Only Diabetes?

  

Here's the deal folks.  Diabetes is a awful, horrible, nasty, disgustingly annoying disease.  I hate it.  I don't just hate it, I LOATHE it.  I have hated it for the last 14 1/2 years.  I have lived every single day since June 10, 2000 HATING DIABETES!!!

As a mom of a kid who has type 1 diabetes...I hate that phrase in that picture.  I've heard it many times--I have had those exact words spoken to me ABOUT my son.  And let me tell you, that is NOT something you should EVER EVER EVER say to ANYONE who has diabetes, or has a family member who has diabetes-especially if they are a young child.  While it may seem like a simple harmless phrase, stop and think before you speak those words.

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed earlier when I saw this picture above.  

And this was my first thought:  

Omg!!! YES!!

Read the words on this pic and let it sink in!!

It's not "just diabetes"

Don't ask me, "can't he just  take insulin or pills or something??"

Or "will he ever get over it?"

NO NO NO NO NO!!

People it's not just diabetes-it's a deadly disease--A SILENT KILLER!!

I also hear the following questions:1)Can he just take pills? Um no-you can not take insulin in pill form! Why not? Because as soon as the pill hit your gut, all the acid would interact with it and you'd puke it back up.  (sorry for that graphic but its a fact we were told from day 1!)

2) Can't  he just take insulin or something like that?  Uh, YES, he MUST take it every single day via multiple insulin shots, OR use an insulin pump, which requires changing infusion sites every 2-3 days.

3)Will he ever grow out of it? Will it just go away?No, it won't just go away, or disappear suddenly and he will NOT grow out of it.  

His pancreas is DEAD.  ZIP ZILCH NADA!  It DOES NOT WORK!  It doesn't produce ANY insulin at all, not one single drop.  The insulin that he takes daily is not a cure for his diabetes.  This side of heaven there is NO CURE!! 

Insulin is NOT a CURE!  It's my kids life line! 

My son is not a sports kid--he never has been.  We always thought he would play soccer or baseball, but he just never did.  There were a few times that I started to sign him up, and would talk to people about getting him signed up.  I would just mention to the coaches, "he has diabetes..."  and the response was, "Oh.. I see.." and the attitude was crappy after that, like it was a big issue, and like they just didn't want him to play.  As a result of those reactions, my son never played sports.  And that is actually OK--b/c he will tell you now, that he is not a sports kind of guy.   

Oh and wait..My FAVORITE from people, "oh well you should be thankful its not cancer!"

What the heck?!??!  That's a no brainer!!!  I am SO incredibly thankful its NOT cancer. That is also not a statement or phrase you should say to a parent of a kid with diabetes.  Why? Because it is still a DEADLY DISEASE!!!!!!!  Without insulin, he will DIE.  

He has to check his blood at the least-6 times a day.  If he's sick?  It turns into twice that.  If his glucose levels are above 250, he risks developing ketones.  And any glucose levels over 400?  You can bet money on the fact that ketones are present.  What the heck is a ketone you ask?  

 Ketones are substances that are made when the body breaks down fat for energy. Normally, your body gets the energy it needs from carbohydrate in your diet. But stored fat is broken down and ketones are made if your diet does not contain enough carbohydrate to supply the body with sugar (glucose) for energy or if your body can't use blood sugar (glucose) properly.

If ketones develop, and we don't act accordingly, and fast, the he risks diabetic ketoacidosis.  Say that 10 times fast!!  What is that??

Go here to get an idea of what Diabetic Ketoacidosis is exactly.  If it is not treated in a timely manner, it CAN be deadly.  

We're talking risking slipping into a coma.

And its not just high levels.  You have just as many issues if your blood sugars drop too low!!  Then  you risk having seizures and with each seizure, the oxygen levels in your brain go down.  

Thats just a few of the things that have to be watched with diabetes.  So yes it IS just a wee bit serious and nothing to be taken lightly or ignored or overlooked.  

Its not "OK" to say, "You only have diabetes".  And no, I don't expect everyone to understand all this, and my concern with needing to write this post.  But that goes with something I have also said many times in the last several years, unless YOU are the parent of a kid with diabetes, or an aunt or uncle of a kid with diabetes, or a grandparent of a kid with diabetes, etc..you just simply can not say or think, "Its only diabetes"  Because to US?  Its not "just diabetes."

Friends

Everything happens for a reason.  People come into our lives, and sometimes they go as well.  But its all for a reason.  God always, ALWAYS has a plan.  He knows who we will meet, when we will meet them.  He knows who will walk away from us, and when they will walk away.  He knows the excitement of a new friendship and the heartache of a broken friendship.  He knows--He's there with us through each and every step of life. 
I've got a friend just like this.  I was thinking just a few days ago how amazing and neat it is to see God work timing throughout our lives.  
I met this incredibly sweet and funny woman, through Facebook--Imagine that! (Ha! Isn't that where everyone meets these days?") 
No, seriously-- I met her through Facebook, after I found her husband on there.  I've known him since we were in Kindergarten.  One of those that I've not seen since we graduated high school(Class of '91).  Each time I find someone I went to school with, I'll check out their pics and see what all they've been up to over the last few years.  I was deeply touched by his pictures.  I would also see pictures on his feed that his wife had posted and tagged him in.  And my heart just broke and it ached for them. As I sit here, 11:30 at night, while everyoen else is asleep-including the cat who is laying on the table next to me, and its so hard to keep the tears from coming.  I don't know exactly what they dealt with, but I have a little bit of an inkling.
 I knew him, but it had been YEARS since I'd seen him.  I had no clue who she was, but still, my heart just hurt for them.  I sent her a friend request, she accepted, and over the last couple of years now, I've watched her, followed her, got lots of giggles out of funny posts, watched her kids grow, through pics, and said a lot of prayers as I've seen her posts asking for prayers.    This mom is one of the strongest women I have come to know.  And I am SO thankful for her.  God always knows what we need, just when we need it.  Not too many weeks ago, she sent me a message via FB and said she'd been praying for me.  Unbeknownst to her, I was having a really rough day.  She had NO clue what I was dealing with.  But she felt the need to pray for me, and thats just what she did.  She messaged me and said "Hi, just wanted you to know I was thinking about you and praying for you!"
My God never ceases to amaze me, that He puts the right people in our paths and in our lives at just the right time.  It may be for a season, or for a life time, but He DOES bring people into our lives.   She's given me lots of encouragement just in the last week.  You may not already know, but by the time you read this, you will--know how thankful I am that God brought you and your friendship into my life!   
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 ⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: ¹⁰ If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Our Zeal For Life on Face Book

