The “D” Word: 3 month Update

Today marks 3 months since Diva was diagnosed with T1D. I can’t believe it’s already been 3 months. AND we made it through the holidays.

Diva is doing great (all things considered). She has already gained 6 pounds! Yes – she was under weight in part due to undiagnosed T1D. Now that we know and are “treating” it, she is much healthier – gaining weight, growing like a weed and has better color. She can almost check her blood sugar all by herself – although one of us is always there with her. It’s just nice that she is taking ownership of it and already at 5 wants to do things herself. She has let her aunts, an uncle and even some cousins help her check blood sugar. She knows she has to have insulin after every meal and she reminds us. Yes – our sassy Diva reminds us she needs an injection. Children are amazing.

Are the emotions still there? Oh yeah.

1. Blame and Guilt. Let’s be honest no matter what the doctor’s say I’m always going to feel a little of this. Even though I know it’s nothing we did and nothing she did. I guess I’ll just have to remind myself over and over that T1D cannot be prevented. Hopefully someday they will have a “cure”.

2. Sorrow. This emotion will always be there. It might not be as bad as when we first found out and it will probably keep getting better with time but I’m still sad that this is her new “normal”. Plus – while I gave her insulin yesterday morning it started bleeding and a bruise appeared immediately. I felt horrible even though Diva told me it was ok. When my husband came in from chores to take the kids to school she told him that I did a “bad job” and he was doing it tomorrow. The only reason I know she said this is because G-Money came up and told me. She didn’t tell ME I did a bad job and like I said told me it was ok. She knows it is hard on us and didn’t want me to feel bad. How sweet is that?!

3. Fear. This is pretty much exactly the same as when I originally posted. I am still constantly thinking of her numbers. I still think about it every night when I’m trying to sleep and it’s the first thing I think about when I wake up. Yep –still scared of everything about T1D.

4. Frustration/Mad. I think as time goes on this will switch from me being frustrated and mad to Diva being frustrated and mad. She asked me the other day WHY she got T1D. I told her that it just happened – there was no reason. Her pancreas just decided it didn’t want to work anymore. She looked at me straight in the eyes and told me to tell her the truth. It BROKE MY HEART. I told her that was the truth. That the doctor’s didn’t know why and that it wasn’t anyone’s fault. I still don’t think she believes me.

5. Happy. I’m happy that she is adjusting. I’m happy that she knows she has to have insulin and doesn’t really fight it anymore.

Diva showing off her new meter bag given to her by a really awesome family in the community – the mom in this family also has T1D.

I started this post yesterday. I went to check email this morning and I found this video before I got it to. What are the chances that I would see this video on Diva’s 3 month T1D anniversary? I have three words: Powerful, Scary, Understand. Take the time to watch and share. (Diva is still in the “honeymoon stage” – which means her pancreas is still partially working.)

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/inside-the-scary-battle-to-save-a-teens-life-a-109233855362.html

XOXO

~The Sheiliac

Monday Must Have’s

Let’s start this week off with a positive!  Monday must have: some things I simply can’t live without…

1. Leggings

2. Crystal Light with caffeine

3. Tervis Cups

4. Work-Out Class

 

I MUST HAVE leggings. Which is funny ironic because I used to hate leggings. I said I would never wear them. I believe my words were “I don’t have the right body for them”. LOL – whatever, who cares what type of body you have. They are the most comfortable things ever. I wear them probably at least 5 out of the 7 days per week. My favorite brands of leggings are White Plum (pictured) and GAP.

I have recently discovered Crystal Light with caffeine. BEST THING EVER. I’m trying to drop a few pounds and be a little healthier, so I stopped drinking pop. However, I really really need my caffeine – I can’t won’t give it up. So I was drinking iced tea in the morning, which was fine but I still craved something a little sweeter – enter Crystal Light with caffeine. The Wild Strawberry is good, but very sweet. So I do add more water to mine than it calls for. I have found Citrus flavor – which I bought but haven’t tried yet and Peach Mango. I’m not a big “mango flavored” fan so I probably won’t be trying that one.

