Our ‘New Normal’

We are almost at 8 weeks post diagnosis. We have been pretty good, cruising along reasonably well with super kind words from the Diabetes team about what an outstanding job we are doing, keeping Beau’s levels in range as much as we can, and how they wish more people were like us! Nothing like a good compliment to keep you going!

A couple of weeks ago I caught up with a few different friends, all asking how we were getting on. I answered much like above ‘Yeah, good we are just finding our new normal, cruising along.’

We aren’t having many highs and the lows (especially the overnight lows) are much less frequent at the moment.

Preschool has been outstanding and I am in regular contact with them all through the day so they are managing it amazingly well too.

Nothing to really report.

Apart from the relentlessness of it.

Diabetes doesn’t rest.

Sometimes, it just dawns on me that my son is going to deal with this…disease… condition…. thing, for the rest of his life and HE’S ONLY TWO!!!!!!

And not only that, but as a working Mum of two boys (teaching!!), a fur Mama to a puppy, a cat and a wife to one amazing hubby, life is busy enough, and complicated enough, without dealing with this on top of it. I am not complaining, well, actually, I guess I am. But I don’t mean to. It could be worse. It could be cancer. Or something that meant he could die. Beau is going to live a long, healthy and happy life. So we are lucky. But still. It is a lot. Especially for Beau (obviously!) This is about him and his poor wee body. It works so hard, and it just seems like it’s not his own anymore. With the scanner attached, and the Miao Miao attached to that. The injections 4x a day, plus finger pricks etc. That breaks my heart a wee bit. But he is used to it now. Surprisingly. He got used to it all so quickly and super well.

I think now, 7 weeks in, I feel upset when I realise that this is our lives now. I’m tired. The boy’s behaviour has been a bit ‘up the wop’ and it has been a long school holiday period.

So this week, I called in reinforcements (my Mum!) and had a whole day to me while she looked after the boys. She had given Beau a couple of jabs previously but not without us there. So it was good for her to practice while we weren’t there.

I loved my day so much. So. Much!

I got my hair and nails done, had two coffees and got some groceries for tea. All by myself! Yuuuusssssssss.

Of course, the kids didn’t miss me at all and I felt so refreshed and able to deal with it all!

Beau has just been such a superstar. The other day I was mentioning it to some of his preschool teachers and felt myself get quite emotional. This little guy who was a grazer, and allowed any food he pretty much wanted at any time!!!! Has gone to being limited with his food choices and times of eating. (Actually, this is probably a positive thing!) but on top of this, the injections, scans, finger pricks etc, low treatments/feelings. He is so incredible and takes everything in it’s stride and doesn’t complain, or cry or moan or fight back or anything!

Now I know, he is in the ‘honeymoon phase’ with his own insulin production and I know he is young so we are lucky to have control over his diet etc so I will take these wins, as I know as he grows things are going to get more and more complex!

A new change we have is a Miao Miao device which means we can see his readings in real time when we aren’t with him! We both have apps on our phones and can see not only his BGLs but also what direction they are headed in!! It even says things like ‘A low is predicted in 21 minutes!’ ARGH! Amazing! We love it! Beau just has a ‘mother phone’ around him at all times. Preschool have jumped on board so happily and have even got a wee ‘Asian bag’ from the dress ups to put it in for the teachers around Beau to wear and have the phone around him! lol the kids are most upset the teachers are now ‘playing with’ their bag! I just love how Beau’s teachers have been so incredible to him and us, seriously, I don’t know how I could even THINK about returning to work if I wasn’t so happy and comfortable with the amazing care they provide for him. So lucky!!!!!

When  we first started with this Miao Miao, it was even more frustrating as it had a different BGL reading than BOTH the Libre scanner and the finger pricks. So then we had to get used to figuring out what to do with 3 DIFFERENT READINGS!

It’s ok. We got over that frustration and now we can’t live without the Miao Miao and apps!

So with this all in mind, and continuing to keep on keeping on, KW and I need to work to find some of our own time for breaks and also breaks together.

We have access to ‘Carer Support’ which provides us with 28 ‘respite’ days a year. We can pay someone (of our choice) a small amount of money to look after Beau (and Cooper) so that KW and I can have a break! How amazing! Unfortunately, my Mum is really unable to help us with this as she works in the weekends. So our job is to find someone we know and are comfortable with, to train them up so they can look after the kids so we can escape and have a wee small break every now and again! If any of you are keen, flick me a message k! Thanks

I am back to work next week! Eeeeeeekkkkk. All kinds of feelings around this. Mostly excited at the moment, but also nervous. Also proud of myself. And cracking up laughing, as Cooper is going to be in my class!! hahahaha. Well, there are 2 of us teachers with 42 kids and he is one of the lucky ones! Watch this space!

Off to try and carb count Beau’s first feed of fish and chips since diagnosis! Happy Friday peeps. Might even sneak a cheeky wine or 2 in tonight!