Dexcom G4 CGM for Type 1 Diabetes Review

I love the Dexcom G4 CGM! But I also am not the one with type 1 diabetes, or the one wearing it. It's my 9 year old daughter who is testing it and we've had some not so great moments with it. But the pros are outweighing the cons.


My daughters Dexcom is pink.

Madison was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago with type 1 diabetes. Within 8 weeks we had her on an insulin pump, which made our lives easier (not great, but easier), with managing her type 1 diabetes. Last summer, I started to suggest that she try a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). She wasn't excited for several reasons:

1. It's another attachment. My daughter is an insulin pump user, which requires an inset to be attached to her body so insulin can flow from the insulin pump into her body. The CGM sensor attaches to your body and then wirelessly sends your blood sugar readings to a device that interprets and shows them in graph format.
2. With the Dexcom G4 CGM, you have another device to be responsible for. And they are pretty pricey to replace!

The reason I was pushing her to try it was because she started to experience loss of hypoglycemia sensitivity. She wasn't feeling her lows. A month ago, after having quite a few blood sugar lows of 60 and then one at 41 where she didn't feel the lows very well, she decided to give the Dexcom G4 Pediatric CGM a try.

Why we chose Dexcom G4 CGM:
I chose the Dexcom because it was a smaller and a less bulky attachment compared to the Medtronic CGM. It also had a separate receiver, allowing my husband and I to quickly see Madison's blood sugar readings. And from the reviews I had read, it was more accurate.

It arrived in three boxes. One box was the receiver. Another was the transmitter. And the third was four sensors.

 

Our positive and not so positive experience the first week:

• The CGM sensor/transmitter attachment was a lot bigger and bulkier on my daughter than it was on the adult we saw it on. 
   
  
• Having another attachment really was a downer for my daughter and I. She already had her insulin inset attached to her. This one took up so much space on her belly and made me sad that her baby skin was being pricked again.
   
  
• First day blood sugar readings weren't accurate at all. I learned why. The CGM is reading bodily fluids and not blood sugar. As such, we have to teach it that what it reads for a bodily fluid number equals the blood sugar reading. It really is cool. In fact, on day two, the results were amazingly accurate and have been since.
• On day two, my daughters sensor came off. We had it attached to an area just above her butt. It wasn't the best location, because I had attached it right where the top of her pants was. When she went to the bathroom, her pants got hooked on the sensor and ripped half of it off. The company replaced the sensor for us, which we were so happy about!
• The 2nd sensor lasted us seven days! I loved it! But my daughter didn't.
• First, why I loved it. It gave me accurate readings of her blood sugar, allowing me to prepare for her highs and lows. It also allowed us to not prick her fingers so much.
• She loved the fact that it gave her more accurate blood sugar readings, but hated that she had another attachment. The spot on her belly bothered her. It got in the way when she was sitting and felt awkward. We also had to put another piece of adhesive on it to make sure it didn't come off this time. She said it really itched. When we took off the CGM sensor on day seven, she had a rash that looked like it was irritated.
• It ended without allowing a grace period. I was so pissed! So, on day seven, the CGM sensor had reached it's life at 8:15 am - 45 minutes before we had to head to an all day fastpitch tournament. Later, I found out that it does give you an advance warning, which must have happened when we were all sleeping. Going back to 8:15 am.  I heard this beep coming from the CGM and then saw an image that looked like a red light / stop light. I pressed the button and it turned off. I was so pissed. We were heading out of the house to a softball tournament and the stupid thing ended. I called Dexcom. 45 minutes later they called me back. By that time, I had already changed my daughters sensor. Not without tears though. She shed a few tears because she needs a little more time than a few minutes to plan for stuff like this. She hates needles. She hates doing this. And removing the sensor attachment and putting another one one just wasn't something she was excited to do. But she did it at 8:55 am. Then we had to wait two hours before we got a blood sugar reading. Timing sucked. Exactly when her game started, the CGM receiver beeped asking us to enter two blood sugar readings. Thank heavens she was 5th at bat. We hurried and pricked her finger twice and then entered the blood sugar readings. From that moment on, the CGM was such a benefit. It gave us the most accurate blood sugar readings and we didn't have to prick her fingers during the tournament, except for lunch.

So, we are still in the testing period. As a mom, I love it because I don't have to prick her fingers as much and when she is running around, I get a quick snapshot if her blood sugar is starting to go down. But as a mom, I also hate it, because it covers a large part of her belly and she has to lug around a device so she can get a glimpse of her blood sugar results. She said this sensor attachment doesn't bother her as much. We put it higher so it doesn't interfere with her insulin pump fanny pack type bag. She also likes knowing her blood sugar more often.

