I'll Take That as a Compliment

Last week when Chloe needed to change her pump reservoir, Cheyenne and Justice happened to be in town on a surprise visit for the weekend.  Currently, I'm the only one in the house that knows how to use the Sil-Serter (a.k.a. "The Torpedo Launcher") to insert her pump site.  Both Cheyenne and Mitchell use the Quick-Serter.  It just so happened I was sick and resting in bed, but as chance would have it, Justice uses the Sil-Serter so he offered to help Chloe change her pump site.  This was a great idea!  Son-in-Law to the rescue!  Except for one problem.  Chloe did not want him to do it.  She adores Justice and has him help her count carbs at meal time and such but she was NOT having him change her pump!  She wanted "mom to do it".

She came upstairs to find me in a flurry of Kleenex and NyQuil cups and informed me that I was the only one who was allowed to change her pump.  The funny thing is, that a few weeks ago, after first getting her pump, she would often suggest that we go back to the doctor's office and have her favorite nurse Maryanne change it each time.  During the first couple of weeks she was not real happy with the way I was getting the job done.  And honestly, in the entire span of my 16-year diabetes "career", this dang torpedo launching Sil-Serter gadget gizmo-thingy, well, it has me nervous each and every time I've had to use it!  So I found it quite amusing that she wanted ME to change her pump and not Justice, who's a pro.  Her conversation with me went a bit like this...

Chloe:  Mom I need to change my pump and I want you to do it.

Me:  Are you sure you don't want Justice to do it?

Chloe:  (furrowed brows) Yes, I'm sure!

Me:  Really?  Cause Chloe, he has way more experience at it than me.  He's been doing it for years.

Chloe:  So.

Me:  Seriously, you'd rather have me change it?

Chloe:  Yes mom.

Me:  Really?  Can I tell you something?

Chloe:  What?

Me:  I still get really nervous when I change that thing.  It freaks me out.  Are you sure Justice can't do it?   

(at this point I should probably admit that it is never a good idea to tell your child that you get nervous about any aspect of their diabetes care.  You want them to be confident in your care.  However, I think that under the influence of the above mentioned sniffling-sneezing-coughing-aching-stuffy-head medicine, well, let's just say it made me a lot more candid with her than I should have been!)

Chloe:  No mom.  I know you get nervous, but I trust you.  You do it really good.  Even when I scream.

Me:  Wow, you know that? and you still trust me? 

Chloe:  Yes, I only like you to do it.

Me:  Okay then (sneeze), let's go get the stuff.

Chloe:  smile

Mark says she's imprinted on me.  She won't even let him do it  (course, come to think of it, neither would I).  The strange thing is that I never get nervous about much of anything.  I'm fine with blood, guts, needles, skydiving, public speaking; not much gets me nervous.  But this Sil-Serter, this things' really got me!  It just looks so violent!  And here I thought I was putting on a brave face so Chloe wouldn't see my nerves, apparently she saw through it, but she doesn't care.  She trusts me!

I'll take that as a compliment.