O.C. Diabetic

I read something online recently that, according to my co-workers, accurately defines me: O.D. Diabetic. Obsessive-Compulsive Diabetic. Ok, I can roll with that.

When I went to the doctor the first time in May, my A1C was 11.3%; when I went at the beginning of the month of June it was 11% (dietary changes alone). Insurance won't cover an A1C test but every 3 months so at my most recent follow up appointment I couldn't have it measured. But by my own record keeping and averaging my A1C should be around 5.5%. Which is completely normal!!! :) YEAH ME!!!

I went back and read the last posting and those size 14 pants I was talking about? I'm wearing them RIGHT NOW! I've lost a total of 13 lbs since the first part of May. Just when you're feeling really good about a weight loss-just go try on some clothes and reality will slap you right back in the face! It's those "in between" stages where you don't know what size to pick off the shelf. Ugh! But I have done well with my diagnosis and most of the time if I limit my carbs to 1 or 2 per meal I can go without a shot.

I'm walking 6 miles a week...not a whole lot-but I am walking. I hit a plateau for about 4 or 5 weeks and never could lose any more weight. Someone told me, you need to eat a hamburger or some junk. HA! I thought that was nuts...but I did eat "not so healthy" about 2 days and low and behold I lost like 4 lbs? Of course I've returned to a more healthy menu but isn't that funny?

I am walking on October 8th in the StepOut for Diabetes walk at Samford. I have a goal to raise $1,001.00! So far, so good but if you're reading this and would like to make a tax deductible contribution please do so at: FISHER'S FIGHTERS I am sincerely grateful for any and all donations received--I will promise to walk with honor for those who have donated and for those family members who fight diabetes every day--including myself!

Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes

So about three months ago, my brother -at the age of 31- was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I had Gestational Diabetes (or so I thought) at the age of 22. Afterwords, my Blood Sugar levels returned to normal. Fast forward several years, since I've always been a big-girl when my blood sugars were high again it was automatically assumed I was Type 2. My son will be 11 years old in November so for 11 years and several doctors later I find out that I, too, am a Type 1--Insulin Dependent diabetic. Four shots a day (at least), checking blood sugar levels six times a day.

Joy.

Good thing is, I've lost weight...and it was not the indicator that something was wrong. It is because I've made a concentrated effort to lose weight. So far, 7lbs...but more than the weight, I've lost size!!! I just bought a pair of size 14 pants and though I wouldn't yet wear them in public, I WAS able to button and zip them!!! Three years ago I was in a size 22!!! Two months ago I was in a size 18. I'm in a size 16 now and headed towards a 14. I'd like to be a size 12, solidly-- shall I say confidently.

Confident. I can't wait!

Courageous, The Movie

FLYFisher

I know, I know, it's been forever since I updated. I have several things to update one, but as of today I will not elaborate on them. First, we have a new family member, Trooper. He's a MINI-WEENIE :) and he's trouble with a capital "T." I've had several people in the last couple of days mention my blog and when I come on here I see how neglected the thing is. So here's a little fat to chew on with the promise of another update soon--more details, some pictures, etc.

Mainly--I've institued the FLYlady program for my house. I have CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and it needs to stop! So, as my shiny sink sings to me "I love you" I am fighting down Mt. WashMORE, the angry hotbed of HOTSPOTS and all those pesky little naggings in my brain saying I can't do it.

Phil. 4:13 says I can do ALL things through Christ who strenghtens me... and FLYlady says I can do ANYTHING in 15 minutes.

