Elections are approaching

In order for me to make the best decision that I can live with on my conscience I need to do some research on the candidates.  Therefore, what a perfect time to teach Jacob about the election process and how candidates are elected into office.  So this is going to be our project for the week.  I wonder how many other homeschoolers are going to do the same??

Is it October?

I was warned about how things seem to drag in the month of October by people in my homeschool group.  And you know how you hear things like that I think to yourself, "not us, we won't go through that".  Well, we have.  We took a bit of an extended fall break and trying to get back into schoolwork has been hard.  We started back a bit easier.  Jacob read the book "Around The World in 80 days".  I saw on Amazon.com they even have a game boy advance game that goes with the movie! Pretty cool.  He wants to wait until tonight to watch the movie when the other kids can watch it too.  Very sweet!  Next month the play is coming to the Roxy Theater and we are going to go watch that too.

The past 2 days I have been trying to relate things to Jacob more on his level.  He has some issues with focusing and staying on task.  Now, I know its not because he is bored like when he was in school.  May be ADD I don't know.  But I am not running out to the dr to get pills either.  I don't think it is that severe.  I am trying to show him how he is able to focus on his DS and the games he plays, but yet he has a hard time with his schoolwork.  Why is that?  This is what I am trying to get him to realize and hoping this helps him understand the importance of getting schoolwork finished.  Otherwise, we can say bye bye to the DS...not a choice he is willing to make.

Two in a row...

Not sure how this happened...but last night both of the kids were 91 before eating dinner and then this morning they woke up with the number of 83!  Good numbers, sure not complaining at all about that.  Just odd for it to happen.  Elizabeth wasn't even awake this morning when Jesse tested and last night they both tested at separate times too.

I have a friend of mine that when her son get a blood sugar reading of 100 they call it hitting the lottery.  So he gets $1 bill.  I think this is a really cool game to play with the kids! 

The kids are both in strong honeymoons so we have the majority of their numbers are within the normal range.  We do get a few stray low numbers but not to the point where they are symptomatic.  And of course we deal with the stubborn highs too.  You know the ones.  The kind where you do everything possible to bring them down and they won't budge.  Until you start heading to the ER, miraculously they get back in the normal range and the ketones go away too.  Yes, we have had this happen!  Went all the way to Vanderbilt with high ketones and high BGs with Elizabeth Anne.  Get there and she has a low in the waiting room.  Have to get D50 on board and the ketones were nowhere to be seen! Grrr...

Have a blessed Friday!

Two in a row...

Not sure how this happened...but last night both of the kids were 91 before eating dinner and then this morning they woke up with the number of 83!  Good numbers, sure not complaining at all about that.  Just odd for it to happen.  Elizabeth wasn't even awake this morning when Jesse tested and last night they both tested at separate times too.

I have a friend of mine that when her son get a blood sugar reading of 100 they call it hitting the lottery.  So he gets $1 bill.  I think this is a really cool game to play with the kids! 

The kids are both in strong honeymoons so we have the majority of their numbers are within the normal range.  We do get a few stray low numbers but not to the point where they are symptomatic.  And of course we deal with the stubborn highs too.  You know the ones.  The kind where you do everything possible to bring them down and they won't budge.  Until you start heading to the ER, miraculously they get back in the normal range and the ketones go away too.  Yes, we have had this happen!  Went all the way to Vanderbilt with high ketones and high BGs with Elizabeth Anne.  Get there and she has a low in the waiting room.  Have to get D50 on board and the ketones were nowhere to be seen! Grrr...

Have a blessed Friday!

My personal history on the insulin pump

Thought I could show you how far the insulin pumps have come from the beginning...
Here is the first pump:

As you will...pumps did change over the years.  Not only in size but in function too.  This first insulin pump delivered both glucagon and insulin.  The pumps on the market do not deliver glucagon (at least that I have heard about).  We have a separate injectable for emergency use of glucagon.  Glucagon is used for low blood sugar that you are unable to get higher on your own or if you cannot swallow.

Here is another good picture to show the changes that were made every few years...

I found this picture on the dlife website...Ok now getting to what my first pump looked like.  I am glad i came in when the pumps were somewhat stylish. 

Now mine was the one on the left.  Except I think it was just black.  This is the one the insurance company rented each day for me.  Then they got smart and just bought one.  A daily rental fee then was $100/day.  The next pump wasn't "that" much different but it was new and mine to keep.

Could you imagine wearing that back pack compared to this pager sized pump!  What was neat about the 508 was that it had a remote that went on my keychain.  I was able to give myself my meal bolus and never had to pull the pump out.

I wore this pump from 2000 until 2005 I think.  I had a new doctor and he did more with the Animas company and ordered a new pump for me.  Here is the next pump.  I called it the dinosaur the last 1 1/2 years I wore it. 2005-2009.

