping time to let the OJ hit and temp basal catch up. I was hopeful that I had given it enough time and we started up. The stairs were tough! I am in no way, shape or form, cut out for climbing 484 stairs all in one trip, so I stopped a couple of times at first, but then it got to the point where you couldn't stop or turn around or really move without bumping into either the person in front of you or the person behind you.

We must have been about 10 steps from the very top, with about a dozen or so people behind us and we stopped to photograph through a hole in the ground that showed the view of the cathedral floor below us. It was at this point that I realized something didn't feel right. Someone had the forethought many many years before this incident to provide me with a bench in that small hallway atop St. Paul's and I sat to test. 45. I was 45!! FORTY-FIVE!!

I had 5 glucose tabs to eat and 2 to spare and very little time to get up the last 10 steps, enjoy the view and then make my way down--or so I thought! Thankfully, I could sit for about 5 minutes before I really needed to move out of the hallway so the woman at the top could lock up. (I did completely suspend my pump at this point too) Once at the top, however, I had to wait for everyone else in front of me to take in the scene and get moving. They moved slow and I had plenty of time to look around, take some photos and most importantly, feel my blood sugar come up.

At the time, I was frustrated, but not angry and the enormity of the situation didn't really hit me. 45 at the top of St. Pauls with 434 winding, steep and narrow steps separating me from the ground floor, and a travel companion who only understood the glucagon I showed her in theory. In retrospect, I wish I had a lot more glucose tabs on me, but a low earlier that morning had half wiped me out. I'm thankful that I was near the cafe when I treated the original low only 45 mins earlier and did not use the last of my glucose tabs.

That was by far my worst low of the whole trip. Overall I was very happy with my blood sugars--walking all day, every day does wonderful things! :) The view is of the Thames to the West of the Cathedral (I believe) with the London Eye on the left.

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

2007-07-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm off to England in just a few hours! I have more than enough insulin, syringes, pump supplies, batteries, strips; i have ketone strips, glucagon, glucose tablets.

I'm sick of packing!! And I'm so afraid of forgetting something!

I'm very much looking forward to a vacation and some time away. Wish me luck!!

International Travel & Diabetes

2007-06-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

In just over a week, I'll be travelling to London for 10 days!! Crazy! I am nowhere near ready.

I do have a question for you guys though--what do you do with your basal rates for your pump when you travel multiple time zones? Do you immediately reset your pump clock and therefore basals switch around? I hadn't thought of this until this weekend... HELP! :)

MY Turn! :)

2007-06-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Auntie M (my favorite!!)
2. Sauron
3. Mel

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hair
2. My fingernails (Like a couple of others, I have the whole french manicure thing going on all the time)
3. The little freckle by my eye.

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My stomach
2. My skin (I don't tan; I burn or I'm white--like a ghost)
3. My teeth

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. 50%French Canadian
2. 50% English
3. 100% American

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. The dark
2. Bad drivers
3. Going Blind

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. A shower
2. My pump (still nameless--taking suggestions for a smoke colored Minimed)
3. Breakfast of some sort--I get cranky and really super hungry!

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Jeans
2. An orange shirt
3. underwear :)

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICALS:
1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2. Annie
3. Pete's Dragon (that counts right :))

FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Dancing Queen :)
2. Amazing Grace
3. Strongtower by Kutless

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Honesty
2. Respect
3. Love

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE:
1. Waterfalls, the ocean, rivers, lakes, etc.
2. Fenway Park!!
3. a classic blue fitted Red Sox hat :)

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Volleyball/Wallyball
2. Reading
3. The Red Sox!!!! (and watching the Patriots too)

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Sleep comfortably through the night in my bed! (there's a story behind this)
2. Win the lottery :)
3. Did I say sleep?!

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. Stay at home mom (NOT in my near future!! Don't panic)
2. Proofreader :)
3. Lazy bum!

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Italy
2. Egypt
3. Alaska

THREE KIDS NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Hannah
2. Nathanael
3. Louise

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. See a Sox-Yankee game at Fenway
2. Be on a game show (Wheel of Fortune! :))
3. Get married, have children.

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A CHICK:
1. I cry fairly easily at the typical sappy stuff
2. I own a lot of shoes
3. I like buying new bags and purses!

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:
1. I hide my emotions well (i.e. when I want to cry)
2. I love my Red Sox!
3. I gravitate towards the action and sports instead of hanging back and chatting it up at parties and picnics

THREE CELEB CRUSHES:
1. Matt Damon
2. Mike Vrabel
3. Yooooooouk

Anything else you'd like to know?

a confession and a question

2007-06-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

Confession: I rarely log my blood sugars anymore... oops.

Question: Does anyone else find that when they don't log a blood sugar and it's in range, they almost immediately forget the number?! If I've forgotten what I am, I just assume I was fine, and THEN I remember the number.

This happens a lot to me. sheesh girl, get it together!!

Maybe this is another thing that I shouldn't admit--like the security code issue.

Remember to vote for the MLB All-Star game. It might be cheap for me to ask, but just vote, and vote for anyone but the Yankess. Personally, I voted all Red Sox, except the outfield--I voted for Crisp, but not for Drew or Manny--heck, Manny's not gonna show up anyways, so why bother! And other than tonight Drew's been kind of lame (I no sooner hit "vote" than he hit a homerun--ooops :)) Oh and I wrote in Youk for third. :) I LOVE my red sox!!!!

A little help, please...

2007-06-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

Well, on the diabetes front things are up, down, up, down and I'm annoyed. Nuff said.

I'm looking for a little advice from you all about two upcoming trips. The first trip is a weekend camping trip in NH. I've camped before with my pump, so I'm sure that will be fine (although the last camping trip site change was very unsucessful and therefore unpleasant). The foreseeable problem will come with the 12 miles of kayaking that we will be doing on Saturday. Any thoughts? Double ziploc bag the pump and only attach to bolus and cover with some basal insulin? Forget about the pump for a few hours and rely solely on novolog shots every two hours? Waterproof the pump?

I've kayaked a couple of times before, without the pump, and I've never tipped or unexpectedly gotten wet--BUT if it were to happen, I'm sure it would happen with the pump entirely unprotected.

That's my first trip.

My second trip is to England, for a very good friend's wedding. I will be there 10 days, mostly in London. Anything that I NEED to see in London or close enough by to get there easily and cheaply. This is my first time travelling out of the country with my pump--any additional advice? How do people feel about getting the back up pump? Any one from England know the going price for supplies if I need to purchase them at a local drug store--syringes, insulin (I almost typed lancets, but really, I'm not kidding anyone :) )

Thanks!!!

i'm still here

2007-04-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yea, I'm here, sitting in the back, reading but not commenting (much). I've left the very very occasional comment here and there, but most of the time I start to comment and say, "meh, I don't wanna." How very lame.

I guess I'm in a funk. Been here for a long while now. Been sick all winter on and off. Just meh. So, I'm here reading and half hiding under a rock I guess.

A1C jumped up almost a full point and had a lousy visit with my doctor--she was just rude. Lost weight for the OC challenge and gained it all back. Life's just frustrating some times!!

Random Fun

2007-02-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

You Are 52% Massachusetts

You're likely a Massachusetts transplant. Big rotaries still scare you, and you probably live outside of 495.

How Massachusetts Are You?

This made me laugh, since I've lived in Massachusetts my whole life. Well, minus the 9 months in West Warwick, RI, but really, where I grew up in Mass, it's not really all that different. I guess even though I went to school just a half hour north of Boston, I lost my accent and maybe this affected other things? I'm just not as Boston as I should be, sigh.

In other news, I saw the most confusing car and liscense plate the other day. It was a ford expedition with a vanity plate that read: "EARTHY." Yeah, I don't get it either. If you don't understand, here is a photo of the vehicle and the definition of "earthy" according to the Urban Dictionary:

earthy: "Someone way into protecting the environment, eating granola, free range chicken and living in a co-op. Basically a hippie without the dreadlocks, pot smoking and Bob Marley crap
My earthy sister lit some insense as she filled out her application to the Yale school of forestry"

happy valentine's day

2007-02-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

I don't have a sweatheart or any children to make me cute cards, but I have 2 nieces who are old enough now to make me a special card. This was the first year that my card was crafted by Emily, the middle child, who is 2. I love getting cards from them, because my sister in law is great to have them add their special touch to each card! They're the closest things I have to kids and they're just too darn cute!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day... or as one of my friend's calls it: "Singleness Awareness Day" (or something like that).

Diabetes Made Visible

2007-02-07T19:21:00.000-08:00

I won something!!!!

In other news, I posted my first two photos to the Diabetes Made Visible pool on Flickr. Here are the links... check them out, I added lots of notes.

For those who don't have Flickr, the first photo is of my pink bag, which houses my meter and various other things (more detail on Flickr, sorry) and the second is a close up of the quarter located at the bottom left of the first photo. On the quarter is a smudge of blood. For anyone nerdy enough to care, it's a Colorado quarter :)

For anyone paying attwho is curious, I'm no longer "sick," but still cough on occasion. hmmph. If it progresses, I'll see a doctor for another opinion!

That's all for now, it's way late for me to still be up (I know, it's not even 11pm but I've been really busy!)

OC New Me Check-in Time

2007-02-01T05:57:00.000-08:00

I've lost the equivalent of 3.66 Digital Canon Rebels in body weight since December (11lbs). Ha. Only 2.66 since OC New Me started though (8lbs).

I sent in my photo of the scale to Allison just moments ago for the OCNMC. I had to weigh myself with and without the camera to find out it's exact weight and my weight and then explain it to Allison. Thankfully, my weight with the camera is enough to get me in at the loss of 5lb, so I don't appear sketchy!

What's amazing to me is that I've lost 11 pounds since December without exercising anymore than normal. It's a wonder to me why I can't muster up the motivation to exercise knowing that I could gain a little energy from it and lose the weight a little easier, because I know this won't last forever.

It's just that, like in all things, I run out of time. There isn't a whole lot of time to be running to the gym for a workout (I hate working out too). I spend one night a week at a local Y playing wallyball. If I could two times a week, it'd be perfect!

