Shirley and Jamie V.
06-20-2008, 05:17 PM
We are heading to the two year anniversary with D. As with many of the members here, this milestone seems a little easier than some of the others as we have all adjusted to "life with diabetes."
My "ah ha" moment came the other day. My daughter, now nine, was diagnosed just a few weeks before her brother was born. He has never know our family without diabetes. He is now 22 months and likes to "join in" the dinner conversations with his two sisters. As we're getting ready to sit down, there is always a lot of commotion and noise - I'm yelling things like "test your blood." "What was your number?' and "Bolus for 55."
Over the noise, the baby likes to yell out too. The other night he yelled something and it sounded like a number. I looked over and said "What did you say?" and he yelled "Maggie 59!" He's yelling out NUMBERS because that is what he hears us doing! I had to laugh.
When I thought about the whole scene, I realized that this is who we are now as a family. We are a family with rituals and routines, like every other family. At six months, I was so overwhelmed. At one year I was exhausted and I think I hit bottom at 18 months. I've noticed a similar progression for other members too. Somehow this funny little moment on the eve of the second anniversary made me see our life with diabetes in a more positive light. We've made it through the worst and now we are really LIVING with diabetes.
A special thank you to Ellen who wrote a very uplifting response to another member who was especially low at the 18 month mark a few weeks ago. I don't have the insight or experience to compose such a helpful and compassionate response and truly respect her ability to do so.
So to those who feel low, it does get better, and to those whose words soothed me in my hard times, thank you.
My "ah ha" moment came the other day. My daughter, now nine, was diagnosed just a few weeks before her brother was born. He has never know our family without diabetes. He is now 22 months and likes to "join in" the dinner conversations with his two sisters. As we're getting ready to sit down, there is always a lot of commotion and noise - I'm yelling things like "test your blood." "What was your number?' and "Bolus for 55."
Over the noise, the baby likes to yell out too. The other night he yelled something and it sounded like a number. I looked over and said "What did you say?" and he yelled "Maggie 59!" He's yelling out NUMBERS because that is what he hears us doing! I had to laugh.
When I thought about the whole scene, I realized that this is who we are now as a family. We are a family with rituals and routines, like every other family. At six months, I was so overwhelmed. At one year I was exhausted and I think I hit bottom at 18 months. I've noticed a similar progression for other members too. Somehow this funny little moment on the eve of the second anniversary made me see our life with diabetes in a more positive light. We've made it through the worst and now we are really LIVING with diabetes.
A special thank you to Ellen who wrote a very uplifting response to another member who was especially low at the 18 month mark a few weeks ago. I don't have the insight or experience to compose such a helpful and compassionate response and truly respect her ability to do so.
So to those who feel low, it does get better, and to those whose words soothed me in my hard times, thank you.