Author: kathleen

  • This type of headline just ticks me off

    Here’s the deal — the person wasn’t a freaking teacher.

    Teacher Banned After Ripping Out Boy’s Insulin Pump – Yahoo! News

    I don’t have any respect at all for substitute teachers after having taught in the classroom for 14. All I have ever gotten a sub to do, today include is babysit. That’s after making sure I had left transparencies with what I did with the earlier classes.

    Not only that, but everything that wasn’t nailed down was stolen out of my classroom when I had to be out for two days, and the administration ended up sending one of them home and calling in a second substitute.

    I never really expected a sub to be able to deal with my computer science students and was always careful to leave something they could do on their own, but the subs might as well as not have been in the classroom. One day, memory was stolen out of a computer, and fortunately another student reported the theft AND reported who did it which is much more than the sub did.

    One time a sub played an “R” movie to my students instead of letting them work on the computers, which REALLY bugged me. Both the movie part AND the “R” rated part. The computers put off too much light and he couldn’t see the movie when they were on.

    Anyway, almost every time I see a “Teacher does something stupid” headline, it was a stupid sub, the majority of which have never been certified, probably don’t have a college degree, and spent a weekend in training.

    And sadly, often it was retired certified teachers that “baby sat”.

    FYI: I did sub once. And I actually TAUGHT the students when I subbed.

  • Accu-Chek Aviva

    As I just posted, I picked up an Aviva from my CDE today. I’ve used it a couple of times.

    Frankly I like the case better than the Flash case, and switched my Flash over to it. I also like the Lancing device, and am using it. Even picked up a box of lancelets tonight and asked the CDE for a script. I have an email out to Medco to see if they are available.

    Here’s what I don’t like about the Aviva: Right now, I cannot download the results. Thus it isn’t happening. I know for a fact that I am not going to record blood sugar readings, I’m too hooked on downloading.

    I wish it and the Palm Pilot would communicate but they have removed the Pocket Compass software from sale according to their 1-800 number. Let’s face it, right now, the Palm OS is in big question right now.

    Roche’s own software doesn’t work with the meter right now. I will be right up front with everyone. I test 8-10 times a day, and I’m not buying any more blood glucose software. If you want me to use your meter, you better give me free software.

    EzManager doesn’t work with it either, but I’m confident that that will be fixed shortly.

    It is larger than the Flash and it doesn’t have a backlight. Those are both Flash features I love. The test strips are larger.

    However, I do like the new lancing device. It is taking some getting used to but with my history of infections, I think reusing lancing devices is not a good idea.

  • Interesting days

    Remember that old Irish curse? May your life be interesting.

    When I came home from the agility trial, I discovered that my labia was very hot, enlarged, and enflamed. As minutes ticked on it got worse.

    Made it to school, but it was getting larger, and hotter as the clock ticked. Walking hurt, standing hurt, everything hurt, and it just kept getting worse. I picked up the phone at 1:00 pm and called my ob/gyn’s office. Begged for the first appointment available, which was 2:30 pm today. Not bad. I suspect if I pushed the issue, I could have gotten a quicker appointment but I also didn’t know if we had anyone to cover me. Nor was I really able to be covered.

    Got through the day — and good news — we graduated some of our ELI students to regular classes. Of course they were my best kiddos, and I’m sorry to see them go, but I’m glad they are earning high school credits now. My class sizes are down to around 25 a piece and I think there are a few more to go.

    Requested a half day sub, starting in the afternoon today, and unfortunately no one got the assignment. Next time I’ll know I have to take a full day off. I was hoping our sub situation was a bit better this year.

    Checked my email in the Treo on the way out and noticed that my CDE had left me a message that there was an Accu-chek Aviva with my name on it waiting for me in the office, and since it’s somewhat close to the ob/gen office, I swung by there first.

    Got to the ob/gen and didn’t have to wait long. I don’t think I had gotten it across to anyone how bad the situation was, but yesterday evening the labia infection had burst. Basically when it burst that entire area was engorged with the infection and my doctor caught on it that fact as soon as he got a look at me. He cleaned up the area, drained some other problems and diagnosed it as an ordinary abcess (as opposed to some real nasty vaginal stuff).

    Here’s the deal… I’ve been noticed that if I let my blood sugar jump, even just a little bit over a few days, I get an infection. Last year, it was in my teeth and who knows why it decided to pick another area, but it did. And let me tell you, it was pretty painful, both the process AND the treatment.

