Hey Ya'll! Let's get a dog for Saul!

Well...after weeks of hem-hawing and stressing... I We finally just put it out there. I reluctantly hit "publish" and "post" and "like this page" and well... now there's no turning back.... grammatical errors and all... out there for the world to see... and despite my stressin and frettin and fussin the entire Grimes-Sebulsky household is SO excited to start the process of Saul acquiring his DAD.

After researching for quite some time, contacting a number of various diabetic alert dog agencies across the US and weighing all Saul's options we decided that helping Saul to acquire a DAD would be a life-changing- life-saving investment like no other.

If you are in the market for a diabetic alert dog, if you are looking for an incredible organization to support, if you happen to have a few extra dollars just burning in your pocket.... I urge you to check out Warren Retrievers and Guardian Angel Service Dogs and make a donation on Saul Sebulsky's behalf.

We chose this organization based on a number of recommendations.  They are reputable. They are legitimate. They are concerned... and... after speaking directly with Dan Warren on the phone I knew this non-profit agency was our "perfect match."

Saul will acquire his DAD in approximately 6 months. We have already started the countdown and the arduous task of thinking up the perfect "diabetic" name for Saul's 4-legged friend. I am currently looking for children’s books on service dogs and talking to Harper about "service dogs" versus "family dogs" versus "therapy dogs" so that she can better (advocate for) and explain our DAD to others.

So... without furthur adieu check out the site.

Spread the word.

Let's get a dog for Saul ya'll!

Birthday Weekend Re-Cap (with still more to come)

What would a birthday be without a 3 a.m. BG reading of 501? Or... a day full of running and playing and treating lows with delicious home aide Evans Orchard apple cider... Or... being so exhausted that you can't treat nighttime lows... Or TURNING TWO YEARS OLD and suddenly REFUSING every attempt to treat a nighttime low... "NO!" to skittles "NO!" to juice "NO!" to cake icing... Thank goodness for one lonely pack of Cars "gummies" which ended up being the ONLY thing this stubborn TWO YEAR OLD would allow us to put in his mouth.

But... This weekend hasn't been ALL about "D."

Friday (Saul's actual "birth" day) was spent playing with Trippy. He got an awesome new "Thomas-piano-book" from the Neely's which he LOVES.... and better than the book was the wrapping paper it came in... "DUMP CAR" wrapping paper. He has carried it around all weekend.

Maw-maw braved stormy weather and eventually made it down Friday afternoon. We spent the evening celebrating Saul's bday going "out to eat." Saul managed to shove in 91 carbs (thanks in large part to a 45 carb chocolate chip cookie) and survive the experience. Following the carb overload... and in one of my favorite moments of the bday weekend - we took Solly to Target to "pick out" his bday gift from Aunt Chris & Uncle Joe. I wish we'd videoed (how many times do I say this?) or attempted to document the experience... SOMETHING to capture the moment.... moments.... HOURS... it took him to pick something out. LOL. This kid is so much like Sebulsky it's not funny. He pondered. He carried around certain toys. He tried things out. He REFUSED to decide quickly... He reminded me so much of Jeff I wanted to scream. "Methodical." Then (just like his Dad) once he FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY decided (on a set of Matchbox Cars which included a dozer and a "dump car") he hasn't let them out of his sight or hands since (fully satisfied with the ultimate decision). Saul also scored with a Cars book (that includes a set of cars) and a new Umizoomi video (Thanks again Aunt Chris & Uncle Joe!). We topped the evening off by going to Half-Priced books to load up on some new reading material which made EH a very, very happy girl.

Madison and Wynne came over Saturday morning and we loaded up and headed out to spend the day at Evans Orchard. What a day! I think we're all still recovering from the excitement. Check out pics here. We picked apples from the orchard, we picked pumpkins from the patch. We ran, slid, jumped, climbed, rode, hid, walked, ate (apple cider donuts... yum) took lots of pics and made lots and lots of great memories. We even ran into some old friends and got to enjoy their company.

I'd like to say we came home and "crashed" but how could these kids rest when they had the "hugest... funnest... bestest ever birthday box!!!" to open from Grandma and Pap. Dinosaurs! Trucks! Legos! More Dinosaurs! Seriously.... will I ever. ever. ever. get them to go to bed ever again? So many new- cool-awesome-"perfectly selected presents" to play with!!! Leave it to Grandma to always send lots of love & fun! We miss you Grandma and Pap!!

