Over 72 hours have passed...

(Photo is courtesy of my friend Ange)

So it's been a crazy, happy, stressful, chaotic 72 hours.  On Friday morning I got a call from the head nurse from the Glucose Management Team of Animas.  It was a 45 minute call, basically giving me an introduction to the program Anastasia is now in and how her blood sugar will be monitored.  I have homework for the next few days from our workbook, and honestly I feel like we have just rewound back to last June.  We are starting all over again just with another piece of technology.

Blood sugar is checked upon waking in the morning, 2 hours after every meal, bedtime, midnight and 2 am.  If we change her site we have to add another check 2 hours the site is changed.  If she has high blood sugar (which she has had) we have to check 2 hours after the high blood sugar to ensure it's going down.

We suspect her carb ratios are not right resulting in the high blood sugars, again like in June its just trying to figure out the right formula for our girl.

Friday afternoon I had to change her site since she had a messy poop and it went all over her site.  I diverted from the procedure we were given which resulted in a very stressed out mommy and little girl.  Saturday we got to go to Anastasia's friend's birthday party.  The difference in her behavior from the party last year and this year was outstanding to me.  I have not seen Anastasia so happy in a long time.  She had so much fun playing with her friends and showing off her pump.  

She is so proud of it.  She loves it when I administer her insulin from the remote.  When she knows I have done it she smiles and looks at her pump and says "I got my insulin!"  

We are so happy she is taking to the pump so well.  We ordered a pouch for her so hopefully soon that will come and make dressing her a bit easier (for now no dresses :(  ).  

And we are live....

This is a blurry picture, but you can see the joy on Anastasia's face.  She is showing off her insulin pump which went on here at 6:45 pm today.  She is so happy and cannot stop talking about wearing it.  There was a challenge getting her site in, she knew we were putting it in her butt, and she hates getting her lantus in there but once we were done she was okay.  I am so proud of her.  She truly is so brave and my little hero.

So now we have to call our glucose management team representative tomorrow with numbers (oh joy this again hahaha).  We also have to wake up several times a night to do checks (more than just the 2 am).  It is worth it though.  To see the smile on Anastasia's face about not getting anymore needles except a site change every 2 days (which of course we will do when she is sleeping).

I am so grateful that now we are on a new journey, a pumping journey.

7 days

Next Thursday is our scheduled insulin pump start.  Training went okay last week.  I am confident in administering insulin from the pump, now all I have to do it feel comfortable with loading the insulin into the pump and putting the needle which Anastasia's site in.

Everytime we practice with the meter and pump Anastasia says "look it's my pump!  no more needles!"  I pray this is true.  I pray with every fiber of my being that this works out because if it doesn't it will be like we wasted a ton of money on this device.

So if you can say a prayer or send us a positive thought.  We truly do appreciate it.

Many apologies for not posting alot recently, May has been a whirlwind between my competition, MOD walk, Mother's Day, and this training.   Not to mention allergies, and a lingering cough which is very tiresome.

Hopefully I will get in a better habit of posting our journey....and soon.

The Waiting Game

So a week ago Friday the call was made about getting Anastasia her insulin pump.  We filled out paperwork, and emailed it back to the representative.  This Friday we received a call back from a different rep (actually the one we were dealing with in June when she was first diagnosed).  He said all we were waiting for was the insurance company, and that would be finalized either that day or Monday.  We of course have questions (i.e. how much is this going to set us back) so Alex called back and of course we are still waiting for a response.  I guess we'll hear about that on Monday too.

So what happens now...well once we finally get the pump shipped out we then have to set a date to have someone come to the house and train everyone on how to use it...then and only then will we be able to use it.

It just honestly seems like we are always waiting for something.

I don't ask for a lot, but please pray (or send good thoughts) that most (if not all) of the pump and supplies are covered by insurance.  Anastasia is so set on having "no needles" so I would really like to let her have her wish.


Edit:  insurance is going to cover about 2,000 of the pump (its about 6000).  Please pray we qualify for  financial assistance as that will drop the cost we owe down another 1100.

To Pump or Not to Pump

This is a decision that has been weighing heavily on our minds since Anastasia's diagnosis back in June.  At that point we were like ok it will make everything easier, no needles just moving an injection site every couple of days.  Done deal!

Then I was told the cost, and I just about choked....for 3 months worth of supplies and the pump it was just about $2,900!  For those of you who know me and my husband you know we do not have that money just laying around.  So we decided no.

Now Anastasia's numbers are fluctuating  a little too much and her endocrinologist feels it is time to put her on a pump.  I honestly feel that way too.  She has her good days and bad days when it's time to get her insulin.  The bad days make me feel horrible, but then I remember she is still 2 and she doesn't really understand what is going on yet.  

So now we save money, and pray that insurance will cover a little more than what they were going to cover 6 months ago and see what happens.  If she takes to it great, if not we can always try again...