Wednesday Funny

It was this little girl's first day of school and the teacher asked her what her name was and she replied, "Happy Butt." The teacher said, "Honey I don't think that's your name you need to go to the principal's office and get this straightened out." So she went to the principal's office and he asked, "What's your name?" And the little girl said, Happy Butt." The principal called the girl's mother to get this straightened out once and for all. After getting off the phone he looked at the little girl and said, "Honey, your name's is Gladys, not Happy Butt." The girl then exclaimed, "Glad Ass, Happy Butt" what's the difference?"

Health Insurance

Health insurance has become a top priority in our life the last 6 months. Some days I sit and think about how we'd manage if we didn't have it. I know Frankie makes too much to qualify for any type of state assistance. We tried to get help for the $160 a month we have to pay a month for insulin & supplies and we were denied. I personally think it's really sad that we're busting our asses to make ends meet and we already pay almost $500 a month just for insurance, not counting co-pays and medications. I wanted assistance for the $160 we have to pay for insulin and diabetes supplies because I didn't want to have to worry about where the money would come from if we happened to come up short. I explained things to the lady and told her without insulin Kacey would die and she looked at me and said "Mam, I really am sorry, but your husband makes too much a month and there is nothing we can do to help you." The system SUCKS! There are people we know that are mooching off the system, lazy bums who don't give a flying flip about their kids, and they go to the doc for every ache & pain and get pain meds and then turn around and sell them for CASH! WTF is wrong with the system?!?! Grrrrr!

OK...so all that being said... I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Frankie's company isn't very stable right now. They've cut his hours to 40hrs a week. He went from working 60hrs a week to 40hrs a week....20hrs of time & a half....CUT! They've told them that NO ONE will get overtime for any reason. This really got me worried. So as things would have it, the job he applied for a few years ago with the city has now opened back up and he was called for an interview. He went for the interview and things look really bright and this would be a stable move for us. My biggest fear was switching insurance. The first thing he asked them was would Kacey have a waiting period for a pre-existing condition. Since we already have insurance then she will NOT :) Our insurance is nearly $500 a month now and we have United Healthcare. We will be getting Anthem and it will be $232 a month....thats HALF of what we are paying now! Right now we pay $20 for reg doc visits and $40 for specialist and with the new insurance it will be $10! So thats another savings. Same with medications...we will pay a significant amount less. Now here's my dilemma...I filled out all the paperwork for Kacey's pump to go through our current insurance which will pay 80%...leaving us paying $1200 or so for the pump. But I'm not sure what Anthem covers for the pump? I've heard 100% and I've heard 80%. If they are going to cover 100% then I'm thinking it will be in our best interest to wait another month or so before filing all the paperwork. I don't have the heart to tell Kacey this because I know how badly she wants the pump and how badly I want it for her. I'm just trying to figure out what our best interest would be to keep us from being stuck with more medical bills. Sometimes we have to think with our brains instead of our hearts and this is one of those times I'm trying to use my brain.

Does anyone have Anthem? How is the coverage?

I'm really scared to make this move but I'm scared if we don't make this move and the company Frankie works for decides to go under then he's without a job and we're without insurance and then we'd REALLY be in trouble. I need some advice here because I'm unsure and stressed over all of this! It's weighing heavy on me right now and I'm torn on what decision we should make.

Pump Site- Kacey's Interview

Through the eyes of an 8 year old....

