Monday, June 11, 2012

The Best Laid Plans...

How does that saying go?

"The best way to make God laugh is tell Him your plans"? 

That pretty much sums it up today.

Today we were SUPPOSED to be spending the afternoon at a baseball game with JDRF.  It was a Family Walk Team Rally.  I was supposed to give a short speech and then talk to families about creating a walk video.  Then we were supposed to enjoy a baseball game!

Instead, we spent the day on the couch with Sweetpea.

We have battling overnight basal rates.  Back and forth across the tightrope we go. 

She spent the night running a little high.  Not CRAZY high - but high.  And corrections were not bringing her down. 

By morning, her blood sugar was 330.

But ketones were 3.2.  In case you don't know the blood ketone conversion (and although they are expensive little buggers, I LOVE being able to test ketones with blood instead of urine.  Not only is it more accurate, it's easier and less messy!) that translates to SUPER HIGH KETONES.  Anything over 1.5 is high.

I woke this morning to Sweets poking my shoulder and saying, "Mommy.... I'm gonna throw up."

And she did.

A lot.

She spent the morning retching into a bowl and laying on the couch.  We did a pod change and a sub q correction.  Her blood sugar started coming down pretty quickly.  Ketones took longer. 

Finally, this evening she showed only trace. 

For Sweets to spend more than 15 minutes sitting down, you know she doesn't feel well.  Poor girl was a sick cookie today.

We decided against calling the hospital.  I know they would have heard ketones and throwing up and ordered us to the ER.  We wanted to give it a shot (har har) at home before taking her in.  The ER is a really crappy place to spend the day.

Even so, Sweets was really bummed to miss out on the baseball game and swimming with friends. 

And that got me to thinking...  how often does diabetes mess up our plans?

Of course, there are the days like today.  The times when a ripped out site or high blood sugar or low blood sugar forces us to immediately change our plans.  Whether it's eating something or going somewhere or doing whatever we had in mind.

Annoying.

But it's more than that....

What about the friend - or friends - that you were so certain you'd be close to forever?  And one day you realize that you haven't spoken in weeks?  Or months?  Or years?  And you WANT to change that and do something about it... but then you worry that they are mad at you for dropping off the face of the earth.  Or you can't find their phone number.  Or you'd have to arrange a sitter in order to go out and that's whole different problem.  And you're just so darn tired...  You say you'll do it tomorrow.  And tomorrow always seems to be a day away.

What about your plans to have a bigger family?  Another child?  And now you don't know how you'd ever manage...

What about your dream of going back to school?  Or going back to work?  But then there's the issue of child care...  And there isn't always someone willing to learn how to manage diabetes.  And what if you didn't have enough time to focus on blood sugar patterns and changing rates and then your child suffered? 

What about that vacation you were planning on taking?  But now you have no one to watch your kids.  Or you can't afford it because you spend so incredibly much on health care and supplies.  Or you're too scared to travel with diabetes.

What about the job you want... You'd like to switch jobs but then what about the hours?  Or the benefits?  And you can't risk losing your insurance or your salary.

What about that get together with friends?  But you haven't seen them in so long.  What would you talk about?  Your brain is so consumed with numbers and the lack of sleep has turned you into a mush mind.  You're not sure you could string words together.  And who would watch your child?  Or if your child went, you think you'd just spend the entire night watching him and wouldn't enjoy yourself anyway.  What if someone ask you how she's doing.  And you just don't know what to say?  And you're tired of saying "fine" because it's not exactly true but no one would really understand if you tried to explain it.  And they probably all think you talk about diabetes way too much anyway. 

Diabetes is like throwing a pebble into a pond.  The ripples go on and on and on...

And it's hard because most of the people who were in your life BEFORE don't see all those ripples.  They can't comprehend how those ripples end up touching every part of your life. 

Those ripples push you out into the middle of the pond.  And it's lonely there. 

You had a life back on the shore but when you look back that seems like so long ago you really can't remember it.  And you're different now anyway.

Luckily, there are other people in the pond.  Other people fighting the ripples.  Other people who know what it's like.

Same Same.

I wish I had some incredible words of wisdom. 

But all I've got is this:  I think there are times when we have to stand up to diabetes and say YOU WILL NOT RUN OUR LIVES.  We're going to that party.  We're taking that trip.  We're having another baby.  We're going back to school or work. 

And there are times when it's ok to just say Well... change of plans.  I'm going this way now and that's ok.  You are welcome to join me - but I can't go back.  This is just the way things are now.  This is way it has to be.

So I'll leave you with some of my favorite quotes from Pinterest...  Knowing that we are living the lives that God intended for us.  And that only constant in life is change.









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13 comments:

  1. Hope she is feeling better - one question, could you explain to me a sub q correction?
    thanks
    Amanda

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    1. Sub q is fancy medical speak for a shot! I probably spelled it wrong!

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  2. Sounds like we had the same kind of day. Hannah was up all night this past Saturday vomiting with trace ketones. Her blood sugar never went above 200, but we were still worried about a trip to the ER (aren't we always). Her bs came down nicely and an ER trip was avoided this time, but she was one puny girl all day Sunday. So ready for diabetes to take a hike!

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  3. Oh I hope Sweets is feeling better today. And hey, take a raft on over to my ripple in the pond anytime :)

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  4. Oh Hallie, I can totally relate to every word you just wrote. It changes everything, then you think it just possibly can't sometimes, and you try to forge on. As much as we let it ride second on this journey, sometimes it sure does take a front seat, and sometimes even the wheel.
    Hope she is feeling better.

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  5. Thanks for sharing what we all feel sometimes. It's nice to connect even over a blog with others that fight the same battles. Bless Sweetie's heart and we always wish you all well.

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  6. Thanks for posting about how we all feel sometimes. It's nice to be able to relate even over the internet to others fighting the same battles. Bless Sweetie's heart and we wish you all well always.

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  7. Oh wow.....I couldn't say it better! You have described my feelings to a T. Its sad to say buy it I'd comforting to know there are others that understand even though they are not a part of your day to day! Thank you for sharing this!

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  8. Just had the same day....tried all pump site change : still 300
    Second site change 300...
    Insuline change....starting to go down....
    Unfortunately diabetes enter from front door and does not ind the exit anymore...
    Thanks for sharing...feeling less lonely on this
    Silvia

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  9. I think I miss conversation the most... The type that doesn't involve d. It reminds me of when you get married, have kids and loose touch with your single friends, only worse. Hope the princess is feeling better.

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  10. The ripples...and how they are invisible to most...hit close to home. AND...you get used to the ripples. You get used to people not getting it...for the most part. But once in awhile...it creeps back up on you.

    So sorry for Sweet Pea's sick day. Give her a (((HUG))) from Big Joe. xo

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  11. Oh, boy! I am so sorry you are going through all of that. I also know how very lucky I was to have been diagnosed as a teenager, rather than as a child. Anyway, in the future you might want to consider the E.R., and I'm only saying that because they would have rehydrated her there with IV fluids.

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