Come on grandparents!!

[EmmasPapa]

I know you are out there lurking. Reading the posts of your children but not quite comfortable being heard from. Get active in this forum. Learn from the mommies and daddies (our sons and daughters) who struggle each and every day to take care of our precious grandchildren.

It is tough to read the posts from parents that don't seem to get any help from the grandparents - but we can't be like ostriches with our head in the sand. There is a problem with us. We need to be more proactive with our T1 grandkids - our children have a point.

Our children, however, have to understand that older grandparents may not be capable of providing the kind of care their grandkids need. They need to understand that the reason a grandparent(s) doesn't keep a grandchild overnight may very well be concern for the child - that the grandparents know that they might not be as capable as their children. If it is not concern - be ashamed - be very ashamed.

Personally, we are not afraid to keep little Emma overnight - but we do reserve the right to call mom & dad on the cell phone to receive assurance that we are taking good care of their child. I have taken the "pump" online course over and over again and read several T1 books, but it is no substitute for the 365/24 experience of mom & dad.

We are going to try to be more proactive - to take little Emma for extended periods of time, just like we have always done for her non D big brother, and although we know we can never provide the level of care that EmmasMom does, we will be vigilant and dial that cell number whenever we are in doubt.

Note to EmmasMom & BrensDad: Y'all are great and you know that we (both sets of grandparents) will do anything in our power to help. Reading the posts on these forums we are shocked that so many parents seem to get so little help from family. I am just suggesting that some of the parents might try a little harder to get their family involved, and to understand that age introduces some limitations.

Whew - that was tough. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but come on family - GET INVOLVED! Especially you mimis and papas!!! Air your thoughts on this forum. T1's require a team effort.

[willdee3]

Emma'spapa, I am so GLAD that you sent this message. I am so trying to be involved in our little Savannah's life and it has been really hard. She has gotten to come over a few times when she is doing well. You are absolutely right that this is a 365/24 hour thing. I had posted that Savannah went to the doctor the other day. Well, her A1C was 7.4 and the Doctor was so proud that he changed her meds to night time and it is back to square 1.

Now lows of 49, 59, 50 in the middle of the night. Why change things when they are working? Nobody gets any sleep and it is not funny to get up at 12:30 or 2:00 to drink, eat and then check again in 30 minutes. The Doctor says he wants her on LESS medicine. Well duh! When there is a 358 at lunch and a 296 at dinner, you still have to eat and then you have to have MORE insulin to take care of that right? Well, lets just give her another shot! One in the morning and then another one before bed time. Maybe that will decrease the insulin. "Do her shots bother her?"is what the nurse wanted to know.

This is the most nerve racking thing in the world for parents and children. This baby is 4 years old. Of course the shots bother her and us too. We do what it takes to keep her! It is just so frustrating and my daughter-in-law and son are wonderful with her or she wouldn't be 7.4.

Guess I have fussed enough. Anyway, so glad that you have posted so many times and are a proud Grandpapa. It really makes you feel bad when you read about all the grandparents who do not seem to understand that this is all we get! It is not going to be outgrown. I just wish that I could help some of these kids with their babies who depend on them SO much.

I know that this is scary and that some grandparents are not really able to help. The ones who can are golden and the parents and the children really appreciate all the help they can get.

[WestinsMom]

I am not a grandparent, but a mom and I have to say that you all have me crying right now :) I could only wish to have grandparents (parents) as interested as you. Thank you for being there for your grandkids.

[3js]

I know that this is scary and that some grandparents are not really able to help. The ones who can are golden and the parents and the children really appreciate all the help they can get.

My mother-in-law does, and I can tell you, I really do appreciate it. It means the world to me and my family!

[willdee3]

I want you all (parents) to know how much I admire and respect what you do everyday. My youngest grandaughter has T1. She was diagnosed when she was 2 but I believe she had the T1 LONG before that. She cried from the time she was born almost all the time and we couldn't understand why.

Thankfully, my darling dil took her to the doctor and INSISTED they check her BG. It was so high they couldn't get a reading. They in turn sent her to the ER and their monitor only read 800 and it topped out. Immediately she was sent to Children's Hospital in Birmingham for 3 or 4 days where she was diagnosed and started her insulin. IT WAS TERRIBLE!!!!!! She would scream and ask "Mommy ,Help me!", "Daddy, Help me!". Even after coming home for several weeks it was that way. "No, Nanna" don't hold me so they can give me shots! Finally, I held, Mommy or Daddy gave the shot and she screamed "Someboby, help me!"

This was 2 years ago and she is a beautiful little girl who is so smart and so sweet. She just goes on now like a little trooper and does what needs doing. If we go out to eat she tells the waitress she has to have diet Dr. Pepper because she has diabetes.

People who haven't been involved with a child who has T1 have NO clue what it does to an entire family!

My son and daughter-in-law are wonderful with this child. They take excellent care of her and her sister who is non-diabetic. Both of them talk about her carbs, her insulin and the things she has to have or needs.
Her older sister is more protective than the parents when she comes to our house. They take camping trips, go to yard sales, and all sorts of things together. I know that all of this is very hard on the whole family but somehow they keep their spirits up. I am very thankful that they are MY family and love all of them very much!

My husband and I have tried to learn all we can in order to help and are getting to keep her when ever we can. We are all still waiting for the big OVER NIGHT visit but it will happen. Savannah told me so the other day. Ha! Ha!

[jules12]

My Mom helps me out too - How awesome that you were there to help with the shots and give some support during that time. I am sure your son and dil so appreciates you. I don't know what I would do without my Mom and my Sister who support me and are willing to watch my son. Hang in there - I am sure the overnights will come - My son is older - around 7 and he has spent the night with Grandma. Grandma did great!!!!! :)

[Miss Champers]

I am not a grandparent, but a mom and I have to say that you all have me crying right now :) I could only wish to have grandparents (parents) as interested as you. Thank you for being there for your grandkids.

Same here! My parents aren't interested in learning about my sons diabetes amd they never take him out for the day or have him sleep over because of it. I must say i'm feeling quite bitter about my parents over it.

[janeirene]

I have never posted in this forum, I guess I have been what you all call a 'lurker'....love reading what is going on in other's lives. Well, I am grandmom to Ashley, dx'd on 9/13/2001 at the age of 4. She has been on needles and novopens all this time. Recently, she went on the novopen, and the lantus pen at nighttime. After all this time, her Mom has finally consented to trying the pump. We have been taking classes to learn as much as we can, and Ashley is so excited! We have ordered the Animas 2020, in her favorite color of pink! :o As for overnights, I have always had Ashley for overnights, since she was born. And having diabetes has not changed that. I have learned all I can about taking care of Ashley, she is so very special to me and to all of us. Don't be afraid to take you D grandchild home....at the age of 11, Ashley knows what she has to do, and she has learned carb counting and how to figure out what she needs...beleive me she is not into Math:mad:. But before injecting herself, she shows us what the amount of insulin she came up with, and if it is right, she doses herself. If not, we go over the math portion again. Keep the grandkids close.....they grow up so quickly, you would be surprised!

[EmmasPapa]

Keep the grandkids close.....they grow up so quickly, you would be surprised!

Absolutely! I dread the day when my arrival no longer elicits an excited "PAPA!!" from the grandkids, so I'm taking all I can get now.