ASTROLOGY NEWS: Tempers Fly In April Putting Us In Survival Mode

Political controversy has already begun and the stakes get higher in the next few weeks. We need leaders! We need ego's to be tamed. But the energy of the planets are causing friction and self-centered, egotistical decisions and actions. Power is the theme versus peace. We need leaders who are thinking about the people. We need leaders who think through their decisions. These planetary aspects create unexpected reactive decisions. These planetary aspects can make tempers flare.

On March 30th, Mercury goes retrograde. Get ready for lots of communication and technical mishaps, crashes and failures. Letters may be lost in the mail. Emails unexpectedly disappear. Computers may crash. And important phone calls missed. When Mercury goes retrograde, astrologers highly suggest putting off signing contracts because when Mercury goes direct it usually falls through. This is not a time to shake hands or form partnerships, because when Mercury goes direct usually those partnerships don't turn out to be what you think they were.

Then on April 9th, Pluto goes retrograde. Pluto is the planet of war and power. It also triggers depression. This planet takes it's time to create change. It makes us feel our pain and choices. In April, it goes retrograde in the sign of Capricorn. Capricorn energy is one where people are dedicated to their goals. They take their time, making sure it kicks-off with a big bang.

Finally on April 15th and April 29th, we experience two Lunar Eclipses. They will reveal the truth. They will create change. Eclipses bring opportunity. But they also bring the unexpected.

There also is a grand cross going on in the sky. Basically this is what is causing friction and power struggles. It's like being in a room with three other nagging people.

So what will each of us experience?
On a worldly level, some unexpected message will occur. We'll see political forces stepping up their game. We'll learn more about Malaysia Flight 370. However, because Mercury will be retrograde, the information shared may be miscommunicated or even lost.

On a personal level, we really need to slow down. Accidents are more likely to happen. Think before you speak, because you may say something you later regret. Look at all the facts, breath, and stop pointing the finger. And realize that you aren't the only person living in this world, or in your home.

Use this energy to create. Use this energy to lead positively. Use this energy to think things through and be fair.

Things to watch out for:

• Depression.
• Alcoholism and drug overdose.
• Drive super carefully because with Mercury in retrograde accidents are more likely.
• Pay attention to the weather because tornado's and electrical storms will be stronger
• Watch your temper. Arguing and fighting is more prevalent.
• Try not to let things brew internally.
• Unrealistic lawsuits.
• Finish and submit your taxes early!

The Grimmtastic Girls $50 Book Blast Giveaway

About the Books: The Grimmtastic Girls

Book #1

Title: Grimmtastic Girls #1: Cinderella Stays Late | Authors: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams | Publication Date: March 25, 2014 | Publisher: Scholastic Inc. | Pages: 192 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12


Summary: The authors of the hit Goddess Girls series put a fun and girly twist on another super-popular theme: fairy tales! Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia... A Grimmtastic girl named Cinderella is starting her first week at Grimm Academy on the wrong foot. Cinda's totally evil stepsisters are out to make her life miserable. The Steps tease Cinda, give her terrible advice about life at the academy, and even make her look bad in front of her new friends, Red, Snow, and Rapunzel! But when Cinda overhears the Steps plotting a villainous deed that could ruin Prince Awesome's ball, Cinda, her new friends, and a pair of magical glass slippers have to stop them--before the last stroke of midnight!    

Book #2

Title: Grimmtastic Girls #2: Red Riding Hood Gets Lost | Authors: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams | Publication Date: March 25, 2014 | Publisher: Scholastic Inc. | Pages: 192 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12


Summary: Red Riding Hood might have a terrible sense of direction, but her grimmtastic friends are always there to help! Once upon a time, in faraway Grimmlandia... Red Riding Hood is thrilled to try out for the school play. Acting is her dream, and she's great at it--too bad she has stage fright! After a grimmiserable audition, Red decides to focus on helping her friends Cinda, Snow, and Rapunzel save Grimm Academy from the E.V.I.L. Society. But when Red gets lost in Neverwood forest and runs into Wolfgang, who might be part of E.V.I.L., she needs her magic basket and a grimmazingly dramatic performance to figure out what's going on!

   

About the Authors: Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

 
Joan Holub has authored and/or illustrated more than 130 children's books, including Little Red Writing (illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet) and Zero the Hero. She lives in NC and is online at www.joanholub.com

Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

     
Suzanne Williams is the author of nearly 50 books for children, including the award-winning picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg). She lives near Seattle, WA and is online at www.suzanne-williams.com

Author Blog | Goodreads

    Co-authors Joan and Suzanne have written the Goddess Girls, Heroes in Training, and Grimmtastic Girls series. Though they live in different states and hardly ever get to see each other, they spend lots of time together in Grimmlandia.

