This weekend started fine with no problems. Late Sunday afternoon was another story. I'd taken the girls to get their haircut and when I get home, to test Josh's bloodsugar, he was 470. I'd just changed his pump, so my next thought was to ask my husband if he thought Josh had snuck some snacks. That's the only thing I could come up with to explain the HIGH! We gave him 3 units of insulin, and an hour later he only came down 40 points. I waited another hour, and it hardly went down at all. It took 3 hours for it to come down to 270. He was fine when he woke up the next day at 99. There are days, with no Rhyme or reason for Highs and Lows.

On a good note, I picked Josh up for his Dentist Appt. today. When I was checking him out at the office, his teacher told me, that Josh wanted to give his class a little presentation about his pump. I'll be sure and post about it tomorrow how it goes. His teacher said Josh takes his Diabetes and his insulin pump As a matter of fact. That she wished more adults had his attitude.

At the dentist, Josh did fine, but Katelyn was a little scared. He did get the attention of one of the dentist's assts. She was curious and asked me how I found out Josh was a Type 1 Diabetic. I told her some of the symptoms. Loss of weight, extremely thirsty all the time, frequent urinating, and he was always tired and dragging. She thinks her son might have Diabetes, and she had an appt. to see the doctor on Friday. I told her not to wait to get him to the docotr as soon as possible, if he is, she needed to get him to a doctor right away, Friday might be too late.

Today his bloodsugars have been fine 99 in the morning, 142 for lunch. Makes me really think why this weekend he was so high!

On Mondays I'll be posting my Menu for the week, but for today I'm just posting what we're having for dinner tonight.

Lemon-Mustard Pork Chops with Rosemary, Asparagus and New Potatoes. The recipe calls for Veal, but I'm substituting Pork Chops. 29 carbs.
Strawberries and Yogurt : 17 carbs.
Total Carbs. 46

This is how we started our morning at
8:am Josh was 67 , 45carbs. 2u of insulin
11:am was 304 , 1u correction of insulin
12 pm 65 carbs, 2u of insulin
2:24 pm b/s 114, snack 10 grams carb.

About his school, we were having some problems with the Nurses Asst. I'd filed my 504, and gave specific instructions how to take care of Josh. I explained to her about snack time twice, and I just assumed she understood. If his blood sugars are from 100-150, he can have 10grms. of carbs without having to cover with insulin, but if he has 20 grms. of carbs, he needs 0.5 units of insulin. Simple enough. I even explained what to do if his blood sugar was over 150 and what to do. Everything was written down for her, and she assured me she understood. The next day I went in to check on him, his blood sugar was 304. Made me think, OK, I need to change his pump. She tells me she gave him a snack, what she didn't tell me, and Josh did was it was a granola bar, with 20 grms of carbs, and she didn't give him anything. After talking with the Nurse, since I didn't visit Josh on Friday, he told me that there would be a new Nurse's Asst. tomorrow. So we'll see how she does. I'm really thinking about homeschooling him, just because I understand that he's protected by laws to be taken care of by the school's but I feel, he's my responsibility, and if we're fortunate for me to stay home, I'll take advantage of it, and home school him a couple of years, until he takes a bigger part of taking care of himself.

This year in review of Josh's first year with his Insulin pump is over due, and I'd have to say, through the bad days even, the pump has made life so much easier. Just some quick updates. Within the last couple of months he's gotten so use to knowing his numbers, that when he knows his BS is 246, he knows he needs .5 unit of insulin, or when he's around 100, he needs a snack. As a mother watching over and taking care of a Type 1 Diabetic, this just amazes me. He's doing better with feeling when he's low, but he can be around 300, and not even feel it, but his A1C continue to be good around 7, so I couldn't be happier. I have a few more posts about issues at school, and some decisions I need to make, either I need to have him change schools, or to homeschool him for a couple of years, until he can take care of himself, but still under my supervision. I've had some issues with the school, that I'm hoping have been solved, and we can start the rest of the school year doing better. Long story, but I think things will get better I hope.

