In Honor Of Diabetes Awareness Month "I Test & I Pump Shirts

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and November 14th is World Diabetes Day. So we thought what can we come up with that would get people talking and asking questions about diabetes. That's when we thought what if we came up with some cool shirts that said "I test" and "I Pump"? Would those two words on shirts bring a response of what does it mean? We think so! When wearing theses shirts you have the perfect opportunity to bring out information about diabetes and the need to find a cure. The shirts are beautifully done in rhinestones and we have some other cute white t-shirts coming also. The are located at www.pumpwearinc.com look under the new products page.


We hope that people will ask alot of questions about them. But most of all we hope that you enjoy them. For the month of November remember to try and bring out as much information as you can about diabetes and why we need a cure. What I like to do is let the schools and city know that November is National Diabetes awareness month so that they can post it on their calendars. On November 14th I will send in a charm croc to each of my children's teachers, as a thank you for all that they do to help us manage diabetes and to also generate more talk about diabetes.

I know in my heart that some day we will find a cure and that our children and adults will experience life without daily pricks and worries. I still remember the first year Nikki was diagnosed we did our first Walk to Cure Diabetes. I remember telling Nikki that we were walking to cure diabetes and she would get to meet lots of new friends as we all joined together to raise money for the cure. The next morning she woke up and wanted to know if we had done it? Not knowing what we were suppose to do she responded as only a then 3 year old could "the Cure " you know we walked to cure diabetes, did we do it? Of course tears came flowing and lots of hugs, how do you explain that no we didn't do it yet, but I know that we will find the cure, and I know that we will find it so that our children and adults can know life without diabetes. So as November is the offical month of bringing awareness to diabetes lets spread the word in everything we do!

Halloween Is In The Air!

This week has been a truly crazy week! Everyone's blood sugars have been running on the high end. (do you think that they have all gotten into the bags of candy I have purchased in anticipation of Halloween)? Either that or there is something in the air. Patrick had to leave school today to come home and change his site. He's 16 and now prefers to change his site at home verus going to the nurse. Luckily we only live a minute away so he can easily do this. Nikki's blood sugar has been all over the place, She has been better about texting me her blood sugars at lunch time, but even with waking with a good number today she came out at a 296 pre lunch. so we have been correcting it all day. I am finding that as they get older we have less and less control on what goes in their mouth. And even though they tell you they haven't eaten anything that would explain the high blood sugar I keep finding empty wrappers from candy and empty bags of cheetos (Nikki's favorites). If you are like us, we tend to have a couple good days and than everything changes, its a constant struggle to get everyone checking and bolusing (before) they eat.

I need a better way to explain to all of my children that the goal is to bolus "before eating". This is a common thread with all three of our children, they eat than they remember to test. If we are with them, than everyone tests first, we count the carbs and than they bolus. This makes the numbers even out and stay within range. All it takes to throw the whole day off is for one of them to eat something and either not bolus or bolus afterwards.

With Halloween approaching I dread the day of highs that usually takes place, even with careful planning it is a difficult day to monitor. This year Nikki is in the middle school so the class parties are done (i hate to say it but i am glad to be done with those). Now its just the after school trick or treat we will have to deal with. For Halloween we usually ride the roller coaster of numbers, because of the activity level and the candy that everyone eats we are all over the place. This year I am determined to conquer this monster of a day. So i will wish you all the best of luck on conquering this. As parents we want our children to be able to enjoy this day like everyone else, I find although a hard day to control even with all of the carbs listed for candy, its well worth the effort to let them just be kids. So we will continue to work hard at trying to maintain normal numbers (does anyone ever maintain normal numbers?)if you don't you are not alone. Some times I think I live on a different planet! I am a constant broken record, did you test, did you bolus, let me see your meter, let me see your pump, how many carbs did you use? Sound familiar? Well Halloween I am going to put it all aside and just do the best we can!

Hope everyone has a very Happy Halloween! Nikki is going to be a witch this year! Last year she made her very own princess costume including a pump pocket for her pump! This year she bought tights that she cut up (she loves to cut up clothing), a mariyln monroe dress and wig with a witch hat? she created the whole thing,so i think we are a Marilyn Monroe Witch! Happy Happy!

