Three months ago started a new journey in our lives. My daughter Sarah started drinking a lot, and having huge overfilled diapers. On top of that was a constant diaper rash. Constant requests for more juice/water/milk/soda (her idea of soda is about 4tbsp of soda to 1 cup of water). But Sarah was still lethargic a lot. Didn't want to go outside nor did she want to just be a little girl. Most of her days were spent in my bed, watching TV. Eating a little...But mostly..sleeping and drinking.
Finally I could deal with it no longer. She had been in and out of the doctors office for the diaper rash as it was horrible, and each time he would say to use the cream and it would get a little better, until we stopped the cream and then it got bad again.
I put all the symptoms together..hit up Google and found what I wish was better news. The first website I came across said it was likely to be diabetes. Finally I went into her pediatrician requesting to be tested for diabetes. He gave me "the look" you know the look. The one that tells you that you've spent a little too much time Googling and to please let the doctor do what he knows. Yeah well they call it practicing for a reason!!!
The doctor rejected my initial request for a test. Seriously... they told me that they couldn't test her unless she had not eaten for at least 8 hours. It had been 3 since she had eaten/drank anything so why couldn't they? The doctor said if I was
REALLY that concerned I could come back the following Wednesday. I made the appointment for 9 am. My oldest daughter, then 13 at the time came with me. We went in fully thinking. FINALLY they are going to test her and see that I am wrong...but something is wrong otherwise...right? Because no one WANTS Diabetes... I just wanted my poor daughter to act like a normal crazy 2 year old. Instead of the lethargic, always tired, never playing child that I had for the last 2-4 months.
Wednesday came, I took Sarah and Ashley into the room. They sent us to just a small room that isn't even where a doctor normally comes. They pricked her toe... her blood sugar registered...It was 189.. I thought... That's not real high right. The nurse instantly looks at me and asks... You are sure that you didn't give her anything to eat or drink. I gave her an incredulous look and said... can you see she is still asleep??? No she's not had anything. The nurse runs out of the room. Minutes later she comes back and tells us to go to room 2. We trudge on over and about ten minutes later get told... The doctor wants to see you downstairs (what I didn't know is that the Nurse Practitioners are upstairs on floor 2, the doctors are only on the first floor) So we trudge down there. We go to sign in and the young girl looks at me almost with tears in her eye's and immediately takes me back to the doctors rooms. Minutes later the doctor walks in... Does not look me in the eye and says that he wants us to rush Sarah home, get clothes for 3 or 4 days and go straight to PCH.
Finally we got our diagnosis...and instantly we were shoved into the hands of the capable staff at Phoenix Children's Hospital. This hospital is truly a gift. The nurses were all incredibly caring. Showing us how to give our baby girl the best chance at growing up normal all the while still caring for her. Sarah was loved by each person she was cared for by. My two teenagers were invited to play and have fun with Sarah and it was overall a great stay. Although we struggled with numbers for a little while it's getting better.
We have now been out of the hospital for a week and a half, Sarah is now willing to give you the finger she wants you to poke to check her sugars. She is thriving. One night around 9:30pm I was trying to wind her down for bedtime when she was not having it. She was jumping all around, laughing and playing and being a crazy 2 year old. I thought..Oh no..her sugar must be off. I tested her blood and she was perfect. Then I had to think for a minute...oh wait..this is what a NORMAL 2 year old with good blood sugars should be like.
We are adjusting to a new normal. Instead of a 2 second check to make sure we have diapers and wipes and a cup in a bag for a trip to the store or the mall, we now have to pack snacks and water and a blood monitor. Don't forget the insulin and emergency sugar(for her its a juice box). Make sure we have enough alcohol wipes and cotton balls, Syringes and band-aids. The actual prep to just leave the house now takes 15 minutes. Luckily my teenagers are the greatest. They know all the things she can have and help to pack her up every time we leave. I honestly think my husband and I are going to truly miss the teenagers when they go back to school in the fall. I don't know how single parents do this type of thing without the help and support of a true family.
In all the diagnosis hasn't changed anything...well except our budget, holy cow are diabetic supplies expensive as heck! We are still going on vacation next month although we are probably going to end up paying for additional bags now with all the stuff she will need. But I have my baby back. My hyper, mommy loving, playing little rug rat. She's loving her daddy and running and jumping and asking to go swimming and to the park. What more could a mom as for!!
