Counting the hypos

Since I've changed my infusion set to my legs the hypos are back. I class one as below 3.6 I think. Since a week ago I have had 4/5 . Luckily not to bad but the lowest has been 2.7 yesterday . I felt ok but I suppose it could be worse. At the moment I am nearly getting one a day but only between 3.2- 3.6 so not to bad. I'm hoping in the two weeks I am away from the clinic this number isn't too silly.im guessing one a day for now but nothing major as its part of my day now and unless its under 3 I normally don't feel to bad but obviously its not doing good to my body .
The things that need to be done at next clinic appointment are,
Change carb ratio.
Put in more basal rates .
What I want to achieve before clinic,
Not have too many hypos.
Stay away from highs.
Check blood at 3am every other day to see if I'm dropping in the night.
I'm hoping by next appointment things will have settled down. I would like to try the sensor again and see if it picks up anything.
So count so far in one week is 5 x

just a moan

Today was d-day for my monitor to come off and I was looking forward to the results. But guess what it didn't work. I am so determined to get my diabetes right but I just don't know what to do for the best. My sugars are so up and down I just wish it would stay stable.
Since sunday I changed my infusion set to my legs as advice off my diabetic nurse. Things seem better but the odd hypo is creeping in and I'm forever correcting the highs. I wish it was easier i really do. 
So in two weeks i want minimal hypos and not so much insulin. I don't want to give up but If there was a simple diet to follow I would.  Some days I wish i could just skip the food just to find the right balance.
I really wish other people would know what its like. I feel im forever going on about it to my friends but I know they would see and hear that im well rather than me hide it away and get ill when I hypo.
I could do with a good cry but It wont achieve anything.
faye xx

Cgm day 4

Since changing my infusion site to my legs my sugars have been a lot better. I wonder if this was causing my highs . Hopefully the cgm has been working and i can see some patterns when I go back Thursday. I hope it will help.
I'm not expecting a good hba1c as these last 4 weeks have been horrible , . I'm just glad I've had no ketones x

Day 2 of cgm

I was starting to panic this morning that my bloods were going to be perfect. A perfect 5 but as soon I are and had insulin my sugars spiked and there was no real reason for it to go so high . Finally lunch time perfect 8 again but 2hrs later and back up to 31. I'm taking the right amount if insulin so how knows what is happening ??
The sensor is starting to itch , I really hope it's working as i haven't a clue what's next , just don't want to the stupid hypos anymore . Everything I have eaten or done is written down so role on next Thursday.
Oh and I'm getting a tattoo of the old diabetes sign on my wrist . I carry a medical card around but i want something that can be seen xx
Faye x

24/7 glucose testing

I have been having quite a few problems with my diabetes at the moment and have now had to have a blind sensor fitted. The sensor automatically takes glucose readings to try and find out where I am going wrong with my insulin. I will have this on for a week and hoping to get some answers. 

My diabetic nurse was surprised i hadn't suffered any keytonnes as my sugars are all over the place mainly high but I'm glad I haven't had them as being admitted to hospital wouldn't be very good.

Im hoping this provides answers as I'm now feeling I would prefer the lows but just want to get it right. I wish there was someone to ask about this and if its still working just got to carry on as normal and hope for the best. Im writting everything down so I dont forget anything as my memory is rubbish at the moment. Wish me luck xx

Faye.

A bit of recycling

So I've been through my clothes and decided some I'm not going to wear mainly because they are too small in size for me now . What better than create some things for esmae.
My first project is a prett dress from a strappy top. I'm hoping I have some left over fabric to make a matching headband.
I've only cut out the front and back with straps at the moment and will see tomorrow. Here's the what I've done so far, 1 is fabric I've used and the other is how I've created my pattern . Update to follow xx

What the next stage??

Today's appointment at the diabetes clinic didn't really change much . All that's been done is how much insulin I have for carbs. Instead of 1:14 for carbs I'm now having 1:10. It doesn't seem a lot but I'm hoping it will change some things. I've got to also check my blood after meals. So going to back what I did when I was pregnant.
I've also been looking at coeliac disease again and thinking I might speak to the diabetic nurse to see if a/ there's a possibility I could have it and b/ what does it mean to my control over diabetes .
I'm really trying my hardest at the moment with it but just wish there was a simple way to get it right.
With the tiredness and highs its getting me a little down. I wake up feeling drained and don't have the energy to get up then when I do my sugars are high .
So another 7 days to the next stage and answers maybe.
If anyone who is reading this has similar stories please feel free to leave me a comment . As much as I can tell people about my struggles its good to here from other diabetics and I would love to hear from people with coeliac to .
Lets hope something changes :-)
Xx faye

1 for me and one for caleb.

