I know I just posted a new blog, but I wanted to keep my "column" separate from my really personal updates.
Things are going pretty well. I'm still struggling with my eating habits. I miss bread!!! Of course, who doesn't cheat. I know I have. And I've limited my bread intake to once a week. Plus, regular sodas are down to once a week as well. I'm trying to drink more water and diet sodas. It's hard, but I'm making it. I'm also trying to eat more veggies, which is odd for me since I'm always getting something on the go before work. You guys would be surprised how many total carbs and calories fast food places have!! I got a book a while ago with all of that kind of info and I'm really using it now. :)
My sugar levels have been decent lately, but not perfect. I've had a few days when they've been on track, but only once when it's been at 200. At least most days it's close to the max after eating, even if I haven't eaten yet. That's progress at least! I'm proud of myself for doing this. And I'm hoping that with controlling my diet and taking the pills the doctor prescribed, that I'll be able to lose some weight and get healthy. That's something that I've been needing to do for a while now. My weight has gotten completely out of control. I haven't weighed myself since I went to the doctor, but my jeans are getting seriously baggy. I take that as a really good sign!
I spoke to my sister (half-sister from my dad's first marriage, but to me she's my sister no matter what) through email and she told me that my mom got diabetes just before she got pregnant with me. I'm going to double check on that with my Uncle Robert when I get a chance to talk to him. He caught me at the mailbox last week and I told him that I'm type II diabetic. Just knowing when and how mom got through being diabetic will help me, I'm sure. I remember watching her take shots twice a day and checking her sugar twice a day. I remember watching my Aunt Dot (my mom's best friend) do the same thing. I don't want to end up having more problems because of this disease and I do want to have children some day. I want to get it under control, along with my high blood pressure and my weight. My sister told me that blood pressure problems, spider veins on the legs, and heart problems run on my dad's side of the family. Ulcers, heart problems, asthma and diabetes are on mom's side. Plus, I'm still mildly anemic.
I want to get in better health so I can donate blood. I found out the first time I tried to donate that I have a rare blood type. I can't remember if it's AB neg or AB pos, but it's one of the two. I'll have to check with my sister and see what she has and what my dad had. I can't remember if the kid's supposed to have mom's blood type or dad's. That show's how much I payed attention in class, doesn't it?
I told my boss this week about my diabetes and what I'm going through. Hopefully, less stress will follow after Monday's over. We publish our Profile section - which comes once a year - on Tuesday. I know God has better things in store for me. I only hope that things will work out soon so I can find a job I'm more suited for. I want to write! And if I have to move to make that dream a reality, I'll do it! I just finished reading a really wonderful book on this kind of topic - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It has really helped me to think about my dreams and hope that I can work toward them. I can't give up my dreams because I'm at a stand still. I have to do something about them or they'll never come true! If you haven't read this book and you're looking for some way to get back on the path, I'd recommend this book! It's really simple and it does have some religious/spiritual parts to it. I'm definitely going to re-read it before it has to go back to the library next week and when I get a chance, I'll definitely buy it! (Plus, it's my favorite guy's favorite book - Christian Kane!)
I'm trying to think of more interesting things to tell you guys, but I'm out of things to say. I hope all of you are doing well! I want to congratulate Carrie on getting a job after months of searching! This really shows how God works in our lives and answers the prayers of His children! I'll be trying to catch up on other blogs this weekend at work where I can look at pictures without killing my dialup.
Take care and God Bless!
Heroes live on through us
Two years ago last month, I lost one of my real life heroes. My real life hero wasn't a medical doctor, a pastor, a singer or an actor. He had a monotone voice when he spoke in class, but the days when he dressed up as Julius Caesar or Shakespeare were days you knew you should stay awake.
I had no idea what I wanted to do with my college education, but with a great adviser, came a great mentor and a father figure who was always there to lend a hand any way he could. My days at LBW were the best because of the man who I've come to think of as my personal hero.
Mike "Doc" Daniel wasn't your typical adviser or history teacher. Doc was extraordinary - a wonderful professor to do work-study under and a mentor to every student could help. He might have gone to extremes to get the attention of his class and was too kind with extra credit movies for his Western Civ II classes.
As Doc's work-study, I learned that most geniuses have too much stuff for their offices. i learned that being shy was not a good quality if I wanted to be a lawyer, which prompted me to shift my degree to journalism. I know I learned more from Doc than from any of my other teachers because he was such an exceptional mentor. His dry humor, costumes, and goofy grin will always be missed by his students and those who came to know him so well.
There are no words to really say all that Doc was, so I'll just talk about two of my favorite "Doc moments."
