Spiking.

Last week we adjusted Jada's lantus because she had been consistently high through out the day but didn't touch the novolog.  We discussed with our CDE about what to do with the novolog and she said that if we felt like we needed to increase it, to go ahead and do it.  Well, I think we're heading in that direction, but I'm not sure.

About an hour and a half after she eats- and this happens every day- Jada asks for a drink of water.  She will guzzle 8-12 oz. of water- then of course I know she's high- usually in the 300's.  But by the time lunch rolls around at 11:00 or  11:30- she's within close range of her target number, which is 150.  Actually, she is quite often closer to 100.  Is it normal  to spike before the rapid acting insulin works?  Somewhat confusing, because I thought the whole point of rapid acting insulin was to ACT RAPIDLY!  Her numbers the rest of the day are pretty good and we've had more lows the last week than we have in a while.  

If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts....

My Non-diabetic Kids

Ok- so I have a child with Type 1 Diabetes.  It's been an incredibly stressful 10 months adjusting to this disease.  I often think  about how this has affected Jada, myself and Jeff.  How often do I stop to think about my other three amazing children and what this has done to them?  I don't stop often enough to even think about it- let alone do something about it.

  I don't even think that I've asked the boys how this whole "diabetes thing" has made them feel.

 I know that they worry about her.  She fell asleep on the couch the other day and Eli kept trying to wake her up.  She had been up since 6 am and was super tired.  Come to find out, he was fearful that she was asleep and not waking up because her blood sugar was too low.  He told me last night that when he grows up, he's going to live near Jada so that he can keep an eye on her.  I love that he wants to protect her, but I want him to understand that it's not up to him to be responsible for her.   David loves to take her blood sugar and even bought a cook book with his own money that had the nutritional info after each recipe.  Last week, she was spilling small ketones into her urine and obviously, I was concerned.  They heard me talking to the dr. about it and then had all kinds of questions about ketones and DKA.  

I think the one that has been affected most by my lack of time and attention is Mary Beth.  She just turned 5 in September and is probably one of the happiest little girls that you would ever meet.   Mary Beth and Jada are only 19 months apart in age and Jada's personality is such that she naturally tries to demand more attention than Mary Beth.  Jada has always been a mama's girl and Mary Beth has always been more independent and much more daddy's girl.  Diabetes has just seemed to made those differences more distinct.  I have noticed lately, though, that Mary Beth is definitely working harder to get my attention- wanting to sit on my lap, fix my hair, etc..   Yesterday, she asked me if just she and I could go to the mall together.  And so we are.  Honestly, I can't wait.   We won't do much shopping.  Probably the Disney store, the play area and get some cookies or a pretzel or something.  And I won't have to worry about whether or not Jada can have a cookie.  Mary Beth won't have to wait for me to take Jada's blood sugar before a snack.  It's gonna be a nice break!  The best part is that Mary Beth will have all of me- 100%  of the best of me.

It's late but....

The time is 11:47 pm and I'm wondering how long it will take me to write this blog, let the dog out, start the dishwasher, take Jada back to bed and get my self ready for a long  (or short) winters nap.  I'm probably looking at, oh- at least 12:30.  Jeff went to bed a few moments ago and gave me that look.  You know- the one that says "Put the computer DOWN, it's late- come to bed."  He gives me that look a lot.  He's even referred (jokingly) to this thing as my "crack pipe" :)

One thing is for sure, the internet has been a source of comfort and connection to me over the last 9 months.  I'm not a person of many words when it comes to conversation, my personality tends to be on the quieter side (unless you get me around my dear friend Kimberly Nelson- there is a "whole other side" of me that is unleashed when I'm around her!).  This blog has helped me to voice my frustrations and my elations.  My hurts and my happy times.    

In the last year and a half, we have moved twice.  One of the most difficult things about Jada's diagnosis is  that we didn't have the support of close family around.  We were in TX at the time of her diagnosis then moved 4 months later.  It has been during this time that I have started my blog and also connecting with old friends on FB.  While I am meeting new people where we live, God has given me the blessing of connecting with people that I truly needed to connect with through the means of the internet.  I couldn't have made it through some of these months with out my blogging friends and my FB.  

Jada's numbers are a little better today, but nothing to write home about.  I finally (after all kinds of phone calls from my end) got a return call from her endo team in TX (she has her first endo apt her in Tulsa in Feb) about her dosage adjustment.  Going up a full unit on the lantus and if that doesn't help enough, we're changing the I:CHO.  Woohoo!  Feeling better about her numbers already.

Ok- it's 12:10.  I need sleep tonight. 

Back to Reality

Today was the day that life went back to normal.  Our holiday seemed to extend an extra week because of Jeff taking vacation time.  We are even more "normal" than before Christmas, because we are homeschooling the boys again.  I think I mentioned in my last post that I was very happy to be homeschooling again.  I think I'll reiterate that----it's so good to have them at home.

Jada's blood sugar is back from it's vacation as well!! Why couldn't it just stay away! :)  She had her "moments" over the holidays with a couple of pretty high readings, but the last two days have left me shaking my head.  Yesterday at lunch she was over 400 (it's been a looooong time since we've had one that high)- dosed her appropriately and an hour later she was at 72 and falling fast--she was shaking, crying and said she had a tummy ache.  The rest of the day was spent trying to keep her numbers up.

Today, she woke up somewhat high (170) for a morning reading.  At lunch she was 125- she didn't need a shot (she had less than 12 grams of carbs).  I was thinking that what she had would be good enough to get her through a nap and wake up to having a good treat at snack time. She was 286!!!  A glass of milk has never shot her that high before!  We ate dinner late tonight- not until 6:30. She had only dropped to 274- so she was completely carb free at dinner.  I don't like giving her a shot this late (she goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00) because then she is usually too low before bed time.  I probably should have given her a shot in hindsight but oh well.  Then at bedtime- she was at  263 after a very warm bath which often helps to bring her down.  Sooo- no snack for her tonight.  I felt bad, because she begged for a glass of milk, but she settled for a drink of water instead.  It's now 11:35 and I just checked her- she's only dropped to 256.  I don't get it.  I'm really wishing I had given her a shot at dinner.  She's had a cold for the last week- could this contribute? I don't want to complain.... but this just gets so tiring.....

I'm Back

What was the date of my last blog??? Hmmm....not sure.  It's been a few weeks.  A crazy, fun, joyful few weeks.  Christmas has gone by and a whole New Year has started.  We went to Iowa for a week and gained about 10 pounds- my mother made sure of that.  We went to Jeff's dad's and stayed a quick two nights with one afternoon spent at the Henry Doorly Zoo (which is THE most AMAZING zoo I've ever been to) in Omaha.  We got home from Iowa and pulled the boys out of public school- yes- I am happy- more like thrilled-to be a homeschooling mom again.  Our computer crashed ...and because of an unexpected gift, we were able to invest in a Mac!!!! Woohoo!    This weekend, my sister in law and her family from Little Rock spent a relaxing weekend with us and just left about 45 minutes ago.  After they left, Eli said to Jeff, "Daddy, these past couple of weeks have been REALLY fun!".  

I think I agree.