Catching up on things and high heels

I realized how behind schedule I have gotten these past few months. I passed my 2 year mark with diabetes on October 10, and I didn't even have enough time to get on and post anything about it. It is strange how it has only been 2 years, a relatively short time, but it seems like forever. Seriously, I starting to forget how life worked before I was diagnosed, it seems so second nature to do what I need to do everyday now. Of course, I still hate it, but it is just more incorporated now that I don't notice quite so much.


Cross Country season is officially over for the JV team, though I am still rooting for our Varsity. I loved CC, but I am kind of glad that it is over, now I have more time to do catch up on school and life in general. (sorry, Coach!) I have a few weeks before Rifle starts up, and I need to get back to Speech and Debate practice (and pay my dues 0_o)


On the other, sadder hand, I am going to my best friends grandmother's funeral tomorrow. Some one asked me why I would go to the funeral to someone I wasn't even related to, someone who couldn't ever remember my name. The thing is, Lisa is more than my best friend, she is like my sister. I knew her grandmother very well, there is no reason why I wouldn't go to her funeral.


As for the JDRF walk....it is this Sunday! I need money! I only have $5! (Thank You to Steve Luvender). Of course, my family is donating, but we don't want to have to reach my gaol by ourselves. I realized that I am late getting started in this fundraising thing, but I admit, that I suck at fundraising....I don't know why, but it's true. It is hard because I had virtually no time to do anything because I was so busy with school and sports and other things....I feel bad that it has gotten pushed back so far on the priority list.


And finally, high heels! What is this reference? HOMECOMING! I don't recommend 3 inch heels your first time to a high school dance or your first time in heels at all. I did really well actually. The shoes lasted 2 dances before they got cast into a dark corner of the cafeteria. My poor feet are still feel feeling repercussions of those shoes (but they are cute and were on sale!)


Well, now I have to finish some homework...I took home all my text books the other night and dropped them on a scale....they weigh almost 30 pounds, and I didn't include my Anatomy and Physiology book (argh)

I hate the SATs

Well, I thought the title was self-explanatory.....

In Memory of Donna Parris

When I first started this blog, I thought it would be fully devoted to my life with juvenile diabetes, and my fight to find a cure for it. This has turned into so much more. It is my life with diabetes thrown in. Therefore, I think it is important that I talk about my life and the important things that happen.

Have you ever heard someone that had the voice of an angel? I'm not talking American idol here, but someone who devoted her life to Christ and praised Him as she knew best; with her voice. Mrs. Parris is one of the few people I know that has the voice of an angel. She recently lost her battle with cancer, and it is a sad time for our church community, and especially the Parris family. I am glad that she has gone on to glory, but it is a shame to lose such a wonderful part of our church family. She was of the people I admired, because she was so talented, but so humble at the same time. I wish I could be as selfless as she was, and live up to the example she portrayed. She was a very important person, a very talented, very humble, very gracious person. She will be missed, her presence and her voice, but her memory will remain. Mrs. Parris has gone on to where she will be eternally happy, and know no pain or suffering. Now, she not only has the voice of an angel, she is singing with them. Rest in Peace, Mrs. Parris.

Obituary:

Donna M. Parris, age 50, of Peppermint Road, Coopersburg PA, died Saturday, September 22, 2007 surrounded by her family at her home. She is the wife of Gene E. Parris.
Born in Camden NJ, March 24, 1957, she is survived by her mother, Leota Y. (Williams) and step-father, John Roland of Sicklerville NJ and her father, Donald Draft Sr. of PA. Donna is a self-employed Voice and Piano Instructor in Pleasant Valley Music Studio in Springfield Township PA. She worked at DeSales University as a part-time Voice Teacher; Lehigh Valley Christian High School for 6 years as a Choral Director; and Quakertown High School as a Vocal Coach for 3 years.

A graduate of Edgewood High School (now Winslow High School) NJ in 1975 with honors, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cedar Crest College, Allentown PA and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance at Temple University, Philadelphia PA.

Donna served as a Member of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, Coopersburg PA where she is the Choir Director, Treasurer of Woman's Ministries, Member of Worship Committee, Fellowship and Hospitality Committee. She is the Founder and Director of the Palisades Community Chorus; and volunteered vocally at Christian Women's Clubs. She taught the African-American Portrait experience through song and drama in community schools and churches. Donna volunteered many visits to nursing homes with song and sharing her gifts, giving people her time, especially during the holiday seasons, and always had time for a home-cooked meal and time of fellowship and reflections within the family.

