ADA Expo

Last weekend we went to the American Diabetes Association Expo at the Convention Center.  Most of the info there was for Type 2 but it didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves.  Julia felt special knowing that it was all for diabetes.  She was flashing her pump & pump belt all day long :)  We spent most of our time in the children's area.   Joe was bummed that with his broken elbow he couldn't do much but he loved playing Carb Counting with Lenny on a bigger screen.

Julia meeting Lenny the Lion

(He is a "pumper" too)

Both kids with Lenny

(Joe's cast is due to come off June 6th)

Ready for face painting

I forgot to take a picture of the finished face there but I got it on the way home.

Our friend Eric who also happens to be Type 1

Yes he really tried to do it right handed.  It worked out much better with his left.

Getting ready to climb the rock wall

 Look at her go!  And I am sure the tongue out helps :)

What I've Learned

Well I've learned a few things this week and it is not exactly from other blogs.  I have learned most importantly to expect the unexpected.  


First, Blogger went down and I wasn't able to see other's posts, let alone post my posts.  After I had not posted, I learned that I am not very good at following prompts and posting on the right day.  (Although we pretty much established that with the WEGO challenge last month).  


I am a HUGE lurker.  There I admit it.  I love reading blogs and reading everyone's stories or looking at all of the pictures.  I am not always good about keeping up with my own blog or commenting on all the things I read.  I will try to be better.


The final lesson I got was on Friday, expect the unexpected.  I glanced down at my cell phone and saw three lines of info.  School District missed call, school district voice mail, and missed call from Julia's assistant.  I called Julia's assitant back first.  She was low (48) & having a juice box & Jenny said she would call me back in 15 with an update.  She also said she wasn't the other call.  I checked the voice mail and it was the school health clerk letting me know that my son fell at school, hurt his arm, and probably needed x-rays.  Oh and did I mention that all of this happened while I was in the middle of a Zumba class?  In case you are wondering, Zumba is a high energy exercise class.  So I left the gym a crazy sweaty mess and headed straight to the school to get my son while waiting for the call back on Julia's blood sugar number.  Which of course came as soon as I walked in the door of the school.  There sat my son with tears running down his cheeks while I was trying to field the call from Jenny.  Julia was fine.  So I signed Joseph out and away we went to Urgent Care.  Several hours and a set of x-rays later, still a crazy sweaty mess, we learned that my son has an occult fracture.  Which basically means they think he has a hairline fracture but because the area is so swollen they can't see it for sure and can't do anything to treat it yet.  We will see an Orthopedist on Monday.


Thank you all for a great week of reading :) Maybe next year I can complete all 7 days!

Diabetes Bloopers

I haven't had a ton a funny moments but there have been a couple.  First was on Thanksgiving, less than a month after diagnosis, I spent a good hour dissecting my grandmother's Italian sausage stuffing recipe in order to be able to carb count it for Julia's dinner.  And when we got to the point we were going to eat she decided that she didn't want any.  The other funny moment that was not funny at the time but mildly humorous now,  I was texting Bubba Julia's blood sugar number and accidentally hit send after entering 13 instead of the entire 134.

A Letter about the Dark

To the Makers of the One Touch Ultra Link,

     Would it kill you to add a light somewhere?  Don't get me wrong, I love that the meter can talk directly to our pump.  But how can I check the blood sugar if I can't see the blood I am trying to check.  Checking blood sugar in the dark is no fun to begin with but not being able to see anything at all makes it much harder.

Thanks,

A tired Mom 

Dear Heidi,

     Thank you for this.  It has been amazingly helpful!

Forever in your debt,

A tired Mom (who now has light) :)

      

  

Admiring Our Differences

Now that I have found the DOC I LOVE the DOC.  I read so many blogs from other moms and it is great because I get the things they say and I understand the way they feel because I feel the same way.  


But the blogs that really reach me and teach me are the adult Type 1s.  Kim, Michael, Kerri, Kelly, Meredith and the rest are so great to read.  Sometimes their perspectives are hard to read.  As a mom, I try my best to keep her in range because that is my job.  They give me how it really feels to be low or high which I will never know.  So I read about teeth sweaters or trying to open glucose tabs with shaky hands and I learn.  I see her numbers and I get a better perspective on how she really feels.  


I read about successful adults who are amazing advocates.  It gives me hope for my little girl's future.  I read the day to day victories and just the day to day and it makes me smile.  


I am now and have always have been a worrier.  So when diabetes entered our lives, it sent my head spinning.  I worried about her future.  When I read the posts from these adults it brings me peace.  I know I have an incredible girl.  She amazes me daily with her strength.  I read the blogs and I worry less.  I know if she grows up to be anything like these people she will be just fine.  


So thank you for sharing yourselves.  The things that may seem minor to you are the things that make my heart sing.  You have helped to heal me and have made me stronger.  You have taught me how to take better care of my girl and there is no way I could thank you enough for that.  

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Mommy, I love you.  Thank you for staying at the hospital.  You are nice.  Love, Julia

Today is my first "D" Mother's Day.  In fact it was six months ago today that we found out Julia had Type 1.  I am trying not to focus on this too much but it is hard.  This morning I woke up to cards and presents and hugs and kisses.  Julia gave me 2 big purses and then showed me all the compartments that can be used to hold all the diabetes stuff.  


I have been grabbing tons of hugs and kisses.  That is my favorite part of Mother's Day, the extra hugs and kisses. We have a standing rule in our house that on Mother's Day I get to hug and kiss them as much as I want with no complaints. 

I want to wish a very special Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms in the DOC.  You have given me so much in the short time that I have "known " you.  I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with love and extra hugs and kisses.