Diabetic Rhapsody

Two posts in one day? So much for resting my splinted finger - CRAY to the Z, but this so cool that it's totally worth it. 
I saw the following video on  the fabulous Our Diabetic LIfe's D Mama Meri Schuhmacher's facebook page (I learn so much from her,) and it's quickly making the round on many a DOCer's facebook page, including mine. 
And personally, I've already watched it like 10 times - And it totally blows what's left of my mind. 
All the diabetes realities in one music video and A'la Bohemian Rhapsody - Freddie Mercury would be so proud!
And as far as Jacob and his amazing Diabetes family are concerned - I just want to hug them!!!
Here's a link to video's youtube page - Let Jacob & Company know what you think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vfei1UZluug

Guest Post: 6 Months Into Life With Diabetes - It's About Nicole!

Today's Guest host is Cheryl Kinnunen. I've never met Cheryl in real life, but she's my friend just the same.

We connected through her fantastical daughter Nicole. I met Nic 4 years ago when I was a speaker at DESA (Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association) nat'l meeting in Colorado Springs.

Nicole was there with her dad Vic, who's quite the the Athlete/dad/type 1. We hithit it off right of the bat - And spent a lot of time together that weekend - And we've kept in touch ever since!

Though I'll admit, I still haven't quite forgiven Nic for continually making fun of me for being afraid to jump off the high-dive. OK, I was running REALLY high blood sugars the whole time I was there ( I had no idea back than that high altitudes requires us to almost double our pump basal rates,) and just couldn't do it!

Nic still won't let me live it down!

Anyway, when Nic was diagnosed 6 months ago, Cheryl and I became friends and I'm so glad we are - She's an amazing D mom & friend!

Last month I asked Cheryl if she'd like to guest post. She marinated on it for a bit and then agreed.

I think you'll be pleased with the results. Take it away Cheryl !

######

Nic & Cheryl

First, let me say that I am beyond excited to be asked to post here on Kelly’s blog…after all, she is the Queen of Awesomeness!

When Kelly asked me about posting, I started thinking about our journey over the last 6 months since my daughter Nicole’s T1 diagnosis and how it has affected us. This is a diabetes blog after all, right?? But then Nicole stopped me in my tracks… By writing a paper for school about herself and science (diabetes, insulin, pumps—seems like a no-brainer huh?) she asked me, “Why does it always have to be about diabetes?” And you know what? She’s right!

So while this may be a little about diabetes…it’s really about my daughter.

Nicole will be 12 in a couple weeks. She is smart and beautiful—on the inside and out. She is a voracious reader…all she wanted for her birthday was a blue Animas Ping insulin pump and her own Kindle…she is getting both.

She is funny, sarcastic, and sometimes argumentative. She writes her own songs. She plays lacrosse. She is in Junior High and her room is a disaster. She always wants to wear more makeup than I will let her and she loves to use lots of emoticons when texting.

When she grows up, she wants to work for the FBI and profile serial killers with the BAU.

She is a good friend. She still teases Kelly about not jumping off the high dive four years ago.

Back then, Nicole was 7 and jumped of the high dive herself - NUMEROUS TIMES.

Oh, and, by the way, she has Type 1 diabetes. . She is an expert carb counter and has done all of her own pricks and injections since day 1. She saw the look on my face…that day in the doctor’s office…and asked me what the BG was. “504” She cried quietly… for a minute or two, while I held her in my arms…and she has never looked back.

I love her with every fiber of my being. She is my daughter and my hero and a person with diabetes. And I am so proud to be her mom!

Guest Post: The Land Of Chronic

Photo of Penny & Grace - Snagged from their Blogger Profile

Penny from A Sweet Grace, is "Guest Hosting"today while I'm in the second day of my Canadian Adventure.

Penny and her amazing type 1 daughter Grace are truly fantastical in so many ways!!!

I admire the way Penny parent's Grace, and I love the way she allows Grace to be an active participant in her diabetes. Plus, Penny is a hoot! She makes me laugh and she's a great friend!

