This is day six of the Health Activist Writers Month Challenge and Today’s Prompt is: Health haiku.
Today’s challenge is to write a haiku poem about health focus. Given that I have two main health issues, I’ve chosen to write a haiku for each. Enjoy.
My heart was weary
Pumping was a big problem
It’s been improving
Fingers are real sore
Red drops rushing out the tip
Blood sugar is high
This is day five of the Health Activist Writers Month Challenge and Today’s Prompt is: Ekphrasis Post.
Today’s challenge was to visit flickr.com/explore and write about the image that appeared and any thoughts and feelings it stirs. And also to relate the image back to the health issues with which I live. The first image I saw when visiting the site was this one. Little Swallow by kypt@nuy
When I look the tiny sparrow perched upon the aged hand, I can’t help but think it must have fallen out of a tree and injured its wing. Perhaps it was learning to fly. Preparing to take on the world that awaited outside of the nest. The aged hand is that of a caring old soul who happened upon the injured creature and took it in to mend its wing.
Perhaps this was the day the bandages were removed and the little sparrow made his first attempt at flying again. Maybe he didn’t succeed on this day. Maybe he needed a little more nurturing and encouragement from the caregiver.
After many days and many attempts, he spread his wings and took flight from the aged hand. And while the moment was bittersweet for the caregiver, it was a joyous occasion. The efforts to help the little sparrow paid off. Seeing the tiny bird return to the sky was worth it all.
In many ways, I feel just like that sparrow.
My diagnosis with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure came at a point in my life when I was spreading my wings and trying to fly. My career was taking off, I was starting to save some money for the future, and was life was going fairly well. Then the winds of misfortune came along and sent me crashing to the ground, causing serious injury to my wings.
The aged hands of many caregivers helped in treating my health issues and getting me back on my feet. And the encouragement of so many other caring souls helped me keep trying when I felt that I wanted to give up. If I was strong and patient enough, I’d again be able to fly.
And like that little sparrow, I’m now flying high.
Today's Prompt: I write about my health because...
Writing has been a part of my life with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure since I was diagnosed in late December 2008. At first it was basically used as a mind dump. A way to get all of the thoughts and feelings out of my head. And it was a way to document what was happening and help me keep track of doctor visits, tests, etc…
As I waded deeper into the world of the diabetes online community and saw how other blogs were having a positive impact on readers, my writing became more about sharing my experience with others. I hoped that someone reading might take some small nugget from my ramblings and that it would help them keep fighting their own battles in some way. And, to my amazement, it has.
Sharing my story through my writing on this blog and in other places over the last 3 years has given me so many wonderful opportunities to connect with some truly amazing people. People from all walks of life and from all around the world. People with whom I share one common problem. We all live with a type of diabetes. And some share another common problem with me. Heart disease.
Three years into my journey, I’m still writing. Writing about my successes and my set backs. Trying to make sense of it all. And even if I never understand all of this mess, I’ll have at least taken the time to think through it. Writing helps with that.
And, if only one person is helped by my writing, it’s still worth the effort. Even if that one person is me.
Today's Prompt: Superpower Day
Don’t you wish there was more time? More time in the day to finish those never ending chores. More time to cut away at that mountain of college coursework. Hi Ashley! Hi Kerri!
How about more time to sleep? Lord knows I could use some of that.
What about a little more time to spend with friends and loved ones? I know I never want those special moments to end. I know we all want those D-meetups to last forever as well. Yet they come and go so quickly.
And don’t you just hate that the weekend and other days off from work are over as soon as they’ve started? Yeah, I do too.
So, my superpower would be the ability to control time. The ability to slow it down occasionally. Add a little extra time to the day here and there.
Then maybe, just maybe, I’d be able to enjoy those special moments as they are happening. Instead of being left wondering what the hell just happened.
Today's Prompt: Quotation Inspiration
Anyone who has read my blog for a while or had contact with me in some way knows that the last three years of my life have been rough. Facing my own mortality in the wake of being diagnosed with congestive heart failure and fighting to stay alive has been a harrowing experience to say the least.