In addition to her loving Husband of 28 years last February, Mother and Step-Father, Father, she is survived by her Sons, Gene E. II and his wife Kamari D. of Richmond VA and Joshua L. D. at home; Daughter, Courtney Y., wife of Stephen M. Doncevic of Hellertown PA; Brothers, Anthony C. and his wife Rose of Anaheim CA, Mark S., Ronald D. and his wife Sheila, and Donald Jr. and his wife Dyon of Sicklerville NJ; and Sister, Vicki B., wife of Jerome White also of Sicklerville NJ.

Family and Friends are invited to a visitation period from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2007 at the Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, 6782 North Main Street, Coopersburg PA. The service will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Church with The Reverend Thomas P. Shorb and The Reverend Rick Paashaus, officiating. The interment will conclude services at the Calvary Church Cemetery. A “Celebratory Concert Among Friends of Donna M. Parris” will be announced via the website of the Funeral Home. The Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Hellertown PA, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, John and Dorothy Morgan Cancer Center; the Fox Chase Cancer Center; the American Cancer Society; and the Lydia Project of Atlanta Georgia, all C/O the Funeral Home, 326 Main Street, Hellertown PA 18055.

Remembering 9/11

Today was the 6th anniversary of September 11th. It was a day of reflection for many, some on more personal levels then others. I was thinking back to where I was on 9/11/2001. I was in 6th grade, in social studies, learning about the ancient Greek. During class, the principal of my middle school came on and announced that the first tower had fallen. We turned on the class television, to see the second tower crumble. I still remember that, engraved into my 10 year old brain. I really didn't understand the implications of that day when it happened. I guess I was too young to categorize as more than something bad. It was a national tradegy. Today, we remembered it. 6 years later, I was sitting in AP Gov, at the same time I was sitting in social Studies 6 years ago. This time, I knew more about September 11th. I understood what had happened in more detail. I believe it is best to remember the past, but not to dwell on it, because we will never move forward if we continue that way. It was a horrible tragedy, it will be remembered by me forever, and by my generation. But it is time to move on. We need not forget those lost on 9/11, but cherish them for who they were, not their deaths. Remember how we united as a nation afterwards, not how we feel apart soon after. United we Stand, Divided we fall. Is America going to stand united, or have we already become too divided?

First Day Accomplished!

The first day of senior year is officially over and it was sooooooo long! Argh! I don't ever remeber being that tired after any other first days from the past. Well. it was interesting, it being the last first day of a high school year. (Did that make sense?) It is really hard to think that by this time next year I will be in college, not dinky little high school. It always amazes me that I manage to get lost getting to class anyway. It is not like it is a particularly big school and the fact that I have been going there for 3 years already should make it easier, but I still manage to end up in the wrong hallway. This year will be tough, I've got no study halls or anything for the entire first semester!


I am already glad that I am getting out early on Thursday for my first Cross Country meet. Yes, a break already, but I only get to leave 24 minutes early. That put me halfway through.......English. I had to stop and remember for a second.


Anyway, Cross Country killed me today. We were supposed to run the Course but Liz fell and hurt her ankle, so we had to go to the trainers, the I had to fix my blood sugar anyway, so after that, it was kinda pointless. I'll try harder tomorrow, when I am back into the swing of things. I hope.

In Memory of Blaat

One of our mice died today. His name was Blaat. Yes, I know it was an unusual name, but he was a very unusual mouse. He fit the title. He was pretty old too. Mice are only supposed to live about 1/2 a year, Blaat was almost 2 1/2. We buried out in the backyard, a nice little sendoff for our furry white friend. Rest In Peace Blaat. We miss you

Bad day

It was just not a good day. The Fair has lost its charm. Or maybe I am too old to enjoy the charm that it had when I was younger. The rides were fun, Jill and I got to ride a lot and we had fun. Josh is more of a safe rider kid, he can't really let loose like Jill and I can. Oh well, it was his loss today, not mine. Some lady asked me if I was drunk because I was staggering a little after one of the rides, and I started laughing and couldn't answer her. Which probably made her think I was really intoxicated. Actually, I was low. Really low. Like 46 mg/dL low. Do you see my problems today? I go from as high as a kite to crashing through the basement in what my levels were today. The only one I was happy with was 135, which is a pretty average number that I would like to be at after eating. We had to stop while I was low and buy some candy at the candy stand and it all got stuck in my teeth. I don't really like JuJu's. I brushed my teeth 2 times when I came home, and there are still pieces of JuJu in them! Not to mention that I get really tired when I am at extreme highs and lows, so I was a little grumpy for about an hour or so, but I got out of it.