It's just that we do things that we know are unhealthy or not the best choice, knowing full well that they are harmful, because we don't have the time or the energy or the motivation. What better motivation could I have for exercise than adding years to my life, controlling blood sugars, feeling better about myself, etc. Yet, still, I resist. UGH.

This seems to apply to all things: testing blood sugars before driving, basal tests, eating healthy...

At least I know I'm not alone!

And if you're doing the OCNMC, don't forget to get your stuff to Allison!

Day 17

2007-01-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

If Tuesday was Day 12, then today, Sunday, is Day 17. SEVENTEEN!!! Hello, immune system, where are you!? I'm convinced that what I've had all this time has been at least 2 colds, the first being bearable and the second and more current being the pain in the butt! I've tried every type of medication that I have. I went out and bought Mucinex, hoping that it would ease some of the discomfort--it has. If I don't feel better by tomorrow, I'll need to make a doctor's appointment. I've also noticed that I rarely get any vitamin C and most likely lack in a lot of other vitamins as well, so I probably need a daily multivitamin as well. I've never taken any--Does anyone have any recommendations? Vitamins seem to be one of those things where there are far too many choices!
My blood sugars have been normal. The highs are results of misbolusing or some other explainable circumstance. I've only had one low, I think. So, whatever the sickness is, it's not affecting my blood sugars...or my appetite!

I have maintained, so far, my 5lb weight loss. All I can hope to do right now is not gain more.

I'm off now to track down the tissues--Mucinex is in full swing!

Day 12

2007-01-23T18:29:00.000-08:00

Today is day 12 of sickness. A week ago today I didn't think I was sick anymore, but every other day, sickness has been verified with symptoms. At first is was just the onset of a cold. By day 6, I was nauseous and was sure I was going to vomit. Day 7 brought back the cold and away went the nausea. Today, day 12, ushered in the sore throat.

I think what has happened these past 12 days, is that I've gotten a little bit of everyone else's sicknesses. My body refuses to commit to just one illness!

I've taken sudafed, dayquil, nyquil, advil, and a sinus/allergy med, throughout. Trying different meds at different stages. Tonights med of choice: Sugar-free robittusin with codeine.

Bring it on.

2007-01-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

It's De-lurking Week! Celebrate it by leaving me a comment if you've never left one before. I know that you stop by, but I want to know who you are, why you're here, and if you have a blog of your own!

(On topic with the whole weight loss thing--Why is bacon so bad for you? I could eat a pound of it!)

I feel healthier!

2007-01-08T19:39:00.000-08:00

I feel as though I've been extremely busy lately! So, as this blog is about me, I'm going to tell you about me. :)

I did join the OC New Me Challenge. From here on out referred to as OCNMC. I was unsure before, but I decided to suck it up and stop assuming that I would fail. I'm a highly competitive person (I'm sure I've mentioned this before), so a little challenge shouldn't hurt me. My goal: 25 pounds. I bet $30 I could do it. I'm excited to see a final list of participants and know who's with me.

The truth is that I had started this all about 2 weeks before Christmas. I wasn't proactive about losing the weight, but I gave up soda (gasp!). Previous to this decision, I'm not sure a day went by without me sipping a diet pepsi or diet coke. In the morning, on my way to work, I would stop at Dunkin Donuts at least once a week and purchase a 20 oz diet pepsi. Throughout the day, I would grab a soda from the community 12-pack. I had gotten down to one a day previously. This was cool. There was no real motivation behind it. But, then I decided:

No AM soda
No PM soda
Soda is only acceptable at or around noontime.
And if I do have a soda, I am limited to one a day.

If you had laid these rules in front of me even just 2 months ago, I would have laughed. I've admitted that I don't even think it tastes good, but I drink it because it has no sugar, it provides caffeine, and I'm not paying for water. Flash forward to mid-December--I'm over it. The soda thing was really easy for me. I think this is because I wanted to do this. I'm sure glad I did. I'll be better off for it. As a matter of fact, I think it's significantly contributed to my losing some weight already!

Dropping soda has lead me to drink lots more water and diet snapple. Drinking more water means I pee more often (not my favorite side effect). Drinking more snapple has increased my random trivia knowledge (Did you know that if you lined all the street lights up in NYC, they would reach to Japan?!).

I feel healthier.

I signed up for calorieking.com's diet software thing. I don't consider that I'm on a diet, but I really wanted something to track calories, so I could be more conscious of what I am eating. I signed up the week before Christmas and then I took the week between Christmas and New Year's off, but I've been logging consistently since the 2nd. My appetite has decreased significantly since then as well. I think I embarassed myself with what I was eating and how much, if that's possible.

I feel healthier.

This morning I weighed myself. The number I saw was 10 lbs lighter than my highest weight during the weeks before Christmas. It also indicates 7lbs lost since the start of the year and the OCNMC. I attribute this to both the lack of soda in my body (I haven't had one in days) and the consciousness of calorie intake. I still need to work on calories out. I play wallyball for 2 hours each week, but I'd like to see myself walking more, so it's not just one day of intense exercise and 6 of laziness.

I feel healthier.

Less food means....

Less insulin. I mentioned a number recently that I was not so proud of. 131 The units of insulin I took in one day. It's 11pm on Monday night right now... here are my most recent daily totals including today's:
Mon: 56.65
Sun: 57.80
Sat: 59.30
Fri: 76.60 (this is what a low day used to look like just a few days ago)
Thurs: 58.40
Wed: 88.20
and then they get worse or similar.

I went four FULL days without changing my pump site (It didn't bother me and I had the insulin). FOUR DAYS. wow! And I threw out about 20-25 units.

Did I mention, I feel healthier?

I don't like to get my hopes up or get too excited ahead of time, but I'm making some progress and I'm excited about it!

New Year, New Beginnings

2007-01-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

Accomplishments & Happy Thoughts from '06

Maintained a respectable A1C. Latest: 6.7
My nephew was born in October
I changed endocrinologists and feel like I'm finally getting top notch care again.
I moved in with my father and have the shortest commute to and from work that I could possibly dream of.
I managed to remain injury free despite playing wallyball once a week (bad ankles plague my family).
I started this meager little blog and became an anonymous voice and gained the anonymous support of our community.
I spent 5 days in North Carolina preparing Christmas Gifts to be sent to children around the world. Relationships were built and lives were definitely changed. It was a vacation well spent.
The list could go on and include other personal accomplishments not related to diabetes.

Things I wouldn't exactly deem worth to "write home about" and what I plan to do about them!

Weight. I've gained weight. I just typed how much and then I erased it. I'm wrestling with the whole idea of the OC challenge. I don't know that I've ever lost weight outside of my diagnosis at age 5 of course. Not very reassuring. I'm beginning to take steps towards this goal. I'm ok with slow and steady. I'm not ok with moving backwards at this point. There needs to be forward progress. Thanks Allison for the OC New Me Challenge!
All other disappointments are not worth mentioning.

I guess it's full steam ahead on the losing weight and getting healthy goal! That's about as concrete as you're going to get out of me. If I choose to participate in the OC New Me Challenge (I'm leaning in that direction), I may set a goal of 20 pounds. I don't even know if this is reasonable for a year? I'd be curious to know what other people are setting for the OCNMC weight goal. What is reasonable?

(Oh, perhaps I should also resolve to be more timely with these types of posts (only 3 days late) and post a little more frequently. I feel as though I have things to say, just not the time to say them!)

Here's to 2007. It's going to be a great year for the OC. Let's do it!

2006-12-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

I celebrate Christmas, but I know that quite a few of you DOC bloggers are Jewish, so I'll happily wish you a belated Happy Hanukkah!

Things should prove really busy from here until the other side of Monday. This seems to be the trend :) I have wrapping to finish and gifts to assemble. I have a full day tomorrow and I'm sure it'll be a late night on Sunday.

The best part of Christmas for me is spending Christmas morning with my nieces and nephew. Emily is old enough know to rip open presents along with her older sister, Catherine. They're very funny and should be quite the site this year.

Goodluck to those of you also crunched for time finished up Christmas responsibilities and good luck to all who are trying to be conscious and diet/stay away from sweets/not take in more than double your normal amount of insulin for this holiday! We can do it!

I've mislead you...

2006-12-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

Oh boy. I've gone and mislead you all into thinking 131 represented a blood sugar. Oh no, the other numbers were the blood sugars lately. The 131 was another number and while as a blood sugar it doesn't thrill me as much as a good ol' 100 will, I'd take a million 131s over the crap I've been seeing lately.

It's just over the number of carbs I had while indulging on Papa John's Amazing Spinach Alfredo Pizza and Parmesan Bread Sticks.

But it's the exact number of units of insulin that I took in one 24 hour period of time. Yes, the same day that I ate the PJ's ASAP and PBS. Also the same day I experienced and obvious pump tubing kink or something of the sort resulting in some wonderfully lovely ketones accompanied by high blood sugars. And sure, I don't blame myself for the pump kink aspect here, but everything else about that number was under my control and if I'm going to be really honest--the pump kink didn't account for the 50 units of insulin that I would like to have seen not be a part of my day.

As you may have inferred from this information, I am not the most sensitive to insulin. As matter of fact, I believe that I am about as resistant as anyone I've ever heard of.

Something MUST be DONE!!!

131

2006-12-17T05:29:00.000-08:00

That number represents failure to me. So do 324 and 287 and 304 in the a.m. Where's the easy button!!!!

2006-12-13T16:06:00.000-08:00

Why are all the amazing foods and beverages so stinkin' bad for us?
and if you're in New England, don't settle for any other brand. Hood is well worth the price! This is a huge symbol of Christmas for me. When I was little my mom and I used to make our own, but it was never THIS good.

The holidays certainly do throw a wrench in all efforts to become more healthy. I'm coming to grips with this. I consider myself in the planning stages of action. I'll get there, but it's just not my moment yet.

-----------------

Today, I was lazy (this laziness thing has something to do with our previous topic). Had I bolused for breakfast I would have been completely out of insulin (including the 11 units they don't tell you about). Not feeling like changing my site at my desk, I injected. I did the same for lunch and changed my set when I got home from work. I loathed injections before my pump. They were the cause of the majority of my diabetes angst! Now, I opt for injections over site changes. All things in perspective, I suppose.