Spending Accounts

Spending Accounts. It’s hard to believe that we are already entering the month of October! Just 3 months and 2008 will have ended and 2009 will begin. If you are like me you might be looking at your spending accounts and trying to make sure that you have submitted all of your co-pays, bills and anything else that will amount to getting you the refunds you so diligently have set aside.
For those of you that might not know what spending accounts are here is some information about them:
http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/cm20031022ar01p1.htm
Flexible spending accounts
Health care flexible spending accounts are employer-established benefit plans that reimburse employees for specified medical expenses as they are incurred. These accounts are allowed under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code and are also referred to as "cafeteria plans" or "125 plans." The employee contributes funds to the account through a salary reduction agreement and is able to withdraw the funds set aside to pay for medical bills. The salary reduction agreement means that any funds set aside in a flexible spending account escape both income tax and Social Security tax. Employers may contribute to these accounts as well. If you do not use the amount that you have set aside “You Lose it”. So it is important to make sure that you take advantage of all the options available to you to gain reimbursement.
I have been amazed at how much we as a family have gone through every year in medical necessities, co-pays and day to day essentials that deal with diabetes. I gather everything that I can and submit monthly for all of our expenses. I include all of my documentation, receipts and forms. Doing this allows us to gain reimbursement for something that is draining on our expenses and lives. Even with the use of spending accounts there are still many things that we as parents of children with diabetes do not have the luxury of being able to be reimbursed for. Can you see me submitting for the 14 pencil boxes that I have so patiently filled with drink boxes, cake gel, test strips, fast acting candies and gluco tabs. Are these a medical necessity? When you have children with diabetes that are in school they travel from class to class and kids being kids they don’t always remember to replenish their test strips or replace the drink box they drank the day before. It’s essential to make sure that each classroom has the necessary supplies just in case there is a need. Yet I hardly think that receipts for all of the supplies I hand out at the beginning of each year would be covered. Nor to I believe that the cases of drink boxes and gator aid would be approved either.
So as I finish with this months whooping total and seal the envelope with all of our receipts I wanted to take this time to remind everyone that our pump cases, pump packs, pump pocket t-shirts, pump bands and specialty clothing are used to hold your insulin pump. We are happy to supply you with letters stating what the use is for. We cannot guarantee that you will be approved but many of our clients have gotten reimbursed. And why not submit what we can to help elevate the draining on our finances. If you are just learning about spending accounts be sure to start the new year of 2009 off with one. You will be amazed at the savings. I’ve used spending accounts for years and what really amazes me is that even with deducting this from my salary its hardly noticeable because of the savings I gain on the other end.

Another School Year!

The school year has begun and we are just finishing up our first month of being back to school. There are a lot of new things this year, Nikki has left grammer school behind and has moved up to the Middle School. Since she is our youngest this has been a milestone for us. We have our 504 plans in place allowing both Nikki and Patrick to test when they need to and covering all the other essential things that we felt needed to be in place. We are very fortuante that we have a school system that recognizes the needs of children with diabetes. When Nikki was first diagnoised she was the only child with type 1 diabetes in the school district, now as she enters 6th grade there are 5 type 1 children in her school. I strongly recommend to all parents and caregivers to make sure that you have a 504 Plan in place this will help you through out the school year.

I have found this first month of school very challenging, one issue we have had is with Patrick who is now 16 and driving (do you feel my stress level rising). He is also an awesome golfer and has been on the varisty golf team since 9th grade. He has just qualified for the sectionals at school. He is the only one on the team that has qualified. While this is a wonderful thing for him it requires that he be absent from school for a couple of days, and this also ties up his evenings till about 7:00. Which makes getting homework done in a timely manner and make up work done a little difficult (he's tired you know). I will be happy when it is over so we can get back to a regular schedule. With the schedule he has with golf it has been difficult to regulate his blood sugars, he is always afraid of going low especially out on the greens so he is not correcting his blood sugars correctly. We are waiting for more sensors to arrive so that we can see if we can get our sensors for both him and nikki to work correctly. I love the sensors but we have had a terrible time on having them work consistantly. Of course during the summer we were not able to really use because of all of the swimming. I am determined to get these working the right way so stay tune.

