Summer's here!

    What better way to cool down on a hot day than setting up the sprinkler next to the swing set and enjoying a popsicle (sugar free of course!).

    We have had a run of sunny days with temps in the high 80's and my summer girl and I are loving it!  Sure beats the 62 degrees and cloudy Memorial day we had here.  M and her cousin still managed to swim in that weather.  At least I found a way to drop her BG if ever high.  Just stick her in the pool on a cool day.  M's BG and the temperature both had a hard time getting out of the 60's that day!

At the Memorial day parade with her favorite cousin.  These 2 crazy girls swam all afternoon in 60 degree weather.

    During our Memorial day picnic M did find a benefit to having T1D.  While most kids mom's tell them no dessert until after veggies.  I had to tell her "stop eating that broccoli and eat your M n M cookie!"  I think my niece may have been jealous of her a little just then.

Picnic Time!

Isn't this what everybody bring to a cookout?

Our first endo visit

     Today was M's first "real" visit to the pediatric endocrinologist.  (We did have a visit shortly after diagnosis but everything was still a blur then).  Her visit brought to mind the Facts of Life theme song.

     You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have our first endo visit!

      First the good.  M's A1C was 7.2.  I thought this was great seeing that at diagnosis in Feb she was some where around 14!  I expected something between 9 and 10.  I know its not a report card, but I still feel that it is.  They said we are doing a great job in such a short time.

   Now the bad.  M's thyroid is enlarged, so far her thyroid function is fine but they want to keep an eye on it.  I have a thyroid disorder so this didn't come as a surprise.  Also they noticed a slight scoliosis.  Also they want to keep an eye on it and if it gets worse to refer us to Ortho.   Lastly no pump yet.   This office likes to wait a year from diagnosis for a pump.  They feel she is still in her honeymoon phase and producing too much insulin on her own to switch to a pump.  I wanted to say bull****.  I know from reading other T1D blogs that many kids start much sooner!  But, I decided to keep my mouth shut and just wait.  Who know what new technology may be out by next February.

   Overall I am proud of my little girl!  She has handled this very well and often insisted on doing her own D care.  In her words "I'm going to have to do it my self one day, so you might as well let me do it now!"

D-blog week day 7 - Spread the Love

     As another Diabetes Blog Week draws to a close, let’s reflect on some of the great bloggers we’ve found this week. Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved during Diabetes Blog Week, and tell us why they’re worth reading. Or share three blogs you’ve found this week that are new to you. (Thanks to Pearlsa of A Girl's Reflections for inspiring this topic.)

    I don't know If I can pick just three blogs.  The DOC has been a lifesaver for me.  M was just diagnosed in February and I feel that we are at the point we are with her care because of what I've learned through the DOC.  
     I first stumbled upon diabetes blogs by accident.  I think it was even before M was diagnosed when I was looking up signs of diabetes.  Since that I have spent many sleepless nights (like tonight) reading all of your blogs. 
     To the parents of children with TID, thank you for all the tips you post.  Posts about school, sleepovers, birthday parties and sports. It's like having a big sister or brother to look to for advice.
      To all the people living with T1D.  Thank you for letting me see that my daughter can live a healthy, happy life and accomplish anything a person without diabetes can.

     I already have tons of blogs I love to read, but I have found many more this week. Three of which are
KC & Co  Love reading posts about your daughter who is just entering her teen years.  M will be that age before I know it
The Rockin Ink star  -- I know you said you don't typically post about diabetes but I hope you continue
T1D mom blog- Your son is the same age as M and was only diagnosed a few months before her.

   I have enjoyed reading all the blogs and posts this week.  I can't believe this is the last day.  I look forward to next year!
     

D Blog week day 6 - Diabetes Art

  This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to get creative!

     I wanted to post this on Mother's day, but decided to save if for Diabetes art day of D-blog week.   I am not much of an artist, so this is part of a Mother's day card that M made for me at school. I am sure I am the only mom in her class that got a card that said this.  What other kid would draw a picture of their mom giving them a shot!

My mom is special because she is my insulin!

D-Blog week day 5 Wild Kingdom Wild Card

The prompt for today was Freaky Friday.  It asked if you could switch diabetes with any other chronic disease which would it be.  I couldn't answer this.  I do not want my daughter to have any chronic disease.  Also I can't say that one disease is "better" than other.  Unless you have lived with it you really do not know what it is like.  So instead I chose the wild kingdom wild card because I could have some fun with this.

   What is the ideal diabetes service animal? Think beyond the obvious and be creative in explaining why your choice is a good one. For example, maybe a seal would make a good service animal - it flaps its flippers and barks every time you get a good blood sugar reading! (Thanks to Tristan of Based on a True Story for this topic suggestion.)