Facebook (Grimmtastic Girls) | Facebook (Goddess Girls Books)

Online Author Visits

 

$50 Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 23, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors, Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
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Maisy and the Missing Mice $25 Book Blast Giveaway

About the Book

Title: Maisy and the Missing Mice (The Maisy Files) | Author: Elizabeth Woodrum | Publication Date: September 24, 2013 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 75 | Recommended Ages: 6 to 10 Summary: Maisy Sawyer is not your average fourth grade student. She is a detective with a special skill for solving mysteries. She loves black and white mystery movies, cherry lollipops, and her dog, Reesie. When a thief known as The Black Boot steals the school's mascots and her lollipops, Maisy sets out to solve the case. Can she help return the mice to their home in the science lab? Will she ever see her beloved lollipops again? Find out in the first book in The Maisy Files series.      

Book Trailer

 

Purchase

Amazon | Createspace

* NOTE: Available for only 99 cents through Amazon. OR, you can receive 15% off the regular price of the print version of Maisy and the Missing Mice by visiting https://www.createspace.com/4368649 in the month of March and entering the code RXJN6DUZ upon checking out.  

The Buzz

"Woodrum certainly knows her target audience and does a very nice job with the character development of Maisy. This is an incredibly kid-friendly story that makes a great introduction to the genre of mystery for newly independent readers. It's a quick page turning read that encourages kids to think outside of the box." ~ The Children's Book Review

"My name is Kat. I am 9 years old. I would rate this a five because I like everything about it, the mystery the most. It was fun to read. My favorite part was the mystery and the end. I love this book so much. I think other kids would love it too because it has mystery and most kids would like mystery books. Most mystery books have a good mystery. I would love to read the whole series." ~ 5 Star Review, Heather A., Amazon

"I knew I would love this book simply because I knew it would remind me of the mystery books I read in my childhood. I really love how much trust the teachers and community as a whole put in Maisy. She is well deserving of their admiration as the way she finds clues and finds the mascot for the school is well thought out. This is a story any child would love to read. I hope Maisy continues to solve mysteries..." ~ 5 Star Review, Josh, Amazon

 

About the Author: Elizabeth Woodrum

Elizabeth Woodrum is an elementary teacher in Ohio. She came to love writing when she was in elementary school, but more recently began writing material for use in her classroom. From that writing, grew the desire to write books for the general population of children and adults alike. The Maisy Files, a children's series, is the first series that she has published. The series currently has one book, Maisy and the Missing Mice. Elizabeth plans to add more books to the series, and would also like to publish books for adults in the future. As a reader, Elizabeth prefers the fantasy genre, but she enjoys realistic fiction as well. Some of her favorite authors include JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Nicholas Sparks. Originally from Indiana, Elizabeth currently resides near Dayton, Ohio with her two pets: a cat named Butterscotch and a dog named Reese Cup.

Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 18, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Elizabeth Woodrum and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.


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Fun Ideas for Celebrating St. Patricks Day with Your Kids

"According to legend, Saint Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans." St Patricks Day (Wikipedia)

It's not too late to make St. Patrick's Day special and fun for your kids.

Since my kids were four years old, I've made it look as if a sneaky leprechaun came into our house in search of his pot of gold. My kids love trying to trap the little guy! They build and set the leprechaun trap and then I trigger it! LOL

This year we took baking flour, poured it on our kitchen island, and then placed a sealed bottle of gold dust in the middle, hoping a leprechaun would try to steal the gold and leave his / her footprints. Well, the little leprechaun did better. He wrote the word LUCKY, letting the kids know that they were lucky this time that he didn't swipe the gold because he couldn't open the bottle.

My oldest son set a trap in his toilet. Using two Qtips, he placed them vertical so they held up the toilet seat. Then he put a fake gold rock on the toilet seat, hoping the leprechaun would try to swipe it, hit one of the Qtips and then fall into the toilet. Well, they were outsmarted again. The leprechaun turned the toilet water green and left the fake gold behind for the kids.

Other ideas that you can still do:

• Dye your milk green. Go to the grocery store and buy green food coloring. Then put lots of drops of it into a milk carton. When the kids pour it in the morning, they will find a big green surprise.
• Leave a green necklace for the kids to find when they wake up. I use mardi gras beads. After St. Patricks Day, I swipe the necklaces, kids hats, and green sunglasses and hide them till the next year.
• Buy a box of Lucky Charms, cut out the picture of Lucky and put him in a bowl with the cereal.
• Create some fun St. Patricks Day crafts and recipes!
• Paint a shamrock or a pot of gold on your child's face using facepaint.

