Triple D

This weekend marked A'.’s first triple D. or Diabetic Diagnosis Day

As such we celebrated in our own way. We had missionaries from our church over on Thursday for dinner, friends for dinner on Friday (pizza night) and friends for breakfast Saturday morning. She was very loved and I was happy to fill the one year anniversary with good happy fulfilling thoughts.

I was trying to figure out what I should post and the best thing that came to mind was why not just tell the diagnosis story. Much like child birth I remember very clearly everything that happened. However now the fear and pain are not nearly as strong.

It all started when we came home from vacationing in Washington with my in-laws. I noticed on that visit that A.would never finish her Sippy cups if they weren’t straight water or milk. I thought I had hit the jackpot and my kid was just a preborn health nut. Usually her juice or Kool-Aid that I thought would be a treat would be quickly passed on to her cousin G, who would finish her own Sippy cup and A’s just for good measure. :)

When we were at home things changed very quickly she learned the words milk, water, and juice all within a couple of days. Anytime she saw a beverage she would ask to drink some and would literally guzzle down 8 oz. in about 2 minutes flat.(clue number 1). I also noticed her soaking through a ridiculous amount of diapers. I know drinking more means more diapers but she went from 2-3 diapers in 24 hours to roughly 6-8 by bedtime(clue number 2). I made the comment to Cade, while changing her diaper man she has been going potty non-stop and each diaper is really really heavy. To which he responded, those are all signs of diabetes, jokingly. We laughed it off and continued on our daily routine.

However I couldn't get that thought out of my head, because I knew they were symptoms of diabetes. Even though Cade reassured me and I tried to reassure myself I just had this nagging feeling. The following Monday for FHE we went to McDonald’s for McFlurries.  After A. shared some of mine and Cade’s shakes she became very lethargic. Rather than run around like the average 18 month old on a sugar high, she sat in my lap and just stared. That was the clincher, the next day I called the pediatrician to ask for an appointment. I told them the symptoms and even said I figured I was being paranoid and it was probably the flu or a cold. but I just wanted to have her checked.

That same day she decided to take two naps, which she had cut her morning nap from her life nearly 4 months earlier. She also made the personal decisions to skip lunch. I tried everything but she just wanted to go nap. I called my mom and she assured me that A. would be fine and that I was probably over reacting. My mother in law wished her to get healthy quickly.  Since I was roughly 26ish weeks pregnant I figured I would go get my glucose test done as well. At 2:30 we went to the doctor’s I got my blood drawn and then we waited for her appointment.

I rehashed all the symptoms and the story I wrote above to her pediatrician. I also assured her that diabetes I knew was extreme and I had a friend with a son that had croup. So I was a little hopeful she would give us some antibiotics and send us on our way. She laughed and said well the symptoms don’t sound like croup to me. But she is eating now (she was eating crackers), and seems to be really happy (she was dancing/hoping  around) To which I smiled and figured she was right. She said so I will test her just to give you some peace of mind, but even if she is around 180 I will send her home because she seems just fine to me. The Nurse came in with a lancet and a glucose monitor, after getting a small sample of her blood (which took two pokes and three test strips, I was shocked her fingers weren't bruised after) we all just waited. Then the number flashed across the monitor, 468… Um 468 what does that even mean? I was stunned so was my doctor. My doctor apologized and then told me she was reserving a bed for A. in the Emergency room and then they would admit me to the hospital that evening. I was in such shock the next thing out of my mouth was entirely stupid! I asked so when you say go to the emergency room do you mean like right now or is this something that I can like go and do tomorrow. Which she just stared at me, very kindly said No you will have to go take her right now. As soon as we get a Urine sample. To which I started bawling. It all came crashing down and I realized that my sweet baby was very sick. I called my husband and barely made it through the call, amazingly through all the tears he understood what I said and had a friend pick him up and rush him to our doctor’s.

With my spare time I called my mom to break the news. Between sobs my mom comforted and loved me. She was planning a trip that weekend to see my sister’s. she then asked, Jessie do you want me to be there? I started crying again and said I just want a hug from my mommy. She was on the next flight to Michigan. She told my husband you take care of her until I get there because she is trying to take care of A., so someone needs to take care of her. It was a hard time but we survived it. I have many memories that I didnt wish to make but I made them and now they are memories that make A. even more special in my eyes.

Oh my the difference a year can make. Her life is different from the average two year old, she gets 4 shots a day pricked around 10 times a day, she doesn’t get snacks and everything including her mood can affect her blood glucose. But its our normal, its our new normal and I believe 100% Come what May and Love it! who couldn’t with a beauty like this.