Arden's Hands are Growing

Yesterday morning I entered Arden's room about an hour before her alarm was scheduled to sound. Her DexCom G4 was asking to be calibrated and so I put a test strip into the OmniPod PDM, turned the MultiClix to a new lance and took my daughter's hand in mine.

As I was choosing a finger to strike a hole into, I noticed that her hand felt heavier then it did the last time that I held it to test. I was certain that it hadn't grown bigger since the day before, but yet it felt unmistakably heavier. I sat on her bedside as the machine did it's job and found myself feeling lucky that I have these moments with my sleeping girl. Not too many people get to do this I thought. I get to hold Arden's hand almost every evening after she has fallen to sleep and those moments give me a different perspective on her growth and allow me precious time to gaze at her growing face.

So if you are in need of a silver lining today, maybe this thought could be one for you. We get to hold our kid's hands while they sleep. 

Oklahoma Tornado

Paul Hellstern - Oklahoma APLast night this photo of two teachers leading children to safety brought tears to my eyes and sent me racing to my computer to make a donation to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Today, I've preempted my blog piece about delivering insulin in difficult carb counting situations to pass on information on how you can send relief to the people whose lives where destroyed in yesterday's tornado. I encourage you to make a donation of any size if you are able and please make your friends, both online and IRL, aware of how easy it is to send help. 

American Red Cross

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, donate online, or donate by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS.

Salvation Army

Text STORM to 80888 to contribute $10 to the Salvation Army's relief efforts or make a donation by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. If you're sending a check make sure you put the words "Oklahoma Tornado Relief" on the check, and mail it to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK., 73157. Online donations are accepted here.

Tears of Insulin

images courtesy of Lilly Diabetes

Recently, I attended the 2013 Lilly Diabetes Blogger Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana. One part of the visit allowed us to witness insulin being manufactured and I'm here to tell you that the experience brought me to tears.

Maybe it was the overwhelming feeling that Arden couldn't live without the concoction or perhaps it was when I realized how many dedicated people it takes to make the insulin that Arden needs so desperately. I'm still not completely sure why the sight of insulin production was so moving to me. All I can tell you is that as those little glass vials were zooming past me and as I watched the mechanical arm fill them, I cried. There I was in a viewing room with my fellow D-Bloggers, all of us clad in hairnets, masks and gowns, when tears suddenly began to roll down my cheeks.

Arden doesn't even use Lilly's insulin and still the thought of this place existing was too powerful for me to ignore. So many people that I love, and so many of you that I call friends depend on places like this. I never really thought about it before, never considered the scope and effort that went into the production of insulin. It was amazing and overwhelming to behold. "Arden wouldn't be here today without out companies like Lilly", I thought as I watched the vials fly by... Then I looked around the room and saw so many friends and fellow D-bloggers who all could make similar statements about loved ones and themselves.

I found the hours that we spent on the production floor to be altering, they filled me with gratitude and humility. Diabetes did it again, just when I thought that my perspective on life was as clear as it could possibly get, diabetes brought things into even tighter focus.

This visit was as close to spiritual for me as anything that I've ever experienced. I went to the place that makes the very substance that my daughter needs to stay alive. What an amazing day, what an honor!

Lilly Diabetes invited and paid for me to attend the 2013 summit. Airfare, lodging, food and transportation was all covered by Lilly. I did buy a jammin' lemon pound cake slice for myself at the airport. They never asked me to write about my experience or in any way tried to sway my opinions.

My Guest post at 'The Life of a Diabetic'

Chris at 'The Life of a Diabetic' is running a 'Diabetes Parenting Week' feature on his blog and he was kind enough to ask me to contribute. The piece I wrote titled, 'Letting your Kids be Kids even with Diabetes' kicks off the week today. 

I wasn't just excited to be a part of what Chris is doing becasue he's a good guy and I like his blog, though that was part of my decision making process. Mainly, I love the idea of blogs that are mostly read by PWD hearing a little bit about the CareGiver side of type I diabetes. I hope you enjoy my take on the subject and if you can, please take a moment to let Chris know that you found his site through 'Arden's Day'.

My back to school posts will begin later this week as Arden doesn't go back to school for a few more days.

Talk to you soon, Scott

"Diabetes", a poem by Arden

Arden's Poem, "Diabetes" I found this poem in Arden's writer's notebook at the end of the school year and I wanted to share it with all of you. I asked Arden and she gave me permission to post it. I believe that these are the first words on Arden's Day to come directly from Arden.

So without further ado and transcribed exactly as she wrote it... I present, "Diabetes" a poem by Arden, age seven.

Diabetes

Why did you pick me?

Why's diabetes diabetes?

How did diabetes get here?

Why is diabetes called diabetes?

Why is there type one diabetes

and type 2 diabetes.

How did diabetes get in life?

Why are you here?

I'm not scared of you evean

that something could

haping!

Update on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 11:23AM by Scott Benner

 

Arden's poem was choosen by @BestBetesBlogs as 'Best Diabetes Art' for June 2012. Thank you to the person or people that nominated Arden's poem. You guys rock!!!