After our Endo visit and a short trip to the zoo to see the Polar Bears on Monday, we went to Target. We don't have any Target stores around here, so when I make it to Columbus I like to go there and see what kind of deals I can find!
I am having the hardest time finding a suitable bag for El's "stuff". Our first bag was a small pink backpack with a poodle dog on it that Great Grandma R got El at the hospital when I had El. From that, we started using a pink camo insulated lunchbox that we got from a JDRF walk. Then we tried a 31 Gifts insulated lunch bag. For her birthday (and 1 year diabetes anniversary) Staci & Gaven gave her a Sponge Bob mini backpack that we are currently using. Unfortunately, all of these bags have problems so I'm always on the look out for a better bag. The insulated bags really are the better way to go and I really liked the 31 lunch bag, but it really needed a shoulder strap.
So while at Target, I looked at their lunch boxes. I'm looking thinking about a new diabetes bag, but Mom quickly reminds me that school will be starting soon! As soon as she said that, Ellee got excited because she "needed a bag to take her lunch to the big kid school!" I've never seen a kid so excited about packing her lunch! I just hope that she keeps this enthusiasm up!
She didn't have a definite favorite, so I told her we will keep looking. She also wanted too look at book bags. Do you realize how hard it is to find a cute book bag that doesn't have some character plastered all over it?! 6 weeks left to find a lunch box and book bag that we BOTH agree with!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Quartly Endo Visit
On Monday we had El's quarterly doctors appointment with her specialist. We did see the nurse practitioner this time, whom I really like! Unfortunately her A1C went up from 8.3 last visit to 8.5, but we can deal with that.
The Endos keep pushing us to give her shots sooner when she's eating and even want us to give it to her before she starts eating. I understand the logic behind it, but lets just say that I'm not excited about it. And the main thing that I can't get through to them is that she's not a predictable eater so how can I predict how much insulin to dose her with? If she eats more than I think she will, then she's still going to run high, and if she doesn't eat as much, then she's going to go low and I'll have to force her to eat something. It's times like this when the pump is looking better and better!
Ah, the pump debate! It's not that I'm opposed to it, it's just that it makes my stomach hurt just thinking about inserting, removing, and having a port in her stomach. =( I keep hoping that Gaven gets a pump soon so that Staci can show me first hand how it works.
One bad thing that did come out of the Endo appointment is that Ellee is developing lumps in her arms from the shots. Injections should be done in a different location every time if possible because the insulin causes the fat cells to either break down or harden, causing lumps. We have 4 areas to chose from to give injections... Upper Arms, Thighs, Upper Butt (or Hips), and Stomach. The stomach is the ideal area because it's closer to the digestive system and is absorbed quicker, there for working quicker. El has always preferred her arms, but has been letting us do her thighs. For some reason she fights us when we suggest her hip. I refuse to consider her stomach, at this point in time, for a couple of reasons: 1) she has no fat in her stomach! (Yes, I will admit that I'm jealous of her little, flat abs!) and 2) when she goes on the pump, we will run out of spots on her stomach to rotate though, so I see the stomach as a "pump area only". My only hope is that she will let us use her hips soon, because it will only be a matter of time before we face the same lumping problem with her thighs.
On a positive note: We are nearing the end of our last bottle of Humalog so we can finally switch over to the Novalog Pen! The pen will be much more convenient and quicker, plus we won't look like a bunch of drug addicts with all of the syringes!
The Endos keep pushing us to give her shots sooner when she's eating and even want us to give it to her before she starts eating. I understand the logic behind it, but lets just say that I'm not excited about it. And the main thing that I can't get through to them is that she's not a predictable eater so how can I predict how much insulin to dose her with? If she eats more than I think she will, then she's still going to run high, and if she doesn't eat as much, then she's going to go low and I'll have to force her to eat something. It's times like this when the pump is looking better and better!
Ah, the pump debate! It's not that I'm opposed to it, it's just that it makes my stomach hurt just thinking about inserting, removing, and having a port in her stomach. =( I keep hoping that Gaven gets a pump soon so that Staci can show me first hand how it works.
