Today I give thanks...

...for so many wonderful things.

1.  Frederick Banting:  A Canadian medical scientist, doctor, painter, and Nobel Laureate noted as the first person that used insulin on humans.

2.  Carolyn O'Donnell:  Our pediatrician who took me seriously and recognized the signs of DKA immediately.  I am thankful to her every single day.

4.  UMass Pediatric Endocrinology:  Caitlin's care team.  I'm so thankful to have a great team of doctors, clinical diabetes educators, nutritionists, and support staff just 20 minutes away.

3.  BCBS:  Our health plan which makes it possible for us to afford the thousands of dollars of medications and supplies we use each year to keep Caitlin healthy.

4.  Clara Barton Camp:  Caitlin's diabetes camp where she can spend three blissful weeks in the summer being just like everyone else.

5.  Dave:  A great husband and father who didn't hesitate for a second to jump right in and learn everything he could about caring for Caitlin.  He's 100% involved.

6.  My friends and family who help in every way they can.  From subsidizing Caitlin's summer camp fund (thank you Mom & Cheri), to hosting fundraisers for JDRF at her shop (thank you Wendi), and for allowing me to shake them down every year for our JDRF walk to cure diabetes (thank you everyone).

We didn't know things were easier back then. We didn't know our lives would change drastically in two years.  But if I said it's all been a nightmare  that would be a lie.  Diabetes has brought some wonderful people into our lives and provided some amazing experiences for Caitlin.  I asked her once if she'd take a cure today if they had it and she said no.  She said it's a part of who she is and and she'd be afraid she couldn't go to Clara Barton Camp again.  

We have our rough days.  It's not easy all of the time.  But tell me, does this girl look like she's suffering or feeling sorry for herself?  I think not:)  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Count your blessings and be thankful for all you have every single day.

Much Love,
Michelle

When I ask you how you are, please answer me in numbers....

This is how conversations go in my house. 

"how are you doing?"

"I'm low, I'm high, I'm 132, 279, too high to read...."

So many of our conversations revolve around numbers, or food, or plans on how to handle an afternoon run, or a sleepover, or if her number is good enough to go to bed with.

"did you bolus for that?"

"did you eat enough carbs?"

"did you wash your hands before you checked?"

"did you pack enough supplies?"

"is your pump charged?"

It's a wonder she's able to focus on anything else.  Yet she does.  I'm pretty sure it's all background noise to her and she worries about these things far less than we do.  Which is perfectly fine for me.  Think back to when you were 9, 10, 11.  Can you even begin to imagine having to be responsible for something so fragile and important?  What did we have to worry about?  What was on TV?  What we were going to wear to school tomorrow?  Whether or not we'd get what we wanted for Christmas?

It boggles my mind how she handles it all.  Usually seamlessly but once in a while it all comes crashing down.  The text came in while driving home from the grocery store this morning.  She slept at a friend's house and I sent two extra pump sites just in case.  Pump site 1 & 2 failed last night and pump site 3 fell off during the night.  

The results?  Blood sugar too high to read, large ketones, and one very sick and disappointed little girl who had to cut her sleepover short to take care of very grown up matters.Two miserable hours later, half a dozen finger sticks, and water, water, and more water and she's finally starting to bounce back.  By this afternoon she'll be good as new and won't give this another thought.  For me, just one more reason to cringe the next time she gets a sleepover invite.  Will I let her go?  Absolutely!  She has diabetes but I will not let diabetes have her.