I have already released the folded up seams of his track pants while the sleeves seem to be getting shorter and shorter. There is already a small pile of clothes that we brought with us which do not fit him anymore. They are waiting to be passed on to a younger cousin. Over the past few months, we have bought new jeans, new T shirts, new socks but I did not think of getting him new underpants.
Since we began our world travels last July, Mr T has been going through growth spurts, noticeably.
I have already released the folded up seams of his track pants while the sleeves seem to be getting shorter and shorter. There is already a small pile of clothes that we brought with us which do not fit him anymore. They are waiting to be passed on to a younger cousin. Over the past few months, we have bought new jeans, new T shirts, new socks but I did not think of getting him new underpants.
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Today, I looked at my last post dated 16/6/2013 and was shocked to realize that it has been three months since I last wrote here! Time sure flies when you are having fun. :) The reason for my silence was that we have commenced our BIG adventure which is taking us from Australia via Thailand, to Serbia, Spain (Tenerife) and South Africa. All planned to last for 6-7 months. Sure enough, we are taking diabetes with us everywhere we go. Of course that is posing some small challenges at times, but not as many as staying connected via internet. Believe me. Well, the patchy internet connection, limited access to the computer (my own son has hijacked my computer for his school needs) and being busy with the family we have been visiting, have all resulted in me not posting regularly. Do not fear though – there is lots to write about and it is all coming your way. Watch this space! Seven years ago, today, we were walking out of the hospital with Mr T’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. The life of multiple daily blood glucose checks and insulin injections had begun for us. Seven years ago, Mr T was a very, very sick three year old. Today, Mr T is a healthy ten year old who lacks nothing besides his own insulin. Seven years ago I was crying a lot, away from Mr T’s eyes. Today, I rarely cry, but I laugh and smile and enjoy every day I share with my boy. Seven years ago, Mr T was using insulin pens, 4 to 6 times a day. Today, Mr T has an insulin pump and he can now deliver insulin as often as needed without multiple needle pricks. Seven years ago, I did not know much about diabetes. Today, I know that I can learn something new about diabetes and self management, daily. Seven years ago, Mr T‘s first BG test showed 27 mmol/l, and his HbA1c was 8.3 Today, Mr T’s BG is more often than not under 8 mmol/l and his most recent HbA1c was 6.2 - the lowest since diagnosis and almost in the non diabetic range. Seven years ago, I had no clue what carbohydrates were or how many of those we had in a meal, often unnecessarily. Today, all of us in our family know how different foods affect our bodies. We all eat a well balanced, healthy diet. Seven years ago, we felt isolated and lost in a jungle filled with horrifying information about life with diabetes and the dreadful complications it may bring. Today, we are part of a big D1 family where warm support and a wealth of knowledge is just a click on a computer or a phone call away. It would be WONDERFUL if in seven years from today I can report that the cure for diabetes has been found and perfected, that Mr T, as well as millions of other sweet friends, no longer need to check their BG or inject insulin – they can now produce their own again. With that hope in my heart, I raise my glass tonight. For at least 77 more, healthy years ahead of us. NAPLAN* testing week is behind us and we can go back to normal basals – no more temporary basal needed on account of stress! Yay! I must say, I am very happy how we “rode” Naplan testing time this year. Two years ago, when Mr T had NAPLAN testing for the first time, I saw stubborn highs during the mornings of the tests. His BG was hovering around 14, 17, 19. Poor thing, he must have felt awful. Of course, he had given the correction dose as soon as he tested high, but it took two corrections and several hours in-between for the BG to get down within range.
From a diabetes management point of view that means: no time for testing BG, likely to go low with such amounts of activity, likely to mis-bolus for food which could end up taking his BG either too high or too low and, worst of all, possibly not feeling the onset of a low during all the excitement.
In one word - a challenge. A scary challenge. Mr T received his new pump a few days ago. It is an Animas VIBE [for more info click HERE and for Australian readers please click HERE], the upgrade for his old(er) Animas 2020 model. He knew it was coming since Animas gave us a call the day it was shipped. When he finally got to open the package, the following day, I could not believe the glow on his face, the size of his smile. It is just a pump, an insulin pump, not much different from the old one – it is even the same colour. I did not get it, but he was like a child in a candy store – very, very excited! Last night I went to bed late, Mr T next to me (our set up for when he is sick or for when I have no clue as to which way his BG is going to go through the night), his BG was sitting at 21, a freshly changed cannulla, me waiting to check him again at the 3 hour mark since the last bolus…. One other thought was on my mind: I better get some decent sleep tonight, Nole is playing in the Australian Open tennis finals and if he were to pull another 5 hour, 5 set match it is my patriotic duty to be there for him, watch the entire match and support him. I am sure that MY support makes all the difference. 7.8 at 11:30, all is good and I fell a sleep. Then I dreamed… Accidentally on purpose I was eavesdropping the other day as the kids from the neighborhood were getting ready for a swim at our community pool. I just happened to be in the living room when Mr T took off his insulin pump, left it on the table and went to the toilet to change into his cozzie. His new friend from the neighbourhood, a girl of the same age, was waiting for him to get ready so that I could take them both swimming. She noticed the pump and naturally asked what it was. As we have just met her a few days before, we had not gotten around to mentioning diabetes, so she did not know. I was about to explain it to her when Mr T entered the room, so I thought this is a great opportunity for him to explain and for me to hear what his approach and thinking is. Sneaky, I know;). The other day we had a day of perfect numbers. YEEEY! They do come along, sometimes. As I wrote previously in a post "Perfect Numbers", I do get a bit suspicious when the numbers are so stable for a prolonged time. They usually precede Mr T getting a virus. 6.4 at breakfast……5.2 at morning tea…..5.1 at lunch…….and 5.7 when I picked him up after school at 3pm. Could it be that I finally got it ALL right? Was it my “fault” or did the stars get aligned? |
About me....
Born in Serbia, married in South Africa, gave birth to Categories
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October 2014
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