Let's Get Moving...

Day 5 of Diabetes Blog Week:  Let's Get Moving...

Although sports and different activities can be challenging when diabetes is involved, we're determined to not let it stop C.  Whatever she's shown an interest in, we've let her try and try again.  Here is a run-down of her experiences:

Sitting out of a soccer game because of a low blood sugar number.

sport/activity and their biggest diabetes challenge

• dance (ballet and tap)...skin-tight leotards over a pump site
• swimming...the old "unhooking/hooking up" pump trick
• soccer...trying not to go low and staying in the game
• gymnastics...skin-tight leotards, again and rolling/falling on site
• softball...protecting the pump and staying on top of bgs
• beach time...pump site and sand...need I say more?

And of course, along with all these forms of exercise, there is the danger of hypoglycemia, when and how often to test, and how to shove down a snack if need be.  The biggest upset is when, in fact, C does test low and she needs to sit out of the class, game or practice and wait for that bg number to come up.  It's happened on many occasions with just minutes to go in an exciting game.  Ug.

Sometimes we fly by the seat of our pants.  But we're determined to let her try new things.  It takes constant thought and preparation.  It takes mine or the husband's continued presence at all practices and games.  It takes open and honest communication with coaches and teachers.  But when we see her hit that ball or make a winning pass, she's beaming.  That makes it all worth it.

A Day in Our Family's Life...with Diabetes

Thanks goes to Karen, my knitting friend, over at Bitter-Sweet, for rallying the bloggers in the DOC for the 1st annual Diabetes Blog Week!  It's an awesome idea.  And she already has a list of 100+ bloggers set to type their hearts out this week!  Way to go Karen!!

And, it's not too late to join in the fun!  Just head over to her blog and let her know you're in...She's even gone the extra mile and given us some great topics.  I totally appreciate that because I could use a little jumpstart this week.  : )

DAY 1:  A Day in Our Family's Life...with Diabetes

6:30     Wake up; get myself together

6:45     Go down the hall...wake up Middle C, wake up Big C, go in and do first bg check on C...123...beautiful!

7:00     Set out breakfast stuff...make lunches...re-stock C's bag...bolus C accordingly...say the words "hurry up!" about 100 times...teeth brushed, hair fixed, sunscreen on...

7:50     Out the door with C and Middle C...pick up one of C's friends

8:00     At school...quick prayer...hugs and kisses...say bye to Middle C...walk w/C to Health Office...drop off diabetes bag and snacks...chat with Health Aide...one more hug to C

8:20     Back home...turn on computer...put a load of laundry in...COFFEE...chat with Big C as he gets ready

8:40     Out the door with Big C...pick up one of his friends

8:50     Drop off the boys at middle school crosswalk  (no hugs in public...just a "see ya later" and a "have a great day!"...got my hug at home!)

9:00     Back home...back to work

9:45     Get a call from school:  C's at 101...Health Aide will bolus for a 10 gram snack

9:50     work, cleaning, laundry, errands

11:45   Get a call from school:  C's at 89...Health Aide will bolus for 31 gram lunch

12:00   Lunch for me!!

1:00     Get a call from school:  C's at 167...good number prior to PE class...no correction bolus...back to work for me

2:05     Pick up C and little friend...drop friend home

2:15     At home...wash up...bg check:  118...bolus for snack...18 grams...start homework

2:50     Pick up Middle C

3:00     Finish up snacks...homework...piano practice...talk about the day

3:30     Pick up Big C...rinse and repeat!

3:45     bg check:  178...good number prior to gymnastics...detach her from the pump

4:00     Take C to gymnastics class...hang around class with boys dressed in baseball practice clothes of course!...leave class to drop off Middle C to his practice

4:45     Back to gymnastics to pick up C...bg check:  113...perfect!...re-attach pump...

5:00     Drop Big C off at his practice

5:15     Back home to dinner already prepared in the crock pot...fix salad...C sets the table

6:30     Everyone's back home including the husband...bg check:  100 (love that #!)...DINNER!

7:00     Dishes...showers (unhook C from pump..."free shower" perhaps?)...finish homework...TV...relaxing...site change for C

8:30     Goodnight to C and Middle C

9:00     Goodnight to Big C

9:30     Bg check:  125...relax...finish up computer work...TV shows...

11:00   Check on kids...one more bg check:  119

Sleep...

Okay...I confess that the above scheduled day has NEVER happened.  Maybe it is my perfect day with diabetes...Maybe it's what I'd like to experience on a regular basis, with diabetes.  But the truth is:  there are no typical days with this disease.  There are those times when C will have several in-range numbers in a row...and it's awesome!  And, those readings of "100"...love them!  (Sometimes we love them so much, we take pictures of the meter!!)  But honestly, diabetes does not behave in any typical pattern day to day.  In fact, C could eat the exact same foods, same amounts, same boluses of insulin...even the same amount and intensity of activity and get a huge range of numbers.

It's tiring.  It's frustrating.  And sometimes, it's very unmanageable.  But, we persevere.  We must.  We continue to strive for those in-range numbers, 70-120 or so...

On many days, there are mistakes made.  C's diabetes bag might be forgotten at home.  I might overlook that she's down to just 1 test strip.  There have been countless trips back to school.  The nurse might be absent and the checks are up to me to do.  There have been mornings when we've forgotten to bolus for breakfast and she ends up at 427.  I've raced down to school to do emergency site changes when the tubing has major air trapped in it or her site was pulled out at recess.  Or, maybe she's had a couple big numbers in a row and, no matter, how much we correct her, she just doesn't come down.

So, a day in our family's life...with diabetes?  It's different every day.  It keeps us on our toes. 

...as for coming home to a prepared meal in the crock pot??...rarely does that happen!

Olympic Dreams...

Okay...I'm really going to date myself with this one, but here it goes...
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It was 1976.  Our country's bicentennial year and the Olympics.  Like a million other little girls, I wanted to be like Dorothy Hamill, the women's figure skating gold medalist.  Wait a minute, I did not want to just be like her...I wanted to be her!  In my little girl's mind, I honestly thought I could be the next Dorothy Hamill!



I spent nearly every afternoon at the local ice rink.  I registered for lessons.  I even bought a used ice skating outfit that looked pretty much like the one Dorothy wore in her gold medal routine.  As for the haircut, I didn't go that route, but did ponder it!

It was a great couple years of dreaming...

Eventually, however, other interests popped up for me.  Skating became less and less.  In fact the ice arena was torn down just a few years later.  I don't even know where I could take my kids ice skating locally anymore.

I guess my point here is...I truly believed I could do it.  Did my parents believe it too?  If they didn't, they sure acted like they did! 

I want my kids to dream big.  It can be what gets their hearts pumped and motivated.  I want all three of them to think anything is possible.  Yes, even the Olympics!

I tell my kids often what I think they're good at and that they can do anything if they put their minds to it.  But, then I think about diabetes.  Deep down inside, I'm really not sure if C can do anything she wants.  But, we're certainly trying.  Dance.  Soccer.  Musicals.  Softball.  Gymnastics.  Diabetes creates real challenges.  Those things are difficult to do, not impossible...just difficult. 

I've watched this past week and a half until my eyes have glazed over.  I want to tell C, "look, you could do that if you want!"  I'd love to see an infusion site on the back of a figure skater's arm!