So my endo appointment went well. HbA1c has not budged - well not much anyway. Sitting comfortably at 6.2% (6.1% last time round), which I am extremely happy with. My aim is to try staying on the lower side of the 6s. Anything lower will not be realistic for me. All other tests came back normal. So at the moment I am tired and healthy I guess.
Changes are to be made over the next month or so. I am going to once again attempt basal testing - although I have actually effectively done this already. The plan now is to get those basals done, and then add Metformin (the extended release one) to the mix. Make adjustments from there and see how things go.
And then I want to start some other lifestyle changes. It is going to be slow, but I need to make a few. Probably start off with packing lunch every day to avoid unhealthy lunches during the week. Try making more time for cooking to avoid more unhealthy eating that way... And then I need to add some sort of exercise.
I have decided to give the exam a miss. It was a difficult decision to make, but I am feeling quite relieved with it off my shoulders. The plan now is to postpone registering for my thesis next year to the following too. Kaitake - I am registered for a Masters in Futures Studies (MPhil Futures Studies). I have completed most of the degree already as there is a lot of coursework involved. Outstanding now is the exam and my thesis.
Marcia, I need to look at how I am spending my time. I have to admit though that I probably did not expect a baby to take up that much time...
Another Joburg trip is on the cards. Another 3 nights away from home. I am, again, not sure how I feel about this. This is mainly because of my feelings about the project, and some reservations regarding being on it. But that is a whole other story...
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
dreaded testing, bad bad CGMS, and weekend thoughts
So today I will go for the dreaded HbA1c - and I can honestly say I am not looking forward to it. I am also not looking forward to the appointment where I need to discuss what has been happening with my numbers these past few months, how (when I am really honest with myself) I have been struggling to keep it all together, and how I am probably not eating the way I should be. I can find a lot of things to blame, mostly the lack of time, but to be honest I have to start prioritising and making lists or something. this weekend I had some real wonky numbers - nothing too bad, just strange peaking etc (watching the CGMS...). I also realised late last week that the CGM, although a very useful tool, can be a little "too much". As in too much information all of the time. While I enjoy being able to have that close a look at my numbers, and having the opportunity to fix mistakes and really see and learn patterns, I became way too over eager to correct high blood sugars (or what I thought was leading up to very high numbers), causing a rebound low soon afterward. I actually turned the sensor off for a few hours over the weekend after nearly a day of constant blood sugar yo-yoing...
The weekend was over way too quick. I so much enjoy spending the time with my husband and son. We had a picnic yesterday, but cut it a bit short when the weather turned a bit cold. We have just a few weeks before the birthday too! We have decided we may go away for the weekend. No final plans yet.
I am battling a bit with a decision / non-decision at the moment. I am registered to write an exam this year - I missed it last year due to the early arrival of C. I thought that coping with just the exam this year would be fine - I cancelled my registration for the thesis earlier during the year. But now that the date is arriving faster than I could ever have imagined I am starting to stress - way too much. I know that I am the only one to blame for my lack of commitment - because that is really what it has been this year. I keep blaming the fact that I have no time for anything, but as I mentioned before I really need to start working on that. So now I am sitting here, contemplating just not writing it - because what is the point in wasting the next 4 weeks trying to study, when I know that it is probably not nearly enough time to manage it all. I have been having a lot of internal battles about the course. At times now getting really angry and frustrated (at myself) for even registering for the damn thing in the first place. I HATE feeling this way. Probably not helping with all the blood sugars struggles either!
The weekend was over way too quick. I so much enjoy spending the time with my husband and son. We had a picnic yesterday, but cut it a bit short when the weather turned a bit cold. We have just a few weeks before the birthday too! We have decided we may go away for the weekend. No final plans yet.
