Tuesday, September 14, 2010

After a long hiatus...

I'm checking in. I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to more frequent blogging but Lyman is. Check out his new blog on WordPress. It looks great and I love the mobile browser version for WordPress. As far as I know its much better than Blogger but I haven't checked Blogger in a while....

What's Up
Everyone is back in school which has largely meant that I am also at school to observe as the staff become accustomed to That Other Thing's (TOT's) diabetes needs. Its been difficult...her glucose levels are very high on school days, mostly not on weekends (which makes us suspect she is terribly excited about school and adrenaline is complicating things). Its been hard to know whether we should wait this out or increase her insulin and risk her returning to her normal level and then having a hypoglycemic episode at school.

We are in the thick of transitioning to insulin pump therapy with integrated continuous glucose monitoring. It should make our lives a bit more simple and give TOT a lot more freedom. We're hopeful we'll get insurance coverage for the market's most advanced device, the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm Revel (I swear these devices have more names than circuitry...) in case anyone is curious.

Our endocrinology practice has a pretty structured process for beginning pump therapy: six months on a basal/bolus multiple daily injection regimen with demonstrated competence, three in-service like education sessions, psychiatric evaluation (we still don't understand the value of that but they didn't discover our insanity so its OK) and then the pump starts with a 1 week saline trial and then we should be live. We also had to sign an agreement to not leave the region for one month after the insulin pump goes on so that if anything goes awry they will be on hand to ascertain the problem and make adjustments. So we are now at the point where all that remains is the last educational session (which is followed by opportunities for vendors to demonstrate their wares) and then begin the insurance certification process. If I understand correctly that could mean our insurance company will have our request by the end of this week. Please cross your fingers for us.

More Fun
Soccer is underway for the autumn season; spouse is coaching Things 1 and 2 team with most of last year's team but a few lost as the coach decided to jettison the league we've been playing in and see if circumstances were better for the girls in another league. So they have new team colors and therefore a new name: The Flying Camels. I rather like it for its enigmatic quality. TOT is playing with the same coach, same group of families she has played with the last two years---they also have new team colors: orange and white. I'm lobbying heavily to name this team the Orange Navels but I anticipate being overrun by the rather unimaginative favorite, Orange Crush. Bastards.

Today is Yom Kippur and I wish all of my Jewish friends an easy fast and day of valuable introspect. For us it means a day of no school---for Thing 1 it means going to a movie with friends and no grownups. I don't even know the parent who is doing the dropping and picking up.

I'm OK with it.

5 comments:

Lyman said...

Let's bring blogging back. Facebook has become too impersonal.

KHM said...

I think so, too.

Melissa said...

Wishful thinking that fast was over.... School was closed because it was my birthday. Ok, maybe for elections. tomorrow at sun down starts fast. good times. :)

I am excited that TOT will be able to have a pump. I hope not only does it give her freedom, but you too!

Shamrock said...

Auntie, I'd love to see you back in the realm of blogs! XOXO- Miss you!

KHM said...

ooh, KSM---love your mitts!