Seriously Cold

If you're having a hard time reading that temperature... it's -10 below zero. The wind chill is -25. It's so cold that Dixie had to wear her fleece coat today.

That was the temperature as I was driving to school this morning. Yep... driving to school. Here in Minnesota, we don't cancel school for a paltry -10. Heck, we don't even start late. We just get on with business.

Stay warm!

It's been a busy December

Whew. It's been a crazy month.

I have given up on quick sets. I used them for about 10 years without issues. Then, in the last 5 months I’ve had many kinked sets and problems with quick serters. I’ve been exploring other infusion sets. I’m really quite a whimp about trying new things--especially diabetes stuff.

I contacted Smith medical and got some free Cleo samples. I nervously inserted the first one last weekend. Cleo’s don’t have a spring loaded inserter. I did it. It wasn’t so bad. I did it a second time. It was o.k. I started thinking how convenient it would be to bring Cleo’s on my wilderness camping/canoeing adventures. Today I received some Inset samples, and plan on trying them before I decide what infusion set I want to make my “regular.” Anyone have any experience with either Cleos or Insets?

It’s amazing how difficult it has been to make new motor patterns. I have been using quick sets for so long, that it was hard to grasp the new way to disconnect the Cleo. Instead of being mindless, I had to think about it each time that I disconnected and reconnected.

A woman that I work with has Type 1 diabetes. She is in her mid fifties, and has had diabetes for forty-plus years. She just found out that she has stage 5 end stage renal disease. Her kidney function is at 9%. According to her, she has two months to find a donor kidney for transplantation before she will be forced to dialyze.

I’m sad for her. It’s a frightening position to be in.

I’m sad that my colleagues believe that kidney failure is inevitable when you have diabetes and beyond control, and that I can expect the same thing to happen to me.

Work has been busy.

I’m not done shopping for the holidays.

There’s a significant winter storm heading my way. Tons of snow, and then cold wind to blow the snow around.

I’m tired and ready for Christmas vacation. Two days of school left and then I’m off for 12 days.

World Diabetes Day, Dixie style

She may be tired, but she is wearing blue today in honor of World Diabetes Day.

Hey, who says you can't take a stand while lying down? :-)

Site after site, after site, after site....

I usually change my pump sites at night right before I go to bed. I know, I know.. how can I check my blood sugar a couple hours later when I’m fast asleep?

It works for me.

A while ago I read (I think on Scott J’s blog) how he turned up his basal rate when he put in a new set. Reading that changed my life. Seriously. I started changing at night and turning up my basal rate to 150% for three hours. I didn’t have to deal with not eating carbs. I put it in, turn it up, and go to sleep, usually waking with a respectable number.

On Sunday my site was really sore in the morning. (probably because it had been in for about 5 or 6 days!) I decided that I would have to change it right then. Definitely not my favorite time to do it. I changed it and turned the rate up. I was in a meeting all day, and didn’t really eat much. I tested often, and hovered around the high hundreds. I had left the old site in, and used it to bolus for carbs. Dixie alerted everyone in the group all day. There were a couple people I didn’t know well, so I thought maybe they had a metabolic problem. (Dixie is sensitive to other metabolic problems as well as diabetes) The meeting wrapped up at 5ish, and we decided to go out for dinner. I was still hovering just under 200.

We went to dinner and I wasn’t feeling great throughout the meal. I ate about 1/3 of my meal and had a beer. By the time I got home, I was really feeling awful. (I had left Dixie at home since it was a crazy day) I tested and was 280! I decided that my site must be kinked. I pulled it out and found it to be majorly kinked.

Here’s what I don’t understand. I bolused and had basal insulin all day. The site wasn’t wet. Where does the insulin go?? It certainly didn’t go in me! Argh.

I put a new site in and monitored the rest of the night. I came down a little, but not much. Before bed I gave a giant bolus. I woke up around 2am. I felt MISERABLE! Cotton mouth, heartburn (which I always get if my b.s. is over 150), and very nauseated. I tested. 352! I pulled the set out. Kinked again. I put another one in (are you counting?? This is the 3rd one now). I tried to prime the cannula and got an “occlusion” alarm. WTF?!?! I tore the site out and it was kinked. I decided that maybe my quick serter was not working. I found another one and put a site in. (#4) Tried to prime the cannula, and “occlusion” alarm again. I ripped this site out and it was fine. CRAP! I finally had a good site and now I pulled it out. I opened a new box of quick sets and inserted again. (#5) I found a syringe and gave a whopping bolus to cover the high and the hours without insulin.

Then I puked my guts out.