Ugh...I hated this pump!!!  As SOON as my insurance allowed me to get a new pump I switched to Cozmo!! I loved my cozmo!!  It was green

about 6 weeks after having the cozmo I received a letter saying that they would no longer be pump business.  I definitely did not want to stay with a company that was bailing out.  I called Minimed (back to my original 2 pumps) and they had an offer for me.  I could send my cozmo in and get a $500 credit toward my new pump and then sign up to take surveys every quarter for a year and get credited $250 each time to pay for my pump.  Obviously I got a refurbished one so the warranty is only for 2 years and not the typical 4. So I have the option to get a new pump next spring!!  At first the thought of having a pink pump sounded really cool.  But now when I look at it, it looks like chewed up bubble gum! LOL

There you have...this is my history on the insulin pump...and a few earlier models thrown in for a visual history too! 

Here are pictures of the kids' pumps:

Anyway I couldn't find a good blue picture of Jesse's pump but here is what it looks like and you can see the color in there too..

Here is Elizabeth's Animas Ping in pink

Now her pink color is really cool looking!  I love the shiny tone...

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

My personal history on the insulin pump

Thought I could show you how far the insulin pumps have come from the beginning...
Here is the first pump:

As you will...pumps did change over the years.  Not only in size but in function too.  This first insulin pump delivered both glucagon and insulin.  The pumps on the market do not deliver glucagon (at least that I have heard about).  We have a separate injectable for emergency use of glucagon.  Glucagon is used for low blood sugar that you are unable to get higher on your own or if you cannot swallow.

Here is another good picture to show the changes that were made every few years...

I found this picture on the dlife website...Ok now getting to what my first pump looked like.  I am glad i came in when the pumps were somewhat stylish. 

Now mine was the one on the left.  Except I think it was just black.  This is the one the insurance company rented each day for me.  Then they got smart and just bought one.  A daily rental fee then was $100/day.  The next pump wasn't "that" much different but it was new and mine to keep.

Could you imagine wearing that back pack compared to this pager sized pump!  What was neat about the 508 was that it had a remote that went on my keychain.  I was able to give myself my meal bolus and never had to pull the pump out.

I wore this pump from 2000 until 2005 I think.  I had a new doctor and he did more with the Animas company and ordered a new pump for me.  Here is the next pump.  I called it the dinosaur the last 1 1/2 years I wore it. 2005-2009.

Ugh...I hated this pump!!!  As SOON as my insurance allowed me to get a new pump I switched to Cozmo!! I loved my cozmo!!  It was green

about 6 weeks after having the cozmo I received a letter saying that they would no longer be pump business.  I definitely did not want to stay with a company that was bailing out.  I called Minimed (back to my original 2 pumps) and they had an offer for me.  I could send my cozmo in and get a $500 credit toward my new pump and then sign up to take surveys every quarter for a year and get credited $250 each time to pay for my pump.  Obviously I got a refurbished one so the warranty is only for 2 years and not the typical 4. So I have the option to get a new pump next spring!!  At first the thought of having a pink pump sounded really cool.  But now when I look at it, it looks like chewed up bubble gum! LOL

There you have...this is my history on the insulin pump...and a few earlier models thrown in for a visual history too! 

Here are pictures of the kids' pumps:

Anyway I couldn't find a good blue picture of Jesse's pump but here is what it looks like and you can see the color in there too..

Here is Elizabeth's Animas Ping in pink

Now her pink color is really cool looking!  I love the shiny tone...

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Today we mourn...

A diabetic group that I am a member of that the main focus is on children.  One of the families across a big pond lost their daughter last night due to a severe low blood sugar.  There is a syndrome called "Dead In Bed" and apparently it occurs after the child goes to bed at night.

I mourn for this family and the loss of their sweet daughter and I pray even harder for the cure of diabetes.

Today we mourn...

A diabetic group that I am a member of that the main focus is on children.  One of the families across a big pond lost their daughter last night due to a severe low blood sugar.  There is a syndrome called "Dead In Bed" and apparently it occurs after the child goes to bed at night.

I mourn for this family and the loss of their sweet daughter and I pray even harder for the cure of diabetes.

Sweet beginnings...

I wondered if Jesse being on the pump it would make Elizabeth feel better about her pump.  Not that she felt bad about it...but it makes her that much closer to Jesse.  Just a dab more of super glue!  Since May, they both have blood sugar contests.  Nothing criticizing at all.  Just a simple, "I beat you!" and they laugh it off and start eating. 

Well, this morning Jesse started to help Elizabeth get her breakfast ready and even went to great lengths and found her meter so she could test before being reminded by me.  For some reason, Jesse was on the ball this morning!! 

We had alot of leftover pumpkin pancakes from today so the kids asked to eat some in the morning.  I think I went overboard when I made them last night (Monday night).  Sorry, getting my day/night mixed up since it is 1 in the morning now.

Sweet beginnings...

I wondered if Jesse being on the pump it would make Elizabeth feel better about her pump.  Not that she felt bad about it...but it makes her that much closer to Jesse.  Just a dab more of super glue!  Since May, they both have blood sugar contests.  Nothing criticizing at all.  Just a simple, "I beat you!" and they laugh it off and start eating. 

