October 16, 2011 changed my life...and the life of my family. One year ago I knew nothing about Type I Diabetes...and today I know almost enough be a diabetic educator.
Over the past year I have:
- checked my child's blood glucose somewhere around 3,500 times
- given my child about 2,000 insulin shots
- changed pump sets about 40 times
- inserted new sensors about 30 times
- worried about low or high sugar levels
- been awake all hours of the night checking on him, giving insulin or food
- counted carbs for every morsel that has gone into his mouth
- held his hand through those difficult talks
- held him tight when he was scared
- dried his (and my) tears when we had just had enough!
- prayed A LOT!
I wish I could say that I wouldn't trade this experience...but this is my son...his life is forever changed by this disease.
It has been a challenging year, but God has given me the strength, patience, and love to care for the child He has entrusted me with.
Today I celebrate a year of changes that we have handled...lifestyles we have changed...and life lessons we have learned!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Change is Good
I know I haven't "blogged" for awhile. Life has been busy at our house. Since August began, Payton is now hooked up to his insulin pump and his continuous glucose monitor. We've been busy learning all about those new things and also getting ready for his first JDRF Kids Walk.
Before I go any further, I have to give God the credit for giving our family the courage and strength to endure the last few months. We've had some trying times with these new devices. God always shows up and provides us with what we need. He has us right there in the palm of His hand.
Most of you have been curious about all his new "gadgets," so I thought I would share about them. You could say he is like the bionic man...or a robot...because he now has two different devices that help us treat him for this disease (and help keep him alive).
This is his insulin pump. It delivers insulin in two different ways. He gets insulin every hour to help maintain a healthy blood glucose level. He also gets insulin every time he eats a meal (when we enter the carbs into the pump) or times when his blood glucose is too high. Both of these insulin doses are given through the pump, either automatically each hour, or at the touch of a button. That all sounds great...until it's time to change it...which is every three days...
This is his infusion set. We open a new one of these each time we change his set. The picture in the back is what it looks like closed. The picture in the front shows the needle that is inserted (with a small tube called a cannula, that delivers the insulin). The needle comes back out with the set and leaves the cannula in. The white patch looking thing is the cannula that is inside his body. The tubing on the right delivers the insulin from his pump, through the tubing, to his body. He can't feel any of this happening...except when he gets a new set. I have to be honest, it is rough. The set makes a clicking sound when it goes in...which I think is the scariest part. Again, he goes through this every three days!
This is his CGM (continuous glucose monitor). This is our newest addition, not even a week old. The sensor (the white thing you see on the bottom) "talks" wirelessly to his pump. It relays his "predicted" glucose levels to the pump every 5 minutes.
These are parts of the CGM. On the top left is the needle that inserts the little thing below it. This is all done with the insertion device (the blue thing on the right). The needle does come right back out, but the piece of metal stays in and the sensor is hooked to it. The piece of metal is similar to the testing strip that we use with the meter. However, this device checks the fluid in the tissue, not the blood, so it is not quite as accurate as the meter. So we still need to do finger sticks at least 4 times a day to calibrate this device. I must say, for the most part so far, it is fairly accurate with the meter. And again, this needs changed every three days.
This "monitor" is probably one of the best things about the CGM. From my bedside, I can see what his glucose level is, how much insulin is left in his pump, and various other things. It alarms me if his levels are too high...or too low. When we aren't at home or he is too far from the monitor, the pump also alarms, letting us know the same information.
It's all wonderful technology, but it all comes down to INSULIN IS NOT A CURE!
As I hear quite often, "Can he have that?" Well, yes, of course! He can have anything, as long as he has the insulin to cover the carbohydrates that he eats. But, we are trying to teach him how to make good choices in his life. Does he have ice cream, cake, and candy everyday? No! But he does have those things occasionally.
Life, at this point, kind of seems like a game. You never know what's going to happen with his levels. Sometimes you are fighting the highs with insulin and sometimes you are feeding the lows with sugar, carbohydrates and proteins. Payton will be riding this roller coaster for the rest of his life...unless a cure is found...