2006-12-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

I've been short on time lately. So this is a very quick post to bring to your attention, alana-mireille apparel.

Alana-Mireille was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 2 years ago this past week. Even more recently, she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Alana is an adorable little girl, whose parents were not satisfied with the restrictions placed on her wardrobe by her pump! Motivated by their desire to see Alana comfortably wearing her favorite dresses again, they designed a special pocket and have launched their own clothing line. Right now they only have the dresses, a shirt, and two accessories on the site, but I've been told that a line of cargo pants will be available after the new year and they will continue to add to their line.

What's so special about their pocket, you ask?
From the website: "There are insulin pump pockets on both sides of the dress. Each pocket can be accessed either underneath the dress or the side pocket. You use the side pocket to pull out the insulin pump to deliver the insulin and you use the underneath pocket to hold the pump and the tubing. Therefore the pump isn't going to come out while jumping and playing and the tubing is concealed so it won't snag."

Another great aspect of their products is that they are donation portions of their profits will go to JDRF and the Diabetes Association Inc. in Fall River, MA (not the ADA). The Diabetes Association Inc. offers a camp for children with diabetes as well as support groups and also works towards prevention of diabetes in the community.

So, head on over to alana-mireilleapparel.com and spread the word. Just because they have specialty pockets doesn't mean a child without diabetes wouldn't enjoy one of these adorable dresses! And if you have a boy, be patient, the cargo pants are coming!

a warm welcome

2006-12-05T14:14:00.000-08:00

Surf on over to Liz' blog at pumplover.blogspot.com

Liz is a Type 1 diabetic and brand new blogger! I have the privilege of knowing Liz through work (and her father was my high school trig teacher). But really, I know her because of work.

She just started blogging after months of reading your blogs (she hadn't found mine yet, but I went out on a limb and so now she knows where I'm at--Hi Liz).

So, go on over and be sure to leave a comment!

Getting it done

2006-12-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

I'm slipping.
And they say it's a slippery slope.

You see, way back when, I'd debate whether or not to take an injection before going to sleep. A dangerous question if answered wrong. Most times I took the shot. A few times, I didn't. Oh well, I wake up a little thirsty, right. And 20 years down the road loss of vision. ugh.

Tonight, I sit here really comfortable-like and the beeping of my pump reminds me that my reservoir is low and has been for hours. The dashes an indication that I'm scraping the bottom.

I'm tired. I'm sick and tired of site changes and insulin vials, of beeping machines attached to my body, of counting carbs and of this disease.

But it's the unknown complications and battles that the future holds that dictate the necessity of dragging my butt off this couch, digging out a reservoir and a site, finding my blue inserter device and getting it done.

Isn't that what it's all about, every day--Getting it done?

Time for Bullets

2006-11-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

This is my first post from my new laptop and my ever so friendly neighbor's unsecured high speed internet (I have DSL, but with his to use, I don't have to bother installing DSL software).
Kevin has given up sweets for 3 months! Kudos to him. No, I am not going to join him, because I don't honestly eat many sweets, so to give them up seems like the least of my worries.
NaBloPoMo is over for me when I hit that little orange "Publish" button. Not so sure that I would call it fun or wonderful, but it's over. Good Enough.
Today should be photothursday, but I'm slacking.
My thought is, now that NaBloPoMo is over, I will try and concentrate a little more on something for the weight loss. (Have I said this already. Geez, I feel like I might have, so I'm gonna stop).
I managed to get the D blogs on my "to read" list down to 41. Stop posting people!

That's all. I wonder with what frequency you'll hear from me now... hmm.

catching up...

2006-11-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

I have 170 unread Diabetes Blogs to read... I think the number is a little steep, so my suspicion is that a few people republished their blogs and didn't actually write 25-30 blog entries while I was on that short little vacation.

Had some annoying blood sugar issues while I was gone, but I must say that today was just wonderful. 156 isn't a non-diabetic number, but for a diabetic like me 156 makes me smile on a day filled with hard work and travel!

I am really happy to be home and to sleep in my own bed tonight. Speaking of that...

I'll be back tomorrow with another mediocre post to fulfill my commitment to Naplobomo *how is that spelled again :)

After that post, it's back to random posts at random times, but the good news is that I can start thinking about this weight lose initiative idea thing that's been floating around. If we're going to do it, let's do it right! Email me with thoughts. orsa.aetas [at] gmail [dot] com

2006-11-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

Had a miserable blood sugar day. Woke up in the mid 300s. Took me until lunch to get to 110. Then I got to deal with lows :) First low: juice. Second low: FRUIT PUNCH tabs. My professional opinion-yum. Back up to 214 by 4pm. Then a big dinner and now I'm in the mid 200s again. Bolus and sleep should help.

One more day. I fly home tomorrow. yay.

It's the simple things...

2006-11-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

that keep me happy sometimes. I packed the glucose tabs small container and the large backup, so I wasn't in need when we arrived at Wal-mart, but we happened to walk through the diabetes aisle (we have our own stinkin' aisle--Granted half the items are protein bars and splenda, but whaever). It caught my eye. FRUIT PUNCH GLUCOSE TABS!!! Where have you been my whole life?!

I HATE the BD orange tabs. I get bored with the normal ones, but I use them and the taste isn't entirely offensive to me. BUT a new flavor! I could not resist.

The problem now is taste testing the new tabs. I certainly don't hope for a low and I'm not gonna just eat one, but I really really want to know! It's quite the conundrum. Inevitably, like death and taxes really, there will be another low and the new fruit punch tabs will be tucked away for trying! I can't wait, or can I?

2006-11-26T20:42:00.000-08:00

In North Carolina. Only 2 miles from South Carolina. Longest two driving days of my life!!!!!! I'm going to bed! :)

2006-11-25T05:09:00.000-08:00

Remember This? And then I called Joslin to have them send me my results and get them over the phone?

Well I received the first set of results very shortly after calling. Another set the next day and my third set yesterday morning.

I think Joslin is trying to punish me for calling; Too bad they're taking it out on a tree.

(I packed and leave in 1 hr 39 mins. :) )

.black friday.

2006-11-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

I've left the house three times today...to do laundry. No full contact shopping for me! It was so much easier to dial dell and order over the phone (Thanks Dad!--cashing in on my bday and Christmas combined present, right smack dab in the middle of the two "holidays"). A big "Way to Go" goes out to Phillip over at Dell. Not only is he working today (how quickly I forget what it's like to be in retail), but he also had the misfortune of meeting me via phone this morning. He really was exceptional though; checked all my prices and processed my super-duper 20% off coupon code (Thank you Internet!) AND he didn't seem annoyed at all. :)

I have a bigger task today, however. I need to pack. I'm a last minute person by nature, but I have a special, "oh poop, this is the time!" talent. It's that minute when I need to start the task at hand or else it won't be finished. I have yet to reach that point. I want to be at that point, really, I do. Just like I tried to write those three 15-20 page papers ahead of time in college, but I couldn't, so I wrote 2 one night and the third the other night. Yep, I am a procrastinator and I am good at it. I'm down to 4.5 hours to pack, hit Walmart for any needed "stuff" and get to the movies--Anyone seen Happy Feet yet?--for 7pm. I did have the presence of mind to find my doctor's note for traveling ahead of time. I'm sure there aren't many people willing to write me a note today!

So, NaBloPomo... is gonna be a stretch these next few days, as it won't be my priority. The intention for this exercise was not to wow you with my prose or to win prizes (although, I wouldn't mind), but was more for the self-discipline exercise, so I feel as though I've accomplished the goal with or without a full month's worth of posts.

North Carolina here I come! oh, right, once I've packed... hmmph!

Thanksgiving PhotoThursday

2006-11-23T10:08:00.000-08:00

I am most thankful this November for my two nieces and my nephew:

My oldest niece, Catherine. She's the ham and the photogenic one. She's also taking after her aunt and can be seen running around the house with someone's digital camera, snapping pictures and ordering people to smile or sit with whoever the subject is. It's great.

The middle child, Emily. T-r-o-u-b-l-e Also, the wild woman and when you get her started giggling, she just keeps going and going, but watch out if she's sick of misses mommy, she's a terror!

The baby and future spaceman, Aidan. Weighing in at 4 lbs and 3 oz at birth (4 weeks early), he is up to 6 lbs and 3 oz now. Seemingly no adverse health effects from being a premie, Thank God!

I'm including a more up to date photo of him outside of his bubble and at his current weight (18.5 inches!)...

And one of the proud sisters dressed in orange for orange day at Catherine's school.

photo credit: 1st 2 photos: me. last 3 photos: my brother/his wife

beta beta beta

2006-11-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

I did it. I switched to beta.
I wasn't going to, but curiosity got the best of me. Well that and the fact that there was something better... or was there?

One of the features of beta, the new, easy to use template rearranger/formatter, I can't use. If I do switch to it, I lose all of my formatting (i.e. banner, font, diabetes ribbon, etc). And some things, like the font and colors are easy fixes, especially with the new beta, but other things like the banner, require more work, so I am holding off on those things.

Another annoyance I have is the signing in with my gmail account. I might have benefited from thinking this through more thoroughly. The gmail account associated with this blog is not my everyday, send me an email, email. This is because I'm sensitive about my anonymity here on the good ol' internet. So, in order to comment on your blog or even write this blog, I have to sign out of my email and log into the other account. Slight annoyance.

However, Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so I'm going to try to be thankful for all the wonderful people at google who have provided me with the best email service I've ever had (yay for less spam and spam that filters itself well and for spam recipes, which I'd never, ever cook). Google also provides me with answers and my calendar. Yay google.

