One of those days!

My day started pretty good, I got out the door on time went to pick up my daughters friend to take to school, I waited in the car while Nikki went in to get her, 20 minutes later they came out, all was good I had my kindle to keep me company.

Drop them off at school, run to post office, go to work, son number 1 comes in to go over some paper work he needed help with, no sooner sit down and son # 2 calls has a rash that won’t stop itching, he is highly allergic to a lot of things and had already been to the doctors once but the meds weren’t working. Can’t get him into a doctor again so we are on way to emergency room when I finally get a hold of doctor for new meds. Go to Pharmacy to get the meds, I could see this was going to take way to long so I leave my son there with payment (nice that he can drive) and head out to my 11:30 meeting. Meeting turned out to be a bust not at all what we were thinking it would be, so I turn around to run out to get a shipment of new products rushing to make sure I can get the shipment and get back to pick up Nikki. The shipment turns out to have the wrong size case and has to go back (what are you going to do things happen) so I go and pick up my daughter from school.

School gets out no Nikki, then I remember she has practice for her awards ceremony no problem I have my kindle to keep me company. She comes out 1 hour later and wants to go to her bowling league which she at this point has already missed more than half of, but it’s the last one and they are giving out awards so I pull into the bowling alley she runs in. Nikki comes back 10 minutes later with 2 awards and a bowling towel and lets me know that I owe her 1.00 because she didn’t bowl but I have to pay if she misses it. She’s happy and I am ready to head home and son number 2’s skin doctor calls and wants to see him, he is on his way back to the office can I meet him there. I drop off Nikki and meet Patrick at doctor’s office, long story short guess what Patrick has? Poison IVY poor kid! So we finally get him taken care of, I stop yes again at the pharmacy to drop off the new prescription and run home because now its 5:30 and Nikki has a softball game. Ask me what I got done today and I think I will scream!

So I calmly turned Nikki over to my husband and told them to have a great game and I will see them in a little while. Finally Peace & Quiet! It was just one of those days!

Julie Mom to Adam (21) Patrick (18) & Nikki 12

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The Trick List!

After a very shocking Dr. Appointment I have decided to let those of you who have children in the 12 and up age group in on some of the most common “Tricks” that our kids are playing with their lives.

1. When you ask them to test “Be sure they are really testing” and not just pulling out the test meter and giving you a number. Or if you are not in the same room as them they may just give you the number you want to hear.
2. If you look at their pump and you don’t see a blood sugar listed (they just bloused) chances are good that they never tested and simply bloused based on the food they were going to eat and how they felt.
3. Don’t buy the excuse I used the test kit up stairs, in my car etc. If you don’t have a kit to verify a number don’t believe that they tested.
4. When you ask them what their blood sugar was at lunch don’t take it for fact that they did even test at lunch.

As our kids get older they also get wiser to what we want to hear and what they don’t want to bother with, they will come up with a lot of ways to hide the fact that they just aren’t testing and blousing they way they should.

We had quite an eye opener when we down loaded one pump and saw that the only time this child had tested was at super (when they were physically with us). For breakfast there was nothing entered in the pump for a breakfast bolus or blood sugar! How can this be since I literally get this child the same thing every morning for breakfast ask them to test and they “always” give me a number, I even remind them by saying did you bolus and the answer is always “Yes”. So how can you have a day on your pump where the only blood sugar and bolus are at super when you are physically sitting in front of me?

This type of Dr. Visit of course was a huge wake up call to what we are being told and what is actually being done. So I rounded up child number 2 and looked at his pump and he had boluses in it but only 1 actual blood sugar throughout the day? What does this mean I asked, well this child has the wisdom to see and feel what the actual blood sugar is therefore no need to test! How on earth can you give yourself insulin and “Not even know what your blood sugar is?”

So based on this enlightenment I have printed out calendars laid them on my desk and every night I am “PHYSICALLY” reading all the information off of the pump to verify the testing and blousing. Weekend activities and privileges will be given based on the outcome of these readings.

