Sunday, September 19, 2010

I promise I'll post more than once a month....my pre-new years resolution???

ANNNNNNND I'm back.

I actually considered writing this before I went to dance practice at 4....but then I was tired and took a nap/read for history. Okay okay, so a lot of stuff has gone down. Since last Wednesday....one actually happened on the 9th...

My dog, of 14 1/2 years, Puck, died. He had to be put down by my parents that thursday morning. When I called my mom to tell her something important ( obv. not that important...cause well I forgot it), she sounded terrible and it was then that she told me. I'm not going to lie, I was completely miserable. That continued for a while. Nights would be me, curled up on my bed sobbing into Brad about how I missed my dog and how I didn't feel that I said goodbye to him well enough. Last night, I read this thing about "Rainbow Bridge" which is where pets who have pre-deceased their humans go.... (the site I found it on will be described in a minute) and I like lost it. Im not even that religious and fuck, I lost it. All in all, Puck was a great dog. He lived longer than he was supposed to and he loved me every minute of it. He loved everything and anything and was one of the sweetest dogs I've ever known. I wrote this on my facebook for my picture -- and well I'll put what I said here:
     RIP Puck:(2/20/1996-9/9/2010) You were a great dog and lived a great life. You always knew that you could make my tears stop if you just put your big bucket head into my lap and looked at me with those big brown eyes. You had the curliest hair ...it was like a fluffy little fro. We called you a butterball when you were a baby. You always were. You loved me with all you had and loved EVERYONE you met. Watch over us and make sure you enjoy all the treats, food, hockey socks, and the lake with all the ducks you chased, up in heaven. You were the best dog ever. I love you and miss you more and more each day. ♥


HAPPIER THOUGHTS PEOPLE.
My Mom and Dad decided that eventually we will get another dog. Mom says it will be better when we are around (so break) to bond with the little guy and see how Rudy (our 6 1/2 yr old golden) and Madeline (my cat...) interact with him. Theyve started the process (because it takes forever), but mom and I agree that we aren't ready for a new dog just yet. I found the Rainbow Bridge passage on the website of the breeder lady--from who we are getting the (now unborn) new puppy from eventually. I called her today and was like "Im really not ready" and she agreed. Good thing its not for a while....cause the coping thing is kind of hard. Mom says that we had a private cremation thing for Puck and that we will spread his ashes in the back yard and then in NH on the Lake....cause he loved it.


On the school note: things are going well. Caroline came to visit for friday night/saturday morning-- that was a highlight of my weekend :) ALSO, this past Thursday I had a counseling exam and a stats exam and didnt prepare well enough for stats cause i was freaking out about counseling....jesus. I'm just stressed. Other than that , gave a great history presentation with Connor about the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and then the Sedition Act of 1918 and ....the Patriot Act. 70 minutes long and stressful as hell. Love that class though. I love being here.....though homework is out the wazoo. Hmm lets think.... I got into a bellydance for dance club-- its gonna be really cool. I'm nervous cause im always self conscious --but I really like the choreographer and she said that people focus more on the dancing rather than how people look. I dont look terrible ...so I'm gonna leave it at that.

Finally -- the Symlin (if you didnt read the post before--go back and look) --is working? I mean it still hurts my tummy like crazy, but I will get used to it. It just makes me kinda wanna vomit...so that sucks. But if my sugar is low before I eat I dont have to take it. Basically lemme just get through this and get my sugars down. I will be happy when I get the A1c Test that tells me that it has gone down significantly.

Okay, well I'm done for now.

Till next time (which I promise, will be sooner than in a month)
PEACExx

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Oh hey there, massive amounts of homework!

Hello world.

I really am MIA on this aren't I? Lets see....New Hampshire was so much fun. One week with the family (Aunt Sarah came out from CA =]) and then another with the family AND significant others :) I had a blast with Brad, Janine. my brothers, etc etc....I only wish that Jamie and Janine could've stayed the WHOLE time. I love them. They are so adorable and loving and fun. I can't wait to visit them again come December/Winter Break.

One of my favorite pictures from the summer was one of Brad and I at the Woodshed (see Facebook...I'm too lazy to put up a picture now...). He's so cute. I love him and I hope he knows how much I do. I must say, as I said before, this summer was not the summer of friends. Summer of frustration more like it. Thank God I have therapy today....I was up till 3 trying to distract myself so I could make sure that I went to sleep and didn't think of all the messed up stuff running through my head.