One bad thing that did come out of the Endo appointment is that Ellee is developing lumps in her arms from the shots. Injections should be done in a different location every time if possible because the insulin causes the fat cells to either break down or harden, causing lumps. We have 4 areas to chose from to give injections... Upper Arms, Thighs, Upper Butt (or Hips), and Stomach. The stomach is the ideal area because it's closer to the digestive system and is absorbed quicker, there for working quicker. El has always preferred her arms, but has been letting us do her thighs. For some reason she fights us when we suggest her hip. I refuse to consider her stomach, at this point in time, for a couple of reasons: 1) she has no fat in her stomach! (Yes, I will admit that I'm jealous of her little, flat abs!) and 2) when she goes on the pump, we will run out of spots on her stomach to rotate though, so I see the stomach as a "pump area only". My only hope is that she will let us use her hips soon, because it will only be a matter of time before we face the same lumping problem with her thighs.
On a positive note: We are nearing the end of our last bottle of Humalog so we can finally switch over to the Novalog Pen! The pen will be much more convenient and quicker, plus we won't look like a bunch of drug addicts with all of the syringes!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
One Smart Cookie
It amazes me at the stuff the girls come up with some times!
I had to take Dani in for a well check one Friday, then take Ellee in for her well check the following Friday. Both girls needed shots but I tried not to say anything about it ahead of time. After seeing how big the needles were at Dani's appointment, she kept asking if she had to get shots at hers. Not wanting to scare her, I kept saying I don't know (because I really had no idea what she needed or how many).
After getting weighed in and height checked (44 pounds and 44 inches!), we did the usual waiting forever for the doctor. The girls decided they had to go to the bathroom, so we walked down the hall. El returned to the room before Dani and I did, and when I walked in I heard the following conversation:
"Do I have to get shots today?"
"I'm not sure, we'll have to take a look in a little bit to see if you need any."
"Well, if I do have to get some, will you use my *little* needles instead of your *BIG* needles?"
What do you say to that?! I was so stunned that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I was amazed that she was able to make the connection between her needles and the shot needles and think of substituting them! And I seriously wish they would consider downgrading the gauge of their needles because they were huge!!!
Mom and I had the same thought (and she even told El) that she should be fine with the immunization shots because she's use to getting her insulin shots. WRONG! That whole wing of offices could have heard her screaming! And the worse part was that in order for me to hold her down, my ear was right by her face!
I had to take Dani in for a well check one Friday, then take Ellee in for her well check the following Friday. Both girls needed shots but I tried not to say anything about it ahead of time. After seeing how big the needles were at Dani's appointment, she kept asking if she had to get shots at hers. Not wanting to scare her, I kept saying I don't know (because I really had no idea what she needed or how many).
After getting weighed in and height checked (44 pounds and 44 inches!), we did the usual waiting forever for the doctor. The girls decided they had to go to the bathroom, so we walked down the hall. El returned to the room before Dani and I did, and when I walked in I heard the following conversation:
"Do I have to get shots today?"
"I'm not sure, we'll have to take a look in a little bit to see if you need any."
"Well, if I do have to get some, will you use my *little* needles instead of your *BIG* needles?"
What do you say to that?! I was so stunned that I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I was amazed that she was able to make the connection between her needles and the shot needles and think of substituting them! And I seriously wish they would consider downgrading the gauge of their needles because they were huge!!!
Mom and I had the same thought (and she even told El) that she should be fine with the immunization shots because she's use to getting her insulin shots. WRONG! That whole wing of offices could have heard her screaming! And the worse part was that in order for me to hold her down, my ear was right by her face!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Start of Summer!
I decided to try something new and upload a video! The girls have been begging to go out in the kayaks, and Dani is especially excited since she is finally big enough to try to paddle her own boat! Good thing Mom had the for-thought to go ahead and get two kayaks when we found them because we have yet to find them again!
This is a video of El in her boat for the first time in "big water". We taught her to paddle in the pool before going out on the lake.
