OmniPod hosted a great night out at Main Event last week.  I was lucky enough to be able to take all 3 kids with a little help from my mom, dad and one friend!  It was a gathering of podders, soon-to-be podders and those interesting in podding.  My fellow D-Mom, Jessica and family were there and we met several other wonderful D-Mommas with children the same age as our kiddos.

It was also a great opportunity to hear about the up and coming things that Omnipod has in the pipeline.  Luis Malave the Chief Operating Officer of Insulet was on hand to give us the run down on what to expect with future releases and to answer our questions.

And . . . why yes, the subject of Insulin On Board (IOB) did come up!  I knew you were wondering.  I may have been the only one with my hand up, squirming in my chair, yelling PICK ME - PICK ME but I knew others really wanted to know!!  I asked Mr. Malave about the response that a dear D-Mom blogger (Ms. Wendy) received and blogged about here.  I for one LOVE the OmniPod and actually really like the way that the pod handles IOB.  It is what I know - it was I am used to and I do not have any problems with it.  Further more, I do NOT like change and after the past year of my life being full of change I may have begged him not to change it?!?!    He did agree that is is certainly a hot spot with their competitors and some issues by consumers have been noted.   The FDA does not have any policy in place that directs pump companies how to calculate IOB so at this time OmniPod is looking at different options but no final decision has been made.  From what I understood they are looking at maybe being able to set it one way or the other (I'm down with that) so that everyone would be happy.  I am not anticipating seeing any changes anytime soon but I am sure I will be pleased with whatever solution they decide upon.

My lovely friend, Jessica asked about smaller basal rate increments and I am sure Mr. Luis answered but Nate was running amuck and needing a bg check about that time so maybe Jessica can provide some insight on that one.  Jess??

We also got to see the new smaller version of the pod which I LOVE!!  I WANT one NOW!  I am hoping to have one of these on Nate's 'sweet spot' in 2010!

Here is my own (somewhat warped) version of the smaller pod:

Nice!

Happy Podding Y'all!

We finally found the best spot for Nate's pod.  We like his arm, we love his thigh but have always struggled with his bum because of his diapers and his tendency to poop in them.

After some trial and error we finally found a spot that doesn't bother him and where the pod stays fresh as a daisy for 3 entire days!!

Here it is . . .

And the cutest part of it (as if that cute little bum isn't cute enough) Nate started saying "Pod on my bum" "Pod on my bum".  It's so cute.  I'll try to get a video of it because it really is THAT cute.

Joanne, I thought of you today as we were driving south on highway 45. There were beautiful Texas wild flowers everywhere & I thought about this post & thought I would dedicate my post to you.  Love you!!!

I love springtime in Texas!!  I've lived here my entire life - - - that's right, Friends - - - I've never left THE LONE STAR STATE. Anyway, back to my point - - - spring time in Texas is BEAUTIFUL.

We have the most beautiful wild flowers EVER and here are some pictures to prove it:




Oh yea - and some pretty cute kids live here too!!  :)

You may not love the Lone Star State but people in Texas love you (Fred, Fred, Jr and Elise too)!!!

Today I read the guest post on Six Until Me and thought about how it applied to my life as the mom of a child with diabetes (CWD).  1st - let me say it is a wonderful post and if you haven't read it yet - Stop! Go. Read. It. The guest blogger is Amy Free a lifestyle/editorial photographer and a Type 1 diabetic.

I have read a lot about teens and adults needing to take a break from their diabetes. I have even read that some doctors encourage it for a short time.  Diabetes is a hard disease that requires a lot of work with little reward.  I guess the reward would be good health and a good A1c but most people without diabetes don't have to work as hard for those things.  As a mom of a CWD, a baby really (ok, ok - I know he's almost 2 but he's still my baby) there is no break, no vacation, no day off from diabetes.  It is my job every. single. day. to keep my son alive.  Although I am happy to do my job because let's face it the alternative is something that I cannot even think about it - - - it is still exhausting.

We are only 7 months into our journey with diabetes and it seems like it has been a lifetime. I have met so many great parents along the way that have lifted me up and offered support but I think about these parents that have been doing the D dance for a year, 2 years, 5 years and even 10 years.  How have they survived without a break?  I'm 7 months in and feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and still very sad about Nate's diagnosis.  Don't get me wrong - - - things have gotten SO much easier and SO much better but it is still feels like I am treading water.  I guess that is better than the drowning feeling that I was feeling 7 months ago!!


Here is a portion of the last paragraph from Amy's post -


I love that!   It's great the way that people going through similar experiences think so much the same way.  This IS part of my life.  I cannot take a break or ignore it but I am accepting it and working on becoming okay with it.  I'm not quite there but I am working on it.

Today was one of those days that just did not turn out the way I had planned.  You know the ones!
It started with Nate's 3:00 AM check - he was at 79 which is not terrible but he had been at 180 (perfect) at 10:00 PM, then 158 at 12:00 so I knew the arrow was pointing DOWN.  I fed him 7g of yogurt and he stayed steady at 178 the rest of the morning but sleep just doesn't come very easy when my mind starts thinking about lows.

I did finally get back to sleep around 5:00 am so when my alarm went off at 6:15 there was no way, no how I could roll myself out of bed.  Jim got up to wake Emma for kinder but then Nate woke up around 6:45 and I like to do his AM check and bolus before breakfast.  So, no shower time for me before Emma and I had to head out the door at 7:30 for school.  When I returned from taking Emma to school it was time to get Ms. Sophie ready for pre-school, check & snack Nate and then head out again by 8:40. 

Nate and I have a date to take a 2 mile walk to the park while Sophie is at school and then head over to pick her up around 10:45a so STILL NO SHOWER.

Once Nate and I picked Sophie up from school it was time for lunch. We head home, I prepare lunch, BG check, bolus, eat and then time for Nate's nap.  At this point I normally shower if I have not already.  Today I just hit a wall.  I was so tired I just had to lay down. I felt like I was going to throw up I was so tired.  I can go for about 5 nights with no sleep and then BLAM I hit that wall and cannot take one more step.  So, I rested and dozed off and it was peaceful.  Well, it was peaceful for about 5 minutes until the lawn service started weed-eating right outside my bedroom window.  That was that and there was just no sleep for me.

I decided to go to the grocery store because well, because I was supposed to do that on Monday and I still hadn't made it there!  At the grocery store I felt like everyone was staring at me.  Were they?  Was this all in my head?  I have no idea but when I got back in the car I just looked at myself and realized - - - my hair is a mess, my clothes are a mess, no make-up, & dark circles. Quite the picture of loveliness if I do say  so myself.

It was then that I thought - - - I wish I could just tell everyone - - - Hey, I'm not supposed to look like this.  This isn't really me.  I'm not really sure who this crazy looking person is but it isn't me!  I want to tell everyone --- Hey, I haven't slept in 7 months - - - really,  I haven't slept!!  My son is sick and I don't sleep.  I haven't always looked like this --- I promise.

But, then I thought oh well!  This is me and I don't sleep, and I do look like a crazy person but I guess there are worse things that I could be!  I am just happy to be me --- crazy hair, dark circles and all.