Thursday, November 09, 2006

HI this is Emma,

I am almost two. And i have type 1 diabetes. But good thing for my Mom i barely know that i have it. Only when i have to get tested and get my insulin in the morining. I am getting really good at doing my test.
I help my mommy becasue she onnly has two hands and there is alot for her to do in the morning. I usually find a great spot where my toys are so i can show my dollies what i am doing.
I take out the pen and pass it to my mom. Then i unzip the zipper where the lancets are. I want to take the top off but i let my mommy doit.
I then take out the blood glucose meter and put a strip in it.
I like to get the pen ready so i pull the trigger back and give it to mom. I hold out my finger and she tests my blood. It takes 5 seconds for it to give us my reading.
Then i get my milk.
I do not know how daddy does it but breakfast is ready when were done the test and so is my 1.5 units of insulin.
I will take off my shirt for him and lay on the floor hugging my fishy then daddy says "all done" and gives me kisses and hugs. Thats the best part of the insulin.
Now i am going to have all the energy i need for the day.
Auntie Linda tests me before lunch. She is really good at testing too. And really good at alot of other things too. I love her.
I just have to eat everything that everyone tells me to eat. But if i dont eat it all up its funny because i need to get my carbs from somewhere so i get mmmmmm PUDDING! They have not caught on that i have figured this out so its still fun to me.
I guess i have been growing alot lately because my blood glucose has been a little lower than usual. But i know my mom and dad will figure this out.
My mom worries alot about me. But i counted to 7 this morning just to show her i am ok.
I love my cat. He doesn't have diabetes, but he knows i do.
Next week is my first clinic visit since i was diagnosed. I am really excited for it.

Thanks for listening

16 comments:

Kerri. said...

Chris,

What a wonderfully heart-breaking and insightful post. It must be hard, climbing inside her mind and trying to feel what she feels, but because you are trying to understand and take the very best care of her possible, you are her hero.

You, and all the other parents of diabetic children, are the reason that we, the diabetic children, grow up to be so strong and confident. We learn by watching you. And Emma, from what I've learned about you and your loving family, will be just fine.

Give her a hug. And give your wife a hug, too. You guys will be fine, too. Promise.

-- Kerri.

Anonymous said...

Chris - our stories are so similar it's frightening. Danielle was diagnosed at 18 months of age. We go to the same clinic as you - DER-CA. What would we do without those people??? Gillian and Dr. Dean were my lifeline for the first 8 months after she was diagnosed. We were just there last Friday for a check.

Big hugs to Emma and to you and your wife. We know what it's like because we live the same thing every day. Hang in there :)

Char said...

As I've said before I can't offer advice on a subject I don't have first hand knowledge about, but you guys are still doing great with everything. I bet looking back to last month, you never would have thought you'd be where you are now with Emma and her diabetes. You probably didn't imagine Emma would be where she is with all of this. Just think of the progress you've all made up to this point, and put yourselves ahead another 6 months, and just imagine where you'll be then.

It's very obvious that you have a ton of support from others in your situation, and that is so awesome.

I know the doctors and dietitians and the clinic will be blown away by Emma when they see her next week. How could they not be?

When's my next tesh?

Shannon said...

This was so eery because I was able to place Brendon in this post. Everything was so parallel to when he was about Emma's age.

Brendon went for a week eating ice cream for dinner because he wouldn't eat what I made him and caught on after one night that if he didn't eat dinner, then he'd get ice cream just to get those carbs in.....

Emma is an amazing tough little girl and so bright! And she's lucky to have two dedicated parents.

Chris said...

Kerri,
Thank you for your words. Yes it is difficult to try to understand what she is feeling. This is how we use this site at times when pwd describe thier highs and lows eating paterns pumping blousing etc. It gives us sometihng to discuss and start from.

Jaimie,
Im really happy you dropped by. Im assuming you live in Brandon?! Isn't that clinic amazing!!! Dr. Dean is the most brilliant person we have in our lives right now along with nicole, and carla and the others WOW!
It would be nice for our families to chat one day. Lets keep intouch.

Char,
Your precense is your advice. Emma loves you so much and talks about youoften. We like it when you pop by here. You are an amazing support.

Shannon,
Seee i told you they can be interchangable! Those little twerps are too smart for thier own good. Your blog is awesome and i am predicting a landslide win for you in the voting.

Penny Ratzlaff said...

Nice post. Showing life from her perspective was interesting.

I've said before that the best thing about this disease is that Riley doesn't really have to deal with it or worry about it yet. That's my job.

I just hate that one day, it will be all his to take care of on his own.

Anonymous said...

Chris - I'm going to leave you our email address. You are welcome to email me anytime you need to vent or whatever :) It's nice to connect with someone who has a little one going through the same thing.

Yep, can't say enough good stuff about the DER-CA. Dr. Dean is absolutely brilliant!

Anonymous said...

Ummm, here's the email (duh!)

vbo@westman.wave.ca

Scott K. Johnson said...

Great stuff!

Kassie said...

we can only imagine what life is like for our kids, but it sounds like Emma's reality is pretty terrific. kudos to you both.

And "mmmm... pudding" was my favoriet part :)

Shannon said...

LOL @ twerps who are too smart for their own good.

We must remain a united front because we're in for a hell of a ride when they're older....and probably smarter than us!

Chris said...

Penny,
That "one day" is one of our largest and most promminent fears. I hope we all can continue on here so we will still have this support system to use.

Vic,
I think your awesome. and chocomilk does ceretainly rock. The day i was diagnosed that is what they made me drink alot of. I loved that part the best. Ill let you know about the appointment.

Scott,
I hold you in very high regard when it comes to the oc. You were one of the first blogs we read when this all started for us. And we do check you out often. Thanks for being a part of us.

Kassie,
I feel this stage is very important and if we can open up communication withour kids now over this i think everything else will follow and be relatively easier for us. DId that make sense?

Chris said...

Shannon,
Twerps..haha. I was a twerp according to MY dad.
I agree hang on for a wild ride ahead of us.

one_iconoclast said...

Chris!

Cruised by your e-hood again today... Cool stuff. Ever consider writing a kid's book?

e-hugs to you and Denise and Emma,
Sally

Sandra Miller said...

This was beautiful.

Joseph was just shy of nine at diagnosis -- which certainly wasn't easy for him -- but I often think about how much more difficult it would have been had he been younger.

Your strong, amazing little girl -- and the rest of her wonderful family -- are truly inspiring.

Sarah said...

man man man man man. I've come here before, but I haven't been a regular reader. I dont know what to read, autism or diabetes blogs. It doesn't seem I have the time for both. But damn....My daughter, Gracie, was diagnosed with diabetes in October. She is 3 and a half, but man, she reminds me of how you describe your daughter. Man. man. man. (I'm really thinking damn. damn. damn.) It is hard to put the rawness of feelings associated with a new diagnosis of a peanut into perspective.