Anywho, it's the second week back at SMCM and I am loving life....except the homework part haha. I was swamped last week and I am swamped again, but I guess thats what you have to expect when you go to college. Caroline surprised us by visiting this past weekend and all I can say is.....I miss her too much for words. She needs to come back and by needs, I mean to visit and to attend SMCM again. That's just my personal opinion. She makes me smile and seeing her this weekend just brought such a light into my...life?

On the diabetes front....I was doing well with the sensor and everything, then it needed to be changed(recently) and I took it out but didn't put it back in. It hurt me! But I will later today.  Also, I'm taking a new (for me ) brand of insulin called Apidra(sp???) which is a little faster than Novolog I guess. Dr Reiner just put me on it because I asked about faster acting insulins.

And then there is the issue of Symlin. Back in the day, I was on Symlin (you take it right before meals and it is supposed to keep the blood sugar level...like all insulins....but its different. It doesnt focus on covering the carbs etc etc. Look it up when you have the chance. or just go here http://www.drugs.com/symlin.html) It was originally used for just type 2, but people found it working for type 1 sooooooooooo....here we are). I got super nauseaus and icky feeling and I hated it. So I went off of it--this was like 7th grade. (soooooo 7ish years ago?) Now Dr. Reiner is all for this again. Esp cause he wants me to have better control. I havent gotten the pens in the mail yet...but I suppose when they do come I will have to start shooting up before eating. That will be fun. If anyone in the diabetes community reads this (which I doubt...but its worth a shot...haha a shot....nevermind)...have you tried symlin recently? if so how was it?

Well, I'm to therapy soon...then I'll come back to my room and work work work.

PEACE

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Summertime, the livin's easy...(kinda...but not really)

Does anyone else feel like this summer has gone by ridiculously fast? I dunno---I'm happy to be going back to SMCM....but it just feels like I didn't have a summer. I mean, it's not over yet...I still have a month or so...but damn. On Saturday, I'll be leaving early in the morning to go to NH :) with my family for two weeks. Brad will join us on the 13th, along with Jamie, Janine, and Laura. It'll be fun...but I can't believe it's here already.

A year ago I was prepping for college and putting off reading Field Notes From a Catastrophe....(but who didnt?I know Brad didn't even read it haha). A year ago I was TERRIFIED of leaving my SK girls and specifically the security of my home. Weird. Not that I want to leave them, but I'm super excited to go back to school. Frankly, as I have discussed with some of my friends, this wasn't our summer. This summer was focused on making money, going to the gym, and honestly, BARELY hanging out with people. I feel like last summer was sooo much better and adventurous and fun....but this summer...just kinda, I dunno, stunk? Maybe I'm the only one that felt this way. *shrug* 

It's not like my summer has been totally WITHOUT fun---I've had some good hang outs with the ladies--and guys. The SMCM crew had a fun hangout where I almost DIED of laughter at Marky Mark's barrel roll from his chair to in front of where Joss and I were talking about stuff...."*Barrel Roll* RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS?"...except it had nothing to do with our relationships haha. We're actually getting together again tomorrow, which should be a ridiculous amount of fun. Yay! Haha -- and I went golfing with my Dad last Sunday...and despite the fact that I sucked, it was a lot of fun. My Dad and I never really do things together---so the lesson was a fun way of bonding.

Anywhoooo, someone I got to spend a little more time with this summer was my friend Brooke ( W...not L....though I miss L a lot and haven't seen her this summer-- :( I need to before I leave!). and her little baby boy Logan. My god--I love them both. Brooke is such a fantastic mom, who has jumped through hoops of fire to provide Logan with what he needs. She's one of the bravest people I know, and I don't think people give her enough credit for that. Not many people can do what she does and did at 18/19/20. Not to mention along with juggling motherhood, she's studying for her GED, and frankly--she's going to rock them like no other. Just have to give her mad credit for that ;) Oh, I know I'm being random-- but I'd like to welcome back my BAMF friend Sarah Triplett -- who is back (finally!) from Basic Training. She's alive and awesome-er than ever ;) with fun stories about basic. She even has dog tags --which I think is cool. Hah.

Hmm--- Oh! Seton Keough girls-- go to www.setonkeough.com and look at the new president's letter to the parents....it made my freaking day. I won't spoil it here--just read it....here I'll make it super easy for you: http://www.setonkeough.com/documents/letter_to_parents_Aug_2010.pdf

Lets see...diabetes related stuff....I put my Dexcom sensor in yesterday and it hurt like no other. But now, it's not bothering me and working like it should :) Hopefully, this will help me finally bring my A1c to a comfy level that's not life threatening. Happy thoughts!

