1 Drop at a Time

Today was our first, JDRF walk. It was so surreal to be in a crowd of people and not have a clue who had T1D and who was there for support. The occasional pump tubing peaked from a shirt or a Pod could be seen, but your guess was as good as mine. I was nervous this morning, but when we picked up our friends and got to the event, my heart was filled with gratitude. It takes a village to manage a chronic illness. It was beyond humbling to have parts of my village around me, whether it be in person or in spirit, all walking in the same direction. So from the bottom of my heart, to my family for loving me unconditionally and supporting this cause, to my friends that were able to come, the friends who sent me loving vibes and the new friends I made today, thank you. You all bring so much joy and laughter to my life, especially on the days I need it the most.  Today, I think the most striking realization was the number of people who work tirelessly to support those with T1D and t...

Y'all, where did October go? I have successfully watched   Halloweentown  and  Hocus   Pocus  to the point I don't even need to have it on because I can see it in my mind. Both are masterpieces.  I unintentionally avoided another down in the dumps week. How? I didn't pick up my diabetes supplies! My last post wasn't exactly me. I was so sad about life and I've noticed a trend of this is happening every couple of months. Thank you to all my friends and family for reaching out to me. I forgot I am not alone, your love helped me process why this may be going on. I figured out this most recent time started when I went to the pharmacy to get more testing strips. I live in a small town, but there is still a waiting period while in the car line at  CVS . When I go to the pharmacy, I'm usually alone with my thoughts because for whatever reason Jake isn't with me. Sometimes, I find gratitude for the ability to get the supplies. Other times, I pl...

It has been a minute since my last post. I thought about hiding behind a new recipe, giving the world the perfection it desires, in the form of a prepared dish and Instagram filter, but I am in a funk. I'm sad, hurting, pretty much every adjective on an antidepressant commercial. When I started this blog, I asked you to follow me on the good days and bad. Unfortunately, I've been riding on bad days for a few weeks now. I am struggling and wondering, why am I not choosing happiness? Why am I not more thankful? Why did this happen to me? You know, all the self indulgent questions that make me cringe while writing them out.  So being a doer, who loves control, I went to Amazon to buy some books. I think in all this sadness and loss of interest in life, I was actually at a pivotal moment, I was ready to see "Chronic Illness" and "Diabetes" written on the pages of a self help book. I was no longer buying books about spirituality or God throughout the cent...

Y'all, I did it. I traveled to another country, diabetes and all. I gave up trying to hide my pump and just wore it on my shoulder.  Let me rewind a little and tell you about my friend, Chelsea. You know the person that never knows a stranger? Well that is my friend, Chels. Chelsea and Alex just got married in Cabo and it was such a fun weekend. At the beginning of my diabetes journey, I reached out to Chelsea and asked her about starting a blog. Chels had a successful fashion blog in college, and she knew the ins and outs. She encouraged me to go for it, so I took the plunge. I'm so glad I did.  Well fast forward a few months and Chelsea and Alex announced they were getting married. Yay!! The wedding would be in Cabo San Lucas. I was so excited for them, and for the opportunity to be a part of their wedding. Then that crushing fear of "how do I travel with this chronic illness" hit.  To say I didn't want to back out several times would be a lie, but you know what...

What a week it has been! I never thought I'd say "happy first day of school" again. I've learned more in these past couple of weeks than I have in awhile. 1. On the first day back from summer break, don't put on mascara until after goodbyes are said to Jake....oh the tears! Being a working mom, no matter how much I love my job, is hard. When I leave Jake in the mornings, my heart is always going to break a little.  2. Teachers are amazing. I've always known that teachers put in a lot of time BUT they put in more than just work hours. They really care for their students. Not only that, they can remember student's names like bosses. I'm jealous of that notion, too. 3. I'm so inspired by students who live with chronic illness and the way they LIVE. I sometimes (always) consume myself with numbers and trends. I put on my diabetes goggles and that is all I see. However, this past week , I  listened to my body more and looked at those numbers...

I don't think it has quite sunk in that one branch of my nursing journey is coming to a close. For almost five years, I have worked in the hospital setting. It hasn't always been easy, but it is a time in my life, I will always hold close to my heart. I had the opportunity to take care of America's veterans, athletes, and people from all walks of life. While chatting with my patients during nursing care, I have seen the world through their eyes and learned so many life lessons. Being a bedside nurse is so much more than following orders and passing medications. I will miss it so much.  In nursing school, I had the opportunity to follow a school nurse. I quietly fell in love with the job, but knew I first wanted to pursue bedside nursing.  Diabetes has encouraged me to take avenues I would have never dreamt of. It has simultaneously made me fearful and fearless. Recently, that quiet voice in my heart started getting louder and louder. One day, after a Google s...

The past couple of nights haven't gone so well. Last night, I even had two lows. Before, I would eat a glucose tab or two, surf Facebook and silently pity myself. That was before Beyond Type 1 came out with an app that is basically what would happen if Twitter and Instagram had a baby and that baby just happen to have T1D. This app is world wide and beyond amazing. Last night, while I "patiently" waited for my blood sugar to go up, I was immediately connected with more than one person experiencing the very same thing! Sure, I got frustrated and said a few choice words, especially when my dexcom sounded the alarm for another blood sugar in the 50's but I wasn't alone. Now that I have had some time to reflect, I realize just how many people from all over the world, I have met. Sometimes I fear diabetes will chain me down to my comfort zone, but with this app, I get a glimpse at just how large and beautiful this world is. How can you not get a bit of wanderlust, ...