Type One as a Coin

Summer = Work

Work = Busy 

Busy = Challenging

Challenging = Interesting

Interesting = Fun! :) 

Coming into summer I knew it would be fairly difficult with work and the adjustments of Type One. Yet surprisingly, even with my new bump in the road, it isn't as bad as I thought. Though the constant messing about with numbers and insulin can be fairly difficult, when you have to adjust ... you adjust.

When life gets harder; it almost gets better. 

As Hannah and I were talking one night about Type One, Hannah surprised me with an interesting thought. Given the choice, Hannah said she would rather have Type One with our family and life where it is now, than not having Type One and being the family we were before. 

This put me to thinking ...

They're are many negatives to having Type One Diabetes, it mainly depends on which part of it you view. 

Almost like a coin ...

On one side there is stress, expenses, shots, lows, highs, sick days, constant pricks, long nights...

 (you get the idea)

Yet on the very same coin, but opposite side there is a different face.  

Type One has given our family an unusual unity and closeness, understanding for others that are experiencing hardship, and a new definition of stress. (what use to stress us before having Type One, is practically a breeze now! :)

Same coin - two sides. 

 It all depends on the side you choose to view.

It has been four months and a week since my diagnosis. For myself, these past few weeks have been pretty hard for me. I've had everything from my numbers skyrocket to 400 and then bottom out at 50 within an hour, or just being overwhelmed with the reality of my "new normal". Yet after coming out of my "diabetic fog", I was able to see the opposite side of my coin ... the positive side.

In closing, if you happen to be having a really rough day ...

flip the coin. ;)

Type One w/out Mom

What Type One would be like without my mom . . .

Without my mom, I don't know that I would be able to ever feel normal again. When one holds in any level of pain or grief they have, it only grows worse and worse. Without being able to have somebody to go to, the pain will never completely heal. For me, I can always go to God for help, but Mom is my personal "source" on earth! :) My Mom has always been there for me, to express my pain, my hurt, or my worries. I thank God for the Mother He has allowed me to have.

I know for each of the Type One trio members, this past week has been a dozy. 

For starters, last Sunday Daniel had the flu. He started throwing up at 2:00 A.M. Throughout the day he was sick and at lunchtime he had moderate keytones. Mom called the doctor and they instructed her to admit him in the hospital if he didn't turn the corner within three hours. Thankfully his keytone count came down before three and we didn't have to admit him.

As for Hannah, she had a rather rough day yesterday. She has been getting really hard bumps on her stomach from all of her pump ports. In order to prevent these, the doctors told us to move her sites to different areas. For some reason, many of her past sites have been clogging, resulting in having to do new sites. Instead of every three days, she has had one sometimes more than once a day. 

As for myself, with work my numbers have been going crazy. About a week ago, I was barely using that much insulin. I have a lot of customers tell me that if I work hard enough I won't have to get shots anymore . . . 

That's Type Two. :)

 We called up to UW Madison to check about my not receiving insulin. They suggested that if I could, I should intake more sugar and give a little insulin to help keep me from going into keyto-acidosis. For myself, I thought less shots were awesome until yesterday. 

Somethings backfired. 

I started off at 118, but by the end of the day was 540. Today my numbers have been from 80 - 360. 

I have a lot to figure out . . . :)

As for Mother's Day, I don't know what would happen without her. I am so thankful for the love, support, and care that she supplies. This house would be in shambles without her!

Type One at Work!

I have officially finished my Senior year of school, I am so glad to be done!

As a Jr. Higher, I remember thinking to be a Senior was the top of the world ...  I have found finishing high school is highly overrated! :)

In any case, I am very thankful to be done.

 I have also officially started full-time landscaping!

 Before Mulch... It was definitely fun finding out how to carry the mulch down retaining walls! :)

 Working at SLS has totally ramped up Type One to a new level. The benefit of work is less shots, the problem is that I go low quickly and frequently.

My Mom asked me what a low feels like. Since it has been just over four months living with Type One, I can still remember a lot of what life was like without it. When I think back and compare a low to a life without Type One, I can't really find a comparison. Although some may think it can't be that bad, it really is. Your brain isn't getting an adequate amount of sugar and you don't think right. A good number is anything from 80-120. I start to feel low at anything below 80. There isn't much "give" to how long it is before you "hit the bottom" and start knocking on the door of a coma. 30? 20? ... In any case, I know from being 42, that it is terrible. My arms become heavy to the extent it is hard to hold a glass, almost impossible. It really feels like you "zone out". 

All that to say ... I am working hard at preventing an lows on the job! :)

Although I am still adjusting to my job along with Type One, I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week back on the job!

Reality of Type One

These are all my numbers in a three day time period. :) 

I saw this meme and thought it would make a good joke for my blog! 

 

Numbers May Vary ...

The joys of having three Type Ones, you never know what wide range could happen. 

As you can see by our testers, the numbers always vary. These numbers came in at the same time, Breakfast. So we decided we would get some officially new pictures of the Type One Trio.

In case it is hard to see, our numbers were ... 

Hannah = 51

Me = 114

Daniel = 324

A difference of 273 points.

I am very thankful that the Type One Trio has the opportunity to draw support from each other. Type One Diabetes has brought my family closer together in more ways than one. Though the pain of living with Type One may never go away, we will always have each other for both support and inspiration.

And now for all the Type One's out there, I am considering lending them some valuable ideas to Apple for their next iPhone ...

except better! 

Though highly unlikely ... you can't help but smile! :)

Concert with Ben

Last night Ben and I were able to attend Alison Balsom's concert at UI-Chicago!

In the hospital, Ben asked if I could look forward to something- what would it be? 

I can now say, after three months of waiting, it was worth it! 

I would have taken pictures, but was warned not too by staff. 

My numbers were fairly stable excluding the low on the way. We weren't able to eat supper, resulting in my numbers dropping rather fast. After correcting the low, I shot up to 300 and then had to have a correction. Honestly I didn't really care, it was my one moment I could put Type One aside and enjoy the moment! 

Afterwards, Ben and I ventured into downtown Chicago. After scouting out our options, we eventually dined at Portillo's for supper.

 While waiting in line.

 We ate supper at 10 PM, don't know what my Endocrinologist would think about that! :)

 I

Overall, this was the funnest night ever! :) Couldn't get much better than this! 

Blog Face-Lift!

If you haven't noticed . . . my blog has been remodeled. :)

I just want to say a very special "Thank You!" to my Aunt Julia! She is an amazing designer, and I was able to tap into her "avenue of expertise."

If anybody would be interested in her services, her company is Simply Sophisticated Designs. I happen to know her very well and I am sure you won't be disappointed!

Please bear with me as we continue to update and finish all of the details!