Surviving School

I have dreaded this day for the past couple of years. Lovebug's first day of school. I remember thinking when she was diagnosed that we would probably have her on a pump by then and off of shots. Realizing how much better control we could get with pumping, it happened just a little over 5 months after Lovebug was diagnosed.

School was only a finite idea in my mind at that point.  Mostly because Lovebug's older sister, Peanut had just started Kindergarten.  As time went by and I learned more about my T1 kiddo going to school, I started to dread it, not look forward to it as I did with Peanut.

I got a little taste of what it would be like to have a d-kid in school last year.  We had to train the preschool teachers on a few things, but not everything because Lovebug was only at school for a couple hours.  When I started working on our 504 plan for this year a few weeks ago and I got a little overwhelmed.

How much do you tell them?  Everything? Do you scare the staff so they don't want to make a mistake?  I decided to tell them what they needed to know and nothing more.  Just enough to make them overwhelmed but not enough to "scare" them.  I want them to be comfortable around Lovebug, not handle her with kids gloves.

I worked for hours and piecing together a 504 plan that worked for us.  I found a lot of them on my fellow D Mamas blogs.  It was a great resource.  It helped give me a starting point.  Without that starting point I am sure I would have been LOST.  I felt lost anyway, even with all the help.

Then came all the instructions sheets on how to operate the pump, how to check blood sugar, how to operate Dexie and what to do in case of a high or low blood sugar.  Then I had to come up with a schedule of when I wanted her blood sugar checked during the day.  And with every day being a little different we basically have a different schedule everyday.  I also had to decided at what blood sugar levels  I wanted the school staff to notify me.  It seriously makes my head spin just thinking about it all again.

Then all of this got me thinking back to when Peanut (our oldest and only non D-kid) started school.  I sent her off with out a care.  Yes, it was a little bittersweet because she was growing up but I really enjoyed watching her blossom and grow.  I think watching her learn to read was one of my favorite things.  While I am very grateful that Peanut does not have diabetes I am reminded how much I miss the other two NOT having Type 1.  It reminds me of what life could have been like for Lovebug and Princess.  That part weighs heavy on my heart strings.

Needless to say, I was a wreck sending Lovebug to school this morning.  Would the staff actually follow everything in the 504?  Would they do the right thing if she went low? I tried to keep shoving the what if's out of my head and just be happy for her.  She was so excited!!

I went in and double checked with Mrs. L to make sure she was comfortable and ready. I  went over her blood sugar check schedule and gave her the instructions for Dexie. (which I had forgotten about the week before! oops.)  Lovebug was in her seat and waving good bye.  She was ready to get on with her day and I was ready to cry.  I have mention that I also LOVE the fact that Mrs L had laminated all of the instructions I had given her and they were hanging on a ring right by the door where Lovebug puts her diabetes bag.  Mrs L is great!

I waited all morning for a phone call.  I assumed I would get one around snack time. Nope, no phone call.  Then I knew I would get one at lunch and sure enough, Mrs. R (our secretary) called so I could walk her through dosing her with the pump.  I was almost shocked when she told me Lovebug's blood sugar was 190. I fully expected it to be higher!  I was very relieved it wasn't though.  Mrs. R only covered part of the carbs in Lovebug's lunch (since recess is right after lunch)  and away Lovebug went to lunch.

Mrs. L called me later in the afternoon to let me know that Lovebug had gone low. (I thought to myself, great...the first day and we are already dealing with lows)  Needless to say we figured out she hadn't eaten all of her lunch!  She has a lunch pail with two sections in it and I put her cucumbers and peaches in the bottom  section.  I didn't have the peaches covered for lunch because they were supposed to be her "exercise snack" for recess. That backfired since it was apparent Lovebug forgot they were in there! I think we might have to get a lunch pail with only one pocket.

Mrs L. told me she gave her two Starburst and then a granola bar, just like I had instructed her to do.  It was perfect.  She said Dexie said 74 and arrow up.  I reminded her Dexie can lag behind and that the arrow up was the most important thing at this point.  I was so impressed they followed my instructions to the tee!  It was wonderful!!

Lovebug's first day of school went off with out much of a hitch.  I was disappointed she missed Music because of the low bg but that wasn't her fault.  Stupid diabetes.  At least now I won't be so nervous when she goes back to school on Friday!

Blessings

Today I made the dreaded call to set up our 504 plan meeting.  This is only the second time I have had to make the call so maybe that is why I say that I dread it.  I really don't like being forceful with teachers and school staff when it comes to my kids, but I know I have to be when it comes to their diabetes.  The girls lives are in the schools hands for the day and they need to know how to take care of her and what to do should (god forbid) the worst ever happen at school.

When I made the call I expected to hear the secretaries voice on the other end.  I know she knows what she is doing since she had been helping with the other T1 at our school for the past 2 years.  I knew she would know who we needed to have at our meeting besides herself and Lovebug's teacher.

Much to my surprise someone else answered the phone (actually I accidentally called the business office instead of the elementary office, oops!)  I asked her (assuming she was filling in for our secretary) if she would know who I should talk to about setting up our diabetes plan meeting.  She said that she could help me but that she was the other T1 kids mom from our school!!

So we chatted for a while and she told me a little about her kiddo and he uses and Animas Ping pump too, just like Lovebug!  She gave me some great advice and shared with me how they handled things as far as who did the dosing and checking to make sure things were getting done correctly.  She also said that he does go down to the office to check his blood sugars and for dosing. The secretary double checks what he is doing and then she emails her his blood sugar, correction dose if any and the amount of the bolus given.  I know this is probably happens for a lot of you but I thought that was really cool!! My though was way to go the extra mile, especially at a private school.  She keeps a mini-fridge in the office with his snacks and low fixes and told me that I could use it too.  :)

Oh, boy did it do my heart good to talk to her today!  She was so helpful and caring.  It was refreshing to talk to another d-mom right at our school going through the same day to day struggles that we are going through.  She told me to give her a call anytime I wanted to talk or needed advice.  We have never met before yet this mom was offering to do what she could for me.  How awesome is that!

