Ok, so I think I have all of my ducks in a row….or either I’m just trying to make myself feel better~ which is very possible. I am at the beginning of my second week of the semester and I am finally thinking I’m comfortable in my schedule. Not sure what I was thinking when I signed on for 6 classes, but anyway…so far so good.
Its been kind of tough starting school before my kids summer break is over. I just have to say (again) that I have 2 amazing sons! They currently take turns each day so that one of them can always be at home to watch Alyssa while I am at school. They also take turns & help out by keeping her so that me & dad can go out to dinner at least once a week~ just him and I. Of course I check in often when I’m not home, but they are on it! I love you Phillip & Jamon and I am so very proud of you. Taking care of Alyssa’s diabetes is a huge responsibility and you do such a great job!
So this week is busy!! Phillip had his junior orientation last night… since he drives, this is the first one I didn’t attend. :( It was more of a social event for him. Jamon and Alyssa will meet their teachers this evening. Dad is taking J and I’m taking Alyssa. I read her teachers bio online and she has been with the school for 11 years and teaching many more years than that. I am hoping that somewhere in her teaching history, she has had some experience with diabetes. Tonight I will bring in the extra class supplies like tissues, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes along with Alyssa’s midmorning snacks, juices for lows, and sugar free jello for those surprise cupcake or cookie parties so she can at least have a treat. If I know in advance, I can plan her schedule and she can have the sweets, but at least we have a back up.
Tomorrow I have 2 classes and during my break I will be taking all of Alyssa’s diabetes supplies to school and meeting with the nurse along with the teacher to train her. Even if her teacher has experience with diabetes, every child is different. I love the nurse at her school, she is wonderful and I feel very comfortable. So far in her pack is all her medical paperwork, a copy of her 504 plan, emergency glucagon, insulin, syringes, glucose tablets, 2 meters, strips, lancets, finger pricker (lol), juice boxes, and log book. I think that’s everything….
Thursday, I am so excited to be going to the kick off captain’s luncheon for the JDRF walk that is coming up in October. This is my first walk with them and I’m looking forward to meeting the staff I’ve been working with over the phone and via email. Then tomorrow night is me and the hubby’s evening out! Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and for those that are starting school on Thursday, have a great 1st day back!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Diabetes in School
Since Alyssa was diagnosed after Christmas last year, this is really my first school year that I've had to prepare her diabetes supplies. I can barely remember much more than being terrified to send her school nearly a week after she was released from the hospital.
Just to add to my plate, my fall semester just started where I will be taking 6 classes. Four will be at the college and 2 will be online. Fortunately I was able to work out my schedule so that I can still be able to pick Alyssa up from school each day.
So, today I just ordered another pocket prodigy meter. I have 2 already and then several others, but they are different kinds. I would like for the school to have at least 2, one in the office and one that can be kept where ever Alyssa is. So that will make it easier to be able to bring in the same strips for each meter.
I faxed all of the forms Alyssa needs filled out for school by the physician yesterday, so I'm going to wait until tomorrow to call the school to be sure they have gotten Alyssa's plan from the endocrinologist. Then I'll set up a time to speak with the "504" board.
Of course this has all been new to me, but the "504" information that I recieved from the school was very general and I was under the impression it was just a blanket, if you will, that states that anyone with a disability can recieve special care. Well, after response from family and friends in addition to my own research, I have found that it really protects Alyssa in far many more ways. It assures me that every staff member that has Alyssa in their care will be trained to know when/if Alyssa's glucose levels are high or low, it protects her health and education by allowing her to check and treat her levels at any time possible during class instead of having to go to the office, and many more things. I feel much better about sending her to school next week! She is ready....check out her note that was posted on her door... she needs a break from her brothers!
Just to add to my plate, my fall semester just started where I will be taking 6 classes. Four will be at the college and 2 will be online. Fortunately I was able to work out my schedule so that I can still be able to pick Alyssa up from school each day.
So, today I just ordered another pocket prodigy meter. I have 2 already and then several others, but they are different kinds. I would like for the school to have at least 2, one in the office and one that can be kept where ever Alyssa is. So that will make it easier to be able to bring in the same strips for each meter.