I am very sensitive to high blood sugars. I will always throw up if I am over 300.

I decided that I couldn’t work in the morning. It was now 3:45 in the morning. I grabbed my computer and logged on to the substitute website. I got a sub, and then spent the next ½ hour typing up sub plans to email to my teaching partner. (so she could give them to whatever sub showed up)

I finally got back in bed around 4:30. I tried to go back to sleep. I also had a bad cold, and so whenever I laid flat, I started coughing. I finally fell asleep sometime after 6am.

At 8am, Dixie alerted. I was 29. Clearly the site was working. I had 2 gu’s and 2 juice boxes and got up. I made my way to the couch and spent the day there.

I had a little breakfast, but not much else during the day. My blood sugars hovered in the high hundreds, low 200s. I figured I was sick and needing more insulin. I turned my rate up. Around 2 I had some cereal, and bolused for it. Two hours later when I checked I was 250.

Yep, you guessed it. Another hour later and no reaction to the correction, I whipped out yet another kinked site. I gave up on stomach sites and used another inserter to put it in my hip. (#6)

Finally, around 6pm, my blood sugars stabilized. The site was working. Dixie was wiped out. She spent the entire day with her head on my lap.

I remember doing 6 changed, but there were wrappers for 9 sites in the trash last night when I counted them.

All I could think of during this unexplainable ordeal is what if this had happened when I was camping in the wilderness. I wouldn’t have had nine sets with me. I would have been really screwed.

I will be sending the box of sets that are left to minimed. Clearly, there’s a problem with them.

I will remember that inserting devices, like lancet devices, eventually wear out and need to be replaced. My Quick serters are probably all about 4-6 years old.

Dam diabetes. On Sunday and Monday, it really sucked.

D-blog day!

Happy D-Blog Day!

The diabetes O.C. is an amazing community. I have learned many things, and have had "yeah, me too!!!" moments over and over again. It's nice to have a group of people to go to when I need questions answered or support to keep trying.

Thanks, everyone! Keep on blogging.

Molly and Dixie (that's her new school picture above)

Happy Halloween!

Ah, Halloween in an elementary school. Dixie had to wear a costume! She is a dinosaur with a caveman riding on her back. She actually doesn't mind it much at all.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Sad Dixie...

Dixie is a sad dog.

Her favorite toy, a plush Christmas ornament, has stopped working.

It was a Christmas gift last year, and she immediately took a liking to it. Actually, she took a "loving" to it. The ornament is a little white dog with a Santa hat. When the shoulders were squeezed, the cheeks lit up red and it said, "Merry Christmas, Ruff-Ruff!" Dixie would gently bite it and it would say that line. She loved hearing it. It was her go-to toy.

Unfortunately, the dog won't talk anymore. It's cheeks still light up, but the sound is gone. Dixie keeps bringing it to me as if saying, "please fix this." She's moping around.

I've been looking at stores all over trying to find a replacement, but haven't been successful. Fortunately there are holiday type items showing up in stores now, so I'll be keeping an eye out for a replacement.

Poor Dixie. It sucks when your toys break.

Chicago Marathon

My sister is running in the Chicago Marathon tomorrow.

She is running to cure diabetes.

She told me that "I am going to pull through the hard parts because you pull through the hard parts."

Go get 'em B!

I love you and am proud to have you on my side.

BWCA weekend - hanging around

School has started. The kids came today. I'm busy with meetings, schedules, and kids.

I spent the weekend in the BWCA. I wanted one last hurrah before starting school. I got up at 4am on Friday morning and made the trek to Ely. Picked up my permit at the ranger station, and hit highway 1 to Tomahawk Trail. About 1/2 hour later I was at the Bog Lake entry point.

Bog Lake is a funny entry point. (in the BWCA, there are official entry points. You have to have a permit that allows you to enter at the specified lake on the specified day. Most entry points have many trip options leading from them. Many lakes connected by portage trails.) Bog Lake is completely land-locked. There isn't anywhere to go once you're on that lake. I think it's perfect for a weekend getaway. It's a mile portage (path) from the parking lot to the lake. Then it's a mile paddle on the lake to one of the three designated campsites. (campsites are designated by an official forest service fire grate and a latrine. (a plastic stool set over a hole that was dug by the forest service)

The weather was beautiful on Friday morning. Sunny and blue skies. The portage was a little more rugged than when I was there last year. Although it's a mostly flat trail, it was pretty overgrown this year. (here's a picture at the start of the portage. Dixie and Ella are leading the way!)

We made it to the campsite around 1pm. Put up the tent, and then hung hammocks. I spent the day reading a good book - "Merle's Door" and soaking in the sun.

