Two posts today! #HAWMC Day 25 and 26

Hey all! I'm combining posts today as I was no where near my computer yesterday to blog. Day just got away from me...it happens.

Day 25: Fitness Friday: What do I do to stay fit?

I started running, regularly, 3 years ago. When I first started I'd swear like a sailor. I hated it. However, I found the more I did it the more I was able to just be. My mind was clear. I even got to the point when things were just too stressful that I knew I needed to get out and run. It didn't have to be miles and miles. Just enough to de-stress. I wouldn't say I run to stay fit. I've come to enjoy it and I love working out with weights too. I find it a necessity for my sanity. My hubby is even on board with running. He's in the "I hate running" phase but I've signed him up for some 5k's and 10k's this spring. Today he finished his first (in a looongg time) 5k without stopping. I'm incredibly proud of him! This is something we can go do together and spend time de-stressing...or staying fit, however you choose to look at it.

MSRun 5k finish!

Day 26: Word Cloud: Love making these! Thanks to www.wordle.net for allowing us the creativity to create a diabetes wordle! 

Day 24 of the WEGO Health #HAWMC - "Writers Choice"

Today we are asked to do a 'Writers Choice".

I could not think of a better avenue to pick from, than the latest contribution on the OmniPod Blog "Suite D": 

Enjoy this in the Part 1 of the series "Starting a Diabetes Advocacy" :Part 1:First Steps

Tony Cervati, founder of Type1Rider and co-founder of The Blue Heel Society, shares his experiences and advice for getting involved in diabetes advocacy groups, whether as a founder or as a member of a pre-existing organization. Check back later this week for part two. If you’d like to comment or share your story with Suite D, please e-mail suited@insulet.com.  

“Action conquers fear.” – Peter Nivio Zarlenga, author

That Peter Zarlenga quote is one of my all-time favorites and was first taught to me over 25 years ago by a high school English teacher. It is three simple words that I find myself repeating when I am facing an “unfamiliar” situation. In that regard, they were the last words that I said before beginning my 2012 Tour Divide attempt and it’s a theme that I have tried to teach my children.

Sometimes in life an event occurs that alters the current path, summons the soul to action or leaves a quest for elusive answers. The ability to move, act in a positive matter or do something, anything, when facing these things, is the best mechanism for facing fears, getting help and eliminating doubts about it. If a suitable avenue is not readily available for you through these actions, an obvious choice is to create one.

Visit Suite D to read the rest of the story

Wordless Wednesday #HAWMC

I know this is Wordless Wednesday but you also know I can't be wordless!! Today is my 20th Wedding Anniversary and today I celebrate with my husband. He is my rock. Our wedding rings (center picture) represent where it all began and where it still is today. We have three beautiful kids; all with chronic illnesses. If it were not for his support I wouldn't be half the woman I am now. Thank you JoJo for 20 years. I love you.

Day 22 of the WEGO Health #HAWMC - "Hobbies"

Today we are prompted to "Tell us, what are YOUR hobbies? Are you a rock collector? Scrapbooking? Photographer? Dancer? Share your talents. (Pictures encouraged)".

Wikipedia  defines a hobby as "A hobby is a regular activity done for pleasure - typically during leisure - e.g., collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports. Continual participation in a hobby can provide substantial skill and knowledge about it. Anyone who does an activity solely for fun is called an 'amateur', from French for "lover of", or 'hobbyist'; whereas anyone who does an activity for a reward is a 'professional'." Seems as if I qualify for both those definitions, so call me a "Proamateur".

Although not done often enough, my hobby is always full of pleasure during leisure, and is actually done all the time in my life. Everytime I do my hobby, it brings profound fun as the definition of an 'amateur' states. Although it is not solely done for fun, it still fit's the definition of a 'hobbyist". 

However, since I also do it for a reward...many actually, I also fit the definition above as a 'professional'. My hobby brings many rewards even when not actually being done.

Sometimes I practice my hobby all by myself, it is with even greater pleasure when I take into account the current 10 1/2 reasons to do so.

Can you guess what my hobby is?

Yes, my hobby is loving my Family, unconditionally. And the 1/2 is for our next Grandhild on the way in November...

Day 21 #HAWMC Reflection

Today we are asked to reflect on our journey to this day, what are your thoughts and hopes for the future.

Our family has been on this journey since 2005 when Nora was diagnosed on June 13th. I would have never thought my eldest would have shared the same diagnosis 7 years later. The journey has always been rough. New challenges to deal with and diabetes along for the ride. I wasn't always outspoken or a force to be reckoned with...until I had kids and realized they needed a voice that could be heard. Our family has met some incredible people in the Diabetes community locally and even on line through the DOC. Never did I think I would count these people as family. Diabetes has been the worst curse yet biggest blessing to our family. It has shown us how strong we are individually and how strong our bond is as a family. Our journey is on-going.

My hopes for the future are cautiously optimistic. The more I read, hear, see and physically touch the more excited I get for the future. I held the Artificial Pancreas display device in my hand. I've seen prototypes of the beta cell encapsulation.

Is it a cure? No.

Is it advancement? YES! The advancement I've seen since 2005 has been incredible.

Am I impatient? You bet!  But I have hope.

This year is a year that I can really say I'm thinking about what the future holds. Before I have been so wrapped up in the day to day that the future seemed so out of reach but now it doesn't seem so far away. My hope is for a cure but until then my hope is for better medical advancements so that my girls will be healthy enough for a cure.