I'm alive, and Frances is adorable

I wouldn't want anyone to worry over the weekend, and you probably aren't anyway, but just in case: my doctor kindly provided me with a few cartridges of fast-acting and long-acting insulin and two insulin pens for free, leaving me with only the cost of the pen needles to shill out for, and I have been insulined since about 11:00 yesterday morning. No comas for me! Hurrah!

Of course, it's not working as well as the pump. I woke up today at 11.8 (normal is 4-6) because I was afraid to give myself a correction bolus with the pen last night, not knowing how well the doctor had estimated the basal pen dose. And it's weird to have to be in the mindset of poking myself in the stomach again whenever I want to eat anything. And not being able to dial up portions of units, only whole ones. And just generally feeling like I have no idea what's going on in there, again.

But the strangest is not having anything in my pockets, and no tubing hanging out anywhere. Nothing to struggle with when I stand up and sit down. No sensitive site to pat carefully when it catches on the waistband of my jeans, to make sure it's still attached. If you're not a pumper or using some kind of medical device, this probably doesn't make any sense. But I am so used to being attached to that small, blue, pager-like device (which recently was mistaken for an iPod--a new one for me) that to not have anything attached is ... both strange, and freeing.

The loaner's not going to show up until Monday. I intend to enjoy my pump vacation this weekend and milk it for all its worth. I might even wear something without pockets! Watch out, world.

It's like: Hey, did I leave my arm at home? Woohoo! I hated that arm anyway.

Weird.

Anyway, I'm alive, I'm going to stay alive.

But can I just bitch a little bit more about minimed? Sure I can. It's my blog, it's made for bitching. After getting the loaner form madness straightened out yesterday, I started calling around or filling in online forms to get information packages on different kinds of pumps mailed to me. The only online form that didn't work? Minimed's--it scolded me about not filling in my doctor's first and last name, even though I had, and even though they weren't marked as mandatory fields. And what happened when I called them, you ask? ("No, I didn't ask, Andrea, and shut up about this boring pump stuff already.") The lady took my name and phone number, refused to take my address, and told me that someone would call me back shortly with my information package. This made absolutely no sense, but I gave it a few hours, and sure enough, no phonecall. When I called back later, the man who answered the phone didn't understand it either: "She didn't take your address? She wouldn't let you give her your address? Oh. Well. Why don't you give me your address, and I'll send you an information package." Anyone want to bet on whether or not it shows up?

On to more interesting subjects, and the reason all of you show up on Fridays: Frances.

As we've been spending more time outside, we've been around more dogs. This is the suburbs, there are dogs; many of them bark. I don't want her to grow up afraid of barking dogs, so whenever we hear one, I translate: "What do you think that dog is saying? Is he saying, hello! Hello! Come over and play with me!" "Yeah!" says Frances. And she has taken this message to heart. Now whenever we hear a dog barking, she'll say to me, "Is that dog saying, Hello! Come and play with me! He is, Mummy. I want to go play with him. Can we go to the doggy's backyard?"

And then I have to explain property rights.

She is also thrilled with short sleeves, and for reasons long-term readers will be familiar with:

"Mummy, you're wearing short sleeves just like I'm wearing short sleeves."

"Yes, I am."

"I can see your mole!"

"Umm...yes. Yes, that's true."

"Can I hug it?"

"Ok. Yes. I suppose so."

"Awww, cute little baby mole!"

"Umm...."

"I LOVE my baby mole! I really love it!"

"I see."

"It's so cuuuuute! Aww! Cute little baby mole!"

I sigh.

"What beautiful big eyes it has."

"I'm sorry? It has eyes?"

"Yes. Beautiful big eyes."

And what can I say to that?

Posted by Andrea at March 30, 2007 7:30 AM under Frances Friday , Pins and Needles

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