I am battling a bit with a decision / non-decision at the moment. I am registered to write an exam this year - I missed it last year due to the early arrival of C. I thought that coping with just the exam this year would be fine - I cancelled my registration for the thesis earlier during the year. But now that the date is arriving faster than I could ever have imagined I am starting to stress - way too much. I know that I am the only one to blame for my lack of commitment - because that is really what it has been this year. I keep blaming the fact that I have no time for anything, but as I mentioned before I really need to start working on that. So now I am sitting here, contemplating just not writing it - because what is the point in wasting the next 4 weeks trying to study, when I know that it is probably not nearly enough time to manage it all. I have been having a lot of internal battles about the course. At times now getting really angry and frustrated (at myself) for even registering for the damn thing in the first place. I HATE feeling this way. Probably not helping with all the blood sugars struggles either!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
basal testing aaaaargh!
I have yet to wear a sensor for the full 6 days (there I was thinking I will even push beyond!). I inevitably forget that it is there, and then manage to knock it out - either with darling C when playing around, or just banging into stuff. Very expensive I tell you! And then yesterday I tried all day in vain to get a sensor connected, but the pump would just not cooperate. eventually had to ditch that one too. Must have been a dud one, because this morning's one connected just fine. And I thought that I could finally get going with my afternoon basal test! Boy was I wrong, as my blood sugar has other ideas. I delayed breakfast a bit and my 2 hour spike of 12 kept rising and rising, so I had to correct and I had reached my "cut off time". I am a bit disappointed. hopefully tomorrow will go better - but I am opting for a different slightly higher protein breakfast. Hope that will do the trick (oh no, just realised I have a work lunch / snack function... well, will see how I feel in the morning).
I hope to get some things done before I see my Endo. I have finally mustered up the courage and will make an appointment. On Monday I will go for bloods - HbA1c. And some additional - thyroid, a full blood count and ESR, and iron studies. I have had iron issues in the past, and was suspecting it may be what is causing slightly more than usual tiredness at the moment (although it could also just be stress or something....).
While I am not much of a hot summer gal, I am really welcoming the warmer weather. Makes for better outings over weekends with C. He loves the swing, so any opportunity I get I put him in one. He just smiles and giggles up at me. Too cute!
1 months to go before the big 1!!
I hope to get some things done before I see my Endo. I have finally mustered up the courage and will make an appointment. On Monday I will go for bloods - HbA1c. And some additional - thyroid, a full blood count and ESR, and iron studies. I have had iron issues in the past, and was suspecting it may be what is causing slightly more than usual tiredness at the moment (although it could also just be stress or something....).
While I am not much of a hot summer gal, I am really welcoming the warmer weather. Makes for better outings over weekends with C. He loves the swing, so any opportunity I get I put him in one. He just smiles and giggles up at me. Too cute!
1 months to go before the big 1!!
Monday, September 20, 2010
a little update
I cannot believe that in just about a week C will be a whole 11 months old. It has been, but far, the most exciting, tiring, happy, scary (and a whole load of other emotions) year of my life.
My boy is growing well. He now weighs about 9.2/3kg (he was 9.1 about 2 weeks ago, so that is my guestimate....), and about 73cm long, from his 2.3kg and 45cm birth weight and length. He is crawling ALL over the place (started crawling at about 9 months), and standing and cruising around the furniture. Cannot believe how fast they are able to crawl! He cut his first two teeth on his 10th month birthday, and so far there are no signs of the other teeth at all.
He is sleeping well, except when he is blocked up. Goes to bed about 19:00 and up at about 06:00. He is doing great at the daycare, and seems to love playing with the other little ones. Mom also likes the daycare, but like all moms find, I have a few little niggles. However, the love they seem to have for the little ones far outweigh those. My issues really are negligable (things like - they have not given me back all his clothes and I am running low on vests etc. Get this - they don't send back dirty clothes! How awesome is that :))
Feeding is going great - with 3 full meals a day, 3 bottles, and a couple of snacks. I moved him onto a straw cup from the sippy about 3 weeks ago, and it is going well. He is however starting to show some preferences and at some meal times he can be a bit hardheaded. I guess it may just be payback time for me, as my mom has told me in the past what an issue feeding me used to be.
