Monday, February 22, 2010

It's a Brand New Week! *warning* LONG POST :)

I think last week was THE LONGEST WEEK EVER! ugh. It started last Saturday night with Mary Beth getting sick and throwing up her dinner during the little birthday party that Jeff and the kids threw for me. I woke up in the middle of the night, nauseous. Jeff woke up the next morning, nauseous. Forget church, we struggled to get a Valentines breakfast going for the kids and then we both collapsed, and spent the day getting off the couch only when we had to. Sunday night, David started to feel sick, and went to bed early.
Monday, I woke up still feeling pretty rotten but better. Everyone else seemed okay, so the little ones that I watch came on over and it looked like it was going to be a normal week. Well, after nap time, the little girl that I watch, woke up with a fever of 101.7! :( So, I called her mama and they left early. My head had started to hurt around lunch time, but I was dealing with it and it didn't seem like it was going to turn into a migraine. I couldn't be more wrong. I took some Imitrex and waited for it to work....there was a little relief, but really, nothing.....I went to bed and thought for sure I would feel better when I woke up. Well, I didn't really sleep...it's hard to when one is in a lot of pain. I took another Imitrex and again waited...and waited....nothing. I can only take 2 Imitrex in a 24 hour time period. And Imitrex isn't cheap, so I try not to take it unless I feel pretty certain a migraine is coming on. By about 10 am on Tuesday, I was starting to feel better, but exhausted. I ended up canceling our women's group (which I NEVER do) that night so that I could try to get to bed earlier.
I woke up at 6 am on Wednesday morning to Jada telling me that she had a tummy ache. I asked if she was sick and she of course, said no, but then promptly threw up all over the bathroom floor. I honestly didn't know how I was going to handle this. I was exhausted from being sick myself. Her ketones were through the roof but her blood sugar was okay...she stayed under 200 all morning. Around 9 a.m. she asked to eat and I gave her a piece of toast. She seemed to hold it down okay. We took Mary Beth to school and I thought we were out of the woods. I had called the dr. that morning about a prescription refill for test strips- I was on our last bottle and was afraid that I would run out because of the extra testing I was doing. When the nurse on the phone line found out that Jada was sick, he immediately called me back and told me that he would take care of the test strips but then went through "sick day protocol" with me. You know, it was REALLY nice to know that there was someone on my side with me. They wanted me to take her to the hospital, but at that point, I didn't see a need. Things seemed to be on the upswing, and they were okay with that. However, they said if she throws up again, she really needs to go....just to be safe. I told them okay....I will IF she throws up again. So, we ate lunch (grilled cheese) and about an hour later, she started feeling CRAPPY. She laid on my lap and cried and cried. Her blood sugar was in the 130s. Her tummy hurt. Her back hurt. Her head hurt. I knew what was coming....and it wouldn't come fast enough for me. For about 30 minutes, this went on. I sat with her on my lap and a bowl in my hand. Finally, she did it. I called Jeff and told him that we were headed to the hospital. I was expecting a blood sugar crash, because it didn't look like she had digested anything! But she held pretty steady and when we got to the hospital she had actually gone up to 200. I knew that would be short lived and about 30 minutes later, she was crashing but we caught it at 104. They gave her an I.V.- which was NOT so much fun getting that baby in. But once it was in, the fluids and the anti nausea meds helped almost immediately. She turned right around and we were home by about 4:45 pm. Home and tired.
The next two days were spent just chilling at home. We needed it so badly. And tonight I'm still tired. We've been chasing some lows, which just seems to be normal after a stomach virus. This morning before I sent her to Sunday School, she was 155. Lower than she normally is at that time of day, I gave her a granola bar (about 20g) hoping it would push her up a little bit while she was away from us. Nope. When I checked her after church....57! What would it have been with no granola bar??? I can only wonder....
So, I am looking forward to a "normal" week! I officially declare we are DONE with this virus. Eli woke up last night with a tummy ache and didn't sleep much.....so I think he's done with it, too. We're going to Anchorage this next weekend for my niece's wedding....VERY excited about that. Mary Beth and Jada are flower girls....I'm so excited. Jeff's sister from Arkansas is coming as well as his cousin from Seattle. It's going to be a great week.
Well...that was my ramble. :)THANKS everyone for your encouragement this past week. I needed it badly. I really don't know what I would do with out you, my Pancreatic Sistahs!!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I Guess She Told Us...... :(

Jada is the youngest....our baby....MY baby. The one who is never really supposed to grow up....at least, in my mind and heart. She still crawls into bed with me in wee hours of the morning and snuggles up against my back. I usually don't even notice, she's always been such a part of who I am. She was conceived and then born when our marriage was on the brink (that's another post or two for another day)....it was taking care of her that I think helped hold me together during that time. I spent so much time holding her and crying my heart out to God....it's no wonder I feel such a bond with her. Don't get me wrong, I feel very close to all of my children...this was just a unique time in my life. During those first few weeks of life, she earned the name Jada Baby Boo. It's stuck and everyone close to us calls her Jada Boo or Baby Boo or Jada Baba Boo.....it's just the way it's been the last 4 1/2 years. Until last night.