I faxed all of the forms Alyssa needs filled out for school by the physician yesterday, so I'm going to wait until tomorrow to call the school to be sure they have gotten Alyssa's plan from the endocrinologist. Then I'll set up a time to speak with the "504" board.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Summer vacay & Getting ready for August 25th....ughhhh
Last Wednesday Alyssa got her cast off! Yay! We left for the beach Thursday morning and spent 4 fun filled days there. The diabetes behaved for the most part while we were there. She was extremely active, as you can imagine after having to wear a cast for 7 weeks and now finally able to jump in a pool. Alyssa's glucose levels are very sensitive to activitiy, so we did have a couple of low's, but all in all it was a great time for her!
I am a full-time student and classes start for me on August 15th. So, this week I am trying to get all my ducks in a row as the following week the kids will be going back as well. Today I opened up the care plan packet that I need to fill out for Alyssa's school. When she was diagnosed we were half way through the year and the nurse walked me through the paperwork in her office, so I really do not recall all of this. Plus I was a little overwhelmed at the time..... This whole "504 plan" is quite confusing. I do understand that it means that no one with a disability can be excluded from participating in school and that accomodations have to be made for children with illnesses, handicaps, asthma, allegies and diabetes. However I do not understand why I have to go in for a meeting with the "504 Board" so they can decide if she falls under the act!?! She clearly is diabetic, and clearly needs to be able to check her glucose levels and have her insulin injections during school.
I am a full-time student and classes start for me on August 15th. So, this week I am trying to get all my ducks in a row as the following week the kids will be going back as well. Today I opened up the care plan packet that I need to fill out for Alyssa's school. When she was diagnosed we were half way through the year and the nurse walked me through the paperwork in her office, so I really do not recall all of this. Plus I was a little overwhelmed at the time..... This whole "504 plan" is quite confusing. I do understand that it means that no one with a disability can be excluded from participating in school and that accomodations have to be made for children with illnesses, handicaps, asthma, allegies and diabetes. However I do not understand why I have to go in for a meeting with the "504 Board" so they can decide if she falls under the act!?! She clearly is diabetic, and clearly needs to be able to check her glucose levels and have her insulin injections during school.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Walk to a cure and weekend stuff
Wow!! So excited about everything going on in my life right now! Just registered our team “Alyssa’s Angels” for our first JDRF Walk to a Cure that will be held at Elon University in Burlington on October 8th. The response has been outstanding!! http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/alyssasteamangels
My oldest son, Phillip is touring his first college today with one of my best girlfriends. I can hardly believe that he is a high school junior! I’m still struggling with the fact he just got his license! My other son, Jamon will be starting the 8th grade at a new school this year!
I have 2 weeks left of my summer break and then I’ll be back to school for my 3rd semester!
We had a great weekend full of celebrations for family and friends~ diabetes showed its ugly head Friday night while we were at a pool party. Alyssa’s levels were perfect all day long, she ate a great dinner, had a lower dose of insulin because I knew she would be swimming (1 armed swimming because she’s still wearing a cast until Wednesday) and then came the dreaded words “I feel shaky.” Her glucose had dropped to 43, the lowest it has ever been. 4 oz of juice, checked in 15 minutes, up to 63, still shaky and now nauseous. Juice usually does the trick, so I think it was lower than the meter read. I gave her about 2-3 oz of Pepsi, checked blood in 10 minutes and back up in the 90’s…whew. Gave her 2 peanut butter crackers, nausea gone and back to the pool she went. Back home, checked again before bed, 300 :-/! What a roller coaster….I know it was the Pepsi, but I felt I had to get that sugar up quick! Glucose tabs tend to take too long; the juice brought it up, but not enough. Saturday was a good day and so was yesterday, I just have to get a handle on what amount of insulin she should get if I know she’s going to be over active. It’s just so difficult to judge?? Tonight she is going to vacation bible school and I am debating whether or not I will give her insulin with dinner, because I know my girl will be chasing all the boys around!
My oldest son, Phillip is touring his first college today with one of my best girlfriends. I can hardly believe that he is a high school junior! I’m still struggling with the fact he just got his license! My other son, Jamon will be starting the 8th grade at a new school this year!
I have 2 weeks left of my summer break and then I’ll be back to school for my 3rd semester!
