Archive for the ‘children’ Category:
Chatter at my house
3 yr. old Matthew to Grammie on the phone:
“Grammie, Maggie has blood sugar!”
Matthew to Mom:
“Mommy, why do you keep giving Maggie shots? Stop it!”
Matthew to Mom :
“Mom! Peter called me a human! I’m not a human I’m a kid!” “Peter keeps being annoying!”
Subscribe to the comments for this postUpdate and thank you
.Thank you all for the prayers. We are home now and Maggie is doing much better. She’s still having trouble keeping her blood sugar levels stable sometimes but we know that’s to be expected. Last night was a good night and this morning she had good numbers. 
It’s been kinda scary for all of us and Maggie has been such a trooper with all the pokes and needle sticks. She’s getting 4 shots a day of insulin and numerous finger sticks for blood glucose level checks. Most of the time she’s pretty cheerful but there are moments when she is just tired of it all. Me too.
The reality that your child has a life threatening, lifetime disease is quite sobering. We know it’s livable and eventually will become “normal” but there’s a lot to get used to right now. The likelihood is that she will be fine and grow up healthy and of course we hope and pray for that, but we also know that sometimes the day in day out can be a trial and we are already realizing some of the limits and difficulties of it. Still, though there are difficulties the blessings are already innumerable.
Maggie has understandably become very attached to me and fears being separated from me. I don’t mind of course and I am sure it’s normal. We can see stress in some of the other children too and are spending a lot of time snuggling and holding and talking.
I have canceled my speaking engagement in Kansas City next month as I cannot imagine leaving even for a night. The conference coordinator was very understanding.
I am going no mail or unsubbing from most of my e-groups so that I can focus my attention where it’s most needed. Truth be told it’s hard to focus on anything other than Maggie and the family anyway and that’s as it should be.
Thank you again for the prayers, we have felt them very tangibly these last several crazy days.
A change of direction - a new perspective
Sunday afternoon we rushed our 8yr. old daughter Maggie to the ER because she was having trouble breathing. Within minutes of arriving a new and totally unexpected reality was thrust upon us as we came to realize that our little girl was most likely suffering from Type I diabetes. Her blood sugar was 433 —she was in diabetic ketoacidosis. She was rushed to Penn State Hershey Medical Center where she has been receiving excellent care. The last 30 hours have been very frightening for all of us but we are relieved to know that Maggie is going to be OK. She does indeed have Type I Diabetes and will be on insulin for the rest of her life.
Right now are just trying to get used to the idea of it all. We know that this is a disease that can be lived with and adjusted to well but there are still emotions to deal with when your child is suddenly struck with something that is so potentially life threatening. Among other things it leaves you feeling scared, grateful, protective and oh so vulnerable.
We know that God is in control and we have felt His love very tangibly through this difficult time. We are ever so grateful for the prayers of the family of God, both locally and far and wide. We are thankful for Fr. Matthew who anointed her in the ER and Fr. Leo and Fr. Chuks who prayed over and for her, as well as Fr. Bernard who prays for her from afar.
Maggie is doing very well and will be going home sometime tomorrow. We have been learning how to care for her (I gave her her first shot of insulin tonight) and will be having a detailed, intensive training session tomorrow before we go home. Further prayers for all of us as we adjust to the changes are greatly appreciated.
We’ve had a change of direction and it came with a new perspective. We knew that our life was mightly blessed before but we know it even more so now.
Thank you again for all your prayers –they are truly appreciated!
Thank you also to everyone who has offered to help in terms of the actual living with and understanding diabetes. We are being inundated with information at the moment and have many people helping us to learn what we need to, but we are glad to know there are others we can ask for advice should the need arise.
April’s Shower continues
till not feeling well, better but not great. Unfortunately I did something to my lower back yesterday and am finding everyday movements to be quite painful. It’s annoying because I really have too much to do and don’t need the complication of not being able to do it!
Anyway here are yesterday’s photo’s. Lesson learned: trying to figure out camera settings and play with aperture is not easy (if near impossible) while chasing a busy 16 month old.
But we still had fun!
Playing with the gate is a favorite thing to do, and because of the way it’s made she can open and close it to her heart’s content with no fear of pinched fingers.
That’s my boy!
(far right —my oldest)
Sycamore Township resident in ‘The Odd Couple’
I can’t tell you how badly we all wish we could be there this weekend!!
You know are living in 2008 when…
My 11 yr. old daughter sent this to me in a e-mail (yes from the desk behind me!) .
You know are living in 2008 when…
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list.
Burning up, not out
Christmas is past and soon January will be gone. February stretches before us as we move into the longest days of winter (or what at least feels like the longest days). Since it’s also a leap year we get an extra day of that, ever so short, yet ever so long, month.
And February is notorious for burnout. Gray skies, cold temperatures and restless children can leave even the most enthusiastic of mothers feeling discouraged and tired. It’s only natural, but then maybe that’s the problem. The problem that is, of “me”.
When I feel the stress and challenge of these days I am tempted to go inward. Not spiritually, but selfishly. I want to hibernate, relax, do something for me. But a funny thing happens at my house when I start focusing too much on myself; everyone else starts focusing on themselves too. . .and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you why that’s not a good thing!
Recently I was having a bad morning and feeling quite grumpy as we made our way to mass. Right as we sat down in the pew, Maria became very fussy. I began rocking her in an attempt to soothe her and in untypical fashion she fell asleep immediately. I was concerned she may be sick so I spent the entire mass sitting very still so she could sleep. Holding her, focusing on her needs and participating in the mass as much as I was able, I had no time to think about myself and my grumpiness. She woke up right near the end of mass and was fine but I had gotten the message. You know, the one about how happiness is to be found in focusing on others and not on oneself.
Yep, as always, it’s all about love. It’s about following our Lord’s example and laying down our lives. It’s about burning up that which is not of God and turning towards Him by turning towards others and away from ourselves. No, I’m not saying we moms never need time alone to recharge. Sure we do, but if I am being honest I have to admit that most of the time it’s my own selfishness that leads me towards burnout and not the legitimate demands of my family. And while it can sometimes be tricky discerning what’s necessary and what isn’t, I find recourse to constant and sincere prayer usually helps sort all that out.
Oh I know. . . that’s so contrary to what the world would tell me. The world would tell me that I need to find myself and be fulfilled. But I don’t need to find myself, I know exactly who I am and what fulfills me. The world has no clue. But thanks be to God, I do.
