My momma told me so

Don't forget your beach towels! Bring the sunscreen! Have you packed enough cold drinks and where are your sun glasses?

All of a sudden, it feels like having small children in the household again. Although our girls are grown up now and they can pack their own things, going on a holiday with the inlaws

Photo Eva Joos - street artist Pier 60, Clearwater, Florida

sometimes means you have to explain things over and over again. What should I wear? Do I need to bring a sweater in case I get cold? Can I put on sandals or do I need trainers to go for a walk? .. I'm no longer used to putting that much energy in my family and it wears me out. So I could do with a rest on the beach and Clearwater was the best area to do so.

   On the way to the beach, the clouds were getting darker and we expected rain and thunder. But wasn't that the same thing last time we were here? We knew we had to persevere and keep driving and in the end, the sun would come out and we would have a great day at the beach.

We had visited St Petersburg on our way over to Clearwater. The car was packed with drinks and cookies, swimsuits and towels. We were glad Eva brought her camera, because we wanted great pictures of the Clearwater sunset. I wanted to surprise Hubby and Gramps with a visit to Hooters, but we ended up one floor higher on The Lookout, where we had a small dinner, overlooking the beach and the crowd. Pier 60 houses a dozen of street artists and they give people the opportunity to sell their hand craft goodies on the pier. There's a good atmosphere and people enjoy themselves. There is always interaction between the crowd and the artists.

The Gulf of Mexico was too cold for a swim, but we enjoyed the beach nevertheless. We rented an umbrella and seats, where we could enjoy our magazines and Oreo cookies. Too bad there were so many bugs on the beach. They freaked us out! They come with the sea breeze, so we were told and they wouldn't last long. They were harmless, but hey, we don't like bugs okay?

Photo Eva Joos - Sunset Clearwater, Florida

The sunset was amazing... It was worth the wait (7 PM is not that late) and the whole family was quiet and patient.

We had a long 2 hour ride home ahead of us.. I don't like to drive in the dark, since my eyes get too tired focusing on the road, but there was no other option. It was good to see the Irlo Bronson Memorioal Highway, knowing we were only a few blocks away from Caribe Cove. Hubby had to keep me awake in the car, tapping my arm every now and then and checking my Dexcom receiver, to make sure I wouldn't go low in the car. It was another memorable day out...

Running out of time

There are so many things left we want to do, but we are running out of time. We had St Petersburg and Saint Augustine on our schedule, but we had to make choices. Since we wanted to go to Clearwater, we chose St Petersburg as a new city for us to discover and that was definitely a good choice. It's good to have our TomTom in the car, as he brings us wherever we want to go. Downtown St Petersburg was our destination and we were thrilled to see the center of this

beautiful city. I almost had a Sex and the City feeling, strolling around town.
It's a pleasure how Americans tend to help tourists when they see you are new in town. They show you the way to the places to see and they advice you on where to have lunch. So we sat outside Lucky Dill Café to enjoy our sandwiches. I almost ordered a $ 22 sandwich for gramps, just to see if he could eat it in 30 min and have his name put up on the Wall of Fame. But I ordered him a Lucky Italian Hoagie, loaded with ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, greens and Greek peppers. As he is always in for a good bite, he had no problem indulging that humongous piece of bread.. We stuck to a sandwich a bit smaller in size and had some fries and onion rings on the side. Great lunch, great place! We did need a walk down to the harbor - only a few blocks away - to burn those calories.. There were too many vagabonds (drug addicts?) and beggars in the parks, so we decided not to talk to them and hold on to our wallets. We could have taken the trolley to discover this city, but as usual, we had too many things planned on the same day and we were running out of time.. again..

The sound of silence

Photos Eva Joos

We cannot only shop - okay, who am I fooling here? - so we decided we were going to stroll through nature. In no more than 20 minutes, we arrived at the Lake Louisa State Park, a beautiful park we have visited 2 years ago as well. We knew Gramps was going to love the scenery and the walk we had prepared. The sun was out but it wasn't too hot. We had brought bug spray and walking shoes, cookies and cold drinks and our cameras of course.

Our guests were truly gobsmacked by the beauty and the serenity of this park. I mean, you just have to be here, to experience the vastness of this park. There's not one single spot not worth visiting here. We didn't get to see much wildlife this year, but that single squirrel and the fascinating alligator under the bridge, made the visit more than worthwhile.

The lake is so big, it's almost like an ocean. Some brave Canadians hired a canoe to explore the lake, inhabited by numerous gators. Not all of them are showing, but we were patient and we moved around the park until we found one that wasn't too shy to show itself. We were thrilled by its appearance. We enjoyed the silence and the purity of this park. No litter whatsoever and no loud people to spoil the serenity.

Later that day, we decided to trade the stillness for the entertainment and laughter at Old Town. A totally different environment, but great fun as well. We almost got grandma to join the Line Dancing group, but she hesitated. If only someone would have joined her, she would have danced her steps on Save a horse, ride a cowboy!

Grandpa tried several cowboy hats, but didn't find any hat to fulfill his needs. They looked pretty good on him though.. Too bad we couldn't take any pictures. The Truck Parade was not as impressive as the Oldtimer Parade we witnessed before, but still worth the visit.

Since we had had an early dinner at the apartment, we could enjoy some cocktails and Mexican sopapillas at the local TexMex restaurant. It was late when we got home and we were really tired. Will that keep us from going out tomorrow to .. what did you think? That we would actually give up on shopping? nah!

Crocodile Dundee

The day started out as usual, with breakfast at the apartment. While the others where still sound asleep - Grandpa not included, as he gets up at 4:00 AM - I cooked breakfast to feed the crowd. I love having a kitchen here, so I can be in control of what's being served. Of course I needed to get some more groceries to be able to prepare lunch today.

Photos Eva Joos

Our family spent the morning at the pool, enjoying the Florida sun and the refreshing water. Not long after lunch, we left for Boggy Creek, to hunt for gators. We have paid Boggy Creek a visit 2 years ago and we wanted to share this experience with the inlaws too. It's no more than a 1 hour and a half ride before you get to ride an airboat. We made sure to bring some warm jackets, as it can get pretty cold on the water. We were so happy to have our private photographer with us. Eva made wonderful shots of our outdoor adventure. We saw a small 3 yo alligator and lots of beautiful herons and grey egrets, white ibises and even a woodstork. We were amazed to see cattle in the water, looking for tender grass at the other side.

