Bella Bird's Blog

Incredibly Frustrated with Lackadaisical Attitudes

2008-09-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in almost a year! But I am so frustrated today, that I will take it out on this blog. I follow one diabetics' blog - only because she is a good writer and can be funny. I almost completely disagree with everything she writes ... but she sure can put words together well. Anyway, today she writes this blog about how she sometimes ignores her diabetes - gets burnt out - etc. Seems she goes in phases from taking good care (meaning tracking numbers, counting carbs, etc) to just winging it.

All the comments listed were in support of her - like, "yeah, I do that too!" and "keep on keeping on".

OMG!!!!!!! What the heck is wrong with these people. I could scream. I'm sorry, but this person is in a position where she can actually influence people to take care of themselves, but instead, she details how badly she takes care of herself. With A1C's 7.5% or worse, she is attempting to get it to 6% so she can have a baby. Not gonna happen!! Not with her attitude and the horrible way she takes care of herself.

I see this in most diabetics. Sure - anyone can cast their judgment on me because I am only the mother of a diabetic ... and the daughter of a diabetic. But get a grip, people. Start taking this disease seriously. Take care of yourself. There are easy ways to do so. You might have to give up your precious ice cream, but that is just a small sacrifice.

Turkey Cupcakes

2007-11-28T16:56:00.001-08:00

Well, not turkey FLAVORED cupcakes ... but cupcakes decorated like turkeys. :)

I made 30 of these buggers for Isobel's class last week. It was fun!! ... but time consuming.

Isobel was out of town, otherwise I wouldn't have made them because she can't eat them.

San Francisco

2007-11-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a 4 day trip to San Francisco. It was great to get away for a few days with my boss, her husband and one of my co-workers. The conference was a big success and we all learned a TON. Now it's time to get busy implementing what we learned.

I just wish my luggage had followed me home ... apparently, it's in Chicago. David has a dr. appointment tomorrow morning and I will arrive with him without any makeup on which is really making me mad.

I sent Isobel to my sister's house (Carrie). Carrie is very knowledgeable about diabetes and cares for Isobel with precision. She did a great job!

We're all not feeling great. My throat is hurting - Isobel has a little cold and David thinks he's getting the flu. I put Isobel to bed early, as she is leaving Tuesday for a visit with her dad. She usually gets sick while she's there ... but I'd rather she go out healthy so she has a fighting chance of staying that way.

Tired Lady

2007-11-07T16:56:00.001-08:00

Ah - another day down. I knew November was going to be a horrendous month. I'm too busy at work. Too much work, not enough hours. That leaves a girl a bit stressed at the end of the day. Needing to work more ... but having family demands to take care of.

David (Dino) is doing well with his knee replacement physical therapy. The doctor said he has to be at 95 percent by November 19 or they will operate on him THAT day. He's at 90 percent today with a goal of increasing by 2 percent each day. I think he'll make it -- EASY.

Isobel is soooo tired today. She was up until 10pm last night and up at 6:30am this morning. I told her she was going to bed at 8pm today. Oh! It's 8pm. Hold on ... need to tuck her in. Ok ... I'm back. She's such a good girl. No complaints about going to bed so early at all.

Dino's birthday is on Saturday. He'll be 48. He wanted a box of cigars. So, he'll get them.

Tomorrow morning, I'll be going walking with my friend Kathie. It'll probably be my last walk for the season as I will not be home for any more Thursday's in November and I think December it is just too cold to be outside soooo early!

So - good night. I'm off to watch a little TV. Specifically Private Practice.

Blood Sugar Tracking

2007-11-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

So ... I created this Blood Sugar Tracking Form. You can see it here: http://www.libertybella.com/blood-sugar-tracking.htm. I had the idea about a year ago -- of course I know blood sugar tracking records exist, but I hadn't come across one that suited me, so I decided to create my own.

I'm actually really proud of it - I think it's a work of art! It's not only pretty, but it has room to record up to 9 blood sugar readings per day, it has space for comments, and best of all - space for meal planning. David (Dino) actually came up with that. He asked me what was the hardest part of diabetes for me ... and I answered, meal planning. So, we incorporated it onto the form.

I have positions within the search engines for relevant keywords, I am paying for Google AdWords - and nothing! Not one single form has sold!

I said - not one single form has sold! What a disappointment. :(

So, I guess I'll take it one step further. I'm advertising on childrenwithdiabetes.com and will be included in a catalog for 6 local organic food / supplement stores. We'll see how it goes.

