8 years ago today we meet you face to face. We were really excited to have a third girl.
You have grown into a beautiful girl and we love you very much. Thanks so much for being a part of our family.
I will post some photos later.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Small Successes.
A weekly meme from Faith and Family live
1. Every night this week, we have started the dishes before tea and then the kitchen has been finished by 7.30 each night.
2. Preparation for Tom's first communion is going well. We read the weight of a Mass and have spoken about Jesus being truly present in the Eucharist.
3. Day one of insulin for Christopher has gone pretty smoothly. Fortunately we haven't had any hypo's and his sugar has stayed in range for the day except for just before afternoon tea and just before bed. I hope it continues to be so manageable.
Type One Diabetes part four.
Pump Treatment.
Treating diabetes with an insulin pump is one of the bests ways to get good control of blood sugar levels.
When a diabetic is on mdi's, they need to eat a certain amount of carbs for each meal and at the same time. With a pump, if the person isn't hungry, they don't need to eat. Also a pump works in a similar way to a pancreas in a non diabetic person.
For a person to be on an insulin pump, a basal rate is worked out for the diabetic to get over 24 hours. This is in place of the background insulin a person on mdi's has.
Then a bolus rate is worked out for each time the person eats. The pump will have a ratio of how much insulin is needed for each gram of carb. When the diabetic person eats they will enter into the pump, how many carbs they are eating and the pump will deliver a bolus of insulin.
As well as working out the carb ratio, the pump will have a correction rate for high blood sugars so when the diabetic has a high sugar, they can enter into the pump their reading and the pump will deliver a bolus to bring the sugar level back to it's target.
A pump site needs to be changed every 3 to 4 days. Here is a video of someone changing a mini med pump. Tom uses the mini med 520.
Treating diabetes with an insulin pump is one of the bests ways to get good control of blood sugar levels.
When a diabetic is on mdi's, they need to eat a certain amount of carbs for each meal and at the same time. With a pump, if the person isn't hungry, they don't need to eat. Also a pump works in a similar way to a pancreas in a non diabetic person.
For a person to be on an insulin pump, a basal rate is worked out for the diabetic to get over 24 hours. This is in place of the background insulin a person on mdi's has.
Then a bolus rate is worked out for each time the person eats. The pump will have a ratio of how much insulin is needed for each gram of carb. When the diabetic person eats they will enter into the pump, how many carbs they are eating and the pump will deliver a bolus of insulin.
As well as working out the carb ratio, the pump will have a correction rate for high blood sugars so when the diabetic has a high sugar, they can enter into the pump their reading and the pump will deliver a bolus to bring the sugar level back to it's target.
A pump site needs to be changed every 3 to 4 days. Here is a video of someone changing a mini med pump. Tom uses the mini med 520.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Cannonball Blog Award.
Voting continues in the Crescat's blog awards and at the moment I am coming equal 4th with The Mom
Margaret is coming a convincing first. I really don't want to push her off the top since she has such a good blog but I would love to come second or third.
So without shame I ask you all, please vote for me. You can vote once each day till the voting closes.
Margaret is coming a convincing first. I really don't want to push her off the top since she has such a good blog but I would love to come second or third.
So without shame I ask you all, please vote for me. You can vote once each day till the voting closes.
Tomorrow.
Christopher will be starting insulin shots tomorrow morning. His sugar level has been sitting between 6 and 12 (104 and 208) which isn't too bad but high enough that we can start some insulin.
He will have 4 units of protophane (NPH) each morning and for now and we will see how that affects his blood sugar levels.
The good thing about catching it so early is that he will probably have a long honeymoon period. A honeymoon period is where the pancreas still produces some insulin but the not enough on its own. This means that Christopher will need bsl tests before each meal and about two hours after to make sure the insulin isn't making him low.
He has adjusted to the bsl tests really well and even asks sometimes if we can check him when I tell Tom he needs to check.
He will have 4 units of protophane (NPH) each morning and for now and we will see how that affects his blood sugar levels.
The good thing about catching it so early is that he will probably have a long honeymoon period. A honeymoon period is where the pancreas still produces some insulin but the not enough on its own. This means that Christopher will need bsl tests before each meal and about two hours after to make sure the insulin isn't making him low.
