Monday, June 3, 2013

Packing up and Letting Go

Grace's 5th grade class goes on a trip, annually to an Outdoor School. The true old kind of outdoor school, with bunk beds in open cabins that close with flaps, outdoor bathrooms, showers in your bathing suits, mess halls, boat rides on the Chesapeake Bay, working on a farm, walks through the swamp and cooking hotdogs on a beach campfire. It's a tradition that dates backs 40 years. EVERY 5th grader goes on the trip, it's a right of passage to do it.



This week is Grace's week.

And I have been so very excited that she is going, and as a Type 1 D-Mama, sort of dreading it. Well, you know, I have only been planning for it since September, let alone the planning in my head that has gone on since she was in 1st grade. She has an excellent nurse going with her - the sub nurse she has had for 5 years at school. He is an RN in the ICU of a city hospital. If there is anyone to handle anything under pressure, it's him. I trust him with her. I still spent almost two hours at my dining room table with him this past Saturday morning, giving him the lowdown on pump settings, temp basals, carb doses and the like.

I think I am ready.

Grace has been ready since the start of 5th grade.

'Mom, I will be fine.' 'Yes, Mom, it's all going to be OK.' 'Mom, I have going to have a blast.' and as always, she is the one reassuring me, my 10 year old packed into a 35 year old's body, that all will be well.

I've packed it all. All of what someone needs to take care of Grace for five straight days need. We have planned on pump failure, occlusions, extra syringes even though she is on the pump, the name of the nearest hospital and how to get there, the doctor on call for the outdoor school, you name it, we have a plan for it. And just because I have a plan for everything, everything will go splendidly, isn't that how it's supposed to work?!



I have packed:

OmniPods - (7 for 5 days, even though she changes sets every 3 days)
Novolog
Lantus
syringes
glucagon - 2
medical waste containers - 2
Unisolve
SkinTac
SkinPrep
Carb counting book
GlucoLift
extra batteries
alcohol pads
extra lancing device
extra meter that works with Freestyle strips
Freestyle strips
ketone meter and ketone strips
Flexifix tape
Dexcom charger
Dexcom case
clear skins that can tape over the Pod and CGM transmitter should she walk through the swamp

And I still think I forgot stuff.

Then comes the low treatment boxes, one for the nurse's cabin and one for her cabin. Juices, granola bars and fruit snacks.



She will have a blast. She will be safe and well cared for, I know it. She will come back with the same memories that her sisters have of doing this, of going through the right of passage. Collective memory, it's something to behold. 

I have packed it. I have blessed it. I have done everything so she will be ready to take D along for the ride.

Have fun, sweetie.






10 comments:

Colleen said...

Can't wait to hear all about it.

Jennifer said...

This trip is the best. She will love it. I still love it 18 years after I went, and want to go again. Have fun, Grace!

Denise aka Mom of Bean said...

Wow! What an awesome experience for her. I am excited and worried right along with you!!
That's great that you were able to spend time with the nurse and that he already has a 'relationship' with Grace...huge!

Sara said...

At my school it was 6th grade and it was Rawhide Ranch. And it was in *cough* 1993. I bet when she thinks back on it she will remember all the fun time with her friends and barely remember diabetes came along for the ride... because of you!! :D

Scott K. Johnson said...

Oh how FUN! She is going to have an absolute blast. And I love Sara's line about her having so many non-d memories because of all the work you've done.

I can't wait to hear all about it!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I'm happy for you that you planned so well and let her go. I'm happy for her that she is confident in her ability to care for herself. Great that she has a good nurse to go along. This is so much more a milestone and a right of passage for her..the transition from a d-kid to a person with diabetes (not rushing it...just a first step in the process!) Really great:)

suriyasaravana1881@gmail.com said...

Hi, probably our entry may be off topic but anyways, I have been surfing around your blog and it looks very professional. It’s obvious you know your topic and you

appear fervent about it. I’m developing a fresh blog plus I’m struggling to make it look good, as well as offer the best quality content. I have learned much at your

web site and also I anticipate alot more articles and will be coming back soon. Thanks you.
















Medical Waste Containers

Unknown said...

Holy COW! If anyone could plan for and execute this it is you and Grace. How did it go?

Cannot believe she is going into 6th grade next year btw.

Unknown said...

As a mother of a diabetic child, I also experience panic whenever my child goes on a school trip. I was especially nervous when my daughter went on a camping trip last year. I made sure she had all of her diabetic medical supplies neatly packed away in her bag. I was soothed when she came back and had a great time without any problems!

k2 said...

YOU BOTH ROCK!!!