Whole30- Day 3

Food

Breakfast-  Ate some breakfast casserole for breakfast and coffee.  

Lunch-  Tuna salad.... again.... 3rd day... tomorrow change is needed.   Also had a clementine.  Sipped on 32 ounzes of citrus infused water all day.  

Dinner:  Crockpot chicken with red new potatoes and carrots and fresh herbs, also made some grilled greenbeans cooked in coconut oil.  REALLY delish.  

Snacked on a half banana with almond butter and a few frozen pineapple slices before bed last night to ensure NO LOWS and it worked!

Diabetes

 Woke up at about 80 at 6am.   :)  

Clicked back my basil one more unit as I was getting low during class.  Kept correcting with little bites of my Clementine.   :)  

Whole30- Day 2

Food

Breakfast-  Egg scramble again with fresh veggies.  Then I made a big egg casserole from Pinterest with lots of veggies. Coffee  

Lunch- Tuna salad with Granny Smith apple wrapped in Romaine leafs.

Dinner- Garlic Spaghetti Squash with two chopped up chicken zucchini poppers  

Snacks- Apple and almond butter, Cucumbers and baby carrots

Took a whole chicken out of my freezer to pop into my crock pot first thing in the morning for tomorrow night's dinner.   Casserole packed up in tupperware for myself and friends for school tomorrow.  

Diabetes

   Decresed basil rate 2 more units.  Had a couple lows today.  I drank a galloon of water today. I also visited the bathroom like a billion times because of that.    Highest sugar reading today was 98. Awesome sauce.

   

Whole30 Day 1

Yesterday I began the Whole30 eating plan.So far so good.  I've already learned and researched a lot and feel like this will be a great way of eating (I REFUSE to use the word DIET) for my life with Type 1 diabetes.  I'm using this blog to record my tips, findings, and food journal to help myself and others on this journey.   I'm not going to link up recipes because I don't have time for that, but I can assure you EVERYTHING is on my board "Whole30" on my Pinterest account.

Day 1: (Food) 

Breakfast:   Eggs scrambled in a bit of coconut oil with lots of veggies.  Aidell's chicken sausage is compliant and delicious.  Baby spinach, peppers, mushrooms, onions, zuchinni all taste great mixed in and bulk it up!

Lunch-  Tuna mixed with tons of veggies and lemon and lime juice squeezed in.  Right before eating I chopped a little Granny Smith apple into it.   Served over a couple Romaine leafs.  Delish.

Dinner-  Zuccini Chicken Poppers

Snacks- Clementines, Apples and celery with almond butter (Fresh Market, almonds only ingredient. so good!), La Croix sparkling berry water filled my afternoon diet coke craving (Yay!) and I purchased Plaintain Chips at Trader Joes under the recommendation of a friend for bedtime munch.  Gotta be disciplined on these because they are compliant (Sunflower oil and plaintains) but full of fat and calories and not that great for you... however... better than Lays!  :)    Also made a big jug of citrus water... Added sliced cucumbers, limes, and lemons to a jug of water.  Easy peasy and so tasty.  

The coconut oil spray from Fresh Market was a great buy.... I'm amazed at how omiting butters and oils is really not changing how tasty things are.

Now... for the one shameful admission.  I'm not giving up coffee creamer.  I'm just not doing it.  Judge me.  Shame me.  I know I'm not a true hardcore Whole30-er... but I am limiting myself to just my morning coffee with 2 tsp. of cream.   No added sugar.  Just get over it cause I have.  :)

Day 1:  (Diabetes)

 There is one immediate result I have seen.  Steady blood sugars.  Haven't had one over 130.  Not even kidding.  Pretty sure I will never add grains back into my diet again.  Dairy... probably in moderation... but I have a feeling grains will be gone for good.  Decreased basil rate by almost 2 units per day.  Decreased bolusing to almost none (only to cover fruits, but found I got low when I chose to do that due to the massive decrease in grains probably)

Let's Be Real

This blog served a very special purpose during the yeas that I was a stay-at-home-Mom with my little friends, Gabe and Zoe, who are now a whopping 7 and almost 10 years old!   I'm now workingalmost full time hours as an elementary music teacher and just don't have time to write.  Or even time to collect my thoughts at times to know how I feel about my Type 1.  Mostly I think I've been taking care of myself at a survival level.  Doing enough to feel good enough to function and fulfill responsibilities.  But not putting a focus to really get things right to optimize how I feel.  Mostly, it's my fault I think.  

This weekend I had a major high blood sugar.  Like, close to coma high where my mouth was dry and my thoughts were incohesive and I was drifting in and out of conciousness all night having very weird dreams about terrorists bombing my school and turning into a bird to fly around and try to save my students one by one.  (I swear I don't do drugs.)    When I woke up at 8am... My pajamas were on the floor and my pump site had been ripped off.  That's a first.  Anyone else out there ever do this?  Or am I a one woman freak show over here?    I tested.   HIGH.   Tested again an hour later.  HIGH.   Again.  397.
Again      256.  
Again       72.    

Let the Yo-Yoing begin.  Water.   Rest.   Crying.  Reading.  Playing with my kids.  More Rest.  More Crying.  

Sometimes it's just so frustrating.  I don't want to be a whiner, yet I just want someone to understand what it's like.   I know God has a plan, yet I'm sick and tired of the chronic issues.   I wanna put on my big girl pants and suck it up, but I wanna crawl up in a ball and cry in a corner.  

When I was young (er) it was very easy to bounce back from a high and carry on.   Now it seems to wipe me out for a day and destroy my psyche.   Clinging to my "tool box" of Scriptures, prayer, wise blogs and books, soft worship music and anti-anxiety medication... I try to relax and rebound in a way that is healthy and doesn't disrupt my family life too much.  

