Shew Wee... is it Friday yet?

What. A. Week. AND IT'S ONLY WEDNESDAY (it is Wednesday... right?)

Sunday: We recovered from the absolute madness of Saturday and Evans Orchard. We all took naps (well Mawmaw who never naps) didn't take one... but I'm pretty sure the rest of us did. I did. And really... that was all that mattered. Sunday night we took the kids to Gattitown for Diabetes Education Night which was sponsored through the company Animas. We were one of two families there. We got some sweet free diabetes swag. Harper scored 15 dinosaurs, and two stuffed animals. This girl is either super lucky or really, really, good at playing "carnival" games. Jeff swears the latter is true. Either way... she had a total blast... and... well... Saul ran around like a crazy TWO YEAR OLD... screaming "No" at everyone and everything. Pictures can be viewed here.

Monday: I did an observation of Harper's Montessori classroom in the morning. It was incredible. I was amazed.. It made me miss my kiddos at school. I am blown away by the progress Harper has made in just a short two months. She is already reading simple words, spelling and mastering so many skills. Her ability to focus and concentrate on work is fascinating to watch in the Montessori setting. I hugged Ms. Watt (her teacher) and told her I was grateful- I would have kissed her but I thought that might have crossed the line. From one teacher to another I will forever be appreciative that Harper's first introduction to "school" was in a caring, rigorous learning environment, with a teacher who encourages her to be an independent, well-rounded, life-long learner. *Can I also give a heart-felt-shout-out-virtual-hug and kiss to Grandma & Pap... without them... Harper would not be having this experience.

Tuesday: Saul had his 2 year checkup. Prepared for the inevitable meltdowns... a possible "hulk out" high or a "lethargic low" I packed as much "crap" as I could fit in my book bag purse…it entertained him about half the time we were there... the other half of the Dr's apt was spent with me repeating "no" and chasing him around as he attempted to pull off the tegaderm on his leg site. Stats: 30 some inches tall? 27 some lbs? (I think?) not really sure about percentiles and all that jazz... just know we got a clean bill of health and are growing and gaining weight beautifully... normally... like any kid... like a kid who wasn't diagnosed with diabetes at age 15 months. I have quickly learned that growing and gaining weight is critical for young children with an early T1 diagnosis. So far... 9 months in to diagnosis... we're doing great.

The girls had and eventful Tuesday afternoon- filled with a trip to the library for new books AND meeting a not-so-friendly, overly-feisty, fast and furious "turtle" that came to visit the Grimes-Sebulsky house for a few hours. Folks... it's the little things in life. lol. Seriously.

Now that I've bombarded you with 500 links... I'll leave you with a few pictures.

 

We've had some random breakfast guests lately

Solly & I enjoying a ride.

Little Solly looking not so "little"

Scored "D" swag

 

Girls making Saul bday cupcakes

The boys enjoying aforementioned cupcakes 

Harper's 2-hour pet "Leslie"
 

EH & MD posing with "Leslie"

 

A quilt in progress by one of Harper's classmates. 5 year olds in EH's class are sewing individual 9 piece quilts. I love it!

 

One of the books we checked out at the library yesterday. Preparing our kiddos for our future DAD!!!

 

Oh... yeah... have you heard!?!?! Solly is on his way to getting a diabetic alert dog? Keep up to date here and here. Thank you to everyone who has donated and spread the word! Keep the donations rolling. Lil buddy says "Tank Tu!" 

Kill you or make you stronger?

That which does not…. *YEAH RIGHT!*

I gotta say… it’s getting down right ridiculous up in this joint.  While my “coping” skills have vastly improved in the near 1 month post verdict (in large part thanks to "Kangaroo Juice" (EH's name for my nightly "wine dose" of cheap Yellow Tail)…. Saul’s BG levels in fact, have not. Unfortunately to put his levels in modern-everyday slang “they suck.”

