Blogs, Blogs, Blogs (or blah, blah, blah)

When I first started this blog, I was full of self-doubt.  After all, the Diabetic Online Community (DOC) already has a tremendous assortment of well written web-sites.  In a way, adding a new one seemed a bit like contributing self-serving noise to the ever growing DOC.. 

Who would even find us at Naturally Sweet Sisters?

Who would want to?

(insert crickets)

Then I received an email thanking me for putting a voice (and a smile) to her daily ins and outs of raising a family WITH type 1 diabetes.

So I thought about it a little.  Well, a lot. 

And I realized that what we are sharing is actually different. 

It was easier to figure it out by realizing what we are NOT. 

We are NOT sterile medical information. 
We are NOT everything is fine.
We are NOT grief.
We are NOT oppositional.
We are NOT giving in.
We are NOT giving up.
We are NOT just getting by. 

That leaves living.

Living a life that just happens to include type 1 diabetes.

And I find it very interesting that JDRF is re-defining themselves and including living in what they do.

With a new logo.

And new data.


                                             Piper has type 1 diabetes.

One in twenty people like Piper
will die from low blood sugar.

                 In fact, kids and adults are dying every day from low
                 blood sugar or complications caused by type 1 diabetes.
                 In the next few weeks, the FDA has a chance to show
                 it is leading the world in medical innovation, not
                 standing in its way. It will lay out the pathway to bring to
                 market the first artificial pancreas, a life saving 
                 technology now under development, and the most 
                 revolutionary treatment in diabetes since the discovery
                 of insulin. Three million kids, teens, and adults with type 1
                 diabetes are counting on the FDA to get it right.
                 Our lives and health are at stake.

                                                         

And new partnerships.

From the JDRF PRESS RELEASE:
NEW YORK, NY, November 2, 2011 -- JDRF and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, two of the largest non-government funders of type 1 diabetes (T1D) programs, announced today that they have formalized a collaboration that will foster a new level of cooperation between the organizations. The goal of the collaboration is to accelerate the pace of research and development to deliver better treatments, devices, and diagnostics for improving the lives of people with T1D. The first two co-funded grants as part of the collaboration were also announced today.


So how does that leave us?

We are going to continue living.

Waiting for a cure is not an option. 

As precious time evolves, my children are going to continue to grow and blossom.  We need to live in the now of the moment.  Their skills and ability are changing every single moment of the day.  I understand "growing in your sleep".  It does happen.

Which is not to say that we don't want a cure.  Because we do.  We really do.

In the meantime, we must LIVE. 

Here is what defines Naturally Sweet Sisters:

Yes, we are a family who put kids first, diabetes second. 
Yes, we are a collections of stories of rambling our way through the world. 
Yes, we are going to make mistakes.
Yes, we are going to have success.
Yes, we are unapologetic in finding humor in the darkest of moments.
Yes, we are eternally optimistic.
Yes, we are eternally realistic too.
Yes, we are going to have fear and worry and guilt and anger.

But we are also going to have joy, laughter, excitement and encouragement.

We are LIVING with type 1 diabetes.

And most important, at the end of the day, we recognize that this life is a journey.  Our best efforts are not defined by any one moment or thing.  Our family is not defeated.  We are strengthened.

We are so thankful you joined us.