Pacifiers and Insulin

Today marks 4 years since Cole was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  It's been a great and crazy 4 years. We still have our ups and downs but we are making it. Each year on Cole's diaversary we do something special with him.  We have gone to Gattiland (a pizza place with games), we have just done a family dinner with a special desert, and one year we took him to see Florida Georgia Line (his favorite band). Today we are going to celebrate yet again.  We made a music video that we are sharing with our social media friends.  We have a cousin's birthday party we are attending during the day and then we will go to a special dinner of Cole's choice.  So far he says, Texas Roadhouse, but it's early that could change.  Then in a couple of days we will take him to see his favorite band, Florida Georgia Line, once more.   To us his diaversary isn't about celebrating diabetes, because really who in the hell would want to celebrate diabetes.  We are celebrat...

It's February and in just 6 months my little guy will be starting kindergarten.  I can't believe he's getting so old.  He says he is not going to go to school.  He says that I will teach him at home.  He says his MooMoo and Papa can help teach him, yet he doesn't even listen to any of us. He tells me he will be home schooled. I can already imagine what that August day will look like.  I will get up and get him ready for school. We will walk to school together.  I will walk him down the hallway to his classroom, he will turn and look at me with those sweet little eyes.  The tears will start to form, he will turn away quickly saying he's embarrassed.  He will then enter his classroom as I am yelling after him "Mommies can cry, don't be embarrassed, I love You! See you after school!" Then I realistically think to myself, heck I'll be up here in couple hours for lunch to make sure everything goes smoothly. Then I tell myself, get a grip Michelle you...

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...