My brother bought this pen that is actually a shocker, which is kinda cool. We were playing with them at the stand, and they did shock, but not that badly. So we were walking back to meet my mom and he's like I wonder what would happen if you zapped your chin, but he was too chicken to do it himself, so I said i would do it. I hadn't figured on the fact that the batteries in his shocker were fully charged, not dulled down by people playing with them like the display one were. IT HURT SO BAD! It numbed my entire bottom jaw for 15 minutes. I was talking funny and I was drooling. Yes I really was. (Don't laugh!). The moral of the story is that little brothers are conniving twerps, and don't listen to them or take any dares from them, or you will turn into a drooler. Sad story, but true. My teeth still feel weird and that was at least 5 hours ago.

Last broadcast

I watched George's last broadcast today, and it almost made me cry. I don't know why but it was really neat to see the news team come down and hug him goodbye. I saw the footage of him dancing with YoUDee the University of Delaware's mascot. It was hilarious. He said he was afraid that it would be posted on Youtube. I would totally download if it did make it online. Anyway, he got a nice sendoff and I think he's pretty happy.


We're going to the Allentown Fair today, should be a lot of fun, I am just waiting for my mom to get dressed. We couldn't go until the news was done though. lol


I had a frantic search for my insulin pen this morning. It fell out of my Cross Country bag and got under the couch somehow. I woke up really feeling bad this morning and I checked my BS and it was bad. Really, really, bad. Posting it would almost be like saying a bad word. Should I?


It was.......


526 mg/dL


That, my dear freinds not afflicted with diabetes, is bad. Horrifically bad. But it is all under control now. Yea for quick thinking and Humalog! This would be so much easier on a pump.

George Mallet and I at the Studio

Why does George look so professional, and I look like an idiot?

To Philly and Back!

Getting to meet George was amazing, although I could hardly talk I was so nervous! He was such a nice person and he personally showed us around the studio. My mom and I got to sit in the studio and watch him do the news live for the first 15 minutes of the broadcast, and then we went to the control room and watched the second part of the news from up there. It was awesome, I wanted to touch everything, but I controlled myself. (ha ha) I will really miss him when he goes to Milwaukee, but I guess I'll just have to live with it. : (


I was really afraid that he would be untouchable, like he was a big anchorman, and a big shot, but I am glad I was really wrong. He was nice and funny and I really had a good time with him. I also got to meet the other people on the news team, and Josh (little brother) was mad that I didn't get him some autographs from the weather people. (He is such a weather geek!) I got George's autograph, and I though it was funny that he signs his name the same way I do, with a little heart and his name. Although that may have just been for me!


Anyway, it was just really fun getting to spend time with my mom in Philly. We went to a cool museum that I can't remember the name of right now...but we must have spent at least an hour and a half in there. Then we were at Franklin square for a little bit, which I totally love. My mom took me to the Reading Terminal Market for lunch which was really nice but so expensive. A little more walking and then we took the train back to Bensalem to my PopPop's to pick up my little brother and sister. They oohed and ahhed over my autograph (!!!!) and we got to sit and talk with my PopPop for a while.

I'm meeting George Mallet!

I'm meeting George Mallet, the coolest diabetic news anchor on television! My mom and I are taking the train down to Philly to see him before he moves out of state. : ( I am kinda scared to meet him even though I've watched his newscasts so many times before. It should be really fun, though. A great way to end summer vacation at least. We're watching the 11am broadcast and then taking a tour of the studio. Eeeeeeeee!

As for Cross Country, as of now, the only things on my body that are not sure and screaming in pain are my fingers. It's pretty sad, actually. But running with my friends is a lot of fun. A lot of times I feel like giving up, but with my friends, it's not as hard. I think they are what makes me keep going, and even if I collapse at the finish line, they are still there saying "Good Race".

I found a quote on a calender the other day, which I thought was amazing, so I copied it down.

The theme was Perseverance:

The race does not always go to the swift,

but often to those who keep on running.