Our first outing since diagnosis, which I decided to expose to the world via Face book was… well… umm… not good. Thank God Jeff and I managed in our 20 minute stay to order long-awaited, deliciously hot and steaming, over-priced Starbucks beverages before all hell broke loose… otherwise… those in the Lexington area might have ended up watching me later on Lex 18.

 *!*!*! Breaking News*!*!*!*! Crazy lady armed with BD syringes and lancing device holds up Hamburg Barnes & Noble Starbucks chick... embarrassed husband waits patiently with lethargic toddler strung across his back. 

I won’t lie… it was a little scary (not the aforementioned hypothetical) but Saul’s actual hypoglycemic episode. Looking back (though I’m sure it will sound ridiculous to some) – I wish I’d videoed the whole thing. I think I may start doing this - less for dramatic “show” and more for medical documentation. 

Needless to say, my confidence in returning to work has been slightly shaken these past few days.  The wee teeny tiny bit of self-assurance I developed the previous week (in my ability to care for him) has also been crushed.  I spent hours this morning while Saul was napping analyzing his data… When are his highs? When are his lows? Is he playing too hard after dinner? Did I forget a nighttime snack? Did I give him too many carbs? Is there something wrong with his Humalog? Am I not administering the shots right? What’s the best injection site… arm? leg? butt?

I have become obsessed with finding an answer to an ever changing question. Death by diabetic obsession… not the way I thought I’d leave this world.

<Meanwhile>

In the midst of my "strength training” this morning while phoning UK, texting our Ped, researching Lantus and problem solving how to use our latest ketone monitor.... I got a phone call from Mom.

It pretty much went like this.

 Mom: “Hey”

Me: “Hey”

Mom: “How is everything”

Me: “.......Sigh…... Umm… we’re okay… I’m trying to get in touch with UK.”

Mom: “.......Weeeellllll…...... I was in the bathroom and Harper was playing in the living room…... and…...... weeeeeeelllllllll…..... we’ve been playing with beads…..... and....….w-”

*Interruption by Me*

Me: “Yeah.... what's wrong?”

Mom: “Well… I think I’m going to have to take her somewhere… like to a Dr...... cause she just came in and told me she's got one stuck up her nose.... A red one.... She says she only has a red one.... I’ve tried to find it but it’s up there preeettttty far….... She swears there’s only one.”

Me: “Is she breathing?”

Mom: “Oh yeah”

Me: “Ahhhh… let’s just leave it there. Tell her to put another one in the other nostril to even out her breathing.”

Okay… Okay you’re right…. that last part was added for dramatic effect…. for audience appreciation... ya'll need a little humor.

Anyway… what was I saying?  "That which does not kill you…"

Half an hour after phoning Humana to find out the closest in-network Urgent Treatment Center in the Huntington WV-Tri-state area..... and.... interrupting Jeff at work..... while....... adding a new tab to my 500 existing Google search tabs... (this time Googling) “what to do when kid shoves crap up their nose”............................. I get a pic from Mom.

With a message.

“Got it out”

 If I’d had more than 2 hours of sleep last night I might have slightly been concerned about the primitive tools blatantly lying by that bad bead…. Alas… I figured if Mom had to carve a bit of the nostril out with a butter knife or poke the bead down the back of her throat with that ball point pen... we'd at least have a pretty good story to share at the next family reunion.

Post script.

No. worries. Mom got her to sneeze it out... no nostrils were hurt in the production of the event.

P.S.S.

I asked Mom to put Harper on the phone after all of the shenanigans. I asked “Why?!?!?! … Why did you stick that bead up your nose!?!?!?” Her reply: “Cause I wanted too.” I asked... “Harper WHY?!?!?! Why would you do that?!?!?!” The response I got in a tone I'm not sure I appreciated..... “MOOOOMMM!!!!! I WAS TRYING TO DO AN EXPERIMENT!!!!”

"That which does not kill you.... Right?"