Walking home

Grace has wanted to walk home from school since first grade. First. Grade. She's in 5th now, and my promise all along has been, the same as her sister's was, that in 5th grade, she could walk home from school. You should know that all my kids are walkers - to Elementary, Middle School and High School. Yep, no bus. Ever. Pennsylvania state law says that if you live less than 1.5 miles from school, you walk. Guess where we live? About 1.3 miles from the schools. So, we walk.

So, in the past, we have walked home together from school, and on occasion, we have walked to school together, but for the most part, she jumps in the care and I let her off at school. It's the price you pay for being the third child and last out of the house for school each morning. By the time I am up and sending the other two to High School, the care seems very easy. So, the care it is.

This is the year for walking. She walked home last Thursday, with another friend who lives in the next block, who always walks home. She had two conditions for walking home  - one, she had to test at 3:15 PM, when she got out of school, and if she was below 120, she should have a snack or a juice. Two, she was to text me when she left school and when she arrived home.

So I alerted her teacher and the nurse via email:

Hi,

Grace has wanted to walk home since, well, first grade. Sometimes I have met her at school and we have walked to and from school together. We live just off G..... Rd., and the walk is about 10-15 minutes. Well, I have finally succumbed and told her she could walk in 5th grade, so it's here!

Grace is going to walk home tomorrow, Thursday, with her friend and our next-block neighbor. She walks every day. They plan to meet right outside the red line doors, her normal exit doors, and walk together. She knows Grace well, as they were in R....'s class last year together too.

Grace has a couple requirements. She MUST test at 3 pm, and if she is under about 120, needs to have a juice. She also needs to text me when she leaves school. She has her cell phone with her (at home, when she plays with a neighbor or leaves the house, she has a phone to always contact us).

I just wanted to let you two know what's happening. Grace is growing up and she wants to be independent. I have to let her do things that others would do at her age, regardless of diabetes. I feel she's prepared, she knows what to do and not do, and she is with a friend. Let the walking, every once in a while, begin! :0)

Thanks,

Penny

And she did it both. She checked her BG and was 132, so no juice or snack before she came home. And she texted me. 'On my way home. Love you.' Simple and concise. And when she got there. 'Home now. Love you.'

Walking home, as simple as it sounds, check this one off our list.

38 at school. I rock.

38 at school today. Her first full day of 5th grade.

I rock, don't I?

Would you like to know why she had a low of 38?

Here goes. And I take full responsibility for the foolishness that is to follow.

Grace now eats lunch at 11 AM in 5th grade. Last year she ate at 11:45 AM, in 4th. Her breakfast I:C ratio runs from 5:30 AM - 11 AM and is set at 1:10. Her lunch ratio runs from 11 AM - 4 PM and is set at 1:18.

Do you see where this is headed?

I forgot to roll back the I:C ratio to accommodate an earlier lunch.

So, the PDM of her OmniPod dosed her for a 42g lunch, with a BG of 124.

Dosed her 5.15 units.

Cause she tested her BG at 10:55 AM for her 5th grade lunch. Of course she did.

She should of gotten about 3.5 units, give or take. That's close to 2 more units than she should have.

Thus, the 38, 3 hours after lunch.

Two juices and a snack and back to 115.

I think I'm gonna go accept the Mother of the Year award now.

God, I hope it's gold.

Meri and Ryan Schuhmacher

My DOC sister-friend, Meri, lost her beloved husband, Ryan, On September 2, 2012. Ryan had bravely and valiantly fought cancer. His battle is over. Meri and the boys, who loved this father and husband like no other, were with him, by the grace of God.

My heart goes out to my friend, and I hope she feels the love of the DOC surround her and hold her at this time.

If you care to support Meri and the boys at this time, please consider giving to the Schuhmacher Family Miracle.

All the love in the world to you, Meri.