Me: Last Thursday you went to Pump Class at CHKD. What did you learn while you were there?
Kacey: I learned about how to work all the different pumps and how to put a site in and I learned that the first insulin pump was a backpack and the second insulin pump was the size of a notebook. (Wowwww! She payed attention!)
Me: When the CDE told you that you HAD to get a pump site put in, how did you feel?
Kacey: I was a little scared because I never had one done before and I thought the needle would be very big.
Me: When you saw Nurse Kristen and you knew she was going to do your site, did you feel less afraid?
Kacey: Yes because I know shes very gentle and very nice.
Me: When you got the site put in, was it as painful as you thought it was going to be? How did it feel?
Kacey: No, it felt a little tingly but not hurting tingle.
Me: We made a "make believe" pump so you could see how it felt to wear a pump during the time you had your site in. Did it feel weird?
Kacey: Yes because I never had a pump before and it was clipped to my pants.
Me: You had the chance to show off the site and pump to Mrs. M and your friends. How did they react? Did it make you feel uncomfortable?
Kacey: I didn't feel uncomfortable and all my friends asked a bunch of questions and I answered them all.
Me: Did you have a hard time riding your bike or playing outside when you were connected to the pump?
Kacey:I did but I got used to it.
Me: Did you have any problems with snagging your site or forgetting you had the pump on?
Kacey: Yes when I was asleep I tugged on it on accident. Then when I was putting my playstation game away I forgot it was my "pump" in my hand and I sat it down and walked away. It tugged and hurt really bad and I started crying. Then another time my pump fell out of my bed and tugged my site and woke me up in the middle of the night.
Me: How did you sleep with it?
Kacey: I put it on the side of me but it still fell out of my bed.
Me: Were you sad when it was time to take the site out?
Kacey: Yes because I got used to have it in and then I had to take it out and I couldn't put another one in. I want my pump really bad and now I have to wait for it.
Me: Did it hurt when you took it out?
Kacey: Yes because I pulled the cannula out really slow because I was scared.


Sunday morning...sleeping in til 8am. She woke up at 6am when her pump fell out of bed and so I let her come out to the couch and go back to sleep.
This pic made me cry! Taking the pump site out was a very difficult task. It was moreso because of the reality that this was just a "trial" and it there wasn't going to be another site to replace it. She cried so hard for a few minutes and I had to keep reminding her that we had to go through this "waiting period".

The place where she had her site looked great! It wasn't very tender.

She had to show off her tubing and what was left of the site.

This one she tried to smile but she really didn't want to! She wanted her pump so bad :( My heart broke for her. Now it's just a waiting game!

Letter Meme

I emailed Karen for my letter to do the Meme. She gave me the letter "A".

Now I have to list ten things I love that start with the letter A.

1. Angels- I collect Willow Tree Angels and I believe in Angels.

2. Ace Ventura - My favorite actor is Jim Carrey and my love of him started with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

3. Apple Juice- This is my favorite juice and when I was pregnant with Kacey I could drink it by the gallon!

4. Advocate- I've found myself speaking out more and more about diabetes. Especially to those people that mistake Type 1 for Type 2 and try and tell me I can control Kacey with diet & a pill (ahhhh if only it was that easy!)

5. Albuterol- without this inhaled medication then I wouldn't be able to control my asthma or Kayleigh's asthma. Kay had her first asthma attack when she was 10 months old and has been on Albuterol ever since. I developed asthma after 10 weeks of bronchitis/pneumonia in 2006. I've been on an inhaler since then.

6. Aunt- I love being an Aunt to my nephews, Kylar & Hunter, and my niece, Abigail. I don't get to see them as often as I like but I think about them often and wish they lived closer :(

7. August- The month I was born. It's also the best time to be on the beach or playing in the pool.

8. America- The country I live in.

9. American Idol- My FAV reality show! I've watched it every year since Season 1 :) and I'm so glad it's back on!

10. Abracadabra! - I've always been fascinated with magic. I love watching it on TV and live and trying to figure out how the trick is done.

Wow! That was harder than I thought! LOL Thanks Karen :) ***Hugs***

Pump Site- Daddy's Interview

Me: When you first found out that you could wear a pump site for 3 days, what was your first reaction?
Daddy: I was excited because I would be able to feel what Kacey was feeling.

Me: Did it hurt as bad as you thought it would?

Daddy: No not at all.

Me: Your job is driving a tractor trailer and hauling heavy equipment, did you find yourself bumping the pump site while you worked?

Daddy: Nope I didn't even know it was there.

Me: Did you snag your tubing on anything while you wore it?

Daddy: No I wore the tubing tucked in my pants.

Me: Do you have a better understanding of what Kacey will be faced with everyday?

Daddy: Yes because I had to be aware that the site was there and be careful not to snag it while I worked.

Me: Are you worried about doing her sites once she gets her pump?