Why do weekends seem to go by so fast? I started feeling the pressure of the Holidays. We did a little baking. Marissa made us brownies. Which were gone in less than one day. Then Marissa, me and the baby did a little shopping. For Katelyn, I first wanted to buy her some Disney Princess Dressup clothes and shoes, but couldn't resist buying her a Pink Purrincess Kitty doll from Build-A-Bear with a Fairy dress and wings , and the good news I would save $15.

What was really nice was getting to spend time with Marissa shopping. Being that she's almost 13, growing up for most of her life I worked nights, and felt like we really didn't spend a lot of time together. So it was so cool, picking outfits out for Christmas Eve and just having her try on jackets was alot of fun.

On Sunday morning my Mom invited us to Church for their Children's Christmas Pagent. Can anyone relate to getting 4 children ready for a church service by 10:30. Thank Goodness, doughnuts and juice were served between services, because I did not have time to make a nice breakfast. Hearing the Christmas story of Jesus's Birth really made my soul refreshed. I felt my heart soften a little. Not that I have a hard heart, but with my son's illness, I realize I do harbor some resentment towards God for allowing this to happen to a child, and our family. I almost wish he'd of made me Diabetic, so my son wouldn't have to suffer. I came away from the service glad that I've known all along , this is God's way of getting me to trust him and have faith in him, that he is taking care of our family.

After that I took the kids to see Santa. I must have this inner timing of year after year, for the 3rd. year in a row, we get there and then 1/2 an hour later Santa takes a break, and we end up waiting another 1/2 hour. The kids were all right waiting, not an easy thing for a 3yro and 6 yro to do. Josh surprised me, last year he didn't want to have anything to do with Santa, this year he just jumped in his lap and started talking about wanting an XBOX360, and a Basketball. Well, I can get the Basketball. Katelyn was more than a little scared, she didn't sit on his lap, she kind of sat next to Santa and told him she wanted a Pony! I'll have to go buy her a My Lil Pony. My husband found a mini Donkey online for $700, he was just teasing. You know what I like about this picture, they are both smiling. Last year, they were both annoyed about having to wait so long to see Santa.

I've still got plenty of baking and shopping to do. If you have time stop by Tuesday night, I'll have some Fresh Baked virtual goodies for y'all. Everyone have a good Monday tomorrow!

Are you all finished shopping? What do you have left to do?

I know it's been almost a year since I've posted here. I've been blogging, about what our family has been doing on my other blog Are We There Yet, and I wanted to keep them separate, but I just realized how not only is it a Small World, but a Small Blogosphere. I stop in and visit Sandra every once in a while, to see how Joseph is doing. I also read Perfect Post Awards, and just noticed she was nominated for a November Perfect Post. I came to realize, I haven't posted over here, because it's my way of repressing my feelings of Josh having Type 1 Diabetes. He's been on a pump now for a little over a year, and the school nurse complimented him, that out of the other Type 1 Diabetics at his school, he's the healtiest looking one. Made my day.
I'm going to try and blog better over here.

I just want everyone to know, I'm inviting you all to Help me Celebrate Josh's first A1c after 3 months of pump therapy treatment and the fact that I am so thrilled and can't control my emotions. I don't know whether I feel like crying or laugh out hysterically that All is OK!
After a night of worry about wondering if the pump is working, or if Josh was in a growth spurt because he was looking like he lost weight and got a little thinner because of some rather HIGH's I wasn't comfortable with, but I did what the doctor instructed me to do, and after hearing about the Death of Ariel, my mind was just really full of what if's and am I REALLY do a good job!!
His A1c before pump therapy was 6.9 and with the pump it did go up to 7.9 , but the doctor assured me that it was still very normal for a child Josh's age, and that I'm feeling more comfortable with the pump that the numbers will get better!! But still, I had visions of A1cs 11 or 12 something way out in left field!! It is amazing how one day you can be in such dispair, and the next day have the biggest smile on your face.... with brief moments of PEACE and Harmony that all is right with our World.
The one real thing keeping me going is Faith in the never knowing if there is going to be a cure, and the seemingly near impossible task of this Awful disease, but this is a huge step in the right direction, and I'm going to keep on everyday with the idea that this may be the last day I will have to do any of this testing or inserting, or counting carbs....etc...! I hope everyone had a great day, and Best Wishes and Blessings to you and your families .