I'm thankful for some other things this evening and here they are in an ever so convenient, bulleted format:

Did you read about the chemical explosion in Danvers, Ma? I went to school very nearby to that town. I am amazed at how large the explosion was (I had a friend a couple of towns over who were frightened by the blast and apparently it was felt as far away as parts of Maine and NH.) I'm also amazed that no one was killed. It reminds me of how thankful I should be. (If you want to see more photos and info, go to Boston.com, but you'll have to sign up for a free registration.
I'm not a fan of the holidays. I don't have a big family and I just found out on Sunday where I would be spending tomorrow. (I'm not a grinch, really) That being said, I am thankful that I will spend dinner with my two wonderful nieces and my new nephew!
If my scale is correctly calibrated to the one at Joslin, I've lost weight since my appointment and hopefully a little more than just water weight or whatever (technically the scale read 7 lbs under my weight as of October 27th; I hope I'm only being pessimistic without a need to be). Whatever lit the fire under my butt, thank you.
I'm tired. I am extremely thankful for the bed I have in the other room and the heat that I can afford to keep me warm on a bitterly cold night like tonight.
I'm thankful for my computer :) duh.
This may be cliche by tomorrow afternoon, but I'm thankful for the Diabetes OC and the wonderfully supportive and understanding people that are a part of it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

(I'll be back tomorrow with a Thanksgiving PhotoThursday type of post. Can't give up on Nablopomo after all these days!)

oh, and beta has me paranoid just like the comments... I just copied and pasted the whole post, because you never know when a beta program's gonna freak out and delete!

half baked? & weight loss stuff!

2006-11-21T19:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this hear before or just thought about mentioning it, but I get a very distinct feeling that God is trying to tell me something. And specifically that I need to eat at home and never, ever eat at restaurants.

Why you ask?

Because most times I visit a restaurant something is screwed up. My picky eating habits used to get blamed for this, but really I've noticed that it's not my eating habits, it's just me.

Tonight's round:

A small local inn restaurant. Menu item: "fish and chips"

My order: "Fish and chips with a baked potato instead of french fries please" (You know an attempt to be healthy!) Oh and I ordered a small cup of clam chowder.

There was nothing wrong with the chowder except that it didn't taste very good. I ate very little of it-the waitress (waitress, didn't we have a waiter?) didn't even ask about it. I wonder if people there normally only put a quarter inch dent into their chowder.

The meal arrives and the tartar sauce is obviously "different." Some would say I'm just being picky, but please, please, if you ever write a menu warn me when something is completely out of the ordinary, such as your use of sweet red relish instead of normal good ol' relish. Yuck!

Entirely more disturbing would be the baked potato; It was half-baked, maybe? Hard. yup. So I ordered french fries to replace the not cooked potato. A few minutes after my father finished eating his meal, my french fries arrived (yup, that long). So, all attempts at being healthy were thrown out the window, the fish just wasn't good without the proper tartar sauce, and we got to pay full price for all our items. Good thing, because a discount might have been too generous.

I just don't get it. Maybe my standards are too high? Perhaps I should just eat hard "baked" potatoes. Maybe I should just order french fries when eating out, just fries, who can screw up fries!?

What a waste of time.

I feel like two days of ranting might come across the wrong way, but too bad :)

-------------

In other news, the whole baked potato ordering was the new attempt at being healthy in this push for weight loss that I've been tossing around the past couple of weeks. I'm brainstorming ideas for us all. I know some concern about starting pre-holidays has come up and I think we should all gear ourselves up for what's to come. Start making some small changes even though it is the holidays. I've started bringing lunch to work. Just a small step. Maybe it's something different like ordering healthier sides at a restaurant (just make sure the restaurant doesn't suck--I'm not bitter; Have I told you all how much I LOVE baked potatoes; once again, not bitter). Or parking the car way the heck out in the middle of the mall parking lot with the employees just to get some extra steps in.

I'm sure there are other ways to work some healthy-ness into our everyday lives. Any suggestions!?

Ignorant much?

2006-11-20T15:55:00.000-08:00

Regarding Adam Morrison. Written after Gonzaga was knocked out of the tourny this past spring.

"Frankly, I have grave doubts that Morrison is going to be a top NBA player. He's thin, doesn't guard anyone, and needs the ball all the time. Besides, he is diabetic, which is more serious than many seem to realize."

Read the whole article.

I read this quote today. A lot of things that we hear and read about diabetes makes us angry or disappointed. This short excerpt was no different for me. I emailed the author. I'm not sure if I overreacted or if how I read it, was how it was stated.

To me it sounds flippant. As if the first three reasons he gave were not enough and even if they aren't enough it wouldn't matter, because besides all this, he's a diabetic; and it's serious, folks. UGH.

In my email I pointed out to him the professional athletes currently competing. I only emailed because I think people need to hear it more. They need to realize that we're not going to die tomorrow although we could.

All I ask is that people take diabetes seriously (stop comparing my insulin to your anti-depressants or the research that goes into my diabetes to the lack of research for your condition (non-life threatening)). But while you're recognizing our danger, our challenges, our adversity, please do not limit us. We don't limit ourselves, so anything you say will only further motivate me!

ugh!

Lazy Sundays

2006-11-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

Stolen from Julia.

Dude! You're 100% from Massachusetts!

Dude! Me and Sully and Fitzie and Sean are gonna hit Landsdowne tonight after the game, hang out at the Beerworks. I'll pick you up at the Coop at 6.

How Massachusetts are you?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

92% TRUE Red Sox Fan, PLAY ON!

Yeah you are a true and dedicated Red Sox fan, ya wicked sweet ma--hole! Kick those Yanks back to New Yawk where they belong! Go Red Sox! Yankees suck, Yankees suck!!

Are You a True Dedicated RED SOX Fan?
Quizzes for MySpace

Still unsure which question I got wrong on the red sox one. Perhaps the who is hotter one? Since three of the four choices no longer play for the sox and at least one other question was about a former red sox player turned yankee (stupid damon, although I never really liked him, honest), I think they need a new quiz.

Feeling Pressured

2006-11-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling very pressured as of late to change over to beta blogger, but I'm standing my ground! I haven't heard any nice things about it yet, so until they make me move, I'm happy where I am! However, they're (google) trying very hard! Anyone have any positives to share?

I know my blog doesn't have a very large readership (although since installing the sitemeter thinger, I'm surprised to see the amount of visitors that I have), but two people or three have expressed interest in losing weight and the idea that perhaps the OC could pull together and encourage each other. Any ideas on how this can be done? I had a friend lose some weight doing a "biggest loser" type "game" at her work--she also won some money. I am vague on all the details, but if you gained weight you had to put money in the pot and you weighed in each week. Not so sure that would work over the internet and money isn't something I'm dying to give away! BUT perhaps we could find something else to motivate us?

If you're interested and didn't leave a comment, let's talk about this. And Scott, you're not allowed to come up with excuses to not join! If you were, then I don't think any of us would be participating (that might be the root of the problem!)

We might need a bigger forum than my blog for this idea, but if a few people are sincerely interested, then let's get the ball rolling and encourage others to join us!

Have a happy Saturday! I'm off to CT to spend some time with the extended family and meet my new cousin for the first time!

2006-11-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I came across a new blog, AtomicTumor. I have no idea how, but I started reading the archives and sat at my computer simply amazed and hurting for this family. Just after Halloween a young mother of two boys, 4th grade and 4 years old, became very ill. Her husband dedicated their blog as a vigil and place to update about his wife's condition. His love for her throughout the past 17 days has inspired many people and has broken many hearts today. BJ/GAC (as she is referred to on the blog) was pronounced brain dead this morning and has passed away. The internet is an amazing thing. As the diabetes community we've offered each other support and created a bond. This man has touched many people through his love for his wife. I encourage you to read some of his posts, leave a message for his family, and say a prayer. 29 years old is too young to be taken by such a mysterious illness. A nine year old boy should not lose his mother just days before his birthday and no four year old can fully grasp what he will be faced with.

The statement from the blog:
"GAC, my 29 year old wife, the mother of two young children, and a frequent writer here is in dire condition. The root cause is unknown, but she is in critical condition at an ICU here in Oak Ridge, TN.
While this is happening, I'm hijacking what is normally a once a day, write whatever kind of blog and turning it into a journal and a vigil for her.
This began on October 30, became serious on November 2nd, and became critical on November 3rd. Feel free to catch up in the archives.

BJ passed away today, November 17. Her family had a chance to say good bye, and it was a peaceful death. I will continue writing about my experiences, because it is therapeutic, and because maybe it will help you."

Hooray for PhotoThursday!

2006-11-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite photos from spring break in Ireland my senior year of college. This is the back side of the Dublin Castle as seen through a wire railing on a set of stairs leading down to the maze and coach house. You can see more pictures (not mine) of the castle, gardens, and coach house here. The first photograph on that page shows the random primary color buildings quite well. If you ask me they look a bit out of place, but I'm not complaining--this photo makes me happy every time I see it.

Another great thing about PhotoThursday is that it provides a break from Diabetes. :) I haven't any great diabetes related photographs to show!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

.an honest post.

2006-11-15T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today was a bad day. I'm not a terribly open, here's how I'm feeling kind of person. Tonight, I'm going to attempt it. Not for pity or for lack of outlets, but because I need to say it. There needs to be an admission.

My A1C result was fine; I'm not complaining, as previously stated. It's the weight, BMI and cholesterol lines that scare me. I've vowed to stay off of Lipitor or any other medicines. There is a strict policy in my proverbial medicine cabinet (I say proverbial because we all know our diabetes testing supplies don't fit in any medicine cabinet). The policy states that I take insulin period. As a child at my summer camp (I was the only diabetic), I used to think to myself during my many visits to the nurses' station, "Wow, I'm really glad I don't have to take pills every day. I wonder how these kids remember" and there would be a feeling of pity that they would be taking those pills for the rest of their lives for whatever ailment they might have.

I think of this now and of course I think I was a fool. But at the same time, I'm thankful that I wasn't focusing on my condition and the pain I could have faced thinking of myself as one of them. I took 3 shots a day, but for whatever reason, it just seemed routine. So, as I'm thinking of my cholesterol tonight and it has me rather annoyed, I trek over to the laundromat and while I'm tossing my clothes into the washer a commercial for Lipitor comes on. oy.

While taking my clothes out of the dryer, I am listening to Jeopardy on the television. The question is looking for the term referring to a person with a BMI of over 35. The answer: morbidly obese. double oy. And that leads into my frustrations today.