At the end of the ride, our company got to hold a young alligator, 8 pounds of weight. Grandma and auntie Erika were a little hesistant at first, but they faced their fears and "hugged" the gator. I'm so proud of them!

Having a great time at Boggy Creek

There wasn't too much sun today, although the weather forecast promised us more. I can't believe we had to drive more than 1 hour to find a place where we could sit down and have an ice cream. I guess we're getting spoiled here.. We visited Applebee's for the first time and we all enjoyed our way too sweet desserts.. What a great idea to share desserts in the US. We should have something like that at home too.

Before going to dinner at Cracker Barrel's, we enjoyed some more time at the pool and in the jacuzzi. Life can be so sweet...

It is quite unlikely..

.. that we won't do any more shopping. What do you want? Have you noticed there are like a zillion malls in Florida? Since we cannot do more than 2 shops in a day (trust me, the women in our group are just so thrilled, they want to pick up every piece of clothing they can lay their hands on), we will run out of time. Hubby and I went back to the Mall at Millenia by ourselves this morning and the others went for a swim. Grandma and aunt Erika had a ball in the jacuzzi and it was great to see them enjoy the sauna. What an adventure this is to them.

Photo Eva Joos

We planned on going to the Premium Outlet Stores this afternoon, but traffic was so hectic we decided to change the plans. The Loop is a great shopping area as well. The girls loved Kohl's! I'm so happy with my new outfits! Like real Americans, we decided to go for Ben & Jerry ice cream, before we headed back home, loaded with new clothes and big smiles on our faces, for that $ 200 discount.. Don't you just love the US?

Photo Eva Joos

On the way back, we stopped at Flipper's Pizzeria, just around the corner of the apartment. We needed supper for the family, since mom & dad had planned a night out at Texas de Brasil. We needed some private time and something else than fastfood. It was a pleasant night and by the time we got home, everybody was sound asleep.. How come we were not amazed that Grandma and auntie Erika had cleaned the whole apartment? After all, it was Friday.. You cannot go to bed on a Friday night without having cleaned the house, right?

A gift from heaven

Aunti Erika is a catholic nun. Since she's used to going to church on a regular basis, we tried to find a catholic church over here she could attend. The manager at Caribe Cove has been very helpful and told us about the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. Aunt Erika and Grandma were completely excited about this trip. After a quick visit to the gift shop - we needed some post cards and Grandpa needed some extra T-shirts - we hopped in the car and left for Orlando. We're all glad Grandpa decided to leave the 5XL shirt for other tourists..

There was quite some traffic down the road. I heard the Basilica was real popular, but could all the traffic really be headed that way??? With a 30 min delay, we arrived at the Shrine of Mary. The other cars kept going - the parking lot of the Premium Outlet Mall of Orlando was just next door..

We were all impressed by the size of this church. Just in time for the 12 o'clock mass, we decided to join in and take a seat. We were surprised by the devotion of the people present. They all sang along and chanted their "Praise the Lord".

Although our guests didn't understand the exact words the priest preached, they did get the contents of the sermon. We lit a candle for whoever needed some help from above, before the priest gave us his blessing. He showed us the way to the museum and the gift shop. It made me think of Las Vegas: the numerous thingamajigs, the chaplets and rosaries, the bottles filled with holy water and the statues of Jezus Christ.. It was impressive to say the least. Plenty of souvenirs to choose from.. Auntie Erika and Grandma truly enjoyed this visit. They got themselves some post cards from the church and were pretty quiet in the car.

The clouds were filled with rain and we didn't want to ruin our hair - I don't think Americans are used to seeing ladies with raincaps - so we skipped the Premium Outlet Store for now..

Instead we got back on the highway and headed towards the Mall at Millenia. The ooh's and the aah's in jawdropping faces, the feet that went faster by every step we took, could tell we were really ready for some mall-time. We split up the group (well, Eva decided she wanted to see other stores than we were going to explore) and made an agreement to meet up again at the front door around 5 PM. But not until we had lunch at Dad's favorite Johnny Rockets. He really wanted his parents to indulge the perfect burger and crunchy fries and trust me: they enjoyed it allright!

The ladies enjoyed Bloomingdale's and Macy's, the men followed us around. We enjoyed Abercrombie & Fitch, The Gap store, Hollister, .. aarrgghhh... I think we need to come back another day, to see the rest of the mall..

Although it's only 9 PM, Grandpa already fell asleep on top of the bed spread around 8 PM. I guess he was tired of the active shopping day. We enjoyed our sandwiches at home and had a relaxing evening. Time to reflect over the day and make preparations for the upcoming days.

Where to next?

We had another fun day in Kissimmee, Orlando. Our guests are getting used to the Florida sun, the food, the free time. After a breakfast of cream cheese and red fruit French toast, the whole family headed towards the pool, determined to get a nice tan. After all, they want the home front to see how they enjoyed the good weather, right?

Since I had some time by myself while the others were at the pool, I took the Black Beast and headed to Super Target. I want this supermarket at home.. What a joy!! I can't stop filling my shopping cart with groceries. There are so many things I want to cook here and it's a pleasure to feed our crowd. There are plenty of restaurants out here in the neighborhood, but we also like a healthy meal when we get the chance. So yes, plenty of veggies and fruit, whole wheat bread and low fat cold cuts.

The plan for today, was to have a walk in Downtown Disney. The weather looked promising so we didn't hesitate. No more than a 25 min drive to spend a good time with the family. It was good to see how they all enjoyed the excursion. The Harley Davidson shop, the boatride, Rainforest Café, the Disney shops.. it's good to be back here..

No more restaurant visit for dinner either. Don't we love home cooked meals? Having seen so many overweight people, we decided we will skip on the French fries, donuts, cotton candy and buttered popcorn. We bought some new outfits and we do want those to fit, right?

We even enjoyed the thunder and lightening and the streaming rain, seen from the deck outside the apartment. Life is sweet.. It's good to be here with our family, although we wish our oldest daughter could have joined us.. We know she's having a good time in Italy with her friends, but I'm sure she would have enjoyed Florida too..

