Monday, March 23, 2015

Different kind of same

When Lucas was approaching 6 months old, I turned to the Internets to see what was new in the world of baby food.  I had made all of Elise's food from scratch, but never did with Mattias because he pretty much refused to eat anything.  But I was pretty sure Lucas was going to be a great eater and I was looking forward to making my own food again.

As I delved into the murky waters of mommy-dom on the internet, I started reading about a new trend; baby led weaning.  This is where you pretty much give your baby whatever you are eating, except in baby-sized pieces. I even saw pictures of babies gnawing on the bone of a pork chop.

Excited, I set out to try baby led weaning.  Except that Lucas hated it.  Hated. It. Everything I gave him, he gagged on.  I had made him a few purees at first and he did great with those, but if he fed it to himself, he just couldn't eat it.  Not wouldn't, just couldn't. So I went back to making purees for him.

One of the things that bothered me about many of these pro-BLW sites is how they put down people who fed their babies purees; calling it "gross" and "old-fashioned".  One blog pooh-poohed the "bizarre and disgusting food combinations" that people fed their babies.  They led you to believe that BLW was the ONLY way to feed your baby.
He eats like this now, but it wasn't always that way
You may be wondering why I'm writing about this on a diabetes blog.  It's because the attitude I found on those blogs is so similar to something I see from time to time in the D-community (not just on-line, but in person too); and it really bugs me. It's the my-way-is-the-only-way-and-all-other-ways-suck attitude.

I have had people question my pump choice, my carb-counting choice, my doctor/hospital choice, my insulin choice, and even the way I approach life with D (the optimistic vs. realistic way people deal with diabetes).

Someone once told me I was a bad Mom for letting Elise be on NPH.  I had another tell me that the Omnipod was awful and they would never use it on their child.


Luckily as a Mom with three kids, I knew the BLW sites don't know what's best for me and my kids, and that I should follow my gut.  And I am thankful that I feel confident enough in my choices and my D-skills to know what works for Elise.

But what about the rookie Moms out there? And the rookie D-Moms?  I've always said that having your child diagnosed with T1 is like becoming a new parent all over again.  There is so much to learn, and it can be frightening.  You're afraid that one wrong move might irrevocably harm your child.  And there is so much information out there that sometimes it's hard to know what is best for your child.

When it comes to giving advice on diabetes, I now wait until I'm asked for my opinion.  It wasn't always that way, when I first met Laura I was high on the power of carb factors and I just HAD to share it with her.  Like a teenager gushing over her first kiss, I went on and on and on (and on) about how awesome carb factors were.   And I probably acted like it was the ONLY way to count carbs.  Luckily, Laura found what worked for her and didn't shun me for verbally vomiting all over her.

The way I look at it is that diabetes is not a "one size fits all" disease.  Just like there are different ways to parent, there are different ways of managing your child's D.  If you are new at this and trying to find your way, there will be lots of trial and error, but you will find your path... I promise.

And as frustrating as it can sometimes be having so many options (and not knowing which way is best for you), there is beauty in choice.

We all do it differently, but it's a different kind of same.


5 different D-Moms.  All doing it differently.
And rocking it in their own way.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Missed Diabetes Connections

Have you ever read the "Missed Connections" section in a newspaper?  They fascinate me.  I often wonder; do they work? Has anybody ever read one and realized it was them?  And what would compel a person to write one in the first place?

If you've never read one, it goes a little something like this:

You Unicycled your way into my heart...

Me: Sitting on the patio of the Starbucks at Main and Other Generic Street Name on a sunny Friday afternoon.  I was wearing a pink tu-tu and a hand-made non-GMO, free-range hemp sweater.  In my hand was a venti-half-frap-quarter-whip-mochaespressochino.

You: High upon your one-wheeled, eco-friendly mode of transportation, you sported a top hat rather ironically.  Your suspenders and bow tie completed the look.  Your blue hair was electric!

Wanna ride a bicycle built for two sometime?

Get the picture?

It was when I was reading this article that I thought, "someone should write a diabetes version."

Then, "I should write a diabetes version!"

So without further ado... Missed Diabetes Connections for Jerks.

You were the older lady behind me in line at Fill in the Blank grocery store last Tuesday.  When you saw me looking at my daughter's CGM you asked with total seriousness if that was a Lo-Jack for kids.  You make me laugh. We should get coffee so you can make me laugh some more.

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You: TSA guy at Major Hub Airport.  Bad disposition.  Inflated sense of self-importance.  Ill-fitting uniform to go along with your hairpiece.  Made my daughter cry because you had no idea what the guidelines are for travelling with a child who has diabetes.
Me: Angry Mom who you separated from the rest of her family who was desperately trying to console said crying child. My red hair matches my temperament.  I can't wait to go through your line again!

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We talked briefly in line at Big Happy Fun Waterpark.  You wore a garish bikini that made me wish for my sunglasses.  You told your child that my daughter got diabetes from eating too much sugar.  Want to meet again so I can give you a super-atomic wedgie before pushing you down a waterslide?

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It was a beautiful sunny day... I was one of the hundreds of people walking at Suburban Park during the diabetes walk.  You were the angry biddy riding her bike through the throng of people, yelling at them for being in the way.  I hope I see you again so I can tell you to chill out while I ram a stick through your spokes.

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A missed connection Haiku...

Mommy and Me group
You asked, "is it the bad kind?"
My brain exploded

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I was sitting behind you at The Yummy Baked Goods Place.  You and your friend were discussing the signs advertising the campaign in which Yummy Baked Goods Place would donate $1 of each cupcake sale to Well-Known Diabetes Foundation.  You proclaimed with a sneer, "Nice!  They cause their own disease and want you to fund their cure!"  I just thought you should know I've never wanted to punch someone more than at that moment.

