ME: "Emma where do you get your test?"
Emma: grabbing her leg and awkwardly holding it up with her head cocked to the side "tesht?.......my fute."
Me: "...and where else..?"
Emma: Holding up her tiny hand and extending her index looking very closely at it she responds "Pinger."
Me: "..and where do you get your insulin?"
Emma: "..my but.." Reaching around and pointing to her back. But we will pretend she says "but" it makes for a better post.
Emma " hewp da strip go to the garbage?" "ALL DONE!"
When i grab her test kit she will actually see me go get it and run to me and grab it from my hands then go to where she wants to get tested at that time. She chooses a different location to do the test all the time. One time it will be on her Dora chair the next will be on your lap in the kitchen.
She helps as you can see above. We let her see the number even if she doesn't know what the numbers mean but at least she knows there is an effect from doing the test. We actually emphasize the number more than anything else.
As for her insulin it really depends on us how she reacts. If I get a really good line and a still girl she probably doesn't even feel it. But a few factors have to line up before she doesn't feel it at all. I think I have accomplished this a couple of times.
You know this has really affected us when today before lunch I told Denise that I "felt a little low, and need to eat very soon". She looked at me with the most serious of looks and said she felt low too. Oye Vay.
8 comments:
Wow...it's amazing that you guys have become so in tune to what anyone else outside of your life would take for granted. When I feel low, I know I need to eat, but I don't think of it in the same context as you do. I don't think "Oh..I feel a little low...I need to eat". You're thinking numbers, levels, etc., and all I'm thinking of is that I need to eat something or I'll be screwed for the rest of the day with a headache.
When I think of feeling "low", I think of feeling down and depressed, not low in blood sugar.
Emma is going to learn everything she needs to know from you and Denise because you want to learn everything possible. By including her at this stage, there won't be a big learning curve for her when she's 8. Know what I mean? She'll already know what to do.
I know you know all of that, but hopefully hearing it from someone else makes you feel a bit better.
Take care, and I'll talk to you soon.
xo,
Char
Thanks for your comments. It is nice to see you checking inhere from time to time. Im sure one day my blogging will more or less slow down. But for now i need to doccument this and such.
Thanks again.
I read a lot of diabetes blogs and I've authored my own for the last year and a half, but I don't often cry. It takes a lot for someone's words to bring me to tears.
Yet something about reading Emma's perception of diabetes brought a complete stop to my work day as I had to excuse myself to wipe my tears away.
You have a beautiful family. You have a beautiful daughter. My thoughts are with you as you embark on this journey with diabetes, but know that you aren't alone. There are so many people with diabetes living tremendous lives out there.
Emma will be just fine.
I know this because my mother wondered the same thing about me when I was diagnosed at the age of six. And here I am, twenty years later, and I'm just fine.
All the best,
Kerri.
Thanks Kerri that was a really nice introduction to the OC Website with your comment. Such as everything else this past couple of weeks it was the fear of the unknown but i am glad to see you took the time to read and forward your kind thoughts to us and our family.
Char and Jenn thanks too for always leaving your support on here as you bothknow im not a good phone talker guy. But so much appreciate your support and love through all of this.
Thanks All!!!
Hi,
I found you via Kerri's webiste (and she's only fantastic, by the way - she's a huge inspiration for me). Welcome to the OC. I always say these are the best people I never wanted to meet.
I have a daughter with diabetes, too. She's 12 now, but was diagnosed a few weeks before her third birthday. There have been some crappy times but at this point, it's just our lives. It sounds like it's becoming yours, too. It hurst and it's hard, but honestly, you do just get used to it. I never thought I would and I poo-pooed people who said that to me, but after a while, you really don't even think about it, you just do it.
I'm going to poke around your blog a little more, just wanted to say hello.
Hello,
I saw you on the Diabetes OC "new member" list. Welcome.
I'm so glad you found the OC. The members are all very compassionate, expressive, intelligent and funny. You are certain to get some valuable tips from the other parents.
I dont have any kids myself, but I've had db for 32 years and we're all in this together.
Wishing you good days ahead,
Kathy
just wanted to say hi and welcome to the o.c. your story about emma has really touched me. i've been type 1 diabetic for about 7 years now (i'm 20) and i just wanted to let you know that it really will be ok. it's never easy, and there's def. going to be those days where you just want to break down and cry, but eventually those days become far and few between. soon you'll have more and more great days ... i'm currently on a minimed pump and since i went on it, it's changed my life greatly.
you're going to be ok. this community is more of a help then i could have ever imagined. these people will soon become your best friends. good luck! and give Emma a hug for me.
It breaks my heart that Emma has to go through this, but this post was completely sweet and adorable. Her baby talk got me.
It's amazing how well young kids adapt to such a life altering thing such as diabetes.
My son was 2 1/2 when he was diagnosed and has been going strong these past 4 years. Having diabetes phases him at times like when he has to get tested before he eats, but otherwise, he goes along without missing a beat.
Emma sounds like she's so mature :)
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