Growing Up

Photo Credit: ACE

This week's quarterly check up included a 6.4 A1C, 3 pounds and an inch growth. When the first check of the day is almost always in the 200s lately, a 6.4 A1C is a surprise. (See previous post about growth hormones inhibiting insulin absorption.) Our appointment lasted a bit longer after discussion of LilBird reaching an age when she needs to learn how to do a pump site change herself. I immediately sought input from my Type One Mamas. (So grateful for them!)

She was due for a site change today, and definitely needed it. The early morning high never really went away like it usually does. Poor thing was a nervous wreck by the time we peeled off the oversized numbing patch (bigger target). We had watched a how to video together, and I am pretty she was already half full of tears barely contained behind the bravery she was mustering. I'll spare her more details, but it was heartbreaking for me in so many ways. My baby learning to do something that took me two hours my first try, something that took months for me to get over the light headed feeling of inserting a needle into her little body, the anxiety that still makes my hands shake even after years of practice. And she was scared. Shoot, I was scared.

And she did it. Squeezing the inserter is the hard part. And she did it. And then ... the set came out when she removed the inserter. Dang it. When a pump site change goes awry, it sucks. You can't stop and deal with how it sucks, you just have to fix it. Since the numbing area was purposely large and our time was short (as usual), I just gave her a break and did another one.

Fast forward a little and she is 400 before dance class (assuming from the original set that was removed), and then it was higher, and then No Delivery. So we booked it home. We should have gone home after the 400 because we had no syringe. (Another note on growing up, I have been sans camo T1 bag for several months now.) Get this - she wanted to try again.

She was ready to try again. Already.

She was much more calm and confident. Still plenty nervous, but WOW. And she squeezed a little more hesitantly. But she did it, again! This time she applied the patch that helps it stay stuck on, filled the cannula, and (mostly herself) removed the bad site.

Her first post-meal blood sugar was 96 after bolusing through her 2nd self set change! Her bravery and will to overcome never ceases to amaze me! So proud of my growing LilBird!