    The good news, is that the swelling is down, and most of the pain is relieved. I’m also on oral antibotics. I am thinking now, that I might need to just have a dose on hand for the next trip. I don’t get that many.

    Of course, it may be a chicken and an egg thing — and all a coincidence, but I can’t help to think that the elevated blood sugar I had on Wednesday, which persisted about 4 days, contributed to the problem. The weird part, is that my blood sugar was only 20-50 points higher those days then on any given day and that my blood sugar was much higher than that over a longer period time in the past.

    It does emphasis the need to me to keep a tight control on the blood sugar.

  • Weight and Food Issues

    Friday brought home another thing I need to be careful to avoid, When I get overly tired, I eat, which is the last thing I need to do in that situation.

    The first thing I need to do, is just make sure I don’t get that tired, which can be hard. However, maybe now that agility is on the earlier, winter schedule that might get better.

    This should be a bit better week for the tired thing, especially if I can get some sleep tonight. No agility — we have parent conferences on Thursday, though we do have another trial next weekend.

  • Agility Trials

    We’re up in McKinney trialing this weekend. I’m still having odd foot pains and now hip pain, plus it is just hot, so it isn’t going well.

    The good news is that both dogs are running the whole run with me and aren’t taking nose led excursions,

    I am seeing an improvement in my running ability, but I still have quite a way to go before I feel “well”.

  • Medco fun

    Rolling eyes.

    About 1 1/2 weeks ago I ordered a refill of my Vitorin. It hasn’t arrived. I called the day after it was due and they offered to give me a free 7-day supply but said they wouldn’t do anything until 25 days have passed.

    I have enough, I just wish it would get here.

  • Medco fun

    Rolling eyes.

    About 1 1/2 weeks ago I ordered a refill of my Vitorin. It hasn’t arrived. I called the day after it was due and they offered to give me a free 7-day supply but said they wouldn’t do anything until 25 days have passed.

    I have enough, I just wish it would get here.

  • Wearing my pump OUT

    Man, I’ve never had anything freak my kids out so. I wore my pump out — must of you recall that I have a pocket sown in my bras that holds my pump.

    Well, today, i was too lazy to go downstairs and get a clean, pocket bra, and my old bras without pockets were left in my drawer, and were the right size AND fit, so I wore that. Plus I was wearing a jean skirt so had pockets.

    As the day progressed — and this is weird, my skirts get tighter as the day goes on, but my bras get bigger — I went from wearing the pump in my pocket with only the clip out, to the pump outside my pocket. The two classes I had with it out freaked.

    “What is that Miss?” etc. and would NOT settle until I explained it. I ended up showing how it was attached, since the set is at my waist band today.

    Very odd.

    On the good news front, since the principal announced we could jeans, I looked through my closet and found a pair of jeans I haven’t been able to wear for 5 or 6 years, and tried them on. That’s what I am wearing tomorrow, though I might change my set first, since it is right at the waist band.

  • Wearing my pump OUT

    Man, I’ve never had anything freak my kids out so. I wore my pump out — must of you recall that I have a pocket sown in my bras that holds my pump.

    Well, today, i was too lazy to go downstairs and get a clean, pocket bra, and my old bras without pockets were left in my drawer, and were the right size AND fit, so I wore that. Plus I was wearing a jean skirt so had pockets.

    As the day progressed — and this is weird, my skirts get tighter as the day goes on, but my bras get bigger — I went from wearing the pump in my pocket with only the clip out, to the pump outside my pocket. The two classes I had with it out freaked.

    “What is that Miss?” etc. and would NOT settle until I explained it. I ended up showing how it was attached, since the set is at my waist band today.

    Very odd.

    On the good news front, since the principal announced we could jeans, I looked through my closet and found a pair of jeans I haven’t been able to wear for 5 or 6 years, and tried them on. That’s what I am wearing tomorrow, though I might change my set first, since it is right at the waist band.

  • CDE Visit

    Went to the CDE this afternoon. A1C is 6.0. Because of my student’s background (especially the new to the country), doctor and CDE decided on both the flu and the pnuemonia shot, so I have those done.

    The best news: 36 pounds since I started seeing them in March 2004. I’ve lost 15 pounds since Symlin (June — new medication).

    A1C of 6.0 is exceptionally good. It is my best. The ADA goal is 7.0, the doctor office’s goal is 6.5 so the doctor is VERY VERY happy. That’s also without any treatable lows.

    We did some tweaking of basals — I am having some excusions (high 180-240) and they usually cause food cravings. Hopefully that will stop as a result.