Saturday was much of the same. After breakfast (a delicious dehydrated biscuits and gravy), my blood sugar spiked more than I would expect. I decided that my pump site was a little old, and decided to change my quick set. I had brought two sets along, and went into the tent to prime one and use the quick serter to inject it. I wiped with alcohol and injected. It felt funny. It was an old inserter that I happened to grab from my stash. I didn't think more about it. I gave an injection to correct for the high. I tested for the next couple hours. (158, 118, 109, 115) Things seemed good. Around dinner, I started to feel crappy. I tested and was high. (280!) I checked the pump site and it was wet. I had a dilemma.

I had one infusion set left. I was in the middle of the woods, and my quick serter was trash. After a small panic set in, I decided that I would need to manually inject my quick set. I have only manually inserted one other time. It was long ago. If I didn't get it in, I would be reliant on shots of humalog for the next 15 hours. That means getting up every two hours all night and giving shots. (reminder that I'm allergic to insulin, and I don't do well with long acting. Lantus can't be mixed with dexamethasone, so that's out. I'm pump dependent)

I finally did it. I pushed the darn thing in with all the force I could muster. My stomach hurt for hours afterwards. I tested all night. It worked. I successfully manually inserted.

It's crazy how diabetes can creep around, and get you when you least expect it. I thought I was really prepared. I would only be in the woods for 3 days. I had two extra infusion sets and a quick serter. I had syringes and insulin. I bring that stuff "just in case." But I never really think there will be an "in case."

I hate when there is.

Fortunately, the beauty of the BWCA helps me forget. Check out the color of the sky. I took this picture while laying in my hammock. (what a brilliant shade of blue!)


Dixie and Ella both came along. For them, it was paradise. They took hikes, laid in the sun, and drank from the lake. (Ella is so happy she is smiling in this picture! -- at least it looks like that!)


For me (and Dixie) the summer is over. It's work time.

Even though there was a diabetes mishap, I'm glad that I spent my last summer weekend in a place I love.

Happy D-versary!

33 years ago today, my mom took that picture of me. I was at Children's Hospital after being diagnosed with diabetes. (and I don't have a scanner, so I just took and picture of the picture...)

I was diagnosed by accident. I was at the doctor for a run of the mill check up for my entrance to first grade. They did a random urine test, and then told my mom that she would have to take me to the hospital to have blood taken to confirm the diagnosis. That's why I don't look like a skinny, sick kid in the picture.

Today, I am proud to have lived well for 33 years with diabetes. I'm proud that even after all these year, I find the motivation to keep in good control. (at least, most of the time! ;-) Today is the day that I remember my accomplishments, and forget my mistakes.

Tonight, Dixie and I will celebrate like I always do. With cake and beer.

Cheers!

Dam diabetes

I had a hell of an early morning.

I got up at 3:30 am (Dixie was pawing at me) and felt horrible! Tested and was 371. I am flabbergasted! I rarely am even above 200. I check ketones and they are large. I must not have been getting insulin for a couple hours. My infusion set was wet, so I knew that it must be kinked. I wasn't getting any insulin.

I changed the site, and then my pump gave me an "occluded" alarm. I tried clearing it and continuing to prime the line. I thought maybe the new site was kinked. I pulled it out. It was straight and perfect. I couldn't get the pump to deliver any insulin. I tried attaching a new line of tubing to it. Still, it just kept telling me that it was occluded. (sure, now it tells me. wish it would have alarmed hours ago)

I was frustrated with the pump, so I went downstairs to get the box from Smith that had a new pump in it for me. Last week, I noticed that my pump screen had a funny line on it, so I called Smith Medical and they sent me a new one. I hadn't set it up yet. I knew that it would take me a little while to get it up and running. I had to hand program all my personal data.

I decide that I can't wait for the pump. I needed insulin pronto!! I gave a BIG shot of insulin. (which, frankly, I haven't done for years and am glad that I don't do multiple daily injections..it hurts!!) I went back upstairs with my now programmed pump. I put in another infusion set and hooked up to the new pump.

Then I started vomiting. (I am really sensitive to blood sugars over 180) I'm laying on the bathroom floor, waiting for the insulin to kick in. My blood sugar finally starts to come down because of the insulin I took with the syringe. I crawl into bed, shivering, and try to rest. No luck. I have to get up again and vomit. Finally around 5:30am, I fell asleep.