Holidays like St. Patricks Day teaches kids about other cultures and countries. Ireland is a country that is full of wonderful traditions with St. Patricks Day being just one. Here are two kid-friendly sites that teaches kids all about Ireland!

• Time for Kids
• National Geographic Kids Ireland

Wishing everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

When Is Kid Teasing Going To Far?

Last night, my oldest son mentioned that a kid (and then the kids friends) at school was teasing him about something he was passionate about when he was in 2nd grade. When my son was in 2nd grade, he watched the movie Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Immediately, he connected with Sharkboy, imagining himself as the character. At home and school, he would talk about sharks and how he even was becoming one. His desire to be Shark Boy motivated him to learn everything he could about sharks and marine life. In fact, it even ignited within him the desire to become a marine biologist.

Sharkboy from the movie Sharboy and Lavagirl

What kid doesn't imagine themselves becoming a superhero or movie character? I remember watching Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman, and hoping one day I would grow up and become them, saving lives and being super! But those characters didn't ignite a career passion for me, like my son's character. Although, it did help me see woman as stronger, encouraging me to grow into becoming a stronger more confident female.

Sharkboy is a character of the past for him. Yet, some kids just won't let go, especially because he still is very passionate about marine life. What my husband and I explained to him is that some kids are going to tease and that he needs to calmly tell the kid to stop saying that. We also shared:

• Just shrug it off. Some kids are going to tease and let it go.
• Tell the teaser to stop. Say it once, if the kid doesn't, then walk away.
• Walk away and find a friend to be near.
• Calmly, let the kid know that you did believe that when you were younger, but now you don't.
• Go tell an adult.

Teasing and making fun of someone is not okay. It hurts. Some people say, "I was just joking around." Jokes are fine, but when it belittles someone or makes fun of someone, then the joke has gone too far.

It's up to us as parents, teachers and coaches to teach our kids that teasing and making fun of someone isn't acceptable behavior. I like teaching kids by putting them in the other person's shoes. How would they feel if someone was doing this to them? How would they feel if they weren't included in the group? How would they feel if kids made fun of something they were passionate about or liked?

Teasing is bullying. Kids do it for attention. Kids do it because they see their parents doing it. Kids do it because they are angry.

Please help teach your child that teasing, making fun of, and bullying other kids is not okay. Parents and teachers have to be responsible role models. Our actions, our behavior, and our words are creating the next generation.

Enter to Win A Craftsy Cake Decorating Class

Enter to win a Craftsy cake decorating class!

Take your cake décor to new heights alongside world-class cake artists. Create custom cakes by winning this online cake decorating class from Craftsy. This giveaway ends April 15th!

In addition to this giveaway, there are also other free Cratsy classes for you to try such as photography, knife skills and quilting.

*links above are affiliate links

 

Should You Teach Your Child About The Risks Of Getting A Tattoo?

Yes! It is every parents responsibility to prepare your child for the real world. And this includes educating them on the risks of getting a tattoo.

First, I'm not against tattoos. Some are truly masterpieces. But I'm not an advocate for my kids to get a permanent one. Their body at the age of 20 or 30 will look a lot different as they enter their 40's, 50's and 60's. As such, their tattoo will also begin transforming. And when you add sun exposure, age, and possible other healthy risks to the tattoo beauty equation you get warped piece of art that you have to live with for the rest of your life.

I haven't met many people in their 50's who regret getting a tattoo, especially a tattoo that covers a large part of their body. And getting it removed, isn't that simple either. Did you know that from 2011 to 2012 laser tattoo removal increased 32%. These are numbers that can't be ignored.

So that brings me to why I am writing this. My beautiful niece just got a tattoo. I was shocked and a bit heartbroken, because I never expected her to ever get one. And it's a bit bigger than I'm accustomed too. Yes it is a gorgeous piece of art. But it is huge. And there is no way that when she turns 50 or 60 that it is going to look like that.

My nieces tattoo made me realize that I really need to not only talk and teach my kids about things such as using protection during sex (which I haven't had the conversation yet, but I'm not too far from having it), drinking and driving and drugs, but also the risks of getting a tattoo.