I was part of Circle K when I was at LBW. There were only a few of us, but I was always at every meeting. On awards night, just before graduation, Doc asked me to be there and "dress nice." Of course, I had no idea what was going on. That night, I received a plaque for Outstanding Member of Circle K. I'd never really received recognition for anything - unless you count third grade when I got first place and $25 for a poster contest. What made the award even more special was the fact that Doc was the one who presented it to me. I'm glad that I have that memory and photos of that night along with graduation.
My two years at LBW were the best. I made it through the required courses and some amazing classes that I'll never forget. Doc's Ethics and Government classes were definitely among those. Even through the loss of my uncle and having my heart broken, I had the best times of my life at LBW.
My second favorite Doc moment was when I'd been told to interview someone for one of my journalism classes at Troy (State) University. Doc was my first choice. I couldn't tell you what the class was (probably interviewing) or who the professor was (probably Dr. Padgett or Mr. Spurlock), but I remember the conversation with Doc.
We sat down in his cluttered office with a tape recorder, pad and pencil. I had ten questions to ask - mostly centered on his schooling and degrees. I'll never forget my "bomb" question because I had to keep a straight face when I asked him. My last question was out there. I asked if he'd ever been propositioned by a student and if he'd ever gone beyond the student/teacher relationship with any of them.
I'll always cherish the memory of that interview - learning all the things I'd never asked Doc when I was his work-study. And I'll always fondly remember Doc for putting me on the path to being a writer/journalist.
I have so many more reasons for why Doc is my real life hero. Doc never failed to give of his time or even his money when it was really needed. He was one of those rare people who always considered others before himself. For that, and for always being a pleasure to work for, Doc is my hero.
I know so few of us recognize those who have touched our lives while they're here to taid us in our trials and tribulations. I know this is so true for me. We get so busy with our lives and work that we forget to send messages to those we care about and those who have touched our hearts. I regret not keeping in touch with Doc as I should have, but life just got in the way and then I ran out of tomorrows to chat with him.
Tell your real life heroes that you admire them and thank them for touching your life. You never know when that next tomorrow might never come.
I had no idea what I wanted to do with my college education, but with a great adviser, came a great mentor and a father figure who was always there to lend a hand any way he could. My days at LBW were the best because of the man who I've come to think of as my personal hero.
Mike "Doc" Daniel wasn't your typical adviser or history teacher. Doc was extraordinary - a wonderful professor to do work-study under and a mentor to every student could help. He might have gone to extremes to get the attention of his class and was too kind with extra credit movies for his Western Civ II classes.
As Doc's work-study, I learned that most geniuses have too much stuff for their offices. i learned that being shy was not a good quality if I wanted to be a lawyer, which prompted me to shift my degree to journalism. I know I learned more from Doc than from any of my other teachers because he was such an exceptional mentor. His dry humor, costumes, and goofy grin will always be missed by his students and those who came to know him so well.
There are no words to really say all that Doc was, so I'll just talk about two of my favorite "Doc moments."
I was part of Circle K when I was at LBW. There were only a few of us, but I was always at every meeting. On awards night, just before graduation, Doc asked me to be there and "dress nice." Of course, I had no idea what was going on. That night, I received a plaque for Outstanding Member of Circle K. I'd never really received recognition for anything - unless you count third grade when I got first place and $25 for a poster contest. What made the award even more special was the fact that Doc was the one who presented it to me. I'm glad that I have that memory and photos of that night along with graduation.
My two years at LBW were the best. I made it through the required courses and some amazing classes that I'll never forget. Doc's Ethics and Government classes were definitely among those. Even through the loss of my uncle and having my heart broken, I had the best times of my life at LBW.
My second favorite Doc moment was when I'd been told to interview someone for one of my journalism classes at Troy (State) University. Doc was my first choice. I couldn't tell you what the class was (probably interviewing) or who the professor was (probably Dr. Padgett or Mr. Spurlock), but I remember the conversation with Doc.
We sat down in his cluttered office with a tape recorder, pad and pencil. I had ten questions to ask - mostly centered on his schooling and degrees. I'll never forget my "bomb" question because I had to keep a straight face when I asked him. My last question was out there. I asked if he'd ever been propositioned by a student and if he'd ever gone beyond the student/teacher relationship with any of them.
I'll always cherish the memory of that interview - learning all the things I'd never asked Doc when I was his work-study. And I'll always fondly remember Doc for putting me on the path to being a writer/journalist.
I have so many more reasons for why Doc is my real life hero. Doc never failed to give of his time or even his money when it was really needed. He was one of those rare people who always considered others before himself. For that, and for always being a pleasure to work for, Doc is my hero.
