The SAT and other things

Andrew took his first SAT this morning! He was exhausted yesterday, and Pete wonders if the night before he may have had a small seizure. He told us he tried to run, but 10 minutes into it his legs were so heavy. He perked up this morning at West Caldwell when he saw a few of his friends. I stayed around the Hickory/Lenoir area just in case he needed me. I had given my cell number to those in charge of the test. Then I took him for a great lunch at Cook-Out on the way home! So glad they have one in Lenoir now! And we are thankful for good roads and just cold weather - no sleet, snow, or ice! He thinks he did fine on the math, and the reading was harder. Now he knows how to prepare more for it! I am so glad he went ahead and took it. No matter what the score, he has this first one done and can go from here.

Sam is doing better - I hope! His numbers are pretty good, and we have done pretty well giving him the correct amount of insulin before he eats. He has had some low numbers as we have feared, but he has been able to get back up to normal quickly. He has also popped way up a couple of times with no clear explanation. It is like studying for a test and failing it! It is a constant discouragement right now. But today I felt a little of the discouragement and frustration lift a little bit. These are our boys, and God will help us take care of them.

Will got braces this week, and Sam saw them and said, "Will, they are bootiful!!!!" It made Will smile very broadly when I think he may have been not smiling most of the day. We think we already see a difference, and that is exciting. His teeth have been a little sore but nothing like mine when I had braces! I had/have the best little brother. After not eating all summer because of 10 teeth being pulled/cut out by an oral surgeon to get me ready for braces, I was as skinny as a rail. I had exactly one steak before I got my braces and rubber bands! I could not even touch my teeth they hurt so badly. Russell made me Tollhouse cookies, and I was so hungry but hurting so badly. I could take the warm cookies and tear them apart and "chew" them up by pressing my tongue against the roof of my mouth, carefully avoiding my teeth! While it was not ideal, they tasted so good.

Andrew and Peter FINALLY finished exams at the high school. Evidently, it was a surprise each day as to which exam they would have - due to changed schedules due to delays and more missed days. But they are done and will start their new semester when they go back to school - hopefully on Monday! I hope these second semester teachers can plan better for snow days at home! Some do, and some don't!

I remember taking my first SAT in the 7th grade for a Johns Hopkins study. There were some younger students there today taking theirs for Duke Tip. I remember that one better than the one I took in high school! This one boy kept whining about "little kids" at his SAT. One of my friends, one of the "little kids", scored high enough to use for college apps if she had wanted! The only thing I remember about the one I took in high school was the boy behind me kept rocking my seat the whole time. Since we were not supposed to talk, I could not tell him to stop. It almost drove me crazy! I took my score and decided it was good enough and never took it again!

I think we are about ready for spring! Last year, Pete and I were bringing in wood from the yard on Valentine's Day. This year, it will be a bit earlier. But we are thankful we have the extra wood and can replenish this summer. We are also thankful we don't have the huge oil bills we have had in the past, and our electric bill has been great. For such a cold winter, we feel very fortunate and blessed. We know that some are getting those huge fuel bills as we have in the past, and we know what provision is.

Happy rest of the winter! We hope to see the sun more soon! I am so happy to be able to see the roads and grass today! It's very exciting after missing them for so long!

Update on Sam and Andrew

Monday was a trip to the endocrinologist in Charlotte. Andrew drove part of the way there and the last 45 minutes home. Both boys saw the doctor, and the day was good ~ except for Sam's numbers being way up (a1c). I was so frustrated, disappointed, and upset. After saying I was not going to be too hard on myself this year, I totally felt like a failure. It's like studying for a test and knowing the material and then failing miserably! The doctor could sense my frustration, and we changed just about everything that we do. He said to treat Sam like a teenager. We need to give him insulin BEFORE meals, no more snacking and grazing (for a skinny 6 year old!), and then we cut back his Lantus.

So Tuesday, I started packing Sam's lunch ~ with Peter's help. He has also helped fix ham in the frying pan and scrambled eggs to replace the Cheerios Sam loves. And now I go to school before lunch to check his blood sugar and give him insulin based on what I think he will eat - not what I know he ate! This should give the insulin a head start and not give Sam's sugar time to spike and then have to be brought down. It is so hard to judge. Today was a snow day. It was tough on the boys to tell Sam "no" when he wanted certain things at certain times. But we do have some "freebie" foods that don't require insulin, and we will continue to pray and find more things he likes and will eat. And we will pray that he very much dislikes things that are not good for him. So that is how we have started this week. His numbers have been up and down - but no low bsl's which is what I fear now. And we decreased his Lantus (24 hour insulin), so he will have to adjust to that. Please pray we will figure it out. And with diabetes, it is pretty much guaranteed that when we do, it will change again! We have worked so hard to keep up with him, so maybe using that diligence and doing somethings differently we will get him on the right track. It is so frustrating!

But that was not all on Monday. Andrew came home, ran, took a shower, and then he had two terrible seizures. He stopped breathing, and if Pete had not been here I would have had to call 911 for help. Pete got him breathing, but he stopped again so he had to give him Valium which puts him out for the next day for sure - so he missed a valuable school day. The Valium also helped him not have any more. I slept on the couch in the den right outside our bedroom so Andrew could sleep in my spot and Pete could keep an eye on him. Pete stayed home with him on Tuesday, and I know they were both exhausted. Dr. Adams checked Andrew out for me on Tuesday evening and did not find anything like flu, sinus, or anything. We hope and pray that it won't happen again and that he will grow through and out of this! Andrew is older now, and I hesitate to share details that would bother him. But I will say this - these scare me to death and to see him going through that is almost unbearable for Pete and me.

I have had friends and family to call, come by in person to make sure I had not pulled out clumps of my hair, and pray, pray, pray. I also turned back to Psalm 13, and one of my Beth Moore books had scriptures right together where I needed to see them. In weakness and fear (and frustration and defeat), I seem to hear and understand more. I do need to work on keeping that understanding with me. I also had messages from people who have been through more than I can imagine, but I know they have. And I see God working through them, and it is some of the best encouragement I can get. I also have some practical friends who help me see things the way they are. This is not about me. It feels like it a lot of times, but it's not about me.

We had snow last night and may see more tonight! Our fire is going, our fridge is full of milk (no one believes how much my boys drink!), and everyone seems good now. So thanks for the prayers that you lift up for us. They sustain us and help us and keep us going.

Thanks! Happy Snow!!!!