One...

I’m a day early, but I’m going out of town for Mother’s Day so I have to post this today.

It's time for a blogiversary!

(I looked back and the first post you will see is dated May 11, 2007, but the real first post was May 10, 2007. It's safe to say the first post was completely terrible, at some point along the way I decided to delete it. Sorry! Don't bother reading this blog from the beginning. It's terrible, seriously I wish I could go back and rewrite it all. )

It’s been one year since I decided to share my story with the world. I came to you a scared 15 year old girl searching for something that I could not find in my everyday life. I needed support and reassurance. I needed to know it would be okay. That the years of terrible doctors, doing the best I could, and hiding my disease from the world could be turned around. What I found was something remarkable. A wonderful group of people, who took me in, taught me what I didn’t know, and extended help whenever I asked. I'll never be the poetic eloquent one, so I present...

One Year in Highlights (lots of links in no particular order):

I’ve seen my A1c drop from 10.5% to 8.2% with the help of online resources, asking questions, and actually talking to my doctor.

I turned Sweet 16.

I marked 11 years with Type 1.

I started Diabetes 365, and so far I am 208 days in.

I made the decision to switch to an insulin pump. I was no longer worried about the exterior marker of Diabetes, and I felt I finally had enough knowledge to handle the responsibility.

I learned to drive, and did the responsible thing by letting the MVA know I have Diabetes.

I had my first A1c under 7%, a lovely 6.8%.

I walked in my first JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.

But enough about me…

I just need to say THANK YOU! I could never write anything to sum up how much each of you mean to me. I know I'll never feel alone with this disease again. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I owe you guys this one. My first drive.

Let's set the scene.
My friends and I always have trouble making plans so that everyone can attend. For almost a month the girls and I had been talking about a girl's day. So we picked Monday (MLK day) when we knew everyone would be off and free. Most of my friends just happen to live in a town about 25/30 minutes away, because the school I used to attend allows students from more than just the town it's in for the Science & Technology program. So we usually end up hanging out somewhere closer to their houses, of coursed we picked the local outdoor shopping center on one of the coldest days but that is beside the point. Now that I have my license these sort of trips will become a little bit easier, because my mom would usually sit in the book store while I walked around with my friends or go waste money somewhere and I always felt bad about it. It was just easier for her to stay than drive the almost 1 hour round trip.
I was permitted to leave the house a little early to go sussy shopping and eventually meet my friends. The ride there was fine. I tested in the 120ish range at the house, got behind the wheel of the van, popped in my Dixie Chicks CD and sang the whole way there. When I arrived at the book store I checked my blood sugar again and it was 91, I drank some juice because I knew I wouldn't be there long but 91 was only going to drop. I left the bookstore, checked my sugar again, and headed for the near by mall to have lunch with my friends. We spent the day going in and out of the stores trying to keep warm, buying a few things (a pair of purple sequin ballet flats for me), and eventually ended up at the movie theater to see Juno. I checked my blood sugar before the movie and came in at 190, I gave less than half a correction bolus and went in to enjoy the show (go see it, it was my second time, I still laughed and cried). I knew that my basal rate would start to kick up towards the end of the movie because it was around the time I usually prepare to eat dinner (I have weird evening highs I'll call it dinner phenomenon) . So after I cried my eyes out at the end of the movie, I made sure my friends were with their parents and went to the van. I turned the engine on to warm up, then checked my blood sugar, 67. Can't drive with that. So I pop a juice box and call my house. I talked to my sister, and told her I was doubling my usual treatment and then I would head home when my blood sugar was over 100. She tells our parents and they say okay. I was actually wasn't too surprised by this reaction, my mom is of the "she won't always have us to save her" school. I waited retested, 122, and started the trip home. When I got home I found out my dad had been freaking out, and had suggested that they drive the half hour out to get me. I just laughed and told him I was prepared and not to worry! All in all it was a great day. I wasn't even upset that diabetes had to tarnish my first driving memory.