It's awesome, and it means so much more than a Cross Country race. It's about perseverance in life, and that you have to always keep going, never stop, never let anyone stop you, you are in it to win it.

First week over

The first official week of Cross Country is over. It's actually a lot more fun than I would have expected it to be. I think it helps a lot that I have a lot of friends on the team who run with me and we mess around after practice. My favorite was getting lost in the woods with my two friends Heather and Lisa. We were trying to find the DeSales course, veering off the Course at the Park, and we got lost somehow. I do not blame myself for this mishap in the least! Heather and Lisa have run CC for 3 years, me only 1. Well, anyway, we ended up in the middle of nowhere, and found a deer path, thinking it might lead us to the outside world. WRONG! No, it lead us into someone's backyard, completely closed in with fence on the other three sides. OK, that's not good, so we turn back into the woods, and we're running again trying to find a way out, and then I notice all these pretty little orange signs nailed to the trees. What does this mean, I wonder? NO TRESPASSING in big bold letters. GULP! We shouldn't be here! Long story short, about 5 minutes later, we hear voices and a whistle. We run towards it, and crash through the trees, to land ourselves in the middle of a conversation between some soccer coach and a soccer mom. Who stop and give us these funny looks, then look at the woods and back at us. The three of us looked at each other and burst out laughing and ran back to the rest of the Cross Country group who was already stretching after stopping at the bathroom, which was part of the reason we got discombobulated in the first place.

CC

I met the coach of the Cross Country team yesterday at a picnic and he seemed nice. I think I'll like running under him.

Staying Positive

Sometimes it gets so hard to stay positive when you get so aggravated with dealing with a disease. I wish it were only so easy to wake up one morning and have a fully functional pancreas. But I know it's not going to happen like that. This is why my team is so important to me. A cure would mean the world to me. Its only been two years since my diagnosis, but it seems like an eternity. I think the hardest part is watching all those people around me who don't have to deal with what I'm dealing with. Finger pricks, Insulin shots, countless visits to the doctor. The risks of high and low blood sugars. Dealing with sports and teammates who don't always understand. It's hard being a teen with an incurable disease. That's why I need your help. Please help me cure Juvenile diabetes on October 28 in Philadelphia. One step at a time

It wasn't that bad..........

My first taste of cross country was today. It wasn't that bad. I am not going to be very good at it, but I don't really care. I want to have fun. How I'll have fun running 3.1 miles everyday after school, I don't know, but I'll think of something. So far I have two people recruited for my team. Yea me!

I will never have as much energy as a 5 year old

I love working with the little kids at my church, but they have soooooooo much energy. I wonder where they hide the dugar stash their parents don't know about. They also seem very determined to break the sound barrier, they can squeal that loud. But they are awesome kids, and I love them. I just always need a nap after I spend the morning with them!

Lisa

This is my best friend Lisa and me on Halloween about 2 years ago. We suck at pictures. This is seriously one of the best photos we have together. I'll try and find one that shows both of us fully. Yes, I know I look like an idiot in teh picture. I had a cold, in my defense.

I Knew It!

I Knew It! I jinxed myself! I was doing all great until after dinner. Then I was 247 mg/dL. I was so mad with myself, thinking could get through an entire weekend with amazing blood sugars. I'm not too discouraged though...I'll just try again, and make sure I know how much Ice Tea I drink so I stay on target. I will make this work! I'm going to keep smiling, it's all that's keeping me from going crazy right now!

A good few days

The past 2 days I have not gone over 199 mg/dL. Which is really good. I hope I haven't just jinxed myself though!

A letter to the fans

I'm hoping to get my letter to gain support for my walk by the middle to end of August. I want at least 6 weeks of fundraising to help get money.

As for Cross Country, I am a little scared. When I play lacrosse, I am contained to one field, and my coach can see me. If something starts to go wrong, I can signal him and get pulled off the field. I am worried about Cross Country because it is 3.1 miles of continous running across fields and around buildings with everyone watching out just for themselves. I want to do well, I know I won't be the fastest, I'm actually thinking I probably be the slowest *sigh*, but I want to do something interesting and fun, and it'll hopefully be good for me.