I get up this morning and have a decent blood sugar. A little low--72. I get up and head down to the kitchen to have some powerade. I pull up my shirt to inspect the new pump site. It's wet. I wipe it with my finger and smell it. It's insulin. All the insulin that I took with the syringe must have held me for a couple hours, because I certainly wasn't getting any insulin from the pump.

I go upstairs and put in ANOTHER pump site. (the third one in the last 5 hours) I pull the old one out, and it's KINKED. What the heck??? I don't know if I have a bad batch of sets, or what is the problem.

This has maybe happened to me 6 times in the 15 years I've been pumping. Now it happens two times in one morning.

Now I sit with a new pump site in, wondering if it's kinked too. I have a horrible headache, my muscles hurt from throwing up, and I am really frustrated.

Dixie has been glued to me all day.

Thank goodness I don't work in the summer. I would have called in sick today.

Dam diabetes!

Five point freakin' six!!

Dixie and I just returned from our summer trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. (BWCAW) We had an EXCELLENT time.

It's been a crazy summer. Really, it's been a crazy 2008. Thanks to all of you who sent support my way after my father's accident. He is doing well. His burns are continuing to recover as they should. He is very lucky.

The timing of this year's trip couldn't have come at a better time. I was desperately in need of a break from civilization.

The trip was great. The weather was superb. (highs in the mid 70s, lows in the mid 40s, low 50s) We only had one afternoon of rain. We paddled and portaged through some beautiful places. Dixie loves being in the wilderness as much as I do. The photo above is of Dixie chewing on a stick. She was roughing it too-- she had to find natural toys in the wilderness.

I returned and realized that I had scheduled an appointment with my endocrinologist. (probably before I knew when my BWCAW trip was scheduled) I scrambled with all of my blood testing meters to record three weeks worth of blood sugars to bring with me. It's really quite a site to see. Me sitting in pile of meters and trying to get all the numbers organized. Fortunately, I got it done.

My appointment was at noon today. I filled out the miscellaneous paperwork, and was guided to an exam room by the nurse. I got out my computer to share my results with my endo. While I was waiting for her to come into the room, the nurse appeared and said that she was going to do my A1c with me. This was a surprise. The clinic that I go to still uses the lab to do A1c's. I go there after my appointment to do all the lab work. I asked if I could use my poker to lance my finger. (yes) She collected the drop of blood from my finger and then left the room, telling me that she would return after the results appeared. (approximately 11 minutes)

My endo came in and we went through my records. She told me that the lab there gives lab values that are 5% higher than the rest of the labs in Minnesota. This portable machine would give results more like the rest of the state. (or something like that... she gave a long explanation, but I stopped listening) She said that my result would likely be lower than what it usually has been. (My last several A1c's have been 6.2 or 6.3)

The nurse came back in the room while we were chatting, and said that my A1c was 5.6.

5.6!!!

I was a little shocked. The average on my computer said 103, but it usually is somewhere around that, and my results are always 6.2 or 6.3. Try as I have, I've never been able to crack the 6.0 barrier. When I said that to my endo, she said that I could "...tell my friends that my A1c has probably always been in the 5.5-5.9 range."

She also said that I need to reduce my basal rates (which she had me do in front of her because she knows that I don't like to mess with my basals), and she would like me to shoot for 3 lows per week or less. (low being below 65)

But friends, today is a special day. My first A1c under 6. An average blood sugar around 100.

YES! (happy dance :-)

The start of summer...

School is out. Time for my summer break. The end of the school year was pretty crazy. I had to say good bye to 14 students in sixth grade who will be moving on to junior high in the fall. A couple of the kids are boys that Dixie "grew up with." Those were the ones that had the hardest time saying good bye to her. (and I had the hardest time saying good bye to them :-(

But it's summer. Everything should be all good, right?

I've had a heck of a last couple weeks. I was working at a week long summer camp for kids with special needs. I came home on Thursday night. I was hot and tired. I had a cocktail and sat on the couch. Then I got a phone call.

The call was from my dad's wife. She was calling to tell me that my dad had been in an accident. He was burned and had smoke inhalation. He was in the process of being transferred from his local hospital to a major medical center's burn unit. It was late. He was intubated. I talked to my dad's cousin, who is his physician. He told me that my dad was unconscious, and not in danger of dying. He said that I should wait until morning to come to the hospital. I had a restless night of sleep, and Dixie and I took off for the hospital early on Friday morning. Seeing him with tubes and wraps was really difficult. The doctors determined that his lungs were functioning alright, and they would extubate him in the afternoon. It was amazing how quickly he "came around" after being unconscious. He spent three days in the burn unit, and then was released and able to go home. He has burns on both hands, his entire right leg, part of his left leg, and spotty burns on his back, nose, cheeks, and bottom lip.

