Hey everyone! I wanted to post a few things.. We are home, we’re alive, and Lilly is just fine.
First up, THANK YOU for all the emails/calls/comments/etc. I will be trying to get back to everyone in the next week, but right now we’re focusing on getting settled and adjusting to life now. Please know that everything was/is appreciated, more than you’ll know.
Lilly is okay, she’s laying on the beanbag watching cartoons like a normal Saturday morning. The only thing different now is that we know she is Type 1 Diabetic. For those interested, here’s the lowdown of what happened:
About 2 am on Tuesday Lilly began vomiting and we thought she had a flu bug. We spent the nite on the couch dealing with vomiting/etc and then all day Tuesday she was very weak and not happy, I again thought it was just a flu thing, getting over being sick. She hadn’t thrown up since about 7am, was just weak and tired.
Tuesday evening Sam commented that something didn’t look right, and that Lilly looked gaunt/pale. I passed it off to her just being sick, said she’d probably just need a few days to get over it. She hadn’t moved much all day, was just laying watching TV and sleeping, drinking pedialyte/water.
I slept on the couch in the living room with her, and she started to complain about her tummy hurting/side hurting. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but thought maybe she was just being dramatic? She also started breathing more heavily and whimpering a bit.
Wed. in the am she was no better, and I was getting concerned. She also had started very heavy breathing and seemed kind of “out of it”. We decided we’d better take her to the doctor, and after going ot the doc (they were out to lunch) we took her to the ER.
They admitted her and then the whirlwind started. Her blood oxygen level was really low (75%) so immediately they put her on oxygen. Then they were talking about PH and something else that I can’t quite remember. Within about 5 minutes, however, the ER doc said that he was pretty sure that we were dealing with DKA, diabetes.
Both Sam and I were shocked, had to ask a few times to get it reaffirmed what they had said. Sam’s older brother is Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed when he was 2 years old (now 37). So Sam dealt with this when he was growing up.
Lilly Tuesday evening in the hospital:
Wednesday Morning:
Changing rooms:
We were sent to a hospital an hour away to deal with the DKA and get her back to normal. We spent 2 nites there as Lilly was monitored/etc and they came in to teach us about what was going on. They sent us home yesterday because Lilly was tired of being at the hospital and really we had learned the basics, the rest of it is what we’ll learn as we go thru life dealing with it.
Obviously I am understanding the basics and feel much better knowing that the shot isn’t as scary as I thought, I can do that, what is scaring me is knowing what, how much, when, how to plan, etc etc etc. Yesterday afternoon we were released from the hospital around 4pm and Lilly was adamant about going to the church’s trick or treat. We figured we better jump in and get going on real life, so we tested and gave her her shot and went.
At the Trunk or Treat looking MUCH better!
My Bee and Butterfly!
I told Sam I hate not knowing all the specifics, how to deal with any one situation. For instance, Lilly got up this morning and tested at 208, ate breakfast (cereal and milk).. I calculated 1 1/2 units for where her BG was at, and then 1 1/2 for what she actually ate for breakfast, so gave her 3 units.
Now just about an hour and a half later she is saying she’s hungry again and wanted some chips. I’m stuck wondering how i deal with that? I know there’s “free” foods I could give her, but she didn’t want that. I don’t want to be constantly giving her shots, and still feel like I really have no idea what I’m doing, like I”m doing a science experiment and hoping I get good results?
I know I’ll learn as we go, but at this point my head is spinning and I am just overwhelmed with information there is out there and how to assimilate it all and make it work for Lilly.
Right now she is taking it okay, she’s letting us do the testing and shots well, but she’s very on edge and crying over little things (like her sister opening her crayons). My biggest concern is her and making sure she’s okay with everything.
I know this is long, I’m a jumbled mess right now. I know we’ll get thru this and be okay, but I’m looking forward to when I actually know what I’m doing and don’t feel so clueless.
I wanted to post to let you all know where we’re at. I will probably be MIA a bit in the next week as we get adjusted to what is going on and how we are going to deal with this. We’re hoping to get Lilly back to school in a week or so, she’s already asking about it. If you have a moment, please pray that things go smoothly and her little heart is at peace. She is taking this so much better than I would, like a champ. My little girl is such a super star.
Thank you again for all your support and emails. Those of you who emailed with contact info for those who are in similar situations, I really appreciate it and will be using that info in the weeks to come as I have questions, so thank you especially.
