Blogging over at Diabetes Sisters

I am excited to announce that for the next 6 months, I'll be guest blogging at Diabetes Sisters as their pregnancy blogger.  You can check me out over there for a weekly update.  I'll still be blogging about my pregnancy here, and will include most if not all the same information for each post.  But my posts here will continue to have that "Holly flair".  

My first post is up, so check it out and let me know what you think!  

Texting a Guest Blog Post

Today I have the honor of guest posting over at Kim's blog.  I love Kim!  She is so funny, quick-witted, and insightful.  I've really enjoyed getting to know her on Twitter, and I really look forward to hopefully meeting her one day.  She and I are challenging each other for the perfect pre-baby A1c. 

I posted about my never-ending curiosity to test the blood sugar of nonPWDs.  So hop on over to her site today and check out my post. 

Have a great weekend! 

Guest Post: The Other Side of Me

Did you know that I manage another blog?  Yes, it's a home remodeling blog I started back in January (pre-Arnold and Me) when my husband and I bought a slight fixer-upper.  OK, it was a HUGE fixer-upper (just look at all 18 of my posts and you'll see why), but I love it!

I decided to start that blog so that family and friends who wanted to keep up on our progress could do so without having to start a Facebook account (but I also have a photo album of the same name there, if you like to see more pictures than progress notes).  When we first started remodeling, I was making posts once a week because loads of stuff was being done on that timescale (like a brand new kitchen!).  And since my house remodeling skills stop at sweeping up nails, I decided the blog would be my portion to the project.

Now that the house is livable and we don't have time to do the little things here and there, posting is sparse.  But this past week, we were able to finish a project that turned out beautiful--using refurb doors from the great room and turning them into bedroom doors.  But for those that just want to see the finish product, here you go:

Seal gray walls + white trim doorway + dark wood door =  LOVE! 

This blog will always be more me, because diabetes is daily.  But the home remodeling blog is a different glimpse into my life sans D.  I love our house and the personal stamp we've been able to put on it over the past 8 months.  So head on over there if you'd like a break from diabetes-related things for this bloggy month that is November.

Diabetes at the Beach

Hello!  I'm back from my trip to the beach, and we had a great time!  I want to thank everyone who guest blogged in my absence.  It turned out to be a great source of inspiration for me to see what other people come up with.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! 

Now that I'm back from the beach, there are so many things I want to share.  For the most part, my blood sugar levels stayed on track while we were there.  My average was 146 mg/dL for the week, according to Constance.  Considering it was a week long vacation with plenty of SWAG bolusing, I'd say that was pretty good.  I had some major highs, mainly from not waiting 30 minutes after taking my insulin to eat (and who wants to do that on vacation, pssht!).  I also had some lows, especially after battling the waves in the beach and jet skiing.  Constance saved my butt on those occassions because the adrenaline from those activities overshadowed my  hypo unawareness, so I was catching a lot of lows in the 60s with no symptoms.  But that's the extremely shortened version of the trip. 

On Saturday we drove down to lovely Cocoa Beach, making a lunch stop in Savannah, Georgia to meet a friend.  I've never been to Savannah, but our short lunch stop made me want to go back!  The beautifully restored houses along cobbled stone streets right on the water made me feel like I was in a place where time stood still.  Were it not for the tourist trolly and the many people carrying smart phones (myself included), I would have thought we were somewhere in the 19th century!  I fully expected to see Scarlet O'Hara passing by me in a sun dress with an umbrella.  What made the trip even more memorable was the fact that I chose to read listen via audiobook during our trip to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, which is a nonfiction novel about a murder that happens in Savannah.  Now that I'm done (awesome book, by the way!), I want to go back and visit all the places mentioned in the book.  Guess I'll have to settle for renting the movie. 

On Sunday, we went to orientation where we received a rundown of the beach clubs' activities for that week, and then we made our way to the beach.  The water was warm and clear the whole week, we couldn't have asked for better conditions.  The waves were nice and playful, too, if waves could be such things.  I've always enjoyed jumping over and into waves when they break, but Trey introduced me to a new activity--boogie boarding!  He taught me how to jump on top of the waves right as they're breaking and how to remain stiff as a board while the water carried you to shore.  Once I got the hang (ten!) of it, I loved it!  We played in the water for about 45 minutes before I started feeling fuzzy.  I brought my OneTouch Mini with me for easy testing from the beach bag.  Sure enough, I was in the low 100s and dropping.  Breaking waves is a perfect exercise for bringing down my BG. 