Just when you thought you were 2 steps ahead you take 4 steps back. Playing with their lives is not an option so we will be persistent in making sure the “Tricks” are over.

Remember Kid’s will be Kid’s but we have to be smarter!

Julie , Mom to Adam (21) , Patrick (18) and Nikki Tyler (12) All Type 1

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Gross But It Works

Gross But It Works!

Do you watch your child test? If you do, what do they do with the excess blood spurting from their finger? My one son tends to just rub it into his skin, but my other son and my daughter just lick it off!

I know it sounds gross and I really don’t know if there is a problem doing this, I use to put a wipe in the case for them to just open and clean it with, apparently that is to much work. I then tried just a kleenex you know you can just easily grab it and wipe the excess blood off on that. That worked till the time it needed to be replaced.

Apparently just licking the excess drop of blood off is the easiest and fastest way. My daughter explained to me that she does it because that way she can make sure she doesn’t get the blood on anything else. (she has gotten blood on her clothes before) and this way she doesn’t have to worry about the blood going anywhere.

It’s gross right? I thought so but apparently my kids aren’t the only ones that do this. I was at camp this past weekend and observed several children doing this.

So my next project is going to be to come up with a swatch that attaches to the test kit that has wipes on it so that as you use a wipe you can remove and use the next one. This should last till they use the last sheet, than they will no doubt revert to the lick it off method.

Forever trying to find the perfect solution to a not so perfect disease.

Julie Mom to Adam (21) Patrick (18) & Nikki Tyler (12)

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The Final Straw

How many times should you have to request a young adult clean up their room? I am not talking about just putting away clothes but picking up the computer they took apart because they could make it run better. Or emptying out the huge green garbage bag that they filled when they were cleaning out a car (yes a car)!

Both my husband and I are pretty easy going and would be perfectly happy if the room did not look like the city dump. When opening his door you have to step over clothes and sometimes I think he has more glasses in his room than in my cupboard. He has about 6 blankets thrown all over the place, bags of dirty clothes (what’s with the bags). Than he has clean clothes (he does do his own laundry) folded neatly sitting on dressers, floors and desks. There are cd’s, video’s and change everywhere (I do pick up the change and figure finders keepers).

The room never use to be this bad, but for the past month the junk yard has grown, we have asked nicely, with no reaction today was the final straw! I gathered everything that was on the floor and dragged it on to my nice “clean back porch” (he wasn’t home). I called him and said if you want any of the stuff out on the porch you better come home and clean it up other wise tomorrow I move it to the garbage can!

He pulled up about an hour ago and is cleaning! Good thing I love him!

Julie Mom to Adam (21) Patrick (18) & Nikki (12) All Type 1

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To Go, Or Not To Go!

I remember a time when my daughter was too little to go to a diabetes camp. I waited for years till the time she would finally be able to attend. When she finally hit the age to go several things happened. First she didn’t want to go! Second I was afraid to let her go overnight after all she needed me! (even if the camp has doctors and nurses I somehow thought she wouldn’t survive without my presence ).

So the first year which I remember clearly because it was my husbands & my wedding anniversary and instead of shipping her off and going away we stayed local and I volunteered at the camp (you know just in case she needed me). We settled on a local 3 day camp to see how she did. I volunteered in the kitchen (those who know me, will recognized the dedication to my daughter because I hate to cook or even be in a kitchen).