Daddy: No because I got one and now I know what she will feel.

Me: Did your site hurt when Kacey helped you take it out?

Daddy: Not at all

Me: Do you have more respect and compassion for what Kacey will have to go through every day?

Daddy: Yes because I know how uncomfortable it can be and because you have to be careful not to snag the tubing. She has to go through a lot and I know how it feels.

Me: Are you glad you were given the chance to experience this? Do you think every parent should have to participate in a trial like this?

Daddy: Yes I'm glad because now I know how she feels and how big the responsibility is for her to be connected all the time. I do think every parent should have to participate because you get a better understanding of what it takes to manage diabetes.

Kacey helped Daddy take his site out. She was worried that she would hurt him.

Pump Site- My Interview

Doing this interview was a bit harder since it was myself...LOL! I'll just make it a question and answer session.

Was the site insertion as painful as I thought it would be?
I'll admit, when I first saw the needle that is used to insert it, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I was scared of the pain especially since my tummy is such a tender part of my body. I didn't let on that I was scared and I bared the "brave face". As Kristen put the site in, I didn't even feel it go in! I'm sure if I had watched then it may have been more painful but honestly I didn't even feel it. After it was in for about 5 minutes, I felt a little pain but nothing too uncomfortable and then it was gone....just a bit tender.

Did I find it uncomfortable to wear?
The first day I didn't even notice I had it on. By the second day, I knew I had it on every time I went to pee! LOL! Since I had the tubing tucked into my pocket and it wasn't connected to anything, everytime I went to the bathroom I'd forget the tube was there and it would tug on the site. After about the 8th time of tugging it, it started to get sensitive where the cannula was in. The end of the 2nd day, I was rushing about as I normally do and I snagged the tubing and I thought my skin was being ripped off!!! It had started to bleed and so I had no choice but to remove it :( I did let Kacey help me take it out and she was still very uncomfortable touching it.

Did anyone notice I was wearing it? Was I self conscious with it on?
I wasn't self conscious with it because it stayed tucked in my pocket. No one knew I had it unless I showed them. I did use it as a "teaching tool" for the school nurse. I showed her how it worked and how to disconnect and reconnect. She was able to see the difference between the site that goes straight in and the site we had that is angled.

Was the removal painful?
Not at all. It was a bit tender because I'd snagged it so much but it wasn't painful.

Do I have more respect for people using the pump and for Kacey?
ABSOLUTELY! I had respect even before this trial. The pump is alot of hard work and commitment just like shots are. Don't let anyone tell you that you can get the pump and "forget" you have diabetes. It's a constant reminder that diabetes is there BUT it's also a reminder of how well controlled your diabetes can be and the freedom you have to be just a bit more "normal". With the pump, diabetes is a little bit more hidden. You're not pulling out needles and doing injections in public like you have to do with shots. You're not getting those "weird looks" like people give us now when I pull out Kacey's case and give her a shot at the table in a restaurant. You're able to pull out a pump that looks like a cell phone to the untrained eye *wink*. So if you don't want people to know you have diabetes, then they don't have to know.

I'd do this again for Kacey in a heartbeat! I think it gave me a better understanding of what it feels like to have a site snagged and what a pain in the ass diabetes can be. ***See the pic below***
Like I said in the last post, if you are considering the pump for your child, ASK to have a site put in when they get it done. It's very important you feel what they are feeling so when they come to you and say "My pump just fell off my lap and my site pulled" and they have tears streaming down their face then you DO know how the pain of that feels and you can sympathesize a little bit more. (this happened to Kacey...her interview is tomorrow) You won't just pat them on the back and send them on their way. Even if you're scared to do it, just remind yourself if you're scared then imagine how your child is feeling and do it for them.

Thanks to all the CDE's at CHKD for a great Pump Class and for giving us the chance to walk a few days in Kacey's shoes (kinda!)

Pump Site- Kayleigh's Interview

When we went to the Pump Class last Thursday night, our CDE gave us the option to have a site put in to see how it feels. I knew that I wanted to get one done since I will probably be the one doing Kacey's sites and I knew Frankie wanted to have one done but I never in a million years would have thought that Kayleigh would volunteer to have one done. She is VERY afraid of needles (just look at her face in the pic below) but this was something that she wanted to do and we didn't push on her. Now for my interview with her.....