Cowabunga, Dudes!

That night we went to Port Canaveral and had dinner while we watched the Carnival, Royal Caribbean International, and Disney cruise ships leave the port.  I experienced grilled mahi mahi for the first time and it was delicious!  We also saw the happiest weimaraner dog who hung out on the front of his owner's boat while he cleaned fish. 

View from our table looking at the Royal Caribbean ship, the biggest of the three.  

Just chillin' out, maxin', relaxin', being all cool. 

Another BG lowering event took place on Tuesday when we rented jet skiis.  Igor was beginning to churn up the waves along the Atlantic Coast, so our ride was quite choppy and bumpy.  We even went completely air born a few times.  When we got back, my legs were shaking so bad I thought I was having an extreme adrenaline rush.  I might have been, but I was also low--test resulted at 61 mg/dL post-skiing.  Unfortunately, I forgot my little bag of glucose tabs and had to run to the nearest establishment with sugar.  Luckily, the closest place was a smoothie and sandwich restaurant, so I boosted my BG with a peanut butter and blueberry treat.  I actually passed on the protein supplement because I thought it might have tampered the sugar absorption.  (Note:  Drinking a smoothie really fast while low results in multiple brain freezes.  Ouch!) 

On Wednesday, Trey decided he wanted to go golfing and I tagged along.  When we got to the place, they had a big sign that said, "No Personal Coolers."  I looked at my little blue cooler filled with drinks and candy and asked Trey, "What are we gonna do?"  "You're diabetic, we're taking the cooler."  I hate having to pull the D-card like that, but we just implemented the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.  We stuffed the cooler in the back of the cart behind Trey's clubs, and no one was the wiser.  Fun note:  Trey got paired up with an Irishman named David, and I loved hearing him talk!  I'm sure our accents were just as atrocious (especially mine), but I must admit I giggled a little everytime he talked.  He and I actually talked diabetes for a few minutes and he told me he had a friend who died of type 1 at 26 because she never took care of herself.  "Huh, well I'm 25, almost 26.  But I have an insulin pump and a CGM."  I showed him my bionic parts and he was amazed.  "Aye, I bet that's much better to manage then, isn't it?"  Giggling, "Yes." 

The golfers out on the course, notice the inlet river in the background.

The rest of the week was mainly spent around the beach club/beach/pool, with ventures to go out to eat or shopping.  I got sunburnt while listening to my book on the beach, awesomeness!  Our last day we went out to downtown Cocoa and shopped in their little village.  I picked up a cruise ship charm for my charm bracelet to commemorate the trip.  On Saturday we checked out and drove up to my parents' for the night for dinner and the Auburn game, which about gave me a heart attack (overtime and a field goal!).  We finished the trip on Sunday where we were greeted to lots of slobbery kisses from the dogs.  The cats just sniffed us and jumped in our laps. 

Greetings from our condo patio!

Now for the daunting task of trying to unpack . . .

Guest Post: Weird Low Symptoms

Today's guest post comes from my favorite diabetic across the pond (Atlantic Ocean), Becky.  Becky tweets and blogs over at Instructions Not Included, a perfect title for a dblog!  Today she talks about having weird low symptoms (aren't they all?!) and deciding when to test.  I must agree, when in doubt, TEST!  

A lot of us second guess ourselves. I think it's natural. The thing I've found, though, is that I tend to think twice over a lot of things now that I previously would have taken for granted.  A prime example is the weather. I've always been one for not gauging it properly, and then dressing completely inappropriately for the temperature (layers are your friend, by the way). However, waves of heat on my legs are actually one of my (more peculiar) hypo symptoms. As is shivering. So when I find myself feeling particularly hot or cold, there's always the question in my mind as to whether it's totally natural, or if it's a hypo-related thing. It gets annoying.

Earlier today, I was feeling really tired. Which is perfectly understandable, as I've been busy working  on a project, and I've had more than a few late nights recently. But of course, it was actually because I was hypo, and I'd slipped down to 3.3mmol/l (59mg/dl). Lovely.

There are days when I get more than a little frustrated at having to think things over. Is the train I'm going to be on likely to be delayed? If so, by how long? Do I need to put cereal bars or similar in my handbag? Am I feeling dizzy because I'm low, or did I just stand up too fast a moment ago, and now have a head-rush? Is the fact I'm really thirsty because I haven't had enough to drink, or it's too warm, or I've just eaten something salty, or am I high?

