Type 2 Diabetes complications

I don't often write about my extended family on my blog out of respect for them and the fact they they have not chosen to be as public as I am. Normally I don't but I have to admit I'm scared and it warrants being written about. I hate it but it's our reality. Our, being myself, my sister and my mom. My Dad has been sick. He's a type 2 diabetic and if I am being honest he doesn't manage his illness properly. He has all these ideas of how he thinks he should do things because "he knows". He's been sick with stomach bug type symptoms but I am not convinced. I won't go into the details but I will say that these issues lead my sister and I to go check up on him as I do very often using the excuse that I had to bring him the Valentine's Day card Miss Roo made for him. When we arrived he was clearly much worse and I was convinced likely headed toward diabetic coma. Diabetic ketoacidosis it's a very serious, life threatening complication of diabetes. The symptoms are scary on their own but my dad showed signs of ALL symptoms which is horrifying to loved ones. My Dad refused to go to the hospital at first but eventually he agreed. He was nearly non-verbal, presenting like someone who was heavily intoxicated. He refused an ambulance, but I called them anyway knowing that with the snowy, icy conditions we couldn't get him to the car safely.

The ambulance came and the paramedics began to care for him while asking me for details. I have been here with my Dad before so I was well aware of the info they needed. The paramedics told me he was in very bad shape and they couldn't even drive until they stabilized him.

Once stabilized they transported him to our local hospital. I stayed with him all night until someone else had come to be with him in my place. I am worried. I know we need to have a discussion about what to do once he is home. None of us can keep doing this. I am headed back to the hospital shortly and am praying things are getting better.

While most people can live a long, normal life after being diagnosed with Diabetes, it is still a very serious issue if left untreated or if not treated properly.

If you have a loved one with diabetes talk to them about there disease management and understand the warning signs before encountering an emergency situation.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

DIY Burger Party Invitations

With Miss Roo's 5th birthday fast approaching it's really time to get cracking on invitations so we discussed a theme and she said "burgers". That left me scratching my head. Seriously??!! What soon to be 5 year old picks that for a theme? What's wrong with Princesses, ponies, Hello Kitty and the likes. Yeah, right, I forgot my girl is anything but typical. We are talking about a girl who wanted reptiles and other disgusting critters for her THIRD birthday.

So how do I make a burger invitation? Her idea was simple.Make a burger and send it to her friends. Does she not understand how the postal service works? That's clearly insane! Or is it? Sometimes with little kids you just have to simplify their thoughts and that's exactly what I did! Why not send her friends a burger in the mail and while we're at it lets make sure it's loaded with the works! All the fixin's, No holding back for her friends!!!

Here is a photo collage of the steps involved. Super easy, though a tad time consuming since Miss Roo insisted on doing a lot of it on her own.

I am a complete control freak when it comes to even planning and if I want it done exactly right I have to do it myself so these were "fun" for me. I had to let go of the reins and let Roo take the lead a bit on this project. Have a look:

So, what do you think? 

Do you make your kids party invitations or do you prefer to buy them? We'd love to hear your thoughts?

Snow Day Whoopie Pies

There's nothing better than a simple recipe that kids can help with. When we had a snow day this week I decided to try making Whoopie Pies with Miss Roo. She has so much confidence in the kitchen and the mess is so worthwhile when I see the pride she has seeing people love what she has made!

Have you ever had a whoopee pie? I hadn't and to be honest I thought they sounded finicky and very frou-frou (that's a word right?)

 Aside from the actual measurements she was able to do a great deal of the work herself!

Want to make some? Here's how we did it:

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, or preheat a convection oven to 315 degrees F.

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, and eggs together until well combined. Add the oil and vanilla and beat again.

In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Add half of the dry mixture to the egg mixture and beat or stir to blend. Add 1 1/2 cups milk and beat again. Add the remaining dry mixture and beat until incorporated. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk and beat until blended.

With a large spoon, scoop out 32 circles of batter onto a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.

Spread filling onto 16 circles and place remaining circles on top, to make 16 Whoopie Pies.

Filling (Make while cookies are baking)

1 1/2 cups shortening

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/3 cups marshmallow topping

Dash salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 to 1/2 cup milk

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine all ingredients except the milk and beat well. Add just enough milk to achieve a creamy consistency. Spread filling across cooled cookie circles.

These were taste tested and approved by none other than Miss Roo.

Have you had them? What do you think? A perfect treat or over-rated?