Hospital Visit

We ended up in the hospital last weekend due to complications of diabetes. Greer has type one and she got sick with a cold. Her blood sugars were not running high so I was not too concerned with ketones in her blood. So she starts throwing up, I do a urine test and it told me that I needed to get her in and be seen. Next thing you know she is getting an IV in her arm and being transported in an ambulence and she is admitted to I.C.U. That was fast, I am in shock and exhausted. I grabbed my camera, and took a few while we were there. Luckily we were there for only 24 hours..She has been home all week with a bad cold, and cough. I don't want to push it..SO that is what is going on in my little world. I really hope there is a cure. For her and Benjamin. This disease is the pits. It really is.

I am just popping in quick to say hello, and thank you for so many well wishes, and e-mails. This blog has really been a blessing to let out my creative energy, and it has been to my surprise I have met so many great women who share a passion for art, life, family, and also share with me a little part of them. So thank you!!

OK, to be honest, I am a wreck. I feel like I did when I gave birth. You know that tired worried, cannot sleep you are so exhausted kind of tired. Well, that is what I feel like. I have had some good cries, some anger, some jealousy over other parents who don`t have to deal with this diabetes stuff. I am told that these feeling are all very normal. I am trying to deal with them now so they don`t pop there ugly little head later in my life. The kids are handling this amazingly well. Way better than me. Greer is the same happy , funny child, and Ben is the same easy-go-lucky, a little moody with becoming a teenager, but all in all, this has not changed them at all. I think in fact it has made them stronger. So, I will be OK. Just having a hard time, and that's OK too. Life is not a big old tea party all the time. I wish it was, but it`s not.

So whats a gal to do? Pick some bouquets of course. And share some pictures of them with you! I was thinking in the yard today..You know how when a flower dries up, and the pod has left its seeds behind? I always like to collect the seeds after they bloom. It is like a challenge for me, to see if I can get the seeds to germinate, and create a plant from one of my plants. I never knew how easy it was until I moved to Idaho and could grow so many things. I love to see the flowers grow, and it is nice to know that I helped them along the way. This may sound corny, but I will write it anyway: If you collect some seeds from a plant, you will be surprised to see how many seeds just one flower will produce . Literally hundreds. So here is the corny part. I believe that this is Gods way of showing me or you, that each one of those tiny seeds are second chances, to start all over again to make something beautiful out of your life. And if he does this for a flower, think of what he would do for me, or you? OK ,that's all the God talk. But I tell ya, I feel a little more connected to my higher power when I am out in the garden, or woods, or the beach.

So on that note..Off to bed, and fill ya in with other stuff real soon!

Diabetes Family

I am still here...We had another blow to our family. Remember the last post when i said my little one was thirsty?? Well, when Benjamin came home from school that day I had him test my little ones blood sugar. It read "high". Meaning it was over 500. Blood sugars normal on average are suppose to be 90- 150sh. I thought maybe it was wrong. I asked him to do it again..sure enough, same reading. I took her down to the emergency room, and they put an IV in her arm, and started all kinds of testing. Their blood test read 596..Luckily she was not in ketoacidosis, meaning there is a lot of sugar in her bloodstream, and that we pretty much caught this disease early. So..they took us in an ambulance to the downtown children's hospital . We stayed just one night. She loved every minute of it and received three stuffed bears from the nurses.. When Benjamin was diagnosed in December, He was in ketoacidosis, very sick, in ICU for three days, and lost a good twenty pounds. While Ben has always given himself his own shots, I had to learn to give Greer hers. I am not good with needles, hospitals, Dr. offices, surgery shows etc. I have fainted numerous times entering these facilities. I still have scars on my knees from one time when I saw a friends baby in the hospital nursery. But, when it is happening to me I am OK, it is when other people are in pain or I think they are in pain I start to feel faint. I told the diabetes nurse who taught us the shots, and he said, "Yeah, I use to be like that also, now look what I am doing, I am head of this program and teaching to give shots". So he gets out his needle, pulls out my arm, and sticks a needle in it with some saline solution. I did not die, or faint. Then he said,"Now its your turn". So I gave him a shot, and it wasn`t all that bad.. next thing you know I am giving my sweet little eight year old daughter a shot. My biggest fear..Its done, I am over it, and I have given numerous more in these last few days. To my amazement, she has not cried, been mad, she is very much taking it like a pro. I am so proud of her. I am also so proud of my son, because he has set the tone, and been an example..So I may not be around too much. My mom flew in to help...bless her heart. She did the same thing in December when Ben was diagnosed. So that's my life. I am taking what God has put in front of me, knowing there is a reason. Not sure what it is yet, but it does not matter. I know that we have come closer as a family. I am still in shock. very tired, and thankful that it can be treated, and that it is not worse.
So hug your babies!! love ya all!!
Julie