I could go on listing, but if you're reading this, you most likely know the score. Sometimes you have to stop yourself, and go 'hang on a minute, you're drinking a lot because you just ate that bacon (or something equally salty)', and you'll be right. The thing that is harder is when the answer isn't quite so clear cut. Then you've got to test and be sure. You could ignore it, but what if you're wrong? That's the worrying point. Sometimes it does pay to think twice.

Guest Post: Another Bionic Woman

Today's guest post comes from Adriana who blogs and tweets.  She's channeled her inner bionic woman and blogged about when she went on the pump 18 years ago and had to be hospitalized.  Wow!  Thanks, Adriana for sharing this story. 

Hey! I’m Adriana and I blog over at Living Life with Diabetes. I’m excited to be guest posting for Holly while she is off at the beach. I’m so jealous!

While I was thinking about what to write about for this blog post the idea of “bionic woman” kept coming to mind. Holly has talked a lot about being the bionic woman what with Arnold her trusty pump and now Constance her new CGM.

At age 7, in 1988, I was diagnosed with diabetes.  It came as a huge shock to the family but we all adjusted as best we could. In July 1992 at age 11 my endocrinologist put me on an insulin pump. At the time I was the youngest person in the area to have been put on the pump. This meant that I didn’t know anybody else who was on the pump. In fact it would be a few years until I met somebody who also wore a pump.

I remember pulling into the hospital that would be my home for the next week while I adjusted to the insulin pump and learned how to use it. Yes, I was admitted into the hospital! Looking up at the hospital all I could see was a jail. In my 11 year old mind that was what the hospital was. I wanted to be hanging out at the mall with my friends instead of being in hooked up to some machine 24/7 and spending a week in the hospital. You could say I didn’t have the greatest attitude.

Over the course of the next week my mom and I learned all about carb counting (such a new thing at the time,) basal rates, infusion sites, and all the blood testing involved. One day I was given a get-out-of-jail-free card for 2 hours so my mom and I went to Michael’s and bought arts and crafts supplies. Standing in the parking lot I felt different. I felt like I belonged in the hospital.

That feeling of belonging in the hospital took a long time to go away. I hated and loved the pump. Sometime in my early twenties I started to feel like my insulin pump was just another body part. Up until November of last year I only wore my pump hidden away in my bra so nobody could see. I would stick my hand down my shirt wherever I was to pull it out to bolus but never felt comfortable wearing it anywhere else. For some reason since November it is on my belt or pocket all the time. I don’t care anymore.

I wish I could tell my 11 year old self that just because I wore an insulin pump it didn’t mean I belonged in a hospital. The insulin pump has been amazing for me and I’m so glad and proud I’ve been on it for 18 years. I do wonder what 11 year old me would think about my CGM?

Adriana's pink Animas Ping insulin pump.  Pretty!

Guest Post: Letting Go

My first guest post this week comes from Phyllis Post (hey!).  She tells the story of her son's diagnosis (that was very close to mine, in story and date) and learning to let him take control of his diabetes as he grows up.  Phyllis blogs about quilts and books with happy endings.  Thank you so much, Phyllis, for filling in today.  

It was like a scene in a TV medical drama. At around 4:00 am in a nearly deserted ER of the large children’s hospital near our Midwestern home, the triage nurse took a good look at our 10-year-old son and muttered, “I don’t like the look of this.” She immediately came around from behind the desk, grabbed the wheelchair he was in and rushed down the hallway yelling, “I need a resident in here, stat!” Doctors and nurses came out of nowhere and gathered around our son as they tested him and hooked him up to all manner of machines. Somewhere in there I heard the “D” word, but it would be over a day later before I even began to understand just what that word would mean for our family of 3.

That was how our Thanksgiving weekend ended in 2006. Now, nearly 4 years later, I rarely look back to try and remember what life was like without diabetes. Instead I am thankful that God promises to work for the good of all those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). And in all sincerity, there is a lot of good for us to see. Our friends and family have been so supportive. My employer in particular has made it possible for me to work around the rather insane schedule of medical appointments we now deal with. We have insurance. We still have our son who has handled having this disease with grace and good humor.