He is very lucky to be alive.

He's healing.

My brother and sister both came to see him from out of town. It was an unfortunate event that brought us together.

My best friend's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks ago. I went with her to the hospital while her mom had surgery. It turned out the best that it could. The tumor was stage 1, and with radiation, there should be complete elimination of the cancer.

Another good friend's niece, just had a recurrence of cancer. She had surgery this week to remove a tumor on her spine.

My teaching partner's mother just had knee replacement surgery. She has been visiting her for two weeks, and helping to figure out a plan for her homecoming.

I keep thinking... am I getting old and that's why I know so many people who are dealing with horrible medical issues? Or is 2008 just not a great year for my friends and their families??

Diabetes was a pain during my dad's accident crisis. Friday, I went to spend the day at the hospital. After driving the 35 minutes to the hospital, I realized that my cartridge was almost empty. I would only have enough insulin to cover my basal rate for about 9 hours. I didn't have enough extra to bolus for meals. So I skipped breakfast and lunch. It's kinda hard to find low carb/no carb food in a hospital. I drank a couple diet dews, but that was it. I ended up leaving before I wanted to so that I could make it home through traffic to get insulin. Dam diabetes.

Also on the diabetes front... I ordered a free accu-check aviva and multiclix lancing device. I'm not really interested in the meter (because heaven knows I've already got a number of them), but wanted to try to multiclix. I like it. It's kind of refreshing to have a new lancet automatically provided each time I test. I just ordered more replacement cartridges for it.

I also got a mailing from Smith Medical, offering me a Freestyle Navigator at a discounted rate since I use their product. (my trusty Cozmo) Has anyone tried his out yet? I love freestyle products, but still can't really bring myself to having another device to insert in my flesh.

Here's hoping that the rest of the summer is easy sailing. (or canoeing :-)

Happy Birthday Little Bit

I don't write about her often, but I have another dog.

Her name is Ella, and she just turned 7 years old. She is little, but strong.

Ella is a rat terrier mix. She came into my life when I needed a friend the most.

She was with me to welcome Dixie to my life. She taught Dixie how to live with people.

It's ying-yang. Ella is white, Dixie is black. Ella is little, Dixie is big. They love each other.

Happy Birthday my Little Bit.

Molly's Ten

Here are the guidelines for this meme:
Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random, facts, habits or goals about yourself.
At the end, choose 6 people to be tagged, list their names & why you tagged them. (this is so late, that I'm not doing this.) Don’t forget to leave them a comment saying “You’re it!” & to go read your blog.


1. I love beer. Not crappy, macro-brewed beer, but “good” beer.

2. I chew my nails. Mostly when I’m nervous. I tried putting the bad-tasting polish on them to prevent it, but I end up just licking it off so I can chew my nails.

3. I stole gum from the drugstore when I was about 5 years old. I put it in the back of my big wheel. On the way home, I happily chomped on gum. My mom asked me where the gum was from, and I said “the store.” She made me return all the non-chewed pieces and I had to apologize.

4. My sister gave me a shot for the first time when we were in northern Minnesota at my dad’s class reunion. I had forgotten my BD syringes, and we had to buy some at the store. They only had monoject available, and I just couldn’t handle using it. My parents were leaving, so they asked my sister to just give me my dinner time shot. She was freaked out. She slammed it in my rear end and then pulled it right out because she couldn’t believe that she had put it in. She had to do it again. It was traumatic for both of us.

5. My little brother and I used to love playing with our Snoopy toys together. When we were out shopping with mom, we would use our cupped-hands as Snoopy and say that they were naked.

6. The thought of licking a wooden spoon gives me the heebies. I don’t even like using wooden spoons. It’s my “sensory problem.”

7. Gummy bears are one of my guilty pleasures. I only like certain kinds. I don’t like them if they are too soft, I prefer the ones that are more chewy.

8. If I was a boy, my name was supposed to be Ryan.

9. I have an allergy to most fruit. My mouth swells up and I get sores on my lips and cheeks. I can eat apples, blackberries, and cantelope. That’s it.

10. I love the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books. I just finished reading them with a sixth grade group of kids. I laughed as much as the kids did!

DIXIE TIDBIT

Dixie's 5:

1. Dixie loves her new yard.
2. She doesn't like most "people food."
3. Her favorite snack is dried, chicken-wrapped liver.
4. Dixie shakes with her right paw, rarely her left.
5. When Dixie came to me, she weighed 42 pounds. They told me that she was full grown. She now weighs 65 pounds. Hmmmm, don't think she was full grown. :-)

My Late "Not in a book."