This weekend was our first SICK with Diabetes weekend! Josh came home with a terrible cough.
That night he took a turn for the worst. His temp. shot up to 103, and was getting dehydrated, and his BS were between 280-320 and no amount of correction would bring it down...I called the doctor, and after giving Josh some Pedialyte, and Children's motrin, and some nice COLD ICE baths his temp went down to 101, and his BS were from 170-220. He started eating a little more and drinking more fluids. Even though he felt better on Monday I still kept him home from school. But I could definetly see a difference between Josh being sick, and my other 2 girls when they get a cold. He didn't just look sick, he looked very sickly....Anyways he's back to himself..

Yesterday was the first day of the school year, the nurse didn't call me, and when Josh got home, I checked his Bolus History, the nurse had given him a correction of 1.6 units, his BS was 108 at 3pm and by dinner he was 84....YAY!! I haven't been going down to the Nurses office lately Thanks again to the pump, but I realize next year in 1st grade his schedule will change dramatically, and with the schedule of eating actually on a schedule rather than being home and having me try and schedule his meals Breakfast at 7:30 and lunch at 11:30, I have confidence in the Nurses, and with the pump and his schedule I can see him really taking off . You know the feeling of the first day of school when you see your child leave you, and they are off on an adventure and growing up...That's what I can only imagine 1st grade with Diabetes will be for us. I'm a little anxious his 1st checkup since the pump is sometime next week, and with adjusting to the pump with more HIGHS than I'm comfortable with, but knowing the last couple of weeks, it's all come together. The one thing about Diabetes treatment is being able to test when ever and where ever we need too! I am thankfull for that! I'd be even happier with a cure!! :P
Good Night everyone!

I found the article in the NY Times today very concearning! In the next 5 yrs. 1 out of 3 children will be diagnosed with Diabetes and 30% of adults don't even know they have it....This really makes me sad that our future generation is being afflicted by a disease that is more like an epidemic now. In my opinion, Our Nation will be depending on a cure for our future. I'm not very good at posting information or my opinion, but if you get a chance it's worth reading.

Update: I miss read the article a little. The article stated that 1 in 3 children born in the last 5yrs will develope Diabetes in their lifetime. Which is still 33% to much.

Here's an interesting day. Today is a day we change his site, which happens to be from the Rt. side of his hip to the Lft. Josh is a very (not skinny) but slender, I'd place the site on his stomach, but he has no padding...His BS last night were from 340 at midnite to 170 this morning, I knew the site needed to be changed. About every 3 days, unless it gets knocked about which I'm learning after 2hrs if it's over 300, it needs to be changed....
It's the first day back to school for the children, so at 2pm the Nurse called and said Josh was 74
she gave him 4oz of juice and when he got home I gave him 4 grahm crackers. Dinner he had a normal 45grms C. so I gave him 3 units....at 8:30 his BS was 36...He looked perfectly fine....He said he felt fine....after we got his BS up and Josh into bed then he said he wasn't feeling good, but I've come to look at patterns of not only his behavior, but see when I change the pump the first day I need to give a little less than normal so 20/1, the 2nd day it's a straight 15/1 and the 3rd day a little more insulin than normal almost like 10/1.
Here's another example of normal 5yr old behavior, Josh wanted to do something Josh's way without listening to his father and threw a fit, thinking his BS might be a little high, we tested him and his BS was 136... I've come to realize it's better to test and have some peace of mind that it's not extremely low and know for sure, that all is well for the moment.