Grandma and Auntie Erika like to watch the Belgian news. They are pretty modern, checking the news on the iPad. While Grandpa is taking a nap - after all, he likes to be awake in the middle of the night - we are cleaning up and preparing breakfast for tomorrow. There could be some rain showers in the upcoming days, so maybe we should do some shopping.. How about the Mall at Millenia? I'm sure Eva won't object and neither will Grandma and Auntie Erika. Just trying to figure out how we could please the men in our company..

Taking time to refuel

The day started early but slowly. Around 6:40 I heard noises in the TV room. I took a peek and saw that the front door was open.. guess who was outside, roaming around the premises? Exactly.. Grandpa had been up and going for a couple of hours. We picked him up at the front desk, sipping his cup of coffee, to take him grocery shopping, while the others where still dreaming their sunny dreams.
It's just fabulous that Walmart is open 24/7. We drove up to the store in Clermont, to get some necessities for breakfast and lunch. Fresh fruit, loaves of bread, drinks and cold cuts and some more pantry staples. The trunk was filled to the roof so we headed back towards Caribe Cove. Time to cook breakfast and wake up the lazy bones.

Eva was ready to go to the pool and get a tan. After all, you have to enjoy the Florida sun and get bronzed while you're here. We showed our family around and had a pleasant talk with the manager. It was good to see her again.

Cleaning up after a quick home made lunch of Cuban bread with sirloin steak, we were thinking about what we were going to do in the afternoon. Winter Garden Village seemed like a good option! I'm not sure if the men were as thrilled about spending hours in the mall as we were, but they surely didn't complain. We fed them Red Mango frozen yogurt and a drink at Uno Chicago Grill while we got to spend money in our favorite shops. Happy faces on both sides of the sexes!

Okay, some of us got sunburn.. we still have to get used to the idea of putting on sunscreen. We'll do better tomorrow.

Good thing the car is big enough to hold lots of shopping bags. We had dinner at Mimi's Café in Winter Garden Village, before we crashed at the apartment. Looking forward to another day in the sun. 

Wired but tired

photo Eva Joos

After a 10 hour flight, we finally got to our destination: Stanford Airport, Florida. We had a good flight.. The first flight for the inlaws and they were completely at ease. The plane didn't go all the way up to the sky like a rocket does, so they were comforted by that idea.
It took us some time to get through customs, as half of the group doesn't speak English. The officer at customs was real nice about that though. He used Google Translate to make himself understood and the inlaws sign languaged and used their thumb ups to let him know they knew what he was talking about. What ad adventure!

The Florida sun welcomed us and so did Dollar Rental Cars. The original plan was to rent a Dodge Caravan. We weren't too sure about the size of the car, as there are 6 people and as many suitcases. What a bummer: the trunk was too small for all of our luggage. We had the option to order a taxi to deliver the suitcases, or to rent a bigger car.. What did you think? Exactly! We saw a Ford Expedition right across from the car we had rented and decided to take that one. We made a good deal and loaded the car. All set to go.. we thought, but I couldn't turn on the ignition. What was wrong?? I almost hopped out of the car to ask Mr James at the Dollar shop. Until we read the key chain: A22, not C5. OMG! what a blooper! I felt so stupid! We had a good laugh over it before we transferred all of our luggage to a third vehicle. What a monster that big black car is!

The sun felt great and we headed towards Kissimmee, a one hour drive away. My tummy was aching for food and we stopped at the Panera Bread restaurant, just around the corner of the apartment  for a quick bite. Grandma and aunt Erika were pooped but grandpa found his courage back after a hot steak and caramelized onion panini. It didn't take us long to fill out the forms at the front desk at www.caribecove.com so we could head to our rooms and unpack the suitcases. By then it was 9:00 PM local time or 03:00 AM our time. All quiet now peeps... we need some rest.. 

Munchin'

all photos Eva Joos

For over one month now, I have been using Dexcom CGM. It's been great, learning about what food and exercise, stress and emotions do to my body. It's interesting to see how a simple Latte Macchiato affects my blood glucose in no time in a negative way and how 45 min of paddling in the pool makes the insulin work a whole lot better. I'm coming to conclusions I would never have accepted without this device. My favorite coffee is now reserved for low blood sugar episodes. I keep my snacks to anticipate in dropping blood glucose.

It strikes me, that I have so many lows lately. I have to eat all day to kick the lows in the butt. How come I don't remember real coke tastes awful? I hate what it does to the enamel of my teeth.. I don't want all that sugar in my mouth. In the last weeks I have eaten so much candy I'm at risk of getting type 2 diabetes! LOL

No, seriously, I'm gaining useless pounds because of the hypo food. That's a big dislike. I've done so much to obtain my ideal weight. Don't want to spoil that because of lousy lows. The thing with low blood sugars is, that you don't even enjoy the food you are forced to have. If you have like 5 lows a day or you have a low in the middle of the night that asks for more than 50 grams of carbohydrates, I get upset. Looking at my food diary, I eat more carbs from treating lows, than there are in my meals. That is no good.

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My basal rates need to get looked at. I need to interfere more when my Dexcom shows dropping blood glucose, to be ahead of that low. It still means extra carbs when I don't really fancy them. Okay, I can have my Latte, but it's not the same. If you have diabetes too, you will know what I mean..

I am flashing back

Can I have a Vespa?

     Are you out of your mind? No way! Don't even go there!

Why can't I have a Vespa?

     Because Vespas are dangerous. Because you are only 16! Because I say so. Because there are one  thousand reasons why you can't have a Vespa!

What if I buy my own Vespa?

     You are not going to. Forget about it. Not in one million years.

I can't recall the exact conversation, but it must have been something like this. I was really upset during that conversation. I knew in advance I was not going to win the battle, but at least I could try. I did ask the question and the answer was no, just like I had expected. I remember the disappointment. I remember the tears. And I remember the disapproval of my parents. Why did I even bother to ask, if I knew the answer was going to be a firm NO anyway? Why were they so opposed to me getting a Vespa? Was it really for the reasons they gave me? Or didn't they want me to grow up and get independent?
I remember I didn't ask a second time. That was not done where I grew up. If your parents gave you a clear NO for an answer, you didn't ask twice. You didn't even dare to ask again, because that would only make things worse..