I've got to find a way to put the management of this disease at the forefront of my priorities.   I suppose this is what the Lord would like me to use this break from work for.  Getting myself right physically and leaning into Him to help guide me.

I'm listening Lord.  I need some help.  I feel like I'm drowning.

Christmas Time Is Here!

Yes, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but to this elementary music teacher who starts practicing Christmas music in the beginning of October... TIS THE SEASON, PEOPLE!!

   Every year for about the last four years, I have become progressively more nauseous about the commercialization and materialism in our culture concerning Christmas.   Now, before you roll your eyes and think, "Alright, you conservative right winged freak!"  Just hear me out for a minute....

  I am almost certain that you've observed this scenario.  Yourself or your child receive a gift that gets attention for all of 36 hours and then it gets buried in the bottom of a toy box.

Or re-gifted.

 Or put on a shelf in a closet.

Gifts are awesome.  I love getting them.  I love giving them!  But some of the most meaningful gifts I've ever received were not the Blu-Ray copy of "Dumb and Dumber" or even the cute ankle boots!  (And I LOVE boots!)

   This Christmas Justin and I have decided to try and buy 75% fair trade or charity gifts to give to others!!  I am sharing some ideas with you of some AWESOME gifts that also help show and share the LOVE of Christ this Christmas!!!

Here are my top 5 ideas to get you going!!!

5.  Amazima Jewlery-    Do you know Katie Davis?  She is a 22 year old regular American girl who moved to Uganda a few years ago and has adopted over a dozen children!  She has REVOLUTIONIZED a community, bringing women out of prostitution, feeding and educating children and adults, and sharing God's word with all of them.   Her book, Kisses From Katie, changed my life and opened my eyes to a world way beyond our American bubble.   Grab a BEAUTIFUL $20 necklace made by women in her community!

4.  Rapha House-  Rapha House is an organization that rescues girls out of the devastating sex trafficking industry in Cambodia.   They have safe houses where the girls get healing, Biblical counseling, an education, and vocational trade skills for a new chance at life.   They have BEAUTIFUL handbags, accessories, scarfs, and more all over their site and most items are under $25!

3.  If Then Movement-  Oh how I LOVE this ministry and their incredible products!!  They have the most BEAUTIFUL accessories called "Remnants" made out of fabric remnants that are made into beautiful bracelets, hair clips, pins etc.  They all have a "Prayer Pock-It" where you can write down a prayer for your recipient and slip it inside.  All products are designed to encourage and put your faith into action!   Check them out!!

2.  Samaritan's Purse-  Samaritan's Purse and Compassion International (both respected, trustworthy charities) have sweet online gift catalogs where you can donate in honor of someone and buy things for impoverished people.  You can buy blankets, clean water, shoes, basketballs, goats, chickens!    Last year we bought 4 dozen baby chicks in honor of 4 friends and family members.  In our Christmas card we also gave them a tiny plastic chicken and explained how we had spent our money to help others in their honor.

1.  Hand Made Pinterest Ideas-  So much good stuff out there if you have some time to spend searching intentionally.

(WARNING: Do not get distracted by the gluten free parfait recipes and random photos of romantic tree houses in Tahiti. Not that I do that or anything. Stay focused!)

 This year I have some fun things like "30 Days of Praying For Your Husband" which I have uploaded to photo websites and printed out on photos.  Ball jars filled with little pieces of paper with interesting family conversation starters to pull out for the dinner table.  Write a Bible verse on something pretty for a one of a kind home decor gift.   The possibilities are endless.... :)


BONUS:   Groupon deals- Who doesn't love a good Groupon for a fun experience at a great price?  Go paddle boarding, rollerskating, swim with manatees, visit the Chimp Farm, or paint some pottery!  I've gotten ALL these things to do with my kids for free or cheap on Group social websites!

Merry Christmas everyone and may this season be filled with lots of creative ways to share Christ's love!!!

I Love You, Pump.

Well, I tried the pump vacation for about 48 hours and it was mostly a roller coaster of ups and downs with a definitive lack of steady lines.   Plus, I have a handful of purple bruises that make me look like a battered wife.    I still plan on bringing both options onto the cruise, and will play it by ear... but I'm thinking I might stick with my pump.  

I missed her.

I missed always having a clock attached to my body. (I know there is this invention called a wrist watch, but have never needed to wear one because of my pump!)

  I missed micro-boluses.   (Do I want to eat one Vanilla wafer and not have to give myself a shot for it? Yes.)

My pump is my friend.

Pump Vacation

      I haven't written here in almost a year, but I thought I'd pop in and say hello to the blogosphere!  I have been in and out of town since the first week of June on several youth ministry trips and playing in a youth worship band.  It's been an incredibly FUN and EXHAUSTING Summer.   As this Summer comes to a close, Hunkalicious and I have decided to go on a kidless weekend CRUISE to the Caribbean to celebrate our 9th anniversary!  (Can I get a Whoop Whoop?)

    So what major milestone prompted me to blog after almost a year of silence? Well, I have taken off my insulin pump for the first time since 1999 when I got my first pump!! It is SO WEIRD!  I have literally thought to myself, "Where is my pump!?!?" like 100 times in the last few hours!  It's like losing a major appendage.  My pump has literally been attached to my body without more than a couple hours break for 13 years.  I have checked my blood sugar about 10 times because I'm convinced I'm gonna get crazy high, but so far so good!

 I have followed closely my endo's instructions for using a Lantus pen and Humalog shots.

  I planned on going on this pump vacation for the cruise, but thought it would be smart to give it a test run before I'm 1,000 miles from home on a big boat.  :)   I will also bring my pump for back up if anything goes haywire.