I’ve written about the fears that have haunted me at night, the uncertainty of where I would see another tomorrow. And it has hurt to do so. Acknowledging those fears, however, was the first step in gaining an upper hand over them and moving forward. If there were one quote that embodies what I’ve had to do and what I continue to do each day, it would be:
Courage is looking fear right in the eye and saying, “Get the hell out of my way, I’ve got things to do”. – Author Unknown
I’ve also written about how precious each day that we have truly is. Of the importance to live each as if it really were your last. No one knows for sure the number of years he or she will have in life. Everyone can, however, be sure that there’s plenty of life in his or her years. Remember,
“Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming … WOW! What a ride!” ~ Author Unknown
Those are definitely words to live by. Well, ones that I live by, anyway. 🙂
Today's Prompt: Health Time Capsule
Today is the first day of Wego Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge, and I have foolishly signed up to participate again. I say foolishly because I never seem to be able to stick with these month long blogging events, yet I still sign up. Maybe this will be the one. We’ll see.
Today I’m creating a time capsule that will be opened 100 years from now. On April 1, 2112, some poor schmuck will have the misfortune of examining and cataloging this big box of crap representing the first three years of my life with Type 2 Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure.
Since I have so many things to include in the time capsule, I’ll be using an old wooden coffin for the container. What? It is being buried, right? 🙂 And, when I say many things to include, I mean it. That box will be filled to the brim with the follow:
Those items and whatever I happen to find at the last minute will be enclosed in the coffin and buried for the next 100 years.
On that fateful day in 2112, that poor schmuck will open that big box of crap and begin the arduous task of examining the contents. He’ll make note of the seriousness of the drug problem that I must have had given all of the pill bottles. He’ll make note that he found another box from someone with living with diseases that had long since been cured.
And when his work has been finished, he’ll ask his boss where to put the coffin for safe keeping.
“We’re not keeping that box of crap. I just wanted to see if you’d look through it. APRIL FOOLS!”
On Wednesday afternoon, I set out in search of cupcakes for my one man birthday celebration. And, I struck gold at not one but two local bakeries. One of which was just featured on the Food Network show, Cupcake Wars, a few days before.
I had known of Vanilla Bean Biscotti and Pastry Boutique prior to their television appearance as they are located less than a mile from where I live. Yet, I had never been in the shop. So, what better day than my birthday to pay them a visit. As a result of their TV exposure, ladies who own the shop were swamped with customers from far and wide. Yet, they were gracious enough to pose for a photo once things had died down a bit.
And the cupcakes? Well, they were fantastic. They were out of the cupcake that they made on the show, but they had plenty of other flavors from which to choose. Simply Vanilla, Banana Split, and Campfire to name a few.
The Simply Vanilla is a vanilla cupcake garnished with vanilla buttercream.
The Banana Split is a banana cupcake with a trio of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate buttercream topped with a bright red cherry.
And the Campfire is a vanilla cupcake with a creamy vanilla center and a chocolate buttercream garnished with marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs.
I bought 2 of each for April and I to share later. We both agreed that they were delicious.
I have to say that it was a pleasure meeting the ladies of Vanilla Bean, and I’m so happy to see a locally owned business benefiting from their time in the spot light. I wish them well and I’ll definitely be a return customer.
I also made a stop at Yum-Mees Bakery on Wednesday. Owner Terry Mee and his crew offer up a wide variety of sinfully delicious cupcakes. Most of the cupcakes that I write about and post photos of come from this shop. Like the Sweet Oinker, the delicious bacon cupcake I’ve shared before. Sadly, that item is no longer on the menu, but there are plenty of others.
My selections that day? Two of their Strawberry Blond cupcakes and two of their Tropical Holiday cupcakes.
The Strawberry Blond is a lemon cupcake with fresh strawberry and vanilla filling and it’s topped with a strawberry buttercream frosting.
The Tropical Holiday is a coconut cupcake filled with vanilla roasted pineapple and topped with a mango buttercream frosting.