Scott tagged me. Even though it's very late... here is the meme!

Meme:
Five Most Important Pieces of Advice ... You Won't Find in a Book!

Rules:
Post five of the most helpful pieces of diabetes management advice on your blog.

Link to this Wikibetes entry where we will be tallying up all of the great advice. You are welcome to add your advice directly.



Here is what I've learned about diabetes after living with it for the last 32 years.

1. A number is just a number.
It isn't good, it isn't bad. It's just a number that gives information.
This is something that I continue to work on every day. I used to really feel horrible when I would test and see a number that I wasn't expecting, or didn't want. Now, most of the time I look at the number on the meter and talk out loud to myself. "That's just information."

2. Keep trying.
With diabetes, there are good days/moments and bad days/moments. What's really important is to get up each day and keep trying.

3. Be ready and open to learn about diabetes management
When I was in college, I used to believe that I could just coast with diabetes, and didn't need help from doctors, etc because I knew everything. Fortunately, as I matured, I figured out the value of information from others. (doctors, other people with diabetes, etc.) There is always something to learn. It might not be earth shattering (like finding out you could use a baby sock to put your pump inside), but it's important.

4. Be forgiving. Of yourself and others.
It doesn't help to beat yourself up because you "screwed up" with your diabetes management. Same is true from friends and loved ones who offer help.

5. Connect with other people who have diabetes
This is probably the most important thing that I learned. It is important to be connected to people who "walk in your shoes." It's comforting to be able to talk about daily life with diabetes, and not have to explain all the vocabulary. It helps to learn from each other.

Dixie raises her voice! (and her paw)

It's the day to raise our voices about Type 1 diabetes!
I'm talking with friends today about the differences between Type 1 and Type 2.

Molly needs....

I saw this meme on Penny's site and it made me laugh, so I thought that I would give it a try too. (I googled Molly+needs and these are the lines that came up) Good timing really. I've been wanting to post, but have been SO BUSY with the move.

Molly needs medical care
Well of course she does. She has dam diabetes. Which has been settling down the last couple of days after battling many lows the last two weeks.

Molly needs a new pair of shoes
O.k. I probably do. Or I need to start gambling so that I can shout out “Molly needs a new pair of shoes!!”

Molly needs a home
Actually I have a new home! The moving process is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I feel like I will be living out of boxes and looking for things for the rest of my life. This really should say "Molly needs to get off her computer and unpack some boxes in her new home."

Molly needs a title
How about “Your highness” or maybe “She who must be obeyed”

Molly needs a special surgery called a bulla osteotomy
Oooo! That sounds scary! I hate medical procedures, and this sure doesn’t sound like a fun one. I’m thinking that if I really “needed” this special surgery, I would have some symptoms. Thankfully, I don’t. (except diabetes, which I don’t believe requires a bulla osteotomy…)

Molly needs our prayers
Who doesn’t, really? I need you to pray that I unpack the boxes in time to find shorts to wear for the summer. Otherwise, I’m going to look pretty silly laying by the pool with my fleece pants on.

Molly NEEDS our prayers
I guess I need a LOT of prayers in order to find those shorts!

Molly needs a slogan for 3rd grade student council race
The third grade class in my school has some neat kids. I don't think that I have a chance at winning. My slogans would surely be something like, “Vote for Molly. She is really old for a third grader!” Or “Vote Molly. Any third grader with that much gray hair probably knows a few things.”

Molly needs a puppy sitter
I’m just guessing here… but I bet if I really did need a Dixie sitter, there would be at least ONE person from the diabetes OC that would enjoy spending some time with my big, black dog!

Molly needs a haircut
I just got one, but it looks horrible. So this really should say, “Molly needs to wear a hat until her hair grows back.”

Molly needs to go here for a slang update
This was probably a suggestion from one of my students. I'm just not sure where "here" is located. (or is that slang for something) If you know, tell me.

Molly needs to diplomatically approach her principal and share her concerns
I guess that says it all. Unfortunately, I’m not always much of a diplomat. But I do have concerns.

Dixie Tidbit

Dixie needs more time in her new backyard and less time at boring old school!
Dixie LOVES her new backyard. When we get home from school, she bounds around the backyard for a good 1/2 hour. She loves country living.

Dixie needs a homeopathic tick prevention product that works
Man, the ticks are already out in full force here in the midwest. I've pulled many off of Dixie, including two deer ticks. (those are the little buggers that transmit Lyme's disease.) Dixie is going to the vet this weekend to get her Lyme's shot. Two years ago I treated Dixie with Frontline, and she got really sick from it. I'm mostly opposed to putting those chemicals on her anyway. She is currently wearing a flea/tick collar, because I don't think that they're quite as toxic... but it's going to be a long summer pulling ticks. Ugh.