Tonight we are supposed to go to Gattitown for a "family diabetes evening" with vendors, information and lots of free stuff. I'm hoping a family nap will give us the energy we need to round out this non-stop, fun-filled birthday weekend.

Thanks to all our family and friends who have "celebrated" from a-far, who have sent "special birthday wishes" and thought about our "sweet boy" on his special day. I hope he knows how much he's loved.

PS. ignore all the typos and terrible grammar... I've got what can only be called a "too-much-two-year-old-partying-headache-hangover"

September 27, 2010

September 27, 2010

It’s 1:25 a.m. 4 hours before I have to get up and go to the hospital for a C-section. I’m absolutely terrified. I am a nervous wreck. I’m afraid I’m going to throw up or pass out on the operating table. I got sick last Thursday. I’ve been on a Z-pac since then. I got bronchitis and have had a terrible cold/headache/flu.

Dr. Onan is doing the surgery. I’m scared. She’s using steri-strips instead of glue- like Dr. Fuson used.

Fears-

I have so many fears. What if something bad happens- blood clot, pneumonia, unable to move, trouble breastfeeding.

Fears-

What if the baby is sick, deformed, what if something is wrong with him? What if something happens to him? What if he stops breathing?

Fears-

Post-partum depression, anxiety, what if we don’t bond?

Fears-

What if something happens to Harper on the way to the hospital?

 

I keep telling myself… you’ve waited for this, waited for him. You’re doing this for Harper. She needs a brother a baby brother. Harper needs a sibling.

Brooke is doing this 3 times. O’nan did this 3 times. You can do this. You did it once before.

This is something good. Something wonderful. You're having a baby.

Enjoy this moment- enjoy him. This will be the last time you’re pregnant. This is your last birth. This is the last baby you will breastfeed.

You have so many people praying for you. Praying for this baby. Saul. Prayed for. He’s not here and he’s already getting prayers.

I wish I could quit work to raise kids.

I wish I could take more time off to be with this baby.

Go to sleep. Don’t be afraid. It will be okay. You will be okay. He will be okay.

*I copied this exactly as I wrote it 2 years ago in a journal the night before my scheduled C-section. All the fears and anxieties were worth it. What an amazing 2 year's it's been. Happy Birthday little buddy. Mommy loves you.

Diabetes Art Day (just a little late)

Hey guys. So things like showering, napping and changing "yanked out infusion sets" has taken priority these past few days... which means I'm late blogging about Diabetes Art Day. We did not submit art this go around, however I do plan to submit something for February 4th. Check out the incredible and inspiring art that was created here. Also check out diabetes blogger and Art Therapist Lee Ann Thill and her blog "The Butter Compartment" (which happens to be where we store our insulin as well...lol).

Oh... and in conclusion to my previous post.... it's itchy. and annoying. and weird. and sometimes painful but more frustrating than anything.

BTW.

umm....

somebody has a big birthday tomorrow.

and...

umm....

somebody else is in denial about it.

and...

umm...

that somebody in denial is currently planning a very special day for that very special somebody and yes... it does include a "dump car" cake.

Just one of the "D's"

So... I can't believe it's taken nearly 8 months for me to do this... or that it took Sebulsky 3 attempts to insert the CGM.

Either way... I've got two sites going... I don't have a pump with saline - just tegaderm covering the site where the needle is inserted. I'm only "wearing" the inserted cannula for the CGM site and have tegaderm covering it.

I won't lie... even with lidocaine (numbing cream) prior... The CGM insertion did not feel great. I wouldn't say it was painful... But I certainly felt it (and felt it, and felt it.... Lol.... Sorry Sebulsky 3rd times a charm). It remains uncomfortable- again... I wouldn't say it "hurts" but is def. present and annoying. After just 3 hours of wearing and an hour of cardio the site has started to itch and I find myself wanting to scratch at it. The pump site insertion felt like a like "prick" basically like a finger stick in the stomach. It does't hurt... its more psychological than anything... just the thought of wearing a tiny steel needle in your belly all the time is kinda weird. I was cautious at first with bending and stretching... I wonder if a cannula has a little more give and feels a little better? Maybe I'll ask Medtronic to send me a few different insertion sets to sample. Lol.

