Tuesday, November 27, 2007

2 years and half a life time


Last week while I was preparing supper, I asked Chase to test his blood. While he was washing his hands, he turned to his baby sister and said, "Leah, I have diabetes. You don't have diabetes." To which I quickly added, "And we don't want her to ever get diabetes because diabetes stinks. Right, Buddy?" In a "mom you're crazy" tone, he simply replied, "No it doesn't."
Tomorrow marks the day that Chase will have had diabetes for half of his life. He hasn't known life any other way.
Two years ago, Gary and I were trying to figure out why Chase was drinking water constantly. He'd wake up in the middle of the night and ask for water. We'd get up to get him a glass only to discover a saturated diaper and wet bed.
Were we concerned he had diabetes? Yes and no. A few weeks prior to his diagnosis, he was in the clinic for his 2 year check up. I brought up our concerns about his "drinking problem" to his former pediatrician. She waved it off - even after I brought up our family history type 1 diabetes. For two weeks we went with her advice of waiting it out - that it would clear up on its own.
He wasn't getting any better. He became more and more irritable and his breathing started to become shallow. We prayed it was just a cold. On the advice of a mom at his day care who is a nurse, we took him to the public health office to have his blood tested. 348. He had diabetes.
I haven't really touched on faith much since starting this blog. It is something that is rather personal and private to me, but in two years, it is what has keep me going.
Two years ago I asked God, "Why my child?" and "Why not?" is what I heard back. Not really the response I was hoping for at the time. But, in that time, I've realized that we are lucky. We have awesome health care coverage, a wonderful medical team, and Gary and I will do whatever it takes to insure that Chase is happy and healthy. Some kids aren't so lucky. Mine is.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Little Man Turns 4!


HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, CHASE!!!


We love you!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Single parenting

I'm a single parent this week. Gary flew out to Reno this afternoon to attend an "International Association of Emergency Managers" conference. Last year, his conference was in Orlando and Chase and I joined him. This year we're saving our frequent flier miles (I'll just say that I've been to Reno...enough said). Hopefully the conference will be in Hawaii next year. Or some where international. One can dream...

Chase has come down with a cold, so he's been sleeping much of the day. The poor kid even "looks sick". He has dark circles under his eyes and has a lot less spunk. Luckily, we all have tomorrow off to sleep in and relax. We may just have to take in the SpongeBob Squarepants marathon on Nickelodeon.

Last weekend, Chase's friend, Brett, joined us for supper. The boys had a lot of fun in Chase's Spiderman costumes (Chase is in the black one). This was the best photo I could get because that little guy Brett moves fast!


My folks also sent Chase a Darth Vader costume in the mail this week (Mom likes after Halloween sales). It was a huge hit - so much so that he slept in it and wore it to day care.


And Leah...I was finally able to lay her down in her crib. She really likes to be held, which is fine for about 5 minutes but, after that, 16 1/2 pounds gets mighty heavy.

Chase took this photo of her today. I think we were preparing for outfit change #2 of the day. One look into those blue eyes and a little poop here and there (some times it feels like everywhere) isn't so bad.


Thursday, November 01, 2007

Brotherly love







Halloween 2007

Two costume changes and a lot of candy later...
Chase had me guessing up until the last minute as to what he was going to go as this year. A trip to Devils Lake last weekend didn't help because Grandma bought him a skeleton and black Spiderman costume.




My dad gave Chase this large pumpkin from his garden. He insisted that he could fit in the pumpkin. I didn't believe him, but he was right. My little pumpkins...