Why? So often I have asked why things happen or don’t happen as I would like. I know I have asked that question from time to time – especially when things don’t go as I would like them to, or had expected them to.
Why did I get Type 1 diabetes at age 3? Why did I wind up with Celiac? Isn’t Type 1 diabetes challenging enough? Do I need more challenges? Okay, yeah, I know the science behind it. But that’s not what I’m asking.
What I’m really asking is: Why, God, why?
And then there’s the recent global why: Why Sendai, Japan? Why a tsunami and an earthquake? Why do some people die, while others suffer, and others survive?
I can take it further of course: Why do we exist? Why is the Earth round and the sky blue? Why do the tides ebb and flow?
Sure, we could start to talk about gravity to explain quite a bit of those questions, but then why does gravity exist? Do people die randomly or is there a greater design behind it? We could talk about the ring of fire and how plates of land deep within the Earth’s surface rub against each other which causes an earthquake. Well, then why are they there?
The recent global events in Japan have reminded me that our knowledge of science has come a long way, but true understanding can only go so far. There's much for us to learn, and much more that we may never learn. Because it's out of our hands.
Any answers we give to the really big "why questions" are pure conjecture. Any belief system we espouse is great for finding comfort and solace – especially when we’re faced with life’s really tough questions. But in reality, we really don’t know the answers.
I am learning this week that all conjecture is really a lesson in humility.
So rather than ask why, perhaps the better question to ask is: What lesson can we learn?
The recent earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor disasters in Japan are humbling. They remind me of how out of control we really are. Many times we humans try to fool ourselves into thinking that we have more control than we do – through scientific research, hypothesis, or even conjecture into the wisdom of God.
But in reality, we know nothing. The best we can do is ask questions and learn lessons.
We can build higher towers, lengthier walls, bigger dams, and nature will in turn create an even bigger flood. The Earth is reminding us that we are visitors here, and nature is teaching us a lesson in humility. Science has come a long way over the years, and I am grateful for all of the medical advances out there. But in reality, our understanding of science pales in comparison to the efficiency, exactness, and vast powers of nature.
I don’t know why nature chose me to be diabetic. I also don’t know why I wasn’t chosen for something else. All I can do is ask: What lessons can I learn? Diabetes is, as are all of life’s challenges, a life-long lesson in humility, inquiry, and learning.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
An intuitive approach to feeding and sleeping schedules for twins
At this point in my pregnancy (26 weeks), I’ve started thinking about those first few months after the twins are born. I have a number of people who are very close to me who have twins – both family and friends - who have all highly, let me say this again HIGHLY, recommended scheduling the twins’ feedings.
They say that it is better for everyone – mom and the babies. It will hopefully provide me with some semblance of emotional and physical sanity. The babies are known to sleep better, eat better, and be less fussy. I have heard multiple stories of twins (no pun intended) who sleep through the night at 12 weeks because of the schedule.
So I have been hard at work learning about the schedule. Turns out that there is a whole philosophy behind this, and I have a feeling that this topic will come up again in my blogs – especially once I have experience with it.
To be honest, as I’ve been learning, the whole scheduling thing has been kind of stressing me out. What I understood from everyone who has experience with it is that you don’t feed the kids on demand. You feed them certain amounts at certain times of the day, and with multiples, you urge them to eat together. Otherwise, mom – in this case soon to be me – will never have a moment of much-needed rest, i.e., sanity.
Baby nurses have told me that newborns eat every two to three hours in the beginning. If those twins aren’t eating and sleeping at the same time….well, I’m sure you can figure out what that might be like.
But at the same time, I have understood from a lot of people – including the same baby nurses – that the babies themselves let you know what their schedule is – which seems on the surface to be contrary to the other pieces that I’ve been told.
After lots of talking, I totally get that the schedule is key. I’m a fan of the concept, and I want to learn about it and implement it.
I’m at the point now where I want someone to tell me exactly what to do: “Feeding #1 is at 7 am; feeding #2 is at 10 am” and so on. But I have to wait. I’ve been told that the hospital will create the schedule, which has made me feel better.
Besides the not knowing where to turn to learn about the schedule, I have also been stressed about not wanting the schedule to be messed up. I’ve met with different childcare professionals who are not into the schedule. They believe in feeding when the baby is hungry. But they assure me that they will follow what we ask.
I want to be sure to get this right so that I don’t wind up torturing these two little ones and starving them to death, but at the same time, keep the schedule so that it works for all of us. Healthy mom, healthy babies, happy everyone.