Whew...I have have 15 minutes and Christ in me so I am INVINCIBLE! :)

Goodbye, loyal companion(s)

This week has been a tough week. First of all, rewind to last Thursday. My mother tells me Peanut (our mini-daschund of almost 14 years) has reached the point where she needed to make "the decision" to put her down. So I make plans to be off on Friday from work to take her and do it without my mom knowing (this was her request). I received, late Thursday, a call from the "Administration" at my work that I had a mandatory meeting on Friday. I was unable to leave the office in time to get to my mom's house and take the dog for "the procedure." So I'm heartbroken in many different ways. Fast forward to Monday...the dog's leg has swollen ten-fold and it self ruptures. The dog is in major pain, my mother is literally hysterical and cannot get in touch with me (phone fell off table became unplugged and I'm unreachable). I get a series of voicemails at work on Tuesday, Feb. 2nd., "today's the day, you've got to come and get her, something has to be done, she's suffering."

So, I leave work in tears, dreading putting this dog down. This dog was one that my father and I went to purchase against my mother's wishes 14 years ago. My dad died of complications related to Leukemia that SAME year we got Peanut. God works in mysterious ways.

I dug a hole in my mothers back yard (I've never done it before) and buried her companion. Today I got to see the little headstone she purchased and I burst into tears.

My son had a birthday party to go to tonight from 6p-9p and so we rolled up to our house about 8:45 or so... Hubby's on the telephone. I hear him say, "ok, thanks so much, bye." He looks at me, "I have to talk to you, without Jaecob."

Things are serious.

He'd just hung up with our neighbor. Our dog, Tank, was hit by a car earlier in the day and he's been killed.

Um. God works in mysterious ways. I'll be pondering this one for a long time.

On 1/22/2008 I lost my miniature Schnauzer, Cadie, to an illness, she was 9 years old. On 2/28/2008 we lost our chocolate Lab, Mollie to an infection; she was 8 years old. So here we are right at 2 years later mourning the loss of Peanut (13 years old) on 2/2/2010 and Tank (almost 2 years old) on 2/6/2010.

God is in control and He will be my fountain of peace. I may not be able to get off my knees to get to the fountain, so I'll crawl.

Adoption: The NEW Pregnant

Don't you love it?! I certainly do!

WHAT A RELIEF!! Seriously, imagine for a moment with me. Being a woman of child bearing age, longing for a bundle of joy to swoon over yet those arms remain empty. You purchase your subscription to FertiltyFriend (at Christmas, on SALE), you dust off the BBT Thermometer, you realize it needs batteries. You buy a new BBT-T and realize you hate it but you've already started charting and you CANNOT get a new one at this point. You count down days, you psych yourself up for when your OV Watch says 'FERTILE DAY 1" and when it does you hang a hang a sign on the door and change the outgoing answer machine message "Leave us alone for 36 hours." Only to SUFFER through the TWW (two week wait for you who are not TTC--trying to conceive). Then on CD30/15DPO (again, Cycle Day 30, 15 Days Past Ovulation) there's that witch: AF (Aunt Flo).


Ugh.


But... what if?! What if you can avoid all of the headache, hassle, pain, disappointment, hatred of all things "pregnant?" What if?

What if you had a certainty that another child will be a part of your life. One that didn't grow under your heart--but has been growing in it for years before being placed in your home? What joy, what relief, what a blessing?

These are the conversations that took place in my house last night. Praise God in all the Heavens and on Earth. The healing process begins. I can no longer mourn the child that I have not been able to conceive. I pray for the one I know God is developing, maybe even now, I pray for the mother who will find herself in a seemingly impossible situation, I pray for the hurdles we will have to overcome--hurdles which are different from TTC. I pray for the preparation of our lives, our finances, our son and our family. We stand alongside of one another surrounded by our Father in Heaven and walk when he says walk. Our arms are wide open and we anxiously await the directions from our Lord and Savior; whom I know holds me in the palm of His hand.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified; do not be DISCOURAGED, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

ROLL TIDE!

There are no sweeter words: National Championship...

Unless, of course, you can say it THIRTEEN TIMES!

1925-1926-1930-1934-1941-1961-1964-1965-1973-1978-1979-1992-2009

THIRTEEN, what a lucky number!

Roll Tide, ROLL. 'nuff said.