Two Times the Thank Yous

First I'll thank those of you who stopped by to congratulate me on getting my license! I haven't had the chance to use my new found freedom yet. Hopefully soon I'll have stories of my adventures as a new, young, diabetic driver to share with you. I got my Sussy Circle information this morning, so that will give me an excuse to borrow the car to work on finding the perfect sussy.

Second set of thank yous, goes to those of you who continuously stop by and give me amazing compliments. Although sometimes it's hard to agree with the fact that you think I'm "amazing," "well adjusted," or a "talented writer". I always enjoy the tiny boosts that your words bring to my day.

Have a great weekend!!!

Just thought I'd let you know.

I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST THIS MORNING!!!!!!!!!

After all of the MVA crap, I am now a provisionally licensed driver in the great state of Maryland!

(Today's Diabetes 365 picture, I'm on day 94.
You should stop by and see what we've all been up to!)

So if you are in the DC/Maryland area and happen to see a red Town & Country, a grey VW Beetle or a teal VW Beetle, WATCH OUT! I'm only kidding my mom says I'm actually a very good driver, and she is not just saying this because she's my mom. She stopped holding on to the side of her seat awhile ago!

Now all I need is that yellow Mini!

I shouldn't have told them.

Well I won't be taking my driving test tomorrow, because I told the truth about my diabetes. I have never felt discriminated against before diabetes wise. Today that changed. Simply because I was a considerate citizen and alerted them to the fact that I have diabetes, one of the MVA's 17 medical disabilities, I can not walk into the MVA tomorrow to take my test like my friend Danielle can. I was approved, but they didn't send us the approval letter. Without the original copy of the letter, I can't take the test. The thing is we gave ample time, for approval and such. I hate this so much. I was excited and now I'm just upset. Hopefully it will get here sometime next week, but in the meantime the appointment has to be canceled.

The Computer, License, IHOP, and Early Christmas.

I'm doing bullet points. I can't resist.

• So everything with the computer seems to be falling into place. They replaced the hard drive for free because it's still under warranty, and it also got upgraded to a 2.5gb one because it's all they had left in the store. Small surprises are always nice. We received the recovery discs yesterday, so they ran those on the new hard drive last night. My mom is picking the computer up today. While all of this is going on my old hard drive is making it's way to Louisville (I think). Where the big repairs or whatever are done. They will attempt to retrieve my files at a fee of somewhere around 200 dollars. They won't do anything until they call us with a cost estimate, just in case it's way more. In the end it will be worth it because I have at least that much invested in iTunes music, plus my pictures and school work are priceless. I'm just glad my parents are willing to pay for it. In the meantime I will at least be able to use the new and improved computer while I wait on my old files. Cross your fingers that there will be no issues with retrieving my files! The next step is either an external hard drive or some other back up method (suggestions are welcome.)
  
• I have an 8:30 am appointment at the MVA on Friday to take my behind the wheel provisional license test. The only problem is we still haven't heard a thing from the Medical Advisory Board, even though my mom has called almost every day since last Monday. I'll update Friday to let you know how that goes.
• I also have an interesting get together to attend Friday afternoon. The Thanksgiving crew and I are going bowling and to IHOP. This worries me. First of all, I have only been to IHOP twice, and both of these times I was pump less. We are going at 4 in the afternoon, and my basal rates are not set for me eating at that time. I have this weird issue of going high after dinner, but only when dinner is at a normal hour. So I'm concerned that that basal kick up I have around 7pm will send me falling. I guess it's time to figure out a temporary rate. Plus breakfast food is not exactly carb friendly. Sometimes diabetes is so annoying, when all I want to do is have a little teenage fun!
• On Saturday morning my sister and I are heading north for an early Christmas with my mom's side of the family. (My parents are going up Friday after my test, and my sister will be arriving here shortly after they leave.) I'm excited to see if I can pull off another holiday with relatively good numbers. I'm also looking forward to seeing my little cousins who I haven't seen in 2 months.
  

And don't worry I will definitely have license, IHOP, and early Christmas pictures for you!