Our youngest one has asked us the same question. Excuse me, not the same. She doesn't want a Vespa. She wants a Honda Dax. I understand her longing for independence. I recognize the feeling of wanting to grow up and doing whatever you want to do. She wants to go out. She wants to feel free. Her dad is ready to give in. He had a motorcycle when he was her age. I didn't. I wanted one, like I described a couple of minutes ago. I never got one. I got myself a car though. I worked on the week-ends and during the holidays, so I could save money to buy my own car. At the age of 18, you are pigeonholed in the ADULT category and you get to decide what you want to spend your money on. I try to reason with Eva. I want to convince her to get a job first and save money in her bank account. It's not just the money for the purchase of the Dax. It's a whole lot more...

She will need a place to park her treasure. She will need money for insurance and gas and maintenance and a helmet (a good, decent one, to make sure her brain doesn't get all mushy in case she .. aaarrgghhhh I don't even want to go there!). She's not being reasonable about it. She is angry and disappointed and frustrated with me. I'm sure at this stage, she hates me. I know she wanted this Dax for her 16th birthday. She got a one year membership on her favorite fashion magazine. It's less dangerous and it was something else on her wish list.. That her boyfriend rides a Honda Dax, isn't helping much either....

The discussion is not closed yet. We're not done. There is room for discussion. It doesn't have to be a battle. I don't like this wrangling. I hate it as much as she does. I just want her to think about it. To consider my objections and to find answers for the questions I have asked. I want her to start saving money to buy her little treasure. If only she would make an effort.. then we can talk again, in some time.

Totally last minute

There is so much left to do. Clothes need to get ironed, lunch boxes have to be filled. She's spending some extra time in the bathroom, not knowing when her next shower will be. I can tell she's getting nervous. She has been looking forward to this trip all year. As a sixth grader, it will be a wonderful way to say farewell to highschool and her classmates. It will be an exciting trip. It will be a whole lot of fun but emotional at the same time. Them kids will have to spend long hours on the bus but they won't get bored. They will have a good time, I'm sure of that.

Italy is a beautiful country. Lana wanted to go there as an exchange student. Things didn't work out as expected though. We have welcomed an Italian exchange student into our home and it was a great experience. There is a small chance Lana and Ilaria will unite again next week, in Milano. Wouldn't that be great???

We were invited to discuss the program of this trip. I wish I were 18 again.. these students will have the time of their lives. Knowing Lana is fond of art and history, she will take extraordinary shots of her stay in Italy. Her pictures will keep the memories alive. She will cherish those moments in her later life, looking back to her time as a student in highschool. Have a wonderful journey sweetheart. You have worked so hard this year. You truly deserve some time off with your friends. Have fun!

Jibber jabber

I can't believe it's snowing again..
     Don't you just hate snow?
I know.. people get depressed and they no longer want to come out of bed.
     What do you think about it, Rita?
I'm not listening to your babbling, what were you saying?
     Hey missie! Is that an iPad you are working on?

I nod and I smile and I keep typing. Three pairs of male eyes are watching me. I can feel their presence and their staring. They are not used to having an intruder in their hangout. They are trying to figure out why I am sitting there, having my cup of chicken soup (I hate it when the water isn't hot enough, leaving lumps of concentrated powder in my mug) and tapping the keys on my tablet.
Rita is nice. She smiles at me. From the corner of my eye, I can tell her hair has got thinner since the last time I was there. I wonder if she's feeling well. I can see her scalp through the almost white strands of hair. I know I will never ask her about her health. We don't converse like she does with her other clients. They have beers and she sips her coffee. She gives them another draft and their voices get louder and harsher by the number of beers they have.
I keep typing. I check Facebook. The comments on the diabetesforum I frequent are numerous tonight. Rita asks me if I want another mug of soup. On the house, she says. I'm not looking forward to having another lukewarm soup, but I smile back at her. She looks tired. I overhear her conversation with the man near the coffee machine. She says she wants to close the pub. She's tired. She's had enough. The man agrees and puts his hand on her arm.

Two of the regulars are leaving. They ask me if I can add them on my friendlist on Facebook. I think they are funny. I also think they have had one beer too many. One of them has a vulgar laughter. He can't find the lock on his car door. Like I said.. too much beer.. Do you think someone is waiting for him at home? I don't think so. Why would he spend his time with Rita? Because of the beer? Because of Rita? Who knows..

It's time for me to go. I put away the iPad and I pay for my soup. I won't go back for a while. I hope Rita will still be there when I come back..

Tricky situations

I had this weird situation in the middle of the night. Going to bed, I had this feeling of a low coming up. Right there and then, my Dexcom warned me and I had 4 pieces of candy before my head hit the pillow. I was so tired and could only think of ZZZZZZZZ.. Just before I closed my eyes, I switched off the low and high alarms on my CGM, so I could have a good night of sleep without being alarmed of highs and lows. I hear you say: isn't that what CGM is supposed to do? Warn you of dangerous situations? Of course.. The thing is, I normally don't have real high numbers at night. So it's no problem to turn off that alarm. I do get quite some warnings though, that my BG is dropping below 70. That's not really a dangerous situation, so I decided to turn off that alarm too. Don't worry: there is still the < 55 mg/dl alarm that you can't turn off. That's also the alarm you wouldn't want to turn off, since it can prevent you from getting into serious trouble.

Anyway, I put the Dexcom beside my pillow and closed my eyes. Not too long after that first low, the < 55 mg/dl alarm went off. I guess I was too tired an tried to ignore the alarm. But my Dexcom didn't agree with me, so he kept buzzing. In the end, I did respond, but I wasn't aware of it. I overdosed, by eating way too much candy and way too many cookies. Somewhere in my brain, there must have been a spot that told me to bolus for the excess carbs. How weird is it, that I tried to "bolus" on my Dexcom.. It is not possible since there is no insulin involved in CGM, but I did enter 15 grams of carbs in my receiver..

This morning, my husband told me that my alarm had gone off several times that night. That I hadn't responded to them at first. That I had eaten candy and cookies and that I had pushed some buttons on the Dexcom. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I plugged in the receiver in my notebook and downloaded the data. There it was! The subconscious is really freaky! It makes me take action in some daze and that does worries me. So I asked him to wake me up, if I am too low to respond to the alarm. I need to be awake completely, not in some twilight zone. I don't want to give myself a shot of insulin without being fully awake. This time, I only bolused myself on the Dexcom, meaning I didn't give any insulin. I just entered data. But what if I'm low in the middle of the night and I bolus myself on my glucometer? THAT is scary... To keep myself from doing stupid things, I am no longer taking my meter to bed with me. I have my Dexcom. It will wake me up - sometimes I will need my hubby to help me wake up - and I won't have the tools to shoot up insulin. My insulin pump is hidden in a band around my waist underneath my pj's. Okay, I have had high numbers all night, but I corrected those in the morning. And I have learned a lesson once again.. The buzzer is not annoying enough at night. I need that high Hypo Repeat signal.. sorry hubby...

