Wednesday 30 January 2013

Where's your glucometer?

Last wednesday I received a text and then call from my mom around 3:00pm.  Amy was home from school and my mom (who is our daytime caregiver) was emptying her schoolbag.  There was no glucometer.  She questioned Amy to the where abouts, and of course the response was "I dunno".

I left work taking an hour family leave and hightailed it down to the school before they closed for the day.

We searched the classroom, her desk, the surrounding desks, her locker, the surrounding lockers, the gym, her school kit bag, the hallway.  We questioned the custodian, we called the bus superintendent, the substitute teacher.

No Glucometer.

We have spares.  It wasn't so much that it was gone as I wanted the readings from lunchtime and when she was low.  She had been having a lot of lows that week and we were making adjustments.

I went home.

"its not my fault!"

I'm not blaming you, I'm just asking you when the last time you saw it.  "I put it in my backpack after lunch".

I sent a facebook message to the mom of the kid whose school bag is hung next to Amy's.  Please tell me Amy's glucometer is in J's bag.  This mom is the mom of a T1 kid, one of the few in our town.  She understood my frustration.  It wasn't there.

While Amy was at Sparks I went to the drugstore and got a new one.  Just in case.  Amy was comfortable with this one.  We have several, but she knows this one.  I emailed our CDE the next morning and she promised to mail us some new stickers to put on it.  Good as new.

"I don't like the case mom.  I want my old one".

The substitute teacher checked all the kids bags the next day.  Nothing.  It was gone.

Last night while the girls and I were at piano there was a knock at the door.  According to my husband there stood a sheepish little boy from Amy's class and his mom.  "we're sorry".

There was the glucometer.  Nothing touched, no new readings, no strips gone.  No harm.

The mom was devistated.  She doesn't know why, the boy doesn't know why.

Amy says, "I must have left it on his desk and he put it in his bag.  I'm happy to have my good case back".

Mystery solved.

Tuesday 29 January 2013

D-Mom Blog giveaway (again!)

We have been looking for a new bag for Amy this week, since she is scheduled to start the pump in 4 weeks (ekk!) and I think we will be needing the extra room..  We currently use a Moped Day Pack by Lug.  So far, it has served us well.  My husband purchased it because he didn't want to carry around the glittery bag I was using until I found something more suitable.

We came across the LoveBug bag from Myabetic and Amy fell in love with it.

You can have a chance to win this bag, or The Champ by visiting D-mom blog at the following link:

http://www.d-mom.com/?p=20578

If neither of us wins, you can still get your own for 15% off at Myabetic by using discount code DMOM.

Good Luck! (but I hope I win!)





Monday 21 January 2013

Our Story

I've been meaning to post our story for awhile now.  Since we are quickly approaching our first diaversary, I figured now would be a good time.

I'm a pharmacist at the local hospital.  I have some trainging and background in diabetes.  I've completed the Canadian Pharmacists Association's Diabetes Strategy continuing education program, and my maternal grandmother is type 1, for about 60 years (that's a story!). However, I just didn't believe Amy could have diabetes.

My family always worried about me and my sister.  We had always heard that diabetes skips a generation.  I was tested often growing up, and was just always around it.  I didn't know the ins and outs until I went to university, and even then, book learning is totally different than experience.

I don't know if this has anything to do with Amy's diagnosis, but the evening after she was born, she had low blood sugar.  Low enough in fact that they came to my room and took her away.  They finally told me that they were hooking her up to a dextrose infusion.  I had issues breastfeeding, so we eventually put her on formula before the whole BPA-free thing.  There were times over the next few years that she would complain of a sore belly awhile after eating, but we would think it had to do with bowels.  I can honestly say that I don't know if she always had declining pancreatic funtion or insulin resistance or if she developed it after her the really bad gastro ("stomach-flu") she had last September.

January 2012 started like any other year.  Amy went back to Half-day Kindergarten in the afternoons.  She would eat her lunch at 10:30am, catch the bus at 11am, go to school, and be back home again by 3:15pm.  My mom is our daytime caregiver.  She mentioned that Amy seems starved ALL THE TIME, and that she spends a lot of time going back and forth to the fridge water dispenser. I brushed it off.