Me: Kayleigh, you chose to wear a pump site so you could feel what it would be like for your sister to wear it. Was the site insertion as painful as you thought it would be?

Kayleigh: Actually no it wasnt. I am really scared of needles and the only thing I felt was a little tingle when the needle was being removed.

Me: Did you find the site uncomfortable to wear?

Kayleigh: In a way it was sort of uncomfortable because I was attached to it.

Me: You wore your pump site to school with the tubing tucked into your pocket. Did your friends notice? Were you more aware that it was there? Did you feel self conscious about it?

Kayleigh: My friends didn't notice until I showed them. I had gym that day and we have to change in the locker room. One girl looked at me weird and asked me what it was? When I told her what it was she really didn't understand what I was talking about. I was aware that it was there because I was afraid I would snag it and pull it out during school. I wasn't self conscious about it because no one knew I had it on unless I showed them. I did get alot of questions from the friends that I showed and was happy to answer them.

Me: You were only able to wear your pump site for 24 hours. What happened?
Kayleigh: The first night I got it, my arm snagged the tubing and it began to bleed a little. As the hours went on, it got more tender and hurt. The blood went further down the tubing and it worried us so I took it out.
Me: Was it painful coming out?
Kayleigh: I thought it would be but I soaked it with alcohol and it came right off like a bandaid.
Me: Did the area around where you had the site hurt after taking it out?
Kayleigh: No it was just a little tender and I think that was because it was snagged.
Kayleigh's pump site after 24 hours.... Is this normal?

Me: Do you have more respect for what your sister will have to go through every day?
Kayleigh: Yes, even though it will only be one stick every 3 days, I wish she didn't have to go through all of that. If I could take it from her I would. She's been so brave over the last 6 months and I'm proud of her.

Conclusion: This was definately an eye opener for Kayleigh and I'm glad she took part in it. I did have a question about the site though. If you snag your site like that, do you have to pull it out and do another one? I was thinking that since insulin would be flowing through a real one, then you wouldn't get the blood backup like that. Would you? I think having patients, parents, siblings, and anyone else involved in the care of a child with diabetes should have to wear a site. This has definately given us an inside glimpse into just a SMALL portion of what Kacey goes though.

My interview tomorrow :)

6 Things

I was tagged by Shannon to post six things that make me happy. Here are the rules: Link to the person who has tagged you. Write down six things that make you happy. Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it. Then tell the person when your entry is complete.

1. Being a Mommy...nothing else in this world makes me happier than my girls. They are the bright spot in my day and I'm so blessed to be a mother. They bring such joy to my life and always seem to make me smile with the littlest things.

2. Teaching...teaching is the next best thing to being a parent. I feel "at home" in the classroom and I've always been a natural at it. I'm so glad that I found the passion to be in the classroom again.

3. Flowers...not store bought ones....I like fresh cut flowers from outside. I have daffodils, irises and tulips planted all over the yard and I let the girls pick them as soon as they bloom and we keep a vase on the dining room table for them. Something about flowers always makes me smile.

4. Shopping with my Mom...every Saturday our ritual is to wake up about 7:30am and meet my Mom for breakfast and then go shopping. We've done this for years now. Before diabetes, the girls used to spend the night at her house on Friday nights and I would meet them on Saturday mornings and we'd have breakfast and shop til lunchtime (sometimes later). I really miss those days and I know my Mom does too! Once Kacey is on the pump then we will gain the confidence for her to go overnight again :)

5. Sunny Days...I love being out in the sunshine. Long walks, bike rides, beach days, pool days, Busch Gardens, Water Country...and much more!

6. The Diabetes OC...without all of you on here I'd probably still be struggling along. You all have given me the courage to fight this D-Monster and I love you all! The support I get is amazing and I love sharing everything here!

Hmmmm I'm tagging more than I should LOL!
Sheri, Cara, Penny, Wendy, Kelly, Amy, Lynnea, Rachel & Cody