John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

This verse (and many others) have been a source of comfort this past week!  But let me back up...

Last Friday I took Brylie in to see her pediatrician.  Her teacher had mentioned that she had been going to the bathroom a lot the day before and we noticed she had a rash on her cheeks.  I thought maybe she had a bladder infection so I made an appointment thinking we would get an antibiotic and be home before dinner.  While we were there I told her doctor that the last couple of weeks she had been eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom constantly.  She was also exhausted all the time.  I thought maybe she was going through a growth spurt??

They tested her urine and knew right away something was off.  Next was the blood sugar test.  The numbers were somewhere in the 500's (I don't remember exactly because at the time that didn't mean anything to me).  Normal is between 80-150.   He then told us that Brylie had Type 1 diabetes.  No mistake.  Nothing else it could be.  What?! 

I hear things all the time about Type 2 diabetes and wasn't really sure of the difference?  We were completely ignorant  then, but have been well informed the last week!  Type 2 can sometimes be controlled with diet or oral medication.  They don't necessarily need insulin.  Their pancreas can sometimes work.  He informed us that 1) there is nothing we could have done/not done to prevent this (we didn't feed her too many cookies, etc.), 2) it is totally random and they still don't know the actual causes (could be genetic although not on either side of our families - just the way her genes reacted to a possible virus?), 3) her pancreas does not work, 4) she will be dependent on insulin for the rest of her life.

He called the hospital and got her a room.  He said go home and pack a bag because we would be spending the next few days in the hospital getting her blood sugar regulated and becoming educated on this disease.  My head was spinning as I left to start getting things organized...still in shock...crying on the phone to Geoff as I'm trying to get both kids home...so many emotions that we would process over the next few days!

We spent 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital and have learned so much!!  We have to prick Brylie's finger 6-8 times a day to test her blood sugar (which we are still working on getting and staying in normal range).  Her mealtimes have become very regimented...she has to eat 3 meals and 3 snacks a day, 2 hours apart, carbs counted and calculated, insulin calculated and given (through injections) 4x daily.  It has been life changing for all of us!

It has been a roller coaster of emotions...one minute sad that she has to go through this and will have to manage this for the rest of her life...another minute thankful that this is something that is manageable and that she can still have a normal life!  It can be overwhelming to think about the many things there are to watch and worry about with this disease (is she high?  is she low?  will it drop in the night and we lose her??).  But we are choosing to be positive and not give in to fear.  We trust that The Lord is in control and this was not a surprise to Him!  In so many ways we feel His hand in this and all the ways He has prepared our family for this challenge.  We already see specific answers to prayers and are thankful for so many things! :

• God is in control
• Our sweet girl's positive attitude
• That we caught it before she got a lot sicker and became a crisis 
• That she handles the pricks/pokes so well now! (which she had a hard time with at first)
• Family and friends that have all been so supportive praying and bringing us meals and gifts (thank you!!!)
• Wonderful doctors and facilities here in Dallas
• Advances in technology made each year
• That Geoff already counts carbs and we happen to have 3 food scales already ;)
• That I am home with the kids and able to go to her school anytime she will need me
• The sweet and knowledgeable school nurse that will take such good care of Brylie!
• That we weren't still living overseas when this happened
• For Brylie's sweet teacher who understands and loves her
• For the timing of Spring Break.  Geoff had already taken this week off and we can have time to get her regulated and organized!
• That she hasn't really complained about any changes in diet (we are basically giving her the same foods she was used to eating, just at different times and using different amounts)

We are a little over a week in and each day gets a little better!  We know that eventually everything will just become intuitive and this will all be on the backburner of our daily lives...but for now we are taking it one day at a time and continuing to learn and count and plan, etc.!  Thank you for all the prayers and support everyone!! 

I took this picture at the pediatrician's office before we found anything out.  I was just going to show Geoff the rash on her face (which turned out to be a little virus that went away).  I didn't realize how poorly she must have been feeling! :(

The first night in the hospital was rough.  I had taken her right after school to the doctor and she was already hungry.  They eat lunch at 10:45!  So then we went straight to the hospital and they wouldn't let her eat!  Her little body was already starving from the previous couple of weeks (she had lost at least 5 pounds).  She didn't end up getting any food until about 2:30am!

Then she was able to have breakfast, woohoo!  Her face is a little swollen from all the fluids they were pumping in.  She was so happy to eat!

We ventured out of the room to check out the elaborate train they had set up downstairs.  Children's has a lot of fun things for the kids that have to be there...

For two days we had a stream of doctors and educators come in to talk to us.  A child life specialist came by to talk to Brylie and she got to practice giving her "Sally" doll insulin :)

So many fun things from friends and family to cheer her up! :)

Little brother came to visit.  He said Type 1 diabetes makes Mommy cry and you get a lot of toys ;)

A few nights ago Brylie said she couldn't sleep because her brain was so full of questions about diabetes!  She is processing things in her own time and way.  I love her.  I had her write down a list of questions that she had and we talked about it.  She was getting frustrated that she couldn't think/write the way she normally does and I explained that when her blood sugar is out of range it can be like a cloud around her brain.  She was worried she wasn't smart!  I reassured her that she is just as smart and that when she is in her normal range she will be able to tell (and eventually be able to tell when she is high or low).  She felt special when I told her there was just one other boy at school with Type 1.  She said she wants to meet another little girl her age with this (we are working on it!).

I took this today.  She has some of her "diabetes stuff" out...our precious girl is such a gift and inspires us every day!  Brylie we love you so very much!!!