This is a video of El in her boat for the first time in "big water". We taught her to paddle in the pool before going out on the lake.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Fairies
For Christmas, I got the girls the cutest tutus and have been wanting to do pictures of them in them. The weather finally cooperated and we were off to Uncle Dave & Aunt Tonya's tree farm to see what we could get into!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Such a Caring Little Girl!
On Friday, May 14th, I *finally* had my appointment to have my wisdom teeth out (it got canceled and pushed back for 2 months because of insurance delays). I was really hoping to be able to do it on a weekend when I didn't have the girls, but that didn't happen since Josh was in Florida that weekend. Mom was a trooper and offered to take the girls and I to the appointment and babysit us as much as we needed that weekend. I love her to death... she is such a strong, and brave, woman!!!
I had to be to the surgeon's office at 10:30. Because all 4 of my teeth were completely impacted, they knew it was going to take a little longer than normal... no big deal to me as long as they didn't have any difficulties! All I told the girls was that mommy was going to a "special dentist", and at some point it was said that I was getting teeth pulled. At either point, neither of them really cared, they just know that I was having *something* done!
The game plan: Mom drops me off, then takes the girls to McD's to eat and play at the playground till I'm done, then head back and get me and head home. Simple enough. On the way there, we see that there is a playground a block away from his office, and Elizabeth was bound and determined that she wanted to play at THAT playground! For some reason there was orange barricade fencing around it, so Mom told her that they were going to a different one. We get to the office, I get Danica out and Mom gets El out. As I walk around the back of the car, I hear Ellee crying and Mom is asking her what is wrong. El manages to choke out between tears that she "doesn't want the dentist to make Mommy cry"! It was so cute and ironic that I couldn't help but laugh and cry at how sweet she is! We assured her that Mommy will not cry!
Surgery goes well and we head home. I hurt, boy did I hurt, but I didn't cry! When we got home I sat on the couch with an ice pack icing down my face for a few hours which helped with the pain. At some point, El sat down beside me. I showed her the bandage and cotton ball in the crook of my arm and said "look, Mommy got a straw in my arm, but it didn't hurt!" I've learned over the years from blood draws and IVs, that it just hurts initially, but not even that bad as long as I don't watch them insert the needle. El has had her share of draws an IVs, so I'm trying to get her to see that the initial poke is the only thing that hurts. I assured her that my arm doesn't hurt any more so she told me to take the bandage off, so we did. I had to choke back the tears because that was a sticky bandage!!!
Dani would come over and play with me, which usually consisted of using me as a playground. El seen her do this a few times and sternly told her "Dani, be careful, Mommy's arm hurts!" I couldn't help but laugh and tell her that my arm is fine, it's my jaw and mouth that hurts!
After a couple hours I got off the couch and went out side to watch the girls jump on the trampoline. A few different times, Ellee came up to me and said that she wanted to "make soup for me so that I feel better!" I couldn't help but laugh and cry a little every time because it made me so proud that she was so caring and wanted to do anything to make me feel better! Mom and I both told her that when I when I finally get hungry, I'll let her know so that she can make me soup, but not to worry about it right now!
It just goes to show that how strong of a little girl she is. With all the needles and pokes she has to go through, that she is brave and gets through them. And when some one else is hurt, she is willing to help take care of them! I really do hope she becomes a nurse and puts her caring to good use!
I had to be to the surgeon's office at 10:30. Because all 4 of my teeth were completely impacted, they knew it was going to take a little longer than normal... no big deal to me as long as they didn't have any difficulties! All I told the girls was that mommy was going to a "special dentist", and at some point it was said that I was getting teeth pulled. At either point, neither of them really cared, they just know that I was having *something* done!
The game plan: Mom drops me off, then takes the girls to McD's to eat and play at the playground till I'm done, then head back and get me and head home. Simple enough. On the way there, we see that there is a playground a block away from his office, and Elizabeth was bound and determined that she wanted to play at THAT playground! For some reason there was orange barricade fencing around it, so Mom told her that they were going to a different one. We get to the office, I get Danica out and Mom gets El out. As I walk around the back of the car, I hear Ellee crying and Mom is asking her what is wrong. El manages to choke out between tears that she "doesn't want the dentist to make Mommy cry"! It was so cute and ironic that I couldn't help but laugh and cry at how sweet she is! We assured her that Mommy will not cry!