Tonight, diabetes or no diabetes, I'm fed up. A coworker and I started this January stating that we'd like to lose weight. She lost weight. I managed to gain what I would have liked to have lost. Not the total I would have liked to lose, but the amount that I considered my first goal. You know, trying to start small and not overwhelm myself. I lost about 7 pounds total before gaining it all back and then another 15 pounds. I'm really angry right now thinking about it. With or without diabetes, it needs to be dealt with. The cholesterol might be able to wait. The number's not THAT high. But I see the medications as being yet another easy way out. Take a pill instead of changing a diet or starting to exercise.

I know what needs to be done, but I am completely unwilling to change. What the hell is wrong with me? (For any one keeping track that is the first use of profanity here at orsa.aetas, just so you know) So, my first step is to write it down and unfortunately for you all, I choose my blog as my paper. Second step will be to eat saltine crackers and drink water for the next 365 days until I'm thin as a rail. Does anyone know if saltines have cholesterol?

2006-11-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else ever have trouble with the security codes to ensure you're not a spam comment on blogger?

I don't blame blogger; Not at all. It's all me. For some reason I cannot read the things right and type the right letters into the box.

Confession: It once took me three tries.

Please tell me this has happened to you? It doesn't need to be frequent (I have trouble probably once every half dozen comments).

Oh and for the record, I blame the fancy fonts they use.

6.7

2006-11-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

I finally gave in and called Joslin.

The nice lady told me she would put the results right in the mail. I stopped her and asked, "Could I have them over the phone too?"

She was ok with that (I wonder what she thought I wanted :) )

I'm not disappointed. I think I might be stuck (though I can't remember my last A1C now!), but I'm not willing to admit it yet even if I am. I've only been pumping just over a year now and I have some things that I NEED to do before inserting more drugs into my daily routine (i.e. exercise more frequently, attack the eating habits)

I hadn't set a goal for myself, so I can't say I missed it :) I think my goal of late has been to not have it go up. My new goal is to set some goals!

A little more than you wanted to know about me, perhaps.

2006-11-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

I'm a little slow sometimes :) Here's the survey/meme most people filled out about 2 weeks ago!

1. Do you still have tonsils? Yep.

2. Would you bungee jump? Probably not, but I'd never admit it (well I guess I just did.) I'd give an excuse such as not having enough money or it is a waste of money or it's too dangerous, but not that I was scared or couldn't handle it. Just that it was impractical!

3. If You Could Do Anything In The World For A Living What Would It Be? Oooh, I would love to be a photographer for a magazine like National Geographic.

4. How many tattoos do you have? Zero.

5. Your favorite fictional animal? Elliot from Pete's Dragon!

6. One person that never fails to make you laugh? My friend Matt or Brian.

7. Do you consider yourself well organized? Depends. I try. And I know where everything is, mostly, but it all looks a mess!

8. Any Addictions? um, diet pepsi, but I'm working on it!

9. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? CNN

10. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus? Carnival I guess, but really an amusement park would be better!

11. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher. (Dropped that going into my Jr. year of college.

12. Best Movie You've Seen This Year? This is a difficult question--I can't remember what I had for breakfast.

13. Favorite alcoholic drink? Malibu & diet coke; jagermeister (did you know that's german for "hunt master?"); Bailey's Irish Cream!

14. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Test my blood sugar.

15. Siblings? An older brother-6 years older.

16. What is the best thing about your job? The people I meet and the kids, oh and that I work with a computer--I'm comfortable with computers.

17. Have you ever gone to therapy? My dad did and I remember going with him, so I don't think it was for me, so, no.

18. If you could have one super power what would it be? Healing would be cool. :) Not only for the obvious selfish reason.

19. Do you own any furniture from Ikea? Nope, but we just got one a little bit ago and it's huge! Maybe some day when I have some time, a truck, and a little extra cash!

20. Have you ever gone camping? Oh yeah. It's posh camping, but camping none the less.

21. Gas prices! First thought? If they get too bad, I can just put the car in neutral and coast down the hill to work.

22. Your favorite cartoon character? I used to like Marvin the Martian. I have no idea why because I was frightened of aliens as a child.

23. What was your first car? A ghetto white 1988 Ford Escort hand-me-down from my brother... complete with tinting, bra, and rain shield in the back window. It was a standard (all my cars have been) and a hatchback! I MISS Butch (yes, he had a name)

24. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual? Nope.

25. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons? Cosby Show.

26. Do you go to church? Yes, I do.

27. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? Tedi Bruschi.

28. What errand/chore do you despise? Vacuuming. I hate it more than sweeping.

29. First thought when the alarm went off this morning? crap, I'm tired!

30. Last time you puked from drinking? Never. I hate puking... I try my hardest to stay away from it.

31. What is your heritage? 1/2 English. 1/2 French Canadian.

32. Favorite flower? Pastel Tulips.

33. Disney or Warner Bros? Disney.

34. What is your best childhood memory? Going to the beach with my dad (Now I hate the beach, but then it wasn't so bad)

35. Your favorite potato chip? Salt & Vinegar.

36. What is your favorite candy? Butterfingers, Red Hots, or Airheads.

37. Do you burn or tan? burn...

38. Astrological sign? Scorpio.

39. Do you own a gun? No

40. What do you think of hot dogs? I like 'em--the beef ones! Burnt and without a bun.

who needs sleep... well you're never gonna get it...

2006-11-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to write about (nothing that requires thinking anyway!) I just woke up from 6 hours of sleep after staying awake for 25 hours. That Providence Bruins game I alluded to last post was just a portion of an all-nighter event! It's 4:30 pm now and I just woke up and I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I think it was worth it though; I will reevaluate tomorrow.

My blood sugars are always a little screwy and understandably so. This night was no different. I did a site change before leaving the house, so I first clocked in at 330. Then a few hours later I did my first drop to 54 (my body's screaming at me: "What the heck are you doing up at this hour!!!!!!" My best and most controlled blood sugars, ironically were while playing soccer for 3 hours (12am-3am) with no temp basal. Instead I ate two slices of pizza at midnight and only bolused for 1. Not to shabby (112 and 114-pre and post). I can't say my judgment was great--I didn't test at all while running around (oops!). I had a low at bowling and a low right before breakfast (mmmm... sprite--at this point I was out of glucose tabs from the 11:30pm and 4:30 am ones; I should have packed the big bottle not the tube :) or maybe I should have refilled the tube---DUH!)

Now the worst of it is that I went to bed after breakfast, an oil change in my car (I think if I didn't just type that I would have forgotten that I got it done!), and a quick trip with friends to Home Depot and Walmart (those poor employees-it was like I was in college again and all three of us had been up over 24 hours). Oh that was a bad sentence! I went to sleep with a blood sugar of 86. I woke up an hour later drenched in sweat and at a level of 54 (seemed high for the symptoms!) I rarely overtreat a low! VERY VERY RARELY. Moral of the evening: being sleep deprived will mess with your head.

It's been six hours and I'm not hungry. The only MEAL I've had today was breakfast at 7am (a pancake and a side of bacon). What I corrected with: a juice box, a package of crackers, an airhead (how did I even find an airhead!?), and a big ol' bowl of cocoa puffs. Post nap BS: 247 (I knew instantly when I woke up that I forgot to take on the MILK in my BOLUS. ugh!)

I think some of the things that happened this morning are going to come back to me tonight, while I'm out celebrating a friend's 50th birthday... and it's just gonna be too funny to not sit there and laugh.

Things to remember for next year:
site changes to be done well before event begins!
refill your glucose tablets and remember snacks, fool.
Bring a bottled juice or powerade.
Don't sleep away your whole Saturday!

To the Home Depot employees: We're sorry if you were confused by us. Yes we were standing in the paint aisle for over 10 mins. It's just that you had Pirates of the Caribbean on the television and there was a wall to lean against. We were tired. :)

2006-11-10T23:18:00.000-08:00

I posted earlier about not receiving my A1C results and as of 4pm today (2 weeks post visit) I still have no idea what the results were. I wonder if it's because of all the other tests they must have been running with the 4 vials of blood they took. I must say, the phlebotomists at Joslin are the best I've ever had--even if she did drop a vial on the floor.

Has anyone else heard that the instant A1C machines are less reliable than having the lab do the blood work? I have heard that the home ones are, but are the machines that they have in doctor's offices less reliable as well?

Julia posted below that the technicians that she has encountered always gripe that some higher-up won't put out the money for the machines. Hmm.

Joslin, please send me my results! Thanks. :)

--------------

I'm having a hard time pinning down my morning numbers issue. I can go to bed at 112 after a snack 2 hours earlier and wake up at 280. This is not normal! I've tried not eating before bed and I had great results (read post on November 3; sorry for some reason my blogs don't have links to open in their own windows. I broke my blog-crap!). Last night I tried eating something with the carb counts on the package. Went to bed and woke up with great numbers. So, my last evaluation here is that my carb counting is a little bit shoddy at night. oops.

--------------

This is where I'll be tonight! My second favorite event with our youth group kids!

Imagine a day without Diabetes

2006-11-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Dear HR Department,

I would like to submit my request for a vacation. Some time off hardly seems like a long time after 19 years of uninterrupted service to you. Nineteen long years of finger pricks, shots, blood sugars, A1C’s, ketone strips; of bouts with depression and anger, asking why me and praying for it all to be taken away.
I truly didn’t understand the long-term commitment ahead of me and I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that, as a five year old, I didn’t sign up for this! You chose me. I do apologize if that seems petty.
It didn’t occur to me at the time when I was thrown into all of this that the benefits were so few—camp friends, the Diabetes OC (I’m struggling to make this list any longer)—and the demands were so many—constantly on call, wide swings of emotion, complications, loneliness, alienation (I’ll spare you the whole list). I’m glad I didn’t know. It wouldn’t have done me any better to look to the future. Instead I had hope. Hope for a permanent vacation. My retirement was my reason for persisting through it all (I persisted less hard during college, I’ll admit) and the hope that I could enjoy myself without the 24/7 demands that you’ve put onto me.
My retirement seems far off right now and this affects my perseverance and efforts. I’m beginning to slip again. If I could just enjoy a short vacation, I think you’ll see a stellar performance one more.

I will eagerly await your approval on this matter.