We were in the rig (Alaskan for SUV)..just the girls and I. The boys were at wrestling practice and Jeff ran into Walmart to pick up a few things. We were just talking and being silly like little girls do. Suddenly, Jada announced that she was no longer Jada Baby Boo and that from now on we would just call her Jada, J. A. D. A., Jada. That she is NOT a baby, she is Jada Leann Scott Lincoln. Of course, I protested. I told her that she will ALWAYS be my baby and that I'm going to have a hard time leaving the Baby Boo out of things! She was insistent and when her daddy got back in the rig, she very clearly and plainly told him the same thing.

Well, I'm trying. I've had a number of slips this morning and she gives me the raised eyebrow look. I remind her that she's my baby and change takes time! But I'll try....I really will.....I'll try to let you grow up.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Featured on Another Blog....

Today, our blog is featured at Sugar, Spice and More Things Nice!! Rachel is a teacher, a writer, a mom and a Type 1 diabetic. This month she has a "Spread the Love" campaign where she is featuring different blogs that she reads. I found Rachel not too long after Jada's diagnosis....she blogs a lot about food (one of my favorite subjects) and living well with diabetes. I will feature one of her posts on my blog in the near future. Jump on over to Rachel's blog and say hello....you'll be glad you did!

And THANKS RACHEL!!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Midwinter Blues

Here it is the first week of February....and I've been dreaming of the Gulf of Mexico and warm, sandy beaches. :) Okay...okay...I know....I CHOSE to live here....but the midwinter blues have set in. I thought maybe they would come in January like they did a few years ago when we lived here, but at last, they've reared their head. Today was probably the worst. We woke up to -30 and it did warm up to -18, but as soon as the sun set, the temps dropped. Clear skies tonight mean cold, cold weather. Currently the temp is -33! You really only get out if you have to...but tomorrow...I don't care how cold it is....I'm getting OUT.....because I have been in this house TOO much!

Jada is doing GREAT! Over all, her numbers have been good. She's waking up high some mornings.....but it always seems to be when I have to give her something in the middle of the night. I'm thinking 15 grams of carbs are just too much, probably more like 8 is what we need to do. If we don't eat dinner at about 5:30, it really throws her numbers off for the rest of the night. There have been some nights that we haven't had dinner until 7:00 and then when she's going to bed 90 minutes later, she'll be at the upper end of her range and I really don't like giving her a snack when she's that high. Then, later, when I check her at midnight, she needs a snack because she's REALLY dropping. Yes, that snack breaks the drop, but also shoots her up and she stays there. (sigh) Night time has always been one of our biggest battles in one way or another. Guess I'll just keep plugging away with it....now if the family's schedule would just settle down so that we could eat on time!!!

And then there's Oprah....what to say, what to say........ Well, alot has already been said by others. I didn't watch the show because our cable box decided this afternoon that it wanted to die. God may have had something to do with that because I *might* have lost my temper and thrown something at the TV. Or maybe I would have just thrown the TV. I've worked too hard in my 12 step program dealing with anger issues just to relapse because of Oprah! haha!

Seriously, though, from what I've read, it was a wasted opportunity on her behalf to educate America. It's disappointing, but at this point, what do we expect? It seems that Type 1 Diabetes just isn't something that people want to hear about it...maybe because they think they already know about diabetes!!!! And really, they know so little!

So another week has gone.....just one step closer to warm weather for us! :) Saturday marks the start of the Yukon Quest. It's a 1,ooo mile dog sled race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. We're hoping to take the kids down to see the start of it if it's not too cold. Lance Mackey, the Iditarod Champion will be running. If you don't know who he is, I'd encourage you to look him up. He's one of Alaska's greatest celebrities and just a good guy who has overcome some obstacles in his life. I don't know Lance, but his sister is a friend of mine and it's his niece and nephew that I watch 3 days a week. The Iditarod will be coming in March and then I'm sure you'll hear his name on the news! I'll try to get pictures, but the camera battery dies quickly in this cold!

Well, I'm off to check the baby girl and hopefully (fingers crossed) her numbers will be in good shape and I can head to bed! And hopefully, it won't be two more weeks before I post something again! :)