Pacifiers and Insulin

So when we found out Cole was diabetic we called his current daycare and asked if they would be able to accommodate his special needs.   They told us they would not.   Well I guess that is not exactly what they said… What they said was that if we could get a doctor to come to daycare and train them then they would.   We asked our doctors which of course said they cannot do that.   So the search began for a new daycare.   Luckily (and I can say that now), I had lost my job so I was at home when Cole was diagnosed… anyway, luckily I was at home so we had some time to find a new daycare.   We checked several places and they were either willing to do the shots and glucose checks and were really dirty daycares or they were nice daycares but had A LOT of hesitation about doing the shots. After talking with Robert, we decided we did not want to go to a place that had hesitations about giving the injections.   It’s already worrisome enough relying on someone else to calculate Cole’s ins

I was typing this to add to our facebook page for Operation DAD but didn't really have a place to add it. Facebook kept saying it was too long... guess I typed too much info. So here is what I typed up: A bit more about Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 is not the typical diabetes you hear about. It cannot be controlled with pills, diet or exercise. Cole is now going to be dependent on insulin injections for the rest of his life (unless they come up with a cure). Cole has to check his glucose levels at least 5 times a day and that is the very minimum. He will also get a minimum of 4 injections a day. With Type 1 Diabetes it is best to maintain your glucose level. If you become too high or too low this can cause complication with your organs later in life. Also, there is a risk if you drop to low that you can have seizures, go into a coma or possibly die. We are in the process of obtaining a DAD (diabetic alert dog) for Cole. This is a very expensive process. The cost fo

So our long week continued through the weekend and on to Monday and Tuesday. Cole went back to the doctor Tuesday as he decided over the weekend that he would no longer eat or drink water. We were afraid he was getting dehydrated. Monday night we even got his medicine syringe out and forced fluids into his mouth. Cole was not very happy about this. One ounce and 15 minutes later we gave up. Of course we checked his urine (when he would actually pee) and he had moderate ketones again. Great kiddo, that’s why he needs to drink. Tuesday I told Robert he should probably take him back to the doctor as he also developed a lovely case of diarrhea and had a rash all over his back, stomach and face. Well doctor said that along with the herpangina he had enterovirus which was causing the rash and the upset stomach. Plus side was the sores in his mouth were gone!! Wednesday we took him back to daycare… you know the germ fest of a place where he got sick to begin with. I told the dire

So this week has been crazy. Cole came home from daycare on Tuesday feeling a little warm. He had about 100.1 temp but got his immunizations on Monday so we assumed this was a result of that. Wednesday, Robert drops Cole off at daycare at 2:30 and I pick him up about 4:30. He felt really warm to me so I get him home and take his temp. 102.5, great looks like the little guy is sick. I checked his bg level and of course it's in the 300s. I put cotton balls in his diaper and wait for him to pee so that I can check for ketones. A couple hours pass and I change his diaper. I take the cotton balls and squeeze them into a cup and put the test strip in... ugh moderate ketones. Ok, that's not too bad. I hand Cole some water. He sucks down 6 8oz classes of water in a 3 hour period. I check for ketones again. Still moderate. BG level is 415. Time to call the after hours doctor. Doctor says it's time to start checking his bg level every 2 hours and check for ketones

We are starting the process of getting Cole a DAD (diabetic alert dog).  This will help so much with Cole.  Since Cole is unable to communicate with us how he is feeling, it's hard to tell when Cole drops too low or too high.  A DAD will be able to sense the changes in Cole's blood sugar level and alert us when he drops to dangerous levels so that we may correct Cole.  The dog will help Robert and I be able to sleep a little better at night.  Instead of constantly worrying if Cole is okay during the night we will be able to have a little more peace of mind knowing that Cole's dog, Lexi will come get us when Cole's bg levels become unsafe.  The cost of the dog is high but worth it.  The initial cost of the dog alone is $15,000.  If you would like to help by making a donation, no matter how big or small we would greatly appreciate it.  Please click below if you would like to donate.  Thanks again!!

So last night at Cole's 2:00am check he was 64, which of course means that we have to wake him up and make him drink 4 oz of juice only to check him again 15 minutes later.  So we check again it's 112.  112 seems ok, it's in the normal range.  So back to bed we go.  I lay in bed trying to fall asleep and keep staring at the baby monitor watching Cole just sitting up in his crib looking around probably thinking to himself "are they going to come back in here and poke my finger again?"  Poor kid, 2:45 and he finally falls back to sleep.  Now I am thinking 3 more hours till I need to wake up.  Of course along with thinking "was 112 high enough for sleeping, should we have given him another juice".  I tell myself he will be ok and finally go back to sleep. Today Cole stayed home with Robert until after lunch since Robert didn't go to work till 3:00.  Robert said he didn't eat much breakfast so he didn't give him a shot.  Lunch rolled around and

That’s right, I am a closet cookie eater.   I have been wanting a cookie all day but I don’t want to eat cookies in front of Cole.   That would be mean.   So, I waited till I put him to sleep and I grabbed the bag of cookies and took them to my room.   No, I am not eating the whole bag, I just had one.   I don’t know why I felt I needed to sneak the whole bag into my room.   Like I was going to get busted taking a cookie from the bag in the kitchen by the kid that is sleeping in a crib.   What’s worse is when I literally go into the closet to eat a piece of candy.   You would think that this whole experience would open my eyes to the world of diabetes and make me more aware of my diet, but nope not really.   Now I just eat behind Cole’s back.   : (    

Oh the joys of having a husband that works late hours.  I just love having to give my very strong 1 year old his shots.  That's right, not just one shot but 2.  One for dinner than 1 for bedtime.  So tonight I cooked dinner for Cole and I  (that's right I said I cooked).  I even cooked while I had a 1 year old stuck to my leg while trying to hold my hand the whole time I was cooking. Cole finished eating dinner (maybe a little less dinner than normal since the doctor said today that he is in the 99% for his weight).  Then it was time to give him his shot.  I have learned that leaving him strapped in his highchair makes the shot giving a little easier.  So I head over to him with needle in hand.  I take out the alcohol wipe and start to clean the area and holy cow you would think I was performing an exorcism.  The kid went crazy, screaming and twisting around in the chair like he was going somewhere.  As I held him with one arm, with the needle in my mouth, I managed to clean

Every kid needs a cookie every once in awhile... even a diabetic kid :  )

Well we are forever changing Cole’s ratios. We are now back to 1 to 30 for breakfast and lunch still at 1 to 28 for dinner. We have bumped up his lantus to 4 units. Kind of scary the first night. Thought he might drop to low, but he was fine. Actually so far the new amounts seem to be working out pretty good. Everyone cross their fingers. I hate changing the amounts every week. I think it confuses daycare. On the plus side of giving him so much lantus at night the doctor’s office said not to correct him if he is high at his 2:00am check. One less shot for the little guy!! So Cole has gotten pretty good with the blood glucose check. If you ask him for his finger to do it, he pretty much sticks out his hand now. He used to tuck them under his butt when he saw you coming. The shots are a different story. Sometimes he is great and just sits there and lets you do it, but others times it’s a completely different story. It’s like wrestling a gator. The other night I said, “com