Monday, April 27, 2009

HIPpy Feeling

We had to do a site change early. Kacey played in the pool afterschool and her site started to peel off around the cannula. We didn't want to take any chances so we went on and changed it. She took her old site out and I was filling her cartridge when I noticed her inspecting her tummy. I asked her what she was looking at? She said she was trying to find the "perfect spot". She could see the little red marks left behind by previous sites. I finished filling the cartridge, installed it and filled the tubing. I watched as she continued to look for a spot and then I noticed her shift to her hip. She looked at me with a serious look and said, "Mom, I know Ms. Kristen said for me to try using my hip but I'm scared." I saw her tear up and I hugged her and explained that she didn't have to use her hip until she was ready. With tears quietly streaming down her face she said, "I think I'm ready but I'm scared." ***silently cries for her*** I smiled and told her how proud I was of her and how brave she was. She smiled through the tears as she inspected her hip. I told her I thought it would be easier if she hugged "Mellow" (her pump bear) while I searched for the perfect site. I found a place on her hip that I thought looked good and I pointed at it for her approval. With a nod of her head, I began to wipe it down. Nervous doesn't even begin to describe what I was feeling....I was FREAKIN SCARED!!! Could I let her see me like that? Noway! I put on my brave face and bit my lip while her head was turned. With a loud countdown...1.....2.....3...... I pushed my first Comfort Short in her hip. ***breathe*** I told her to hold very still while I took the needle out and peeled the tape off. Once it was in place, she literally fell into my arms on the couch and bursted into a full blown cry. We both wiped our tears as I praised her. Why were we crying? Because she's in completely new territory. No shots were ever given there and no site has ever been there. I've never practiced doing anything on her hip and we did it! Now she can give her tummy a rest and move around on those chunky little hips of hers ;)

As for the pool.... when we came home from school today, that's the first thing she wanted to do. It was 90F here again and she wanted to splash around. We agreed that she would only disconnect for an hour. Her blood sugar was 116 and we went out to splash. Within 30min she was a 75 so I think I should have made her eat one glucose tab before we went out. It was time for dinner anyway so we just came inside to eat. I had offered juice but she said she would get "sugar sick" if she drank that and it was hot outside. So we still have some work to do when it comes to the pool but we'll get there! :)

3 comments:

k2 said...

YAY!! She's doing great-so are u!!
Water play takes a bit of trial and error, but you get used to it and learn your way.
k2

Scott K. Johnson said...

So brave! Way to go!

Holly said...

Oh, girl, we are just the opposite. My daughter, Mary Claire, has only done hip sites, so a tummy site would be new territory for me! We are too scared, too.
My daughter was diagnosed in May, 2004, and we are almost five years in (and still hip/buttocks only)!
Keep at it. It sounds like you did great! : )