She eventually did transfer me so I could talk to Lovebug's teacher, who by the way is also amazing!  She was so encouraging and excited to meet Lovebug next week at our diabetes plan meeting.  I have met her before, but don't know her all that well.  As we were talking she mentioned she lives in the same subdivision as another d-family that goes to our church.  She said she has heard how that d-mom has struggled and what her daughter has gone through. She really sympathized with me and it is refreshing to have someone whom I barely know encourage me and tell me that she will take good care of my little girl.

Needless to say I was just blown away.  I had been having a few doubts about sending Lovebug to school at the private school (mostly because of cost) but God showed me once again that she is there for a reason and I am even more convinced of that now.  This may not be the school she stays at all through elementary but for this year, she is right where she is supposed to be and I am confident of that now.  The good Lord knew just when I needed a little confidence booster!!

Sending Diabetes to Preschool

In a couple weeks I will be sending diabetes to preschool.  I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it.

In all honesty, I'm terrified.  

For the past 17 months  my husband and I have been doing the majority of the diabetes care for Lovebug. I'm not so sure I am ready to give that up. I get nervous letting her stay with people who know just as much as the preschool teachers are going to know the first day of preschool, but Lovebug won't be the only child with their attention. It terrifies me that they will miss something. But, I have to let her go.  I have to let Lovebug grow up as normally is possible and trust that God will take care of the rest.

It's just that with diabetes aboard I'm a little hesitant (okay a lot) to let her grow up.  I don't want her to have to face the realities of this disease that I already have to face but just don't feel it in my body the way she does. I never thought I would be one of those parents who doesn't really want my kid to grow up, but with Lovebug I am.  I wish that I didn't though.  

It's just that I know what kind of world that she is growing up in and the challenges she faces will be many.  It won't be an easy road for her. There will be people who judge her and treat her unfairly just because of her diabetes.  I wish I could take it all from her and give her back a "normal" childhood.  One that doesn't know what a low or high blood sugar feels like. One where she didn't know what a finger poke felt like or know what insulin or glucose tablets are.  

I put the finishing touches on my 504 plan yesterday, along with the lanyard tags, cheat sheets, letter to parents and substitute sheet.  I will have a link up soon on the side of the page for you to click on with all the sheets, to help those of you who need them.  I meet with her teachers next week to finalize everything and train them before preschool starts the week after.  

Hopefully my nerves won't get the best of me but I'm pretty sure their will be plenty of tears from me the first day.  Lord, help during the next week because it is going to be rough.

Perfect.

"I am involved in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard." - from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

As I read this this morning, I really had to remind myself of the truth of that statement.  Everything seemed to be going against me.  It started last night realizing at 8pm that I hadn't even printed out my 504 plan for the meeting this morning. Did I mention that I have a printer with no ink?  Even if I had wanted to go and buy some ink I couldn't find the cords to hook my printer up to the computer.  To top that I hadn't even found a sitter for my 2 year old, so I was taking two kids to the meeting, by myself. Wonderful. This was not the way I wanted to start my week.

My morning went a little like this...

When I woke up, I had a stomach ache. This morning of ALL mornings.  Wasn't I nervous enough already??  I really didn't need a stomach ache on top of it all. I checked my email and Facebook. I had a message from a friend about the 504 meeting.  She reminded me to be patient with the school and give them a chance.  Sigh of relief.  Why hadn't I thought of that?  I was ready to "barge" in there and tell them how it was going to be.  There is nothing better then a friend to bring you right back to "reality".

None of the girls wanted what I had decided to make for breakfast. My oldest was in a "great" mood, arguing with me every step of the way until she walked out the door.  My carpool friend had her daughter knock on the door.  She needed to leave a little early because of a field trip, great. Well, at least we were getting ready to walk out the door. Did I mention at this point I was still walking around with wet hair an hour after my shower?

Then my 2 year old INSISTED that I get her dressed. Okay, Okay.  Got Love Bug dressed and 15 minutes later, she has an accident. Seriously child, pull your pants down ALL the way, then you won't pee on them. Sheesh. Get everything around, ready to walk out the door and both girls have shoes on the wrong feet.  Wait, I smell something.  Sniff, Sniff. Crap, (no pun intended) have to change a stinky diaper.  Finally out the door, my van is in the street.  Great.  One more obstacle, really???   

I just kept saying to myself, the meeting will go well, it will go well. I am NOT going to let this morning get to me.  PLEASE Lord, let this meeting go well.

"Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side." from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  

We started the meeting and I just went over the information I had in the plan I had come up with.  I let everyone ask questions along the way and it went really well..  The girls colored and played during the entire meeting.  They even whispered when we were talking.  Pat on the back for mommy, I must be doing something right! 

Seriously, it just amazes me what I can do when I  (really) rely on God.  I would have NEVER thought a year ago that I would have the strength to go into a meeting and do what I did today.  Then again, I NEVER would have imagined having to go through everything I have had to go through the past year either.  I have only gotten through this past year with LOTS of prayer and a huge reliance on God.  Yes, I have my bad days but I never said I was perfect.  I still get mad and cry a lot.  There are some days I even ask "Why?, Why me, why Love Bug, why my family?"  Wasn't life hard enough for us before D?

"God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises are true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection" 
Psalm 18:30 NLT

Perfect.