Dixie needs a belly rub
She loves a good belly rub. Always.

Dixie, my Dixie

Kathy, over at MN Nice, tagged me. Here's my six words of the day.

Big, Black Dog. I thank you.

Moving Day

It's moving day.

Actually, it's the last day of moving. This was the day that the movers and truck came to get all the furniture.

Can you say "exhausted?"

Tonight will be the first night of actually "living" in the new house.

It's exciting.

Dreams come true!

The story changed.

The house is mine.

Signed and sealed as of an hour ago.

I'm ready to move.

I can't wait. It's amazing.

(squeal!!!!)

Shoot.

Thanks for all of you who have sent good wishes for the new house.

Unfortunately, the closing today was cancelled.

The seller decided not to sign the closing documents.

It's a long story... but I'll shorten it by saying that a house that is in "short sale" carries many possible risks for the buyer. A lot of money is owed on the house. The seller is motivated by not having to pay back the money. This creates problems for the buyer.

I'm keeping hope that maybe the seller will sign, but realize that it is a pretty remote possibility.

A day that I planned to celebrate, has turned into a day of tears.

More to come, I guess.

New Places

Life has been crazy.

I bought a new house and am moving. Working a full time job while trying to pack and move has been exhausting.

(That's Ella in the new dining room!)

The official moving happens next weekend.

Dixie has been working overtime. Lots of low, lots of dropping. I think that she's getting a little fed up with me.

Hopefully, the new backyard (that is already fenced in!) will make up for all the chaos.
I had a little eye scare yesterday. On Sunday night, the vision in my left eye was blurry. I thought maybe it was just eye strain or something. I went to bed and when I woke on Monday morning, it seemed better. I arrived at school and noticed that things were blurry again. I kinda freaked out, imagining the worst case scenario. You know--retinopathy, going blind, losing my job, etc. I called the eye doctor and told the nurse about the blurry vision. I "mentioned" that I have diabetes, and BAM, she was able to find an appointment for me that afternoon. I left school a little early and went to the appointment. They checked for everything. In the end, the doctor (who was a jerk) said that I have no retina problems (retinopathy or detachment) or optic nerve problems. He thinks that I have an upper respiratory virus and the swelling in my sinuses, etc is causing the blurred vision. He said that if it isn't better in a week, to come back in to see the vitreous/retina specialist. It doesn't seem quite as bad today, so I'm hopeful it's just the virus theory.


DIXIE TIDBIT
I think that Dixie is finally at her "full" weight. She has been weighing in at around 65 for the last several months, so I think that is her adult weight. When I got her two years ago (at about 15 months old), she was only 45 pounds.
My father went Elk hunting in Idaho (or somewhere like that...) a couple months ago. He shot an elk, and brought home about 250 pounds of meat. I accumulated some of it. I'm not a very adventurous eater, but did try some. It's mostly beefy tasting. I have a lot of it...so I started cooking up some of the more random cuts and giving them to Dixie. SHE LOVES ELK. She's a finicky eater, but Elk is her thing.

Sus-tastic!

It's cold.

And by "cold" I mean biting cold. The kind that makes your skin hurt when it's exposed.

My day started with a pleasant surprise... A two hour late start for school. That's how cold it was this morning in the Twin Cities. Late start really means that school districts are waiting to see if it will warm up a little so that little children can safely stand at their respective bus stops. If it doesn't, then school is cancelled. If it does, then the day commences- albeit two hours later.

It warmed up. Or at least, the sun was shining.

This was the temperature in my car when I pulled into school this morning.The temperature was -7, but it was the windchill that was the real problem. That was reported as -35 degrees.

That was the start to my day. So chilly that even Dixie had to wear her fleece coat.

It was a crazy day at school. My teaching partner has been out sick this week. Some interesting subs have shown up. Let's just say that I miss her.

I finally wrapped things up and hit the road about 4:45pm tonight. I hopped on the interstate, only to find a virtual parking lot. Apparently a semi had started on fire, and so all lanes were closed and traffic was routed on the shoulder. It took me an hour and forty-five minutes to get home. It normally takes 20 minutes.

I was spent.

I came in the house, dropped my backpack, and went to collect the mail.

There it was....
A special sussy just for me.

Thanks Allison! Snazzy new fleece jammies, and a special collar for Dixie!


