School Supplies.

Every year, we receive a packet from the school, giving a suggested supply list for each grade level.  I don't remember going shopping for all these things when I was young.  "Back-to-school shopping" was simply for clothes and shoes.  Maybe there's a conspiracy between the retail stores and the education department!  Or maybe it's just a a sign of the times.  (I mean, these poor teachers don't even have a budget for a box of tissues!)  But, whatever it is, it certainly is exciting for the kids!  So, off to Target, we went...

Here's the suggested list for 3rd grade:

• box of 10 washable markers
• box of colored pencils
• box of #2 pencils
• pack of 3 pink Pearl erasers
• box of 16 or 24 crayons
• pack of 3 glue sticks
• pack of 3 highlighters
• dry erase markers
• pencil sharpener w/shavings catcher
• pack of 3 x 5 cards
• usb drive
• small pencil/supply case
• pair of child scissors
• lined spiral notebook
• 2 reams of white copy paper
• wide-ruled notebook paper
• boxes of tissues
• hand sanitizer
• disinfectant wipes

And, although the above items are important...I paid more attention to the following supply list while back-to-school shopping:

• 2 boxes (Health Office and classroom)
• extra meters
• lancets
• test strips
• glucose tablets
• juice boxes
• extra carb-y snacks(cheese/peanut butter crackers, granola bars, etc.)
• extra site change supplies (quick-serter, reservoirs, infusion sets)
• insulin (kept in H. O. fridge)
• glucagon kits
• emergency directions/picture
• emergency syringes
• extra AAA batteries

The most important school supplies.

Presenting Diabetes to 3rd Graders...

When C was in kindergarten, she helped me create a picture book that taught the class about diabetes.  We shared it with the class in the beginning of the year.  We used it for 1st grade and 2nd grad too.  It was really adorable, if I do say so myself.  And the kids really got into it.  Each year, I would go into the classroom and C would demonstrate a blood sugar check and talk about what life is like with diabetes.

Well, this year, I asked her if she wanted to do that again.  She did want to but thought that our little book is too "baby-ish" for 3rd grade.  "I'll just tell them about it, Mom!"

So, I helped her type up her words in a short explanation.  She wanted to present it herself, no help from me. 

"Can I at least come in and listen?"  I asked. 

"Okay," she smiled.

I'm so very thankful that she has such a courageous spirit.  I would not have wanted to do anything of the sort when I was her age.  The following is what she presented.  (And, of course, she shared her bear and supply box!)

Hi! I’m C and I have type 1 diabetes. I was diagnosed before I was even 2 years old. I got very sick and had to be in the hospital.



Diabetes means that I have a disease. My pancreas doesn’t work well. For you, your pancreas is the organ in your body that makes insulin. Mine, doesn’t. So, I have something called a pump that gives me the insulin I need. When we eat food, we need insulin to help our bodies use the energy from food.


I have to poke my finger to check my blood sugar before I eat food and when I don’t feel well. This number is important and gets put into my pump. My pump is NOT a toy. It’s like a little computer. I tell it how much food I’m going to eat and then it figures out how much insulin I need. My pump helps keep me healthy.


You may see me check my blood sugar in the classroom. It might be because I “feel low.” My number might be too low. This can make me feel sick. To help get my number back up, I need to drink a juice box or some tablets, something that has a lot of sugar. Then my body will feel better.


Most of the time, I will just go to the Health Office to do my checks. I’ll need some good friends to walk with me. It will be great this year to be able to count on all of you to help me. I hope I can help you with something someday too!


The important thing I want to tell you today is that even though I have type 1 diabetes, and even though I need to check my blood sugar, I’m really a lot like you. I am on a soccer team. I like to ride my bike and play with my friends. I just need to take care of my diabetes too.

Diabetes Art Day

September 1, 2010...Happy Diabetes Art Day!  I just can't wait to browse around the blogosphere today and enjoy the creativity!  Did you get artsy??  Hey, it's not too late...

Below is a picture created by C.  I told her to "draw whatever comes to mind when you think about diabetes."

"Pinky in the Meadow"

I just can't help myself...I must comment on this picture! 

This is an 8 year old's point of view on diabetes.  "Pinky" is C's pump.  Look how happy he is!  He's taking C's meter for a walk.  I love this!

My own interpretation:  The insulin pump is taming her blood glucose numbers!  Notice "99," the dog?...he's the meter!

Are You Artsy???

Well, even if you're not, I hope you'll join in on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 for Diabetes Art Day.  Lee Ann, over at The Butter Compartment, has initiated this project.  I am really looking forward to seeing all the art posted on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, TuDiabetes...wherever!

 courtesy of http://www.thebuttercompartment.com

This is another opportunity to spread awareness.  Please go to Lee Ann's blog and read all about it.  You don't need to be a Picasso or Van Gogh to participate.  I know C has something up her little 8 year old sleeve.  And I'm going to try and coax creativity out of her brothers as well!

If you write your own blog, you can post an image of your diabetes art right there!  If you don't have a site, don't worry...Lee Ann gives us several ideas of where and how to post our pictures.  She'll even do it for you if you email your stuff to her!

So, go gather your crayons, finger paints and old diabetes supplies, and let the creative animal free!!

See you back here on Wednesday!

Back to 3rd Grade

So, the kids went back to school this week.  All things considered, it was a smooth transition.  We officially have a 3rd grader at one school and the 2 boys are at the middle school (6th and 8th grades).  I know that kids all over the world grow up to the next grade each year.  But I find this truly remarkable...right here, under my own nose!

This has been such a reflective summer for me.  It started off in June, when I celebrated my 5 year mark...5 years since my cancer diagnosis.  And even though I thought this time would pass...that I would be able to fold up the last 5 years, neatly, and put them up on a shelf...it's the strangest thing.  I haven't been able to do that.  I'm reminded of it every day.

I was reminded of it on Monday, as I walked onto campus with C.  There we walked, hand in hand, to the classroom where 5 years previously I had walked Big C to 3rd grade.  (Well, different room, but same teacher!)  I remember shaking the young, first-year teacher's hand.  I remember explaining to him about my cancer, as I peered from underneath one of my many hats.  I remember his eyes, big and round as saucers.  "If you could just keep an eye on Big C," I said.  "It's been a tough time on him too."

I remember.

I remember being so thrilled that I felt well enough to take the kids to school that day 5 years ago.  I had already begun my chemo treatments.  Little C was just 3 years old and was still home with me.  I remember thanking God that I was the one to send the boys off to 1st and 3rd grade.  It was a prayer answered.  I remember.

So Monday, my mind was flooded with thoughts of the last 5 years, again.

We had brought by C's supplies to class, earlier the past week and talked diabetes with him.  And, since he is already familiar with our family, the diabetes issue was not a surprise.  We greeted Mr. H.  We talked for just a few minutes.  Soon, we will be scheduling a 504 meeting soon, after things settle down a bit.  I really just wanted to go over the very basics with him.  C handed him a very cute pink box, loaded with D stuff.  Teacher and C decided together where the best place would be for it...easy access to her extra meter, juice boxes, snacks and such.

We shook hands and turned to leave.  He expressed to C how happy he was to see her name on his class list.  "This will be a great year!" he said.  "I remember having Big C in class 5 years ago."

"Yes," I replied.  "I so remember.  This will be a great year!"