Justin's Story

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Be Thankful!

I've got a lot on my mind lately regarding diabetes. It's been rather frustrating lately, we've had a few pump sites fail resulting in a blood sugar of almost 500. I hate that Justin has to deal with this rotten disease, I truly hate it.  
 
  In the mornings when I go to wake him up, I sometimes for a split second will remember life before diabetes, and how peaceful he looks at the moment.  Then I will see the pump site or Dexcom site peeking out from under his shirt and be thrown back to reality. My heart aches for him.  

But as much as it sucks living with this disease, he's here with me.  There have been too many stories this year about children that didn't make it because of misdiagnosis.  It makes me sad & angry that it's being missed by doctors.  I think the first thing that needs to happen is people getting over the thought that diabetes is because of eating sugar/junk food.  That's tough to do since even childrens movies make fun of diabetes. If you haven't already Hotel Transylvania 2, has a comment about eating cake and getting diabetes. :-/
 Its really frustrating!! 

I'm trying really hard not to complain about diabetes, especially on Facebook where I know I have a friend who lost a child to this.  Its not fair at all.  People come into our life for reasons and this is something I need to get past.  I do not want that vibe passed onto Justin, he knows he can do anything & this isn't going to stop him! 

 

 

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Justin goes to T1D Camp!


Justin decided that he would like to go to sleep away diabetes camp this year, he was nervous about it, but he wanted to go.  It's a week long camp, drop off on Saturday, pick him up the next Saturday.  The camp is about 3 hours from us.  

Labeling everything and packing was so much fun lol.....luckily next year he has everything, and I'll just get clothing stickers to make the labeling go faster, I procrastinated this year and it got to late to order them.  

When I started getting everything together, and packing Justin was getting really excited.  It was a mix of excitement & nervousness.  On the drive up he was really excited! 

We checked him in and then Chris went to his cabin with him while I was handling the medical intake stuff.  By the time I made it to the cabin he was settled in and already being rowdy with the other boys lol.  After the counselors asked what they needed, we were off to the parent meeting.  Said bye to Justin, and he was ready for us to go...didn't even give me a hug bye, just said "bye, Mom" as in you can go now.  We went over and talked to some of the vendors, and stayed for the parent meeting.  

We left around 4 and headed to Orlando for a night, it had been way too long since we had a night away.  The week went pretty fast, I was constantly looking on the camp Facebook page to see if they added pictures lol. We enjoyed our quiet time and couple only dinners. 😊

Won't lie though we missed out kiddo! It was really strange without him around.  

We were excited to pick him up and he was happy to see us and had so much to tell us! He had an eventful week, his first pump site failure, he had large ketones and was vomiting one afternoon. They were going to put him on shots for the week but changed the pump site...3 times that day and everything was fine the rest of the week. Justin told me when he was throwing up he just wanted to come home because "his mom will know what to do". Poor kid! But he stuck it out and had a blast!  Next year I think I will get his Dr to give me dosing for Lantus and just let him have a pump break for the week so he doesn't have any issues.  

I was worried about him not eating because he such a picky eater, he ate most everything. He said 2 dinners he didn't eat..the only other option was PB&J and he doesn't like that either lol.  So I felt bad he was hungry. But he told me all of this but didn't seem real bothered by it, just bothers me.  

He said they went swimming in the lake everyday. He loved the blob!! He got to do archery, art, & they had all kinds of games and activities. He loved the carnival! He said he was helping do the tattoos at his cabins table. He said a couple of the boys in his cabin had dates to the luau...what?! lol. But they didn't talk to the girls at the luau. Cracks me up!!  I'm certain he has a ton more stories to tell me it will take time to get them all out.  He talked non stop for about an hour on the way home about everything.  He said he really missed us but he had so much fun!  I could tell, he had a smile that I hadn't seen in a while. Don't get me wrong he smiles but it was different.  He had a sparkle in his eyes and his spirit seemed to be renewed. He said he would go again next year 😊 Hurry up summer 2016 lol. On his shirt it says "miss home for a week, miss camp for a year" So thankful for the camp and everything they did for Justin and all the campers.  I can only imagine how awesome it is to be in world where no one is staring at you wondering what your doing when checking bg or giving insulin.  Thank you Florida Diabetes camp!! 





