Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Future

I had a hard time with today's prompt.  What does a picture of the future look like?  Then the other night happened:

Look at all that red.  Try as we might, we could not keep Elise above 100.  We gave her over 40g uncovered, and turned off her pump for hours; you can see the results.

Fred and I barely slept that night. I lost count of how many finger pokes we did.  If it wasn't for the dexcom, this could have been a very bad situation.  Very bad.  

Until a cure is found, devices like the dexcom that help keep our CWD and PWD safe are the future.  

And I am so very thankful for that.

November was National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Thank you to Kerri for coming up with the Diabetes Month Photo a Day Project to document life with type 1.

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Travel

TSA... those three letters can strike fear into the heart of a PWD or the parent of a CWD.  This is a picture from that awful experience a few years ago that caused us to miss our flight.  Looking at it still makes my blood boil.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Necessary

I used to love to cook.  And bake.  I loved trying out new recipes and putting my own twist on them.  After Elise was diagnosed, it didn't change because she was mostly eating baby food (she didn't have any teeth until she was 16 months).

Then she started eating table food.  And food prep took on a whole new meaning.  We weighed everything, because a 5g mistake would mean a 200 point BG swing in a tiny 18 pound body.  In fact, we still do weigh pretty much everything.  I like knowing she's getting the exact amount of carbs I'm bolusing her for.



Now my counters look like this when I cook; note the scale, notebook and calculator.  For me, they are just as much a part of cooking as a cutting board and knife.

It's a lot of extra work, but it's necessary.  It's one way we help keep Elise healthy.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Fun

"Mom!  Mom!  I made a ladybug!"

My girl is known for her projects. At any one time, there could be three or four of these unfinished projects scattered throughout the house. A pirate boat that she can sit in, complete with crow's nest.  Or a playground made out of diaper boxes, a tunnel and a basket rigged up to some sort of pulley system.

Oy... she makes me tired.

I can't remember what I was doing when she told me about her ladybug, but I know there was something going on because I never actually got to see it.

And then this morning, as I was cleaning, I happened upon her latest project.  If you can't see it, the ladybug's body is made out of a pod.

Fun with diabetes supplies... gotta love it!

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Healthcare

Hmmmm, not your typical picture of heathcare, right?  These are two postcards Elise and I received for the WDD postcard exchange.  Except that we didn't sign up to participate.  It wasn't because we didn't want to, but because life has been overwhelmingly busy for us.

Plus I still have feelings of guilt from last year... we did sign up, sent our postcards, and received some beautiful ones in return; two of which asked if Elise would like a pen/email pal.  Something we were very excited about.

Except, before I ever got a chance to let those families know we were interested, Lucas arrived a month early, spending 9 days in the NICU.  Everything was put on the back-burner and I have always felt so bad about not replying.

All that to say, receiving these two postcards in the mail this year have been sort of like healthcare for my soul.  

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Wishlist

A few weeks ago I went to a JDRF research update. Jeffery Brewer (President and CEO of JDRF) was there and he showed us the encapsulation device in the picture above (the quarter is there for size reference). Towards the end of the evening, as I was chatting with Jeffery, he let me hold it.  

Yes I know it's not a cure, but it is better than what we do now.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Cure

I've used this picture before on my blog, but I wanted to use it again because it's the first image that popped into my head when I read what today's word was.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Diagnosis

Until a few days ago, I was under the impression that we didn't have any pictures of Elise when she was diagnosed. But then I decided to go back on Fred's facebook and see what I could find.  This is how I spent most of my days in her hospital room... it was the only way she would sleep.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Happy

It's not the peaks and valleys that make me happy.

Or those out of range numbers.

It's the fact that for three days, I could see a definite pattern... and that made me happy.  For three wonderful days, 1 + 2 = 3.

Only made sweeter by the fact that these days
1 + 2 = purple.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Sweet

This picture just oozes sweetness to me.  They are typical siblings... best friends one moment, getting on each others' nerves the next.  But as they grow older I hope they will become so much more.  I hope he will be one of her biggest supporters and cheerleaders. Someone who will be there to listen.  And a shoulder to cry on when she needs one.


November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Healthy

She looks healthy, doesn't she?  And she is, except for one faulty organ.

Hard to believe that without insulin... well, I can't even bring myself to finish that thought.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Chronic

We used to keep paper logs before Elise was on a pump.  This is just a year and a half worth.  And yes, those pages are double-sided.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Frustrating

Frustrating is the numbers on the clock.

Frustrating is the fact I haven't fallen asleep yet.

Frustrating is the 409 that popped up on the meter.

Frustrating is that fact that the corrections aren't working.

And what is also frustrating is that at the same time, I have crying in stereo.  One is teething. One has night terrors.