It's been too long since I've posted, and I have the most wonderful News. Josh has been on the pump since Thanksgiving and it really has been a life saver. He's adjusting just fine, and being such an active little guy, has had to change his pump out a couple times for knocking the site about, but his BS are more stable now in the middle of the afternoon, and they are lower than they have been in the morning. I can keep track better of when and how much I gave him his insulin....Just amazing! Our family has been busy with the Holidays and we are now getting ready for a Great New Year!!
My husband at first thought, OK I've been taking shots for more than 20yrs....There's no difference.....He sees how stable Josh's BS have been, and that all I do is push a few buttons and Josh is all set....Now I think he's a little jealous, and he looked at me and tilted his head said..."You really do enjoy having the pump much better!", and I told my husband "When it's your turn, you'll understand!" Hopefully that will be sometime this next year!

I promise I'll be posting more now that Life has settled back down!!
Wishing you all a Great New Year!
Christine

I got the biggest laugh yesterday from the school nurse....

If by 2:15 I don't recieve a call, then Josh's bs is fine....but I still call and check.
The nurse tells me he'd been in twice. The first time he hurt his finger at recess and needed a band-aid....HAHA. She says Josh isn't a child who comes to the nurse looking for attention, in fact he hates going to the nurses office....A child who pricks his finger and bleeds everyday, sometimes 5-6 times a day asking for a band-aid. that was the first time.
The second time he comes in and says he doesn't feel good. His bs is 130, he said his throat hurt.
The nurse asked him where does it hurt, and he didn't know. Then she asked him do you want to go back to class and he said "YEAH!".

I don't know what all that was about, but I got a kick about needing the BAND-AID!!

On another note, I picked up a HOLIDAY magazine for diabetic recipes for Thanksgiving.
It wasn't even an ariticle, but it said that the FDA had approved an INHALER, my husband was talking about this last year, I'm going to find out more info, I was wondering if anyone else had any comments or info on this!!

This post is a little overdue. I meant to post this weekend, but last week was CRAZY!
It was Parent Teacher conference week and everyone's schdule was turned upside down.
Josh had last Thurs, Friday off, and then he didn't go back to school until the following Thurs.
The KICKER, his conference was WEDS afternoon. The teacher said he was a great, sweet kid and doing well, and that she would see how they (his classmates) would do in the morning?
HOW THEY WOULD DO IN THE MORNING???!!! Josh is in PM Kindergarten, his appt for his pump would be at 10am THURS Morning. Oh well. I had made the appt thinking he would be able to go to school the whole time, but now instead he would only go from 8:20am- 9:30.
So you may ask how did he do....??
He was so upset I picked him up from school early. Really cranky. GREAT!
At the appt he was just as stubborn and upset and really, really, really cranky!!
I had to literally bribe him to let the nurse help me insert his pump.
Which he said barely hurt him, YEAH, that was the important part, seeing how he would take to the whole insertion of the pump. So when we got home, I let him have a carmel apple, ( his sisters both got to have one), and he really only ate half of it, but I had told him he could have one after his doctor's appt. Then we rode his bike to the park, and after that we went to the $Store to buy him a toy...My mom kinda did the same thing for me and my brother with our braces....After the doctors she would take us to McD's for vanilla shakes, I don't know if it's a bribe, or just me feeling sorry he HAS to go through this and my way of making things seem better.... In the end the whole family is happy with his pump, and so until next time! Everyone have a great day tomorrow!

I made Josh's 2nd pump training appt for Thurs. Things have been going well. I really am getting excited about having the flexibility and not to mention LESS shots, it maybe a little more work, but I'm sure well worth it.

Surfing through the web for inspiring quotes I found this one.

The soul is the same in all living creatures.....only the body is different -----Hippocrates

Tomorrow I'm making Josh's 2nd appt. for his pump training.
Things have been going well with his bg, 80-100 in the morning, and before meals.
Hovering between 130-150 before bed and between meals.
Now we'll see how long this lasts.