Be the best you can be

18 has always been your favorite number.
18 is a magic birthday.
18 is a milestone into adulthood.
18 comes with privileges and legal implications.
18 means you can vote, buy a house or get married without our permission.
18 also means you can get convicted for crimes and go to jail.
18 years, years full of joy and excitement, adventure and interesting stories.
18 is the birthday when your parents get a bit emotional for they finally realize you will start to build a life of your own.
18 means, you no longer need 24/7 parent supervision. We will always be advisors and parents, but we no longer need to parent you.
18 means, you are allowed to spend your money the way you want to spend it.
18 means, you can travel by yourself or with friends.
18 means, you are old enough to get your driver's licence.
18 means, you no longer need our permission to go abroad.
18 means, you are old enough to have a boyfriend (just kidding).
18 means, you can still have fun and do crazy things, without the burden of going to work every day.
18 means, you will start college and make a future of your own.
18 means, there is an apartment waiting for you to be decorated, so you can move in there and have a great place to study and meet with friends.
18...

Are we ready to let go of the reins? I believe so. You are ready too. We love you sweetheart. Have a wonderful 18th birthday. Remember we will always love you and we will be here whenever you need us. Don't worry, we're never that far away. Welcome to adulthood!

I wanna make you happy

You are my little girl. Of course I want to make you happy. No doubt about that. I want to give you all my love and I wish you all the best in life. I like to observe you. There are moments where you are really focused on what you are doing and there are times that you are so distracted. I often wonder what's going through your mind. You do tell us things, but like all teens, you like to keep things for yourself and that's okay too. Just want to let you know that you can talk to us about anything. Your family is here for you.

Happiness is out there for you to grab it. It is our job as parents to educate and raise you and help you grow up. It is your job to find opportunities to grow in life and build up a personality of your own. I can tell you are working on your self esteem every day and you're doing well. You have changed so much over the years and you have become a young lady with a mind of her own. Happiness is not about money or buying things. It is good to think about what brings you happiness. Happiness doesn't cost money. It's about the little things in life. It's about love and friendship and good times. It's about that wink a boy gives you when nobody else can see it. It's about the hug our whippet Inthe gives you when you come home from school. It's about the smell of that cake you made for your friends, the moment you open the oven door. How about a wonderful text message when you're not feeling your best? The little arms reaching for you when you babysit 4 small children? That is happiness, sweetie. Those are moments to cherish and remember... Those are moments that are there, on a daily basis. If only you open your heart to let them in.

Nitty-gritty

I have known my friend for almost 2 years now and we have gone out for lunch on numerous occasions. In fact, we have made it a monthly meeting and there is always so much to talk about. Not that I know anything about programming software, but I think he's interesting and fun and wise at the same time. When it comes to diabetes, he's a bit of a mentor to me. His insight in the matter is terrific and so are his numbers. His numbers are so within range, that they are the numbers of a non-diabetic person.
We normally order the same lunch and we drink the same soda. Well, he orders coca cola zero and I'm hooked to diet coke. Don't think that's what makes the difference in our BG though..

Foto Jan Adriaensen

I like to try out different restaurants and different types of food. My friend is used to stick to food he is familiar with, because he knows what that type of food does to his bloodglucose. Nevertheless, he has always joined me in what we order and still, his numbers are great. We don't know where things go wrong, but he ends up with numbers that are not much higher than the number he started his lunch with. My numbers stay within range for about half an hour and then they skyrocket up to 400 and back down. Since we have made some improvements in my diabetes treatment, my BG doesn't go that high anymore, but I still saw a 270 on the screen of my Dexcom. I admit, things have been worse, but that 270 is still way too high for my own good. I still enjoy going to lunch with my friend and I am not afraid of the challenge, but I would rather have my numbers share my enthusiasm in a much lower range. I know my endocrinologist is not impressed by the theory, but I do believe there must be a way to prevent my bloodsugar from peeking that high during lunch meetings. I'm convinced that several factors could help me out: the stats and readings of my CGM ; the efforts of both my diabetes nurse and my diabetic friend to interpret and alter the settings ; me thinking straight and counting my carbs more accurate. I'm sure there will be many more lunch dates before we will have cut out all of the bad numbers, but in the mean time, we will enjoy each others company..; 

To each his own

People ask me why I would want a second device attached to my body. How weird is it, that I haven't asked myself that same question? It's that awkward moment, when people give you that pitiful look even when you don't feel sorry for yourself. To me, diabetes is part of my life, just like cooking, going to work and taking care of the household is. I get that wearing a transmitter on your arm is not sexy. Does it bother you? It doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I don't give a **** about what other people think about it. It's there to help me get better control and to make me feel better once the fluctuating blood glucose numbers are more within the area I want them to be.

Can everybody see that transmitter? Well.. I do wear clothes, you know. Yes, there's a little lump underneath my sleeve and maybe you will notice that. There's a little lump in my stomach area as well, where my infusion site of my insulin pump is hiding. People thought the same about this site in the past: what if people notice?? Guess what? I have never ever had anyone ask me what that lump underneath my shirt was. To be more honest: when I give a lecture on My Life with Diabetes, I always ask people to look for the "lump" on my body. Not one has found it so far. Sometimes I even have to pat down my body to find it myself... because it has become a part of me. I forget it's there. I now forget about the transmitter on my arm. Because I don't need to worry about it. It's fine by me. I have come to terms with it. So don't worry about me or my health. Even though you would not even think of wearing one (it's not even worth the discussion because you don't even have diabetes), to each his own. I have a wonderful family. I have a long life ahead of me. I want to live it the best way possible... in the end you will all benefit from the advantages of my Dexcom, because it will make me happier..

I wanna jump for joy

For more than 3 hours, I believed I was cured from diabetes. Despite the infusion site in my tummy, a tube going from that site to my insulin pump, the transmitter in my upper arm and my glucometer sitting on the table, for once I truly believed I could have a wonderful meal without worrying about what it would do to my BG..