We had a great weekend full of celebrations for family and friends~ diabetes showed its ugly head Friday night while we were at a pool party. Alyssa’s levels were perfect all day long, she ate a great dinner, had a lower dose of insulin because I knew she would be swimming (1 armed swimming because she’s still wearing a cast until Wednesday) and then came the dreaded words “I feel shaky.” Her glucose had dropped to 43, the lowest it has ever been. 4 oz of juice, checked in 15 minutes, up to 63, still shaky and now nauseous. Juice usually does the trick, so I think it was lower than the meter read. I gave her about 2-3 oz of Pepsi, checked blood in 10 minutes and back up in the 90’s…whew. Gave her 2 peanut butter crackers, nausea gone and back to the pool she went. Back home, checked again before bed, 300 :-/! What a roller coaster….I know it was the Pepsi, but I felt I had to get that sugar up quick! Glucose tabs tend to take too long; the juice brought it up, but not enough. Saturday was a good day and so was yesterday, I just have to get a handle on what amount of insulin she should get if I know she’s going to be over active. It’s just so difficult to judge?? Tonight she is going to vacation bible school and I am debating whether or not I will give her insulin with dinner, because I know my girl will be chasing all the boys around!
Friday, July 29, 2011
It takes a villiage
It takes a village….
I am so grateful that we have so many family and friends who support, care and love our children. It honestly takes a village to raise a child; this is even more important when you have a child with juvenile diabetes. Fortunately in our situation, family and friends want to be educated and want to be informed about Alyssa’s care.
The first people that need to be educated are the other children that live in the home. I have 2 amazing sons who have always looked out for their baby sister, well when she’s not getting on their nerves. But in all honesty, since she was diagnosed, they are on her like white on rice. We’ve trained them in a sense by letting them check her glucose levels, giving her injections, educating them on what she can eat and what to look for. They have also dealt really well with the changes that have had to be made around here; Splenda instead of sugar, diet drinks, no candy….and if they buy their own candy, they don’t eat it in front of her. And it’s not that she can never have candy, it just has to be monitored.
My mother and mother-in-law have also been a great help. It was about 5 months after her diagnosis before Alyssa spent the night away from home, which was a long time for her because she loved spending weekends with her grandmothers. It’s a huge responsibility and they have made it possible for me and my husband to get away, take a break, and know that our little girl is being well taken care of.
Our friends are the best! I’m hearing about research they’ve read about, food ideas and substitutes. They continuously ask about Alyssa and when we are all together they are genuinely curious about her care and want to take part in it.
Outside of the home, more than likely the first people that need to be educated are teachers and school staff as they are with your child several hours a day. We are very fortunate that Alyssa’s school has a wonderful, caring staff. I’ll have a post about diabetes and school soon as I prepare for Alyssa’s return to school next month.
All in all, the most important thing is for Alyssa to know that she is loved and that diabetes does not define who she is. She is still that smart, silly, busy little girl who just so happens to have a disease. Our family and friends have been a tremendous part in helping her recognize that.
I am so grateful that we have so many family and friends who support, care and love our children. It honestly takes a village to raise a child; this is even more important when you have a child with juvenile diabetes. Fortunately in our situation, family and friends want to be educated and want to be informed about Alyssa’s care.
The first people that need to be educated are the other children that live in the home. I have 2 amazing sons who have always looked out for their baby sister, well when she’s not getting on their nerves. But in all honesty, since she was diagnosed, they are on her like white on rice. We’ve trained them in a sense by letting them check her glucose levels, giving her injections, educating them on what she can eat and what to look for. They have also dealt really well with the changes that have had to be made around here; Splenda instead of sugar, diet drinks, no candy….and if they buy their own candy, they don’t eat it in front of her. And it’s not that she can never have candy, it just has to be monitored.
My mother and mother-in-law have also been a great help. It was about 5 months after her diagnosis before Alyssa spent the night away from home, which was a long time for her because she loved spending weekends with her grandmothers. It’s a huge responsibility and they have made it possible for me and my husband to get away, take a break, and know that our little girl is being well taken care of.
Our friends are the best! I’m hearing about research they’ve read about, food ideas and substitutes. They continuously ask about Alyssa and when we are all together they are genuinely curious about her care and want to take part in it.
Outside of the home, more than likely the first people that need to be educated are teachers and school staff as they are with your child several hours a day. We are very fortunate that Alyssa’s school has a wonderful, caring staff. I’ll have a post about diabetes and school soon as I prepare for Alyssa’s return to school next month.