Grace is also playing "Guest Host," and she's a real firecracker! Seriously, that girl is funny, bright, articulate, a pistol, and girlfriend is a Diva Fashionista!

I look at Grace, and I see my 9 year CWD self - Sans the fashion sense and the beautiful blue eyes.

And I learn so much from Grace. Like that sequins are not just for evening wear, celery is the 'surprise' in "Tuna Surprise," and I learn to continue to see the world through the eyes of a wise beyond her years & almost tween. Except that I don't have nearly as much confidence as Grace - Or Bieber Fever!

I love Penny and Grace very much - And had it not been for this thing called diabetes, we would have never crossed paths. And like each of you in the DOC, Penny & Grace are what (who?) makes my "diabetes glass," half full.

Take it away ladies!!!!!

The Land of Chronic

By Penny Starr-Ashton

There are days that I still cannot believe it. That Grace has Type 1 Diabetes and it’s for LIFE. I mean, I know it, deep in my soul, that she does and she will. (Insert swelling theme music here and the standard CURE mantra - how many years until the cure, 5-10-20-30 years???) But it’s still hard to believe, if you know what I mean. The un-endingness of it all, the 24/7 of it all, the, well, the chronic-ness of it all.

May I have the definition of chronic please?

chronic : always present or encountered; especially : constantly vexing, weakening, or troubling <chronic petty warfare>

Well, thank you Merriam-Webster, cause that’s a little enlightening don’t you think?

Always present. Yep, that one was right on the money. It’s always there, the need to address the diabetes. Every. Darn. Day. It always shows up, is never absent and it’s never late. It would have been a good school student, getting that A+ for perfect attendance all these years. It’s just always, so, here.

Always encountered. Looking for a chance meet-up? Count on diabetes. It’s everywhere. It’s in the walking, the eating, the laying down, the running, the sleeping, the showering, the gardening, the snacking, the playing and I could go on, but the darn things shows up everywhere. It’s like the party guest you cannot get rid of no matter how you try. I look around corners and there it is. I open the bread drawer and there it is. Damn thing needs a home, and not mine.

Constantly vexing. Did you totally just nod your head and say ‘Absolutely!’ cause tell me that you ate the same thing two days in a row and bolused the same and got different numbers, right?! Right. Vexing is too pretty of a word, it conjures up spells and witchery and a little sexy number too. Diabetes, I have never once thought of you as sexy, I am afraid to say. You do vex me in the way you operate though, slyly upping the numbers one day, slyly sending the numbers down the next. You do constantly try to trick me and you throw me a total conundrum wrapped in a puzzle wrapped in a sphinx wrapped in a soft pretzel with cheese sort of trick. It can only be unlocked through an extended bolus with a temp basal with a step to the right, a 360 turn and three jumps while scratching your head. Yeah, you vex alright.

Weakening. Oh diabetes, sometimes you weaken my spirit. The chronic-ness of it all weighs on me at times and I try not to let my 9 year old gal see it. But you sometimes weaken my heart and my brain. My strength breaks down and in slips nasty thoughts of night-time lows, not waking up, ketones and DKA. But I have some words for you diabetes: I am stronger. Grace is stronger.

Troubling. In more ways than one, huh?! Trying to SWAG a bolus for a homemade cupcake brought in for a school treat that has ‘a lot of icing Mommy’ over the phone, when it’s time to eat lunch in school and she’s already late as it is. That’s troubling. Basals that reduce me to tears on some days, trying to figure the damn things out. Worrying about complications, that’s the biggest worry of all. Troubled that my gal will live a shorter life because of diabetes and praying that God takes me first. Troubled about the ‘what if she has a low and no one is around to help her,’ that’s always a doozy too.

Whew. That’s the chronic-ness of the diabetes in our lives. It hits me some days, just like this. It’s like a wave that washes over me, then it’s done. The waves are less than they were at the beginning of Grace’s diagnosis and I suspect in the next 5-10-20 years they will subside to tinier waves, as we all grow and change and well, accept more.