    I know M would pick a dog.  She has wanted a dog since she could talk and she finally got one.  The timing wasn't great (a week before her diagnosis) but she loves her dog.  However as much as I like dogs my pick for her diabetes service animal would be a parrot.   

   Just think how loud a parrot could be to alert you to a low or high.  It would be great.  M could go anywhere with her parrot on her shoulder to alert her.  I could also teach the parrot to say "eat your carbs"  to make sure M eats all the food that I dosed her for.  Maybe I could even get to say "do your homework"
or "pick up your toys."   When she is at a friends house the parrot could fly back to me to report M's BG number.  

   The best part of having a parrot for a diabetes service animal is that M would no longer be known as the only kid in her school with diabetes.  She would be the girl who gets to come to school with a parrot on her shoulder.  And just think how awesome her pirate Halloween costume would be!

D-blog week day 4 Accomplishments

We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.). (Thanks to Hilary of Rainie and Me for this topic suggestion.)

   Diabetes is still very new to our household.  It has only been a little over 3 months since M was diagnosed.  But I still feel we have come a long way in just 3 short months.  I think the biggest accomplishment is in just how healthy M is now.  When I look at pictures of her just before diagnosis she was so skinny and sick.  She was always tired and just wanted to sit around.  Now she runs and plays like crazy.  (she is running the 50 yard dash at her school's Jr Olympics today). For me, my biggest accomplishment is that I no longer cry (well at least not as much as the first month!)  I see that she can still live a wonderful live with Type 1 diabetes.  
     M is now able to check her own BG and set up her shots - she still doesn't want to give herself the shot yet.  She is able to read food labels.  I'm pretty sure that when I was 7 I didn't know the difference between a carb, protein or fat.   
     Our biggest accomplishment though was this weekend.  M got to go play at a friends house without me!  Yes, she was only there for 2 hours, and no it wasn't at a meal time so we didn't have to worry about her shots. She went to her friends house armed with her meter, glucagon (which I went over with her friends mom) and juice boxes.   It was 2 hours of freedom and fun for her.

D-blog week day 3 - Memories

Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. (Thanks to Jasmine of Silver-Lined for this topic suggestion.)

   I decided to write this from M's point of view since she is the one living with diabetes, not me.  If you ask her what her most memorable diabetes day is she will look at you kind of funny and say "I don't know"  This is because to her diabetes is not the memorable part of her day.  To her what she remembers is the game she and her friends played on the playground, the funny thing that happened at school, the cute dog we saw at the park, the monkey she got to pet at the zoo on her field trip, that she was able to do five underwater flips in a row when we went swimming.  That is what is memorable to her, the fact that she is getting her BG checked and getting shots before eating is not what she remembers.  I would like to keep it this way for her as long as possible.

D-blog week, day 2 We, the undersigned.

     Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let’s pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change? 

   It took me a while to figure out what to write for this.  I'm not usually one to get caught up in petitions or one to try to change the world.  As I spend another sleepless night (thanks to the crazy BG numbers M has been having this week)  I decides to write on a more personal level and address this to my family, friends and  parents of M's friends and classmates.

     First of all to my friends.  Please listen when I talk about diabetes in general or M's life with diabetes.  I try not to do this too much and is part of the reason I started this blog. But right now diabetes is taking up a big portion of our lives.  Please excuse me if I roll my eyes when you mention you are tired from one night when your kid woke you up for a drink of water.  
     
     To my family.  Please do not look at me funny when M eats cookies, cake, pie etc and holidays or family gatherings.  Your body naturally makes insulin when you eat these treats, M just gets hers in the form of a shot. (she was even willing to take an extra shot so she could have a piece of shortcake on Mother's day)
Please don't make special sugar free items for her or offer her sugar free candy thinking she can have as much as she wants.  Often sugar free will actually have more carbs then the treat with sugar (and the sugar free may make her feel sick after).  Do not eliminate candy, cookies etc from family gatherings.  This happened at Easter and M said "I'm the reason no one is getting candy in their baskets."
     
     To the parents of M's friends and classmates.  Do not treat her differently because of her diabetes.  Do not say to me that I don't have to stay at birthday parties (do you really want a crash course on D care).  Do not be mad that I get to (must) attend all field trips and school parties because the school nurse may not be present for theses.  Do not think I am hovering when I stay and M's dance/gymnastic classes instead of just dropping her off.  
   