I wish we'd video'd Saul's reaction this morning. I asked him if I could wear his pump and he stared at me with a look of disdain and said "nooooooooooooo" shaking his tiny little head. Then he yelled "pump car mine." Lol. I guess I should be happy about this. That boy loves his "pump car!"

Stay tuned for more updates!

Blue Skittles

Sometimes I forget the fear of that horrifying seziure, ignore the potential choking hazard, refuse to think about the dental damage and find myself entertained by treating the second low of the night at 2:30 a.m.

Well on second thought....

So I woke up this morning refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to roll. Despite the recent inconsistency in blood sugar levels, inability to make contact with UK for pump adjustments AND coming to the realization last night at 10:30 pm THAT $&$*@^& we only have 2 reservoirs left?!?... 2 left?!?...what do we do?!? what do we do?!? what do we do?!? only 2 left!?!?,................Saul slept like a champ and (according to MySentry and 3 BG checks) kept constant, stable "in-range" numbers throughout the entire night.

I celebrated the occasion with an updated FB status.

On top of successful numbers and sleep.... a frantic text to Jennifer (our wonderful-faithful Medtronic nurse) late last night was returned with the response "Fed-Ex'ing you first thing tomorrow morning." This definitely helped ease my mind and allowed me to sleep more soundly. 

I was actually thinking about buying a lottery ticket after phoning Medtronic this morning. I called in regards to Saul's delayed shipment of medical supplies.  When they told me "don't worry... we're shipping you some emergency supplies till your insurance authorizes our reques I allowed myself to let out another huge sigh of relief.

In between calls and texts Saul kept fussing and twice brought me packs of his emergency skittles. Glancing at the MySentry screen and seeing a SG reading of 141 AND being told to wait 2 hours after eating before doing a BG check- I rationalized his behavior as "sneaky" and "just wanting a little candy."

So we ran. We played. We had fun. At 10 I declared time for a morning snack. I sit down to check him and he's 36. 36!!!!! To date that’s the lowest number I've seen on a meter reading. *sigh* forget that lotto ticket. He presented no symptoms. His request for skittles had been an hour before reading. He apparently "felt" himself going low- I ignored his request the result is he plummeted.

A year from now - I pray - we never see numbers so low- because his DAD will catch them as I hadn't... and for the record his CGM was reading 115 (two arrows down) at the time of his BG check.

It's been the second time here recently I've misread his attempt to communicate with me.Last night after putting him to bed we listened to him cry for at least half an hour. His pre-bed BG check was spot on. MySentry reading 150. I peeked in once.We told ourselves he was mad because we hadn't given in to him wanting to take a drink to bed.

I finally caved. Walked in to find he had pulled out his insertion set (which had just been changed) and was bleeding... the tiny steel needle jabbing him repeatedly on his thigh. That poor boy had laid there in the dark crying the whole time. I said Saul... "why didn't you call for Mommy!" "Why didn't you yell pump!" (that’s what he usually yells when his pump falls out or he hears a CGM alert. He just kept saying "ouchie" "ouchie." It. broke. my. heart. However watching Harper jump into "I'll save you nurse status" late at night is quite amusing....anything to avoid sleep- although last night I think she really was concerned. 

We continue to battle highs and lows and attempt to curb Saul's desire to "graze" I seriously considered getting locks on our accordion folding doors yesterday to prevent him for getting into the pantry. I am trying to get to a point where there are no visible signs of food. Lord help us when he's able to actually open the fridge door.

Yesterday though sad- I had to laugh - when he came to me wanting something to eat and I said... lets go play cars...the look on his face was priceless... kinda a mix between "what the?"and "woman you gotta be kidding me.... get me a snack already."

The irony is... as I try harder and harder to cook low-carb healthy meals...I find myself desperately attempting to shove as many carbs as possible down my throat... when the kids aren't looking. I think I might have actually experienced some carb withdrawal symptoms a few days ago. Which speaking of I'm gonna go ahead and end this now so I can cram down a bag of sugar free cookies while the boys are napping.

Hey... whatever it takes to survive right?

I'll leave you with some adorable pics of the sweetest boy I know (I took these pics 5 min before his 36 BG reading) as you can see... he is not presenting hypoglycemic symptoms at the time... especially for a BG reading of 36.  This my friends is not a good sign and why I will soon be asking for your help in acquiring a DAD.