He has adjusted to the bsl tests really well and even asks sometimes if we can check him when I tell Tom he needs to check.
Nearly Wordless Wednesday.
May is a special month to honour Mary for Catholics. JMJ from Totus Tuus Family blog is hosting something about Mary during the month of May. I thought I would post one of my favourite pictures of Mary with the child Jesus.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Type One Diabetes part three
Treatment for type one diabetes.
There are several different ways of treating a person with type one diabetes.
Tonight I will cover using multiple daily injections (mdi) for treatment.
A person with diabetes needs to have insulin shots. A regime is worked out based on the child's weight and nutritional needs.
The regime will include a couple of different insulins. There will be a background insulin and some fast acting insulin.
When Tom was on mdi's he had lantus insulin for his background. I gave him 7 units each morning.
He then had an injection of fast acting insulin each time he ate a main meal. The fast acting insulin was novorapid. For each 15 grams of carbohydrate we gave him 1 unit of insulin.
Each time Tom ate we checked his bsl. If his bsl was over 15, he needed to have extra fast acting insulin to bring him back into his target range.
As well as giving insulin, a caregiver for a diabetic needs to measure carbohydrates and make sure they get enough carbohydrates to cover the insulin regime.
Tom had 45-60 grams of carbohydrates for main meals and 15 grams of carbs for snacks when he had mdi's.
If he was still hungry after eating the maximum carb intake for main neals or snacks, he would need to have carb free foods.
There are several different ways of treating a person with type one diabetes.
Tonight I will cover using multiple daily injections (mdi) for treatment.
A person with diabetes needs to have insulin shots. A regime is worked out based on the child's weight and nutritional needs.
The regime will include a couple of different insulins. There will be a background insulin and some fast acting insulin.
When Tom was on mdi's he had lantus insulin for his background. I gave him 7 units each morning.
He then had an injection of fast acting insulin each time he ate a main meal. The fast acting insulin was novorapid. For each 15 grams of carbohydrate we gave him 1 unit of insulin.
Each time Tom ate we checked his bsl. If his bsl was over 15, he needed to have extra fast acting insulin to bring him back into his target range.
As well as giving insulin, a caregiver for a diabetic needs to measure carbohydrates and make sure they get enough carbohydrates to cover the insulin regime.
Tom had 45-60 grams of carbohydrates for main meals and 15 grams of carbs for snacks when he had mdi's.
If he was still hungry after eating the maximum carb intake for main neals or snacks, he would need to have carb free foods.
You are 90% knowledgeable about the Blessed Virgin!
You are truly devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary! You most likely pray the rosary daily and quite possibly have consecrated yourself to Mary. Did you know that St Alphonsus Liguori said that devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a sign of predestination?
Catholicism and the Blessed Virgin
Take More Quizzes
Paramedic Girl had this quiz on her blog.
I surprised myself and got 90% right.
Monday, May 04, 2009
5mart Martha Monday.
Here is my last list
I didn't post my 5 last week because we had the news about Christopher. I felt a bit down about it and didn't really want to think about what I had and hadn't done.
Looking back though, I didn't do the shopping bags yet. I have cleaned a bit more out of the storeroom and I finished of the curriculum plan for this term. I haven't bought any soft drink for the fortnight except when Steve and I went out for tea. My prayer journal is still very neglected.
So my plan for this week:
Sew the shopping bags. Today was day one of no plastic bags. I need to make some or else I will be forced into buying them when we do our next main shop.
Homeschool and household: Continue Tom's preparation for First Communion. Tom asked our parish priest what his favourite cake was and he said a good old fruit cake so Tom and Amelia are both very keen to make one for him.
Health: Eating well and drinking water. I am actually starting to like drinking water.
Prayer: Morning prayer with Steve and journal writing.
I didn't post my 5 last week because we had the news about Christopher. I felt a bit down about it and didn't really want to think about what I had and hadn't done.
Looking back though, I didn't do the shopping bags yet. I have cleaned a bit more out of the storeroom and I finished of the curriculum plan for this term. I haven't bought any soft drink for the fortnight except when Steve and I went out for tea. My prayer journal is still very neglected.
