Remember When

You remember those times a child when you're so sick you just wanna lay around and do nothing all day. Then video games became the thing to do - so you might lay on the couch and play a video game while you're sick (But then your mom says if you're well enough to play a video game you can do your homework?).

Your mom finally decides your sick enough to actually go to the doctor (she's a veteran to child illnesses by now and doesn't jump at the first sneeze or cough anymore), they steal some blood and maybe a gagging throat swab. Then send you on your way and say you'll (your mom) will hear back in a couple days.

I never really cared.  I still don't really care. I don't have a good reason for not caring, I just didn't, nothing really meant anything to me other than I might have an infection for which I might need antibiotics - not a huge deal. I was begging for the swallowable pills when I was 8 because I hated the taste of normal childrens medicine.

Rylee and I went to the clinic yesterday and got 8 vials of my blood sucked out of me (those darn vampires!). Rylee thought for sure it was going to be her - she whimpered pathetically in my arm as she watched the needle go into mine.

I've gotta admit, it's been so long since I've had labs drawn that weren't pregnancy related that I am anxious to know the results.

The last time I had real labs drawn I was still living at home, still dealing with eating disorder stuff - I REALLY didn't care at that point in my life.

I'm not sure if my doctor will call me with the results either. I don't recall ever getting a call before for previous lab draws and just finding out at my next appointment. So, I'm also not sure when is an appropriate amount of time to wait before pestering. I'm thinking maybe tomorrow at the earliest, but probably a week before I give them a call.

It's not that I want "another diagnosis" but I'm really hoping that the tests come back positive for celiac. I'm not sure what else the 'problem' would be, it seems that celiac would be the easiest to deal with/diagnose. I really want to know what's wrong with me and since that's the only real test we've done to see, I don't want to have to wait months before finding out what the heck is up with my stomach problems. They really are miserable. I've taken them as something normal for the last year and almost a half. Realizing recently that it's not normal, and I think they've gotten worse, it's really bugging me (and becoming a bit embarrassing!). I just want to know what's going on. Hopefully the tests will show something at least and my Doctor will be on top of the game and let me know before I call! Ha! Thank you to those who helped encourage me towards actually getting the blood tests.\\

The waiting game - I hate it.  In the meantime I'm going to go play my Nintendo DS and go to bed, then work and hopefully I'll get to spend time with my husband this weekend.

Type 1 Diabetic 8 Years and Counting!

It's been 8 years since I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The anniversary of this came and went this year (March 22nd or 23rd, I don't remember which! Haha!) without my paying any attention to it due to moving and other insanities.

I don't 'celebrate' it or anything. I think that would be silly. However, I do reminisce. 

My Dad had been on a wonderful mission trip to India. That trip changed his life, and our families life, and it was awesome. We kids, who had been Home-Schooled until that January were attending a "Co-Op" or Private School with other Home-schooled nerds like us. Life was going awesome. I loved being nerdy with other like-minded nerds.

While my Dad was away I started needing TONS of water through the day, always hungry, peeing as much as I drank. I was 14, so it was attributed as just 'normal teenager growth.'

I remember going out with my Mom, my 4 siblings, my Mom's bff and her 4 kids to McDonalds. I ate 2 Big Macs, fries and drank a TON of Soda. I had never been able to eat that much at a sitting, but no one thought too much of it. I was pretty skinny, so again, it was attributed to normal teenager stuff.

Then I got sick. I got really sick. Puking, Serious Shakes that were vibrating the couch I was splayed out on. Drinking and Peeing equally. I felt like I couldn't get enough fluids, but I also was puking whatever I ate. I didn't get off the couch except to pee for a week.

My mom didn't think much of it. She has 5 kids. Kids get sick and a week isn't so bad for a nasty bug. Yet, I wasn't getting better. I was still just as bad and not improving. SO, the trip to the doctor was made.

The trip where they checked my mouth, my ears, listened to my stomach, my heart... ya know, all those things they do when they are just looking for a virus. Not finding much they decided to take a little finger prick and asked me to pee in a cup. I was so dehydrated at that point it took me awhile of misery sitting in that room to finally do it.

A few minutes afterward the Doctor came back in. I was laying on my mom's shoulder, exhausted and feeling as crummy as it gets. I heard him tell my mom that I had lots of sugar in my urine and my blood sugar was clocked at 344mg/dl at the time. We should go home, pack some stuff up and head straight to the hospital emergency room.

I had no idea what was wrong with me, just that I needed to go to the hospital for some reason. Mom packed some things up for me while I just slumped in a chair while Mom filled Dad in on the sketchy details. Off to the hospital we went. I laid across the backseat in the van because I was rapidly feeling worse. By the time we got there, I just didn't care. I wanted to sleep, I was exhausted, I was thirsty.

When we finally got to my room on the pediatric floor I just crawled into that bed and laid there while the nurses tried to get an IV into my severely dehydrated hand. The nurses gave my mom a backpack she started looking through. My mom showed me the cutest teddy bear that was in the backpack and asked me if I wanted it. Of course I did, I have a huge love for teddy bears even still. I cuddled with that thing all night while the nurses poked and prodded me. Come morning it was all explained to me. 

The funny thing? I took it all very well. I understood all of it. I was really really upset about missing a fairly competitive tournament I was involved in that was taking place that day.

My Mom was just awesome. She helped me figure things out. Told me that my Grandpa, her Dad, was Type 1 diabetic too. When we got home she helped work out my dinners, measuring my foods out, weighing everything, buying things 'just for me.'  She asked my opinion on what things I'd like to have for treating Low Blood Sugars. She was really concerned when I would have a high blood sugar.

The totally awesome thing? She let me spend the night at one of my best friends houses a week after I was diagnosed. She was also Type 1 Diabetic, diagnosed at 7 years old. It was a fun time getting to be with another that actually understood - she understood it all far better than I did at the time.

My poor parents were in for a roller coaster far worse just after that. I am grateful for my awesome doctors, my awesome parents and the awesome support I had through church - and my husband. My husband is my best friend and is always there for me. I love him, and I love that he can tell when I'm Low or High - even if he does sleep through the nasty Lows in the middle of the night when I smack him in the head trying to get out of bed.

It's been 8 years of learning and guessing and fun and crap. 8 years of growing up, Getting married, Becoming a Mommy. I am excited for many many more years to come!!