Unfortunately he came down with something this weekend again - he got a fever and after trying some meds etc. to get it down it carried on rising and reached 39.7 by the time we got to the doctor. He is now on his second round of antibiotics this month! I have found the "sick" parts the most difficult to deal with (the snottiness (due to the allergies) has practically become a way of life - we deal with these quite well I think), as most of the time I think I am not even aware that anything is wrong until he is in too much discomfort. He generally does not act "sick" - once I got to the doc for something unrelated and he turned out to have tonsillitis and middle ear infection. These are the times I feel like such a bad mother for not reacting sooner, but other times I am not really sure how to react, for fear of seeming to be a little bit of a control freak or a "too worried" mom. I know that I am supposed to "trust my instinct", and truth be told that this is what has helped on many occasions.
Despite not feeling too great the weekend my folks enjoyed spending time with him. they live about 2 hours away and we had decided to visit. I think my mom feels as though she is missing out on a lot (and I guess in a way she is). I really need to make a little more of an effort.
Oh, and diabetes this weekend - Diabetes 1, Me 0 :(
My boy is growing well. He now weighs about 9.2/3kg (he was 9.1 about 2 weeks ago, so that is my guestimate....), and about 73cm long, from his 2.3kg and 45cm birth weight and length. He is crawling ALL over the place (started crawling at about 9 months), and standing and cruising around the furniture. Cannot believe how fast they are able to crawl! He cut his first two teeth on his 10th month birthday, and so far there are no signs of the other teeth at all.
He is sleeping well, except when he is blocked up. Goes to bed about 19:00 and up at about 06:00. He is doing great at the daycare, and seems to love playing with the other little ones. Mom also likes the daycare, but like all moms find, I have a few little niggles. However, the love they seem to have for the little ones far outweigh those. My issues really are negligable (things like - they have not given me back all his clothes and I am running low on vests etc. Get this - they don't send back dirty clothes! How awesome is that :))
Feeding is going great - with 3 full meals a day, 3 bottles, and a couple of snacks. I moved him onto a straw cup from the sippy about 3 weeks ago, and it is going well. He is however starting to show some preferences and at some meal times he can be a bit hardheaded. I guess it may just be payback time for me, as my mom has told me in the past what an issue feeding me used to be.
Unfortunately he came down with something this weekend again - he got a fever and after trying some meds etc. to get it down it carried on rising and reached 39.7 by the time we got to the doctor. He is now on his second round of antibiotics this month! I have found the "sick" parts the most difficult to deal with (the snottiness (due to the allergies) has practically become a way of life - we deal with these quite well I think), as most of the time I think I am not even aware that anything is wrong until he is in too much discomfort. He generally does not act "sick" - once I got to the doc for something unrelated and he turned out to have tonsillitis and middle ear infection. These are the times I feel like such a bad mother for not reacting sooner, but other times I am not really sure how to react, for fear of seeming to be a little bit of a control freak or a "too worried" mom. I know that I am supposed to "trust my instinct", and truth be told that this is what has helped on many occasions.
Despite not feeling too great the weekend my folks enjoyed spending time with him. they live about 2 hours away and we had decided to visit. I think my mom feels as though she is missing out on a lot (and I guess in a way she is). I really need to make a little more of an effort.
Oh, and diabetes this weekend - Diabetes 1, Me 0 :(
Friday, September 10, 2010
swimming
Well, I kind of feel as though I am swimming in work, swimming in all the things I need/want to get done at home, nearly sinking at times... But that is not what I wanted to talk about.
We have been thinking about swimming lessons for our little terror (only because he kept me up last night, and then this morning at 4 he wanted to play - literally!) for some time now. And I guess with summer fast approaching it has been on my mind a lot more lately. Now I was thinking - what a great activity for dad and son to do together on a Saturday morning. But dad had other ideas.... He thinks it would be the perfect opportunity for mom to learn to swim - I know, shock horror... Well, it is not that I can't, but I can't. I can keep myself afloat, get from one side of a pool to the other in some way or another, probably save myself from drowning if I fell in a pool, but I have never had proper swimming lessons (and it is highly unlikely that you would find me "swimming" in public.
So now I am trying to talk myself into doing it - because it probably would be a good thing for me too, right?