We took a weekend road trip with the girls 520km each way just to go shopping.  Halfway there, about an hour after lunch, Amy complained of a very bad belly.  We asked her when the last time she did #2, and she didn't know, so we pulled over to let her try (it's a gravel road with minimal traffic, not a true highway!). She couldn't do anything, but the sore belly passed with time. 

My mom started talking diabetes a few times, I would cut her off, even once blurting out "she doesn't have &@$!ing diabetes (sorry mom, you now know it was in the back of my mind too).

Amy started dribbling in her panties throughout the night.  This child never even wet the bed while nighttime training.  I helped her the first few nights, then I would just wake to find a pair of panties.....or two on the bathroom floor each morning.  We yelled at her, it was frustrating, she was almost 6 years old and starting wetting the bed......it MUST be from all that extra water.

We limited the water.  She begged.  We put a time limit on when she could no longer have anymore water before bedtime.  She'd cry.

One day I helped her get ready for school and noticed her leggings were baggy......they used to fit.  Imagine baggy leggings, they're suppose to be tight.  I didn't weigh her.

That nagging feeling was becoming more nagging.  I made an appointment with our family physician, but the earliest I could get was 3 weeks away.  

The final draw for me came one day in February!  February! We were playing Carnival Games on XBOX.  Amy was riding a pig and slapping her thigh to make it go faster.  She had a blast!  At bedtime, she said "mommy, look at my leg". She had a HUGE bruise all over her thigh.  I told her it was okay, kissed her goodnight and went to the family room to talk to my husband.

"There's something wrong with Amy".

"What do you mean"

"It's not normal.  Everything lately, the water, the dribbling, this huge ass bruise she just got from playing"

"Well do something about it.  Take her to Emerge"

"And  what, tell them that something's wrong with Amy, but I don't know what.......(silence).......I think she has diabetes"

"No she don't..........get her checked then"

"I'm going to work.  I'll take home the glucometer there and test her myself.  I'll be back soon "

And so, I got dressed, went out in the -30C night and got a glucometer.  I cried the whole way home.  I knew.  I just knew.

She didn't even wake when I tested. 19.8 (357).  S**T! She has it.  I went out and told my husband.

I checked the ER doctor list and our family physician would be there the next morning.  I brought back the glucometer and was convinced by a nursing friend to speak with the doctor that night.  He convinced me to go home and bring her in, "saying he would have no piece tonight knowing this now".

I returned home, got Amy out of bed.  Took a few things to do and brought her right over to the ER. They checked her urine.  +++ glucose, no ketones (that I remember).  Her sugar was 22 (396).  Yup. She has type 1 diabetes.  I nodded.  I know.

They had a nurse come in with some 30/70 to give her her first shot until we could see the CDE the next day.  Amy saw the needle and started to cry.  "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I won't drink so much.  I won't. I promise. I'm sorry.....mommy....."  My heart broke.  I cried. Amy cried. The nurse cried.
Amy got her first shot.  They showed my how to give it for the next morning.  They were going to send us home with no glucometer so I went down to my office and got one.  We went home.  That was it.  Our life was changed forever. February 8th.

The next day we saw the CDE for a few hours, the next day we saw the dietician, then the CDE again.  And that was it.  We went home with a book and a duo tang full of handouts.  Here you go, if you have questions, call us.

I scoured the Internet for kids sites.  I read. I learned.  We both gave injections.  Mom first, then dad. The CDE later mentioned that she didn't even show us how to inject using the pen.  Good thing I read so much.  Good thing I'm a pharmacist.

Such tiny doses, only 1U NovoRapid at breakfast and supper. 3NPH with breakfast & 2 at bedtime.  Good thing she's such a good eater, we didn't have to adjust our diet too much.

We learned. We adjusted. We read. We tried. We survived.

February 8th. If I had waited until the next morning, it would be the exact same day that my grandmother was diagnosed 60 years before.  She took it hard.  She blamed herself. She was there for us.

