Tales of a diabetic father: a math lesson for the younger diabetic children

When our youngest daughter was in the first grade, she was having troubles with math.  She wasn't failing.  Lord, no.  But she was having a little troubles with addition and subtraction.

Then, I decided to make a game out of her blood sugar checks.

Let's say we check her blood and her reading is: 145.  I then ask her, "Okay, what's 1 plus 4 plus 5?"

She'll think and think . . . then say, "Ten!"

Yes!  She is so proud of herself.

Now, so many months later, we still do it.  It's a little game we play, which gets her to start thinking of addition in her head.  There are times when she counts on her fingers.  No problem.  At least she's thinking about it.

And loves it!

Here's the cool part: it even gets her to remember what her blood sugar is afterwards too, later in the day.

Tales of a diabetic father: the dangers of sugar tabs

A few years ago, someone we know had a devastating experience.  They had a counselor come into their home to help with their young child, as they thought the child may have a learning disability.  In the counseling period, the counselor noticed some of the supplies for their older diabetic child was in easy reach of the younger child.

The counselor--although I'm sure who meant well, even though they were ignorant of the situation and could've been explained it with a simple conversation with the parents--contacted social services as she felt it posed a threat to the younger child.  Social services, in turn, immediately stormed the family's home as if they were a S.W.A.T. team.

The supplies in question were sugar tabs.

In other words, in the hands of someone who is not diabetic, candy.  Honestly, I've never tasted them but my children who are diabetic say it tastes like candy.  Sugar tabs are used when diabetics have low blood glucose levels.

Do you need to be put them up and lock them away as if they were syringes or "finger poker" needles?  No, that's absurd.  When you need them the most is during low blood sugar times, which are stressful enough without having to question the location of these little buggers.  I can see if it's a very young child and they're afraid of swallowing them.  Yes, they could pose a danger then.

But the child in question was not.

Keep in mind the ignorance of others who do not have to deal with diabetes on a daily basis.  Don't yell at them or put them down.  They simply do not know.

Educate them.  Repeatedly, if you have to.

Because ignorance is rampant when it comes to diabetes.

Tales of a diabetic father: the importance of camps, for both the children and the parents

For several years, our seventeen-year-old son has attended Camp Sioux--an American Diabetes Association sponsored camp just west of Park River, North Dakota.  Our eight-year-old daughter went for the first time last year for the entire week.  Prior to this, she has gone to their day camps, which have been typically on Tuesdays.

The day camps for the younger children are more personable for the parents, as we spend the entire day at the camp.  The last time I went, two other families were in attendance, and I was struck by the notion that we've been battling type 1 diabetes with our children for a long time.  My son was diagnosed in August 2001 (one month before the dreaded 9/11) and my daughter in November 2009.

Yes, a long time.

I was also struck by the notion that children with diabetes are alone in their battle.  Typically, unless they live in a larger city, they may be the only one in school who has it.  Hence the reason why diabetes camps, like Camp Sioux or Camp Needlepoint near the Twin Cities, is very important.  The children not only bond with other diabetes children, they learn to be more independent in their diabetes care.

The two families I met both had children who were just recently diagnosed.  They held some of the same fears as my wife and I had in the beginning--not that we still don't have fears, because the minute we let our guard down, life throws us a curve ball.  As you can see, the camp is important for the parents too.  I only wish there was more of a bonding time with the other parents who dropped their children off.

I'm sure they all have lessons to teach as well.

Happy 2-year birthday to my very first ebook!

Two years ago today, I published my very first ebook on the Amazon Kindle: 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget.

I published it as an experiment: could I do it?

That's all.  It wasn't an earth-shattering manifesto nor was it intended to be.

I had a few people laugh and ask me why I could write such a book if I never planned a wedding.  My answer is that this book isn't a wedding planning book.  It shows 99 ways to cut costs on your wedding.  Now, it only has one review--a two-star, also--which is disappointing because I've had a number of people e-mail me to thank me and to say how some of the ideas really did cut costs, for they were things they never thought of.

So, happy two-year birthday to 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget.

Also, I have decided to expand my publishing platform to both Smashwords and Kobo Books. Links are as follows:

99 Ways on Smashwords

99 Ways on Kobo Books

My sticker-shock experience at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios

Over the Christmas holiday, my family and in-laws went to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.  It was a blast--something I highly suggest everyone to experience at least once . . . quite often.

I will expand on this more, with detailed information on each park, but for now I must share my sticker-shock experience when it comes to paying for meals.  This goes at both Universal Studios and Walt Disney World.  Now, I'm not mad or even remotely upset at the cost of food.  It's an experience and something you need to budget for.  Your average kids meal--I highly recommend this if you bring kids--at most places run from $4.99 to $6.99 (this would be at the "$" restaurants - the "$$" and "$$$" places are much more expensive).  For adults, double this.

My family of five had an average meal cost between $45-$55.  The portions are more than generous.  With this in mind, we budgeted between $100 and $150 each day for eating--this even included snacks.  Most places we found accepted cash and debit/credit cards.

Our other family members--those who didn't come with us--gave our family Disney gift cards, which would be used all over the parks.  This was also an added bonus, for it kept the amount of cash needed on us much lower.

So, when planning your Orlando vacation, over-budget for food.  I know there's a meal plan available at Disney World, and we elected not to do so because we could get by with less.  Shop around and compare if you feel your family could benefit from the meal plans or not.

And, most of all, have fun!

A sure-fire way to keep your car running in sub-zero temperatures

I live in northwestern Minnesota, and the past few days this entire state has been in the national news.  For what?  For being cold.

Huh?

Cold is normal for us Minnesotans, but these past few days has been awful cold.  I know plenty of people who start their vehicles in the morning, just before going to work, and . . . guess what?  They don't run.

I sympathize.  I've been there and gotten the T-shirt.  However, after many failed winters and busted power steering hoses, I now have a sure-fire way to keep my vehicles running, even when it's forty and fifty below zero.  I start my vehicles every 2-4 hours, depending on the temperatures, and let them run about 15-20 minutes.  I don't have a car starter, but if you did, it sure would make life much easier.

Yes, it may mean taking up at two or three in the morning to start it, but wouldn't that be better than waking up to a dead battery?

Wedding ebook gets a makeover

My very first book, 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget, has just recieved a cover makeover.

I had this one professionally done--instead of the disaster I produced before.  I still sold quite a number of that copy, and hopefully this will sell a lot more.

Here's a link to the Amazon Kindle site.  Also, if you could review it, that would be most appreciated.  Right now there is a disappointing 2-star review, and although I agree some of the information is common sense, there are still enough unique tips to make it worthwhile.  Besides, if it was common sense, then why wouldn't everyone who is trying to save money on a wedding do these?