We have to appointments this week and as the tittle said they are for me and caleb.
Todays is for caleb to see the audiologist to check out Caleb's hearing. Im hoping we get some answers today . I hope caleb doesn't get to scared and suddenly tantrum as Im braving the appointment on my own without steve being outside for back up. I really need to do things by myself so hopefully today will go ok.
If asked I need to mention,

• numerous ear infections.
• can be clumsy and tends to fall over.
• shouts quite a lot but could be just him trying to let me know he's in the room ha ha.
• Has started to cover ears for loud noises.

Lets hope it goes ok and we find out some answers to the following.

Tomorrows appointment is for me. My Diabetes is a mess at the moment but i have only had 2 or 3 hypos and nothing too serious. The last week it has mainly been high and my insulin pump has been constantly correcting them. I really hope it settles down after some changed basal rates but I am really fed up of it now and just want it gone .

faye xx

October Plans

This month seems full again and we are near enough half way through the month. So what have we got planned,

• caleb has his hearing test wed 24th.
• Trying to tidy up flat so when we come to sell it will look presentable.
• we are currently weaning esmae, so would like to go from 1 meal a day to 2 in a few weeks
• Trying to save as much money as we can for a deposit.
• buying birthday/xmas presents. cant believe caleb will soon be 3.

Im also starting a bit of crocheting so would love to be able to do a cardigan for esmae. still can only do headbands . Did try a hat but was bulky and didn't fit properly.

I also want to try and get a stash of sewing items I have made and try and sell them to help us raise our house funds. My dream would be my own shop once the kids are in school but for the time being its just word of mouth and I sell them ok this way to.

I really need to stay on top of my blog, hopefully soon I will get some followers and makes some new friends  xx

Heres some photos of esmae and caleb to keep you updated xx

me vs diabetes

Im currently struggling with my diabetes. I was doing ok then out of the blue I had a 1.7 hypo and I just went blank. It seems my new symptom is memory loss. Its not a very good one, luckily when I have had a hypo I have been at home or at least with steve.
Luckily I managed to get into the hospital to see the diabetic nurse. He saw straight away i was hypoing then rebounding which went into highs. We have halved my insulin but now I'm struggling with highs which isn't nice either.
I wish there was a simple cure or something to steady my levels but I think no matter what its going to be a constant battle. Im back on thursday and hopefully get more of a result and we will yet again change my insulin rates.
I cant even just leave it high as it makes me feel so crap and plus it can leads to complications and to be honest even though I dint care in y teenager years , I now want it right but its such a pain.
Fingers crossed thursday we sort it out.

Finally some answers

A month a go caleb had an ear infection and we actually had a dr that listened. I've been backwards and forwards with his and no luck. The dr said to make an appointment and today was the day to see him again.
Looks like the left ear is still bunged with fluid.
He is referring us to get caleb a hearing test in a few weeks then see him in 6-8 from today to see if there is any problems . If there isn't any and his ear is still bunged up we will then see ent at the hospital for furrier tests z I'm really happy that finally we are getting somewhere and if there is nothing wrong I can stop panicking . I do think there is something wrong .

Growth spurt and the wonder weeks.

I am thinking esmae is on a growth spurt. We are currently on 200 ml bottles and still on going 3hrs between them.
Todays pattern will be something like this.

• 6am
• 9am
• 12/1pm
• 4pm
• 7/8pm then this will be it till about 5/6. So she is still getting 5 bottles a day but just a lot of milk.

One my friends mentioned the wonder weeks and looking at it , it makes a lot of sense. If we go by esmaes due date she would be 16 weeks today and the chart points out a fussy week.

Afternoons are the worst at the moment. I just cant seem to be able to put her down with out her screaming . Im hoping after these few weeks we will be back to normal.

Caleb was such a different baby , so calm and didn't want all the attention. This time around its hard due to expressing to as I need to fit it around when she is asleep or playing.

Esmae is doing great I cant believe the difference since she was first born.

Baby clinic wednesday so Im hoping for a good weight x faye x

Loosing supply :-(

I have cut down to pumping only 5x a day and my supply is getting low which I need to get back up. I currently have 2 freezer drawers full maybe 60 bags between 100-200ml but I am so scared of it slowly disappearing. I used to be able to do a full days worth of milk and put some in the freezer at the end of the day but now I'm using 2 bags each days without freezing any.
Exclusively pumping is hard work and I am over the moon we have reached 4 months and plan on continuing . It just takes so much time off the day and sometimes feel like giving up.
My current schedule for pumping is,

• when I wake so 8am
• 11am
• 3pm
• 7pm
• 10 pm.

