The Highs and Lows of 2014....

One more year survived as a D family! Ba-bam, take that Diabetes!!!  

We weathered the year with more highs than lows.  And when I say that I mean it in both ways.  With growth hormones raging and puberty lurking around the corner it was a constant struggle to keep her in range.  But emotionally it was far more good than bad:)

Her A1C (a test which shows what her average blood sugar has been for the previous 3 months) fluctuated wildly throughout the year.  I was dreading her end of year appointment but we were all equally surprised to learn that her A1C had dropped 0.3 points.  

As much as I want to give D a big fat F.U., I can't help but reflect on the good things it brought to us in 2014:

In February we were lucky enough to participate in our second Riding on Insulin event.  Riding on Insulin was founded by Sean Busby, a professional snowboarder with Type 1 Diabetes.  Their mission is to empower those living with T1D to challenge the illness and learn to ski, snowboard, ride BMX, etc. in a safe environment.  

In February and July Caitlin spent time at her much loved Clara Barton Camp.  Definitely THE happiest place on earth for a child with T1D. Sorry Mickey!!  While there in July she was chosen to participate in the groundbreaking Bionic Pancreas camp study.  She spent 5 days hooked up to an insulin pump, glucagon pump, and continuous glucose monitor all driven by an iPhone using a mathematical algorithm to determine appropriate dosing response.  It was cumbersome but she was happy to have been a part of it in the end. 

We fundraised through most of October for our second JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.  Caitlin raised $3,954 with your help and support!

Caitlin ran cross country for the first time in 2014.  With all the exercise and training came a lot of lows, lows, lows...  As with every new experience with T1D, we made adjustments and tried new things and she kicked D's butt in the end.  She made it to every meet and missed just a practice or two, no more than any other teammate not dealing with a 24/7 disease.

Keeping her healthy was sometimes a struggle in 2014.  We battled colds, stomach issues, and just plain crappy days where D did not play fair.  The simplest virus for a non-T1D can wreak havoc on a immunocompromised person. But in the end we won.  We washed out those ketones, smashed those high blood sugars with insulin and did what we had to do to get her back on her feet.  With about 12 missed school days in all of 2014 she still managed to maintain straight A's (and one lonely B+). 

And now onward to 2015.  Bring on the challenges of raising a pre-teen with T1D!  I'm ready for this.  I will take the bad with the good because I know the good will prevail.  We look forward to seeing old friends at Riding on Insulin, Clara Barton Camp, and our JDRF walk.  In July you'll find us at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort for our first Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference.  This conference brings together an international group of clinicians, researchers, physicians, adults, children, and families with diabetes to learn the most current information in diabetes care.  With a whole lot of fun mixed in!!

Happy New Year to all!!  May all your goals and dreams for 2015 be within reach.  Get out there and make them happen:)