Jenna is a Girl Scout Junior again this year. For the Junior "bronze" Award, she will need to make a difference in the community this. She'll have to research, plan, and carry out something that she deems important. She can work as a whole group with the other Juniors, or in a smaller group, or with a partner, or individually.
For her bronze award idea, Jenna would like to raise more money for Juvenile Diabetes (her and Jimmy with 3 friends this summer had a lemonade stand and raised over $40 for JDRF, and it was in the paper yesterday! Adorable picture of the kids holding the money they earned at the stand.) Jenna is looking to do more. Together, her and I found an actual JDRF walk that is just like any other fundraiser/walk. It has incentive prizes - even raising only $10 can earn the first level incentive. She's willing to do it alone or with the whole group. Jenna first thought of having the walk in November for Jimmy's birthday - but that's too soon. Then she thought of April 1st since that's the day he was diagnosed. that's more manageable. She and whoever joins her from the troop have been invited to "pitch" the idea at a future Girl Scout Leader's meeting.
Jenna is so helpful with Jimmy. They're 5 years apart, so she's been involved from the start - from diapers to bottles to even now testing his blood and administering insulin shots! She is even starting to calculate how much insulin he needs on her own - and although she checks with me, she's been right every time! So grown up. Jim and I are so very proud!
I believe I hit the jackpot with my children! I couldn't be more proud.
On another note, I've applied for Jimmy and I to attend "JDRF Children's Congress" in Washington, DC in 2011. I got a call from the Northern NJ chapter of JDRF to just provide more information so they can go ahead and back me up as a potential candidate. You can find out more information at www.jdrf.org
Peace,
June
Friday, September 24, 2010
School update!!
The Karpowich House is all getting there - 5th grade is proving to be awesome for Jenna, and despite the fact that it took him over an hour to do homework a few nights ago, Jimmy is LOVING kindergarten!!! (It really only took 15 minutes for the actual hw part, but there was also a bathroom break, falling off the chair at least 3 times, dropping the pencil a few times, breaking the pencil point, the gripper falling off the pencil, changing the gripper on the pencil to a new color, checking his blood because he felt low - he wasn't, needing to get a cotton ball for inspiration when drawing a sheep, thirsty, hungry, dropping the paper, losing the pencil, bothering his sister, and the all important checking his loose tooth in the mirror. Stop laughing, I'm not exaggerating!!! LOL:)
On to last night... He sat down with his homework, wrote his name on the paper, figured out the pattern right away, drew in more of the pattern, and he was done in less than 10 minutes!! Woohoo!! I have hope that homework can go smoothly after all! The difference was (I think) that I hadn't just called him in from playing outside. In hindsight, I guess he's got to be ready - don't we all!!! He's a good boy.
Then, off to Back To School night at New Bridge Center! His teacher is SPECTACULAR! The school nurse is PHENOMENAL!!!!! We are so lucky to be in River Edge, where school is literally an extension of family. Jimmy is so at home there. Even the first day, there were no tears (not even from me!!) He kissed me goodbye, and ran to get on line! He told me after the first day, that the best thing about Kindergarten was: that his teacher is really pretty, and that he gets a sticker chart on which he already got 4 stickers!!!!! He's all about getting more so he can get to that all important prize box!!! He really does love it!
He also gets to pick a friend to take with him to test his blood glucose level. He's really opening up to the nurse, and even lets her look at his number with him! He always cups his hand over the meter, and even I'm not allowed to look!!!!! He's so cute, and we're so proud of him that he's adjusted so well!!!
So grateful for an wonderful school for my kids!
Unfortunately, Jimmy was up 1/2 the night complaining that his ear hurt. It's a little before 9 a.m. and he's still sound asleep (wish I was too!! :) I've got a 10:15 appointment for him this morning. He swam on Saturday, so perhaps it's another swimmer's ear infection - but he's also got a bit of runny nose thing going on, so we'll see. Poor guy. His blood glucose numbers have been high the past 2 days - I'm willing to bet it's due to whatever he's fighting off...
I think he might be finally waking up. I love watching him sleep - really I love just watching him!!!