Nikki is loving the middle school, my big problem with her right now is that she goes to lunch tests and than doesn't bolus until like an hour later. She's been doing this now for a whole week, so i finally got a hold of her teachers who are going to try to remind her to test and bolus at lunch. (shes been doing this on her own for over a year) what's the reason why all of the sudden we can't remember to bolus? I am personally wondering if since we are in a new schoolthat maybe she doesn't have the comfort level yet to test and bolus in front of the other kids, i'am just guessing and trying to figure it out. I've resorted to calling her cell phone and next i'll have to start sending her to the nurse at lunch time, something i really don't want to do. I'am sure many of you have also had some of our struggles.

Nikki is really busy she just won the position of treasure for student council, and is doing ballroom dancing. She has put girl scouts on hold this year (whew 1 night of no running). She continues to love being in the christmas show at her dance studio and will start practice for that this weekend. Along with all of this she still makes time to take sewing lessons every saturday. She says she wants to be a designer! Last year she made her own halloween costume (a princess dress) and guess what she even built in her own pump pocket! Future designers beware! Our little designer has also really started to take a more active role in the types of pump packs,cases and styles of clothing items that she thinks others will like. So stay tune for some new energy in our speciality clothing line at Pump Wear.

Adam our oldest has now been on his own for 2 full months. He is happy and doing well, funny we notice that he is now working a lot more hours (do you think it has anything to do with supporting yourself). We have also seen a lot of growing up and responsibility. He has always been a great kid its just different seeing him on his own. He still makes time for his family Thursday nights are dinner and laundry at our house and Friday mornings its breakfast with mom. Mom's out there I think its hardest on us, I still can't believe he is living on his own. 4 guys is a apartment and all of them loving it!

As they continue to grow and mature, remember us moms can never get or give out enough hugs!

Growing Up!

As many of you know I have three wonderful children that happen to all suffer from type 1 diabetes. You often hear me speak about my daughter Nikki who happens to be the youngest and the first to have been diagnosed. I think I probably have a lot to say about her because being the youngest she is the one that is always with me and as most of you can understand when they hit the teenage years theres really a lot you could say about our lovely darlings but don't dare.. I have children in the Tween years, Teen Years and Now the 20's. Did I really say I have a 20 year old son (well almost he will turn 20 in September).


You will see as our little ones hit those great Tween and teen years they will rely less and less on us till they are finally leaving the nest! Each age group poses its own set of worries for us as parents. My son Patrick the 16 year old just got his license today, hence the worries of is he testing before he turns the key, does he have drink boxes with him. As I sit here writing this post I am awaiting his safe return from his first solo trip to the mall. Yes there is always something to worry about and yes i hate to cut the apron strings.

I'am one of those moms that would be perfectly happy with my little ones never leaving the nest but hence they do want to spread their wings and venture out on their own. Our oldest did just that. Adam turns 20 this September and as many 20 years old he is ready for his independence. He hasn't moved far (around the corner from us) with 3 friends of his. Each friend has contributed their own stock of mismatched furniture, dishes, pans. All cramming their beds, dressers into tiny rooms with no closets. Most leaving homes where they had their own roomy, rooms with tv's and computers. These courageous young men are so excited and thrilled to have a place of their own. Instead of seeing no closets they see creative ways to use bins. My Adam who never made his bed (without lots of whining) is now telling me he will stop over after he finishes making his bed and doing the dishes! At our house we call him the cheesy king because he always left the kitchen with a sink full of cheesy pans for someone else to clean up. Could our Adam really be growing up! Adam is now working full time for the Center For the Disabled, we are very proud of him.

After being away from home for about 3 weeks now he has really started to show that he is maturing. This week he called to see if we could set up a Friday morning as a breakfast date, so we can catch up weekly (yes this made my heart melt) knowing that he does indeed miss me and wants to spend time with me. He has been coming over on Thursdays for family night and laundry day so we are all settling into a routine. I'am glad he is just around the corner from us so we know he is safe.

As the school year has now gotten off to a start we are all busy with the fun of gathering school supplies, completing and confirming 504's (yes i think that you must have a 504 in place) and all that involves, training and meeting with teachers our lives can get very hetic. Through all of the craziness as I call it there's nothing like a hug from your full grown son!

So for all of us who are sending our children off to college, school, or adulthood, grab an extra hug and keep them close in your hearts because they will surprise us and make us proud.

The one thing I have to say about having a family of children with diabetes, as many of you can also agree with, we do alot of hugging!

Julie

The Barton Center!