All in all, the most important thing is for Alyssa to know that she is loved and that diabetes does not define who she is. She is still that smart, silly, busy little girl who just so happens to have a disease. Our family and friends have been a tremendous part in helping her recognize that.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Snack time
Choosing snacks for Alyssa is an ever evolving task. Being a child with high energy, high metabolism, and who could previously eat anything she wanted-I had to become very creative. Her snacks need to be around 15g of carbohydrates, which does not include regular chocolate chip cookies (her favorite).
I always keep sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles and cheese sticks on hand, as they are low carb alternatives when Alyssa’s hungry between snacks or meals. She loves vanilla flavored yogurt and a serving of the light is 14g of carbs. All the little 100 calorie snack packs have somewhere between 14-17g of carbs and there are tons of varieties. It also gives her a chance to have those chocolate chip cookies in mini size. Sugar free jello pudding, ritz bits snack packs, gold fish snack packs and 4 to a pack of peanut butter crackers are all 15g of carbs or less to. If she experiences a low blood sugar, I usually give her a 4oz. juice box followed by a protein/carb snack of cheese and crackers or cheese and a few grapes. ). She has 3 snacks a day and who would want the same thing over and over? Therefore, I am always on the lookout for new snack ideas.
I always keep sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles and cheese sticks on hand, as they are low carb alternatives when Alyssa’s hungry between snacks or meals. She loves vanilla flavored yogurt and a serving of the light is 14g of carbs. All the little 100 calorie snack packs have somewhere between 14-17g of carbs and there are tons of varieties. It also gives her a chance to have those chocolate chip cookies in mini size. Sugar free jello pudding, ritz bits snack packs, gold fish snack packs and 4 to a pack of peanut butter crackers are all 15g of carbs or less to. If she experiences a low blood sugar, I usually give her a 4oz. juice box followed by a protein/carb snack of cheese and crackers or cheese and a few grapes. ). She has 3 snacks a day and who would want the same thing over and over? Therefore, I am always on the lookout for new snack ideas.
Counting Carbs...highs and lows
Juvenile Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas produces very little or no insulin which is the hormone needed for glucose to enter the cells and produce energy. If there is not enough insulin, glucose remains in the blood stream and can result in heart damage, kidney damage, vision problems, and skin problems--just to name a few of the major complications.
Alyssa's diabetes requires her to have 4 injections of insulin a day. With her 3 main meals, she has Novolog which is based on the amount of carbs she will eat with her meal and her current blood sugar. In the morning she also has an injection of Lantis, which is a long lasting insulin. Her 3 main meals consist of 45-60 grams of carbs and then she has 3 snacks (mid morning, mid afternoon, and before bed) that consist of 15 grams of carbs each. Her glucose levels are checked 4-6 times a day, poor little fingers; including in the middle of the night. The purpose of this diet plan is to keep her glucose levels between 100-180 (as she feels symptoms when she gets below 100).
I have found that her activity level majorly affects her levels. Alyssa is a very active little girl and it did take some time to get her adjusted. When she was first diagnosed, I thought our biggest ploblem would be to keep her sugar levels down, but in her case, with the insulin and her activity level, we stuggle with lows. Since she was diagnosed, working with her physician, we have had to adjust her insulin several times. Just when you think you're getting balanced, she starts having highs or lows...sometimes both in the same day.
Alyssa's diabetes requires her to have 4 injections of insulin a day. With her 3 main meals, she has Novolog which is based on the amount of carbs she will eat with her meal and her current blood sugar. In the morning she also has an injection of Lantis, which is a long lasting insulin. Her 3 main meals consist of 45-60 grams of carbs and then she has 3 snacks (mid morning, mid afternoon, and before bed) that consist of 15 grams of carbs each. Her glucose levels are checked 4-6 times a day, poor little fingers; including in the middle of the night. The purpose of this diet plan is to keep her glucose levels between 100-180 (as she feels symptoms when she gets below 100).
I have found that her activity level majorly affects her levels. Alyssa is a very active little girl and it did take some time to get her adjusted. When she was first diagnosed, I thought our biggest ploblem would be to keep her sugar levels down, but in her case, with the insulin and her activity level, we stuggle with lows. Since she was diagnosed, working with her physician, we have had to adjust her insulin several times. Just when you think you're getting balanced, she starts having highs or lows...sometimes both in the same day.
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