We are so excited to be participating in the JDRF walk on September 22. We have almost 100 friends and family members that will be walking with us to support and raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
If you haven't watched his YouTube video, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGz4hN_N5ho
Before I go any further, I have to give God the credit for giving our family the courage and strength to endure the last few months. We've had some trying times with these new devices. God always shows up and provides us with what we need. He has us right there in the palm of His hand.
Most of you have been curious about all his new "gadgets," so I thought I would share about them. You could say he is like the bionic man...or a robot...because he now has two different devices that help us treat him for this disease (and help keep him alive).
This is his insulin pump. It delivers insulin in two different ways. He gets insulin every hour to help maintain a healthy blood glucose level. He also gets insulin every time he eats a meal (when we enter the carbs into the pump) or times when his blood glucose is too high. Both of these insulin doses are given through the pump, either automatically each hour, or at the touch of a button. That all sounds great...until it's time to change it...which is every three days...
This is his infusion set. We open a new one of these each time we change his set. The picture in the back is what it looks like closed. The picture in the front shows the needle that is inserted (with a small tube called a cannula, that delivers the insulin). The needle comes back out with the set and leaves the cannula in. The white patch looking thing is the cannula that is inside his body. The tubing on the right delivers the insulin from his pump, through the tubing, to his body. He can't feel any of this happening...except when he gets a new set. I have to be honest, it is rough. The set makes a clicking sound when it goes in...which I think is the scariest part. Again, he goes through this every three days!
This is his CGM (continuous glucose monitor). This is our newest addition, not even a week old. The sensor (the white thing you see on the bottom) "talks" wirelessly to his pump. It relays his "predicted" glucose levels to the pump every 5 minutes.
These are parts of the CGM. On the top left is the needle that inserts the little thing below it. This is all done with the insertion device (the blue thing on the right). The needle does come right back out, but the piece of metal stays in and the sensor is hooked to it. The piece of metal is similar to the testing strip that we use with the meter. However, this device checks the fluid in the tissue, not the blood, so it is not quite as accurate as the meter. So we still need to do finger sticks at least 4 times a day to calibrate this device. I must say, for the most part so far, it is fairly accurate with the meter. And again, this needs changed every three days.
This "monitor" is probably one of the best things about the CGM. From my bedside, I can see what his glucose level is, how much insulin is left in his pump, and various other things. It alarms me if his levels are too high...or too low. When we aren't at home or he is too far from the monitor, the pump also alarms, letting us know the same information.
It's all wonderful technology, but it all comes down to INSULIN IS NOT A CURE!
As I hear quite often, "Can he have that?" Well, yes, of course! He can have anything, as long as he has the insulin to cover the carbohydrates that he eats. But, we are trying to teach him how to make good choices in his life. Does he have ice cream, cake, and candy everyday? No! But he does have those things occasionally.
Life, at this point, kind of seems like a game. You never know what's going to happen with his levels. Sometimes you are fighting the highs with insulin and sometimes you are feeding the lows with sugar, carbohydrates and proteins. Payton will be riding this roller coaster for the rest of his life...unless a cure is found...
We are so excited to be participating in the JDRF walk on September 22. We have almost 100 friends and family members that will be walking with us to support and raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
If you haven't watched his YouTube video, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGz4hN_N5ho
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Bragging Rights!
Here is Payton with his award for Highest Academic Achievement for First Grade. He achieved the highest grades in his class, with 100% in Reading, English and Spelling and a 96% in Math. I was so proud! Several people had mentioned to me that this is quite an accomplishment with all he has been through this year. I never had really given that a thought. Being diagnosed with diabetes at the beginning of the school year didn't slow him down! Missing almost a week of school in October, dealing with low blood sugars during class, missing class to check his sugar, and missing days for doctor's appointments...he still achieved this award! We are very proud parents and are so excited God has given us this special little boy and has entrusted us to take care of him.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Faith...