On the way home, looking all tan and happy😊

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Clean it Out - #DBlogWeek - Day 3

Yesterday we kept stuff in, so today let's clear stuff out.  What is in your diabetic closet that needs to be cleaned out?  This can be an actual physical belonging, or it can be something you're mentally or emotionally hanging on to.  Why are you keeping it and why do you need to get rid of it?  (Thank you Rick of RA Diabetes for this topic suggestion.)



As far as supplies go, I'm pretty organized.  We don't have much closet or cabinet space so I use the plastic drawers.  Not the most decorative but it works.  Originally the supplies were on the counter, then I moved it to a drawer, then a cabinet, and it was all over the place lol. That's when we cleaned out and got the plastic bins.  Now it's all together, besides the insulin that fills up where the butter should go haha!!  

Piles of stuff that had accumulated over 2 years.

Nice and organized ;)


Emotionally, I'm not sure if in hanging on to anything.  I probably am and don't realize it.  I've accepted that he has T1D, and that the possibility of a cure may not be a reality in his life.  Although we walk and fundraise, it may not directly help find a cure.  However there are things that will most likely be available in his life that will make managing it easier.  









Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Diabetes Personified(wildcard) - #DBlogWeek Day 2

Topic for today - I picked a wildcard :-)

If you could personify your diabetes or that of your loved one, what would it be like?  What would it look like, what would it say, what kind of personality would it have?  Use your imagination and feel free to use images, drawings, words, music, etc. to describe it.  (Thank you Reva of Type ONEderful for this topic suggestion.)


Hmmmm.....good question.  I'm gonna ask Justin for some help and see what he says.

Diabetes personality according to Justin:

It would say: "I hate this person & I wanna take over his body" 
 
It would look like: "a little green germ that has an evil hat on"

It's personality would be: "a poop head evil jerk" LOL!!!!


 

Monday, May 11, 2015

I Can - #DBlogWeek Day 1

Today's topic: 

In the UK, there was a diabetes blog theme of "I can...”  that participants found wonderfully empowering.  So lets kick things off this year by looking at the positive side of our lives with diabetes.  What have you or your loved one accomplished, despite having diabetes, that you weren't sure you could?  Or what have you done that you've been particularly proud of?  Or what good thing has diabetes brought into your life?  (Thank you to the anonymous person who submitted this topic suggestion.)



Being completely honest, when Justin was diagnosed it felt like our world completely crumbled down.  I wasn't sure what he would be able to do.  One of the very first things his endocrinologist said to us was "He's still your same little boy & he will still be able to do anything he wants."  

He was diagnosed just a few days before Thanksgiving. He missed 1 day of school and he was back when everyone else was.  He resumed scouts without missing any meetings.  I tried hard to not avoid anything because of T1D.  I am proud of everything that Justin does no matter what it is.  After all he has this extra thing to deal with that most kids don't.  At the moment while I'm typing this were at karate class.  Diabetes does not keep him from anything!

I am certain he will be able to do whatever he wants as he grows up!  With role models like Ryan Reed (NASCAR driver with T1D), he knows he can do ANYTHING!! Those that are reading this and not race fans may not really understand just how awesome it is what Ryan Reed is doing, they drove at about 180mph+, it's extremely hot inside the cars, and it takes strength and concentration to keep the car on the track! 

I would have to say the best thing that has happened since diabetes entered his life would have to be the friends we have made.  Friends that help each other out and listen to you vent and completely understand what your talking about.  

