The wedding present

My wedding gift from my hubby was a Dexcom 7 that he purchased for me with the assistance of my CDE and medical team working with the Dexcom folks. I'd decided to wait for the Dexcom until after the wedding stuff was over, but he wanted to make sure that our big day wasn't plagued with lows and I was able to have the best day of my life. In every effort to surprise me, he ordered it, came home early, wrapped it in newspaper, and hid it in his yucky college t-shirt drawer.


I managed to foil the surprise for myself by checking the mail and finding an invoice with my name on it, with "PAID IN FULL" stamped on it, the day before he was supposed to give it to me. Ross helped me put the sensor in Thursday night after the scavenger hunt to find the box and I was able to see pretty decent results throughout the wedding weekend. At our rehearsal dinner, Ross explained that he'd gotten himself a "life insurance policy" so when we're not together there's something there to help take care of me. It may not be 100% accurate 100% of the time, but it definitely helped last week when I was on business and by myself.


So, now I'm joining another newlywed in hopes of getting insurance coverage. Luckily, I have a new partner in crime who is just as determined as I am- my husband

Our first dance

My James Bond-style leg thing held the pump and CGM perfectly on one leg and my blue garter donned the other. Ross grabbed the wrong leg and went ahead and checked to see what my blood sugar was doing while he was down there.

Mrs.

After a few weeks away preparing for my wedding, then actually getting married, and then recovering from all of that, I'm back!! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind and now I'm finally getting the chance to catch my breath.

My wedding was more beautiful than I could have imagined. It was the hottest day of the year with temperatures in the 100s and humidity that made my beautiful bridesmaids use enough hairspray for a year. I enjoyed seeing my dear friends from college, meeting more of Ross' extended family, and celebrating with my parents. We laughed, ate, drank (perhaps alittle too much), and danced until late into the evening. And we're still talking about it...

I'm in a bit of a post wedding slump at the moment with the craziness coming back to work and not having a huge event to plan for (and the fact my bouquet is wilted). Anyone else go through that?

Oh well, I have some of the best memories ever from the evening including my grandparents dancing to Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop the Music" and feeling more loved than I've ever felt.

Days fly by

My MIA-ness is bothering me. With the move and the wedding in 3 weeks, everything that isn't essential to my well being is getting brushed aside to make room for wedding programs, wrapping attendant gifts, and formulating an agenda for the wedding weekend. So that means being MIA from my friends, from going out, and from this blog.

But, I'm loving these days. The busy-ness and the fun that comes with a wedding may keep me awake at all hours of the night (well, that and a low blood sugar), but it also keeps me smiling throughout the day when I think of my friends, family, and fiance' in one place celebrating us. I can't wait to walk down the aisle and then spend the evening with my favorite people in the world and see this year of planning come together like a play on opening night when the lights, sound, and actors in costume all appear, even though they've been planned as such separate entities.

So, sorry if this blog remains quiet for the next few weeks. I can't wait to share some of my wedding moments with you.

Raise your voice for all to hear...

This week marks the beginning of the American Diabetes Association's Call to Congress. I know some of the members of the Diabetes OC are attending but I think this is really important as we continue to raise our voice about having type 1 diabetes.

ADA is encouraging individuals to call their Representative and Senators toll-free at 877-ADA-2008 between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM (EST) from April 28 – May 2, 2008, and tell them we need more money for diabetes! Diabetes costs this country more than $174 billion dollars a year (Can you even imagine how much money this is??)

Make sure to tell them to support legislation that will increase research and prevention funding for diabetes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Share with them any personal connection to diabetes your wish to share and make sure Congress understands the effect diabetes has on the lives of the millions of people living with this disease. Help represent everyone living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes!

The Dex Update

Today marks the 3rd day with my 2nd Dexcom sensor. On Thursday night, I got a failed sensor error from my 1st sensor. I restarted but that was short lived. On Friday, during my Adobe InDesign class, I got another failed sensor error and made a trek back to my CDE's office for another one. I've been doing marvelously since and have managed to avoid a few lows and reduce a few of the afternoon highs. I'm still at a loss for what the heck is happening to me at night and tomorrow I'm trying my hand on the treadmill to see what exactly is happening during my exercise routine.