I understand that some people download their numbers right from their meter -- but some of us don't!! Diabetes is a billion dollar industry! With about 1200 new diagnoses per DAY, I don't understand how not one person is interested in my form.

So Many Treatment Possibilities

2007-11-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, there's another type 1 diabetic in Isobel's gymnastics class. Isobel tells me that she's at the candy machine before class, gobbling candy. And today (the day after Halloween), she told Isobel that she had been eating candy all day.

Ok - I just don't get it. How do people justify eating sugar when they are diabetic - or eating foods that turn directly to sugar (potatoes, etc). I am baffled by some people's treatment plans. I think next week I will try to talk to this girl and find out what her regimen is. I'm so nosy! I really just want to help. I think some people are uneducated about this disease.

I also think that sometimes I come off as arrogant. I really don't mean to be. It's just that I am so passionate about this ... and I really want to help. I'll let you know how my encounter goes. :)

Getting Used to Blogging

2007-10-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Blogging has proven strange for me. I realize that I'm writing to nobody -- or if people do actually read this blog, they probably don't know me. So ... I've decided to "introduce" myself.

My name is Lisa -- my daughter is Isobel and she has Type 1 Diabetes. I may refer to her as "Birdie" ... "Isobird" ... "Bella". She answers to anything. She got the nickname Birdie when she was a baby because she used to open her little mouth so wide, like a little birdie, when she was being fed. Hmmm ... pretty ironic that now she is limited to the foods she can eat.

Anyway, we follow a strict low carb diet constructed by our Doctor -- Dr. Bernstein. Some people think it's too difficult to follow, or that there are better ways. I've actually received quite a bit of criticism. But, we're happy - Isobel is healthy and has a 5.6% A1C, so I'm not complaining. At all.

We live in Williamsburg, Virginia. LOVE it here. I was raised in upstate NY and lived there (Saratoga Springs) until I was 30. Both are beautiful cities and great for raising kids.

I lead a very quiet - kind of boring life. A good life, but a little on the uneventful side. I'm trying to think how I am going to keep your attention!

It's funny how simple things become interesting to others. Like, if I tell you my cat (Daisy) wakes me up in the mornings when she's hungry ... you might be find that amusing. Definitely more so than I do! She has her methods. She'll either jump onto my night stand and maneuver her way through all the bottles of insulin, shots, meter ... inevitably knocking things off and waking me up. Or, she'll start to "hum". This is very difficult to explain. She doesn't give out a full meow - almost as if she thinks it's too obvious that it's her who is making the noise. She tries to disguise her meow, by shortening it to a "hum". Waking me up nonetheless.

Anyway. I'll try to keep this amusing. Now I'm off to tuck Isobel in. Its been a long day for me. It began at 5:30am .... for a chilly walk with one of my only friends ..... full time work .... taking care of my boyfriend who has just had a knee replacement ... driving Isobel all around ... cooking ... blogging.

By the way - it's weird to say you have a boyfriend when you're 37. The boyfriend is David, but we call him Dino - you'll hear his name a lot.

Good night!

We Have Worries That Other Mothers Don't

2007-10-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Isobel was upstairs reading this afternoon and she fell asleep. She NEVER falls asleep during the day! Immediately, I thought she was low and fell unconscious. So, I checked her blood while she slept -- 99. Phew. I guess she was just tired. :)

Unless you have a child with this disease, it's hard to understand how the smallest thing could have a medical explanation that we HAVE to consider. Even a nap ...

A Precious Child

2007-10-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am touched very deeply by this. Every time that I give Isobel a shot of insulin, she looks at me with her sparkling, innocent blue eyes and tells me "Thank you". What a precious child ...

Low Carb Recipe Share

2006-11-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

If anyone would like to get involved in a low carb recipe "share" - please let me know. It's great to find new and hopefully EASY recipes that won't raise blood sugar. Any new chicken recipes would be greatly appreciated. It seems like I've done them all!

Welcome to Liberty Bella Blog!

2006-11-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

Hi. I'm starting this blog on libertybella.com so that I can communicate with other parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes. My daughter was diagnosed in 2001 and from that point on, I have managed her disease with not much support outside my immediate family. I think it will be healthy to get a dialogue going .. and who knows, maybe I'll learn a thing or two! I tend to think I have it all figured out -- but am always open to learning more about what I can do to make life as easy and normal as possible for my daughter.

My passion has been RECIPES! It can be challenging to keep Isobel interested in the low carb food ..... but if it's delicious, she's happy.

I want to hear from you! Please comment to my blog.