Today I was silently watching my 3yr old T1 (dx 6 mos ago) play with her doll. She was making her something to eat and the conversation went something like this:
S: "Baby, I am making your breakfast. You hungry? You want cereal? Mom, you know my baby has diabetes?" ME: Really? Sometimes that happens to people, doesn't it? S: Ya. Ok baby, I make you cereal. First we have to read this box to see how many carbs... it says little bit of carbs. (then she walked over to the counter, put her baby's bowl on the scale and punched some numbers into the calculator) There, now we can eat, baby.
Moments like this give a swell of emotion. I am so proud of her that at 3 yrs old and only 6 months into this, she has such a understanding of whats going on. We are literally the Duggars of Dolls in our house and I think every one has T1. They have all been subjected to pretend insulin and sugar checks. She hugs them and comforts them when the dolls cry and tell her they don't want to have diabetes anymore. (a common theme)On the other hand, it breaks my heart that this has become normal play for her. I hate that at 3 she knows and understands the word carb means(among other D terms). When looking for a snack she asks if "that have too many carbs for me?" If I say it does, she replies with "you know pickles have no carbs?". Sheesh!
quite touching! i think the 'good thing' about being diag. earlier is she will be a sponge to all the learning and she will most likely not rebel. my son was diag. at 10 and is 13 now. he is compliant and well educated but self concious! i would try to engage her about nonD things and themes to, this has helped with dealing with my son, we can get so involved in the day to day management, diet and numbers, but most importantly they are wonderful children that just happen to have diabetes. it sounds like you and her are doing a great job adjusting, best wishes! amy
This brings me back. I have a pic of Caleb just days after diagnoses giving Dash an insulin injection. We still have moments like these - mixed emotions - but for the most part they have become more heavily weighted on the pride side. But that's after more than five years.
It sounds like you are doing a great job for her to have such a good understanding. When I read about what she did, I'm touched and impressed. Keep up the good work, mama!
Reading your post breaks my heart.... My 4 year old makes me take out the needle out of her syrninges and she pretends to inject her dolls. No fair!!!!! I hope that one day they can be back to normal and live a care free life. Today is my daughter's 4th birthday and instead of being in school celebrating with her friends, she is at home dealing with a stomach bug and monitoring keytones. I hope she gets better because her big bash is this Sunday. Today is a sad day for me!!!!!! This really sucks
I can understand your mixed emotions, but the fact is: diabetes is our reality and there is no other way to put it. When my younger son was diagnosed, he was given a T1 doll at the hospital, he slept with it constantly, then when he went on the pump, the Animas nurse who came to train us gave him a plush animal; those two were the last two to retire when my son became too old for stuffed animals.
Yep... like all the parents in this thread - I can relate. My 6.5 year old son was diagnosed 3 years ago at age 3.5. He just recently started WANTING to check his own blood sugar. Watching him prick his own finger and squeeze blood into the test strip was a major tear-choker for my wife and I. It's no big deal to him but it's a big deal to us!
He just received an award in front of the school yesterday for "courage" because of how he handles his condition with teachers, students and personal responsibility. Talk about mixed emotion!
Hi Laura, i feel for you, my son is 13 to and hates being different those little things at school can be a real stresor for him he hates bolusing or doing anything to treat his D at school except going to the nurse to bolus for lunch. maybe they can work on some low carb recipes at school, i bet the teacher would be up for that, low carb is good for everyone! that being said sometimes when things look bad you have to thank god for what you have like 13 ish years without diabetes! the teen years are challenging, regardless, sometimes i have to remind myself that he would be moody and self concious if D never came into our lives. do all of his friends know about his D? coming from experience getting it out there is important something we didnt really do except with jacobs closest friends.. let me know if you need anything or just someone to listen! amy ( i'm not sure what your sons insulin regimen is now but being on novolog, now on a pump, my son eats everything he wants within reason of course, we basically eat healthy and always have, aside from considering late effects from fat we have not changed his diet)
stomach bugs are the worst with diabetes, so sorry, but hopefully it will be quick lived. stay in touch with your endo, if there is tons of vomitting the best bet is the ER for iv fluids and antinausea medicine, or maybe your endo might prescribe the antinausea med for you if you need it? just putting it out there, the last time my guy was sick, he had to go.. of course they were great in the ER with the iv fluids and antinausea med but i still needed to be on the ball with his management as they had no clue! kind of scary but we are our kids best assets, hang in there! tomorrow will be a better day! amy
It is interesting to see how much we all have in common. My daughter who is 7 dxd at 6 ( just a year ago) plays school with her little sister and they have diabetics in their class - I will listen from the living room because I think it will give me a glimpse into how it impacts her at school. Then my youngest who is now 5 when she is home alone playing while others are at school she will always add in diabetes to her play - with food adding or shots or glucose testing - and she isn’t diabetic. I think these are just ways that they are dealing with their new realities of life - it does bring me to tears some days though!
Laura, I know just what you mean!!! It is the little things that are the hardest for me to watch. My daughter is 11 and was diagnosed three months ago. On the spur of the moment after Field Day yesterday, a parent brought a bunch of girls for ice cream - including my daughter. She just watched everyone eat ice cream. She tries to be a sport about it and does not complain, but it breaks my heart when she misses out on something so normal. Now I am getting teary. In an answer to one of your later posts, she went on the OmniPod about a month ago (while honeymooning and still is) and it has made things a bit easier. However, if you don't know the carbs in something, or it is very sugary, it is still a problem.
i would have bolused for the icecream with a 1/2 - 1 hr extention for most of it ice cream is slow absorbing my son has icecream more nights than not for his bed time snack and it keeps him level. my attitude is everything in moderation. as long as she is ok with bolusing in front of her friends let her eat mostly what she wants ( for take out icecream we usually put in for 60 carbs for a small) of course this is only my opinion, we all have to do what we think is right. no judgement intended! my son had been on the omnipod for over a year now mostly good a few bump here and there, let me know if you have any questions. best of luck! amy
I remember looking at Aly when she was diagnosed at 2.5 and thinking how? why? We are now 5 years into this roller coaster ride and I have seen her do the same things with her dolls. Like you said it is touching but heart wrenching at the same time. Our children will never get the "normal" (if there is such a thing) childhood.
Yes, we know how to bolus for ice cream - that is not the issue. However, she had sweets at Field Day and was going to a party that night. She had to limit somewhere, and we limited ice cream. Just seems so unfair that the other kids do not have to think of what they will be eating for the day, decide which treats are "worth it", how many carbs, etc. Like Laura's son with the cookies, my daughter just lost her enthusiasm for ice cream with friends when it involves negotiations for later, testing, bolusing, etc. So very sad for an 11 year old.
i hear you on that front, other parents have no clue what we and our children go through on a daily basis, but being heard and sharing with other parents helps! jacob had a few rough days recently and it is so hard to see them struggle. but underneath they are the same sweet children they were before diagnosis. kids are usually so resilient and can actually be our inspiration in all this in how they handle it. my son and i are very close and probably would be so without his D but i feel we rely on each other and bring each other up ( and yes down on certain days, he is almost 14) most of the time. he knows i have his back and i know he can make me smile just by looking at him and seeing his enthusiasm for the future. i see you guys are pretty new to this there are layers of acceptance, good and bad days and stretches, wishing you a bunch of good ones!! amy
