Stuff

 This photo is from April 2010 when Rulon Gardner spoke at the Engineering & Operations Conference in Tacoma, Wa. It is fun to watch him on the Biggest Loser now. Rulon was a very good motivational speaker and I bought his book. Have not yet taken the time to read it but need to.

Snowy Reflections

ADK's school assignment this week is reflections.

So we took advantage of the snowfall that is happening.

Trip to Spokane for ADK doctors appointment

After ADK's doctors appointment at Sacert Heart Children's Hopsital we went to River Front Park to walk around and let ADK take pictures for his digital photography class he is taking.

 His assignment was to take 10 photos of something not centered in the photo. We had a great time walking abound River Front Park stretching out legs before we headed out on the 3 hour drive home.

 It was raining lightly during our walk. We still had fun exploring the area and what was left of Expo '74.

 Spokane River was running fast and high. Was cool to watch the water racing by.

 After the walk we stopped at Cyrus O'leary for lunch. 

Snow Cougars

Friday, February 11, 2011 was the first trip the Central Snow Cougars and Mac Hi Ski & Snowboard Club. Rick and I took the day off from work and went skiing with the two groups. It was a great day to go. Sunny and good snow.
There are some great photos of ADK skiing with the Ski Club advisor and other students on the Mac High Ski Club Facebook page.
Check it out. http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=193038587387045&oid=159534177427105&comments
This one is of ADK hitting the big jump.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=193037550720482&oid=159534177427105&comments
Here is ADK and LS skiing in the trees
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=193037210720516&oid=159534177427105&comments
ADK in the terrain park jumping
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=193037070720530&oid=159534177427105&comments

Bald Eagles at Wolf Creek in Idaho

We spent this past weekend at the ArrowPoint resort on Coeur d'Alene Lake in Idaho.

The Bald Eagles are there right now in there winter nesting grounds feeding on the salmon. It was fun watching them.

ADK - Diabetes

ADK was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on November 16, 2010. He was not feeling well for a few days and was very week. I had been gone to St. Louis for training and when I returned I could tell he was not doing well. It turns out he had lost about 20 pounds in about a month. We knew he had lost some weight but figured it was because he was running cross country. I really noticed the weight loss after being gone for a week. When I took him into the doctors his blood glucose (BG) was 590 and A1C was 14. We were immediately sent to a specialist who then referred us to Spokane. ADK was checked into the hospital for 3days to get his BG under control and to get educated on diabetes. 

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Only 5-10% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys certain cells in the pancreas, an organ about the size of a hand that is located behind the lower part of the stomach. These cells -- called beta cells -- are contained, along with other types of cells, within small islands of endocrine cells called the pancreatic islets. Beta cells normally produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body move the glucose contained in food into cells throughout the body, which use it for energy. But when the beta cells are destroyed, no insulin can be produced, and the glucose stays in the blood instead, where it can cause serious damage to all the organ systems of the body.


For this reason, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin in order to stay alive. This means undergoing multiple injections daily, or having insulin delivered through an insulin pump, and testing their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day. People with diabetes must also carefully balance their food intake and their exercise to regulate their blood sugar levels, in an attempt to avoid hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, which can be life threatening.


ADK accepted the diagnoses well and is doing great managing his diabetes. He has impressed the doctors and nurses on how quickly he picked up on what he has to do. After two weeks the doctor recommend we get him on a insulin pump. At first they told us it would probably be a year before he could go on a pump. The doctor said he was doing so well adjusting to the new lifestyle that we might as well get the pump sooner. The insulin pump has made ADK's life even better. No more shots. He was giving himself insulin shots about 8 times a day. Every time he ate. Just think if you had to give your self a shot every time you put something in your mouth. I think we would eat a lot less and lose some weight.

Junior Show Pigs

 This is the pigs the day after we got them. They were so small. We even got a runt that I call Wilbur. He was so small we were not sure how he would do. Well Wilbur is doing great.

 This is the pigs about a month later. They are really developing into some good looking pigs.

ADK's pigs is the one black one in the middle and Wilbur is the back one on the left. Wilbur is doing really well and had grown leaps and bounds.The other white pigs are some new ones that others in the 4H groups just got this past weekend. They are a about 3 weeks younger in age and much smaller. The first weigh in is February 5th. Will be interesting to see how it goes.