Overall, the Dex and I are friends. So much so that I was thinking that this was the next step in my diabetes management process. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't seem to be loving that idea so after the wedding (and when I have alittle more cash to spend liberally) I'll pick up my sword and head into this battle with hopes of some reimbursement. As I've only been out on my own a year and really don't have much insurance company experience, I'm overwhelmed with what to do. I've been provided some guidance by the people at Dexcom, but I really wish someone would write "Dealing With Insurance Companies When You Have Type 1 Diabetes". If someone had told me a few months ago when I started my job, that I would need a PPO plan I might have done that...or if someone would explain how to file an appeal....or if someone could tell me how successful they were at getting coverage and what they did....all in a hand dandy book, that could be a GREAT resource, especially for us 20 somethings navigating new waters on different plans than our parents.

So, I'm using the next few days to learn as much as I can about the Dex and to prepare for my bridal shower (thrown by my wonderful maid of honor, my sister!, with help from my mom) and my bachelorette party (dinner at the Melting Pot, then a surprise that I have no idea about) and get ready for this wedding that goes down in a little over 6 weeks.

All hooked up to the Dexcom

I got hooked up to the Dexcom this morning and I'm totally loving it so far. It's pretty cool seeing the trends (and reporting my blood sugar to all my friends at work).

More info tomorrow as I get more data.

Raising my voice today and everyday

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on July 23, 2002. There are several things about that day that stick out in my mind, and there are a few things about that day that I don't remember.

On that day, I had the day off from my job as a Guest Service Representative at Target and was convinced my allergy medicine was making me tired and thirsty. I was watching Bold and the Beautiful on CBS while eating a "double cheese" grilled cheese sandwich after a routine doctor's appointment when my mom walked down our stairs and told me that I had diabetes. I imagine it was the hardest thing she's ever had to tell me, but I'm not quite sure we knew then what diabetes meant for someone my age. I don't remember crying, but I do remember being worried I was going to be fired from my job because I had to work the next day. I was told I was going to the hospital and should plan to be there for several days. It's funny what matters to you when you're 17.

I don't remember how the conversation with my boyfriend Ross went or how the conversation between my parents went. I remember battling DC rush hour traffic to get Walter Reed and being admitted and hooked up to an IV. I remember being cold and feeling out of place in the children's ward. I remember my mom, dad, and sister reluctantly leaving me that night to go home and get things in order. I remember being awoken several times that night by nurses just a few months older than me who would bring me People Magazine and chat about high school, the sports that I played, and my budding social life.

I remember getting the bag of information and trying to absorb so much information the first few days. I remember that first shot and those first few finger pokes. I was learning about how my body worked and realizing that my life would never be the same. Then we were turned loose to deal with this disease. I remember the ride home with my mom and talking about Steel Magnolias and having a family and her telling me it would be okay and we'd get through the journey together (we'd already experienced it a month earlier with my sister's diagnosis of JRA). I remember crying at my favorite bbq restaurant and my dad telling me it was okay to have a few fries as long as I counted the carbs, like I'd learned. I remember my dad saying that he'd take away my diabetes if he could.

I don't remember ever knowing what diabetes was before my diagnosis or ever thinking about what I would do if my life was changed by a disease. I don't really remember how sick I really was. I don't remember ever advocating for my own health, or even ever really listening to my body. I don't remember if I'd ever knew the distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

The most important thing I remember hearing was something that my dad continues to say to me even after living with diabetes for almost 6 years. He said that there has to be reason why diabetes has affected my life. I've always taken that to heart and realized that without diabetes, I probably wouldn't be in the career I'm in, or have the hobbies that I do. I wouldn't know about the wonderful community that exists online for people like me.

So today on our self-proclaimed T1 Diabetes Awareness Day, I promise to try everyday to sound the alert about diabetes and how it's affected the life I lead. Because I think that's what I'm supposed to do...