I am going to alter it to,

• 3/4am
• when I wake up.
• 10/11
• 2pm
• 5pm
• 10pm

Im hoping this will help. I know we are coming up to weaning soon I just want to make sure I have enough for when I go back to work in january. I dont mind using frozen for home but when my parent have esmae on the saturday I want to give them fresh as it lasts longer out. 

So my plan is to squeeze one more pumping session in. Even if I can just get closer to 30 oz I will be happy.

Update.
I made it to end boxing day and slowly started decreasing my sessions. I was so happy I made it to 7 months. I would definitely do it again as it was such an achievement :-)

Crotchet head band

So after many attempts at crocheting I think I'm getting somewhere . I struggle once I start a new chain and loose the plot . Just need to learn how to do flowers now and think I will be able to make esmae quite a range of headbands :-). Here's esmae modelling my first success and a photo of the end product .

Im enjoying crocheting at the moment and have just finished another band for my friend. Once I have got my new needle and sewn on the flower I will update with the finished product x

Weight watchers

I joined weight watchers 2yrs ago and managed to loose about just over a stone so I plan on starting it again.
I tried dieting a few months ago but didn't stick to and managed to get back to over my pre pregnancy weight so now I think I am 12st 7 so really need to shift 2 st if I can. 
I am still expressing so need to find out home many points I can have a day and successfully loose the weight. Im going to do it at home and not go to classes as I would rather use the £5 towards fruit and free foods, I just need to stick to it.
So these are my goals.

• trying and eat free foods when im feeling hungry so I dont use my points up quickly.
• Plan a day ahead so i have something to follow.
• Use small point value foods for breakfast and dinner so If i have a big meal at tea it wont go over my points.
• Do zumba at least twice a week to tone down.
• loose 1-2lb a week.
• Weigh in will be mondays, need to get some new scales. Payday friday so thats on my list a long with free foods for the cupboards.

I am going to use my sewing/crocheting to sway me away from eating crappy foods.

Wish me luck, lets hope by Christmas I will have lost 1st and looking slimmer . Once I feel a bit better with my shape I will start some before and after pics.

Off to find how many points I can have. Will try and post regular about it and do a monday post on how well I am doing. x faye x

My daily points is 35 lets hope I can use them all x

Selling my crafts.

I have done it before to friends and family and now I want to do it again but this time stick at it. I work part time any way but would love to be able to sell my creations. I love my bibs and there what I'm best at the moment. Im trying to crotchet head bands but need a lot more practice if they go on my list.
So what shall I put on my list that is easy to so and wont take too much night time when steve has gone to work.
This is what i think so far,

• Dribble bibs
• loose cotton trousers.
• baby legs, these are pretty simple and nice for summer months or lazy days in.
• head bands once perfected.
• travel changing mats.
• baby quilt style blankets.

I really do get a sense of achievement once I have completed something just wish I had a bit more confidence with the finished product.

Im going to make some dribble bibs for starters and get a stock pile up so I can just pop them in the post when someone wants them.

In the future I would love a shop for my creations, maybe once we have a house and money is settled I might look into it.

Thomas Land

We have been saying we would go for ages and we finally did .
We also too Steves mom so we could pop on the rides. I had been checking the weather all week and booked the tickets saturday so hoping we had no rain.
It took about 1hr to get there after 1 bus, 2 trains and 1 taxi.
As soon as we got there , steve took his mom on the buffalo which was quite funny. G force was next and poor steve looked yellow this was the last big ride for him. Steve took his mom on storm force as i didnt fancy getting wet. By this time caleb was getting fed up so we went and grabbed lunch the headed to thomas land.
Caleb loved it. we went on,

• Harold's Helicopter Tours
• Rocking Bulstrode
• Sodor Classic Cars- we ended up on this ride 5 times because he just wanted to keep on it.
• spencers Outdoor Play Area
• Lady's Carousel 

Caleb was shattered on the train back but had a fab day.

Heres some photos.