Before the waitress handed us our menu, I poked my finger to check my BG. The meter read 139, my Dexcom said 144 and a steady arrow. I thought it would be a good idea to try out pasta, since pasta can be tricky for D's. Spaghetti all'Amatriciana is what I ordered and a diet coke to accompany it (I was driving, so no wine this time). I looked around us to see how crowded the place was and decided I could bolus my insulin right there and then. Okay, that's when the tricky part came: how hungry was I? How many carbs was I going to have? I know I can finish my plate if I want to, but I knew I wouldn't. I like to stick to maximum 60 grams of carbs for a meal (preferably 40). I hit the button and told my insulin pump I was going to have 60 grams of carbs. Pasta adds up easily and since I didn't bring a scale (I hardly ever weigh my food at home unless I need to scale products in recipes), my eyes would have to remain alert and warn me when to stop eating.

Dinner Date on the Dexcom G4

About half an hour later, the plates were brought to our table by a very nice young lady and we were starved and ready to eat. My BG was still in the same area - that's what a peek on my Dexcom screen told me. My friend and I talked and babbled and enjoyed our dinner (I skipped the bread, since I didn't want different types of carbs in my meal).  I saw her enjoy the bread (and privately counted the amount of carbs in those 3 rolls) and I didn't envy her at all. I added some more fake Parmigiano Reggiano to my pasta and dug in. I really enjoyed the good time with my friend and the taste of my meal. In the back of my head, I told myself to remember this place and come back some other day with my family.

Since my friend was in a hurry, we had Latte Macchiato instead of dessert (I don't regret that decision either). I couldn't explain to her how happy I was with this dinner date. Interesting and warm conversations, great pasta and perfect numbers! What else could I ask for? It has been a long time since my numbers were so great during a dinner date. I not only have a wonderful diabetes nurse who helps me understand and alter my settings, I now also have this great CGM. I'm hooked... Dex is mine, for good. As in: YES, WE BOUGHT IT!

Déjà vu

A pleasant family dinner around the kitchen table. We are all babbling and having nice conversations.
She is poking her food with only her fork, one of her feet on the chair and her knee sticking out above the table. Daddy reprimands her to put her foot down and keep her knees below the table. She rolls her eyes, mouth wide open and gives him that "gimme a break" look. She keeps talking and doesn't give in. He asks her again and she's getting annoyed now, saying: that's the most comfortable way for me to sit, okay? And he replies: would you sit like this in a restaurant?? NOT! And she talks back: are we sitting in a restaurant at this moment?? NO!

Was it my youngest daughter or was it me? She says it's her genes. There's nothing she can do about it... This sounds so familiar.. I have a déjà vu.. and it's not the first time.

Expect the unexpected

My numbers weren't that bad, but they weren't very good either. With an average of 147 mg/dl over the last 3 months, I expected my A1c to be higher than the last 7.3%. For two years, I had been able to keep my BG lower than 7% and that was prime time for me. It is important to keep that A1c low to prevent complications in the future. So yes, that 7.3% was a bit of a disappointment, although it was still a whole lot better than previous numbers.

This morning I had my bloodwork done at the hospital. I don't mind when nurses poke a needle in my arm to draw blood. Later that day, I got notified by my nurse that I took a wrong guess. My average BG was better than I had expected! I was gobsmacked and didn't believe her at first. But at the same time, it felt good.

I just started working with CGM. I'm curious to know if it will help me improve my numbers. That's why I wanted to have my bloodwork done this week. I'm motivated and driven and ready to kick ass!

Oh! I nearly forgot! My last A1c shows a wonderful 6.9%!

In case you missed it

Not even one more month before we will pack our bags and leave for Kissimmee, Florida. Can't wait! I'm sure we will have a wonderful time. For the first time, we will travel with the inlaws and an aunt. It will be a completely different vacation, but that's okay. We get along real well and the apartment is spacious enough to find some privacy from time to time.
Yesterday we got the confirmation of the rental car that will be waiting for us at Stanford Airport. It will be a huge monster this time, because there will be 6 of us and loads of suitcases. It will be kinda weird to be traveling without our oldest daughter this time, but it's reality: the girls are growing up and starting to live a life of their own. She will have a great time in Italy, we're sure about that..

Having diabetes and traveling shouldn't be a problem. There is some more preparation to do though: I have to order a spare insulin pump, in case the other one breaks down (I'm pretty sure it won't happen, but we won't take the risk). The application has been sent, so that's one item I can cross off my checklist. I need a document from my endocrinologist, stating that I need my diabetes supplies. Check. This time I would like to take the Dexcom G4 as well. Not sure yet how I will arrange that, but I'll contact the company. I would be more at ease to drive that monster car loaded with family if I had CGM to warn me from upcoming lows. After all, you need to be focused and I'm not familiar with all the new roads that lay ahead of us. I have to see my diabetes nurse for extra pump supplies and glucose strips. Don't want to be short of glucose strips or infusion sites while enjoying the Florida sun..

My suitcases will be packed just the night before we set off. I never worry about the contents of my suitcase. As long as I have plenty of medical supplies, I will be fine. I feel butterflies jumping up and down in my tummy.. So looking forward to going away for a while...

I suck..

I really suck at reading user manuals. Most of the time, I just throw them in the bin, together with the box the device came in. This time, I'm glad I didn't. I started using my Dexcom last Wednesday. I'm still testing this thing, so I can't throw anything out until it's completely mine. And then I get in trouble, when signals appear on the screen and I can't interpret them. I get lost when signals like ???? appear and make me wonder why the thing is asking me questions??? The problem solving notes in the manual explain it all, but guess what: I haven't read them. Well I have read them, diagonally.. Because I always think that I know better... I have numbers I can call and coordinates to mail people who do read their manuals or who are more familiar with technology than this nitwit. They always help me out, but it would be smarter if only I would read my own manual. Okay, okay! I will read it! I already got started, until someone distracted me and told me I didn't blog this week. So the manual is still by my side and I can read some of the words from the corner of my eye. It's like being back in highschool. I would know quite a bit of everything, but I wouldn't focus enough to get the whole of it. I'll be a better student this time. At least, that's the goal..

What if?