Well now, this was absolutely another rambling post-- but, oh well.

Good night for now.

PEACE Xx

Friday, July 23, 2010

Dexcom #2

Yesterday, my 2nd Dexcom Meter, or  CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor), came in the mail. Honestly, this is the first time I've wanted to actually use it. Last year I got it for my mom---so she wouldnt freak the hell out when I went to college. For the first time, I've wanted to take care of myself because I know that I need to. Every 2 minutes, it reads my blood sugar through sensors that are placed in my skin with a needle/patch. It's really cool --especially with how fast things are moving on the diabetes research scale. (Did anyone know they'd reversed it in mice/rats? I mean you may have, but regardless-- I find it fascinating).

We all know that this has been a struggle for me the past...oh I dunno, billion years. But now, for me to want to have complete control over my bloodsugar, is different from my normal apathy. Now that I really am set on changing my life, my bloodsugar, and my overall quality of life, it's different than before. I feel like I'm growing up with my care and making a huge change. If I cannot control the fact that I have Type 1(or anything else in my life), I might as well have control  on how I take care of myself. It sounds like one of those issues-- like people who are anorexic or cut themselves may do those things because the one thing they can control in their lives is either how much they eat, or the certain amount of pain they feel....I mean, I guess it sort of is...but not really. If you get what I mean.


On other things, I guess I have been having a rough time lately. In some cases--- I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place...with people, situations, everything. I wish I knew how to deal with things better...but I suppose that's why I have people who love me to point me in the right direction. I'm lucky to have those people---without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. Trust me, I'm working on a lot of stuff...it's just taking a while. 


As for other things-- I 100 % cause those issues myself. For one, like forgetting to take the three most important medications (besides Insulin) that i NEED to take: my Synthroid (for thyroid/metabolism) and then my Lexapro and Wellbutrin ( for depression). If I don't take these pills, I'm tired and MISERABLE. So, I guess you're wondering why I don't? I forget...most of the time. There was a point this summer where I was just sick of caring (my bloodsugars were terrible too) and didn't take anything. BAD IDEA. Let me just tell you that right now---worst mistake ever. I went through mad withdrawl, with all the shaking, dizziness, irritable-ness, crying-- the whole shebang. I couldn't see straight most of the time. I decided then that I would never do that again.....however, occasionally, I forget. Brad gets upset when I don't take them--but he knows that I am trying. He only does because he cares and he sees what a mess I am when I do not take care of myself. Without him, or the other people who care so much for me-- I would be a complete mess.


ANYWHO. On to happier things--- tomorrow I'm going to my grandma's house to hand out with her and my Aunt Alice for the weekend -- should be fun :) I haven't spent individual time with them in a while and I'm excited for that. Then Monday rolls around and I'm off to the beach for three days to be with Brad and his family :) I didn't get to go last year -- so this is something I'm happy about. Sarah gets back from Basic Training either the 2nd or 3rd of August-- and I REALLY can't wait to see her. Lets see...then there is NH on the 7th to the 22nd (with Brad, Jamie, Janine and Laura [Matt's girlfriend ;) ] arriving on the 13th) so that should be fun...PLUS Aunt Sarah is flying into NH from CA from the 5-13 ...and I haven't seen her in a year so that should be fun....then I'm off to school on the 28th--and I REALLY cannot wait for that.


Jesus, I've rambled...and it's extremely late. Off to bed. Thanks for listening/reading :)

PEACE xx

Saturday, July 3, 2010

I've been a failure with posts....

So yeah...I've failed with actually keeping this up...However, I'm back!

Some Upsides: My sugars have been better, as of late. HOORAY! Finally, right? I've been ridiculously stressed as of late with the whole blood sugar thing, but I'm getting the hang of it. 8 years too late lol. Except not. I mean I've always cared....just I'm realizing how much I have to work to get it under complete control.

Anywho, I'm babysitting these really sweet 8 year old twins, Hannah and Will, and they are adorable. I have to scold them sometimes -- -but they are good kids. I'm tutoring them in addition/subtraction and reading and they are doing pretty well. Time will tell. But happy thoughts ---they love me! Haha

Tomorrow should be fun --movies with my girls,  party at Gerrity's for the 4th of July, then Brad's 19th birthday on Monday :) I'm excited.

