Honeymoon's Over

We had Seth's quarterly appointment on Monday.  It was good and bad.  The doctor was all over Seth for his risky behavior.  It was nice to have back up with that.  We even said that if he continues to bolus without testing, we will discuss going back to shots and taking a pump break...he was not happy about that.

The big news is...the Honeymoon is over.

Seth's pancreas is no longer producing any insulin.at.all.  His insulin needs in the last 4-6 weeks have doubled and I didn't catch what was happening because I have been so tied up emotionally with my mom that it has just exhausted me..I need to let some of that go, because my children need to be my first priority.  Where he was using around 20 units a day, we are now using 40-50.  That explains why I have not been able to get him in range very easily despite making some adjustments to his pump.  We have adjusted it some more and are starting to see better numbers.

The bad news...we got his A1C result.

9.9

Oh.my.gosh...that means his blood glucose has averaged 237.4 for the last three months.  Hanging head in shame. I was prepared for a bad number...but this shocked me and woke me up that I cannot be on autopilot.  I feel awful.

I guess the good news is we will definately see an improved A1C in January.  :)

Seth wants to join the wrestling squad...we are coming up with a plan for that.  Does anyone have experience keeping the pump site in during wrestling practice/meets that would like to impart some wisdom?

~B

Mitzi Update: 2

In amongst all my crazy...I realized I have neglected to update about Mitzi.

She has come a long way my friends.  She graduated from therapy last week.  We continue to work with her at home as she is still not 100%, but she is walking completely on her own now, no wheelchair.  She has regained control of her body functions (thank heavens) and tell us when she needs to go out, q-tipping her to poo was NO FUN!

She still has residual weakness in her hind legs, the vet is unsure at this time if that is permanent or if she will regain that over time.  Time will tell and we are doing are best to help her.  Daily we can see that she is making progress.  She can now chase her ball, albeit slower than before, do her Mitzi peck and most importantly snuggle with our son unimpeded.  Life is good...and we have much to be thankful for.

Mitzi Before

Take a look at her now, go Mitizi go!

That's Seth's happy face...boys, whadya gonna do?

Kicking it!

If you have stuck with me through all my whines...thank you.  I have put on my big girl panties and we are kicking 2012 back!

Now that we have had more time and a consultation with the doctor, we have discovered that Thyroid Cancer is pretty easy to treat.  Who knew?  And it would have been nice if the doctor would have shared that when he called and dropped the C bomb at 4:45 on a Friday evening and said "lets talk next week about treatment options".  But what do I know?  Maybe he had somewhere to be that was more important than setting our minds at ease.

Turns out they give you a mega dose of thyroid to stop your pituitary gland from producing the hormone that your thyroid normally produces and that the cancer feeds off of.  So...my mom takes a pill and it keeps the cancer in check.

She is still in stage 3 (of 5) Kidney Failure.  It is my understanding that:

Stage 4 = Dialysis
Stage 5 = Transplant list

She meets with the doctor next week to see what Stage 3 means and if it is reversible, etc...this scares me more as it is a huge fear of mine for Seth later in his life.

Seth and his diabetes is really what this blog was designed to be about, it evolved a bit, but it always comes back to that.  Because diabetes is not as easy to treat as thyroid cancer.  :)

Seth is in full diabetes rebellion/burn out.  And.it.super.sucks.

Arguing about testing....check!
Not testing when he's not with me...check!
Lying about his numbers if I don't make him show me the BG screen...check!
Bolusing (giving himself insulin) without testing...check!
Eating without bolusing...check!
Dropping his BG tester that wirelessly transmitted to his pump into the slough...booyah!

BLERGH!!!  The good news is that our insurance has finally seen the light and started covering the strips for my previously purchased Telcare meter...and now that Mr. Smartie has ruined his aforementioned tester that wirelessly transmitted to his pump with slough water, we are again using my beloved Telcare.  I call that a happy natural consequence.  :)

So now there is no lying about numbers or getting away with no testing, because if I don't receive the text with his BG number...he is busted.  I am in LOVE with this meter, it has solved a few of these issues and I am working with Seth on the others while trying my hardest to be empathetic as to what it is like to be in his shoes.

We go in Monday for his quarterly A1C...I fully expect a crummy number.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to get through to him how serious this is?  I lay awake at night worrying about what this is doing to his body.  I know I am here to be his parent and not his friend, but this is driving a serious wedge between he and I.  D Moms...I could use some advice.  :)  I have my big girl panties on and I am ready to deal.

Blergh...enough.

Yesterday...our little part of the world cracked a little bit more.  The doctor called and said "it's cancer".  Her surgery did not go as we'll as we had hoped.  They took mom from me at 7:17 for what they estimated would be a 90 minute procedure and it was 11:15 when they got done.  The doctor came and talked to me and was very optimistic.  Said I could see her in about an hour as long as she woke up ok.  3.5 hours later, I was finally taken back to her.

We have been discussing her options from a family standpoint.  But are waiting to hear what stage it is at...that will take a week.

Mom and I went out to dinner last night and she also broke the news to me that she is in stage 3 of renal (kidney) failure.  Meaning...I don't know if her body CAN handle chemo or radiation treatment.

I don't even know what to say at this point...we are badly battered and bruised.  Is it possible to feel like an orphan at my age.  Cause I feel pretty lost right now.

2012 has sucked on so many levels and every time I think I'm about to overcome it, it kicks me in the teeth AGAIN.

Praying for strength and courage.

Bear with me

Please bear with me...I am flying down to Anchorage to  be with my mom.  She has recovered from her stroke (YAY) but is having surgery Thursday to have 1/2 of her thyroid removed to see if it is cancerous...prayers please?  This will be hubby's first time completely managing D for an extended period where I can't just run home and take care of stuff...pray for them too?

Oh...and good news.  Mitzi is recovering.  She is now walking 75% of the time without the wheelchair.  I'll post video...it's amazing how far she has come. Lot's of good things happening, just need a titch more.  :)

Hugs to all of you.