What if you could make life with diabetes easier?
What if some device would warn you if your blood glucose is out of control?
What if you would get an alarm while sleeping, because your blood glucose is running dangerously  low?
What if you would be able to know your actual blood glucose every 5 minutes without poking your fingers as many times?

Wouldn't that be reassuring to say the least? I would think so.. What if I tell you, this kind of system is available/for sale? Wouldn't you hop up and get one? Right.. I guess all of us would like this kind of CGMS (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System) help us get better control. Alas, only a couple of people will get the opportunity to get reimbursement when using CGMS. My doctor talked about pregnant diabetics, young children with diabetes or people with hypo unawareness. Since I'm no longer a child and I'm not pregnant, I guess those two options are out of the question. I'm fortunate that I feel most of my lows in time and although my diabetes can play games with me, I am not that brittle a diabetic. Meaning: CGMS will be at my own expense. Yes, it's expensive. And yes, it's good for me. It can help me get better control and it can help me reach my targets. It can help me prevent lows and highs and it can warn me from nocturnal out of rage numbers when I'm too tired to wake up.

I have a Dexcom G4 in my pocket. It's working just fine and it gives me RealTime bloodglucose numbers without poking my fingers 8 times a day. It tells me to watch out when a low is coming my way and it warns me if my sugar is skyrocketing. The first night with Dexcom G4, I got warned because 2 lows were hitting in. The lows didn't wake me, but my CGMS did.. When that buzzer went off, I pushed the button and grabbed for candy that was sitting on my night stand. I went back to sleep to be awakened again, only two hours later for a second low reading. Wow... I was truly impressed by the efficiency and the accuracy of this device.

During the day, my Dexcom helps me keep track of my numbers. Finally I can really tell what food does to my glucose levels during the digesting process. I'm sure it will prevent me from eating foods that aren't good for me and it will show me how to dose my insulin when eating other meals.
The software helps you understand the numbers and tells you about patterns in your BG. It is then up to you to alter your insulin schedule and prevent future highs and lows.

If only insurances could get informed about the purpose and benefits of CGMS. It could help us prevent severe complications in later life and a better overall life. I'm glad it's sitting in my pocket and I hope we will find a way to pay the bill..

If you want to know more about it, check out their website.

She made up her mind...

It is a very difficult question to answer: what do you want to be when you grow up? I'm not talking about becoming a fireman or a ballerina. They were a whole lot younger when those answers crossed their minds. I'm talking present time now. What do you want to do as a profession in not so much later time? How "professional" does that sound? It's a very loaded question, because you have to think of so many things: career possibilities, talents, financial consequences, studying, a place to study, social life, .. That's why it takes so many of us so long to decide what they really want to do in life. Sometimes you cannot label the profession you picture yourself in. So you just say: I want to do something I'm really passionate about, so I can stick to it for a very long time. I want to leave for work with a smile and come home with an even bigger smile.

There were a couple of fields our daughter was interested in. She loves economics and languages and that gives her the freedom to taste many different aspects in the workplace. We had the chance to talk to both students and teachers of the schooling she has chosen. The college she will attend, had an open house on Saturday so we stopped by and asked our questions. Network Economics.. that's the name of the education Lana would like to participate in. We discussed the schedule with her teacher-to-be and the more he told us about it, the more I realized this is what Lana really wants to do.

There were a couple of objections though. She had already chosen her favorite city to go to college: Ghent. What a bummer when she found out Network Economics is a field you can only study in either Bruges or Kortrijk. Hmhm... dilemma.. Very understandable,  knowing that most of her friends will be studying in Ghent. She's a smart girl though. It's all about your future. There are no certainties in life and you have to make the right choice when it comes to your education. There will be time left to spend with friends and to visit places.

We looked into housing in the nearby school area. And we found what we were looking for: a very nice room with a private bathroom and plenty of space to put things away. The rooms have been renovated recently and they sure did a great job! There is a courtyard where you will find the students cooking their dinner and enjoying a meal together. But there is also the privacy of your own room and the assurance that you won't have to clean up someone else's wet towels. She'll do just fine. She's growing up.. and we are growing with her..

My heart skips a beat

It seems like yesterday, when I gave birth to this beautiful little girl. All tiny and pure, she came into this world and stole our hearts right away. She turned 16 today. When I looked at her this morning, I saw a pretty young lady, preparing herself to go to school and celebrate her birthday with her friends. I saw bright stars in her eyes and the straight shoulders reassured me that she has truly become an independent, outgoing girl. She is loved by her friends and now there is this special young man who is giving her the goosebumps she has been longing for. I hugged her so much this morning and had a hard time to let go of her childhood. It felt good to hold her close to my heart and kiss her rosy cheeks. I'm proud of my little girl. She's doing real well..
Happy Sweet 16, honeybun.. We love you with all our heart.

Is someone cutting onions in here?

Sometimes I hear these life stories that make me really sad.. At times, people can become so lonely life is no longer worth living...

What if your happy family falls apart after your only child gets diagnosed with an awful cancer they can't get rid of? How hard is the struggle to remain optimistic and help your child get through this ordeal? It takes a whole lot of strength to cope with situations like this. There is no free time when your child is seriously ill. You have no social life, because you don't want to leave that child in someone else's hands. So friends stop asking you out and your world becomes more narrow by the day. It drifts you and your husband apart, because there is no more energy left for romantic dates. The child looses the battle, the husband moves house and you get lost in a house that has all of a sudden become way too big.

You don't cope well. You get sick too. The pain is too immense. There are no happy circumstances to look forward to. No sweet 16's, no weddings, no grandchildren. There are no more birthdays to celebrate. No more cuddling on the couch or sharing blankets while watching a movie on TV. There will be nobody asking you if you would like a glass of wine too. Coming home from work, the house is cold and empty and silent. You forget the sound of your own voice, because you are afraid to speak in that empty void your house has become...

A young lady get's diagnosed with the awful C-word. She's too young. Her mother holds her and strokes her hair at night, telling her she will be okay. They go together like carrots and peas, because there's nobody else. They cling to each other and they become each others best friend. The C-thing gives up and hope reoccurs. Life is good and things get better. Until faith chooses otherwise and leaves the young lady without her mom. Now there's only a star in heaven that looks out for her. The young lady has to grow up even faster now, trying to make a life of her own. It's hard and she misses her mom and best companion like crazy. Nobody knows about her grief and she suffers in silence.