He’s in high school now. He just started as a freshman at the end of August. And it’s a whole new ballgame because the school nurse doesn’t keep a close eye on her diabetic charges unless they specifically ask for help. She tells me that few of them do. Instead it’s up to him now to count his carbs, bolus correctly, and pay attention (!) to what his body is telling him. Those 8 hours at school each day are the training ground for him to be living someday independently 24/7 with his diabetes. Those 8 hours at school each day are also the training ground for my husband & I to learn how to let him go. It’s hard enough to let go of a child as it is, but one day we’ll have to let go of his diabetes management, too.

These are treacherous waters. There are so many pitfalls facing teenagers; how do we help him avoid all of the normal ones as well as the one we never expected? There are no easy answers, no matter what issues we face as parents. I’ve spent a good bit of the last 4 years learning everything I can about diabetes. Blogs like Holly’s here help me understand some of the things my son will have to deal with when he’s on his own. So to all of you D-bloggers out there, I heart-felt “Thank You!” for what you do. I’m so grateful for the accumulated wisdom and knowledge that I find here in cyberspace. I don’t think we’d have adapted nearly as well as if we had if it hadn’t been for so many of you out there maintaining sites where I can lurk to my heart’s content.

Prov. 22:6 says “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” We apply this to everything, including diabetes, and then we simply remember that when all is said and done, God is in control. He loves us and will always be there for us and for our son. Life is about far more than diabetes and we do our best to always remember that.

Picture of Phyllis with author Brenda Novak who runs an annual auction to benefit diabetes research (Phyllis is the one on the right). 

Friday Five: 6 August 2010

Welcome to another HAWT edition of Friday Five.  I say this because the average high this week has been over 100 F!  Ugh!  This edition of friday five is very random, it goes from meatloaf to dinner parties to football.  Yeah, my mind is all over the place . . .

1. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the peeps who volunteered to guest post for me while I'm going to be gone on my beach vacation.  I received all the volunteers I needed within a day, and even some extra reserved for my next vacation (which, this is our first true "vacation" in 2 years, I hope this is not the same for my next vacation).  I look forward to seeing what you're all going to post here at A&M!  And maybe I should go ahead and plan another vacation for those who also wanted to but can't this time?  ;-)  
2. Who doesn't like meatloaf, honestly?!  I have been perplexed by this notion over the past two days because I was planning a meatloaf dinner, then came to find out my guests are not big fans of the stuff.  No biggie, they still tried it and liked MY meatloaf, but who doesn't like meatloaf in general?!  I figured it was like hamburgers, or pizza, something that you'd have to be un-American to not like.  Guess I learned something new . . . 
3. I got into a conversation with someone online this week about being diabetic and having someone prepare a meal around that.  Personally, if someone makes a low carb meal for me, I would be appreciative.  But if they ask me beforehand if I would rather have chicken breasts or spaghetti, I would say SPAGHETTI!  I just don't think anyone planning a dinner party should cater (pun!) to my disease for everyone else.  I feel like it points me and D out.  "Look, we're eating chicken and broccoli because of . . . HER!!!  *fingers pointing*"  What do you guys think?  I would never ask a host to prepare a low carb meal just because I'm going to be there.  I can choose not to take a second roll or something, but that's my choice. Meh.
4. Only 4 more weeks until college football starts.  Yesssssssssss!!!  I'm so ready for it, not just football, but fall (see above about it being HAWT).  I'm ready for cool, refreshing weather, autumn leaves, and chili in a crockpot when I walk in the door.  
5. And Trey's and my 2nd anniversary is in 17 days (thank you, Facebook).  I really can't believe it's been 2 years already.  This time two years ago I was making last minute checks on everything and trying not to freak out.  And this time last year we were getting ready to go look for houses.  And what are we doing this year?  I have no idea, just trying to keep up with life I guess.  =P  

Have a great weekend everyone.  Stay cool!  B-)  

Calling All (Guest) Bloggers

ATTENTION!

Calling all fellow bloggers:  

I am looking for 4-5 guest bloggers while I'll be gone on vacation to the beach during mid-September.  You don't have to be a diabetes blogger or even a blogger at all!  I'm really open to anything.  If you'd like to be a guest blogger for * Arnold and Me * please email me at "arnoldandme" at gmail dot com.  I might bring back some goodies for you from the beach, like, some sand?  Just kidding, it will be something good.  

THANKS!