Dexcom: 1st Grader

Around 9 am, I sat down at the computer to create a poster sized collage using the CGM pics I collected from the DOC.  I was excited to see them all together on one big page, and started the upload process smiling from ear to ear with anticipation.

But then one upload failed.  And another.

And a scattered few more.

And I logged out.

Logged in.

Started over.

Tried again.

I was running out of time.  I needed to have it done by 12:40 since I was scheduled to talk to all the 1st graders at Sugar's school, and help to answer their questions about "that funny looking thing" they see on her arm from time to time.

Eventually I decided I'd have to settle with what I could get uploaded and move on.

So I created my collage, and paid online.

As I was scheduling my pick up, I realized that I couldn't mosey up to the store closest to me.  I'd have to drive about 30 minutes instead.

A quick glance at the clock revealed that I'd need to pack up the 3 preschoolers in my care, throw together bagged lunches for them, and have them eat on the way to the store.  If every light, road project, and speed limit sign cooperated, I had enough time to make it there and back without a second to spare.

So off we went!

AND....when I got there, they didn't have the order.

Great.

I turned around to drive my brood back to school and called my local store on the way.  I begged and pleaded with the nice photo guy, and he gladly agreed to get me an 8x10 collage as soon as I could get the order entered.

Drop of preschoolers.

Home to place emergency order.

Drive to store.

Wait in line.

Hustle back to the school.

Sign in.

Scatter to the room, only to find three 1st grade classes sitting patiently, waiting for Mrs. Rose (WHO IS THAT?) to arrive. (Someone tell that lady to get her act together, would ya?)

All eyes were on ME.

Smile.

My girl was sitting at the front of the room, and she hadn't seen all the pictures before.  I walked in, and handed the collage to her....

And she was flabbergasted.

"Who are these people, Mommy?" she whispered in my ear.
I kissed her cheek and whispered back, "Well, they're some friends who wanted to show you that you aren't alone, because they wear a CGM too."

She held that picture...staring at each smile, touching the sensor images, and laughing at some of the funny faces.  For a few minutes she was suspended in her own little world.

Meanwhile, I talked to the kids about Dexcom and started fielding questions:

"Can you catch diabetes?"
"How did she get diabetes?"
"Can she go swimming with that on her arm?"
"What if the sticker falls off in the pool?"
"Can't you just jump in the water with her (reaches high over his head), hold Dexcom up out of the water, and follow her around the pool so it doesn't get wet?"  (gotta love 1st graders!)
"What would happen if she didn't go to the nurse?"
"Does it hurt when you put those things on her?"
"Does it hurt when she pokes her finger?"
"What will happen if her blood sugar is zero?"
"What will happen if her blood sugar is too high?"
"Can she come to my birthday party?"

-- and my personal favorite --

"Well, I'm not really sure this is a question.  I saw a commercial and it said that kids over 50 years old could call a phone number and they would send you the supplies to make diabetes go away."{cheers erupt from the room full of kids.}

Oh, my sweet, tender-hearted, little friends.

If only that were true.