The camping experience for her was so wonderful I couldn’t believe how easily she fit in and how good she felt about being around others just like her. Since I was working in the kitchen and they did a lot of things in the big room there I got to see first hand the interaction between little ones and older experienced kids. How they all encouraged each other and feed off of the smallest accomplishments. These kids became excited about simply testing an arm rather than a finger! Nikki and Patrick's First overnight camp is the “Circle Of Life Camp”. I mention this camp because I know first hand the quality of care and entertainment that my daughter and my son have received. It's funny that something like going to a diabetes camp can really shape your child and build them relationships that can last a lifetime. My son attended this camp (thankfully not on on the same days as Nikki , you know he was a teenager then and didn’t want to mix with the little campers (I guess they like their own space). My Patrick has made so many friends through this camp that even as he prepares to go away to college he still stays in contact with several of them. He has actually stayed in contact with so many of these kids that some days he has more friends with diabetes around him than not! The other cool thing is that now that the kids are getting older they are volunteering at these camps and giving back to the community that has helped them so much.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you have the opportunity to let your child attend a camp and there are some great ones, such as the Sugar Free Gang, Circle Of Life, and The Barton Center another truly inspiring camp that’s worth letting your child attend. The Barton Center gave Nikki a group of friends to bond with and build a relationship with. I know that some of the camps are quite costly but be aware you can do fund raisers to send your child to camp and you can also contact your local groups such as Rotary & Elks Clubs (some of these local clubs are happy to help a child go to camp) and many camps also have a scholarship fund they can draw to.

It is worth every penny to have your child involved in a diabetes camp, they learn, they thrive and they grow! Oh and Nikki told me right after I finished volunteering at the Circle of Life Camp that it was ok if I didn’t volunteer again because she wanted to be on her own like the big girls! (whew, no more cooking for me)!

Camp Information

The Circle Of Life Camp

The Barton Center

DLife List of Diabetes Camps

Julie
Mom of Nikki Tyler (12), Patrick (18) & Adam (21) All Type 1

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When They Are Ready

When Nikki was little she took dance for a while. She didn’t care for it until 3 years ago when she tried ballroom dancing (yes they actually teach ballroom dancing). She has loved it, and eagerly goes to dance class every Wednesday. We had tried, jazz, tap, and Irish Step (that’s a whole different story). All of the other classes fizzled out over months, but the ballroom dancing stuck.

When Nikki was 6 she started softball, my husband was the coach, because after all he always coached the boys and wanted to do the same for her. She was absolutely horrible! She was whiney, didn’t want to play, and didn’t like anything about the game. She was so bad and gave him such a hard time I eventually had to pull her and let him coach the team without her! How dedicated is he to be coaching a team for the season even though your own daughter won’t play. Well this season Nikki has asked to play softball again! Believe me I wanted to run in the other direction and tell her absolutely not! Of course, she wore me down and we signed her up. We have been at practice the last couple of weeks and to my surprise she is actually enjoying it. What a difference a couple years can make.

This year Nikki has a woman coach (no dad this time, I think he is silently thanking us for not asking him). The major message here is that this time she “Asked” to play, just like she asked to do ballroom dancing. Although we had tried these things in the past and they didn’t work, this time they are working I think because now she is ready! So if you feel like your child should be doing something like playing softball and they don’t want to or they give you a hard time about participating than it’s sometimes better to wait till they are ready.

Julie
Mom to Nikki Tyler (12), Patrick (18) & Adam (21) All Type 1

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Things That Excite Me

You know you are a mom of a child with diabetes when little things like a good blood sugar first thing in the morning really excites’ you. There’s just something about waking up to a 101 bg that seems to set the pace for the rest of the day.

Simple things in our life with diabetes now have the ability to excite me, for example, don’t you just love it when you ask your darling to test and they say that was my last test strip? Don’t you feel great when you (super prepared mom) can pull out a box of test strips out no matter where you are? Do you get a rush when darling number 2 (son) says he forgot his test kit at home? You anticipating kids being kids, pull your trusted test kit from your purse, even though you don’t have diabetes? With three children with diabetes, someone is always forgetting something, but having three with diabetes there is usually someone who has what we need on them if that fails (usually mom has the back up for the back up). Recently my daughters poker broke and in a panic she automatically started complaining that she was not going to be able to test because there was no way she was just going to jab herself with the needle (can’t say I blame her there) , but out of know where I remembered that when we were at camp last year they gave out these disposal needles and being me I happen to throw a couple in my organizer bag that I keep in the car and sure enough they worked great! It was a quick poke Nikki was happy and I was happy I know it’s pathetic but it excites me when we are able to make it work!.



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