I'm probably going to go to bed -- sorry for the short failure of a post, but I'll try and update more than.....once in a blue moon

Happy 4th of July Weekend

peaceeee,
Julie


PS: Brad showed me this -- I thought it was pretty damn funny....story of my life...except teachers always think it's a cell phone and attempt to take it away from me. But I think its hilarious. :)


Cyanide and Happiness, a daily webcomic

Thursday, May 20, 2010

In 24 hours, I'll be at the beach. YES

So...only around 13 hours until I start the drive to Ocean City Md...and I cannot wait.  My god I cannot wait. Sunny days on the beach, tannnnnnning, eating good food, the boardwalk...and all with my best friends. It honestly couldnt get much better than this. I am just excited as anything right now.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH :) We're going to have fun. Yoga in the AM's (some at least), MB teaching me kickboxing, watching movies --I'm too excited right now. It mioght be a problem. I mean I's also watching the flyers game so that COULD be getting me hyped up right now.... but yeah. They are losing at the moment. 2-0. They were doing so well the last two games --both  shut outs 6-0 and 3-0. They'll come back though. I have faith.

So, two diabetes things to talk about --1.) My constant blood glucose monitor--my Dexcom. I have to renew it so i can get another sensor....because I lost it. I must say...its a PITA...like a huge one because i have to fill out a BG  log for like 45-60 days band turn it in, in order to get a new one. ugh. 2.) This lady from United Health Care called for me today ....so naturally I called her back. She just wanted to know if I liked my doctors and if they were good enough for me and how I was coping with my "problems." My "problem" being diabetes. I mean, yeah its a pain and it is a problem, but no one has ever asked me if I was happy with doctors-- I guess it was cool? Her name is Tammy and she's going to call me once a month to check in. Cool.

Speaking of the diabetes....my 8 year anniversary will be while i'm away at the beach. 8 years. God I can't believe it's been that long. 8 years...ahhh. I'll write something about it when I get back from the beach.

On the bright side, it's one of my best friends, Melissa's, birthday today..soooooo HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL! :) I'll see you in 13ish hours as we start out adventure.

Alrightyyyyyy --I'm out. Peace


PS: Montreal just scored again making it 3-0. Crud.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

And we frolicked about in our summer skin

Ahhhhhh I love summer. I love sleeping. I love not having to do work. I love everything about it. I love the fact that it's sunny and that I'm going to the beach in like...4 days. AHHHHH So exciting. As for today, I cleaned my room -- that was fun. I also went around Longfellow putting order forms in peoples doors for the "40th Anniversary" of Longfellow/4th of July t-shirt celebrations ...yadayadayada. I'm helping my neighbor out b/c she had knee surgery and obviously cannot get around the neighborhood.

I got a text from Turf Valley yesterday---I didn't get the job. So that officially sucks. I applied to SO MANY different places this summer and yet...no luck. I am unemployed for the 2nd summer in a row---fabbullouusss. Ill get a job eventually--and if I don't I'll do babysitting and other things to get money...but basically I'm poor. I should've kept my Panera job...(as much as I learned that the food business was not my thing...it was still a good job. I was stupid)

For some happy thoughts-- my legs and the rest of my body are really sore from the workouts I've been doing with my mom. Yesterday I did a bellydance cardio workout from on demand..and that was cool. Joss once told me that she did the ones on exercise tv....I wonder if it was the same one? I'll ask her eventually.

Tomorrow, I plan on going into Keough before my dr's appt at St. Agnes. Hopefully I'll see Mrs. Kenney and Ms. Casey -- I didn't get to see them when I went in in December. OH and Mrs. Russell and her PREGNANT BELLY. When did that happen? Fer serious.

ANYWHO. The Flyers are in their first game vs Montreal and they are kicking ass. Seriously. Kicking major butt. its 6-0 with a minute or so to go in the 3rd pd. Lets go Flyers --- lets win the cup.

As for my bloodsugar (since this technically should have something to do with that lovely part of me that is diabetes), it's been....eh. It was good when I went to bed last night (149 mg/dL) , then this morning I woke up to my insulin pump screaming at me that there was an "Occlusion Detected" so who knows how long I didn't get insulin. I got up and checked my sugar and it was like 313 or something...so that sucked. Then after I came back in from being outside for an hour or so I was 63....could I please just be....normal...with normal bloodsugars...cause this is killing me.

Well I'm out for tonight. Up early tomorrow to work out and go into keough.

Peace