-----------
I have a question for you all (with or without diabetes):

When you hear the phrase "Imagine a day without diabetes," what does it mean to you?

I think of a literal day without diabetes. One 24 hour period of freedom. Non-diabetics that I have asked responded that it makes them think of a cure. I am interested in knowing what the question stirs up in you. I think it's telling that I am moved by just the prospect of one single day without this disease. As much as I would love a cure and would never turn it down, I think sometimes I lose hope. I don't think about the cure often and I certainly don't expect it (not trying to be negative). I think I'm bitter and I think I need hope. I have more hope for those who are young now. For Gracie. For Joseph. For every child with diabetes.

I need to remember that my hope for a cure is not a selfish thing, but a hope for them.

PhotoWednesday

2006-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is D-blog day, so it won't be PhotoThursday here. Instead, it's PhotoWednesday! I'm never usually early for anything. Hopefully I can shake the tiredness and sniffles and organize my thoughts on what to write (I really truly have an idea. Getting onto paper, um, the screen is a different story!)

Diabetes-wise, my numbers are all over. I will start logging again on Monday. I took a short break following my doctor's appt. I think it's time to get motivated by seeing what I'm doing on paper again. Being sick so frequently and the eating habits are not helping anything! Although, I'm cooking at home more, but the plain potato chips are just calling my name! Onto photos...

The following three photos I took this past weekend and were really my three favorites. Especially now that I've gone and doctored them to my liking :)

my nephew

the moon

my friend, matt

I hope you enjoyed.

And if you're a sketchy person looking to steal my photos, please get your own :) (If anyone knows a quick and easy way to lock out right-clicking and saving, I'd be thrilled to know!)

2006-11-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

I was out searching the internet for a diabetes ribbon that I liked. I found this one. Wow. I like it :) Can't put the photo here though, so you'll have click the link. It says that they are out of stock, so I am not even sure if it's possible to order these again. Before I buy a diabetes ribbon charm that most people won't even recognize as such, perhaps I should focus on that I.D. bracelet I spoke about and still haven't gotten!

And then I found this one. It's the one now located on my sidebar, but I revised it just slightly, so it's smaller and doesn't look like a button. :)

Do you go to Joslin?

2006-11-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

I recently started going back to Joslin (I hadn't been there since I was a kid) and I was wondering how long it takes to get lab results back. My old doctor's office had a machine in the room to test, so I would know before I left and the doctor and I would discuss it. I'm approaching the two week mark now on my appointment--I'm getting a little anxious and impatient! So, how long does it take Joslin typically?

I have been eating EVERYTHING in sight today. Weird kind of day. Not sure what my issue is, but I have a suspicion. I just hate ending the day feeling 20 lbs heavier than when I started! ugh. I also get disappointed at my own lack of self-control. Lame.

I'm trying not to get too down on myself. My usual excuse is that it'll pass and I'll be fine, but a day of off numbers and extra food isn't helping anything and I'm willing to bet it might even be hurting things.

worthwhile research?

2006-11-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

Came across this news article just about 30 seconds ago. Sounds like a middle school science fair experiment to me, but apparently some Dutch scientists thought it was worth researching. It does slightly irk me that we still have no cure for cancer, AIDS, the common cold, and oh, say, diabetes. However, we can all rest easier knowing that if we're without duct tape, good ol' wart removing corn pads will work just as well and without the risk of rash. (Am I even lamer for having read the article?!)

In other news, it seems that everyone is having a baby! I know of at least 3 babies that were born in October. (one is my nephew!) My cousin adopted a little boy who had just been born in October. Two coworkers are expecting grandchildren in the next 2 weeks. I just received an email from two friends in college who have been married just over a year and are now pregnant and due in June! Seems like everyone to me ;)

pre-gamin'

2006-11-05T17:18:00.000-08:00

Perhaps a different definition of the phrase, "pre-gaming," but a slice of blueberry pie will hopefully provide me with the necessary energy for optimal football watching tonight!

In short:

Pats v. Colts NOW!

A new look!

2006-11-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

You know what's great?! Going to bed at 102 and waking up at 106. I like knowing that my basals work. I was slightly uncomfortable with the 102, but then I remembered that I haven't had a nighttime low in a month or so. (And I always wake up. Lows actually keep me from falling asleep and wake me up. Now, at 4 am, if I decided not to treat, I could easily fall back asleep, but thankfully I haven't done this)

------------------

Late last night I manually changed the blogger template a bit using my old html skills from high school/college and some educated guessing. It took some time to find what I wanted, because I never way completely proficient in html or java, but I took my courses, so I understand tags and why things are set up the way they were.

The banner I made using gimp 2.2, which is a great, free alternative to photoshop; for those of us who do not make a living doing this nor do we spend a lot of time chopping. I'm slowly (very very slowly) learning how to use the features. Scale came in very important for the banner, since my first attempt was wider than the rest of the page--oops.

The images used are my own; taken this summer while camping.

Last minute!

2006-11-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a procrastinator!

Technically I have over an hour before today is over and tomorrow begins, but I still feel like it's late to be doing this :) However, I feel no pressure and am not stressed--I'd be worried if I were.

I searched around the internet a bit today for a Diabetes Ribbon image that I didn't think looked dull. This was in response to Penny's Post about the lack of Diabetes Awareness marketing ploys, essentially. I have to wonder if on top of all the reasons Penny brings up, if part of the issues isn't that our ribbons are dull and boring. Gray is kind of a blah color. Pink is vibrant. Red is bold. Yellow is hopeful. Gray is dreary. I think the idea works well on Red Ribbons. However, it does make me focus on the blood part of diabetes--and that I should check my blood sugar!

I think, Penny, that a good way to raise awareness is to work together. I remember a kid at camp in Jr. High wearing a blue ribbon on his hat. It was very tattered; as was the hat. Finally I asked him what it was for. He responded that his sister had died in a car accident and it was to honor her.
If those of us who take the issue of Type 1 diabetes to heart wear our ribbons (we should probably stick with one color, even if it is the dull gray), people will begin to ask about the significance. Perhaps it's a small movement, but I think it could grow and I don't think we should be satisfied with any excuses. Diabetes needs to be an issue. One in three kids born in this generation will become diabetic at some point in their life. Our nation can not afford to ignore this issue anymore!

Once I find an acceptable ribbon (in my opinion), I'll add it to my site.

Thanks Penny for challenging us to rethink how we approach Diabetes Awareness!

PhotoThursdays

2006-11-02T13:39:00.001-08:00

If I'm going to stick with this for the month of November, I'm going to need to be creative. Thursdays are BUSY, so I'll share images each Thursday. We'll see if there are other days that need images, but for now, it's just Thursday.

I really enjoy photography. Some of my stuff is good. Some of it is just ok. I have a few shots that I really love.

This shot falls into my good category I think. I don't love it, but it sort of jumps out at me more than many of the other shots from this particular day. Since it was extremely COLD today (comparatively--soon it'll be much colder), I wanted to share a summer photo.

-nablopomo-

2006-11-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

So, I would NEVER write a book. Not that I haven't thought about how cool it would be to write a book, but really my attention span would have failed me long before the first chapter was done. When I was a kid, however, I wrote little stories and broke them into chapters and they most all contained ridiculously simple conversation. I found some in the basement not too long ago and was very amused. However, I did start a blog and I have managed to neglect it well enough. This whole a post a day (at least) thing sparked a little interest. I don't have commitment issues. I have follow through and self discipline issues. I almost didn't send the email to say I was participating. My excuse was that I could just make myself post each day; I didn't need to tell anyone I was doing it. See, if I make a promise, I keep it. If there's no measuring of success or anyone to be held accountable to, then I might not follow through. So here's the beginning of a month of posts (maybe I'll even win a prize).

This self-discipline/accountability thing, by the way, did not carry over into my early diabetes management. I told the doctor I would test and I would call in my numbers to get out of his office, not because I meant it--I guess I only lie to people I don't care about? I never would call him. He would get upset. It was quite the relationship. Something changed though. I'm better now. I think the cure to all this is really being in the right place and right frame of mind. I'm not going to follow through and put effort into those things that I'm passionate about and care about. At the time, Diabetes was not what I cared about. Sure I was afraid of the long term affects, but having just come out of puberty with diabetes (hell), I didn't see the point. After all, Diabetes was not manageable by any means, so no matter how hard I tried, my control would always be less than ideal. My doctors would always be disappointed. I've learned in the past few years that Diabetes is manageable. It's tough. It's a 24/7 kind of job. It sucks. But I feel as though there is a little bit of sense to it (most days). Sure things happen that have no logical explanation, but after tweaking my own insulin doses and figuring out my own carb ratios and teaching myself to count carbs, I realized some things are done by formula! I prefer formulas to guesses!

So, no thanks to my doctor, here I am today trying to exercise self-discipline and follow through in yet another area!

I think I could cry...

2006-10-31T18:24:00.000-08:00

There are certainly bigger things going on in the world to worry about and be saddened by.

But this story crushes a childhood dream. Unless I can get myself to California to spin the big wheel before he retires (unlikely). As a child I spent a LOT of time with my grandmother. She taught me to play cards. I would sit by the tv in the living room and watch Mister Roger's and Seasame Street at the age of four while playing solitaire. It was great. But, my grandmother LOVED divorce court and family court and they came on at 11am, so I would trek across the driveway to my great aunt and great uncle's house to watch The Price is Right. My least favorite part of the show was when the contestants would spin the wheel, but at the same time I dreamed of spinning it myself and playing *plinko* A favorite movie of mine is Happy Gilmore and I think the best part is that Bob Barker has a cameo--The Price is Wrong... What a great sense of humor he must have. And that brings me to my favorite quote from the article:

He [Bob Barker] said he'd take on a movie role if the right one came along, but filmmakers, take note: "I refuse to do nude scenes. These Hollywood producers want to capitalize on my obvious sexuality, but I don't want to be just another beautiful body."

And to be true to Bob, I must remind you: "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered." (I loved the safe game, because I knew there'd always be puppies shown and the reminder given!)

"Seasonal Adjustment Issue"

2006-10-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

I'm tired.