Cross Country

I knew Lisa would be happy if I said I would join the CC team. My first practice is on Monday...right now they are only voulantary, so I can see if I like it or not. Mandatory practice will start later in August. My sugar has been pretty good today. I didn't have any outrageous numbers, but I wish they were better. I hope CC will help get me under control. I think I'll being part of a team that is kind of individual....I won't have to count on people for anything and vice versa.

My lil' meter

The insurance wont cover my Ultra 2, which makes for a very sad Jamie, who grew to love that little machine. I think my Ascensia Contour knew I was going to betray it, because yesterday, it let off this awful squeal at me. I don't know where it came from or what caused it, but it scared me. I miss the Ultra 2...diabetes is not fair....I could of at least had a cool glucometer. Well, I have a phone number for a lady who works at Medtronic and can help me get my insulin pump easier. I was supposed to get it almost a year ago, but then again, my beloved insurance, and a pesky little man named Shawn made that nearly impossible. But now Shawn is gone (ha ha, rhyme) and hopefully this lady will be a lot nicer. My luck will be that a get some cheap pump because it will save the good ole' insurance company some money. I don't want an Omnipod....I want a medtronic....a purple or silver one. Then I am going to name it, just like all of my other friends do. Yes, diabetes can adle the brains, but you should have as much fun with it as possible, right?

I have decided that I want to join the cross country team with my friend Lisa. It was that or volleyball, and my head is kind of like a ball magnet. Ooof!

New meter

I have had the same tired old meter for almost 2 years. My Ascensia Contour was usually faithful, but her memory had begun to slip, and she would not record results properly. I lost past tests from March thru June, basically all of lacrosse season, some of the most critical months. So my endocrinologist gave me a new meter. The Ultra 2, which I LOVED! It recorded results wonderfully, it had cool buttons, and a back light. So we go to the pharmacy and they say my insurance company hasn't approved the meter or the test strips. *Sigh*. So for now, I am back to my old Contour and look sadly at the forlorn looking Ultra 2 thinking about the happy two days we had together, and how much I hate dealing with insurance companies.

I'm not THAT kind of high!

I don't usually stop to realize how I sound when I say that I am high. I mean in a blood glucose related kind of way. I discovered that can be relatively bad when I saw that in public around people who do not know I am diabetic. For instance, last night I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, and one of my best friends Holly works there. She asked if I was okay, and I said "I've been really high the past few days, but I'm doing okay". The boy behind the register gave me this shocked look and glanced at Holly to see if she was fazed by my comment. But all she did was smile and told me to feel better soon.

My favorite story was during the school year however. I was feeling sick, and my sugar was reflecting it, so the nurse called my mom to pick me up. I had all my stuff my locker and I was walking towards the exit, a little dizzy because I had just taken a really large shot of insulin. One of the teachers was walking down the opposite direction and stopped to ask me if I was okay, and i said "No, I'm really high right now." Needless to say, he took it the wrong way, and started off "Jamie! That's not the way we solve our problems! Drugs are not the answer! We can work through whatever problems you are having, just say no to the influences and you can overcome!" I started laughing because he misunderstood me and he just stood there looking at me and I said "Blood Sugar" and walked away. He was just standing there, then he caught up to me and said "Oh. Oh yeah, I forgot." Then he took my bag and walked me to the exit where my mom was waiting.

New Endocrinologist

Today I met with a new endocrinologist. The new Doctor was a woman, and she was really nice, but it was sad because I had to come to the realization that Dr. C was really gone. I really miss him, most of my friends who saw him, followed him out to Lancaster to continue to see him, but 2 hours is just too far to go for an appointment. So, Dr. P is really nice, she has the same demeanor as Dr. C, which is nice, I was afraid I would feel uncomfortable around her.

As for my sugars, they have been really bad all through the month if July. I wake up in the morning and I'm over 300, which should NEVER happen! So, I'm not too happy about that and now I have to get up at 3am to make sure that I am not going low in the middle of the night and getting up to eat and not remembering. Is it possible to sleep eat? An interesting thought though...

Welcome to my website!

Hi,

Thanks to the people who stopped by my website on request, and to the people who found it by accident, welcome! To start with, my name is Jamie, and the main point of this website is to raise awareness of juvenile diabetes, also known as type 1. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 14 and a sophmore in high school. Living with diabetes is no walk in the park, but taking care of it the right way does make it manageable. However, I fully support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in their hope to find a cure. I would like to help find a cure for this disease, so millions of people like me can enjoy a healthier, more enjoyable life without the risk of complications.