The following was part of my devotional today. Thank you God for the constant reminders to be faithful...You have my back!
"Faith to See Yourself Through God's Eyes...
Whatever you are facing in life, or whatever is coming in your future, God has already given you the faith for it. It may not look like it, and you may not feel like you have what it takes to overcome, but faith in God isn't based on our circumstances or how we feel.
God sees you through the eyes of love. He sees not what you can be, but what He has invested in you, not what you or others may see.
It takes faith to move forward and overcome the challenges of life. And faith does no good if you don't know how to release it. You have to release your faith in order for it to work."
Thanks Joyce Meyer for your words of wisdom for today...
"Faith to See Yourself Through God's Eyes...
Whatever you are facing in life, or whatever is coming in your future, God has already given you the faith for it. It may not look like it, and you may not feel like you have what it takes to overcome, but faith in God isn't based on our circumstances or how we feel.
God sees you through the eyes of love. He sees not what you can be, but what He has invested in you, not what you or others may see.
It takes faith to move forward and overcome the challenges of life. And faith does no good if you don't know how to release it. You have to release your faith in order for it to work."
Thanks Joyce Meyer for your words of wisdom for today...
Payton's own story - I Am Brave with Diabetes
Payton's teacher asked if he would write a story to enter into a contest for PBS.
Below is the story he created...I am one proud momma!
Enjoy!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Our attitude in personal struggles...
How do you respond to your personal struggles? What is your attitude toward God in light of those trials?
Over the past week, I have been studying Job. I was wondering why I was lead here, but today I found the reason.
Job was blameless - a man of complete integrity. Job would even pray for the sins of his children, just in case they had committed one. Well, without Job's knowledge, there was a test being prepared for him. Satan wanted God to remove the wall of protection around Job. Satan thought for sure that when faced with tragedy, he would curse God. "All right, you may test him," the Lord said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." (Job 1:12)
So, to make a long story short, Satan tested Job. First, all his animals were stolen and the farmhands were killed. Then, all of his children were killed. Do you know what Job did? HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND WORSHIPPED!
For his second test, Job was struck with terrible boils from head to foot. His wife wanted him to curse God and die...but Job replied, "You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?"
Job's friends insisted that Job must be suffering because of some terrible sin he committed. Job argues that he has not sinned enough to deserve such suffering.
Dialog goes on between Job's friends and him for several chapters...here is what stuck out to me just today: "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!" I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (Job 19:25-27) He knew there was life after his life here on earth...that there was a bigger picture that God was in control of.
Is that the way we would respond to a rock thrown in our path? Think of all that was taken from Job. He was left with his wife and a few friends...and was reduced to skin and bones (Job 19:20).
The way you respond to your personal struggles shows your attitude toward God. Don't be angry...continue to trust in God and trust in His timing. Remember that He is in control and He sees the bigger picture.
Sometimes when I look at P and wonder what we did to deserve a disease like this...but it's a TEST. It's my goal to pass the test!
Over the past week, I have been studying Job. I was wondering why I was lead here, but today I found the reason.
Job was blameless - a man of complete integrity. Job would even pray for the sins of his children, just in case they had committed one. Well, without Job's knowledge, there was a test being prepared for him. Satan wanted God to remove the wall of protection around Job. Satan thought for sure that when faced with tragedy, he would curse God. "All right, you may test him," the Lord said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." (Job 1:12)
So, to make a long story short, Satan tested Job. First, all his animals were stolen and the farmhands were killed. Then, all of his children were killed. Do you know what Job did? HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND WORSHIPPED!
For his second test, Job was struck with terrible boils from head to foot. His wife wanted him to curse God and die...but Job replied, "You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?"
Job's friends insisted that Job must be suffering because of some terrible sin he committed. Job argues that he has not sinned enough to deserve such suffering.