Thankfully, and mercifully, most of our days are spent not in the chronic part of our lives. They are spent in the moment, the non-troubling, non-vexing, non-weakening moment. I don’t pretend to live there all the time though. The land of chronic calls me to visit every now and then.

Diabetes Stinks

by Grace Ashton

I love the summer, but I hate diabetes.

It’s fun to go swimming, but not fun to prick.

I love hanging out with my friends, but I hate coming home to test.

I love everything about summer, but I hate everything about diabetes.

Green Gracelets & Being Friends Forever And For Life ~

Gracelets~

July means many things. Sizzling hot days, ocean waves and friendly water temps, fireworks and fourth of July bbq's and all the fixings.

But for the second year in a row, July also brings me a fantastical day filled with Grace. Through a series of emails, texts and phone calls from Penny and Grace - from ASweetGrace fame, Penny, Grace and I decided on the where and whens of our second annual Ocean City DMeet Up.

Now normally, I always have something for any of the kids I meet during a DMeet.

But since we were meeting at a Street Fair and Grace is a lover of accessories (and I have her school picture to prove it - And I'll just say girlfriend rocks the accessories!) I figured I’d pick up something matching for Grace and I in in O.C.

After scouring for parking (did I mention that Ocean City, New Jersey is one of the best family resorts in the country and the Summer is like, their busiest time ever? ) and finally found a spot right under a shady tree off Asbury and 8th avenues. I paid my meter and I walked towards the Ocean City City Hall, or traditional meeting place.

And much like Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, there was silver flash of sparkle & energy busting through the street fair vendors, vacationers and the likes there of. And this beautiful flash of silver lightening was indeed Miss Grace of My Heart running through the crowds and towards me.

And then I started running, (and I have no doubt I looked comical) and we met in the middle and hugged one another tight and both of us screamed: I MISSED YOU!!

Miss Grace in her silver sparkle shirt had grown a good three inches since I last saw her, but was still her firecracker self!

Penny handed grace a tiny brown bag folded up careful and flat and said: Give it to Kel!

Grace: This is for you, because we know you’re missing the Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference!

Inside the bag was a green puka shell bracelet and before I could say a word Gracie said: See, I have one too!

Penny: And they’re green, just like the ones at Friends For Life!

Me: Oh my goodness, THANK YOU! it’s beautiful & I’ll treasure it always! I'm putting mine on right now! But guys, I was going to buy Gracie and I something matching at the Street Fair!

Then I put on my Gracelet and the three of us walked around the Fair.

We passed a street musician singing Margaritaville and we made our why to an American Girl inspired Doll shop where Pen & I were schooled on the American Girl Doll accessories wants and needs of Miss Grace!

Grace led me around the store and pointed out the an American Girl Quad Stroller that she really needed because she had several dolls who really benefit from the experience!

And snuck as many hugs to Grace as possible because I needed to squeeze as many as I could get in our short time together.

On a personal note, I really liked the chartreuse glittered doll shoes and pointed them out to Grace.

Grace: Hey, maybe if you get them in the largest size, they might actually fit your feet!

Me: I WISH.

The store also had cupcake rings and I wanted to buy Grace and I some, but Grace wanted to “think about it,” and I respected that she needed to marinate on her fashion choices.

As I left the store, I asked Grace what the rest of her summer plans were.

Grace: Finish my week at the beach, swim in the pool, play with friends, and go to Diabetes Camp, of course!

Me: But of course!

And Penny and I looked at one another and laughed out loud!

Back out on the street, we looked for the pony rides but didn’t find them. Finally were told that they were a few blocks down, but by then Grace wanted to head in the direction of LUNCH.

On our way to eat, Grace stopped at a nail painting booth and has her nails painted in Neon Pink Passion, while Penny I chatted about pretty much everything under the sun!

Then we stood and watched a magician juggle and do rope tricks and finally worked our way to a little place were we could dine inside (with AC) and a menu that was varied. We sat at our table and Grace said: Mom time to test, and we all did.

