Father's Day River Float

A couple years ago, my husband took me to float a local river.  Why would you go to the river when you could go to the beach, you ask?  I think most people OUTSIDE of California believe that the entire state is covered in beaches and palm trees.  In hopes of NOT coming across arrogant, I am pleased to say that something great about California is that we almost have it all as far as terrain/topography/weather is concerned.  In our particular area, there are no beaches or palm trees.  We live in the mountains and have a number of lakes and rivers in pretty much every direction and quite close to our home.  As often as I refer to myself as a gypsy and that I really don't have any roots, my husband has generously helped me plant new roots with him.  I can confidently say that regardless of my love for other places I have lived, this is most definitely the most beautiful area I have ever lived in.  Because I love the water so much, he often takes me to the rivers and lakes to appease my inner-fish.  Now...back to the river. 

Enjoying the river float as much as I did, I decided that my father would love it just as much as I did.  To the river we went.  Me, my dad and his little dog too.  A couple of years have passed and he's been itching to do it again (see?  I knew he'd love it!), so we planned yet another Father's Day river float with the rest of our family but this time no dogs.

2012



















2014

 












BG Pre-Float: 138
BG Post-Float: 111

Looking for Cancer

My Neurologist said that this antibody over-production is closely associated with cancer but he was very vague on which type(s), but the Mayo Clinic very specifically lists which ones:

1. Angenocarcinomas (breast, lung, prostate and GI)
2. Small-cell lung carcinoma
3. Thymoma
4. Lymphoma

SOMEHOW, we have ruled something out with blood tests although I do not know which.  In the mean time, I have to do two more major tests: a colonoscopy and a CT scan with contrast.  Today was my consultation with my (original) GI followed by my appointment for the actual colonoscopy next week...in the mean time I apparently have to go get some beverage from the pharmacy which will make me poop myself so I better grab some depends while I'm there...

Water Baby

Many of you know that I "grew up" on the Delta.  This would lead you to believe that I am skilled in all water activities including but not limited to: boating, skiing, wakeboarding and jetskiing.  You would be wrong.  I know HOW to do/use many of those things but I am most definitely not skilled and there are just some things I don't do.  Wakeboarding is one of them.  Why?  Cause I've just plain never tried!

So, fast forward to me being invited to a Girls' Day on the lake.  This was my first time on the lake, or boat for that matter, with my pump and although I had intended on getting IN the water, I was unsure of how doing any sort of water activity would go so I thought I would swim and spectate. 

It didn't take too much to talk me into trying to wakeboard for my very first time.  Mostly, I laughed because I know how bad of a snowboarder I am and I was quite certain I would never get up, but at least I could say I tried, right? 

I'm not going to try EVERYTHING life throws my way but after a year of being stuck in the house and/or hospital, there are just some things I would like to know about so after watching a few other girls - some successful, some not - what was the worst that was going to happen to me? A mouth-full of lake water and a bikini wedgie?  The answer is yes to both, but here's a quick video of my first wakeboarding experience and LET ME JUST SAY that if I can do it, anyone can do it:

BG Pre-Wakeboarding: 135
BG Post-Wake-boarding: 186

**Special thanks to my girl, Kimmy, not just for inviting me but for teaching me and encouraging me.  It's just what I needed**

T1D: Some of you have asked what I do with my pump while I'm in/on the water.  The pump itself is NOT waterproof (the sensor is), so I take off the pump to take a shower or a bath.  In events where I'm on a boat or on the shore and not directly in the water, I wear it.  If I think I'll get splashed, thrown in, or decide I want to go for a swim, it goes in a waterproof case of some sort (I currently have 2).  There are lots of cases available to protect your devices from water but these are the two I use:

One is a dry bag by Seattle Sports

The other is a Pelican i1010 - IN PINK!

 NO, I do not use this:

What does removing/suspending the pump do to my BG, you ask?  Good question!!  The idea is to keep the pump on all the time because of the continuous basal rate of insulin that the pump gives me.  If I remove or "suspend" the pump, I no longer get that insulin (in my case, 0.5 units/hour = 12 units/24hours) and my BG will increase. 

There are many ways to compensate for this but here are the most common, in my opinion:
1) I can reattach/plug my pump back in every so often and manually instruct the pump to give me my missing units - this is hard to do if you are actually IN the water for more than an hour
2) I can give myself a shot with an insulin pen or syringe for the missing units 3) I can wait for my high BG and correct for it - this is my least favorite as both low and high BG's can be hard on your body