Frustrating is being outnumbered by children that need you in the hours that you should be sleeping.

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - DOC

Times are always fun when D-Mamas hang out.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - WDD

I knew just picking ONE photo for today would be hard... But when I saw it, I knew it was the one.

This picture shows everything that is brave about my little girl.  In it, she is rehearsing to do a live, televised announcement to her whole school about World Diabetes Day.  She wrote it herself.

Yesterday, when she came home from school, she was in tears.  She knew we had talked about her doing this and she was scared.  And nervous.  She didn't want people to make fun of her.  She didn't want to mess up.

So we had a little chat about bravery.  And how truly living life is doing the things we are scared of, because if we didn't, we would miss out on so much.  I knew she would love this.  Excel at it, if given the chance.

And I pushed her.  I felt awful about doing it, but I knew what to say to get her to do it. It worked, and by all accounts she was fabulous.  I never doubted her for a second.

You can't really see it, but she is wearing her YCDT bracelet, a YCDT sticker, and even proclaims loudly in her speech, "I can do this!"

She sure did.  Just like she does, every day.

Happy World Diabetes Day everyone!

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Awareness

In the 5 years since Team Elise was formed:

14 teams
Of 878 people
Walking in 4 different countries
And on 3 different continents
Have raised just under $75,000 

Team Elise is all about spreading awareness; all over the globe.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Work

Outsiders don't know.... but this takes a lot of work.

Especially if this picture was taken on Halloween; after pizza and running and candy.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Play

This picture was taken about 2 1/2 years ago, but I remember it like yesterday.

We were at a birthday party.

It was H-O-T.

And Elise's BG was in the 300s.

She was miserable and crying.  We were at a spray park and she didn't even want to play with her friends.

Pizza and cake were being served.  I let her eat anyway.

If you look at this picture, you see an adorable little girl at a birthday party.

What you don't see is just how much diabetes can screw up what should be a fun day.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month photo a day - Exercise

My girl loves her some soccer! 

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Support

I haven't ever written a whole lot about Elise's pre-school... it's not because I don't want to; I actually have about 3 or 4 posts in my draft folder that I never got around to finishing.  Today's picture is in one of them.

Elise was meant to go to that pre-school.  I know that.  I started looking into school for Elise just after Mattias was born.  School had started a month ago, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't get her in anywhere. But she needed something.

Then a friend of mine mentioned how much she loved the school her daughter was going to.  Elise and A had known each other since they were babies.  This school *just happened* to be up the street from our house. Literally... I could drive there in about 60 seconds.

I called the school.  Instead of hanging up when they heard "diabetes" they were very interested in making it work.  And they *just happened* to have a teacher there who had type 2.  And she *just happened* to teach the 3 year old class.

All this to say, the three years Elise went there they went above and beyond for us.  Most of the staff comes out and walks with us every year.  And the first school day back after the walk, they all wear their Team Elise shirts.  When Lucas arrived a month early last year, they offered to take the kids on the days Elise and Mattias didn't have class (they went M/W/F), and in the afternoon enrichment program (in which they weren't enrolled).

Then in November last year, they had a Diabetes Awareness Week; letting us set up donation jars from Team Elise.  In just one week; they raised over $300 for Team Elise.

I am so thankful for how they have supported us.  They were my first stepping stone on the pathway to letting go, and for that I will always be grateful.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Organization

It makes me happy.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Blue

I don't know what it was that made her tongue this wild shade of blue, but I'm guessing it had lots of sugar in it.  

And that's okay.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Relationship

From the moment she was diagnosed, she depended on me for everything. Now her diabetes is growing up. 

Much like she is.  

Slowly, slowly... she needs me less and can do more for herself.  

As it should be.

But I will always be here to do it when she feels like she cannot.

Always.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Advocate

 Team Elise... Then and now.  Just five years ago we had a handful of people walk with us just three weeks after Elise was diagnosed.  

This year, over 130 came.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Proud

Two years ago yesterday we started on our pumping journey.  I could not be more proud of this little girl who has to endure so much, and rarely complains.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Snack

Yes, she CAN eat that... a mini cupcake with icing (she could even eat a full sized version if she wanted)

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Check

Some pictures don't need an explanation.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?

Diabetes Month Photo a Day - Past

Once upon a time a baby girl was born.  She was loved from the moment her parents found out she was going to be - Christmas Eve of 2006.  Still one of the best Christmas presents ever.

When she came into this world 9 months later, it rocked her parents world.  In an amazing way.

Little did they know that a year and two days after that, their world would be rocked again; in a very different way.

Their baby was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

November is National Diabetes Month and American Diabetes Month.  Kerri is doing a photo-a-day to document life with type 1 and I thought it would be fun to join in, following the prompts on her blog.  Join me, won't you?