 

 

 

 

 
 

Poor caleb :-(

Ever since caleb was little he has always had problems with his ears and we have been backwards and forwards with them. We ended up in hospital last month because of an ear infection and had 10 days of antibiotics . Well now we have another weeks worth :-(
I really feel for him as barring his tantrums I do think there is something up with his ears. The dr who seen him wants us back in 4 weeks to check the fluid. I think even if it has still gone down I might ask to be referred as I just want him to get the all clear.
I hate going to the drs and always feel i am the silly mom always there but they say moms know best well lets hope so. I just cant believe in a matter of a month caleb has another ear infection.
From what I saw the dr wrote something about glue ear, the dr did mention something about hearing test. I really hope we will have a better year next year and wont have as many hospital/dr appointments. I am starting to feel bad I wasn't able to express for caleb but I cant change the past and can only do the best I can for him just hope expressing for esmae will help her against bugs and other stuff to.
Caleb may wind me up sometimes but I hate to see him holding his ears or telling me everything is too loud. Lets hope the next appointment with the dr we will get some answers xx

I love my monster :-)

Reusable breast-pad tutorial

I wanted to show you how simple these are to make.
I wanted to make these so I didnt have to keep buying disposable ones and can just pop them in the wash.
You will need ,

• Fleece fabric
• An absorbant fabric for layers.Flannelette is good. I used an old cot bed sheet and they are soft on your skin.
• a circle template. I used a spare disposable breast pad which was   5" in diameter.

Instructions-

• Cut out your fabric circles. You will need 2x fleece and 8x fabric of choice for main layers.

•  Use 4 of your flannelette fabric and place onto your fleece layer. Sew around the circle, this will place all the layers together.

•  once this is done you can cut around the sewn pads to tidy them up. Im not too good with the zig zag stitch but to neaten the outside of pads you go around the edge of pads to stop fabric fraying and make it look better.

This a pair just sewn once without the zig zag edging. These are great and so cheap to make. I tend to have 2 pairs for the day and have had no leaks so far.

new fabric.

I have just bought some new fabric and just waiting for it to come. Some come today and I am delighted with it. These will be used for bandana bibs. They are so easy to make.
I will put up a tutorial on how I do it when I cut out the next lot.
I also bought some curtains that were in the sale and planning on using it for Caleb's bed quilt cover. I don't tend to buy patterns i tend to look at something and put it together as I go along.
Will cut out my bibs later :-)

A busy day .

Today was esmaes hip scan and 2nd lot of jabs.
The hip scan was fine and we dont need to return so thats good news.No more panicking. On the afternoon was jabs and I was hoping for Caleb to fall asleep but had no luck so whilst waiting he had a tantrum and was keeping me busy. 
Esmae now weighs 12lb 12 oz and gaining nicely. I think she is following her own line. I dont really like getting her weighed as I was always feel if she hasn't put on enough the health visitors seem to have one thousand and one questions to why she is putting on the right amount of weight. As long as she is eating, sleeping and smiling I'm happy with that. It really annoys me sometimes as you are made to feel so bad at baby clinic. Jabs went as well as they could with a few tears but its to be expected.
On the way home I felt my sugars dropping so stopped my pump. lucky really as by the time I was home and fed esmae it could of been a lot worse. Im trying my damn hardest at the moment with my sugars but the hypos are coming so often.
Im still expressing and its very time consuming and there has been many times I could stop but I keep going and really think I will only pump 3 times a day after 6 months. I am proud I can still feed esmae but the hypos really take it out of me.
Really need to get some pretty pink fabric like gingham and stripes. I have 2 bibs cut out, felt name ready to be sewn on fabric and need to start on it soon as the party is on the 23rd, Im going to start doing step by step for my makings so I can add to my tutorial page.
Hoping soon I will get some followers. xx

Today's to do !

I'm really hoping the sewing machine works tonight. I had to turn it off last night as it was starting to frustrate me and I wanted to throw it up the wall. 
Once the kids are napping I am going to start some cutting out so I'm ahead of myself. I have just cut some squares of calebs old tops and making a quilt panel to sew onto a quilt.
I also want to cut some triangles for some bunting as its a friends daughters birthday. I really need to finish my friends baby box as it is no where near finished . I have some fabric due to will cut the fkeece bib backing so it's ready. I also have some squares so want to make a pram blanket to so best start cracking .
Faye x 

Dealing with diabetes

I had hospital appointment on thursday and it didn't go to bad. I wish Caleb hadn't of been with me as he was constantly on the go and the things I wanted to ask I never did.
Fingers crossed next appointment will be in jan/feb so caleb will be in morning nursery so it will just be me and esmae.
The dr was pleased with my progress and wanted to actually work with me to get it right. He didn't seem to happy with the amount of hypos and that is one of the main things that needs sorting. The dr gave me some things to do before next appointment they are,

• check blood at 3am every 3rd day to see if blood sugar is dropping in the night.
• told me I have to have toast before bed, I hate this but really must as steve works nights.
• Find out what 60g of carbs is for rice,bread, pasta and potato so I can stick to it for meal times.