Tervis cups. The one pictured is from Champion Seed – where we buy our corn and soybean seeds to plant. Yes, you can customize them. Awesome, I know. Thank you to Champion Seed for supplying these every 2 years. They are awesome and I use them every single day. They don’t “sweat”, which is super because that really irritates me and they keep your beverage cold for hours! One time I had one for these bad boys filled with ice and tea – I still had at least 1/2 – 2/3 left so I stuck it in the fridge when I went to bed. The next morning the ice was still there. WHAAAAT?! Worth the extra money.

Work-Out Class. I actually really like to work-out. It makes me feel good. It gives me more energy. BUT – I need a class. Otherwise I don’t push myself and I quit when I start to feel a little tired. And I get bored. Really fast. I recently started a new class (for FREE!!!!) – it’s CrossFit like and I love it. Plus one of my besties goes too so I get to see her first thing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Have a great week.

XOXO

~ The Sheiliac

New Year. New You?

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.

This is the thing. I believe that if you want to change something you should do it right now. Why wait till January 1st? I mean, I kind of get it. After all – it’s a new year…why not start fresh. But still…

A couple days into January my husband mentioned I should try shopping less. Whaaaat? Ridiculous. The funny thing is, the very next time I opened my phone – this beauty was on it. {“Shopping less” is not a realistic resolution.} It made my day. It came from an app I have on my phone – Keep. Have you heard of it? Maybe you already have it on your phone. I compare it a lot to Pinterest – only it’s clothes, shoes, purses, etc. and you can buy them directly from the app. It picks out cool stuff, you can keep it (for later), like it, or buy it right away and it all goes into one cart regardless where you are buying it from. GENIUS. It’s fabulous. Go try it out. You’ll either thank me later or be really mad at me for introducing you to it.

Do you make New Year’s resolution’s? Do you keep them?

Christmas Recap!

I love Christmas. I’ve always loved Christmas. My mom put a tree up in every room of the house. It was awesome. I used to grab a blanket and lay underneath a tree because it was just so beautiful. Let’s be honest – I would often fall asleep but I couldn’t help it. There’s something so magical about Christmas trees and lights.

Now I get to decorate my own house and I wish I had the same ambition as my mom – but I don’t. I used to try to put a tree up downstairs, upstairs, in the bathrooms and in each bedroom. Now it’s only a tree downstairs and in each of the kids’ rooms. Fail.

I also have a thing about dressing for the holiday season. This outfit was my favorite this season. The snowflake and reindeer leggings are from White Plum (but I ordered them from Jane.com) – they are so soft and comfortable AND they aren’t see through. I mean what more could you want?! The top is Lucy (I got mine at Von Maur), I love, love, love the Lucy brand. It’s athletic type of clothes that you can wear anytime. AWESOME. The scarf is Betsy Johnson (again bought at Von Maur), I just really like Betsy Johnson, it’s kind of different and funky and fun. Plus plaid and pink – how can you go wrong?! Then of course my Ugg boots, which I’ve already written about and some pink boot socks (I’ve had to say good bye to those wonderful socks – they got a hole in them, it was a sad day. A very sad day.)

About a week before Christmas I got a text from a friend about Diva’s letter to Santa, it was hysterical. I still laugh every time I read it…G-money is “too old”, they don’t a letter to Santa in the newspaper anymore.

Santa came and brought all sorts of goodies but Diva’s FAVORITE – the Stop Sign. LOL. Her brother doesn’t think it’s nearly as cool. I believe his wording was “…most annoying gift ever”.

G-Money was pumped that Santa brought a bike though (he really wants to ride around the lake with us this summer). And then maybe my favorite picture from the holiday – Diva and one of her cousins sitting on Grandma’s bed playing ipads. I don’t know why I love this picture so much but I just do. They are best friends and can play kitchen, house, babies --- or just sit together and play ipads. It just warms my heart.

I know what you really want to know, it’s just sitting there with no answer…yes, Santa brought my husband underwear. Lots of underwear.

I’m already thinking about next Christmas and how to make it more magical. How about you? Do you plan way in advantage or last minute?

XOXO

~The Sheiliac