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You and your family ate next to us at Popular Children's Fast Food Restaurant.  As I checked my child's blood sugar, your look of interest turned to disgust when you saw the blood.  Just thought you should know I was just trying to keep my kids alive.


***Yes, I have experienced all of the above exchanges, although some non-important details have been changed.  Since all of the above is pretty negative, I thought I would leave you with one very sweet story...

You were the older couple who kept glancing over at my husband and I as we ate dinner with our daughter at XYZ Family Restaurant. At the end of the meal, you (the husband) approached us and asked if our baby had type 1 diabetes.  You then proceeded to bring tears to my eyes as you told us we were doing a good job and you could tell we were wonderful parents.  You closed with, "She is going to be just fine".  I just wanted to let you know that I have never experienced such kindness at the hands of a stranger.  Thank you. 

Sunday, March 15, 2015

It's a fact

Wanna know something?

I HATE adjusting basals.  Like, really, totally, majorly hate.  I'd rather do some hard-core toilet scrubbing than sit down with the PDM and adjust those basals.  

Because it seems to me that even though I wait the requisite three days, see a definite pattern, then change the basal; she will then just go ahead and swing the opposite way.  ALWAYS.

Case in point: Overnight... she was going high, high, high a few hours after midnight.  Like into the 400s high. We are pretty much dealing with "fasting" BGs, because she hasn't eaten in about 6 or 7 hours.  So, I change the basal an hour or two before the highs show up, and BOOM.... hello 50s!  

I only change the basal by .05 (smallest change available on the pod), and start off with a small time period, so there is no way it is dropping her that much.  

What I'm guessing is that the growth spurt finally ended, and she's back to her normal insulin needs.  So these days, instead of messing with my basals, I just run a temp basal for the equivalent of raising/lowering her basal by .05.  I'll do it for about 3 days, and if it works, THEN I change the basal.  This method has been saving my sanity for a few months now.

I love finding an "easy" fix.

I read this the other day and it made me laugh.
Sometimes life with T1 can be just like this

This is in no way medical advice.  Nope... not even close.  If you are so far gone that you are taking advice from some weirdo in your computer, then may I suggest you have far bigger problems than messed up basals?  This is all just anecdotal.  I think you need to talk to your doctor.  

That is all

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Out of the mouths of babes. And #dblogcheck day

Today is #dblogcheck day.  I've not been so good about keeping up with my favourite bloggers and their blogs, but I figure I can ignore my three littles for a bit (it's spring break), and see what's happening in the best Online Community there is.

Here's my contribution.  If you stop by, please leave a comment so I know you were here.  Happy #dblogcheck day everyone!

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A Mattias-ism just too good not to share:

I had made some chocolate chip cookies for the kids the other day, and today at lunch, as Mattias was picking out his cookie for dessert he asked me, "Mom, does this cookie have poison in it?"

Bahahahahaha!  Someone has been paying attention!

This boy is all sorts of awesome

Friday, March 6, 2015

My Friday Four

There's a fun little meme making it's way around the DOC.  I first saw it on Scully's blog, and most recently on Tina's.  I thought I'd take part just to keep the writing process flowing.  It's not terribly exciting, but it's something... right?

I stole this from Tina who took it from Laddie's blog


1. Four names people call me other than my real name. 

Jo - There are some people out there who are unaware my full name is Joanne.  People always refer to my husband and I as "Fred and Jo".  People who have heard about us, but never met us think we are actually a gay couple.

Joey - What Fred mostly calls me.

Jo-Jo - A few friends call me this.

Moooooooooom! - Self explanitory

2. Four Jobs I’ve Had 

This one is a little hard since I technically "retired" at the age of 23 (that's what I call it when one moves to a country and isn't permitted to work).  Here goes anyway...


Bank CSR - This was my first job out of high school.  I took a break for a year and found I really enjoyed it.  I kept the job on and off throughout school.

My other three main jobs were in radio:

Promotions Girl
Weekend Producer
Morning Show Producer

Wow... that's some short resume.

3. Four Movies I’ve Watched More Than Once 

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (I'm so oooooold)
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Indiana Jones Trilogy (I don't acknowledge the last film)
Office Space

4. Four Books I’d Recommend 

The Stand by Stephen King
The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King (cheating because there's 7 plus a short story and an extra novel)
LOTR trilogy by JRR Tolkien
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

5. Four Places I’ve Lived 

Born in Montreal
Vancouver, B.C.
San Francisco
Dallas

6. Four Places I’ve Visited

Guatamala
Portugal
Kauai
A whole bunch of countries in Europe, but I'll just put Luxembourg because it's cute.


7. Four Things I Prefer Not To Eat 

Mexican Food
Indian Food
BBQ (not meat that has been grilled, but brisket et al)
Seafood

8. Four of my Favourite Foods

Italian
Asian
Pizza
Strawberry Rhubarb pie

9. Four TV Shows I Watch

Amazing Race
Most HGTV shows
The Soup
30 Rock (on Netflix)

10. Four Things I’m Looking Forward To This Year 

FFL
Summer being over (and it hasn't even started yet...)
Home improvement projects
Selling our rental house

11. Four Things I am Always Saying 

No!
Get out of the pantry Lucas!
Is it bedtime yet?
I'm tired

***this post has been edited to include 4 foods I like. Don't know how I missed it in the first place.  Thanks to Jeff for pointing it out.