JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes 2009

Tomorrow is the walk. My company supports JDRF as one of its four national sponsored charities (the others are Heart Association, HIV/AIDS and American Cancer Society.) It makes me so proud to be associated with this company. I was on the steering committee for activities surrounding this year's walk. Here in the Chicagoland area, it's called the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes. Ron Santo makes the rounds of the walk locations, health permitting. I hope we can see him tomorrow.

We'll be walking at the Libertyville location. It's not our regular site, but it's where my company has a tent and activities and such. It promises to be cool and possibly rainy. Fun, fun, fun. Plus we have to leave at 7 am to get to the walk site by 8. I am tired already.

But, this cause is a good one. On the way to the cure, JDRF invests in technologies to assist those managing this disease and while a cure may be a dream, a long way off, an artificial pancreas is in clinical trials.

We don't do active fundraising as a family, but this year through efforts at work, I have raised a nice sum. I will be happy to collect a t-shirt for Peony

dexcom 7 rocks!

so it has been way cool with the dexcom. ladybug said we should just give away our tvs and watch peony's blood sugars instead. after she was on line we had her jog a block and back and she dropped 40 points in three minutes! She is still having a hard time staying in range, the insulin isn't acting fast enough. but she's trying and that's what counts. also, her mood has so improved, I think she is the child i had pre dx. plus her school performance is awesome. all a's and one b+. her self esteem is much better and i can't believe it, but i have to give credit to this device.
more later.

The Dexcom Experiment

Success! At first, I thought I would have to lay on Peony to insert the transmitter. She was so anti-new device. My mean mother voice and attitude won the day although the insertion really hurt and I was reading eachh step as we went along which slowed things down. We were unable to have Dexcom training before vacation, so I just muscled it through. I wanted to start this new regime while I was with her 24/7 on vacation. After the two hour activation time, Peony was totally on board with this new toy. We named it Carl. Ladybug said we could throw out the TV and just watch Peony's blood sugars! We had her run a block and back and she dropped 40 points in 2 minutes! WOW. As the days went on we noticed a real sluggish insulin response. She would be high, maybe 350, and the pump would say she had maximum insulin on board, so she couldn't add more and it took a long time to come down. Her second night was awesome, all night in range.

We had an endo appointment immediately upon return from vacation. The Doctor was curious about the Dexcom and based on our observations we adjusted Peony's insulin to carb ratio to 1:5 from 1:6. She thinks this will speed up the insulin reaction time. It's amazing to make treatment decisions already from this new technology.

I am enthusiastic and excited about this new tool, but it is just a tool and I hope thirteenism doesn't get in the way when the newness wears off. We shall see.

More later.

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A Peaceful Time

Both girls have been empathetic and peaceful this week. It helps that we have a tv and laptop for each. We all miss RandMcNally who is at camp. We are all looking forward to our one week vacation a week from this Saturday. Even, I am too cool to be family oriented Hemingway is looking forward to our time as a little family. Diabetes seems ok, but we'll see when I download. I have been having a conversation with a Canadian mom of a gal just the same age as Peony at diagnosis and now. It has been a fabulous connection. She is setting up a business site for gals with caregivers and diabetes type 1. I am hesitantly willing to join her conversation, but what she is doing is great. The type 1 experience is so different for girls/women. I'd love to open this conversation. Fun times!

More later.

Back in the Saddle Again

So, the girls came home on Wednesday, full of stories and enthusiasm. No diabetes issues for Peony. Wonderful. Thursday-Saturday were pretty normal, the girls were home alone during work days and on Saturday we went to the mall with my mom. I needed a shower present and ladybug and my mom and I went in search of Williams Sonoma (could buy the whole store!) and peony and her friend roamed. All good. Tonight, I came home from the shower to find a distressed Peony. Her rib hurt. I gave her an ace bandage type thing and some advil. I just went to ask her what she wanted for dinner and she is in bed with the blanket over her head. What is going on? I asked her to test, and she shouted! I am letting her stew but my heart is breaking. I want this to be eaiser.
More later.

Girls Home Tomorrow!

Yay! It is way too quiet around here, just me and Hemingway and our laptops. I know the noise may be fighting with each other, but ... I can't wait for the hugs and the stories. The camp directors didn't really want her to leave, but in truth, she was hesitant to sign up for six weeks and I didn't really listen. When I was a camper, I loved going for the full session and Ladybug loved her full session experiences. I forgot to factor in the huge fact that everyone is different. Peony is much more connected to her pals at home.

In any event, I will be going to work early so I can leave early, arrive at the bus stop too early with butterflies! My mother loves to tell the story of waiting with open arms while my sister and I got off the bus, hugging new best friends and crying, totally avoiding her. This plays out for me every year! On the ride home and for the next year, they never stop talking about camp. It is a real financial stretch for me to provide this experience for my kids. (RandMcNally went to the boy's camp for three weeks for the first time this summer, he is just finishing week one.) I think it's just that valuable.

More later.