Seems so much has been going on and no matter how much sleep I get or what I do, I'm tired. Mornings have always been rough, but now I handle them even worse. At night anything past 10 and I want to be sleeping! The house is a MESS--understatement. October just seems so busy every year. Thankfully it's almost November! I think things are due to slow down, but am I going to feel better? I try and think of what is causing the lack of motivation, black circles under my eyes, generally disconnected look about me, my shortness with people at work, my depleted energy levels. Really it's sad and I think about how every year around November I get sick and it just stays with me. Then finally I end up with antibiotics and a mono test. This year it has hit me that maybe I have a bit of a "seasonal adjustment issue." I hesitate big time to use the word "depression" because I think it would be doing an injustice to those who do actually suffer from depression. So, I think it's more a bad time of year for me. I make major efforts to be productive, but my heart isn't in it at all. The Patriots play in just 1 hour and I want to go to bed now (8pm!) I am trying to convince myself that I love football and I couldn't stand to miss the game... or could I?

So... does anyone else struggle with a "seasonal adjustment issue?" If so, any remedies?

I'm thinking a short walk after work might give me some energy and help me to sleep better at night, perhaps making mornings more bearable. I think making diet changes will help also.

Now if I could only get the sun to stay out longer! (That would certainly help!)

In other news, my blood sugars are back to normal for the most part. No more CRAZY highs in the ams. I've switched endocrinologists and I think it will be a very good change for me. I've managed to stay on top and satisfied with my diabetes management for almost 2 years now, but I'm looking to dig a little deeper. I also hesitate to give myself A1C goals, so lower numbers are good enough for me, until I reach a point where I just don't feel like lower is better. Vague. But I like it that way, it makes failure less likely to start off without a goal--oh man, I sound like I'm still a college student!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween tomorrow. As a child for Halloween I would receive apples from my neighbor and give all my candy to my brother, but I'd always get a toy! When I got older, my father would bring me to the roller skating rink nearby and I would run into friends and speed around the rink. Up until just last November I still insisted that roller skates and not rollerblades were the way to go. Last November I changed my mind! That's just a random fact-not terribly important. :)

Looking for a little help...

2006-10-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

I currently don't wear a medical ID bracelet (gasp!) I did a little stint last summer with one. I really liked it, although it was really noticeable, and I'm not sure I'm ready to go that route again (I lost the old one). Other than that I would say I've spent most of my 18 years with diabetes without one. I've been extremely lucky to have never needed one either, but it's scary to think of what happens when you do need one and you don't wear one.

So, I'd like to see what everyone else wears. Links, photos, etc. Did you get it engraved onto a bracelet, necklace, tattoo? Does anyone know what is acceptable and what's not? What will an EMT check?

Thanks!!! :)

A happy ending every once in a while...

2006-10-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

This makes me think more about what types of things I should keep in an emergency bag!

Diabetic driver survives on crackers, dew after crash
POSTED: 9:01 a.m. EDT, October 9, 2006

MONSON, Massachusetts (AP) -- A diabetic driver survived for four days on Wheat Thins and dew after crashing his SUV into thick brush on his way home from work.

Raymond A. Vachon's wife reported the 59-year-old missing on October 3 when he didn't return from his overnight security job in Springfield. He spent four days in and out of consciousness before a dog-walker heard him yelling for help Saturday morning.

Vachon later told police he had lost control of his SUV around 5 a.m. and crashed about 30 feet into the brush along Route 32. His leg was fractured, and Vachon, who is dependent on insulin, was unconscious.

Read More

pumping insulin!

2006-10-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

I was looking at old blog entries from my other blog--which I think has died, but I hold out hope for its revival, and found this one, which reminded me of my starting on the pump just over a year ago.
-------
Syringes and such
It has been over 24 hours since I last gave myself a shot AND my blood sugars have been mostly normal! This has not happened in 18 years. As a matter of fact, I have given or gotten upwards of 16,000 injections of insulin in those 18 years and I've hated every single one just as much as the one before it. You never get used to it--so if I ever told you that-- well I straight out lied. Sure they don't hurt in a physical pain sense so much, but they do hurt sometimes. And they always suck internally. Now, I still have to think about what I'm doing and each time I eat there is a consequential action--however, there are NO shots :) I've thus far missed 3 injections. wahoo.
3 shots/day v. 1 shot/3 days. sweet.

Next step- new pancreas (wish it were that easy!)

:)
-------

My audience at the time(of maybe 3/4 readers) were people with no frame of reference outside of what they saw in me for diabetes. Which hadn't been much up until about 9 months previous to this post. I was able to drop my A1C an amazing amount (in my mind) in just 9 months and was able to do this using an NPH and Humalog regimen-just awful, but my body's allergy to Lantus did me in. So my switch to the pump was glorious! I had a few reasons to switch--some good, some were more humorous, I think.

So here's some reasons:

1. Better control. NPH really sucked.
2. No more shots. I think that's pretty evident from the above post :) In college there were nights that I would lie in bed and fight with myself on the importance of getting up and taking my bedtime shot. Most of the time I won the battle, but there were nights that I went to bed without the shot--laziness at it's best. Also a lack of desire to control the disease--it controlled me. ugh.
3. Shots in the car. Yep, I wonder how many people test while driving? Ever drawn up insulin and injected while driving? Yeah, hmm, maybe not the safest of options, but it happened.

Honestly, I think those were my driving reasons. The better control was already there... I dropped my A1C 3 points in 9 months, but the shots were just sooooo annoying.

Anywho, please comfort me that I am not the only one who ever did the things mentioned in #3 or I guess, I'd rather you don't lie to me if no one else has.

hmm.

If I owned a laptop...

2006-10-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

there would be a post here.

hmm.

:)

weddings, pumps, & billboards.

2006-09-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a lazy blogger. I think of things, but they don't make it to the computer with me.

But I am here--I want to sleep, but going to bed just after 9pm most nights is not really who I am. I am not sure why for the past 3 weeks I have been like this. Boredom? Lack of motivation? Lack of exercise--although nothing has changed here.

This weekend I drove to a wedding with a friend--19 hrs in the car and 4 at the wedding=the LONGEST 23 hr period of my life. It was just long. long time to be in a car. Very impractical way, but yet we saved money by not staying some where.

However, upon arriving at the wedding 15 minutes "early," we realize that no one else is just arriving. A short discussion had preceded our arriving in which the possibility that the wedding was at a different time was discussed. However, this being true was not an option in my mind--not after 9 hours in the car! We were 15 minutes late for the wedding and missed all but the kiss at the end (shortest wedding ever). The reception was great though.

When we arrived and found it odd that we were the only ones and it occurred to us that the wedding had already started, we simply moved as quickly as possible to get to the ceremony. This means that I did not have time to fish for my pump clip in my bag and secure said pump. So, I wasn't thrilled, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where I had to put it--in my bra. I've used this method for volleyball before, no big deal.

The problem came during the meal. I realized I was with one person who knew about my pump and only that person and the groom even had any idea I was a diabetic and well, since the wedding wasn't about me, I'm sure news hadn't travelled ;) I debated hiding behind the flaps of the tent to bolus or going to the car to get the clip, but my friend assured me that there was nothing to be worried about--really who cared, you don't know anyone. Well it's true, I knew very few people and was prepared to ask questions. What I wasn't prepared for provided me with the most entertainment of the whole trip: a woman 3 tables away was watching (scratch that, she was staring) as I pulled my pump out and bolused and then got it back in place. I pointed it out to my friend and he assured me no one was looking until he looked up at her and nearly burst out laughing at how badly she was gawking. It was great. I was asked no questions and apparently confused her or at least entertained her? or something.

I'm thankful I wasn't more sensitive about the whole thing.

however, I do really, really like pockets :) (and jeans--I love jeans!)

Best billboard seen on the trip: "Jesus is coming as lightening" Having had only 3.5 hrs of sleep and being awake for 14 hours already at this point, I envisioned a Jesus-shaped lightening bolt :) (although I did know what they meant :) )

things that make you go hmmmm.

2006-09-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you ask any diabetic they'll tell you that many times/most times there's no real reason behind the disease. I had a couple of those moments this week that confirm this.

1. Tuesday am. Wake up, blood sugar 212 (am readings are not cooperating lately!) Correction, shower, etc. Hour later, pick up my diet pepsi and donut from D & D. Ordered a jelly stick (I wanted a plain stick but apparently they're not popular anymore, so I can't get them.) Anywho, smaller than normal donut made me wonder, but I figured, it's probably for the best. Less carbs, fewer calories, etc. Eat donut. Ten am ish, test, 180ish. Meh, think nothing of it, correction bolus. Lunch. Normal blood sugar, food, bolus, etc. All normal. Afternoon, filling in my nifty little excel document courtesy of Kevin (yay, thanks!). Flipping through the pump. No morning bolus for the donut. No crazy high blood sugar symptoms. As a matter of fact, 180 didn't even register any sort of alarm for me. It was as if I just misbolused. I was perplexed. Honestly, it makes me wonder if my corrections/night time basals are off or something.

2. Last night. Bedtime (early) 9:30pm. Regular blood sugar. Wake up at midnight. 75. Not dealing with any sort of lows and also not getting out of bed. Eat three glucose tabs and go back to sleep. 7am blood sugar 264. Can't make any sense out of that one. I had no signs of a low, but I guess it's possible my body dumped some sugar. I wouldn't have had anything but basal insulin in me.

I have no idea. These are the times I say, whatever. I'm not sure I could've done anything better. In situation number one I later weighed the options: a 180 bs or a low at 9am. I think I would have found the low more frustrating.

Last post I mentioned pet peeves about lows. That weekend I encountered another one, that I'm not sure I've encountered before.

Forgetting to treat a low. I felt low, tested, was low and saw something that needed to be done (I was camping). Started to do it and thought, I feel low, I should test. Thankfully, I'm not so forgetful that I actually tested again, but instead I finally went to pour some juice. I would take a sip then put the juice down and see what needed to be done again and go do it. Then realize I've lost my juice and I'm still low!

