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Even before type I diabetes we didn't go out very often without our kids. Since type I, well, we do it less. That fact takes it's toll on a lot of aspects of our lives. Please don't misunderstand, we love having Cole and Arden with us but sometimes a person needs a break. Yesterday was our break. Kelly and I went to New York to see an 'America's Got Talent' taping. Kelly is a big fan of the show and I was very interested to get a sneak peak at how Howard Stern would be as a judge. The tickets said that the taping would run from noon to four or five. Arden doesn't get home from school until four. We needed a babysitter...
We only have two D-babysitters...
They were both busy...
We talked about not going.
I was really motivated to find a sitter because Kelly has been working so hard for so long and I really wanted to see her get this break. I did something next that I've never done before, I dropped D-proficient from my babysitter qualification list deciding that I could manage the diabetes on my own remotely if the person on the other end of the phone was focused, confident and understood the gravity of the situation. We have a lot of good friends and know many people that fit that description. Jen answered the call and our plans were back on.
The directions from 'America's Got Talent' said no phones would be allowed in the theater. I (hopefully) thought that they were just trying to persuade folks to leave their phones at home. Within moments of arriving at the Hammerstein Ballroom I heard the first production assistant announce that, "cameras and phones will be checked... no one will be allowed to bring a camera or phone into the taping". I completely understand that they don't want videos popping up on YouTube but I didn't have any designs on such things, I just needed to be able to text with our babysitter. "What to do now" was the question that I asked myself as we stood in line. If I ask politely, they may say no and then I'm cooked... I'd have to summon up my inner teenager, luckily he hasn't gone too far. So for the next hour or so I stood in that line with my iPhone jammed into the side of my left shoe.
I was almost home free when I realized that there may be a metal detector inside. My fear was soon realized as our friends went through the door, Paul turned around and mouthed to me, "wand", they were using a hand-held metal detector, I was about to get caught. Just as I was practicing my speech that was meant to let me keep my phone, the security guard put his arm out and stopped Kelly and I. "Hold on", he said and then directed us to the secondary entrance... the entrance with no wand!
The taping was great fun and I think that anyone who watches 'America's Got Talent' and only knows Howard Stern by reputation will be very happy with how he judges the show. We had a great time and much to our pleasure, never needed my phone. The taping ended exactly five minutes before Arden would get off her bus. I was able to manage her diabetes by phone and text without issue as we drove home. Our sitter (Thanks Jen!) said that Arden seemed very confident with her OmniPod PDM and that our son Cole was extremely helpful as well.
I think that yesterday was the beginning of the next step for us... More and more of Arden's management will be transferring to her in the coming years. It's an exciting and slightly nervous feeling, but a very good one.