Tropical Holiday cupcake, left, and Strawberry Blond cupcake. YUM!
Again, both were delicious.
Overall, my birthday was fairly decent. I didn’t have to work, was able to enjoy the beautiful weather, enjoyed some great cupcakes, and spent an hour chatting with friends during the DSMA twitter chat.
And, to say I was overwhelmed by the number of birthday wishes I received on facebook and twitter on Wednesday would be an understatement. There are far too many of you to mention separately, so I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for adding a little extra sunshine to my day.
Lots of love to you all.
Break out the party hats, noise makers, and glitter coated confetti. Get some diet coke and bacon cupcakes, too. Today we celebrate my 28th birthday. Another year with all of you.
I’m not going to bore you with some long, emotional and reflective piece about living another year, etc… I spend enough time doing that on this blog through out the year. Since today is Wordless Wednesday, I thought I’d share some photos that I shot with my birthday present, instead.
I bought myself a Canon EOS Rebel t2i DSLR camera on Friday and spent Sunday evening hiking and snapping photos along the trails around one of the local colleges. The weather was beautiful and I got some really great shots. Hope to hear your thoughts on them, too.
So, grab your cupcake and diet coke, sit back, and enjoy!
Today, March 27, is Diabetes Alert Day. The American Diabetes Association’s one-day effort to educate the American public on the risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes.
It’s a wake-up call, a call for people to take a few minutes to complete the ADA’s Diabetes Risk Test to determine their risk of developing the disease.
This year, Boar’s Head® will donate $5 to the American Diabetes Association for every Diabetes Risk Test taken, starting March 27 through April 27, 2012, up to $50,000.
Approximately 18 million Americans are living with a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. And it’s estimated that at least 7 million Americans are living with the disease and don’t yet know it.
So please, take the test, share it with friends and family members, and should your results indicate you are at risk, talk to your doctor.
Wake up, America. The time to take action against Type 2 diabetes is now!
So, this vacation recap is a week overdue now as I’ve been completely swamped with work, doctor appointments, family stuff, etc… since returning to Fort Wayne. Hey, better late than never, right?
Last weekend was my sister’s 23rd birthday, and since I don’t get to see her, or any of my family, very often, I decided to spend a few days in Kentucky. And she was kept in the dark about the visit until I drove up in front of the house Thursday evening. Her reaction to that surprise was priceless, and it made the drive down there well worth it.
And the first line of business upon arriving was? Resetting my sister’s wireless network. Let just say it was setup wrong, passwords were lost, and she didn’t know how to fix it. So, I worked a little techie ninja magic and got things working again. She was happy and I was, too.
I spent Friday hanging out with my sister and grandmother. Didn’t do much at all. It was just nice being down there.
On Saturday we had a birthday dinner for my sister. We had planned on taking her out to Applebee’s, but since she wasn’t feeling very well, the family gathered at my grandmother’s house and brought food in for dinner. And it worked out just as well. And she made out like a bandit on the gifts. Playstation 3, movies, and the mp3 player I bought her. She’s not spoiled at all.
Well, Sunday rolled around before I knew it, and that meant it was time to load up the car and head back to Fort Wayne. So, I said my goodbyes and left Louisville around 3:00pm and headed north to Indianapolis, where the final bit of vacation fun was to take place. A D-meetup!
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Cherise and her daughter, and Mike & Suzi Hoskins, at Panera Bread for dinner. Good friends, good food, lots of laughs, love, and encouragement. What more could you ask for? Other than more time, I mean. 🙂 It was great seeing all of you again. Thanks for coming out.
From there I headed north to Fort Wayne. And after a couple of hours on the road, and a few stops, I got back to the fort around 10:30pm. I stopped at April’s to see her for a bit, and then came home to my place. And the first line of business upon arriving home? Falling down the stairs. Poetic, huh?
Overall, it was a nice vacation up until the end. Got to relax a bit, see family, celebrate my sister’s birthday, and visit with good friends.
Life is Good!
My Diabetic Heart 