Honeymooning

It's not what you think.  Carter's glucose has been on the low side (3.3, 3.8, 3.9) for the last few days.  The lows are scary.  It's a place that I don't like my brain to go, but it's also a reality of this disease.  If he goes too low and becomes hypoglycemic, the consequences could be very dangerous.  Hypoglycemia possibilities make rational caregivers irrational.  Waking up during the night to do glucose tests to make sure your lil' man is not too low.  Wondering if the temper tantrum he is having is because he is 2 years old or because he is going into insulin shock.  Not fun stuff.

The endocrinologist says we are likely in the 'Honeymoon Phase'.  The pancreas is rather happy that there is finally some insulin coming into the body and any beta cells (the ones that produce insulin) that may still have some life left in them will start producing a small amount of insulin on their own.  It doesn't mean he's cured, it doesn't mean we caught it in time, it doesn't change his diagnosis.  Eventually Carter's immune system will attack those remaining beta cells as well.  In the mean time, his insulin dosage decreases to compensate for the insulin being produced, naturally, by his pancreas.

On a positive note, Carter has managed to gain 5 lbs from February 11th, when he was admitted to hospital.  He's got a little pot belly going on lol.  We also had a short visit to Strong Start today.  The boys love going to see BJ, the coordinator who runs the Strong Start program in the school I am principal at.

I'm planning to head back to work next week.  It is not without some big time anxiety though.  Daddy does a great job of making sure Carter's dietary needs are taken care of and that he has all of his insulin etc...the mama bear in me is struggling with the what if's...what if daddy doesn't notice that Carter is running low?  Gotta wrap my head around that one...I suppose every T1D parent has to cross that bridge at some point.

The Difference 10 Days Makes

Everyone tells you how resilient kids are and when you are faced with something as serious as Type 1 Diabetes you wonder how your lil' one will respond to all those finger pricks and needles each day.  I must say I'm really proud and amazed at how well Carter has adjusted.  "It's time to test your sugar, Carter," results in him coming right over to the couch to do the deed.  He's even taking to helping out...

The kit - Glucose strip, finger pricker, and glucose reader

Carter pulls out a wipe to clean his hands, don't want to get a false
high reading because he was eating an orange 2 hours earlier and
didn't wash his hands...I wonder if boogers would increase the number?

Carter puts the glucose strip inside the meter...
got this step down pat.

Doesn't even flinch anymore, then helps put away the kit.
He even throws out his own used test strip.

The 'long acting' insulin shot before bed.  This one is a slow release
that doesn't peak until the middle of the night.

Although he is only 2.5 years old, he's already shown an incredible amount of resiliency and I'm pretty sure he'll give T1D a run for it's money.

I'm quite excited about the online support groups I have found; one is for parents of toddlers with T1D and the other is for Canadian Parents of Children with T1D.  I have a feeling these folks are going to provide me with a lot of information, support, and a common understanding of where we're all coming from.  

That said, I've also got a fantastic co-worker who has successfully raised her daughter who was dx at 5 years of age.  Ash is now 17 and doing awesome at post secondary and playing high level sports.  A great role model for Carter.  Her mom was the first person I called when I had a 'hunch' Carter might have T1D, and I'm sure there'll be many more texts/emails/phone calls when I have questions for feel like I'm at the tipping point.  Thanks, DC!

Four years ago, this was us after the Canadian Womens' Team won the gold medal in hockey during the 2010 Olympic Games.  It was incredible being present for such a proud moment for Canadians.

Fast forward four years...T1D has sure changed this Olympic experience.  Yesterday, while the Canadian women were battling for the gold medal, against the USA, I was fretting that Carter had just had his first 'low' glucose test...3.9.  I know that might hardly count as a low, but it was the first one and it made my heart jump and all of a sudden the reality of this disease is becoming more and more real.

That being said, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that once his glucose level came back up that I wasn't pretty excited about the game ;-).  The win was topped off nicely with the men's team beating the USA this morning in the semi-finals.  It's also very inspiring to learn about athletes like Kris Freeman, an American cross country skiier, who has Type 1 Diabetes and is competing in his fourth Olympics!

