Pumped up!

Five hours ago, I would've already felt that I had a lot to say on this post, but now....Whoa.

Yesterday was pump school, part one.  Katie from Medtronic walked us, and two other families, through why a pump helps you better regulate your blood sugars.  We loved Katie because of her name, because she has the same birthday and because she was awesome.  The class was a lot of review, but learned a lot about some other cool features of the pump.

Things like different type of bolus'.  A bolus is a dose of insulin.  The pump has three different ways to provide the bolus...immediate, arced (starts low goes high goes low again) or square (prolonged distribution of insulin).

There are things like patterns -- if you always go low at Grammy's house (yeah, right! cookies everywhere!) you can set a pattern that changes the way your insulin is dosed without having to reprogram everything when you go and when you come back.

And you can set basal insulin (the stuff you need all day long) and your short acting insulin (with food or to correct a high) to be at different rates at different times ... as much as a new rate each hour.

Pump installation was easy breezy.  Didn't hurt Hannah -- though there was a lot of nervous energy.  And by a lot, I really mean a lot.  And we walked out with a practice pump that's dosing saline so she can practice.  Which is cool.  Less cool was the fact that alarms reminding us to test were going off all night that we didn't set, didn't know how to stop and don't know how to turn off for tonight.  Good times.

We asked Katie if there was any chance of getting a pump before their birthday: May 18.  She kind of grimaced and said maaaaaaaaaybe.  Which was great....we knew inside of a month we'd have the pump.  I filled out the little bit of paperwork she needed to get going, emailed her a blood sugar log this morning and thanked her.

So imagine my surprise when I got home after lunch to pick Cody up for the orthodontist and Medtronic called.  Michelle was telling me that before she put my pump in the mail today......  WAIT?, WHAT?!?!?!?!

Yep.  Katie the awesome somehow pushed through getting prescriptions in order, insurance processed and approved and had Michelle calling me at 1.  We walked through colors for the pump and the sites (two different lengths of cording to give Hannah options with what she's wearing).  We walked through resources online and what would be coming in our magical box.  And best of all, we learned the pump will be 100% covered, as will all the supplies.  <<insert actual weeping with joy here.>>  As if that wasn't enough, we'll be getting a continuous glucose monitor that will make things even easier and better for us in the long haul.  That slows down insurance, so they held off on that piece in order to get the pump here.  If Katie and Michelle are representative of Medtronic, I'm in love.

The pump should arrive on Tuesday.  We'll go to pump school part two on Wednesday.  We'll be on the DL, because the other boys won't have their pumps yet.  But on Tuesday, we'll schedule a 1-1 with Katie to get her pump all set up.  We could be using it by the weekend.  Honestly, I'm a bit beyond words.

In other news, Cody's had an awesome week.  His student led conference was fantastic.  He's rocking straight As.  And he has just been really, really awesome since this has all gone down.  The ortho appts went well.  Hannah got a pass (amen.  She did say "Mom, you don't think I would have bad enough luck to get diabetes AND braces do you??") and looks like she won't need correction at all.  Cody needs correction and will spend a year in braces.  Thankfully not horrible stuff, just stuff that needs to get fixed.  No headgear.  Whew. And, he can still eat apples.  Which, as those of you who know us well know, is one of about 6 foods Cody eats.

All in all, a simply awesome day....

Yes!

More later, but, someone we know and love is wearing one of these right now....

Easier to get into the Kremlin

Should you ever find yourself completing paperwork for diabetes camp, I suggest you arm yourself with:

1. A doctor
2. A lawyer
3. A brand new pen
4. A notary
5. A copy machine
6. A very generous glass of wine

Mercy.

In case you're keeping track...

...there is only one more sleep til pump school. That might be causing a certain sweet girl to nearly lose her mind with excitement.

Take a chance on me...

So when it is sunny and 70 and your friends are over, and you're dancing and singing your noisy little hearts out to the Mamma Mia soundtrack, you might just forget that you're a diabetic.

Blood sugar = 58.

A day full of new adventures and struggles

Today was a crazy, fun, incredibly full day.

We started with breakfast at Knapps and navigated restaurant food and estimating carbs.   Hannah had pancakes and bacon and hot chocolate with whipped cream.  And we even ran in to Dad and Tara at Knapps!

It would be hard to be a complete type A with diabetes. The inclination is totally there -- wanting to get the sugars right and get the insulin right. But it's really inexact at times.  There is guessing and estimating and hoping involved in calculating carbs.  How much of that 1/4 cup of syrup did you eat?  Well, we asked for 4 inch pancakes, but those are more like 6-7....how the #$(& many carbs do we think are in THERE???  Thank goodness for bacon.  It's zero.

Hannah (and Daisy, too!) walked with 4H.  Cody, Hanna, Tim and Evan walked with the band. The sun was out, it was beautiful.  We got to visit with the Barkers and the Jaasko-Fishers, and sat with the Wroes, Jeff and April and Jenn.  And, I think, saw everyone else in town that we knew.

From the parade to the Jensens for lunch and playing.  From the Jensens to the Barkers for a pool party and dinner and playing.

Which sounds great, and for the most part it was.  Except when you have a new diabetic who is overwhelmed when food is about.  And there was food everywhere. All day.  The other kids can endlessly graze and munch and don't have to think twice.  Not quite so for Hannah.

On the bright side, she takes her sadness well, choosing to remove herself from the situation, rather than melting down.  But it's hard.  It's hard to watch it happening and not be able to fix it.  It's hard to work through the tears afterward.  It's hard because selfishly, I too, wanted to visit with my friends.

I know it will get easier, but Han and I are both feeling kind of sad tonight -- having left Cody and all else at the party.  We talked a lot about how to learn to be ok around food, so that we don't miss fun times.  I'm not sure that Hannah see's that as possible right now. Just going to take some time...

Survived...

We all managed to survive the first post-diabetic work trip.  Thank goodness for cell phones, patience and two nights of sleep.

Hannah was NOT HAPPY about the work trip.  Clingy, weepy, whiny as I was trying to get out the door.  The trick with her is that she is good at turning on the drama.  What's for real? What's for show and influence?  Who knows...not me for certain....most days, anyway.  I was pretty giddy at the thought of not one but two consecutive nights of sleep.  Crazy hotel aside, sleep was delicious.

Once we got through the first day, things got a bit better.  And she did well with both Heather and Heidi helping with dinner and assisting with shots.  Once she knew I was on my way home, it was a pretty constant plea to just.get.home.as.fast.as.I.could.  But of course once I was here, she wanted to stay at Anna's house for a bit longer.  After my eyes rolled back into my head at the ridiculousness of her at times, I thanked my lucky stars for an hour of quiet, in my home, alone.  Something that has happened precious little in the last 6 weeks.

Tonight brings Anna and Hannah playing and giving Daisy a bath, so she (Daisy) is presentable for the parade.  Tomorrow, Cody's marching with the band and Hannah and Daisy are marching with 4H.  And then a day playdates, barbeques and new experiences.  Hannah is still pretty reticent to eat away from home.  Which is equally understood and exhausting.  Crossing fingers and toes for a good day.