Life changing events

Ok, so I promised an update, and here it is!

I usually like to write about one thing at a time, but there are a couple of things that are oddly linked, timewise.

I've been thinking for a while about switching to an insulin pump, which would eliminate the multiple daily injections I've been talking over the last 17 years to control my bloodsugar...

It's something my doctor tried to convince me would be a good idea many years ago, but I wasn't interested. It seemed kinda scary, and so...permanent. But a few months ago Jason and I were at a JDRF fundrasing event and stopped by a few info booths set up by insulin pump manufacturers.

Now that I'm down here in the states (with insurance coverage again) I decided it would be a good time to give it a try. The insulin pump works a lot like a normal, healthy pancreas, pumping insulin into the system continuously in small amounts and also required amounts to balance whatever food I eat. It's just... plastic, and on the outside.

Anyway, after meeting with various professionals over the last month or so, my brand new insulin pump arrived at my door last week!

On the same day, I had a job interview at the grocery store across the street... it went well, sounded pretty much like I was hired, but they officially had to wait for the drug test to come back (something I'm still not used to, as it's not very common in Vancouver)

On Tuesday morning I went in to fill out the paperwork for the job, and do a required food safety training thingy on the computer in the store and earned my first paycheque in SEVEN months!
(it's only for two hours... but.. yay! paycheque!)

Tuesday evening Medtronic (the makers of the insulin pump) sent over a trainer to teach me how to use the insulin pump, she was here for about an hour or so and went over all the buttons and menus and features, as well as showing me how to hook everything up.

(I did say the two latest life changing events were oddly connected, timewise. You know what else is eery? The same day that the Medtronic Rep called to let me know that my insurance covered the pump and they would be shipping it out was the same day that the manager at the store called to ask me to come in for an interview!)

So... that's what I've been up to lately.

The job isn't super great, low end of the pay scale, and I'll be bagging people's groceries, but the commute is FANTASTIC. It's across the street, and the commute takes me about 2 minutes. on foot. The people there also seem to be nice, and management seems to be good (I checked it out before applying, because we shop there... the employees seem to enjoy being there, which speaks volumes!)
I go for orientation sometime next week.

Also sometime next week? I get to put actual insulin in my pump. Right now I'm supposed to be "practicing" with a saline solution. In a week or so I'll have an 8 hour session with the doctor and medtronic rep where they switch it over.
So far it's looking fairly easy, altho it's a bit of an adjustment to have this thing attatched to my side all the time... it's about the size of a pager, or fat cellphone, and kinda heavy!
I'm already feeling healthier & am so excited for both this change, and the job (yay for social interaction!)

(Ps... I also opened a bank account, finally! and we went on monday for the "Framing walk" of the house, where the builder took us through to see the framing stage of the house... it doesn't have walls yet, but we have windows now! and all of the electricity is in place. It's kinda neat to see the insides of your house like that. Too bad I forgot to take pictures!)

Happy REAL Thanksgiving, Canadian peoples!