We have been thinking about swimming lessons for our little terror (only because he kept me up last night, and then this morning at 4 he wanted to play - literally!) for some time now. And I guess with summer fast approaching it has been on my mind a lot more lately. Now I was thinking - what a great activity for dad and son to do together on a Saturday morning. But dad had other ideas.... He thinks it would be the perfect opportunity for mom to learn to swim - I know, shock horror... Well, it is not that I can't, but I can't. I can keep myself afloat, get from one side of a pool to the other in some way or another, probably save myself from drowning if I fell in a pool, but I have never had proper swimming lessons (and it is highly unlikely that you would find me "swimming" in public.
So now I am trying to talk myself into doing it - because it probably would be a good thing for me too, right?
Monday, September 6, 2010
sick days
What a weekend this has been....
On Friday I left work early to see to my boy. When we got home he did not seem to bad and played around a bit. His temperature was still a bit high, but seemed to be coming down. I gave him another dose of paracetamol and let him sleep a while. We spoke to the paed who also thought it could just be the teething, but could also be some sort of virus. She suggested we watch for any other symptoms and call her if things changed. Later in the afternoon his fever hit 40.3, and I made the call again. But she had already left for the weekend and the receptionist took some details and said we need to get it down, and he needs to see someone. She gave us the name of the paed on call for the weekend. N was home by now so we decided to call his uncle and took C to see him. So we got some meds for pain and antibiotics to clear him up. He has a middle ear infection (again) and his throat was also inflamed. He also thought that the anti histamines we have been using was probably keeping the symptoms at bay too.
The rest of the weekend was better - Friday night was a little bit of hell though. Last night he also seemed a bit uncomfortable so I will see how he copes today. It is so heart breaking watching him cry in pain when there is nothing you can do!
So that was pretty much my weekend.
On Friday I left work early to see to my boy. When we got home he did not seem to bad and played around a bit. His temperature was still a bit high, but seemed to be coming down. I gave him another dose of paracetamol and let him sleep a while. We spoke to the paed who also thought it could just be the teething, but could also be some sort of virus. She suggested we watch for any other symptoms and call her if things changed. Later in the afternoon his fever hit 40.3, and I made the call again. But she had already left for the weekend and the receptionist took some details and said we need to get it down, and he needs to see someone. She gave us the name of the paed on call for the weekend. N was home by now so we decided to call his uncle and took C to see him. So we got some meds for pain and antibiotics to clear him up. He has a middle ear infection (again) and his throat was also inflamed. He also thought that the anti histamines we have been using was probably keeping the symptoms at bay too.
The rest of the weekend was better - Friday night was a little bit of hell though. Last night he also seemed a bit uncomfortable so I will see how he copes today. It is so heart breaking watching him cry in pain when there is nothing you can do!
So that was pretty much my weekend.
Friday, September 3, 2010
quick update
Life has been, well, hectic.
This is just a quick update, as I am about to leave the office...
My boy cut his first tooth on Saturday, and the next one on Wednesday. He was a real trooper, only slightly miserable. But last night he ran a fever, sleep was a bit "disturbed", and then this morning he seemed fine again. But I have just got a call that he has a fever again... Pretty sure it is probably related to the teething - I don't really know. Hopefully the rest of the weekend will be better.
Blood sugar has been okay, but I can see the effect work stress has on it. I wanted to continue basal testing - still have some to do, but have not gotten round to it again. I tried another sensor last week, but managed to "dislodge" it after a day or so. I need to try remembering that it is there!
This is just a quick update, as I am about to leave the office...
My boy cut his first tooth on Saturday, and the next one on Wednesday. He was a real trooper, only slightly miserable. But last night he ran a fever, sleep was a bit "disturbed", and then this morning he seemed fine again. But I have just got a call that he has a fever again... Pretty sure it is probably related to the teething - I don't really know. Hopefully the rest of the weekend will be better.
Blood sugar has been okay, but I can see the effect work stress has on it. I wanted to continue basal testing - still have some to do, but have not gotten round to it again. I tried another sensor last week, but managed to "dislodge" it after a day or so. I need to try remembering that it is there!
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