What a fun ending to a hard day. :-)


DIXIE TIDBIT:

Just an update... Dixie's tail is better. She's not so leary to ride in the car. Time heals.

Puppy dog tails

I officially have the crud.

With all the talk of illness around the OC lately, I was bound to catch it! It started on Saturday with a good, old fashioned head cold. Now it’s moved in to my chest, and I have a barky cough. Ugh. Monday was MLK day. The kids had the day off of school, but teachers had a technology workshop. I was able to make it through the morning presentations, but left early to go home and rest on the couch.

Dixie had an unfortunate event happen to her last week. I was ready to go to work in the morning on Thursday. Dixie and I were in the garage. I loaded my backpack (full of a day’s worth of diet mountain dew) and then opened the back door for Dixie to jump in. I shut the door before her tail cleared it. Oh, man…it was like it happened in slow motion. I could see that the door was going to close on her tail, and tried to grab the door. I didn’t get it in time. Dixie cried, and jumped out of the car. I petted her and tried to console her. I told her that it was an accident. She reluctantly got back in the car. Dixie is a back seat rider. But this morning, she slinkered up to the front seat. She stood on the seat and stared at me, as if saying “You IDIOT! Why did you hurt me? Why did you do that to me?!” I petted her and she finally sat down. I looked over at the passenger window. It was covered in blood. Her tail was bleeding. When we got to school I was able to see the owie, and apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. Later, I took her outside for our morning break. She rolled in the snow and pranced around happily. When she came inside, I noticed that the entire tip of her tail was bloody. We had to make a quick stop off to the nurse’s office to clean her up. Dixie doesn’t normally like riding in the car anyway. Now it’s an event to coerce her to get in the car. The last couple mornings she has run back to the house (from the garage) in an effort to avoid getting in the car. Poor Dixie.

I finally finished my “secret sussy” project, and will pack it up to mail it this weekend. It’s been a fun project. Thanks for organizing that Amylia and Beth!! What a great idea!

Driving to work this morning, my car thermometer said -15 degrees Fahrenheit. IT IS SO DARN COLD! Even Dixie is moving quicker outside. Apparently it’s supposed to be a balmy 11 degrees later today. Gosh, do you think there will be indoor recess?! I think so.

Brrrr.

The life and times of an amazing dog

Happy New Year. Late. But it’s still a new year, really…. Just ten days into it after all.

Dixie and I had a wonderful Christmas. We spent time with family. Dixie so loves the “opening presents” part of Christmas. She is so funny to watch. She will be sitting calmly, and sees someone start to open a present. She darts over to them and attempts to get her nose in whatever part of the package or bag that she can. She acts very disappointed if the gift is not a toy for her. As she only got a couple presents, we starting “regifting” some of her old toys—putting them in bags so that she continually had something to open. Nutty dog.

We came back to school last Wednesday after 11 days off. I thought that Dixie’s eye was unusually goopy, and needed to be wiped many times throughout the day. Finally in the afternoon, I called the vet and made an appointment. We went that night, and found out that poor Dixie had conjunctivitis. (doggy pink eye) She had ointment to be applied twice daily. It has finally cleared up after a week on the medicine. (and no, the kids at school didn’t catch it from her because it’s not communicable)

I am hooked up to my new Cozmo. All is well. I got some Isocks from my sister (little socks to put your iPod or iPhone into) , and found that the sock is also the perfect size and shape for my insulin pump. I like having my pump “in” something if I decide to store it in my bra. Otherwise, the plastic on bare skin really bothers me. Diabetes infiltrates even Christmas presents.The longer that Dixie and I are together, the more I appreciate my “furry blood glucose monitor.” (especially after seeing the photo of the CBGM sensor site on Amy’s site! Yikes!) She has gotten very particular about her desired range for my blood sugars. She is alerting if I am over 140, and under 80. She isn’t happy unless I’m in that range. Last night, I ate a low carb meal. (tilapia and a medium sized salad that had lettuce, ½ cup tomatoes, and some cucumbers on it) I decided I should only bolus for 15 g. carbs. I pulled out my pump, and Dixie started hitting me. (as if to say, “I can read your body. You don’t need the bolus dummy!”) I didn’t bolus. An hour later I tested. Blood sugar = 90. See what I mean?!

She is really very skilled.

It’s would be kind of scary.

But it’s not. It’s just really, really cool!

(and she just does it. No big deal to her.)


Dixie Tidbit:
(o.k... this entire post has really been about Dixie :-)
Dixie loves to roll in the snow. Especially when it's hard and crunchy. I'm not sure if she is scratching herself all over, or just enjoying it like kids do when they make snow angels!