Monday, July 1, 2013

Things Diabetes has taught me this month... June edition

Really?  June? This means the year is half over?

How. Did. This. Happen? Anyway, onto the post...

-A really fun game we like to play is called, "Find the Alarming Pod" (alarming as in making a noise, not a pod that is disturbing... but you already knew that).  You play by throwing every pod your daughter has ever worn in the last almost 2 years into a box.  Then you wait eagerly for the day that one of the discarded pods starts to emit the "screech of death" for no apparent reason than to add yet another sound into your already noisy life. Gather your children and dump the pods onto the floor, telling them that whoever finds the alarming pod gets a whole dollar! As an added bonus, even if the pod is making noise, your kids aren't. 

-Sometimes the diabetes blues sneaks up on you when you least expect it. About once a month, I speak at our local Children's hospital's newly diagnosed class about the support group Fred and I belong to.  This started a few months ago, and with one talk under my belt, I felt pretty calm about the next one.  Except when I got up there in front of these poor families who looked absolutely shell-shocked, and I got to the part when I talked about how alone I felt those first few months, I lost it.  Dude... it was brutal.

Then a mom in the front row started crying, and I reigned myself in.  How embarrassing.  Here I was, trying to show these Moms and Dads that they won't always feel so lost and sad, and I, a wily 5 year veteran couldn't even keep it together. True diabetes had been kicking our booties lately, but I pride myself at being able to keep it from affecting me like that.

Anyway, at the end of my talk, several of the parents came up and thanked me for being so transparent.  I'm just hoping next time I can avoid the water works.

And this has nothing to do with the post, but Happy Canada Day to all my peeps north of the border. Want to see some uber-cute pics of my three Canadians? Click here to see my annual Happy Canada Day post on my other blog.

8 comments:

  1. And so now, thanks to you, those parents know they are normal d-moms & d-dads.

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  2. All of those families were blessed to have been there that day to hear you speak...you helped them more than you know. I know this because you have helped me more than you will ever know! Happy July! xoxo

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  3. It must be hard having a loved one with diabetes but i think you've been doing great dealing with it. Your daughter is lucky to have a mother like you and all those parents are indeed lucky to hear you speak about it. Best of luck to you!

    - HealthAndBeautyMatters.com

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  4. What a lucky group of new d parents. I wish I had been able to meet some others right away, too - but I did get pretty lucky when I searched online and voila :)
    And Happy Canada Day to you and your adorable kiddos :)

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  5. OMG...the POD thing sounds like a nightmare. Joe just went on it yesterday. Don't you send those things somewhere??? Like to be recycled? Those parents are so lucky to have you. xo

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  6. I think...wait, I KNOW the waxing and waning emotions are normal! At least, I hope they are. One day, "I've got this", another day a simple thought brings tears to my eyes!
    I'd love to speak to a similar group. Give me info!

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    Replies
    1. Hey Rhonda... For some reason I don't have your email, but if you want to volunteer to do this, contact Alison from TOFN. She organizes this. I've done it twice now and I love connecting with the new families.

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  7. D does sneak up on you... little ****(I would curse, but its not by blog). AND WOW! What an opportunity to help those other families, that are very fortunate to have you there for them.

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