About a week in, we're at the supper table and Amy says "having diabetes is better than dying".  I smile at her while my insides crumble, yes, baby, having diabetes is better than dying.  I have to get up from the table before the tears spill.

Two weeks in we battle our first stomach bug.  Ketones, low sugars, barfing, hospital, more reading.  We made it through.

It's almost a year.  We're still learning. We're about to take the next step and are waiting for our pump to arrive. 

I say we/our because although its her condition, we are managing it together.
As a Family.

48 Things About Me

I'm very new around here and have seen a number of people post this, so I figured I would so the same as a little getting to know you sort of thing.  Here goes!




1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My mom's cousin and my Aunt

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Last week

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Not really, it's somewhat messy

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Two girls, 6.5 and 4.5, and one furry son.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

I hope so :)

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Yes, it's a coping mechanism

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Nope, taken when I was four.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Would love to.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Special K Fruit &Yogurt

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Yes to my workout sneakers, no to any others.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

I can take a lot, but when it comes tumbling down, look out.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Vanilla

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Smile

15. RED OR PINK?

definitely Pink

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

My weight.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

My best friend who now lives in Dartmouth, NS.
18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?

I need to have more patience.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Black flats

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Cinnamon Raisin Bagel and a keylime greek yogurt

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Songza on my phone

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Black.....a bit of every color

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

anything baking, especially bread.

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?

I try to see both sides, I'm not very political.  Maybe its because my Premier is never the same as the Prime Minister.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?

Mountain Hideaway, love my cabin.  I'd probably melt in the sun!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Love Hockey on TV (Go Leafs GO!) but in person, any sport would do, although I'm not sure about golf. 

27. HAIR COLOR?

Brown

28. EYE COLOR?

Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

No

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

Always been Pizza, and my mom's chinese.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Happy Endings, can't watch Scary since I had kids.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

The Mighty Ducks (it was on saturday night)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Black/Red/Grey

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Winter, love snowmobiling, snow shoeing, sledding, ice fishing, etc.

35. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Cheesecake

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?

Cardio, I don't know how to work with weights.

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?

Computer

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Stolen Innocence (for pleasure); Insulin Pumps and CGM: A User's Guide to Effective Diabetes Managment (to learn more)

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Don't have one.

40. FAVORITE SOUND?

my girls giggles

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?

Country

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Across the country to British Columbia

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

I'm crafty

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Happy Valley - Goose Bay, Labrador

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?

Where I was born (most of my life....minus university time away)

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?

White...soon to be Blue

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?

Black

48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS?

It's something to do :)

Friday 18 January 2013

BBBrrrrrrrr!

School is cancelled today.
Extreme Windchill of -45 to -50 degrees celcius today, tonight and saturday!
Gotta love Labrador....

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Bark! Bark! Bark!

What's that noise?  Is it Porter, our two year old family dog?  The neighbour's dog?  Tv? A seal? Nope!

It's the sound of a croupy cough!

We spent 2.5 hours in the emergency department this morning with Rylie.  I was pretty sure it was croup.  I was hesitant to even go after our 5.5 hour wait with Amy just last week, only to be told to take her home and go to bed. She had ripped her toenail completely off and I didn't know if she would need antibiotics to prevent an infection.  Diabetes.  Foot Care. Infection.  Just sounded to scary to me so I took her in looking for advice.  This led to a late NPH bedtime dose, which in turn led to a 3am low.  From now on I will be sure to call our peds Endo on call instead of the ER wait for something like that.  Lesson learned.

Anyway, back to Rylie, she's been sick on and off since before Christmas.  Her cough took a turn for the worse yesterday.  They agreed that it sounded croupy and gave her a dose of dexamethasone and sent us on our way.

Keep your fingers crossed that it does the trick.  She's quietly sleeping right now and I hope it stays that way for the night.