Spring has sprung

It's spring in the DC area (FINALLY!) and even though thunderstorms are predicted for tonight, nothing can rain on the fact that it's absolutely GORGEOUS outside. A warm 65 degrees keeps me hopefully that in just a few months it'll be summertime.

This is the only free weekend I have for the next few months and I'm hoping to take advantage of it by sending out our wedding invitations and shopping for my beautiful bridesmaids' gifts. We're less than 2 months away from our wedding and I'm more excited than anything else (well, and alittle bit stressed about making it the most perfect day ever). So much has already been done, but I still have a good sized list of things to do.

I'm also taking a new step in my diabetes management by taking a Dexcom 7 on a trial run starting Tuesday. My numbers have been surprisingly good the last week (an average of 147mg/dl according to my Cozmo history) and I'm hoping that the Dex will let me fine tune the use of my pump. If things go well, I'm going to pursue adding this to the management program permanently.

It's gonna take some time...

This week went by quicker than I thought it would. I spent last weekend hanging out with my dad in Martinsville, VA at the Craftsman Truck Series race. We have a very good friend, Timothy Peters, who self-funded a car to compete. My dad "spots" for Timothy (aka he stands on top of a tower and is basically Timothy's eyes around the track). My job for the weekend was to observe and try to engage some people who may be interested in sponsoring Timothy for more races this season. I had a stack of business cards, but unfortunately didn't hand out one. We qualified 6th and finished 19th (Timothy got in a pretty big wreck). I hung out with the pit crew and tried to learn about the business. (Bring a grill, pack a heavy coat always, stuff like that).

Work has been busy, but I want to do more!! I'm going to take a web design class this summer or fall so that I can do some web design projects.

Almost the weekend...thank goodness!

Be the change you wish to see

Yesterday, March 25th, was the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day. The premise for Diabetes Alert Day is to be a one-day, “wake-up” call to inform the American public about the seriousness of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association encourages people to take the Diabetes Risk Test and find out if they are at risk for developing diabetes.

I've been reading alot of blog chatter about the revalance of Alert Day and my conclusions after reading all of this remains that Alert Day is a great idea. Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic and it's true, 1/3 of the people that have diabetes don't know that they do. I have friends and family that have Type 2 and yes, their struggle with diabetes is very different then mine. I want everyone I know to know their risk for the disease and learn as much about both types of diabetes as they can. Yesterday wasn't about "us" as Type 1s, it was about promoting the overall idea that you should be informed of your risk for developing a serious illness. And awareness and prevention is a great thing.

As to making a Type 1 Alert Day, why isn't everyday an Alert Day for us? Why isn't everyday about educating people about Type 1, breaking down the stereotypes, and taking the best care of the disease that we have? I don't think appointing one day to tell everyone I know about Type 1 is going to benefit them that much, but rather having those moments at work when someone looks at the tubing snaking out from my shirt and gives me a funny look is the time to tell them "I have Type 1 diabetes, that's the autoimmune kind". I think having the discussion with family on an everyday (or atleast often enough) basis about how diabetes affects you is what it's all about. So the blogsphere may decide on a day to get their alert out, but I'm alerting everyday.

Six word memoir

Holy cow. Six words, this is going to be tough. Thanks for the tags, Jillian, Kerri, and Jules.

So here we go.

relax. enjoy the moment. perservere always.

1. Write your own six word memoir;
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like;
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4. Tag at least five more blogs with links; and
5. Don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Seems like everyone has been tagged, so I tag anyone that hasn't!

ADA Alert Day Video- Check it Out!

Big props to ADA for creating an awesome awareness piece. I'm hoping maybe this video educates a very more people on the risk factors for diabetes.

Endo Appointment- Getting what you want...

Wednesday morning I had an appointment at my new Endo's. The morning started out really rough with an awful low in the middle of the night and waking up to find myself completely disconnected from my pump and teetering in the 300s. I knew this did not bode well for my arrival at the new endo's office.