In the past, I have talked with my kids about why people get tattoos and why I'm not a proponent of them. Below are my reasons:

• There is the possibility of it getting infected.
• You can contract bloodborne diseases — including tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
• You could have an allergic reaction.
• You may not like the final result once it is etched on your body.
• As you age, the tattoo will not look the same.
• It's not that easy to get a tattoo removed. And scarring is left once it's removed.

Personally, why get a permanent tattoo, when you can get a temporary tattoo. You then have the option of changing it every few weeks or never getting another again. However, there are still risks involved with temporary tattoos such as lesions, loss of skin pigmentation and sensitivity to light. Whenever you put a foreign substance in your body, their are risks.

All I want is for my kids to love who they are inside and out, and take care of every aspect of themselves so they can grow and age with a positive healthy outlook. I don't believe that a tattoo at the age of 20 years old will leave them a proud owner of it in their 60 + years. I'm open to other people views.


Up to 50% off Spring Styles at Gymboree!

Available at Amazon, B&N, iTunes and other bookstores May, 2014!
Josh and the Gumshoe News Crew 'The Super Secret' children's chapter book

How I'm Giving Up Mommy Yelling - Postive Parenting!

For the past few days, I've struggled with trying to come up with something to give up for Lent. I usually do meat. I've even given up wine once. But this year, I want to really make improvements to my family life.

So, I'm giving up yelling at my kids for stupid things (okay, all things), and adding positive family spirit!

It hit me hard this morning as I was just about to yell at my 11 year old son to hurry up and get out to the bus stop so he doesn't miss it. Some may say I'm not really yelling and that I'm just raising my voice to get him to move faster. But from my point of view, I feel like I'm yelling. And I think he hears
me as yelling.

I find myself yelling at them for things like not taking their shoes off as soon as they enter the house. Here's why. I think it's really disgusting for them to wear their shoes in the house, especially after they played in my backyard. Our dog goes to the bathroom in our backyard. Yes, we scoop it up, but not every day. There is no way that they haven't stepped in dog poop.

My kids forget to put their shoes away every day. And after asking over and over again, I've resorted to asking really loud, hoping they will finally hear me.

Well, I think I've been tackling it all wrong. Raising my voice and asking louder isn't working. In fact, I think every parent knows yelling doesn't work, but at that moment of getting stressed out that is what we all turn to. I am so guilty of it. I yell for them to put their shoes away. I yell for them to hurry up and get in the car because we are going to be late. Yelling seems to have become part of how I parent and I don't want to do it any longer.

Instead of yelling, I'm going to help my kids understand that it really bother's me that they leave their shoes scattered all over the kitchen, and their soccer ball, and their lunch box, and their sports bag, and their toys. Seriously, the list goes on and on and on in my house.

I'm going to share how much it would mean to me for them to take their shoes off as soon as they enter the house. And I'm going to create an environment that helps them to start remembering (and helping) and for me to stop yelling.

Kids want to please their parents and make them happy. And yelling only tunes them out. So instead of constantly yelling at them to help me out, I'm going to try something totally different!

Here's what I'm going to do to give up yelling:

• Instead of yelling, I'm going to look at them in the eyes and talk to them.
• Instead of yelling, I'm going to explain to them why it bother's me about what they just did.
• Instead of yelling, I'm going to help them see it from my point of view. I'm going to explain by putting them in my shoes.

How I'm going to get my kids to remember to take off their shoes:

• I am going to stick a note on the door.
• If they leave their shoes scattered in the kitchen, I am going to ask them nicely to put them away and then they will need to sweep and wash the floor where their shoes laid.

Other tactics that I'm going to implement to help me stop yelling:

• I am going to get a bell or buzzer and buzz it as a reminder in the morning.
• I am going to make sure the television is always off when I talk or request them to do something.
• I am going let them be late and then have them deal with the consequences. Of course I can't do that for my two year old. But I can for my  11 year old and 9 1/2 year old twins. If they want to go to their friends birthday party and be on time, then they need to be ready. I don't mind reminding them, but not 100 times. And I'm not going to get stressed out if they dilly-dally, making themself late. They can walk into the party and explain why they are late.

Living in a house as a family takes a team. And kids need to learn that they are part of the team.

Meet Team Moraja! Mom of four kids!


The fifth Wunderkind Family Children's Chapter Book Will Be Available May 5, 2014

Last Day Savings Alert: Save on Tiny Prints Collections

Today is the last day to save during Tiny Prints' best sale of the entire year (affiliate link)

 
They are giving you the gift of 30% off everything. There has literally never been a better time to order.

Visit them now (the sale ends tonight at 11:59pm Pacific Time) and choose from any of their products and when you check out, use the promo code BDAY10 to save 30%.