June. What a crappy month you've been. Things have finally slowed down so that I can give a monthly update. What I've learned from this month is that diabetes is much easier to manage when you are not a single parent.
It all started at the end of May. That's when Gary started working 90 hour work weeks due to record flooding on the Missouri River. The continuous glucose monitor that I begged and prayed for was left off of Chase for a week so that Gary could sleep through the night (okay, me, too). One day I even did something that shocked me - I allowed Chase to have Skittles for lunch.
Mentally, it was hard to focus. Bismarck was a war zone. Over a thousand National Guard members were called in to help build levees to protect our infrastructure and homes. Gravel trucks whizzed by everywhere. Helicopters flew continuously overhead. Neighbors were frantically building dikes to protect their homes. Streets were cut off & getting to work was more work than work itself.
Projections for the Missouri River seemed to change daily. Our city did an outstanding job of preparing for the worst. Waiting for the water was the worst part. Amazingly, the Missouri cut it self deeper and wider. We aren't out of the woods yet, but we are going to be okay.
My heart goes out the the citizens of Minot. What Bismarck was preparing against is now their reality.
During the disaster I learned quickly who in my life I could count on (but in a way, I already knew). I also discovered that I live in a wonderful neighborhood with caring neighbors who I consider my friends. I found strength I never knew I had. I missed my husband more than you could imagine. Going to work was reprieve. Doing something normal like mowing my yard was pure therapy. Being a single mother sucks.
I never allowed myself a pity party for I knew there were others that weren't so lucky. Some don't have a home to come home to and have to wait until the end of August to see what has become of theirs. The battles in my life are nothing compared to what others are facing.
After confessing to my friend Gwen that I let Chase have a bag of Skittles for lunch, she berated me like she always does. Not for being a bad mom, but for being hard on myself. I have since forgiven myself & am happy to report Chase's A1c this week came back 7 (average blood sugar of 155). Not too shabby for going it alone for a month. I just hope we never have to do that again.