Me: I’m running sort of high today Grace.

Grace; Oh boy, that was me last week!

Then Grace told me about how she didn’t like having to stop at the nurses office on her way to lunch because it always made her late for lunch, “and I hate being late for lunch, it’s SO ANNOYING!”

ME: I hear ya! But at least meters only takes 5 seconds now. Back when I was in middle school , meters took 3 minutes!

Grace: Kel, THAT'S CRAZY!

Me: AGREED!

Grace mentioned how sometimes she hates diabetes and I told her I had those moments too and that everyone does. And that it’s O, to fall down, as long as she didn’t stay down.

And Grace uttered the phrase: Just Do It! Because that’s what her mama tells her whenever diabetes gets her down.

Then the three of us talked about design positives and negatives regarding our diabetes accouterments while we tried looking at our menus.

Grace: Hey mom - If I get eggs, it’s like a free food!

And I have to admit, at that point I darn near spit my water out from laughing!

Me: Gotta love the free food, Gracie!

During all the above mentioned chatter,the waiter had to come back three times before we stopped chatting long enough to order.

I spent a lot of time watching Grace and Penny and I just love their interaction, diabetes related and otherwise.

Penny is calm and go with the flow and funny, and you can just tell that the dynamics of their relationship all lead back to a place of fantasticalness!

And I appreciate so very much that she shares her gift of Grace of me.

Sometimes I feel sad that I don’t have kids and I’m not sure if that ship has sailed and I’ve missed the boat - Which makes me love my nieces, nephews, and friends children all the more. And it makes me love the diabetes kids I develop friendships with something fierce! It makes me realize that wether I’m ever called “mommy” or not, I know what it’s like to love and be loved by those who use that term on a daily basis.

I know that our children with diabetes are individual pieces of art who are going to make this world a more incredible place - And I have no doubt Miss Grace will be and do anything and everything she wants to do in this life!

Our day ended where it started, on the corners of 8th & Asbury Aves, in the hamlet they call Ocean City, NJ.

Grace and I had a photo shoot (thanks to the photographic stylings of D Mama Penny) and then we hugged for a good two minutes.

And we kept hugging, and then Penny and I hugged, and then Grace and I hugged again.

Grace: I don’t want you to leave, I love you.

Me: I love you too and I don’t want to leave either! Don’t worry, we’ll see each other soon rather than later - We are friends for life... And we have our green Gracelets to prove it ~

To read more about our day, but with a different P.O.V, you can read penny's blogpost by clicking: http://asweetgrace.blogspot.com/2011/07/d-meet-up-and-ffl.html

Me & "Amazing Grace"

Photo courtesy of Amazing D Mom Penny

An Unexpected DMeet-Up With Strangers Who Become Friends~

Sometimes, even when it looks like your the only one - You're not~

Photo courtesy of my iPhone

All names mentioned in this post (except for mine) have been changed~

The beach was crowded this past Saturday and the weather was hot, so hot your feet burned long after you left the hot sand. The ocean was rough, the surf pounded against the shore and from the looks of things, the water temp was perfect because the ocean was packed with swimmers and bogie boarders.
The group I was sitting with was filled with kids of various ages, including my friend's 6 year old twins.
As I was talking with my friend's daughter, one of the dad's in the group looked at me, saw my insulin pump clipped to my swimsuit and asked: Are you a diabetic?
Me: Yep, for more than 30 years.
DDad: REALLY? How do you liked being on the pump?
Me: I LOVE it - I'd never go back to shots!
DDad: That's really good to hear. My daughter's a diabetic, she was dx'd when she was 18 months old, she's four now.
Me: WOW.
Then DDad called over his wife, DMama and said: Hey, she has diabetes!
Dmama and I started talking about all types of diabetes related issues and then half way through our conversation she said: Wait, what's your name?
Me: Kelly.
Dmama: Oh, L (our mutual friend) told me all about you. You have a diabetes blog, right? My name is Dmama.
Me: Hey Dmama! I feel like I know you! YES, I absolutely remember L mentioning you!
And the conversation continued to flow between the three of us, our conversation peppered with the language of diabetes.