Monday 7 January 2013

After Bed Lows

Last night I had just settled down to watch Republic of Doyle.  This is a Canadian TV series on CBC about a father/son P.I. based in Newfoundland.  I just love it.  Its funny and it showcases Newfoundland culture....accent and all.  It had just come on, opening credits done, cliff hanger from last season - did I mention this was the season premier?- when I hear....
"Mom!".
Nah I'm just hearing things.
"Mom!"
Was that one of the girls. straining to hear. muting the television. No it can't be, its 9pm.
"MOMMY, I THINK I'M LOW!"
I paused the tv (love the PVR function), grabbed the glucometer, and took off running.  This is the first time that Amy has ever woken for a low.  I sit on the edge of her bed, grab her hand, prick her finger and wait.
beeeeep. 3.1.  What?  "Told you!" she smiles with that big toothless grin.

I have no idea where that number came from.  She's on NPH morning and bedtime and Rapid breakfast and suppertime.  She was 8.0 at bedtime 2 hours before and had a good snack.

She drank a juice and I told her that after we test again that she would have to have something to eat.  Usually I get some resistance but I got an eager "okay, I want crackers, cheese and turkey! Yummy, I'm starving". We tested, got the snack ready, and she devoured it.  While Corey and I were discussing the low, not able to reason it out at all, she pipes up with "well, sister and I were dancing all crazy while you were on the treadmill......it was fun" (insert shoulder shrugging). 

Now, Amy knows that for gym, playing on the trampoline, riding bike, exercise like activities, etc that she may need an extra snack, but I guess in her mind she was just having fun.  Like a regular kid.  Except she isn't just a regular kid anymore.

My husband tested her again at midnight and all was good.  I woke up as always asking for her number.

This morning she woke up quite chipper and easily got up and ready for school......just to have it cancelled for severe windchill (-40C).

Friday 4 January 2013

52 Week Money Challenge

Anyone have trouble saving money?  Uh...Yeah! 

I'm organized, I'm a list maker, I play it safe with my TFSA and mutual funds, but I like to shop.  I do most of my shopping online as I live in a northern area, a place that doesn't even have a mall, a place that doesn't even have a proper kids clothing store!  Thankfully most of my favorite retailers are online and ship to Canada with goof shipping costs.

Anyway, I've decided that I'm going to attempt the 52 Week Money Challenge.  The premise is simple.  You put away the amount of money for the week of the year that we are in.  This week I will put $1 in my piggy bank, next week $2, the week after that $3 and so on, up until the last week of the year where I will put $52 in my piggy.  By the end of the year I should have saved $1378. 

I'm not sure what I will do with it yet, maybe pay for christmas.



Anyone else in?

Thursday 3 January 2013

Christmas and New Years


Well, I've been trying to get a Christmas post done for sometime now, but my iPad still keeps giving me an error when I attempt a new post.  I'm definitely going to try to get more up on how to use this blogger site.  I've been reading many more people's blogs lately and have been trying to start at the beginning just so I know each of your stories.  It's amazing the strength and insight you can achieve by connecting to others who share something with you.

I hope everyone who celebrates christmas had a wonderful holiday, we certainly did, although I had to return to work the day after Boxing Day while the rest of my family was off!

Here are some picture highlights.

My Family
Christmas 2012

The girls before their piano recital


The girls in front of our tree

Our annual Gingerbread House

Just hung the stockings 

Christmas Morning with homemade Monster High hats

Christmas Day outfits made by my mom


New Years was a big weekend for us.  We packed everything up and headed to our cabin on Saturday.  We had had two great days of snowshoing, sliding, snowmobiling and visiting friends.  We were all set for Monday night complete with our own fireworks.  The weather had a different plan. We woke to a heavy snowfall warning.  I couldn't see across the lake.  Rylie was contrary and had managed to get both thumbs infected (how the.....).  We decided after lunch, when the weather lifted some, that we would pack up and head home for the night.  We had a much quieter evening than expected, dropping into my parents house, setting off our fireworks there, then heading to bed very early.

Our Cabin

Amy Sliding

The girls snow shoeing

Rylie learned to drive the MiniZ

Some of our fireworks

 
Here's hoping for a great 2013, with much less medical surprises than last year.  and that our introduction to the pump goes smoothly.

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Celebrate 3 years of D-Mom Blog

Check out the great giveaway from D-Mom blog!

http://www.d-mom.com/?p=20578

Make sure you check back each day to be eligible for the daily give away.