Throughout my pregnancy I always had my eyes watched closely and in july I was discharged. When I told the dr and he looked at my eye photos he didn't look to pleased and is going to chase the eye infirmary up as he isn't pleased with their decision . So lets wait for the next eye appointment.

The one thing that intrigued me with the dr was he mentioned about coeliac disease with hypos. I previously was a coeliac when i was little. I mentioned this and he is getting me re-screened for it again. I don't think it will come back as a yes I just think with my constant hypos its something i have to deal with.

So after 15yrs of having diabetes I still havent got it right and still want it to go away.

Viewing a Venue.

We are off to a venue today for the meal venue. Its at our home town football grounds. Im dreading cost its going to be so much. I hope it isn't too much. I dont want to go into marriage with a big debt.
Im hoping for a family meal after the wedding but be are going to ask about the cost of the wedding to and maybe a disco with buffet after if it works out in any cheaper.
I think i have found my wedding dress just need to loose some weight now so i don't look as frumpy.

Just need to sort everything else out :-)

Todays to do list.

I finally got round to sorting the dinner table out. It's normally filled with all my craft stuff. So I bought a new storage drawer and set it up .
Once Steve has gone to work and esmae is asleep I will get started . Tonight I have 10 bibs to sew and 4 reusable nappy inserts to sew. The bibs I will just do the first lot of sewing them tomorrow i will do the top layer plus press stud fastenings . The nappy inserts don't need to be perfect as they will just be for home.
On the next to do list I need to,
- a girlie blanket for my friends baby box.
- more reusable breast pads for friends baby box.
- need to cut out fabric letters for next lot of photo frames ready to sell on my Facebook page.
Please let me know what you think.
Here is some photos of today's to do list and my photo frame for my friends baby box.

sunday sewing.

Today I made esmae some tights and bandana bibs. I love the bibs they are so pretty and once teething kicks in they are very practical.
Tights are pretty simple to make to. I used a pair for the cost of £1 and they look nearly as good as shop bought. I got given a pack of tights but they are so expensive in the shops so couldn't believe how simple they were to make.
I am doing 10 bibs for a friend so have fleece cut out just to cut the fronts out. I'm using same pattern fabric just 1 lot is blue and the other pink .

It's rebooked !!!!

So we changed our original wedding date as it would be happening in 2 months time yet we hadn't even planned anything ha ha.
Our new day is 15.6.13 @ 2pm. I am feeling better about it that other half came to church with me so I feel he actual wants to get married :-). Except for the blog and close friends we are keeping it quiet until January just to get things sorted. I need to start ailing venues for a meal after the church for just family and some close friends.
I will be starting my diet properly in January to . I'm going to try and cut out junk and eat more fruit and fry and loose some weight but not doing it as strict. I plan on being a size 12 and would love to be 12 on the day. The wedding won't be too big just church for friends and family then the meal . The plan then is to go away on the monday to Weymouth.
I'm excited now can wait to start buying. We aren't spending too much as we don't have a big budget.wish me luck.
Soon to be mrs watts x x

Crafty Thursday

I had a bit of a mad craft day thursday and thought I would upload some pictures.
I made,

 * Chocolates
 * Photo Frame 
 * New basket for pushchair

The Chocolates were pretty easy to make. I bought some coloured chocolate plus some ordinary chocolate to. I also bought some smarties and coloured sprinkles. I had a look in our hobby craft but didn't find any moulds I liked but found a butterfly one on offer so picked it up. I went to the shop next door and picked up a cake mould and used this.
I sprinkled the sprinkles on the bottom of the mould. We didn't have a glass bowl to melt chocolate over the pan so used the microwave instead. Once in the microwave I set the timer for a few minuits and stirred the chocolate every 30 secs. When I was happy with the melted chocolate I place the chocolate into the moulds. The moulds went into the fridge to set. You can buy quick set chocolate or shop chocolate, whatever you fancy will be fine.
If its normal chocolate it might take a bit longer in the fridge to set but it still has the same finished look.
Heres some photos.

I am thinking of making some for Christmas as presents from the kids. With jars and a pretty label I think they will look fab. I might also try flavourings to add to the chocolate.

Photo frame.

Here is a photo of my finished photo frame I made. Heres a link so you can make it yourself if you like. :-D

My last craft of the day was a new basket for the pushchair. With the double pushchair caleb is at the back of the pushchair and the basket isn't very practical for both shopping or feet. I used cardboard for the inside of baskets cover to add strength to hold feet. If you want to know how I made it please leave a comment and I will update .
I havent tested it out yet but Im hoping it will be ok just for making sure Caleb's feet don't scrape on the floor.

Thanks for reading. xx