Dialog goes on between Job's friends and him for several chapters...here is what stuck out to me just today: "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!" I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! (Job 19:25-27) He knew there was life after his life here on earth...that there was a bigger picture that God was in control of.
Is that the way we would respond to a rock thrown in our path? Think of all that was taken from Job. He was left with his wife and a few friends...and was reduced to skin and bones (Job 19:20).
The way you respond to your personal struggles shows your attitude toward God. Don't be angry...continue to trust in God and trust in His timing. Remember that He is in control and He sees the bigger picture.
Sometimes when I look at P and wonder what we did to deserve a disease like this...but it's a TEST. It's my goal to pass the test!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
I'm six and I'm strong!
Praise be to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! We made it through two stressful appointments with P this week.
Tuesday was his appointment with his endocrinologist. The visit went well. They had some tips for us as far as where to prick his fingers so he doesn't get calluses on the pads of his fingers. The diabetic educator went over P's blood sugar readings with me and made some changes to his insulin ratios and his sliding scale. We had not been giving P any insulin unless it was meal time, or his Lantus (24 hr). But we also have to start treating him with insulin any time he is over 200. This includes our 2 or 4 a.m. checks! P had fun sharing his jokes with the diabetic educator and especially Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones always has a joke for his patients...so P went to the appointment with his joke book in tow. Dr. Jones has excellent rapport with P, and I assume with all of his patients. I am so thankful for all the laughter we had while P was telling his jokes...because the worst was yet to come! At the end of our visit, when we were checking out...the diabetic educator met us at the desk and told us we needed blood work done to test P's A1C. (An A1C gives their average blood glucose level over the past 3 months). So I am thinking to myself...this will be interesting...P always does better if he knows about something in advance...but we weren't prepared for blood work. Well, he was less than cooperative. It took two nurses and myself to hold him in the chair to get the needle in. I wanted to cry too! Once the needle was in, he was fine. Then I realized that he would probably have to have this test done at every appointment, which is every three months!
As I was walking out of the hospital, I kept asking God, "Why me? Why does my son have to go through this? Please heal him of this disease!" My thoughts were then drawn to Esther...(I've been so interested in reading about Esther lately.) King Xerxes was looking for a new queen...and took Esther to be his queen. She was a jew, but didn't tell anyone about her family background or her nationality...her uncle Mordecai had told her not to share this information. Well, skip ahead to King Xerxes threatening the Jews...and who saves the day? Esther! In Esther 4:14 Mordecai told Esther, "Who knows if you were made queen for just such a time as this?" God knew Esther needed to be close to King Xerxes to have his plan fulfilled!
We have to trust in God's sovereignty...even though we go through trials and tribulations (and we don't know why things happen)...God has a plan...and a purpose! I want to make that verse above my own...I was made mommy of P for such as time as this!
This morning, P had to get some cavities filled at the dentist...also an interesting experience. The dentist had given him some medication to help him relax, but he was still "edgy." He couldn't eat this morning, so I was a little concerned about his sugar levels. (I did give him some juice, just to stay on the safe side.) Well, when they took us back into the room...he wouldn't sit in the chair. The assistant told him that I would have to leave if he wouldn't sit up in the chair. So, up he hopped, into the chair! They gave him some "happy gas" and he was fine. They filled one side and let him relax for a little bit before they did the other side. I checked his sugar, and it was ok for them to move on. When they started on the other side, he started crying (and at that point, the happy gas wouldn't work because he was too upset.) It's so hard to see your little child lying there upset and there is nothing you can do about it! When the dentist stopped drilling, he finally calmed down. His poor little mouth was all swollen...so he did get to eat a Wendy's frosty!
Over and over again in the last few days I've heard this song..."I turn to You," by Selah. So tonight I downloaded it...the chorus goes like this:
And here in your Holy Presence
It's all that I can do
I turn to you Jesus
I turn to you Lord
What else can I do Jesus?
I turn to you
Again, I just need to turn to God and rely on Him. He sees the big picture when we are at the end of our rope.
