Nine. Times.

It was 1:45pm on Monday when I started this post.  As of 10 minutes ago, I have been on the phone with our school nurse 9 times.  Nine. Times.



The first call was around 8:00 this morning, only 15 minutes after school started.  The reason?  Elise was low. I honestly can't remember the number because there are so many from today, but she was below 100.  Only an hour after eating.

Even though I changed basals and I:C ratios (so she'd get less insulin), she only topped out at 120 after breakfast.

The rest of the day so far has followed suit.  Low after low after low.  In fact, I'm expecting a call soon, since my watch is telling me she's dropping.  Again.

All those spikes you see were from the many, many carbs consumed.
But she always came right back down

Now it's Tuesday, about 24 hours later.  I never finished the post yesterday because... well, life.  And again, I've been on the phone with the nurse nine times.  Including one phone call where Elise was 51 in P.E.

As much as this sucks, I am very thankful we have probably the rocking-est (is this a word?  No?  I care not) school nurse in the history of ever.  We are the lucky ones.  I have heard from so many parents how care at school is a battle, the nurse isn't helpful, and things being done to their child are downright illegal.  

We are contemplating moving to another state.  I am unfamiliar with the laws and unsure of the protections that exist for Elise there.  I do know that right now we live in one of the best states when it comes to protecting our kiddos with T1.  

It shouldn't be this way.  There are so many struggles when it comes to diabetes; finding an endo you gel with, getting the supplies you need, insurance battles... the list goes on.  I'm lucky that when I send Elise off to school, I know she's in amazing hands.  Not everybody has this and it hurts my heart for them.

This month, I am thankful for so much.  But after what we've been dealing with over the last few days, our nurse is at one of the top spots on my list.  If you have a good one, make she she/he knows it.  If you don't... well I'd be shouting that from the rooftops too.

And I think a certain nurse will be getting a "just-because-you're-awesome" gift tomorrow.

Second verse, same as the first... but worse lows this time

Pop Quiz

Put your books away, it's quiz time... can anybody tell me what this is a picture of?

If you said a picture of a Dexcom, you'd be right.

If you said a nice BG, you'd also be right.

If you said a pretty sweet 3 hour graph, that would be correct too.

But the picture doesn't tell the whole story.  In that 3 hour time period that is displayed on the dex, Elise received NO insulin.  None. In fact, when she dipped into the red, she got 6g of carbs.

Today was Elise's first field trip, and she was just a wee bit excited.  The nurse went along and just after noon, she called; pod alarm.  Basal stopped.  Crap.

I had just come home after picking up Mattias from school.  He was starved and exhausted.  I also had a very hungry and tired baby.  I knew Elise would HATE it if I had to come and change out her pod in the middle of her field trip (the nurse doesn't do pod changes per our request).

Thankfully, Elise was on the low side... hovering around 100.  I told Nurse K to watch the dex, and let me know if she started to rise and we'd figure something out then.

It turned out, nothing needed to be done.  Elise made it all the way until she got home.  Her BG was 113 and a ketone check (just in case) showed 0.2.

The knife through the heart was Elise's thought on the whole experience, "Mama, it was like being a normal kid again!  I was just like everybody else!"

Cue big, sad sigh.  Followed by tears when she wasn't looking.

Damn you, diabetes.  Damn you to hell.

***this is NOT medical advice, and I am not a doctor, although I watched a heck of a lot of ER when it was on TV.  What?  I thought Dr. Carter was cute.  Anyway, you should never follow my example and not give our child insulin for 3 hours.  Seriously... DON'T DO THIS.  This was a special circumstance and a unique experience.  

Fake Pancreas, out.

Thankful Thursday: Nurse K

We had some school nurse drama before this year started and it made me nervous.  Lots of things seemed up in the air, and then we found out a new nurse had been hired.

We met her at our 504 plan meeting, and felt very comfortable with her from day one. She is open to feedback, willing to learn and has made learning about D a top priority.  

This morning she called during Elise's 9:00 am check:

Just wanted to let you know that Elise is 210 (this is a good number for her at that time of day. It's 2 hours after breakfast, and where she usually tops out at.  We like her to be between 180-220. That way she usually lands around 100 by lunch), but the CGM is saying slightly down.  I know this is a bit early for her to start going down, so I'll keep my eye on it.

Then she called again at 9:45:

I forgot to tell you we have a weather drill at 10:00 and I'm going to be all over the place, so I thought I'd go by and re-check Elise.  Her CGM is saying 117 slightly down now, so I thought I should give her some fruit gummies to be on the safe side.  

I love how she has learned Elise's routine.  She knows what is normal for Elise, and is starting to get comfortable with what actions to take.  She doesn't call me every check, just when something is up and she wants to double-check on what to do.  And I am so confident in her abilities, that I don't get stressed out when I haven't heard from her... it just means that all is well (we do use a logging app, and she tries very hard to enter the info as soon as she can, but her office is a zoo most days.  I've seen it myself!)

Elise loves school.  She is thriving. This separation has given her confidence that she will be okay without me. And Nurse K has given me the ability to relax and let go.

Today I am thankful for those who care for our kids when they are away from us.  

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