I know so few of us recognize those who have touched our lives while they're here to taid us in our trials and tribulations. I know this is so true for me. We get so busy with our lives and work that we forget to send messages to those we care about and those who have touched our hearts. I regret not keeping in touch with Doc as I should have, but life just got in the way and then I ran out of tomorrows to chat with him.
Tell your real life heroes that you admire them and thank them for touching your life. You never know when that next tomorrow might never come.
An update on me
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
In my last post I didn't know anything specific because I hadn't been to the doctor yet.
So here's what's going on with me. I knew I had a kidney infection, which the doctor confirmed and thankfully through the antibiotics I'm all well on that point. My mother had diabetes and had to be on insulin shots, so I knew I was at risk to have diabetes as well. I've just been waiting for the shoe to drop on it - well Thursday the doctor had the nurse check my glucose levels - and it was bad. Not as bad as it could have been, but still enough to diagnose me with Type II diabetes. I know I can deal with this, but it's been very hard. With being sick while the kidney infection was knocked from my system, I didn't really eat much, but now I can't have bread or anything "sweet." Now, the sweets aren't too bad of a thing to say no to - I can have fruit. The bread on the other hand is VERY hard to give up. But it's only for a month until I have to go back and see how I'm doing. When she tested me my glucose level was around 300 - that's over twice what it should be after eating. Needless to say, I need to make some changes.
I'm on a pill, not a shot right now and I'm supposed to check my glucose level every other day. I checked it yesterday and it was down to 264, which is better. Let's hope it keeps dropping! The doctor gave me samples of the pill I am taking and a prescription for another pill for 3 months. I'm hoping that what she told me about the prescription will help me lose some weight - I'm seriously in need of losing over 100 lbs at this point.
I know I don't want to have to go on the shots of insulin and that I do want to lose some weight and be healthier. But the stress of my job (which has gotten moreso lately because of my not feeling 100%) is not helping at all. Here's hoping that things turn around on that front. The doctor thinks most of what is happening with my health is stress related. And there's more stress to come this month - but after it's over things should get better for a little bit.
So, I still need you guys to keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go through this. I have people that I know who deal with diabetes every day, so I have friends and family to talk to about it. But I know how much easier it would be if my mom were here to help me through this. And going through this makes me miss her more than I have in a very long time. But I know with the prayers and my faith in God, I can make it through.
Love you all!
So here's what's going on with me. I knew I had a kidney infection, which the doctor confirmed and thankfully through the antibiotics I'm all well on that point. My mother had diabetes and had to be on insulin shots, so I knew I was at risk to have diabetes as well. I've just been waiting for the shoe to drop on it - well Thursday the doctor had the nurse check my glucose levels - and it was bad. Not as bad as it could have been, but still enough to diagnose me with Type II diabetes. I know I can deal with this, but it's been very hard. With being sick while the kidney infection was knocked from my system, I didn't really eat much, but now I can't have bread or anything "sweet." Now, the sweets aren't too bad of a thing to say no to - I can have fruit. The bread on the other hand is VERY hard to give up. But it's only for a month until I have to go back and see how I'm doing. When she tested me my glucose level was around 300 - that's over twice what it should be after eating. Needless to say, I need to make some changes.
I'm on a pill, not a shot right now and I'm supposed to check my glucose level every other day. I checked it yesterday and it was down to 264, which is better. Let's hope it keeps dropping! The doctor gave me samples of the pill I am taking and a prescription for another pill for 3 months. I'm hoping that what she told me about the prescription will help me lose some weight - I'm seriously in need of losing over 100 lbs at this point.
I know I don't want to have to go on the shots of insulin and that I do want to lose some weight and be healthier. But the stress of my job (which has gotten moreso lately because of my not feeling 100%) is not helping at all. Here's hoping that things turn around on that front. The doctor thinks most of what is happening with my health is stress related. And there's more stress to come this month - but after it's over things should get better for a little bit.
So, I still need you guys to keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go through this. I have people that I know who deal with diabetes every day, so I have friends and family to talk to about it. But I know how much easier it would be if my mom were here to help me through this. And going through this makes me miss her more than I have in a very long time. But I know with the prayers and my faith in God, I can make it through.
Love you all!
Prayers needed
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Hi guys. Personal post this time. I'm having a few personal problems - health problems and work issues that I need to decide about very soon. I'm asking you guys to lift me up and pray for me. I know what the power of prayer can do. I know that God listens to His children when they are humble before Him. I know I'll be getting down on my knees this week and asking Him for guidance in these decisions I need to make.
I hope all of you are doing well. I will be posting more Top 3 blogs soon!
I hope all of you are doing well. I will be posting more Top 3 blogs soon!
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