I look at Josh, and I see a child like any other 5yr old. Loves to play at the park, likes throwing a baseball with his dad, reading, and just doing what kids his age do. And when he needs a snack and as independent as he is helps himself to it. He's aware he needs to let me know what he's eating, but I think sometimes that I'm hungry, and Mom's busy, I'll just help myself, and think nothing more of it, but then I am reminding him of why he needs to tell me or come to me and I'll help him with his snack, I can't help but think, OK he knows how to test his blood, it's never to early to start adding Carbs with him and put the connection together....That's what tears my heart, today his teacher had mentioned that since he spent time in the nurses office today during class, he didn't get to do something like the other children and telling him that Maybe tomorrow he would get to do it, which doesn't seem fair to me. She doesn't seem to understand still how important it is to test his BS, and that if that comment made me feel like she was making him different than the other children, what would be his prespective???It just really hits me that, that's not what I'm trying to teach him....Anyways, I'm at a loss for words right now, so until tomorrow.

I know one day, my son will be doing everything I'm doing to keep himself healthy.
One day all this hard, frustrating, some sleepless nights and all the ups and downs will be a memory and a reminder that children do grow up to manage themselves.
For example, since school started about a 1 1/2 months ago, Josh is in PM K, which if he were in AM, I would worry a little less of his BS dropping between 2-4pm. His school is very organized from my prespective taking care of the 8 diabetics. The nurse has a schedule of when they all come in to test their BS, and to help them after lunch determine how much insulin they need. My son's teacher in the beginning was a little unsure of what my son's needs were....So being K, and my son's first year at school, I live only 5 minutes away....I am after all anxious of his BS dropping( which it did for a couple of weeks, and the nurse assured me most of the diabetics had similar problems).....I dropped by the nurse's office and tested my son's blood, until all of us were comfortable with everything. One day a substitute nurse was in the health office, and Josh's BS was low. He needs to retest 15 min. after drinking about 10-20c of juice. I also watch a friend's son and needed to leave, leaving my son with the sub nurse to retest him.
OMG, she calls me and has no idea how his BG monitor worked. Josh had to show her. That's when he started to be more independent. Now he wants to put the test strip in and actually knows how to prick his finger.....To end this Tale.....Yesterday I go in at 2 like normal, I walk in the nurses office, and she says, "We're all Done his BS was 22o", (which is a little high, but DR.s order says no correction to be given unless over 25o and only after 2 tests are performed in a row). His teacher like I said in the beginning had even commentted to me, " He has to do this every day!", and I had explained to her what might happen if he didn't, and that one day he may be fine, but not every day is the same. She has now got in the routine of just sending him at 2, and Josh can now test his own BS, and I can now for the moment enjoy some realization that all my hard efforts will one day pay off...Thank God! Hope all of you have a great weekend.

Here goes my very first post, and I'm very excited. It all started the day after Christmas 2003.
My then 3yr old son Josh, about 2 or 3 in the morning began to cry unconsolably. My husband who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 12, that night thought it might be a good idea to test Josh's BS. It was 460, so I took him to emergency where we found out. Looking back at pictures of him that Christmas, he had gotten so skinny and looked so sick, I think as a Mother, how is it I didn't see how sick he was! My son having diabetes has been a blessing in disguise. My husband is now becoming an awesome role model, checking his BS more. He switched from Humilin to Humalog and Lantus, which has made a world of difference. And my son has someone to look up too. The days I get so frustrated and have no idea why his BS are high, or low, my husband reminds me I'm doing the best I can do, and that Josh is doing fine.
The upcoming posts: We ordered Josh the pump, my husband is waiting for the Meditronic Mini Med's Guardian continuous monitoring system. We had our firtst pump therapy session, and Josh is a little anxious about the whole insertion process, but I've been told that with the pump the quality of his life (and my sanity) will be so much better.
That's the beginning of my family's story!