Carter's glucose numbers are coming down nicely.  I think we're still in a bit of a fog, or at least I am for sure. Today I did a short trip to the school as my grade 6 basketball team was playing a game.  I could definitely feel the anxiety increase being away from him...Are his sugars OK?  Is he eating?  Is he feeling well?  I have this week and next week off of work so am hoping his numbers will be regulated and I will be feeling more confident about being away from him :-(.

I had a very nice surprise when I popped into my office.  One of the teachers had coordinated a group of students and they made a 'Care for Carter' paper chain and hung it in my office with each chain having a nice thought and get well wish for Carter.  I work with some of the greatest people :-).

'Ash' my protective monkey

Invermere Emergency

Discharge Day

So long, Room 4111

Awesome care by the staff at ACH!

Mama snuggles

Our ride arrives in Invermere

Room with a View

The Infamous Fish Tank

Ash the Monkey and Sara the Sock Monkey

Pavlov's Dog

A co-worker sent me this quote form Pinterest this evening.  I'm not sure that I am strong, but that is my only choice, because I want what is best for Carter and Charlie, and will do what it takes to ensure they have the best care available to them when it comes to their health.


On another note, Carter is catching on to this whole Diabetes treatment thing pretty quick.  A breakdown of his day:

8:00 - Glucose test #1 (with blood from finger poke)
8:00 - Insulin injection 1 - long acting
8:00 - Insulin injection 2 - short acting
8:00 - Breakfast (carb time!)
10:00 - Snack (carb time!)
12:00 - Glucose test #2 (another finger poke)
12:00 - Lunch (carb time!)
1:00 - Nap
3:00 - Snack (carb time!)
5:15 - Glucose test #3 (another poke)
5:15 - Phone call to endocrinologist at ACH to give sugar numbers from previous 24 hours and to get new insulin doses for next 24 hours
5:15 - Dinner (carb time!)
5:30 - Insulin injection 3 - long acting
8:00 - Glucose test #4 (last poke of day)
8:00 - snack (baba time)
8:00 - Insulin injection 4 - short acting
8:15 - bed (zzzzzzz)

The brave little man doesn't even cry with the glucose tests any more (well today, anyways) and the tears, kicks, and screams are lessening with the insulin injections.

He's already figured out that after his glucose is tested he gets to eat carbs..."Mama, test sugar!"  He's even taken to the thermometer that his Auntie Shar gave him in his toy medical kit and is using it as his 'glucose tester'.  The dogs, our international student, all my fingers and toes are glucose tested regularly by Doc Carter.

A Mama's Instinct

Monday, February 10th, 2014...5:30 PM, Invermere, British Columbia....I had a feeling...deep down inside my tummy I had a feeling.

Dial back a couple of weeks.  Carter, aka Twin A, had not been himself.  A little quieter, wanting to sleep more, an increase in his appetite, and the two signs that should have been obvious; drinking and peeing like crazy.

"Don't beat yourself up...Good thing you caught it early...Diabetes runs in your family."  Doesn't change the diagnosis and wouldn't have.

Type One Juvenile Diabetes - "Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. Its onset has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent T1D, and—at present—nothing you can do to get rid of it." (http://www.jdrf.ca/news-and-media/fact-sheets/type-1-diabetes/)

So here we are and this is our journey.  After five days at the Alberta Children's Hospital I know one thing for sure; we were lucky to come home with our little boy.  Hearing "Code Blue, Unit 1" more than once over our stay gives you that reality check.  But it doesn't take away the worries deep down inside every mama's tummy when your child is sick...nope that's been compounded...by how much, only God knows for sure.

Carter's a tough little man.  He's had to be.  He had to put up with his little brother (Twin B) kicking him in utero for 36 weeks.  He's had to learn to share right from day one; a womb (and an awesome one at that - thanks Angie!), snuggles with mama, snacks, toys, and so on.  But he doesn't have to share this...at least not yet.  Although they are genetically identical, Charlie's chances of developing T1D are 40%...how does that happen?  Nature versus Nurture at it's finest.