💙💙💙



Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Never give up on your dreams

It's been a while since I blogged :) 

Not too much has happened in our diabetes world, just on cruise control doing what we gotta do. The only new addition is the dexcom!  We love Dex :)  Justin is getting excited about the JDRF walk coming up in a couple weeks.  Me too! It's always fun to spend the morning with family & friends. 

This last weekend we went to Daytona for the Alert Today 300 Xfinity Series race.  We always love the chance to be at the track supporting our fave driver Ryan Reed! Not sure why I didn't blog about it, but in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway we got to meet Ryan!  We were the only ones waiting where he was going to do his interview, waiting for about 40 minutes lol....of course after he was there it was more crowded but I wanted to make sure Justin was right in the front ;)

This year in Daytona, we just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  In the fanzone there are some games for the kids, and when we first walked by was busy, so we did other things and then we were heading back to them, and I thought I seen a couple of people wearing the fancy Drive to stop diabetes shirts so I stopped to look and then here comes Ryan walking up behind them, he waved and said hi to us :)))))  That made for a super happy kiddo!!  Then during driver intros, Justin yells to him "I like your cowboy hat" and gives him a thumbs up, and Ryan smiles and returns the thumbs up! Again Justin was so excited!  Ryan Reed is such an awesome role model for our kids with T1D.  We were so happy that he won his first Xfinity Series race! What an accomplishment!!  He just proves that it doesn't have to stop you from anything! 

I first heard about Ryan right after Justin was diagnosed, in searching the internet for anything and everything I could find I came across a picture of Ryan and his race car at the time covered with JDRF logo.  He wasn't racing in NASCAR at the time but I started following him on facebook, and loved his story.  I was so thrilled when he started racing some Nationwide races since those are the races and tracks were close to.  We were at a race the day before Justin was diagnosed, and he had a miserable time, so each time we get to go to the track and enjoy ourselves its just awesome! 

Ryan is quite the buzz in the DOC now that he's won a race, but he's been inspiring us for 2 years now :)

Diabetes tried to ruin our fun on Saturday at the race, he had a bad low, 39.  All the walking mixed with not finishing breakfast.....it totally sucks when your trying to have a good time and then you have to watch your child go through that, looking pale as a ghost and staring into space.  It really does suck.  But he recovered after almost 70 carbs uncovered, never spiked and was good the rest of the day.  He even had a hotdog bun and all uncovered.  I hate how quickly he can drop.  But I'm thankful we caught it and treated. And we went on to have a wonderful day! 


Enjoy these pics from our little weekend getaway :)

Me and My guys enjoying the race this last weekend in Daytona 2015

Ryan Reed & Justin @ Homestead-Miami Speedway 2014

My guys riding the bus over to the track ready for a fun day!
Enjoying the Ferris wheel in the midway.

Me and Justin on the bus back to the parking lot

My family at DisneyQuest


















Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Thoughts for the day......

Have been having alot of emotions again, most of the time they are there, just keep them inside and go about what we have to do.  So on Sunday at church I walk into the classroom to pick him up  and he was sitting there with a few other kids praying.  It was super cute he was sitting there with his hands folded and head bowed.  As we were leaving he says "Mom, you know what I was praying about?" Thinking he was going to say something about having no more homework or something lol...no he says I was praying for my diabetes to go away :(  
Then today his dexcom was really off for a while, and was alarming him at 55, and it makes the crazy beeping.  So he calls me and I tell him he can have his bag of chips.  Well he goes back to his class for aftercare and some of the other boys start picking on him, because his dex was beeping and he was having a snack.  Saying come get your chips or some nonsense, and laughing.  I totally wish those kids who think its funny to make fun of him could deal with diabetes for a day, all the needles, having snacks when your not really hungry, feeling like crap from a low.  Anyone with T1D, is truly a superhero, its not easy.  I'm sure first bg check and those kids would be whining and crying they have to do it, same with an insulin shot or pump site change.  I really wish people would teach their kids some compassion, instead of how to be little jerks. 
The end.