     Last of all I want to add this to M's best friend KP. (I know this really isn't part of the petition but I wanted to end on a positive not)  Thank you for being such a good friend to M.  For all the trips to the school nurse you take with her.  For helping her check her BG.  In M's words you are her "guard".  M has taught you the signs of a low BG and you take your job seriously looking for these signs in her. You have even reminded me to check M's BG!  I am glad you were in M's class this year and hope you will be again next year.
     

    

Diabetes blog week day 1

Today's prompt is about what you share or don't share with your medical team.

Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see?  

   We are very new to diabetes.  M was just diagnosed at the beginning of February, so we haven't had much experience with this yet.  We have only had one follow up appointment shortly after she came home from the hospital and our next appointment isn't for a few more weeks, and with a new endo who is closer to our home.   So I will write about what I plan to share with her endo and team.  
     
I will probably overshare information with them.  This is my child I'm talking about (if it we me as the pt I may not share everything).  I want them to know how well M is dealing with diabetes (she's better than me).  She has been so responsible, her teacher and school nurse said she does better dealing with diabetes than some of the middle school kids (she is only if first grade)  I want them to know that she really, really wants a pump and I feel she is ready for it.  I want them to know how nervous I am about going to this Dr for the first time.  I want them to know that even though I shouldn't I will take her A1C personally.  I want them to know everything so that they can have the best plan for her.  

    I can't think of much that I don't want them to know about.  Maybe that she doesn't always eat the healthiest in terms of vegetable, but she is trying.  Also that she still doesn't like milk and will not drink it everyday like the nutritionist wanted her too.  (At least we went from never to 2-3 times a week).

   I look forward to M's next appointment so we can hopefully get started on pump training.  That will make her one happy girl!

    

Diabetes is not funny

  I wrote a few days ago about my niece's facebook post and my response.  I did feel bad about how I replied and sent her a message about why I reacted like I did.  This is what I said

     Sorry about my comment to your post yesterday, but it just made me mad.  It is misconceptions like that that M has to live with the rest of her life.  I may have thought that post was funny at one tome too, but once you have a child with a disease where an everyday illness can send her to the ER it is not funny anymore.
     When you have a 6 year old that has to poke her finger up to 10 times a day to check her blood sugar and get 4 shots a day to keep her alive it's not funny. When you have a little girl who can't go play a t a friends house because she has to check her blood sugar and get shots and have every bite of food she takes carb counted and can't do this on her own, it's not funny.  I hope you understand why I replied like I did.

Seeing Red

   Today as I was eating my lunch at work I was on my kindle looking at facebook.  This is when I saw a post from my college age niece that made me so upset I replied back without even taking a moment to think.
I've seen the post before, it was something like if Johnny has 60 candy bars and eats 30 what does he have... diabetes.  She posted how she thought this was so funny, and many of her friends commented that they loved it.  Before M was diagnosed with T1D, I would have known that this statement is wrong but would have just ignored it.  Instead I replied.  It was not my most eloquent or most polite reply on facebook.  At least I didn't reply in all caps!  I said something like this (only I think it was much worse)-- This post make me angry, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, you do not get it by eating too much candy (and type 2 has a genetic link)  It is posts like this that show just how ignorant the general population is.  This is the type of comment that M has to live with the rest of her life.
      Immediately after replying I felt bad.  I should have used this to educate her and her friends without putting so much emotion in it.  I tried to reply again but she had removed the post.  Next time I will walk away and think before I reply to something, but I just couldn't stop myself, I was seeing red and wanted to fight back (even though it was with my 20 year old niece).  So what do you think my niece will say when I ask her to be on our JDRF walk team?  Maybe I can educate her in a more polite manner when we ask her.

Happy Birthday

     This Friday was M's 7th birthday.  She had a great birthday weekend and diabetes behaved itself, mostly.  On Thursday she took a birthday treat to school, she wanted chocolate cupcakes.  I thought her BG would be high when she came home but she was 93.  Hate to think of how low she would have been if she hadn't brought cupcakes!
    Friday was her birthday.  Her school was having early dismissal so we decided to keep her home and do something fun for the day.  We took her swimming at the rec center and played on the playground.  Her BG numbers were great all day.
     Saturday was her party with her friends.  She wanted a Chuck E Cheese party.  Not the easiest place to manage T1D, but it's where she had wanted her party since before her diagnosis and I wasn't about to let diabetes tell us to change it.  We went into the party with a BG of 101.  I made sure she had water instead of fruit punch in her cup and estimated 75 carbs in the food she was going to eat.  She had a great day with her friends.  
     When we go home that's when the sniffles she had been fighting turned into a full blown cold.  Haven't been able to get her out of the 200's since (except when I over corrected and briefly sent her low).  Hopefully today she will be feeling better and her numbers will be in range.