site change change

L got home from diabetes camp on Saturday. It was her second year and she had an amazing week and came home exhausted but happy. On Sunday it was time for a site change.

Backstory: We use the Mio infusion set and rotate sites on her belly. She and John have gotten it down to a science. When we started using the Mio around this time last year, it was a 10-15 minute (sometimes longer) process, with me on one side of her as she clutched my hand tightly, and John on the other, lightly resting the inserter against her belly, waiting for her to tell him "okay". Some nights there would be tears. But over time, the process has gotten shorter and easier, and she no longer needs me to hold her hand or even be present. She and John can get through it in under 5 minutes usually, depending on how she's feeling.

So, cut to Sunday. He's got the Mio resting against her belly and she's doing the psyching herself up thing. She says, all casual like, "Hey, can I see that for a second?" John and I both think she's checking his placement of it or making sure the tubing is facing the right way. He hands her the Mio and she just goes *CLICK*, thereby inserting the new infusion set by herself.

!!!

Startled joyful laughter escapes my face and doesn't stop for at least five minutes. John is left just sitting there, staring at her belly, completely in shock, like he cannot believe his eyes. But L's reaction was the best. Just, total pride and giddiness at pulling one over on us. Brilliant.

Every kid grows at their own pace and the time was right for L to start doing this for herself, even if we didn't realize it. I doubt it would have come as soon without camp last week (she did her first one there on day 2, and had been plotting this big surprise ever since). I usually extoll the virtues of all the psychological support she gets at d-camp, and it seems I forgot that she's afforded opportunities to grow more independent in her own care as well. Double awesome.

[Edited to add: In case you're not familiar with the Mio, here's a demonstration. Jump to 4:20 for visual aid.]

dropping her off at camp. she's rolling her eyes at me.