I really want to apologize for not updating. Between last week being my birthday and this week just being busy, I haven't had much time for blogging. I'm definitely going to try to get back into a schedule soon enough.

So what's been on my plate lately: a whole lot of nothing actually. Celebrated the birthday for almost a week (hey, 19 has to be good for something, right?). And really just preparing for my youth group's weekend. There is a lot of work that goes into these weekends... none of which I can talk about here. =) But I can say that there is a LOT of love, prayer and especially time that goes into making this weekend as awesome as possible.

I also can not believe how much trouble I've had with sleeping as of lately. When I was in college I could fall asleep whenever, wherever. Since I've gotten sick, I go to bed whenever my brain shuts down and I wake up anywhere from 3 to 6 or more times a night. It's just weird and really frustrating. I'm obscenely tired all day long but boy when I get a chance to sleep or nap my body just refuses. I'm trying not to eat or drink past a certain time, no T.V., no electronics, but nothing seems to work. I have been taking benadryl once a week, which I do NOT advocate at all, to catch up on sleep. Seriously, don't do it. I'm just doing it because I need to get some sort of sleep at least once a week. Unfortunately that's the only way that's working right now.

Oh well. On the bright-side, it's almost HALLOWEEN! Yay!!!!!! I'm dressing up as Abby Sciuto from NCIS. Black hair and all. Hopefully some awesome pictures to post after this weekend. So what is everyone else dressing up as? Doing anything exciting?

Until next time,
Peace, Love & God Bless

Dr. Strangelove?

Some of you may or may not know that I've been sick with some mysterious illness for the past six months. Yup, six whole months. So as you can imagine I've been through the ringer with doctors. Most doctors you can imagine, I have seen. (Although noticeably absent is a psychiatrist... I know I squashed most of your jokes right there.) I've seen some really good ones (Shout out to Yale Diabetes!) and some really, really terrible ones, who shall remain nameless. One of the strangest encounters I've ever had with a doctor happened yesterday.

I went to a GI specialist yesterday by myself. Older guy, head of the GI program, so never in a million years did I think I'd have a problem. But yesterday was one of the worst days ever, so that should have been my first tip. Anyways, the first thing he says to me when I go in is "Oh, I thought you'd have somebody with you." This sets off the first bell. Perhaps, I should have? So he goes on and takes my history, adds some off color comments here and there, inserts rude commentary, whatever. So we get to the actual exam part. So I have my scrubs on because I was going to work right after, and he repeatedly tells me how tight my shirt is, as he's trying to lift it so he can use his stethoscope. "Ok," I think, "This is a little weird." So next he notices I have religious medals on my necklace. Here's the convo that ensues:

Dr: "What's on you neck? Are those medallions? Are you religious?"
Me: "Yes they are and yes I am"
Dr: "Do you go to church?"
Me: "Yeah, and my mom's the organist"
Dr: (Immediately) "Do you date boys?"
Me: "Um, yeah..."
Dr: "Do you date girls?"
Me: Uh-no.
Dr: So are you allowed to go out?
Me: YEAH
Dr: Are you dating anyone right now?
Me: No
Dr: So you don't have a boyfriend?
Me: No

I wish I could say this was the end of the awkwardness, but alas it wasn't. I'll spare you the details of the more awkwardness, but it was REALLY off-color (and you know it has to be something really personal for me not to talk about it). So here are my questions: should I be dating girls because I'm religious? Or if I wasn't religious should I be dating girls, cause I'm pretty sure I'd still be dating guys even if I wasn't religious? Does it matter if I'm religious? Do my stomach problems depend on whether I date girls or guys? Do I look like a lesbian?

I mean really, all these questions crossed my mind. I was just flabbergasted that someone would even say that to me. That definitely tops the other doctor who every time I called tried to tell me to get my drugs from my pediatrician. He seemed like he's a good enough doctor, but quite frankly I'm not going back unless I have someone with me. Honestly I should have taken up his request for a nurse to be with me. I can't believe a doctor would say some of those things.

Let's just say: lesson learned. Definitely taking people with me to the doctors from now on. Also, needless to say that this just turned my day from bad to worse.

So my question is to the readers out there: Any awkward experiences? Any terrible doctors? Any redeeming doctors out there? Share it (sans-names) and I'll reply back.

Peace, Love & Godbless

P.S. The nineteenth year of my existance begins in less than two hours.

Sorry Lovies!

I had every intention of posting today... until today happened. Not feeling well at all, but I promise there will be a post soon and very soon. And let me tell you, it is well worth the wait. Sorry everyone!

In the meantime:
Peace, Love & God Bless


P.S. LET'S GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!

It's My Party and I Will Cry If I Have To Share It

So this weekend was a little bit insane on the scale of insanity, that of which I just created. Not bad insane, just a lot of running around. As some of you may or may not know, practically my entire family is born in the month of October. My brother, sister, brother-in-law, cousin, Dad, my old dog and of course me, are all born in this spectacular month. Everyone thinks that's really cool. I do not.

