Diabetes and a bike

As you know, Elise got her first big girl a little while ago. I have been amazed at how she just jumped on it and took off; like she had been doing it all her life. In fact, she scared me when I saw just how fast she could make that thing go.

And just the other day, she had her first fall. She got going a little too fast, and as I ran after her as fast as my pregnant belly would allow, she turned the wheel too sharply, and BOOM! Down she went.

Of course, she was wearing her helmet, and amazingly, there was no damage. She fell on the part of her arm that often gets the injections. So, who knows, perhaps all those needles have toughened up the skin so it's impervious to road rash?

I was so proud of how, after we had dried her tears, she got right back on that bike and kept going. Albeit, a little more slowly and carefully this time.

And it reminded me of our ride on the roller-coaster with diabetes. I don't know about you, but I am guilty of getting a little too cocky from time to time. When I have a good run of numbers, I feel like I can do anything; like I have complete control over D.

Sometimes I won't test her at her morning snack time, because really... she's almost always in range, plus it would be nice to give those tiny fingers a bit of a break. Or if I'm baking, I'll let her have a little lick of the spoon. What harm can it do? Or I decide to estimate carbs instead of weighing them and getting the actual number. In essence, I get going a little too fast and then BOOM!

The crash comes in the form a wonky numbers, corrections or extra carbs, lots of testing, and a whole lotta "HUH?" moments.

I think a little (emphasis on little) fall now and then is a good thing. It teaches you to be humble, and a little bit about respect. In Elise's case, she learned what her limit is, and to respect just how fast that bike can go. And what happens if you let it get out of control.

I've learned that I indeed, do NOT know everything, and though it's okay to bend the rules every once in awhile, do it too often and you will crash and burn.

So as long as the tumble isn't too bad, and doesn't hurt that much, I am grateful for it. It's in the falling I think that we learn our greatest lessons.