Well, this morning Jesse started to help Elizabeth get her breakfast ready and even went to great lengths and found her meter so she could test before being reminded by me.  For some reason, Jesse was on the ball this morning!! 

We had alot of leftover pumpkin pancakes from today so the kids asked to eat some in the morning.  I think I went overboard when I made them last night (Monday night).  Sorry, getting my day/night mixed up since it is 1 in the morning now.

I lied...

I really did want to make those pancakes...maybe tomorrow.  But I had the canister of oatmeal staring at me and saying "make me, make me, choose me!" LOL  So I made some apple cinnamon oatmeal in the crockpot instead.  I thought about the pumpkin though and now I am thinking that pumpkin oatmeal sounds really good!!  The kids thought so too...may be on the list for later this week.  Right now the crockpot is worn out from working all night long and needed a long relaxing soak in Dawn infused water....sleep well crock! 

We are off to our fall festival for the homeschool group at FBC.  I didn't think I would get to bring the muffins I promised due to a power outage this morning.  Sure enough the power returned with 2 hours to spare!!  I have about 3 dozen banana muffins.  I had 3 dozen more made but I forgot to start the timer and I will just say that the birds and all the stray animals outside will have a lovely brunch! :)  have a blessed day !

A brand new kind of day...

I am so glad I woke up earlier today!  I had forgotten that 2 of the kids had to be at school an hour earlier for a before school program.  Also, grateful that I made an Apple Oatmeal in the crockpot to cook overnight for the kids!! 

Jesse was all set!  He put his carbs in this morning and off he went to school!  An hour later I had to drive Elizabeth Anne to school because I had doctor's orders to turn in to the school nurse. 

Hoping Jesse's set stays in the rest of the day.  I saw it was peeling slightly but it was still intact.  Just in case, I let the nurse know of the possibility of a set change.  As I am walking to Jesse's class to drop off a bottle of sugar tabs Elizabeth Anne finds me again and said her pump was making noises.  Sure enough she needed a reprime!  I asked her to go see the nurse to do this while I take care of Jesse.  I don't think the nurse understood what she came in there for because she told her to go find me. 

Jesse is good to go!

Elizabeth and I head to the bathroom to go reprime her pump and her set is half hanging out.  Not having one in my purse I knew we would have to get the extra from the nurse's office.  We had to wait though as she was busy.  We get in and get the new set going and do a reprime.  I decided to go ahead and walk her to the classroom...its the little things that make us happy.

A brand new kind of day...

I am so glad I woke up earlier today!  I had forgotten that 2 of the kids had to be at school an hour earlier for a before school program.  Also, grateful that I made an Apple Oatmeal in the crockpot to cook overnight for the kids!! 

Jesse was all set!  He put his carbs in this morning and off he went to school!  An hour later I had to drive Elizabeth Anne to school because I had doctor's orders to turn in to the school nurse. 

Hoping Jesse's set stays in the rest of the day.  I saw it was peeling slightly but it was still intact.  Just in case, I let the nurse know of the possibility of a set change.  As I am walking to Jesse's class to drop off a bottle of sugar tabs Elizabeth Anne finds me again and said her pump was making noises.  Sure enough she needed a reprime!  I asked her to go see the nurse to do this while I take care of Jesse.  I don't think the nurse understood what she came in there for because she told her to go find me. 

Jesse is good to go!

Elizabeth and I head to the bathroom to go reprime her pump and her set is half hanging out.  Not having one in my purse I knew we would have to get the extra from the nurse's office.  We had to wait though as she was busy.  We get in and get the new set going and do a reprime.  I decided to go ahead and walk her to the classroom...its the little things that make us happy.

Our Pumps and Sets...

Guess I should have said what pumps we are on now...

Elizabeth Anne is sporting a pink Animas Ping

Jesse is sporting his super awesome blue Minimed Revel 523

I am now wearing a pink "thought-it-was-cute-at-the-time" Minimed 722.

I only say that b/c my pink looks likes chewed up bubble gum. Now Elizabeth Anne's pink is like a hot pink! Its really stylish!

We all wear the same infusion sets too. I change mine up sometimes but normally stick to our Insets I like the colors too!! I also wear quickset and Mio's

I will try and take a picture of the three of us tomorrow with our pumps!

eta: found a great oatmeal recipe site!!

Our Pumps and Sets...

Guess I should have said what pumps we are on now...

Elizabeth Anne is sporting a pink Animas Ping

Jesse is sporting his super awesome blue Minimed Revel 523

I am now wearing a pink "thought-it-was-cute-at-the-time" Minimed 722.

I only say that b/c my pink looks likes chewed up bubble gum. Now Elizabeth Anne's pink is like a hot pink! Its really stylish!

We all wear the same infusion sets too. I change mine up sometimes but normally stick to our Insets I like the colors too!! I also wear quickset and Mio's

I will try and take a picture of the three of us tomorrow with our pumps!

eta: found a great oatmeal recipe site!!