And I was so impressed at how great they were with their daughter, who was going to start on the Animas Ping pump in a few months and her parents were thrilled!

FYI, I asked them what color they were considering & they were leaning towards pink~

They talked of how they wanted their DDaughter to live a great life and how at four, she liked to test her blood sugar by herself and was able to tell them when she felt high or low.

And yes, I was totally impressed!
They wanted to meet more dparents and they wanted their little girl to meet other little girls with D.

They told me how how her DBigBrother was helpful and always looking out for his little Dsister. Quite impressive for a little boy of six- if you asked me!
Dmama and I went and stood by the water and continued our conversation.

It was so obvious in listening to Dmama speak that she'd wrapped her head around all the diabetes knowledge she could get her hands on and wanted more.

She was all about empowering her daughter and wanted her to grow up to be strong, confident, and independent.

And I just loved that!

On a personal note, finding a new friend on a crowded beach who understood my diabetes language and spoke it fluently made me feel like I wasn't alone - Which I hadn't even realized I was feeling until we started talking.

We talked about blogging and the DOC and how amazing the Diabetes On-line Community is and how we all learn and are inspired from one another.
I told them about ChildrenwithDiabetes conferences, and how I was sad not to be attending this years Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference, but was planning on attending CWD's Focus On Technology Conference on Febuary 25th and 26th of 2012 in Conchahocken, PA.
We talked on and off about diabetes and life for at least an hour that afternoon, and as always, it felt great to meet a new member of my extended diabetes family.
Kids continued to run around, other conversations with other people were started and stopped, and eventualy I went swiming and for a few moments, I became one with the Atlantic.
Then I returned to my beach chair, plugged in my pump and DMama came over to say goodbye.

She asked for my number & email and told me she'd be in touch soon.

Then Ddad came up to me while his wife gathered the kids beach toys and said: It was great to meet you - I know that my wife will be getting in touch with you.
Me: No worries and you didn't- I know where your coming from.
DDad: I really want to attend that Technology conference in the fall.
Me: Me too.

Ddad: I'm sorry I talked your if I talked your ear off about diabetes..... It's just sometimes even with friends and family...... they don't get how diabetes impacts your whole life...unless.... they're actually living it.

Me: I know exactly what you mean. There are so many other families out there that know exactly what you're going through -And I'm going to make sure you guys find them!

You are not alone - not in the least - WE .ARE. EVERYWHERE.

And we are... And they're not alone... Neither am I..... And neither are you - And that is a beautiful thing~

Haley Van Schaick Is Naturally Sweett - And One Smart Diazon!

Haley Van Schaick is "Naturally Sweett!"

Today's guest Blogger is Haley Van Schaick. Haley is a fantastical type 1 teen who started her blog, Naturally Sweett 3 months ago.

I first found out about Haley when she introduced herself to me by leaving a comment on my blog.

Turn's out, I've known Haley's best friend (the fabulous Isabella T) since she was born!

Isabella's mom was my sister Cathy's college roommate- I know, I know - Six degrees of diabetic bacon!

Anywho, I looked for Haley's team at the 2010 Philly JDRF walk last October because I knew Isabella was walking for Team Haley. Unfortunately, there was like 8000 people there and we never hooked up.

Haley's a Diazon in every sense of the word. She's fabulous; articulate, smart, funny, and hearing her perspective of life with diabetes brings back a lot of memories - Except for the fact that girlfriend is much more together than I was at her age!

And I really love the fact that Haley is sharing her experiences with the Diabetes On-line community!

And I continually learn from her posts.

If you haven't read her blog: http://naturallysweett.blogspot.com/ YOU NEED TO!

If you do, then you know what I'm talking about!

AND PS: Haley said some awesomely flattering things! And I appreciate her kind words very much! But said kind words were not a requirement and no bribes and or Jonas/Beiber tickets were exchanged ;)

Take it away Haley!

