Revelations Part 1 (or something like that) Redux

Two years ago I went on an amazing weight loss journey. My fitness club — the one I’d been playing tennis at for years but had never even checked out the rest of it — started a “Biggest Loser” contest. My friends strong-armed me to sign up. And I won. Now, this past winter with a yucky injury (broken ribs; broken enough to require hospitalization), I sat on my duff and gained some back. So, I’m on the journey again. This time, I’m using the “world” as my gym more. Walking, hiking, tennis, outdoor things. But I thought it would … Continue reading Revelations Part 1 (or something like that) Redux

A Letter to a Girl I Love on a really rough day. (aka: Diabetes sucks)

(Today’s post is written to someone in particular, but my hope is that you can take out the “Daughter” and substitute “son” or “spouse” or “friend” or whatever. It’s not like me to go all Debbie Downer on you, so let’s see how this goes).  Dear Daughter of Mine: There are all kinds of diabetes days: funny ones (like the time you were hanging from a horse by your pump tubing); silly ones (like the time you were teaching all the little kids with diabetes how to play “pump tag.” I think the other mothers were dying right then and … Continue reading A Letter to a Girl I Love on a really rough day. (aka: Diabetes sucks)

Teen Tips: Learning from this D-Mom’s Mistakes

I read a lot of blogs that give great advice from their expert opinions and I love them. I learn so much. So I started thinking: What advice can I give? I went over and over it in my head and realized my “expert opinion” might need to come from another point of view: Learn from what I did wrong. It’s not that I’m a bad mom – I’m not. Both my daughters (one with diabetes, one without) are well-adjusted and successful young women. But in the 14 years we’ve been on the diabetes highway, I’ve made my share of … Continue reading Teen Tips: Learning from this D-Mom’s Mistakes

Recap of the meeting with Senator Scott Brown

First of all, please excuse this note if it is not my finest writing sample. I promise to jazz it up in a day or two but I did not want to keep you all waiting and we had a little “event” here tonight. The morning after our meeting with Senator Brown we drove Lauren home from her first year of college. We got here about 7-ish and after we unloaded the car she dashed off to see friends. She came in at about 11, tripped over her suitcase and broke her arm. Waiting for the surgeon now, who will … Continue reading Recap of the meeting with Senator Scott Brown

It’s time for the Senator Brown meeting: Sign here on the “Scroll of Support”

T-minus 56 hours and counting . . . it’s Saturday morning and we are getting ready to drive down to Washington DC. Our first order of business will be packing up our daughter’s college room to bring her back home for the summer. But the second order of business is the one you care about: Our meeting with Senator Scott Brown will be on Monday at 5 p.m. in his Capitol Hill Office. You surely remember how I reached out to the Senator via this blog a couple of weeks ago, and the response we all got from reading it, … Continue reading It’s time for the Senator Brown meeting: Sign here on the “Scroll of Support”

DBlog Week: What I like about Diabetes: Super Heroes!

(It’s still the Second Annual DBlog week and today’s prompt is “Friday the 13th and what it does to blood sugars.” Just kidding. Today’s prompt is: What’s good about diabetes. I’m happy about this one because yesterday was inspiring but sometimes sad. Here goes:)  I thought I knew exactly what I was going to write about for this one. In fact, it was the one prompt of the week I had pretty much nailed before we even started all this. But last night I went to a coffee here in my area (that’s what we call support groups). I had … Continue reading DBlog Week: What I like about Diabetes: Super Heroes!

DBlog week: 10 things I Hate about you, Diabetes

Today’s Second Annual D-Blog Week prompt is: 10 things I hate about diabetes. Here goes.)  Okay so first, I just don’t like the word “hate.” There’s something corrosive about it; something that seeps into your hearts and just wins over you. I  told my kids while growing up: don’t use “hate.” Try to put a more tempered adjective one whatever it is you are upset about. Dislike it. Be annoyed by it. “Grrrrrrr” it. But try not to hate it. That’s pretty hard when Type 1 diabetes comes into your life – and the life of your child. But still, … Continue reading DBlog week: 10 things I Hate about you, Diabetes

DBlog Week “Bloopers” Well . . . sort of.

(This is post number three for DBlog Week. The prompt is: diabetes bloopers.)  I know you really want to read about the time Lauren’s insulin pump started buzzing and took over the entire control of a computerized billboard on a major highway but . . . I think I cannot remember many of the bloopers she’s experienced in the past. So I’m massaging the idea a little bit to make it: funny (yet meaningful) things that have happened over these many years with diabetes. Hope you don’t mind.  *One time Lauren was at the stables taking her riding lesson and … Continue reading DBlog Week “Bloopers” Well . . . sort of.

Dear Endos of the World: How ‘Bout those teen years?

This post is the second installment in the really cool, really wide-reaching DBlog week. The prompt was: write a letter. To your disease, to your endo, to someone. Since it’s not my disease, I’m writing it from the parent’s POV.  Dear Endo Teams far and wide: First of all, thank you for choosing this career path. I know it’s not easy. We are a needy (for good reason) patient base. We need you all hours of the day and night and need you through many transitions and changes. I know you don’t make a fortune the way some other medical … Continue reading Dear Endos of the World: How ‘Bout those teen years?

Second Annual DBlog Week Post 1: Our Differences

This post is an extra today — and is my submission to the Second Annual D-blog Week. Today’s topic is admiring our differences. Here goes: It’s funny what kind of emotions a few letters will bring out in some people. JDRF. DRI. ADA. And so on. Some people feel like you choose a team and then go all competitive on them. Today, I admire some people who may have different letters as their first choice, but who are all truly on the same page when it comes to making this world a better place. First, I salute Crystal Jackson of … Continue reading Second Annual DBlog Week Post 1: Our Differences