For those of you that are trying to figure out wheter you should send your child to camp I wanted to share with you my daughters experience at The Barton Center www.bartoncenter.org.

This was Nikki's 2nd year attending the 4 day session at Barton. It was a major event making sure that she had all of the right things with her, flash light, swim gear,sleeping bag, clothes and oh lets not forget the dress (or should i say dresses) for the dance they have there. The dance is one of the focal points in Nikki's stay at Barton. Since she couldn't decide what dress she was going to wear she brought all 3 with her. Taking them from hanging neatly on hangers to thrown into her suitcase (not sure she knows what they will really look like when they come out of that bag, wrinkles and all.) The point is that she is happy and so looking forward to going to Barton. This really surprised me since last year she had fun but i truly didn't realize the impact that those 4 days and nights last year had on her.

We arrived at Barton on Sunday afternoon, later than most of the campers so she was anxious to just get to her new friends, with a quick kiss and hug she was off! Now mom's will understand this, I was thinking and hoping she was going to hate the idea of leaving me just a little, but no she had more important friends to make!

My husband and I after 30 years of marriage decided to take a quick 3 day vacation since we felt comfortable in the knowledge that Nikki would be safe and in good hands of the diabetes professionals. We had a great time, but I missed not hearing Nikki's voice terribly. Ok I am sure all of you moms can understand this I have a hard time letting her grow up. A child with diabetes leans on us so much that when that care is shifted we kind of feel like something is missing. To be honest I really missed her! I know how important it is for her to gain independence and I am so happy that she embracing the spirit of The Barton Camp. But I am still a mom struggling with my youngest growing up.

I could hardly wait to pick her up on Thursday, of course I wanted to rush right in and hug her but she was busy still in the dining hall having dinner. When the parents were allowed in we all were surrounded by hugs and kisses from our fearless campers! A beautiful closing ceremony followed. My daughter was beaming and loved having her friends with her. She was a little upset with me because she met up with 2 of her friends from last year who were there for 2 weeks! Why didn't I sign her up for 2 weeks! They all exchanged e-mails and they have already scheduled the session for next year! 2 weeks of course! I know through this experience that she will love it and have a great time. In experiencing the closing ceremony at Barton you can see all of the kids that have returned year after year, many now as counselors and the bond that they all have truly formed. I know that my daughter could not have found a better place to be. Now someone tell me how I will get through 2 weeks without her!

There's A New Girl In Town!

There's A New Girl In Town and her name is Girly Girl Studio! If you haven't checked out this website take a minute to visit www.girlygirlstudio.com. We have been working alot with this company. You will notice that they have a lot of different hand bags and accessories. The unique thing about them is that you can actually choose the hand bag that you like and custom design it with the fabrics and ribbons that you want.

Being able to choose the fabrics we want and the different style of bags has given us the ability to offer a expanding line of items for our community. We've recently introduced a messenger bag that has all kinds of pockets for holding your diabetes supplies, the bag also flips on to the back of a car seat so you can have easy accessiblity to all your diabetes needs. Than to really make the bag a fashion statment we had a matching meter case done along with a matching pump pak. Can you see the possiblities we now have to give our community a growing line of fashion!

Girly Girl Studio has so many different styles and options available that we wanted to share this resource with our community. Girly Girl Studio specializes in doing home parties where you can envite friends and family over to create their own fun bags. (I had one of these parties and my friends loved it!). We all picked out the bags we liked and with the help of the consultant chose our fabrics, ribbon, handles and buckles. It was a lot of fun and I even earned "Free" Bags.

The Home party concept for designing your own hand bags has been taking off and growing, its a new concept that is being very well recieved (not surprised we all love hand bags) and being able to customize your own is a unique idea.

Girly Girl Studio is looking for consultants to help meet the demand, you can check out on their website how to become a consultant. You can also view the bags, fabrics and even order some pre-made bags. Sometimes I just love the fabrics and combinations that they put together.

So if you are looking for a unique fun way to earn extra income and be your own boss check out Girly Girl Studio www.girlygirlstudio.com.

I'll answer the question that is probably also going through your head, what about the boys and men in our lives? Well Girly Girl has not forgotten the men in our lives, they have a Manly Man division and will be offering messenger bags and diaper bags for men along with a growing line of fun accessories. Watch this company grow they are just so much fun!