overriding datasource

basically I have a custom combobox i made, bound to a database for its source, and I need the initial value to be set to a blank line, but there seems no way to do it.

heres the code that should work:

Code:

---

        'Add a blank row.
        Dim DR = dsNormal.Tables(0).NewRow
        DR(1) = ""
        dsNormal.Tables(0).Rows.Add(DR)
       

      With item01
            .DataSource = dtNormal
            .DisplayMember = dtNormal.Columns("name").ToString
            .ValueMember = dtNormal.Columns("name").ToString
            .SelectedIndex = item01.FindStringExact("")
            '.SelectedValue = item01.FindStringExact(Nothing)
        End With
        item01.SelectedValue = item01.FindStringExact("")
        item01.Text = ""
        System.Console.WriteLine("it is: '" & item01.Text & "'")

---

"dtNormal" is the dataTable with the source. what happens with this code, I add a blank row to the dataset (datatable) then try to select it with item01.selectedIndex. It works, in the sense that the combobox is blank when I start the program. but other control's values in the form depend on the value of this one, and I need the .Text of this to be blank too, but that last System.Console.WriteLine() writes a non-blank item to output... even if right before that i do: item01.Text = Nothing.
any ideas on how to force a value in a comboBox that is bound to a datasource?