Peace,
June
On to last night... He sat down with his homework, wrote his name on the paper, figured out the pattern right away, drew in more of the pattern, and he was done in less than 10 minutes!! Woohoo!! I have hope that homework can go smoothly after all! The difference was (I think) that I hadn't just called him in from playing outside. In hindsight, I guess he's got to be ready - don't we all!!! He's a good boy.
Then, off to Back To School night at New Bridge Center! His teacher is SPECTACULAR! The school nurse is PHENOMENAL!!!!! We are so lucky to be in River Edge, where school is literally an extension of family. Jimmy is so at home there. Even the first day, there were no tears (not even from me!!) He kissed me goodbye, and ran to get on line! He told me after the first day, that the best thing about Kindergarten was: that his teacher is really pretty, and that he gets a sticker chart on which he already got 4 stickers!!!!! He's all about getting more so he can get to that all important prize box!!! He really does love it!
He also gets to pick a friend to take with him to test his blood glucose level. He's really opening up to the nurse, and even lets her look at his number with him! He always cups his hand over the meter, and even I'm not allowed to look!!!!! He's so cute, and we're so proud of him that he's adjusted so well!!!
So grateful for an wonderful school for my kids!
Unfortunately, Jimmy was up 1/2 the night complaining that his ear hurt. It's a little before 9 a.m. and he's still sound asleep (wish I was too!! :) I've got a 10:15 appointment for him this morning. He swam on Saturday, so perhaps it's another swimmer's ear infection - but he's also got a bit of runny nose thing going on, so we'll see. Poor guy. His blood glucose numbers have been high the past 2 days - I'm willing to bet it's due to whatever he's fighting off...
I think he might be finally waking up. I love watching him sleep - really I love just watching him!!!
Peace,
June
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
:)
Jimmy is amazing - as we watched the beignning of America'a Got Talent, he told me that he wants to go on the show so he can win a million dollars to take care of diabetes. I love him so much! I'm so proud!!!!!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Where did the summer go????
Well, we survived the summer!!
Latest news is that we're at square one with injections... I really think it's time for the pump.
For the last 3 months, he's only wanted his injections in the backs of his arms (choices are arms, thighs, backs of hips and his belly.) It hurts the least in his arms according to him (although he's never tried anywhere except legs and arms.) Well, he's developed lumpy spots in the backs of the arms (common for injections in the same spot over time.) The trouble is that these lumps cause problems with the absorption of the insulin. He's been high a lot, so, we're now using the thighs. His numbers are much better the past couple of days...
I had to give him his first shot in the thigh the other day in my closet (his "safe" place - where we had dinner and I cried in April). We made a deal that for every shot in his thigh, he could give me a slug in my arm. Well, if you know Jimmy, you know that he's freakishly strong. My arms are both sore!! Only a small price to pay if it helps him feel better. It takes his mind off it and I make funny faces showing the pain of the punch and he thinks it's a riot!!
Wish I could take all the pain for him.
He's so afraid of the pump... He says when he's 6 he'll be ready for it. We'll See. I think in October we'll call the company. Evidently, they do an "in home" demonstration first. Turns out that the first week on the pump, you get only saline and use insulin injections simultaneously. Once you've gotten the hang of it, then insulin goes in the pump, and you're shot free!! It's only one injection to insert the pump "line" every 3 days. He's intrigued by the thought of that, but he says he's not ready yet. Jimmy always has to be coaxed into things until he's used to it. It will be interesting to see how the first day of Kindergarten on Tuesday goes!!!
He's excited about starting school. We've been there a few times, and hopefully there are no tears (except for mine:) on the first day!! He knows how to write his name (in all caps except for the "i"), he knows his address, phone number, & all his letters and numbers. He even can read numbers in the hundreds - thanks to his blood glucose meter - Jimmy is the only one allowed (according to him) to read the meter and then he announces it to the rest of us. I guess it's his control over the situation. It's actually quite cute how he secretly covers the meter so only he can read it! But he's really good at his numbers!!!
Jenna and I worked with him over the summer on "homework." He really liked it - especially connect the dots and match the letters with the pictures!! Jenna and I are confident he'll do well in Kindergarten - let's just hope he's able to stay in his seat! lol :)
With summer coming to an end, I just thought I'd list the things I've learned and some highlights from these past couple of months...
