Well, I was hoping I would never have to write this post, but unfortunately we are finding ourselves in an all too familiar situation. As most of you know, our daughter has had diabetes and has been living with it for almost two years now. Soon after she was diagnosed, the pediatric endocrinologist suggested that we have a few tests done on our son Luke to see if he too would some day develop diabetes. Well, two years ago we found out that, yes, unfortunately, he too would some day develop diabetes but we just did not know when. One child suffering from this horrible disease is enough, but to have BOTH of your children deal with it is TOO MUCH!!!!! Over the last two years, we have done a few more tests that have indicated that his body was starting to slowly struggle in dealing with his sugar intake. Again, something we did not want to hear. They told us that he could stay in this stage he is in from anywhere from 6 months to 20 years, but that he would probably develop it around the same time Emily did (which was late in her kindergarten year). Well, all of that to say, we are starting to see alot more signs that his diabetes is probably starting and he will soon need insulin. Before Christmas, he started drinking more and pottying more than usual. So, we did his blood sugar and it was higher than what it needed to be or really had ever been before. We contacted the dr. and he said that we just need to watch him closely and continue to do his blood sugars every so often. It is tricky because since we are catching it so early, we really can not start insulin yet because since his body is still producing so much of it and us giving him insulin could REALLY hurt him. Since that time, we have taken his BS off and on. Some days are good and some days are bad. We have started taking his BS at school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I am sad to say that this week his numbers have been really high. The dr told us to contact him again if we have three BS readings in one week that are above 150....well this week we have had two that are right at 150 or over it. We are going to contact the dr and see what is next. They have indicated that we would probable go to Temple and they would do some more tests and maybe start him on an insulin pump because it can give such small doses of insulin that his body would need right now. It breaks my heart. A time I was praying would never come, has come too soon. He is too young. He has been VERY cooperative so far with the finger sticks, but I dread the day we have to give his first shot. At that point, his attitude will change and it all becomes a different ballgame. Are there any blessings in this right now???? YES, we know what to expect. We have walked down this road before. No, we did not want this day to EVER come, but it is drawing closer and we, with GOD's HELP, will get through it. It is a blessing that both of my kids' attitudes are so great about all of this. It is scary and makes me so sad that both of my kids will have to wear something/ hanging off of them for their rest of their lives in order to stay healthy. But they deal with it so much better than what maybe some adults even could. It is a blessing to me that it is JUST diabetes. It could be alot worse. It is a horrible way to live, but they are ALIVE and will continue to be and obviously that is the best blessing. There are so many parents today, right now, that are dealing with so much worse. So.......with all of that said, please pray for Luke and the days to come. Please pray his attitude will stay positive especially when we have to start insulin. Please pray for him to understand this disease as much as a little five year old boy can understand a disease like diabetes. Please pray that he will be in tune to how his body feels, especially for him to feel when his body is having a hypoglycemic episode. That is one of the scariest parts about diabetes. He has to be so in tune with how his body is feeling AND be able to tell us about it so we can help him. Please pray for Jeff and I, we will need them. Please pray for strength. Maybe we will not have to start insulin soon. Maybe he won't have to start wearing an insulin pump just yet. But regardless, we need your prayers and know it is the only way we will get through the days ahead.
On another note......as some you also know I have had skin cancer....about 15 years ago. I was lucky because they were able to remove all of it and it had not spread to the borders of what they removed from my side. I was told I got the best kind of cancer to get if you were going to have to get any. No further surgeries, no radiation and no chemo. Well, I guess it goes with the territory that once you have had cancer, you become alarmed anytime you see a new spot/bump or lump. Over the years, I don't know how many things I have had cut out. All of which have come back ok. Thank God! Anyway, on Monday night I found another bump on my leg that looked like exactly what was cut off my side many years ago. So, today I went to the dermatologist and they went ahead and cut it off and sent it off to be biopsied. The dr. did not think that it looked bad, but thought that it was a good idea to go ahead and send it off just to be sure. We should get the results in about 5-7 businesses days. It is a scary time. So, if you don't mind, if you will keep me in your prayers as well as we wait for the results and that the results will be benign.
Thank you for your prayers, we sure need them right now. We will keep you posted!