We also have a Facebook titled Our Zeal For Life

Please check it out and "like" it.

This is a leap we took on FAITH. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways so far.

Sharing with others those blessings is our goal.
You too can benefit as our family has from Zeal!

Fasting..from Facebook?

What is fasting? Here are two definitions of "fasting"

Fasting: an abstinence from food, or a limiting of one's food, especially when voluntary and as a religious observance; fasting.

Christian fasting: Christian fasting is used to take your eyes off of things of the world and focus on God.
There have been a few times that our church has had time of fasting, if it was physically possible for you to participate, you were encouraged to do so. The last one I remember that was church wide, I however, was not able to participate. Why? Because I was about 5 1/2 months pregnant with my daughter. Now, that being said, the last time I remember there being a fast taking place at church, it wasn't just reguarding food. We were invited to fast from anything we chose--food, soda, chocolate, video games, tv, etc.
Our youth group has had a fasting weekend the last couple of years, called a 30 Hour Famine. I wouldn't let Colton participate in it because of his diabetes. They were told that if they had a medical condition that required them to eat, that they could still participate. However, I know how Colton is and I knew he'd forget to check his blood sugar, OR forget to bolus if he did eat something.

I was taking Colton to the doctor last week. I was listening to my fav station, KLOVE. And suddenly the thought came to into my brain...Its time for a break. A Facebook break. I've got a couple of friends who have done this as well. I thought to myself, "No way, are you serious?" And instantly the response to that question was clearly, "YES, SERIOUSLY!!" This thought/idea/suggestion didn't just pop into my head. It was clearly the Holy Spirit speaking to me.

I mulled it over in my head all day long. I mean, Im one of those people thats addicted to FB!! I post funny pics, funny things I've read or seen, funny ha-ha's that my kids have said, etc. I also use FB to post devotions and scriptures that I feel like Im suppose to share with others. I sat down that afternoon and updated my status and it basically said, "Im going to be taking a break from Facebook--Im fasting from it." I got several 'likes' on the status. I had some comments as well--encouraging me to go for it. And so, the next day, I emailed a few chosen people and let them know, that evening I would be deactivating my account, and that they could email me at my home address, or text me.

One week ago today, at 8:00pm, my Facebook Fast began. I thought it would be hard, but honestly it hasn't been too bad. I've had a couple of times where I've had a thought come to mind that I'd typically post as my status. Irritations with my favorite store-Wal-Mart(NOT), funny stuff Colton or Tobi has said, TONS of scriptures that I've read. As soon as I thought, "OH..I gotta put that on FB!"; my next thought was, "Oh wait, Nope, can't do that, Im fasting from it."

And again, I have not totally missed it. I have a few people that I 'talk' to ALL the time on there. And I've got some that I enjoy seeing their posts and often 'like' their status. This is a break that was much needed.

I started a Bible study at church on Wednesday nights on the book of James. Typically, I sign up for a class and then only attend one or two sessions. I either don't get to do the homework, or I just decide I'd rather stay at home. Im happy to say that 3 weeks into the study, I have only missed one night and thats because I helped out in childcare--but I still did the homework. I was done with this weeks home work a day early! No, Im not bragging about it, just simply stating how much easier its been to be able to do and focus on more things since I began this fast.

I get up every morning and I grab my phone from the charger and head into the kitchen to fix me some coffee. I sit down, grab my Bible, and my phone, or my Kindle and I pull up my Bible app. I read the devotions from the app, as well as from my Journey Devotion guide from church. Before last week, I'd have gotten up, grabbed my phone and looked at my facebook to see everyone's updates and see what had been going on the night before.
Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, etc. They are not important. No, seriously, don't shake your head and argue about it. And yes, you read right--I said, THEY ARE NOT IMPORTANT!
If they aren't important, what is?

Christ. He is what's important to me. Growing closer to Him is what's important to me. Being an example for my kids is important to me. Why should I expect them to make a point to read their Bible everyday, if Im not modeling that example? I've been deeply convicted about that. Thats why I do not start my day out, until after I've sat down, and read my devotion/Bible every morning. And I don't get out of bed until I've spent some time talking to my BFF, thanking him for a new day and lifting up needs of family/friends.
Before bed, I sit and read my Bible and work on my homework for Bible study.

Its funny, because I've heard a couple of people talking about different things and my response is, "What are you talkin about?" And then the next words I hear are "It was on facebook!", or "Didn't you see it on facebook?" My response to that is "No, I didn't, Im not on there right now; I deactivated my account." And then the reaction is so funny--the look of shock at me shutting down my account. Its really funny and I can't help but giggle about it. As I said, its just not that important. Im thankful I can make the decision to fast from whatever I choose--food, cokes(also trying to do that), or facebook. This is just week one of my fast. And Im praising God for giving me the strength to turn FB off and just walk away from it. What about you? What's important to you right now?