The C-word is back in her life. Things are different now. That one special person she called mommy is no longer there to help her get through this ordeal. It's only her and C. Imagine coming home from chemo in an empty house, all sick and drained from the treatment. Nobody there to give you a cuddle. No reassuring words and no strokes on the hair or a pat on the shoulder. You crawl in bed and you shed the tears that no one will hear. You cry until your body feels raw and empty. You cry even more, when doctors tell you, the therapy is not working. Do you have the right to give up? Can you find the strength to keep fighting? 

An instant satisfaction

That's what people get when they work out: an instant satisfaction. People get this adrenalin boost that releases endorphin to make them feel good. It makes them long for more and I hear sports can be rather addictive. Some even work out every day, just because they know how good it is for their body. Sports gives them energy. It makes them happy and it makes their body look good. It strengthens their muscles and it makes them look slim and their bums tight. I wish I was born with at least a couple of sporty genes. I come out of a non-sporty family. The only sports I ever liked, was horseback riding. I did try gymnastics once I guess. I got hurt real badly, slipping of the balance beam, ending up with the beam in between my legs. I swear.. that was really painful. In school, I tried to skip the sports classes. I never understood my fellow students, playing catch on the playground. Why would you want to race around the school yard, trying not to get caught? I always ran real slowly, so I got caught first. That way, I could just sit down and cheer the others. I didn't even try to compete in swim class, I could care less who won the game. It's just not me.. I'm not that kind of person. I'm not driven to win. I don't give a darn if someone is faster than me or gets a medal. Good for them! I'll cheer for them and I won't shed a tear..

When you get diagnosed with diabetes, doctors tell you that you have to shoot up insulin, consider a healthy diet and exercise. I do well on two out of three conditions. I really suck on the third condition though. I guess I'm just lazy and bored by sports. I don't like to watch sports, I don't like to do sports. Period. Then why did I promise my D-friends I would give it another try? Because I don't want to let them down? Because the whippets would be real happy if I would take them out for a brief walk? Or because it would benefit my health? Maybe a combination of three.

I'm not ready yet. I need to think things over. But I promise I will give it a try. I have sneakers and sweatpants and an outdoor coat. I can climb stairs in the house ; we have plenty (did you hear my knees creak?). My kids are happy I'm too lazy to go all the way up to their rooms. Maybe they will clean their rooms more often if my condition gets better? I feel like I'm trying to persuade myself to get started. Like I said: I'll think about it.. 

When will I see you again?

I'm getting better at it. At making appointments, I mean. I no longer meet up with people without scheduling it in my agenda at least two weeks in advance. "Nothing special about that.", I hear you say and to a certain point, you are right. The thing is, I used to be out a lot. As in: a whole lot. As in: I was out more than I was at home. Too much is never good. So I tried to cut back on making appointments and outdoor trips all across the country. It hasn't been easy, I must admit that. I like spontaneous outings, but I also understand I don't live all by myself. I am still me and I am still an outgoing person, but I have cut back on my lunches and dinner dates.

I'm trying to figure out some kind of system. Trying to split up the weeks and fit in some dates, without exaggerating. It's hard though... There are people I would like to see monthly. Some people I'm happy to see twice a year. How about the ones I would like to talk to weekly? I puzzle and I postpone and I plan and I reject. I thought it would tear me apart to say no to invitations and in the beginning it really was painful, because I don't like to let people down. I have now come to the conclusion that people only send you an invitation. It's okay to say no. You don't have to be there every time. It makes the next date even more fun.

No matter how long it takes before we meet again: we always pick up where we left of the previous time. Because friendship is not about the quantity of the meetings. It's about having a good time together and sharing feelings and stories. It's about caring enough to ask how the other is really doing. Not the: how are you? I'm fine - situations. I want to go beyond that. Because the friendships are not superficial. Because friends are important, just like family is.

I'm just saying..

I was waiting for a large cappuccino and a large decaf hazelnut Latte Macchiato, when I saw these two young men come inside Starbucks. One of them was obviously in a hurry, trying to locate the men's room.. He was very polite but persistent when he asked the lady by the counter if he could use the bathroom. I could tell by the way he pressed his knees together, he had not much time to lose. The lady asked him if he was a customer or not. He understood where she was headed to and he put a 1 euro coin on the counter. She shook her head... He offered her 2 euro and I saw the agony in this face. But once again, she said she could not accept him going to the bathroom if he didn't make an order. Both men left the place, truly disappointed. I was appalled and irritated by this scene. How can you deny a person in need, to use the bathroom?

I grabbed my drinks and found my way back to the table (the place was packed by then), where my husband was waiting for me. I was really distressed by this incident. It occurs every now and then, that I need to go real bad and just thinking someone would deny me the use of their bathroom, really pissed me off..
Just a little later, a female person entered Starbucks. She was not the person you would expect in a place where coffee is called Café Americano and costs € 4.25 a mug. It seemed like she hadn't seen a bath in ages. Her clothes were shabby and dirty and she looked like she had been living on the street for some years. She found a spot right next to where we were sipping our creamy hot coffee (don't you just love that hazelnut syrup?). I was still upset by the men's room incident, when the lady started to scratch herself, before she laid down her head on the table to take a nap. For at least half an hour, she didn't budge and she obviously did not stand in line to order a coffee or a chocolate chip muffin.

That's it! I've had it! I went back to the counter and after standing there like a ghost (that's the feeling you get when 4 employees completely ignore you), I asked to see the manager in charge. Well, guess what? Four heads turned my way in an instant, wondering what I wanted to see the manager for. It took them some time to find out who was in charge that day. I finally got to see the manager, although she did not look like a manager at all.. In a calm way (trust me, I had a really hard time to stay calm at that stage), I told her what had been bothering me since the moment I ordered our drinks. She said she could not allow people to use the bathrooms if they weren't customers. This young man was even prepared to pay 2 euro to take a simple pee! Hello??? Did you miss something??
I asked her about the scruffy lady, who was not a paying customer but nevertheless claimed a table and a seat, for at least half an hour, while paying customers had to consume their 10 euro bill outside on the terrace in the cold. She told me there was nothing she could do, since the woman in rags came to Starbucks every day. I guess not as a paying customer..

Strange policy. Not very American-like, I would say. If it weren't for their good coffee...

PS I used their bathroom. For free. It didn't have toilet paper and I didn't flush. Suits them well.