UTAH

I have been holding off on writing this blog because one I am being lazy, and two i didn't want to write a huge post again. Well this weekend I decided, who needs all the words. There fore you get 99% pictures with 1% words to explain photos and events,

I spent two weeks in Utah without Cade while he was in school and although it was a lot of fun, it was also a lot of work. Still my mom knows how to make anything into an adventure. She started by having us head up to Bear world for two days. Which was so much fun and I got to see my sister-in-law and old roomie BONUS!!!

There was of course also swimming daily and a quick trip to the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake city. All in all a great couple of days. Once we returned our days weren't any less hectic. We went to IKEA, the children's museum twice, got to see another old roomie for some much needed catch up time and celebrated a birthday lots to do and keep us entertained.

typical solid food face of disgust

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.

Hip Hip Hooray for Vacations!

We spent the past month on vacations. well I should clarify I spent the past month on vacations with the kids. Cade had to come back home so that he could go back to school. He kept spouting off some nonsense about having to go to school to become a dentist. Novel idea people actually want their dentist’s to be licensed!

Anyway so we got to visit Cade’s family in Washington for two weeks, and then I went to Utah to spend time with my two sisters. My mom came over and all 4 of us partied like it was 1995 except for the trail of children that we had toting around with us everywhere.

Cade and I flew into Washington in time to go to the annual family beach trip which was extended to include a Tuna fishing trip for the boys. They all had a blast and aside from puking I hear it was a great adventure. Boys got to be nauseous and puking while us Ladies went shopping with the babies. Maybe the guys could subconsciously tell we were spending money so it made them even sicker. Either way we both have great memories. A. loved the beach, she loved playing with her cousin that is a month older then her and that Aunt Rylee would build them “pools” in  the mud to swim in.

 

Size comparison, E. and his gramps (they share a name) and his cousin who is a month older then him. yeah my kid is a beast :) wouldn’t have it any other way.

     

Did I tell you he know how’s to put the moves on the ladies! Gramps is giving him a stern talking to because that’s his lady, something tells me by E.’s look he is non-too concerned.

 

This is the Washington coast so no balmy sunny water weather it was cold and the water is colder so the fake pools were great. A. especially enjoyed pretending she was a mermaid in the sand and sliding around in the sand. she also liked being destructive and destroying all the sandcastles people were trying to build. E and A. both shared their distaste for being buried in the sand. E. also hated the water. Way to cold for him. He did however enjoy eating sand, and cried when I tried to get him to stop he also loved all the girls that were there to snuggle him. My son is a major flirt. He loves mommy but he knows how to turn on the charm for others. When the other women would hold him he would snuggle on their shoulder or coo at them then fall asleep in their arms. They were smitten, I however cannot get the darn kid to fall asleep on me for nothing. blessing and a curse. Cade and I rented wet suits and went swimming in the ocean, worth every penny!!! it was so much fun and we spent at least 1 hour each time we put the suits on swimming in the ocean compared to the usual 10 minutes, that is a huge improvement. (No picture was used with permission so there may be some legal issues sorry Ry it was a great pose)

Poor Uncle Ty, glad he is a good sport.

After spending several days at the beach we headed home so we could can and freeze tuna like mad. And I mean like mad I wish someone would have taken a picture of the ordeal it took 2 full days and 80 something odd jars to can and almost half of a stand up freezer worth of tuna. The boys caught 47 Tuna and holy cow were we swimming in Tuna!!! We made sushi, grilled it, etc. to try and cut down on what we were having to can/freeze. After that it was just a couple fun days of relaxing and packing to head down to Utah so Cade could fly home.

Living with a Rock Star

Now I a sure every parent thinks their kid is a rock star but seriously currently my daughter is taking the cake. We are currently 95% potty trained, meaning diapers only at nap and bedtime. Plus she has only had a couple accidents (4 or 5) mostly involving Cade and I either not listening when she says potty or waiting too long. Personally I think 4-5 in a three week span is pretty stinkin’ good. So well done my little rock star!!!

Also Cade has been studying for finals like crazy! Every night he stays at school until around 12am or 1 am. Which is a heck a ton of studying so good on him. Its working though because he had a professor tell him he would recommend him for a specialty if he wants to specialize. Now Cade has no desire to specialize as of now but it was still nice to know that his professor’s liked his work. He also was already asked to assist one of the Dental 4 years while they take the boards next march. Which is again very comforting and reassuring and an altogether warm fuzzy feeling on the inside! Yay team.

Since Cade has been studying like mad I have the lovely job of playing mom and dad this week. Respect to all the single parents out there! Anyway today was not a great day for A.’s diabetes which in turn made it a bad day for her attitude. She has been over 500 mg/dl of glucose all day. I have thus been on the phone with pediatric Endocrinology trying to assess her ketones. She has had high ketones all day and lots of extra insulin to try and counteract the ketones effects. She has to be tested every hour by two different meters and has had additional shots today to try and manage her numbers. She usually gets four shots of insulin a day so on a two year old an extra shot is just sort of mean.

If you don’t know much about ketones you can wiki it, or just read my oversimplified version. Starvation ketones occur because your body constantly needs sugar especially your brain. If your cells say they arent getting sugar your body dumps stored fat etc. to create the sugars you need. Well Type 1’s don't work as well so it ends up actually starting to eat whatever it see’s tissue, fat, muscle etc. Which is obviously bad. the attempt is to remove the ketones and get sugar back in the cells. so today A. is grumpy and frustrated but who can blame her… her cells aren't functioning. Still she is a rock star because she has taken every shot and glucose/ketone test like a champ!! I just feel awesome to live with two rock stars and I will try to soak up their essence of coolness.

Emett pulling off a push up just so he knows he is a rock star too!

 

Lessons We teach our Children

There are some lessons I remember from childhood that I can one still hear my parents saying the words and two I can honestly say I am now teaching such lessons in the same manner. These lessons include but are not limited to

1. Don't jump on the bed

2. Shut the front door we aren't paying to cool the outside

3. Ask before you take something to eat in case mom needs it for something

4. Don’t slam your bedroom door.

etc, etc….

One that really sticks with me is Don’t touch things you don’t recognize, it could be harmful. Well the other day Cade saw a lovely caterpillar on our dresser we had just refinished.

Ta da!! Any who he sees a furry caterpillar my first response is don't touch it. As I was about to say that Cade brushes the bugger with his finger, luckily our neighbor witnessed the whole thing and said those are really poisonous you should probably wash your hand… *Palm Face*  I am posting this now because I saw an update on it on face book apparently some kid went to the E.R but just goes to show you grown 26 year old men are still 6 year olds when it comes to discovering new things.

Also all my best stories seem to happen at wal mart…

On Thursday we took A. for some cue panties (potty training incentive, post to come). While there she walked around and said Tiny, Tiny, tiny… Cade asked what she was asking for, honestly I had no clue so we brushed it off and kept shopping. As we were checking out A. squeals DADDY TINY!!! and points sure enough there was a little person. Cade and I tried not to laugh and quietly acknowledged her sound observation.

The next day we had to pick up some groceries, when we got there A. kept saying Tiny but she wasn't there so I told her sorry  A. Tiny not working, Tiny at home. Which she reassured me was correct. Again however as we checked out there she was so A. looked at me and screamed mommy Tiny workin!!!! Indeed she was. ten minutes later in the car, A. said mommy, Tiny working… that made me start busting up laughing. This little person is a celebrity to A. Now for the question is tiny person politically correct because honestly how cute is that?

sorry couldn't help myself!