#####

I've been given an amazing opportunity to guest post here at Diabetesaliciousness! I started my blog, NaturallySweet just three months ago.

Since then, I have been able to talk with so many amazing diabetics and D-moms.

Kelly inspires me because through her posts, I can see she lives her life the way she wants to –and is not limited by D.

I am a teenager, a sister, a High School sophomore, a best friend, a performer, and I just happen to be a diabetic.

Being part of the DOC I has taught me that diabetes is just part of my life- but it's not my whole life.

I can be whoever I want to be because D does not limit me.

I have been a type 1 since I was 11, and I’m 16 now.

Being diagnosed was scary, I didn’t know anyone with diabetes and I didn’t like being labeled as ‘different’!

I had a really hard time accepting the person who I am now. But In the last 5 years I've attended diabetes camp and I’m currently a Junior Ambassador for JDRF.

As a Junior Ambassador for JDRF, I have an important job. A few times a year I get the chance to attend company meetings and events that are raising money for the cure.

My job is to share my own story of how diabetes affects me and how important finding a cure is.

In the past 5 years, I've met many diabetics - and I’ve never met one yet who wasn’t friendly or open to talking with me!

I try to make every diabetic I meet part of my family.

My mom is the person responsible for introducing me to the DOC. The first blog post she ever sent me was: “I Want You To Know” by Meri over at OurDiabeticLife

( http://www.ourdiabeticlife.com/2010/10/i-want-you-to-know-something.html)

After I read Meri’s post, I was so inspired by this idea of “blogging”.

Up until then, I never considered that blogging about diabetes would interest others.

I never considered blogging as a way to tell others how I was feeling about my life with diabetes. And I never even imagined that I could blog just sitting in my bed while on facebook.

I started NaturallySweet right after I read Meri's post – And for a while, my only viewer was my mom. But blogging made me so happy!

My goal in life is to be able to help as many diabetics as I possibly can.

I want to be able to hold their hands and tell them they aren’t alone in their diabetes.

Being part of the DOC has made living with diabetes a lot easier for me.

Reading peoples posts about their highs and lows makes me feel like I fit in. I feel so blessed that I can get to know all these people!

Thanks for reading my guest post and enjoy the snow! I know I am!

-Haley

Nearly 2 Million from 1 State...Not To Shabby

2 million dollars - That's a lot of cash.

To put it into perspective:

2 million dollars would buy approximately 30,300 bottles of short acting insulin at the no insurance cost of $66 per bottle.

2 million dollars would buy 333 insulin pumps, assuming that the median cost of a pump is $6000.

2 million would buy 1,111 MAC BOOK Airs

2 million dollars is the cost of approximately 100,000 parking tickets for expired meter parking from the City of Philadelphia's Parking Authority. The cost of an expired meter ticket is approximately $20.00

2 million dollars is the amount of money that the Philadelphia/Bucks County Chapter of the JDRF expects to raise from their WALK TO CURE DIABETES.

Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to speak in front of, and be inspired by those teams who raised 1000.00 dollars or more.

I was in awe of these families. Not only did they "walk the walk," but they knocked on doors,; sent out letters, approached their employers for matching corporate funds,reached out to members of their communities and places of worship, recruited their children's teachers and classmates, not to mention family and friends. Those efforts payed off BIG TIME .


87% of those dollars go directly towards funding research for a cure.

The Top Fundraising family in Eastern PA, also happened to be the top fundraising team in the Nation. Sydney's SuperSTARS brought in over $400,000 dollars in donations and a team of 150 people.

When I spoke with Sydney after the event, she told me her classmates were already saving penny's for next years walk. This Kid is going to give Steve Jobs & Donald trump a run for their money. OUTSTANDING !!!!

The kids I met were confident, active, stylish, beautiful, energetic and funny. The picture of health -Your typical kids with a not so typical disease.

Not only do they OWN their diabetes, but they decided to actively pursue the cost of a cure.
The results were phenomenal.

It was an awesome day and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it!