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!!!!