Time Is Fleeting... A Moment to Savor



The Grands



Even though we try hard not to let this happen, much of our lives are wrapped up in the minutia of managing type 1 diabetes. 

I'm guessing that happens to everyone living with type 1 diabetes. 

Despite best intentions, a day comes when you realize that through the mounds of site changes, supply ordering, doctor appointments, coffee group meetings, JDRF walk preparation and ADA camp application forms, that unfortunately you were missing out on spending time with a few amazing people.

That moment came for me on Saturday.  Without notice, I gathered up our Naturally Sweet Sisters for a little road trip to visit the most amazing people that I know:
my beautiful 87 -year old grandparents (and great-grandparents to the girls).

In many ways over the years, despite the obvious aging, my grandparents have remained steadfastly unchanged.  It's comforting to sit in their quaintly charming and well-loved home.  One step into the doorway and immediately, you just know you are home.  I think it is the familiar scents of my grandpa's delicious cooking and the whoosh sound of their gas fireplace firing up a warm welcome.  The faded black and white and vintage color photos dotting the walls surround me with familiar faces that I remember from childhood.  My grandparents couched, updated recently, somehow still harbours the look of the background for all of those pictures.  Immediately, we four plop down on it, with big smiles of anticipation of the funny things that grandpa will start to say.

Home away from home.  We breathe in deeply to savor the moment.
I simply love visiting there.

As does my husband and two daughters.  They are as excited as me to see the 'GGs' and to get that ever snuggily warm embrace that is filled with unconditional love.

It feels good.  Actually, better than good.  It allows me (and probably all of us) to relax away from the world of T1d.

We literally walk in and for an hour or two, the stress seemingly melts away.

And I am not sure why that is or what magical medicine lurks behind the doors to their tiny home. 

Maybe because my grandparents have lived a lifetime of ups and downs and understand that living with T1d is part of that roller coaster of life. 

Maybe because my grandparents raised their adult daughter (my mom) and watched her diagnosis and continuing struggle with multiple sclerosis, another uncontrollable and unpredictable auto-immune disease.

Maybe because my grandma had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (forty years ago) and was already familiar with terms like blood sugar testing, counting carbohydrates and insulin dosing. I didn't have to explain what was happening or teach her repeatedly that insulin wasn't a choice, but life-support.

Or maybe because they just love us (my favorite answer), before, during and after diagnosis.  Our relationship didn't suffer the tiny fissures that became huge cracks in some of our other relationships from people unable to understand our sudden need to focus on diabetes 24-hours a day, seven days a week. 

I think the biggest reason is this, time is fleeting and can change at a moments notice.  My grandparents are acutely aware of this and are wonderfully generous with their time and love.  They don't hold back their words, hugs or even tears... they tell stories passionately and with exuberance.  They expect nothing and are simply delighted in the smallest of treasures... even a crumpled drawing by youngest daughter, illustrated on route to their home.

And that is exactly the best kind of anti-diabetes burnout medicine that anyone could have, the love of someone close to your family. 

If you haven't done it lately, drop everything that you are doing and head to your home away from home to visit the people that love you best.  I guarantee that will be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Elf on A Shelf - Magic

I am a big fan of making childhood magical. 

And by magical, I mean spending time with your child(ren) and looking at the world through their eyes while letting your inner kid self come out in lots of silly ways.

Kids first, diabetes second.  ALWAYS!

Christmas could have been tricky for our family... both girls were diagnosed during this month - next week actually.  Even that first year of diagnosis with our long hospital stay, as hard as it was, I always kept up with the magic.  

The interesting part?  I think by doing so, it 'magically' helped our entire family to heal.

So for fun, here is our first try at a having an Elf on A Shelf.   Our elf is named Cookie and he appears to be a rather interesting fellow that has an out of control sweet-tooth (yes, the irony of carb counting does not escape me).

Now, I know you are thinking... one more thing to deal with?  This lady is crazy!

But for our kids, even at age 9 and 11, this had been a fun new game of imagination and surprise.  It literally takes seconds, has almost zero financial impact and is completely diabetes-free.  Cookie doesn't care about diabetes or shots or pokes or blood sugar numbers or anything unpleasant.  He is simply a special little friend with an impressively direct link to Santa and he LOVES to make children happy.

Which really, is a breath of fresh air and a great way to bring in just a little bit more magic and a nice interpretation of Kids First, Diabetes Second during the holidays.

I hope you enjoy and if you have been having a hard time during the holidays while living with type 1 diabetes, see this as a little magical inspiration for your family too. 

And don't forget to make that gingerbread house too.... you can read all about it from last year's 2011 Naturally Sweet Sisters post here. 

Naturally Sweet Sisters Presents Cookie the Elf  PHOTOS

Cookie with his own elfin sized donut breakfast.

Cookie as the star of the family picture wall.

Cookie making his own sugar angel.

Cookie taking Barbie on a first - date.  Not sure if she will call him?

Cookie explaining the story of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the feeble minded Squinkies.

Cookie driving his Choo-Shoe train.

Band Concert - Does A Blood Sugar Meter Take A Bow?

Oldest daughter performed for her first Christmas Middle School Band Concert.

She quite happily plays a very shiny (and loud) brass trumpet.

And while she has been practicing and perfecting her trumpeting skills for her first concert, not once did it occur to either of us to think of how to bring diabetes along.

Digression- weirdly, I am a bit proud of moments like this because that just means we are doing a fine job of Kids First, Diabetes Second.

Moments before she was about to take the stage, we both realized that her adorable Vera Bradley bag would not be able to go on with her.

That means neither would her entire diabetes test kit. 

So in a split decision, she opted to pocket two pieces of candy (glucose) and check to ensure her blood sugar was in range.  Which it was.

And with a bit of luck, she made it through the entire concert without a hitch and instead, with a very warm round of applause from the multitudes of parents in the audience.

But that brings up an interesting point... what do kids in band do?  Especially in marching band or during parades or lengthy concert showings. 

If you have an idea and are willing to share.  Please comment below.  One sweet trumpeteer will be more than happy to play you a tune!