Ok maybe I skipped this lesson in kindergarten, but sharing my birthday with everyone else is not as exciting as it sounds. (Ok maybe I don't like to share my birthday but I do share my....nope...um...I have to have shared something in these almost 19 years....) I never get to blow out a cake by myself. (And yes, I AM allowed to eat cake. So don't ask me if I should be having it) When everyone sings "Happy Birthday," it's usually a mish-mosh of five different names. I never get my exact amount of birthday candles and never get to choose a cake. (It can't be gender specific) And I'm sure there are other non-perks for my birthday.

So you know what I get? I get a diabeticversary. Yeah, say that three times. I celebrate the day I got diabetes. Some people amy think it's strange, and well, it is. It's not that I'm jumping for joy at the very thought of having it. It's that it changed me, for better and for worse. And I think if my birth get's it's own holiday, so should my diabetes. Really, being a diabetic has made me so much more thankful for everyday things and taught me not to sweat the small stuff (Like having to share my birthday, I don't mind it that much anymore). Last year I celebrated with low-sugar cupcakes. They also had little pancreases drawn on them. 'Cause mine don't work. Picture may come later. So look out for that post next year. BE EXCITED!

Also note to the wise: I swear if any one gets diabetes on the same day as my diabeticversary, I will crush you into small little pieces..... I mean graciously share my low-sugar cupcakes with you.

Until next time... Peace, Love & God Bless

Shorty got low, low, low ,low

Woke up this morning feeling low. Unfortunately this happens a lot in the mornings and it's a really frustrating way to start your day. Most people can't relate to this but I'll try to make it relevant to everyone. First of all, I'm just going to come out and say it: being low is like being drunk. Not that I really know about being drunk, but I've been around enough of them to know.

Let me further explain it for all you non-diabetics out there. "Low" is when you're experiencing a hypoglycemic reaction, meaning your sugar is lower than 70. Hence the "low." Get it? Eh? It basically means that your body has too much insulin. It does NOT mean you need more insulin. So if you have a diabetic friend, please refrain from giving them insulin. (Why would you do that anyways?) Orange juice, a chocolate bar, glucose tablets or something sugary does work. When I'm low I usually start shaking or acting ridiculous or saying things that make no sense. Well more less sense than normal. Did that make sense?

Now you all can imagine how funny drunks are. Well, us diabetics, we have our moments too. There have been many times when I've woken up in bed, surrounded by wrappers and half eaten granola bars. And I have no recollection, whatsoever, how they got there. There are times when people will talk to me and I make no sense. I've heard of other people pour orange juice in there cereal.

Ok so for some people, it might not be funny. It might be really scary. I know in the past my friends had mini-freak outs every time I had a low. And of course there's a chance that you don't catch it in the middle of the night before it gets too low. I've never had that happen though, thankfully. Actually your body does some really weird stuff. I get nightmares or I just wake up randomly in the middle of the night, and that's when I know to check my sugar.

So leave me your thoughts and comments. I promise to write back. Have any stories of me being low? Any of your own "low" stories? Maybe you just want to talk about the fact that your pet monkey bit you this morning... whatever! I'd love to hear from everyone!

Peace, Love & God Bless

Once upon a diabetic...

My very first post. Wow. It's daunting but exhilarating all at the same time. I guess the best way to start a diabetes blog would be to start with my story.

Flashback to the month leading up to January 2006. Picture me, a gawky 15 year old, sophomore in high school. I know it's difficult to imagine me all weird looking, but work with me! Still trying to find myself, I started experiencing some pretty weird stuff... even for a 15 year old.

I drank everything and anything. I mean I downed a two-liter of soda... in one sitting... by myself. As you can imagine, that also lead to another serious problem- I had to pee ALL the time. I was going at least every twenty minutes while I was at school. When you have classes with all the same kids, it starts looking really suspicious. I also dropped 15 lbs. in two weeks. I was really excited about that, being female, but I should have known that anything that amazing was too good to be true. My mom finally forced me to go to the doctors on January 16, 2006. I was immediately rushed to the hospital because my sugar level was immeasurable. I was admitted into the hospital that night with a blood sugar of 626 and severely dehydrated. [For all of you "normal" people out there, your blood sugar is suppose to be from 80-120.]

Strangely enough, I was never scared. Ok, maybe a little bit. But for some reason, I knew everything was going to be alright. I was less scared about the actual disease, but more about everything that came along with it. I immediately started shots. Many people ask how could I "shoot" myself up everyday, but I have a feeling everyone would do the same if put in my situation. A month later I started on the Cozmo pump, although now I'm on the One Touch Ping.

Sometimes when I look back at the day, I can't believe how vastly my life has changed. No one's the same person they were (almost) four years ago. But I can't see my life without diabetes. It makes me unique and I really embrace it. When I was searching to find out who I was, it's almost like this was my answer. I don't let diabetes define me, but it's such a humungeous part of my life. It has made me love and appreciate each day. I cherish all the wonderful gifts God has given me. I'm thankful for all the support of my family. Sure diabetes is a HUGE pain. GINORMOUS.

But I love it. Because it showed me that it's ok to be unique. I joke to my family that no one else is allowed to get diabetes because there's only room for one diabetic! I know it's insane, but if I had the choice between having diabetes and being normal, I think I'd choose diabetes. It's made me the crazy (awesome) person I am today.

But then again, it might just be the sugar talking.

Peace, Love & God Bless

P.S. If you'd like, leave your own "once upon a time" or any other things you'd like addressed!