So my plan for this week:
Sew the shopping bags. Today was day one of no plastic bags. I need to make some or else I will be forced into buying them when we do our next main shop.
Homeschool and household: Continue Tom's preparation for First Communion. Tom asked our parish priest what his favourite cake was and he said a good old fruit cake so Tom and Amelia are both very keen to make one for him.
Health: Eating well and drinking water. I am actually starting to like drinking water.
Prayer: Morning prayer with Steve and journal writing.
Thank you.
Thank you to the person that nominated me for Most under appreciated blog at The Crescat.
Thanks also to the people that have voted for me so far.
Therese.
Thanks also to the people that have voted for me so far.
Therese.
Praise.
Visit Jennifer for other Praises
1. Praise God for the beautiful day today. Nice and sunny outside.
2. Praise God for all the doctors that help me with Tom and Christopher.
3. Praise God for his generous outpouring of grace through the sacraments.
4. Praise God for my family.
5. Praise God for all the people that support me and encourage me in my faith.
Therese
1. Praise God for the beautiful day today. Nice and sunny outside.
2. Praise God for all the doctors that help me with Tom and Christopher.
3. Praise God for his generous outpouring of grace through the sacraments.
4. Praise God for my family.
5. Praise God for all the people that support me and encourage me in my faith.
Therese
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
humor break.
SENIOR DRIVING
As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his cell phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, 'Ernie, I just
heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Interstate 77.
Please be careful!'
'Heck,' said Ernie, 'It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!'
As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his cell phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, 'Ernie, I just
heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Interstate 77.
Please be careful!'
'Heck,' said Ernie, 'It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!'
Quick 7.
---1---
Christopher.
Christopher is now getting use to having his bsl checked each morning and night. He has had a couple of higher sugars but nothing high enough yet to start some insulin. We are noticing he is more irritable and hyperactive at times which was one of the things I noticed with Tom just before he was diagnosed. I am glad we know it is coming and that we can watch his bsl.
---2---
Saturday night movie
Tonights movie. Thanks so much to
Christopher.
Christopher is now getting use to having his bsl checked each morning and night. He has had a couple of higher sugars but nothing high enough yet to start some insulin. We are noticing he is more irritable and hyperactive at times which was one of the things I noticed with Tom just before he was diagnosed. I am glad we know it is coming and that we can watch his bsl.
---2---
Saturday night movie
Tonights movie. Thanks so much to
Sharon for giving this dvd to us.
---3---
Anzac Biscuits.
Yesterday we made anzac biscuits. These are a very sweet biscuit. This is the recipe we used but we substituted the white sugar with brown sugar. That is the way I remember baking them growing up.
---4---
Our weekend.
It is going to be a busy one. I want to do a bit of sewing, catch up on the washing, cook some pumpkin bread and a few more biscuits. Steve is hoping to close in the door from outside to our new bathroom and do some work in the vegetable garden.
---5---
Kakuro.
Sudoku has been one of my favourite games to play for a while now. Recently my mother got a heap of computer games for the children and among them was a game called kakuro. I didn't look at it at first but when I put the sudoku disk in, it had a trial of kakuro so I decided to have a look. Kakuro is similar to sudoku but a little bit easier I think.
You can play and read about Kakuro here
---6---
Overheard at my house.
Christopher and Amelia were talking.
Amelia: I really want mum to have a baby. No, two babies.
Christopher: No. I am the baby.
Amelia: If mum has a girl, you will be the baby boy still.
Christopher: I want mum to have a baby girl.
Amelia: two baby girls.
---7---
Winter.
I don't really like winter but I love curling up by the fire with a cup of soup. At the moment my favourite flavour is chicken and corn.
Another good thing about winter is electric blankets. I haven't put mine on yet but it will be going on soon.
Read other quick 7 at Jennifer's
---3---
Anzac Biscuits.
Yesterday we made anzac biscuits. These are a very sweet biscuit. This is the recipe we used but we substituted the white sugar with brown sugar. That is the way I remember baking them growing up.
---4---
Our weekend.
It is going to be a busy one. I want to do a bit of sewing, catch up on the washing, cook some pumpkin bread and a few more biscuits. Steve is hoping to close in the door from outside to our new bathroom and do some work in the vegetable garden.
