2 years on

It is now 2 years since Aleksi was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. So what has changed, what have we learned?

• He has grown 23cms and is 4.5 kgs heavier
• His feet have gone up at least 3 if not 4 sizes!
• He has become an expert in Lego
• He and I have wasted many hours playing Lego Star Wars or Batman on Playstation - I'm always the Joker to his Batman.
• His writing is now legible and can count to 'big numbers' in English and Finnish.
• The whole family's mathematical ability has improved considerably.
• He started pre school this Autumn.
• We took Grandma to meet Mickey Mouse and big favourite Goofy in Disney Florida.
• We built sandcastles and ate huge waffles in Crete.
• We went orienteering in Scotland and didn't get lost too much!
• He and his sister learnt to downhill ski and loved it!
• He has almost learnt to ride his 'big boys bike'
• His ice skating ability leaves me hanging onto the railings.
• He has finally learnt to make his bed and put his washing in the laundry basket.
• He will spend all day in the shower if we let him.
• He is not a morning person(me neither!)
• He loves his food and will eat anything and everything
• His HbA1C and gone from 10.9 to 7.3
• He never complains about his injections or blood tests.

And what about me - well a few/a lot more grey hairs, an intimate knowledge of most foodstuffs carbohydrate content, a brilliant husband who has breakfast down to a fine art :), new spectacles to read the nutritional information! , a liking for skimmed milk and low fat spread, extra cuddles for Elli, a new business that keeps me busy but allows me the flexibility I need.

We've come a long way and learnt a lot about Diabetes and ourselves. We have a long way to go but we are having fun getting there. We have many many good days and these always outweigh the not so good days.
Life is good.

Done

Well we queued in temperatures of about 0 degrees C from 8.50 until 11.45, then we were moved inside and finally at 12.30 Aleksi got his swine flu jab and seasonal flu jab. Poor lad, he puts up , without a whimper, 5+ injections every day but he screamed blue murder with his flu jabs! He was not impressed to say the least. But now it's done and I feel quite relieved. No reactions so far almost 12 hours later so I might get a good nights sleep.
It is typical November at the moment - GREY! We may get some snow tomorrow which does help brighten things a bit plus the kids love the snow! Hot soup and mulled wine weather!
Felting is slow, which it shouldn't be as I have a craft fair looming - other stuff seems to be taking over at the moment. I have noses and buttons to put on 20 or so snowmen! Tomorrow is another day however........

Vaccination time

Next week Aleksi is due his swine flu vaccination, being in risk group 3 here in Finland - Type 1 and asthma. He is also due the usual flu jab and his final MMR jab - whew!( We have to leave at least a month after the swine flu jab before he can have the MMR)
My concern is to get the swine flu jab as soon as possible, the bugs are heading our way!I feel we could cope with haywire blood sugars but not with poorly lungs. Elli should also get the jab the end of this month and Hubby and I , with luck may get the jab too. I have no doubt it is the right thing to do but I know it is a very personal choice.
More cheery matters - Christmas is rapidly approaching and I am furiously felting snowmen, gingerbread men and christmas trees! I have made some more flowers and plants in pots(photos soon) and Elli has been drawing me some more alien and virus designs! I have a 5 day christmas fair in Helsinki early December which isn't too far away now, so back to the foam and needle!

It's official!

I have a brain and it's 'normal'! (This photo is not actually my brain though!)

After developing a 'twitching' eye out of the blue last sunday, by Wednesday I had had enough so went to see and Opthamologist. Apparently the symptoms I displayed , although mild, were a sign of one of the few emergencies in eye conditions. I was sent immediately to the main eye clinic in Helsinki for further tests and scheduled for an MRI scan the next day. An interesting experience, not too unpleasant - the main displeasure being made to listen to Celine Dion as I lay inside what sounded like a broken washing machine!
Fortunately the outcome was good in that I didn't have a brain aneurysm and my brain was looking good!
I have nothing but praise for the treatment and care I received at the obviously very busy eye clinic - Thank you!
My twitching eye remains a bit of a mystery so I have a review at the clinic next week, but with luck it should settle of its own accord. I just have to be a little more careful needle felting - sharp needles and twitchy eyes are not a good combination!

Up!

The children and I ventured into Helsinki last weekend to see Up. What a great film, definitely one to see and we can't wait for the DVD to come out!
At a particularly poignant bit, when the old man is reminiscing over some old photos( imagine silent cinema, people taking in the moment) a little 'loud' voice next to me says " Mummy are you crying?" (I was!). Aleksi kept a close eye on me for the rest of the film, checking I was OK. Bless!
But there was more words of wisdom to come. As we headed back to catch the bus home, there was a young man standing next to us at the zebra crossing - that little 'loud' voice again - "Look Mummy a boat man!" Actually quite correct , a sailor probably heading back to his 'boat' after the weekend!
Makes me smile just thinking of it now!

Where do you get your ideas from?

I get asked this a lot! Sometimes there is no obvious answer - ideas do literally pop into my head, just as I am going to sleep is a popular time! Having said that I do find inspiration in the most unexpected places - a news headline about the swine flu, including a photo of a highly magnified virus, gave me the idea to make the virus family.
This plant was inspired after playing Playstation Batman Lego - The final 'baddy' to beat was a rather impressive venus fly trap - though this one ate lego bricks!
I find children's books are a great source for ideas - the pictures are often quite 'simple' with great colours. I also take loads of photographs and have an impressive collection of postcards that give me ideas for shape and colour. Kids TV is another great resource (also gives me an excuse to watch cartoons!)
I then have my own design consultant - my 7½ year old daughter!

Here is the finished article!

More often than not though I just pick up a fistful of wool and needle away! So keep those eyes open and your next project may be staring right back at you!

Six

When I was One,
I had just begun.

When I was Two,
I was nearly new.

When I was Three,
I was hardly me.

When I was Four,
I was not much more.

When I was Five,
I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.
(with acknowledgement to A.A.Milne)

Happy Birthday Aleksi!