I found this one a little odd. :)

'Every 10 Seconds...' Unite for Diabetes campaign

2006-09-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

"Every 10 seconds...' is a short film exploring the devastating impact of the global diabetes epidemic. Produced by award-winning Danish company ’FilmSolutions’ on behalf of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), this seven-minute movie explains why the global diabetes community is joining forces to campaign for a United Nations Resolution. For more info: http://www.unitefordiabetes.org"

I came across this video today at Google Video. Warning--a bit depressing. It sparked my interest in this UN Resolution. Perhaps someone has heard of this before?

Perpetual Lows & other annoyances

2006-09-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

what's a blood sugar above 70 feel like?

I haven't had one since lunch today. Some people overtreat, some people don't treat (As I've learned reading some of the blogs around here). I don't do either, but then I don't account for why I went low in the first place and I go low again.

Reason for the lows today--adrenaline. I know, it's supposed to raise your blood sugars, but I think when I get going and I need to get stuff done for work, so my blood's pumping and I'm rushing around (around being within the confines of my office, so there really isn't any exercise involved)--my blood sugar drops. I had three juices at work today between 2pm and 4:30pm (Not a record for me unfortunately). I've now had 3 lows since leaving work (or was it four) and it's only 9:40pm. I have a lot more to get done tonight and an early morning ahead of me. If I drop to a temp rate, I'll have a high and find myself unable to sleep. Ah, the things people with fully functioning pancreases (pancreai?) take for granted. I can't even pack for a camping trip without a low! oy.

However, if I weren't low right now, I certainly wouldn't have the time to sit here and write this.

Other low blood sugar pet peeves:

* A low blood sugar before a meal.
Experienced today before dinner. Glucose tablets are not considered appetizers and they do not enhance the taste of pasta.
* Pre-driving lows
Managed to finish my errands before the lows started today (whew). But there's nothing like getting all you stuff together to run out the door and feeling the beginnings of a low. Testing confirms a low and one must drop what they're doing, treat and wait. yay.
* The rare "I'm not hungry" lows.
Currently experiencing. I'm not hungry. I don't want a protein snack to help me through the remainder of my evening. Heck, I don't even want juice. Does any one else NOT like juice? Years without juice have made me associate juice with low blood sugars--juice is not an option, it's an obligation. (I drank the juice--new (or just new to me?) strawberry banana Juicy Juice--just meh, give me fruit punch anyday over this (if I have to I might as well be picky!))

I'll stop there. I'm going to go and be responsible and open a few cabinets and see if a snack doesn't "wow" me into eating.

What are other people's low blood sugar pet peeves (besides the obvious pet peeve of low blood sugars themselves)?

nineteen years ago today

2006-08-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Nineteen years ago today, I was discharged from the hospital--a five year old child, being brought home after a week spent in the hospital by parents overwhelmed with the prospect of caring for their youngest child, their daughter--a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic.

----------------------

I called the hospital today because I've always been curious about my exact date of diagnosis. Strange--the immediate info that I can receive without the hospital having to dig medical records out of storage is that I was hospitalized from Aug. 22-Aug. 30, 1987. This puts my date of diagnosis at August 22nd, 1987. So, Happy Belated Anniversary to me.

I plan on expanding on my nineteen years with a follow-up post. But I'm mentally and physically exhausted. I spoke with the hospital, I retold my diagnosis story for the first time to a friend of 10+ years and for the first time, I asked my mom about it.

wired

2006-08-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else feel like their wrapped up in wires all the time?

When my pump supplies arrive, the box contains half of the longer tubing and the other half short tubing. I haven't decided which tubing I prefer yet. The shorter tubing is a pain in situations such as sleeping, going to the bathroom, changing--pretty much any time my pump is not in my pocket or my pocket is not close to my site. The longer tubing is a pain, because it tends to poke out of clothing more often. This generally doesn't bother me, but can get frustrating after the umpteenth tuck.

Now, the problem I have isn't going to be solved by shorter tubing or longer tubing--it would be solved by no tubing at all. (Yeah, I have heard of the omnipod, but I've also seen it and it's too big! Beggars can't be choosers, I know, but I like my minimed pump, despite the last two posts). However, a couple of site changes ago, so about 6 or 9 days ago, I was sitting right here (in front of my computer). I filled the resevoir, primed it, ready for connection. Meanwhile, I'm listening to the red sox game on my mp3 player (note: not bluetooth). The future site is all swabbed up with alcohol, dried and so I stand up as is my normal procedure, use my blue doohickey (the insertion thing), removed the needle and voila, site changed.

Did you see this coming? That's right folks, I have glued (using the little medical adhesive circle) the wire from my mp3 player to my stomach. I HATE failed site changes, HATE 'EM, HATE 'EM, HATE 'EM. So I'm not easily going to give up and poke myself again--not if I don't have to anyways.

I determine that the needle has gone in, barely missing the wire to my headphones, and so the cannula should be happily in place (it's a risk I'm willing to take, if only I can finagle the wire out from under the adhesive without moving the cannula).

It took a little bit, but I managed to get it. Only had a pesky little spike afterwards, which is the usual for me lately after site changes--anyone have any tricks for this? I usually try to change my site around the time I'm eating and a lot of times that extra insulin carries me. I'm afraid to up my fixed prime anymore, because, well, it's high enough already!

MY OTHER issue with the wires is when I have my mp3 player in one pocket, my pump in the other--where is a girl to put her cell phone?

Happy Friday everyone!

< / saga >

2006-07-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

I spoke with Minimed--I'm over it. According to the nice lady I spoke to a recertified pump is essentially a used pump that is brand new--they just can't call it new because it's used, but all the parts are new, but it's used. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this, but she assured me that there are no built in time-bombs just waiting to break within my "new" recertified pump. I'm holding her to that :)

So, I'm slow. I don't share a lot. This is pretty good though, two posts in about a week's time and that's without any visitors! ha.

I think my basals are slightly skewed--perhaps the doctor's office really didn't have the most up-to-date rates. Somewhere between 4 and 6 am, I jump up to the mid-200s. Tonight is a basal check night, because even mid 200s wake me up. If there's one thing I can't stand it's waking up 20 mins before the alarm goes off! Wish me luck. I just have to wake up... once I'm up... who am I kidding. I am hoping for the best though. There's plenty of motivation in the thought of many sleep-filled evenings.

If anyone is reading this, I'll try to share a little bit about who I am outside of the world of Diabetes, although I'm in that world so very often.
(1) I'm a habitual proofreader--I find typos in books, overheads, my coworkers' writings, etc. I don't try to look, I'm just a little uptight about the whole thing. You will notice, however, that when writing blogs and such, I am not a stickler about my own punctuation and I fluctuate as to the importance of capitalization. Spelling is what bothers me beyond anything else, so if you see a spelling error, go ahead and correct it... it'll irk me that I've spelled it wrong (or typed it wrong), but it's a humbling experience.
(2) I'm a dog person, who fell in love with a cat. Her name was/is Gus. Although, since having to give her away to, I'm not so sure Gus is still her name. See, I wasn't a cat person, so she technically got her name before I bothered to find out that he was a she. My dog, lives with my mother. Charlie is a 14 year old toy poodle, who looks more like a bichon than a poodle, poor thing. He has the manners of a mutt too, but it's endearing, really.

As good a time to start as any...

2006-07-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm jumping in to the world of diabetes blogging--it does seem like it's own little world. I have a folder devoted to diabetes bloggers among my many feeds. I read about other people's triumphs, failures, frustrations, and humorous tidbits daily. I feel as though I ought to offer a little something back and since the idea of verbalizing my thoughts has been on my mind a lot lately in regards to my dealings with diabetes, there seems no better time than now.

Why you ask?

My pump died... again. And while friends and family can say, wow shots every two hours, waking up throughout the night, didn't your pump break before, how can it break, etc. No one really understands how frustrating an event like this can be. Coupled with the thoughts that there will never be a cure and I will always be dependent upon some technology or a syringe filled with insulin and you've got a more than just unhappy camper on your hands.

So it beings--Late last September I began pumping. Three weeks later during the first battery change I lost my beloved pump and started shots every 2 hrs until my new pump arrived (32 hrs later). (The first "breaking of the pump" really was a lame situation (perhaps it was slightly my fault that it broke). Hearing the minimed tech guy ask me if I've tried to open the battery case with a butter knife (a big no-no and I said, "No I haven't tried that" and hearing him say, "Well I think you should" at 2 am did warrant a laugh on my part.

Last week I changed my site, but had a hang up with an A33 error. No evidence of the error in the manual and a successful third try had me confident that I had fixed the problem and it would no longer rear its ugly, insulin propelling head (yes, insulin shot out of the cannula about 2 feet across the room--imagine my surprise!)
I was wrong. Yesterday morning, 10 am, site change (at work--see I have a cool job that allows me this comfort and I'm too lazy to worry about site changes at 7am)--error, A33. This had me more concerned, so I google it. It's beginning to look hopeless. The information I gathered: A33 means some sensors in your pump are either dead or they will be dead soon (great monty python scene-scroll down a bit or search the page for 'Bring out your dead' ). Call Minimed, they advise that I do not use the pump again and I begin the every two hrs crap again. Oy. It was not a happy day. Numbers fine for the first 6 hours. Downhill for the next 6 hours. One ok reading, an alright but not great one, and some more mid-200s and it's morning and time for work. Finish the 24-hour period off where I started--mid 90s.
10 am this morning--ambush the UPS guy and rip my fancy new (read: once again refurbished and probably going to break again soon, just like the last refurbished pump, but I'm not bitter) from the box. Reprogrammed and hooked up within 5 minutes.

Some happy thoughts about the past 24 hours:

-In the next couple of days I'll be speaking with minimed about my disappointments with their company and testing the waters for a NEW (read: new) pump.
-I didn't wake up once all night because I was laying on my pump (although I was up every two hours to test and shoot)
-I work in an environment where it's ok to take 45 mins off at 10 am to track down some pen needles and your basal rates from your dr's office.
-It could always be worse. I'm lucky enough to have a job and insurance that will pay for such and expensive piece of equipment at no cost to me.

So, that tells you nothing concrete about me, but I've been able to share the death of a pump with a community that truly understands. :) If you've made it this far, thanks for forging ahead through what may have been a disappointing retelling of my story.