---5---
Kakuro.
Sudoku has been one of my favourite games to play for a while now. Recently my mother got a heap of computer games for the children and among them was a game called kakuro. I didn't look at it at first but when I put the sudoku disk in, it had a trial of kakuro so I decided to have a look. Kakuro is similar to sudoku but a little bit easier I think.
You can play and read about Kakuro here
---6---
Overheard at my house.
Christopher and Amelia were talking.
Amelia: I really want mum to have a baby. No, two babies.
Christopher: No. I am the baby.
Amelia: If mum has a girl, you will be the baby boy still.
Christopher: I want mum to have a baby girl.
Amelia: two baby girls.
---7---
Winter.
I don't really like winter but I love curling up by the fire with a cup of soup. At the moment my favourite flavour is chicken and corn.
Another good thing about winter is electric blankets. I haven't put mine on yet but it will be going on soon.
Read other quick 7 at Jennifer's
Friday, May 01, 2009
Type One Diabetes part two.
The video I posted in My first post on diabetes pointed out that in type one diabetes the person doesn't produce any insulin where as in type two diabetes they produce insulin but the insulin is unable to open the cell to let the glucose in.
Because a type one person doesn't have any islets producing insulin, they cannot reverse their condition. A type two person can though because their body is still producing insulin but it isn't using it properly.
---------------------------
Autoimmune.
Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This simply means that the body thinks the islets that produce insulin are something foreign and it produces antibodies to kill them off. Once the islets are killed off, there is no more insulin produced.
Read more about autoimmune diseases here
Because a type one person doesn't have any islets producing insulin, they cannot reverse their condition. A type two person can though because their body is still producing insulin but it isn't using it properly.
---------------------------
Autoimmune.
Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This simply means that the body thinks the islets that produce insulin are something foreign and it produces antibodies to kill them off. Once the islets are killed off, there is no more insulin produced.
Read more about autoimmune diseases here
Friday Favourites.
This is one of my favourite beverages to drink at morning tea. They come in all kinds of flavours. My favourite is the Irish Cream, Caramel and Hazelnut.
Do you have a favourite morning beverage? Let me know in the comment box.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Small Successes.
Pop over to Faith and Family for other small successes.
My three:
1. This past weekend, we got to Mass a half hour early so that we could all go to confession. It is great to go and then receive communion.
2. I did our curriculum plan for the whole term and it is going well so far.
3. We need to check both Tom and Christopher's blood sugar level now. I have always been pretty bad at keeping Tom's diary up to date and often will have to go back a week into the history. This week though I have kept up a diary for both Tom and Christopher.
My three:
1. This past weekend, we got to Mass a half hour early so that we could all go to confession. It is great to go and then receive communion.
2. I did our curriculum plan for the whole term and it is going well so far.
3. We need to check both Tom and Christopher's blood sugar level now. I have always been pretty bad at keeping Tom's diary up to date and often will have to go back a week into the history. This week though I have kept up a diary for both Tom and Christopher.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Type One Diabetes.
I belong to a yahoo group which is a support group for parents with children with type one diabetes. We were talking recently about all the myths that people believe about diabetes. I know when Tom was first diagnosed, I believed a lot of myths and it is only through educating myself that I have become aware.
I have decided I want to educate more so that people can know more about the differences. I am going to do a series of posts on diabetes and the treatments.
Tonight I have this short video:
I have decided I want to educate more so that people can know more about the differences. I am going to do a series of posts on diabetes and the treatments.
Tonight I have this short video:
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Please pray for a cure for Type One Diabetes
Our sons Tom and Christopher and our daughter Amelia are type one diabetics. We pray everyday for a cure. We do not want one by illicit means though so don't support any organisation that contributes to Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Click on the photo of Tom and Christopher to read about why I am against using Embryonic Stem cells for a cure.
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Tom's and Christopher's insulin pump
New book: Faith Quilt.
All proceeds from sales of "FAITH QUILT" going to "Casa de Amor Children's Homes in Bolivia" and "Sarah's Covenant Homes in India" Two truly extraordinary organisations that take in the most needy children and give them a place of love and security to call home.