Life with the Goodlins

Monday, February 2, 2015

learning something new

It's February, Hoorah!!

I always feel like January just trudges along so slowly. Like I'm going uphill in a paddle boat in the snow and I'm never going to feel warm again.

I wanted January to feel more purposeful. To do something outside myself. To learn something new.

So I decided to make use of free pallet wood. Which fits in perfectly with our budge of $0 for crafting and home projects.

So I did it. I found a place with free pallet wood. Even getting the wood myself was outside my comfort zone..... I'm in introvert at heart

I tried demo-ing the first pallet with a few crow bars and hammer as suggested pinterest.

I discovered that after about 20 minutes I was a very hostile person to be around and I had only taken one nail out!

that's not happening, so I tried to figure out a better way to demo a pallet and discovered the Sawzall! It's basically just as tough as it sounds.

Now power tools...... yeah that is WAY outside my comfort zone. I mean I used dainty and delicate hand tools all the time as a hygienist. But power tools, VERY DIFFERENT! I'm pretty sure it was the best day of my husbands life when I asked him to show me to use a power tool, none the less a sawezall! Ha! It shook my entire body and even rattled my brain. It was intense!

But it took apart the whole pallet in about 5 minutes! Score

Then I learned to use the nail gun and sander and started my first sign project

I stained the wood and started the wording (using a crayon transfer technique), I just haven't finished it quite yet.

We also started a wine rack, which I'm very excited about! Brett is working on that one

I do want to write something on the top wood piece of the wine rack but I'm not sure what to write, would love suggestions, that aren't to corny.

Oh and years ago I was inspired by this blog to put this up on my wall! I have been wanting to do it for years, but was so nervous to permanently attach photos to my wall, so I just bought a cheap piece of paneling and attached it to the wall and mod podged the photos on it.

they are black and white 5x5's printed from Costco.

I'm glad February is here! The sun is just starting to last a little longer into the evening and I can smell the warmth of spring drawing near..... ish. I mean I live in Colorado, so I will see the Spring in May :)

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Top 10 reasons I make a terrible pancreas for Norah

It was once said that I will eventually make a great pancreas..... but here are the top 10 reasons I never will

#1) I'm not attached to Norah's body, although many parents would like to be attached at their child's hip (near the pancreas) I do not want to nor will I ever be attached to Norah's body, especially internally.

#2) I have hair and a face and I'm not a slimy organ

see

#3) I have emotions, which I think most pancreas' are lacking, which is good, because sometimes I base my daughters insulin dosage to quickly on my emotions

#4) I inflict pain on my daughter. Somehow a pancreas can release insulin without doing that, sheesh

#5) I'm only right about 20% of the time......

was it food?

is it hormones?

did I mis-calculate?

is her pump sight bad?

Is that a protein spike?

or there is the often, "I have no idea"

I think a functioning pancreas has a tad more accuracy

#6) I like to sleep for about 8 hours a night, which makes being a pancreas very hard when my brain is off!

Pancreas' they usually run 24/7.

#7) I lack patience and want to get Norahs blood sugar down NOW, often times giving her to much insulin and then causing a scarey low blood sugar.

Pancreas' must have the most amazing patience and know exactly the right timing of releasing the hormone insulin.

#8 ) I can only give Norah synthetic insulin,

and believe me, the real deal is way more efficient and doesn't take 2 hours to kick in!

#9) I will not be around Norah forever.

She will grow.

I will have to train her and She will have to learn to take control of this disease and know how to manage it.

I'm pretty sure a real pancreas doesn't train others on its job, otherwise I would be the first in line!

#10) I am not a mathematician, which is apparently is a pancreas' 2nd job

I guess one thing I have in common with Norah's current pancreas is that we are both broken and flawed. Trying to function, but often malfunctioning. Maybe there is a miracle in store for both of us someday.

In people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make insulin. This vital hormone helps the body's cells convert sugar into energy. Without it, sugar builds up in the blood and can reach dangerous levels. To avoid life-threatening complications, people with type 1 diabetes must take some form of insulin for their entire lives.

There is no specifically known cause.

There is NO cure.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

joy sucker

I've never been that good in the kitchen.

I can cook, but I'm a recipe/ruler follower type of cook.

I'm not good at making up my own things, adding ingredients, or being creative.

It's kind of like I am in life, the rule following, not really creative type (all my good ideas come from other people).

I have never disliked cooking, and at times I have really enjoyed finding new recipes, and baking things, especially on cold winter days. And one of my favorite thing to do in life is have people over for dinner, seriously, my favorite.

but recently the joy of cooking at all has been completely sucked out of me, especially baking.

I hate that I feel this way.

Baking is currently is a task for survival. I have to cook a lot from scratch for Norah. This is how we best manage her diabetes. no sugar, starches, or grains.

It's work. It's not creative. Or fun. Or even all that tasty. And it's expensive.

Christmas season was hard. A lot of the usual Christmas baking didn't happen. I attempted to modify a cookie recipe so Norah could have it, and well...... like I said I'm not good at creativity...

I usually make something special for Christmas morning breakfast, that didn't happen either.

Every ounce of my extra cooking time goes into making Norahfied sugar free/grain free bagels, crackers, cereal, granola, and cupcakes, using pounds of coconut and almond flour. I can't even remember the last time I baked normal cookies for my family

So I did today

I'm tired of life trying to suck the joy out of me, and last year was a real joy sucker.

So I pulled Levi and Sarah up to the counter and we baked my mom's famous chocolate chip cookie bars.

With white flour and brown sugar, all things totally bad and delicious, full of lots of sugar, gluten, and carbs!

I let them lick it from the spatula

so delicious Levi can't even keep his eyes open

And have a cookie for lunch

And get chocolate everywhere

And it was great

(just don't tell Norah)

Even as I sit here right now and blog, I'm enjoying this delicious chocolate Gooiness

Despite the work that goes into making healthier foods, not just for Norah but all of us, it is way easier than managing the stressful and scarey roller coaster of blood sugars that would happen if Norah ate anything she wanted. And I know that the hard work now, will help her have a healthier future.

I enjoy blogging to, and diabetes sucked the joy out of that too. So here's to more cooking, blogging and doing a few things I like every now and again.

P.S. I got a Kitchen Aide for Christmas! I have wanted one for 10 years. It took a small village to get me one $$$, but I'm so grateful. Hoping it will help!