What's Happenin'

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing well. We are all enjoying the spring weather, complete with rain showers. I like saying 'it's raining' as I stare out my living room window/TV.

This photo is the result of Mommy being too slow in grabbing the camera. I was sitting in my rocking chair with my paci reading my night night book out loud. Mommy thought it was pretty funny. I knew it would be documented on the blog so I quickly stopped when she found the camera. I'm still a bit camera shy.

My pump is okay (Mommy and Daddy LOVE it). I still hate the infusion set changes but Mommy and Daddy say I'm getting a little better each time. They don't have to hold me down as much with the procedure, but it still takes two people to get it done. My blood sugars have been lower than I'm used to so I'm really hungry and get cranky readily. But, I'm told, my body will adjust to the lower blood sugars and I will feel great in a couple of weeks. I still don't like anyone messing with my pump but am getting better with putting my 'tool belt' on and getting hooked up again after a bath.


On Sunday my cousin Julia celebrated her First Communion. She did a great job and looked very pretty in her dress. Mommy enjoyed reminiscing about her First Communion experience and how it was a very militant event...apparently lots has changed since the olden days.

On a diabetic note, Mommy and Daddy had a bit of a scare during mass. They checked my blood sugar and it was about 500 (two hours after eating). They had just changed the infusion set and were afraid it wasn't properly placed. Mommy had an epiphany and remembered they forgot to fill the cannula with insulin, which promptly explained my high numbers. Thankfully they had the remote on the pump and were able to give my my insulin in church and the crisis was averted. This pump really is a handy thing!

Daddy is going to be mad at Mommy for posting this picture. Apparently he and Miss Kitty are cuddling buddies. Who knew? Daddy's turning into a cat person!

Just Call Me Bionic Boy

What? This is all for little old me? I'm flattered, Mommy. What is it? Oh, it's my pump stuff. Yeah, not so interested anymore. Got anything else for me to play with?


Mommy was surprised with the amount of stuff in that box from Animas. Wow. Friday was my first day with the pump. We showed up at the clinic promptly at 0900 and sat through a worthless powerpoint presentation about the pump (all geared toward Medtronic pump users, hmm). Then we went through a folder with a copy of the powerpoint (in case Mommy and Daddy missed anything of the boring presentation) and looked at some lovely supplies for the Medtronic pump users! I guess this isn't too helpful to me since I have the Animas pump.


Later, the three of us were taken to another room so the Animas rep could teach Mommy and Daddy about the pump. No one in the clinic knows anything about this particular pump, so the rep was it for us. Mommy is really fired up about the clinic's lack of knowledge. I didn't care at all since the new room had an awesome view of the construction outside. It was wonderful!


I guess after my next follow up in two weeks, I'll be getting a new endocrinologist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Mommy and Daddy aren't currently impressed with Children's and are ready to say, 'Hasta la Vista, baby' to them. Once again, I don't really care. I just hope they have cool views of construction trucks to look at, or I will be MAD.

See the little blue machine in the upper left hand corner? That's my new pancreas. I am bionic! No, I'm just picky. I decided my original pancreas wasn't cool enough for me and I wanted a blue one I can wear on my butt. I'm too cool for school, some might say.

This is where I carry my new pancreas. Notice the crudely drawn arrows pointing to my penguin toolbelt? Mommy ordered a few pump packs from myownstylepack.com and I wear the pump pack 24/7. Grandma T made some covers for the belt so it doesn't hurt my skin. I hate it when Mommy or Daddy monkey with my backside and I start to cry and run away. I'm just glad the insertion of the infusion set is over--that was scary and I sure don't want to do that again! Note from Mommy: Sorry, AJ, it will be changed again tonight and again every three days...

Mommy and Daddy say my blood sugars are really well controlled already and they love the fact that I no longer need injections. I am getting used to the 'buzz buzz' that I feel on my backside when they give me insulin through the remote control. I think it's pretty funny and say 'yay, buzz buzz!'.

Hoppy Easter

Easter came and went in a flurry this year. Luckily the Easter bunny decided to hide my basket a little better than last year, okay maybe not. Sheesh. I don't think that bunny likes me so much. Must be because we have a ferocious bunny eating dog. I think I'd get out quickly if my life were in danger too.

Good old Elmo never lets me down. I was so excited to see my Easter basket and all the loot inside. Will there be Legos? The suspense is killing me!

No Legos, but I did get this awesome fire truck. I take it everywhere with me as it is the in toy of the season.

We all skipped church this year. Mommy and Daddy took turns sleeping the morning away. Lazy parents. I heard them saying something about being up 4 times during the middle of the night to check my blood sugar. Hey, it's not my fault I'm getting a pump soon and they need to do my 'homework' for me--I didn't ask for this pump! Oh well. Maybe someday I'll appreciate my old folks.

Later on, after everyone was more well rested, we ventured east to Auntie Rasa and Uncle Don's house. We enjoyed a very delicious gourmet meal and I had enough ham to turn into some form of pork product. Did I tell you I love ham? I talk about it all the time.

After dessert, we ran outside for the Easter egg hunt. I got a cool Spongebob bucket and away we went hunting for eggs. I didn't really care how many eggs I picked up, I was much more concerned about opening every one before it went in my bucket. Mommy and Daddy thought speeed was more important than I did.

When the hunt was over, we were able to run around like crazy lunatics in the backyard. I had a permanent smile plastered on my face and loved every second of it. In case you were wondering, Uncle Don and Auntie Rasa don't live on the moon despite the sand pile in the back. Although that would be cool.

Daddy showed Jakie some of his mad kite flying skills. It was an awesomely windy day for flying a kite.

Finally a quick shot of my family. I allowed Daddy to hold me for exactly 5.2 seconds before I swiftly ran away.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

By the way, tomorrow's the big pump start date. Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted ASAP.

Three Months Ago

I was a sick puppy. January 9, 2009 was the start of my life with an unwelcomed guest, diabetes. I only weighed in at 26 pounds, I was a pale greenish hue and my Hemoglobin A1C (which measures a three month average of my blood sugars) was in the mid 11 range. Normal for a 2.5 year old is somewhere around 8.

Zip-zip-zip fast forward exactly three months. Today I saw Dr. V, my pediatric endocrinologist, for a check up. I weigh in at 33.5 pounds, I am 38.5 inches tall, and my A1C is 7.4! I am doing really well. Mommy did some quick calculations and determined I grew 3/4 of an inch in the past 2 1/2 months. I fit really well into 3 T clothing and maybe won't fit in them for the summer, much to her chagrin (she bought my entire summer wardrobe on super clearance last fall--all 3T size--that'll teach her to plan ahead).

Dr. V noticed that my color is much more pink and my cheeks have filled out nicely. He was also quite impressed with my endless energy. Hey, the doctor's office had lots of cool things to explore, what's a boy to do?

On an even more exciting note, my pump will be arriving via UPS tomorrow. I am a bit nervous about having the insertion set in me for 2 to 3 days at a time, but it will mean one needle injection every two to three days versus six to seven shots per day. Mommy and Daddy will be sure to document all the excitement in the next few weeks. I am set to start the pump on Friday April 17. Mommy and Daddy hope my blood sugars will be a bit more steady and they are excited to end the injections. Let's hope it all works out well!