Latest news is that we're at square one with injections... I really think it's time for the pump.
For the last 3 months, he's only wanted his injections in the backs of his arms (choices are arms, thighs, backs of hips and his belly.) It hurts the least in his arms according to him (although he's never tried anywhere except legs and arms.) Well, he's developed lumpy spots in the backs of the arms (common for injections in the same spot over time.) The trouble is that these lumps cause problems with the absorption of the insulin. He's been high a lot, so, we're now using the thighs. His numbers are much better the past couple of days...
I had to give him his first shot in the thigh the other day in my closet (his "safe" place - where we had dinner and I cried in April). We made a deal that for every shot in his thigh, he could give me a slug in my arm. Well, if you know Jimmy, you know that he's freakishly strong. My arms are both sore!! Only a small price to pay if it helps him feel better. It takes his mind off it and I make funny faces showing the pain of the punch and he thinks it's a riot!!
Wish I could take all the pain for him.
He's so afraid of the pump... He says when he's 6 he'll be ready for it. We'll See. I think in October we'll call the company. Evidently, they do an "in home" demonstration first. Turns out that the first week on the pump, you get only saline and use insulin injections simultaneously. Once you've gotten the hang of it, then insulin goes in the pump, and you're shot free!! It's only one injection to insert the pump "line" every 3 days. He's intrigued by the thought of that, but he says he's not ready yet. Jimmy always has to be coaxed into things until he's used to it. It will be interesting to see how the first day of Kindergarten on Tuesday goes!!!
He's excited about starting school. We've been there a few times, and hopefully there are no tears (except for mine:) on the first day!! He knows how to write his name (in all caps except for the "i"), he knows his address, phone number, & all his letters and numbers. He even can read numbers in the hundreds - thanks to his blood glucose meter - Jimmy is the only one allowed (according to him) to read the meter and then he announces it to the rest of us. I guess it's his control over the situation. It's actually quite cute how he secretly covers the meter so only he can read it! But he's really good at his numbers!!!
Jenna and I worked with him over the summer on "homework." He really liked it - especially connect the dots and match the letters with the pictures!! Jenna and I are confident he'll do well in Kindergarten - let's just hope he's able to stay in his seat! lol :)
With summer coming to an end, I just thought I'd list the things I've learned and some highlights from these past couple of months...
- heat makes him go high. air conditioning is a good thing
- swimming makes him go low without even knowing it - came out of the pool once and wanted a snack, so he tested himself and was a 43!!!!! Normally at a 60 he can feel low!
- he likes roller coasters! I'm still afraid!
- he's tall enough for ALL of the rides on the boardwalk!!! at 5 years old!! who knew!!!
- there ARE carbs in sprinkles - you'd think it was nominal, but it's at least 15!!
- digging "to China" (as Jimmy calls it) on the beach counts as major exercise!
- ice cream on the beach is a good thing!
- "meatballs" on the beach are wet sand mushed into a ball - they made millions!!
- must rotate injection sites!!
- must keep an ice pack in his "kit" in the heat!
- lymph nodes can last for months (his large ones are shrinking finally, but still there - evidently we always have them, and they're not a problem unless they don't go away!)
- his "sizable" arachnoid cyst is "nothing to worry about" (yeah, right). We just have to worry about if/when he has constant headaches, throwing up, dizziness, etc...
- a bagel can be anywhere from 35-55 carbs!!! some Type 1 kids don't even eat them anymore!!
- it takes 30 minutes for numbing gel to work before you get stitches (shin meets escalator step)
- swimmers ear is not a good thing (both kids had it!)
- must always wear a bright colored bathing suit - swim club isn't that big, but if I can't find him, he's on wiffleball court with the older kids! easier to locate with his fire red suit on!!!
- successful swim lessons - he can swim in the 5 feet!!!!!
- Jimmy's a good boy, and Jenna is a huge help!
Ok, ready for school. I know he'll do well! His teachers and nurse are truly wonderful and have been preparing for him since June! We are so lucky to be in River Edge with so many caring and helpful people!!
He's off for his school hair cut now!!!
Peace,
June
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)