My fiance' went with me to eliminate the stress of trying to find the place (I get lost...alot...despite having a navigation system). I saw a younger PA named Wendy and her student which was actually really cool ("Do you mind if Nadine feels your enlarged thyroid gland, as well?) She was extensive in doing my family history and even did a pretty decent exam. And then came to the how happy I was with the pump and how efficient I was with carb counting. I think I do a good job, but I'd love to really get a better idea of how my body is responding to the foods that I eat and to the exercise that I'm trying to incorporate to get my cholesterol down. So, Wendy told me about their CDE Kim that's in charge of their pump starts AND THEIR CGMs!!! So, on April 15, I'm meeting with Kim to test out a Dexcom for a week. Supposedly, she's had some great luck in getting it approved in the last few months, so if it's something that I like, she can help me out.

I'm super excited about trying it out-but sort of nervous. I've read alot about CGMs technology and I'm hoping that I find wearing one to be beneficial rather than a hindrance. This is a sort of crazy time in my life right now, but I figured I would give it a go and then maybe try it again after the wedding sometime this summer. Do you all have any advice on wearing a CGM? Let me know!

Happy Friday!

Happy Now, Happy Hence, Happy Ever After

Happy day after St. Patrick's Day! Hope that your day was especially green! I celebrated my not so Irish heritage with some friends, sipping on pomergranted martinis and some wine.

My schedule is filling up quickly for the week. Tonight is my 1st (and hopefully only) wedding dress fitting, so I'm heading down to my parents' place for dinner and a trek to the bridal shop. I was pretty sure of what I wanted and I bought it straight off the rack because it fit so well, so it'll be interesting to see how I've done exercising and eating over the last few months. Our invitations arrived last night and I've been proudly showing them off to friends and have one in my bag to show to my parents tonight. Then, it's on to making sure the guest list is completely set and then they can go out the first week in April.

I also have my first appointment with my new Endo (I've had a 2 "new" Endos in the past 6 months, thanks to my job craziness). So look for a report sometime later this week. Tomorrow night is a friend's birthday party and this weekend will be spent celebrating Easter with my family.

So, busy-ness and happiness...which is great.

And to add another "ness"- randomness, my coworker just sent me an e-mail that said "the word "set" has the most number of definitions in the English language: 192." She's an awesome Type 1 pumper as well. So I know her favorite "set" definition. :o)

My 7 words

Live with passion. Educate others. Persevere always.

A thought...

I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult. -EB White

Happiness

Happy Monday! This weekend was awesome, except for that dreadful time change. Friday night, the fiance' and I donned our most fabulous party duds and headed out to a new lounge in DC that looked out onto Franklin Park. We had a great time celebrating our friend Tony's 24th birthday, dancing to overly loud techno music and drinking beverages from our VIP tables. (Side note: I don't understand bottle service at bars and clubs. I understand the mark up, but seriously?) We danced and took pictures and I had the feeling more than once that this couldn't possibly be my life.

Saturday took us out into Arlington to look at an apartment complex that I found on Friday. We saw it and fell in love with a one bedroom + den with a fabulous kitchen with granite counters and hardward floors. Goodbye crazy allergies and hello luxury living! We were accepted on Sunday to the complex and we sign our lease on May 12th which will make for a crazy 5 weeks of moving and then getting married, but such is life and both the fiance' and I are super stoked. Again, I got the feeling that I am so blessed to be able to work at a great place, with great insurance, and to be able to marry a man that cares about me enough to give me the world. I'm also so grateful to my parents for all the support that they give us (as well as the excitement for us to move to somewhere really nice- my mom seemed so happy for us when I told her about everything this morning!) Even with diabetes, the stress of work, an impending move, AND marriage, I am so happy that I'm able to do and experience so many great things. Whether it be a good dinner, a warm bed, or the strong hold of the person I love.

And to that person, Happy Birthday My Love!

I'm glad that this year you will become my husband. Hope that your birthday is all that you wish it to be and much more. I love you all this world.

Hope your Monday was STELLAR!

