Pacifiers and Insulin

Three years ago today, I was waiting at the doctor to find out what was going on with my son.  Three years ago today, I took my first ambulance ride, sitting next to my 13 month old son.  Three years ago today, I watched my baby get poked multiple times while the PICU staff tried to get 2 IV’s started in him.  Three years ago today, my child laid limp in my arms while I tried to provide him comfort. Three years ago today, my child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Cole turned 4 last month and we celebrated 4 years of life with Cole.  This month is Cole’s 3 year diversary (it’s been 3 years since his Type 1 diagnoses).  While we do not celebrate having diabetes, we are celebrating that diabetes hasn’t slowed him down.  So what’s in store tonight for his celebration?  Well a night at Gattiland of course and his favorite dessert (a chocolate mousse cake from Costco).  That’s right pizza and chocolate cake for our little diabetic.  Diabeti...

It’s hard to believe that my little guy is 3 1/2 years old and that he has already lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 2 years.  We have learned a lot in the past couple years and have so much more to learn.  Every day is different, but every day is filled with love and laughter.  I know some people get angry when people show ignorance towards what Type 1 Diabetes is, including my husband.  To me I can’t get angry at something that I was totally clueless about until my son was diagnosed.  Sure it could be easy to get angry at people that know him and have heard the story but still just don’t quite get it but why get angry when I can educate…. OK I will admit after “educating” for the 100 th billion time I get angry but hey who wouldn’t? I still can’t say I know everything there is to know about diabetes. It’s been 2 years and I still struggle trying to make the right decisions when it comes to being Cole’s pancreas.  There are some things I have ...

I remember the day I found out I was pregnant.  I think every mom prays that their child is born safe and healthy, I know I did.  I remember the day Cole was born, my sweet healthy boy.  Good size, good height, all 10 fingers and all 10 toes.  I remember feeling blessed at how easy Cole was.  He ate well, he slept well and he hardly fussed.  He was a great baby.  Looking back maybe he was so easy to help us spot when something was obviously really wrong.  By the time Cole was a year old it seemed he was already eating and drinking like a 5 year old.  So on March 18, 2013 when Cole refused to eat we knew something was really wrong.  Even in previous sicknesses he still ate like a champ.  Cole’s breathing was becoming very labored as well.  We took him to his pediatrician.  She vowed not to let him leave her office until she could figure out what was wrong.  I will not go into the rest of the story because we k...

Some nights are just harder…. Thursday night was site change night.  For those that don’t know how the pump works I will briefly explain a bit: There is a cartridge that is filled with insulin.  This is inserted into the pump.  A small tube leading from the cartridge/pump is then connected to a part of Cole’s body (we mainly use his thighs).  This is inserted using an infusion set.  Infusion sets have removable introducer needle that comes out once the flexible tube is left under his skin.  This tube is how Cole gets his insulin.  It is stuck on his leg with an adhesive and needs to be replaced about every 3 days (sometimes more often if the insulin doesn’t appear to be working as well or if the adhesive is coming off).  This is what we call Cole’s site.  So anyway, site change nights are not fun.  Cole is now almost 2 ½ years old.  He’s expressing his feelings a lot better now which is great in most ways but not when i...

Recap of my night: 5:00pm - Came home from work with Cole, whose blood sugar was in the low 200s. 6:00pm - Went for pizza (that’s right I fed my diabetic child pizza – which his loves) – we were supposed to meet for a diabetic club meeting but we were the only ones there.   Blood sugar of 189 – started correction and dosed for 15 carbs Cole wanted a brownie – so I gave him one Cole wanted a cinnamon stick so I gave him a small one Cole wanted another brownie – I said no Cole wanted another cinnamon stick – I said “I don’t think so” so he grabbed one off my plate and looked at me like “please mom can I eat it” so I gave in and said go ahead (hey don’t judge – he’s diabetic that doesn’t mean he can’t eat this stuff it just means he needs insulin for it- plus as if I feel I need to justify myself, he had a rough time in the past month , 2 ear infections, hand foot and mouth virus, and whatever the new thing i...

I sit here at 11:15pm on the day before mother’s day staring at my only child’s blood sugar monitor while I should be sleeping.   The reading is 110.   I have watched it slowly go up in the past 20 minutes from 107.   I don’t want to wake him to give him juice, as there is hope that I do not need to disrupt his sleep in order to jack his blood sugar up enough to make me feel comfortable to sleep.   So I will sit here a little while longer watching to make sure he’s trending upwards and does not start dropping again.   111 is the new reading… seems to be promising. This is my life now.   Watching, waiting and making sure he is ok.   Yes I know every parent watches their child to make sure they are ok, but I watch to make sure his numbers don’t drop significantly in his sleep causing him to die.   I watch to make sure his numbers don’t stay so high for so long that it causes significant organ damage when he gets older.   Just recently a 15 ...

My need for planning is starting to consume me :   ) Our Disney World trip is coming up soon (FYI to any crazies reading this, soon could mean 5 days or 3 months so don’t go trying to figure out my schedule-also no point breaking into our home, we are now broke after this trip).   Anyhow, I am a bit obsessive when it comes to planning.   I have made several excel spreadsheets, including all rides at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom (you know just a basic spreadsheet of what the rides are and if Cole would like them).   I have also done one with our dinning reservation times and our fastpass times for rides.   I have started a list of things needed for the trip including all of Cole’s medical supplies.   We have an appointment with Cole’s endo doctor so I can get any suggestions from her with dealing with heat and Cole’s pump for the trip. I have started ordering extra pump bands for Cole to wear on the trip.   I have ord...