Ok - back to P and his week - do you know other than right during those negative experiences, P has been as normal as can be. He hasn't complained or whined about either thing! Add these situations to his already existing condition of shots and sugar checks...
How many of us could go through all that and not complain? And he's six!
I have to commend my lovely little boy...he gets over it and moves on...we all need a little of that child-like faith!
Tuesday was his appointment with his endocrinologist. The visit went well. They had some tips for us as far as where to prick his fingers so he doesn't get calluses on the pads of his fingers. The diabetic educator went over P's blood sugar readings with me and made some changes to his insulin ratios and his sliding scale. We had not been giving P any insulin unless it was meal time, or his Lantus (24 hr). But we also have to start treating him with insulin any time he is over 200. This includes our 2 or 4 a.m. checks! P had fun sharing his jokes with the diabetic educator and especially Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones always has a joke for his patients...so P went to the appointment with his joke book in tow. Dr. Jones has excellent rapport with P, and I assume with all of his patients. I am so thankful for all the laughter we had while P was telling his jokes...because the worst was yet to come! At the end of our visit, when we were checking out...the diabetic educator met us at the desk and told us we needed blood work done to test P's A1C. (An A1C gives their average blood glucose level over the past 3 months). So I am thinking to myself...this will be interesting...P always does better if he knows about something in advance...but we weren't prepared for blood work. Well, he was less than cooperative. It took two nurses and myself to hold him in the chair to get the needle in. I wanted to cry too! Once the needle was in, he was fine. Then I realized that he would probably have to have this test done at every appointment, which is every three months!
As I was walking out of the hospital, I kept asking God, "Why me? Why does my son have to go through this? Please heal him of this disease!" My thoughts were then drawn to Esther...(I've been so interested in reading about Esther lately.) King Xerxes was looking for a new queen...and took Esther to be his queen. She was a jew, but didn't tell anyone about her family background or her nationality...her uncle Mordecai had told her not to share this information. Well, skip ahead to King Xerxes threatening the Jews...and who saves the day? Esther! In Esther 4:14 Mordecai told Esther, "Who knows if you were made queen for just such a time as this?" God knew Esther needed to be close to King Xerxes to have his plan fulfilled!
We have to trust in God's sovereignty...even though we go through trials and tribulations (and we don't know why things happen)...God has a plan...and a purpose! I want to make that verse above my own...I was made mommy of P for such as time as this!
This morning, P had to get some cavities filled at the dentist...also an interesting experience. The dentist had given him some medication to help him relax, but he was still "edgy." He couldn't eat this morning, so I was a little concerned about his sugar levels. (I did give him some juice, just to stay on the safe side.) Well, when they took us back into the room...he wouldn't sit in the chair. The assistant told him that I would have to leave if he wouldn't sit up in the chair. So, up he hopped, into the chair! They gave him some "happy gas" and he was fine. They filled one side and let him relax for a little bit before they did the other side. I checked his sugar, and it was ok for them to move on. When they started on the other side, he started crying (and at that point, the happy gas wouldn't work because he was too upset.) It's so hard to see your little child lying there upset and there is nothing you can do about it! When the dentist stopped drilling, he finally calmed down. His poor little mouth was all swollen...so he did get to eat a Wendy's frosty!
Over and over again in the last few days I've heard this song..."I turn to You," by Selah. So tonight I downloaded it...the chorus goes like this:
And here in your Holy Presence
It's all that I can do
I turn to you Jesus
I turn to you Lord
What else can I do Jesus?
I turn to you
Again, I just need to turn to God and rely on Him. He sees the big picture when we are at the end of our rope.
Ok - back to P and his week - do you know other than right during those negative experiences, P has been as normal as can be. He hasn't complained or whined about either thing! Add these situations to his already existing condition of shots and sugar checks...
How many of us could go through all that and not complain? And he's six!
I have to commend my lovely little boy...he gets over it and moves on...we all need a little of that child-like faith!
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