Surgery goes well and we head home. I hurt, boy did I hurt, but I didn't cry! When we got home I sat on the couch with an ice pack icing down my face for a few hours which helped with the pain. At some point, El sat down beside me. I showed her the bandage and cotton ball in the crook of my arm and said "look, Mommy got a straw in my arm, but it didn't hurt!" I've learned over the years from blood draws and IVs, that it just hurts initially, but not even that bad as long as I don't watch them insert the needle. El has had her share of draws an IVs, so I'm trying to get her to see that the initial poke is the only thing that hurts. I assured her that my arm doesn't hurt any more so she told me to take the bandage off, so we did. I had to choke back the tears because that was a sticky bandage!!!
Dani would come over and play with me, which usually consisted of using me as a playground. El seen her do this a few times and sternly told her "Dani, be careful, Mommy's arm hurts!" I couldn't help but laugh and tell her that my arm is fine, it's my jaw and mouth that hurts!
After a couple hours I got off the couch and went out side to watch the girls jump on the trampoline. A few different times, Ellee came up to me and said that she wanted to "make soup for me so that I feel better!" I couldn't help but laugh and cry a little every time because it made me so proud that she was so caring and wanted to do anything to make me feel better! Mom and I both told her that when I when I finally get hungry, I'll let her know so that she can make me soup, but not to worry about it right now!
It just goes to show that how strong of a little girl she is. With all the needles and pokes she has to go through, that she is brave and gets through them. And when some one else is hurt, she is willing to help take care of them! I really do hope she becomes a nurse and puts her caring to good use!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Speechless!
I have to admit that I had a hard time thinking of a title for this post! Even before diabetes, Ellee has always seem very grown up for her age and her personality definitely started showing through at an early age! In the year that we've had to deal with T1D, she has proven to be such a strong little girl - maybe too strong! She has accepted this new path through life with a shrug of the shoulders and keeps moving forward.
Last night she said something that caught me off guard but so funny at the same time! We've become very good friends with the neighbors who have a little boy and little girl who are the girls' age. Last night, we ate dinner with them because it was their Mimi's birthday! I made sketti & meatballs with garlic bread and when it was done, I fixed 4 plates and sat them down at the table. I set El's test meter down beside her plate and called all the kids in to start eating and went out into the kitchen to make my plate. I sent back out to see get the meter and to see what her number was.
Being pokey like she can be at times, she wasn't done yet. Standing there waiting for her to finish, the little boy asks her what she's doing. Consintrating on getting the blood on the strip, without looking up at him she says "I'm checking my sugar". He accepted that and started in on his plate, but to my surprise, a few seconds later El adds "*sigh* I'm just the kid next door with diabetes!"
WOW... not sure what to make of that! I did have to laugh to myself and mom laughed this morning when I told her about it. I think the "matter of fact" voice that she used is what made it so cute and funny. In a way it scares me that this is making her grow up too fast, but on the other hand, I can't be more grateful that she's accepted this as well as she has.
Last night she said something that caught me off guard but so funny at the same time! We've become very good friends with the neighbors who have a little boy and little girl who are the girls' age. Last night, we ate dinner with them because it was their Mimi's birthday! I made sketti & meatballs with garlic bread and when it was done, I fixed 4 plates and sat them down at the table. I set El's test meter down beside her plate and called all the kids in to start eating and went out into the kitchen to make my plate. I sent back out to see get the meter and to see what her number was.
Being pokey like she can be at times, she wasn't done yet. Standing there waiting for her to finish, the little boy asks her what she's doing. Consintrating on getting the blood on the strip, without looking up at him she says "I'm checking my sugar". He accepted that and started in on his plate, but to my surprise, a few seconds later El adds "*sigh* I'm just the kid next door with diabetes!"
WOW... not sure what to make of that! I did have to laugh to myself and mom laughed this morning when I told her about it. I think the "matter of fact" voice that she used is what made it so cute and funny. In a way it scares me that this is making her grow up too fast, but on the other hand, I can't be more grateful that she's accepted this as well as she has.
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