As for the first stressor: the how. The answer totally hit me just the morning. I’m on a schedule. A diabetic schedule. Please, I’ve been living the schedule all of my life. Check sugars at these times, eat at those times, and take insulin at such and such times. I’m so scheduled that it’s hard for me to not be on a schedule. (And I do sleep well.) The doctors tell me when to check my sugars and what to do. I’ve got this one down.
I suppose the difference is that soon I’ll be responsible for two little helpless beings’ schedules. That’s the freaky part. My wonderful friends gave me the best advice they could give: You’ll just know. Intuitively.
Intuition is a beautiful thing. Probably the smartest advice out there. I need to step out of my own way. Calm those crazy thoughts. Get out of my head. And just breathe. And then let the real me – the intuitive me – do the talking.
The second stressor: Dependent on others to abide by my wishes. Even freakier.
Here we go with that “letting go” lesson again….I can’t control others. I need to just trust that they will listen and do what’s best.
Pregnant or not, diabetic or not – we all get sucked into stressful thoughts. They’re fear based. And the best thing for all of us is to get out of our own heads. Be present and wisdom will follow. Have some faith and trust.
We can all heed the advice of mothers around the world – and just trust our intuition no matter what the circumstance. I’ll let you know how it goes…
They say that it is better for everyone – mom and the babies. It will hopefully provide me with some semblance of emotional and physical sanity. The babies are known to sleep better, eat better, and be less fussy. I have heard multiple stories of twins (no pun intended) who sleep through the night at 12 weeks because of the schedule.
So I have been hard at work learning about the schedule. Turns out that there is a whole philosophy behind this, and I have a feeling that this topic will come up again in my blogs – especially once I have experience with it.
To be honest, as I’ve been learning, the whole scheduling thing has been kind of stressing me out. What I understood from everyone who has experience with it is that you don’t feed the kids on demand. You feed them certain amounts at certain times of the day, and with multiples, you urge them to eat together. Otherwise, mom – in this case soon to be me – will never have a moment of much-needed rest, i.e., sanity.
Baby nurses have told me that newborns eat every two to three hours in the beginning. If those twins aren’t eating and sleeping at the same time….well, I’m sure you can figure out what that might be like.
But at the same time, I have understood from a lot of people – including the same baby nurses – that the babies themselves let you know what their schedule is – which seems on the surface to be contrary to the other pieces that I’ve been told.
After lots of talking, I totally get that the schedule is key. I’m a fan of the concept, and I want to learn about it and implement it.
I’m at the point now where I want someone to tell me exactly what to do: “Feeding #1 is at 7 am; feeding #2 is at 10 am” and so on. But I have to wait. I’ve been told that the hospital will create the schedule, which has made me feel better.
Besides the not knowing where to turn to learn about the schedule, I have also been stressed about not wanting the schedule to be messed up. I’ve met with different childcare professionals who are not into the schedule. They believe in feeding when the baby is hungry. But they assure me that they will follow what we ask.
I want to be sure to get this right so that I don’t wind up torturing these two little ones and starving them to death, but at the same time, keep the schedule so that it works for all of us. Healthy mom, healthy babies, happy everyone.
As for the first stressor: the how. The answer totally hit me just the morning. I’m on a schedule. A diabetic schedule. Please, I’ve been living the schedule all of my life. Check sugars at these times, eat at those times, and take insulin at such and such times. I’m so scheduled that it’s hard for me to not be on a schedule. (And I do sleep well.) The doctors tell me when to check my sugars and what to do. I’ve got this one down.
I suppose the difference is that soon I’ll be responsible for two little helpless beings’ schedules. That’s the freaky part. My wonderful friends gave me the best advice they could give: You’ll just know. Intuitively.
Intuition is a beautiful thing. Probably the smartest advice out there. I need to step out of my own way. Calm those crazy thoughts. Get out of my head. And just breathe. And then let the real me – the intuitive me – do the talking.
The second stressor: Dependent on others to abide by my wishes. Even freakier.
Here we go with that “letting go” lesson again….I can’t control others. I need to just trust that they will listen and do what’s best.
Pregnant or not, diabetic or not – we all get sucked into stressful thoughts. They’re fear based. And the best thing for all of us is to get out of our own heads. Be present and wisdom will follow. Have some faith and trust.
We can all heed the advice of mothers around the world – and just trust our intuition no matter what the circumstance. I’ll let you know how it goes…
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