The Fierce Friday Five

1. Where the heck did this week go? Seriously! Last Friday was spent with the reception coordinator at our reception location planning the delicious menu for our big day and picking out centerpieces (we're using lots of candles and it's going to be beautiful). And Saturday was a blur of hanging with College BFF and drinking and dancing at a club in DC. Sunday was spent recovering from the aforementioned drinking and dancing.

2. Project Runway Finale on Wednesday was seriously MAH JAH (that's major for all of you non-Posh Spice loving folks out there). Can we talk about the fierceness? And then can we talk about the perfect PR party---it would include Chris, Christian, Santino, and Tim Gunn--and probably Andre'.

3. And my new obession since PR is over---America's Best Dance Crew! Is anyone else completely addicted to this show, or are me and the fiance' the only people that stay up late eating cookies to watch Kaba Modern, BreakSk8, and the other break it down.?(Sigh) I wish I could dance like that.

4. We're getting married 3 months from today. HOLY SHIRTS and PANTS! I will continue to obsess about how much I have to do until June 8th when it will be over.

5. If you're a blogger in DC and would be interested in meeting up with some other bloggers (especially those with the 'betes), comment and we'll try and make it work. (Tim Gunn, I love you!)

6. Agenda for this weekend:
-Bday party tonight at overly pretenious (or so I've heard) The Park on 14th by Franklin Park. I have a feeling I will not fit in, despite the cute red dress that I bought especially for the occasion.
-Dinner tomorrow night with the 'rents to discuss all things wedding
-Cleaning my house and invisioning my move to a more beautiful apartment (more on this to come)
-Deciding what to get fiance' for his birthday on Monday. I am stuck with no ideas with the upcoming wedding.

HAPPY FRIDAY FRIENDS!

Staying busy

Ah, over a week since I last posted....I did complete NaBloPoMo in November, right??? Anyways, I think in March I'm going to work to try and update atleast everyday during the work week. So we'll see how that goes.

DC Tidbits:
1. Ross and I ate at an awesome restaurant a few weeks ago called Open City in the Adams Morgan section of DC. It was this great little coffee shop/diner/bar place with some of the best pie that I've had. We don't often get dessert when we go out, but the gorgeous piece of blackberry goodness was too hard to refuse. If you're in the DC area, you should check it out!
2. I was downtown for a Web 2.0 seminar today and realized I do miss working amidst the hustle and bustle. I'm working in VA now and the area is not nearly as cool. For example, there is no Well-Dressed Burrito Restaurant in the alley next to my building and I sort of hate that.
3. One of my bffs from college is coming to town in Saturday and we're going to take her out in the city, which means venturing to some of our favorite clubs for dancing and drinks. I love getting dressed up and going out and CANNOT WAIT til the weekend!

Diabetes Tidbits:
1. Diabetes is blah.

Work Tidbits:
1. I'm staying super busy with projects and trainings and stuff.
2. I also picked up the book "The 4 Hour Workweek" by Timothy Ferriss after seeing it on ChronicBabe.com and am excited to finish it. A review will come when I'm done.

What's new with you guys?

Friday 5

Hell yes for a 3 day weekend! It's much needed...

1. I'm venturing down to Williamsburg, VA this weekend to see my two best friends from college. Shopping at the outlets, dinner at a tres chic restaurant, and browsing through the colonial area. The weather is supposed to cooperate and I'm looking forward to a night of wine drinking and chick flick watching with my girls.

2. Valentine's Day was amazing! I made calzones for the fiance' and we enjoyed hanging out and watching a movie. He got me a beautiful bouquet of daisies (Gerber, my faves!) and a really cute card!

3. My job is going really well and things have gotten super busy. So glad that I got the opportunity to come and work here. And I have Monday off. Wahoo!

4. Agh, the wedding! Can it magically happen? Please? I need to do some many of the little things and June is going to be here before I know it.

5. Oh, and the fiance' and I have decided to move. Our lease is up the week before our wedding and we don't want to renew...what would you do?

Have a great weekend!