What's Up?

** Holden has graduated and been oriented to his new college. It's the same college that Michael and I both attended. We went to orientation with him and it felt like going home. It was strange. When I walked into the English building I turned to Michael and said it brought back memories, not because of the sites, but the smell. It smelled the same and it brought back a lot of memories. Anyway, Holden is now registered for his classes and ready to start school in the fall. He moves into his apartment on August 23rd and his first day of classes is August 25th.

** Riley had an endo appointment on the 18th. His A1C was down to 7.4 which makes me happy, but not elated. I would like to have it a little closer to 7, but I'll take it. We sat and talked with Dr. Morris for a long time. She is closing her practice at the end of the month. We discussed our options as far as another endo and I made a decsion. I'll make an appointment with them and see how it goes. I know there is no way we will love them like we love Dr. Morris.

** Diabetes doesn't get as much of my attention as it used to. That's not to say that it doesn't get any attention. I guess maybe it's getting the proper amount of attention. I don't think about it as much, only when I have to think about it. Like, at Riley's end of the year party at school when they started passing out little juice jugs that were nothing but pure sugar. When Riley turned to me and said "Can I have one?" I had to tell him no and gave him a 2g juice pouch instead. He took it and went on his way while a group of mothers all lamented how sorry they felt for him. Or, the time at the family reunion when he had eaten a piece of cake and a piece of chocolate but when I'm standing at the dessert table trying to pick something out for myself he asks if he can have another piece of cake I say no. The woman standing next to me said, "Oh, poor thing. I feel so sorry for him." Why? Because he didn't eat the whole dessert table like you? I'm only going to have one piece of cake too. Or, last night when I changed his needle and he howled like a banshee. I'm not sure exactly what a banshee sounds like, but I'm pretty sure Riley's screams last night were pretty close. So, yeah, it's still there. It still causes my emotions to run the gamut some times, but my emotions aren't as extreme as they used to be.

** My mom just got out of the hospital yesterday. She went to the emergency room Saturday night having chest pressure. When they hooked her up to the heart monitor he heart rate was running in the 40s and low 50s. They admitted her to the hospital to run tests, but they still don't really know what's wrong. She's going to wear a monitor at home and also have some more tests run. I just talked to her on the phone. Her biggest problem now is that she is worn out. I guess having a low heart rate for so long will cause you to be fatigued. The problem is all of her tests and follow up appointments are scheduled for next month. That's too far away in my opinion. If she doesn't start feeling better soon I'm going to call and see what I can get done earlier.

** My last day of work for the summer is June 29th. Then, I'll have 5 weeks off before I have to start back. I can't wait!

Complications

When I dropped Riley off at my mom’s this morning she told me that she had gotten a call that one of my relatives with Type 2 diabetes was in the hospital and was going to have his foot amputated today. This same relative had his other foot removed a few years ago, but due to some problems ended up with a below the knee amputation a little while later. He now walks with the aide of a cane and prosthesis.

Anytime I hear of someone with diabetes losing a limb a small knot forms in the pit of my stomach. I pray every day that Riley will be spared of complications and that he will continue on the same responsible path on which he has started.

On the day Riley was diagnosed there was a long one hour ride to the doctor’s office. I’m a nurse and the only people with diabetes I had ever dealt with had Type 2 diabetes. And, to be honest, 9 out 10 of them had some form of complication, be it blindness, amputations, or kidney disease. All the way to the doctor that is all I could picture for my little boy. I could only imagine what complications would face him since he was diagnosed at such an early age.

I’ve learned a lot over the past 3 ½ years. I’ve “met” many, many people who have lived with Type 1 diabetes for 20+ years with nary a complication. And, most of them were diagnosed when insulin therapy was primitive to say the least. There was no carb counting and there were no blood sugar machines. And, yet, they stand, on their own two feet, complication-free. They’ve lived long, happy lives. Many of them are not only parents, but grandparents as well.

Still, hearing of a PWD developing complication brings up those fears I’ve tucked way back in the back of my mind. And, it makes me long for a cure more than ever before.

This Is It

Riley's last day of school was today. He is now officially a second-grader. My mom took him out for ice cream to celebrate. Luckily, his sugar cooperated and was 81 at the time.

I'm getting ready to leave work. Once I get home I will change and head off to Holden's baccalaureate service. Graduation is at 10 in the morning.

I've cried a lot this week. I tear up at the drop of a hat. I know people have looked at me strangely, because I can just be standing there and a thought will hit me and I'll get tears in my eyes.

I'm sure there will be more tears tonight and tomorrow. I know he's going to be OK. And, I'm excited for all he has left to experience. But, this is one of those milestones that really get to you. Bittersweet is really the only way to describe it.

Once I get through tonight and tomorrow I'll be OK until it gets closer to him moving away to college. I'll post some graduation pictures when I get a chance.