Through thick and thin...

Reed's Best Friend

I could skip a heartbeat, and I would survive,
I could be in a car crash, and still be alive.
The clouds could fall out of the sky, 
The oceans could disappear, and all turn dry.

These things in life are all bad I know, 
but there's far worse things, 
just thought you should know. 

Life would not be the same without someone like you,
You're there when I need you to help me through.
Through the good times and through the bad,
Be them happy, or be them sad.

I don't have to be with you, to know you're there,
We don't have to see each other, to know that we care.
We could be apart for years upon end,
and still remain the best of friends.

Life goes on, and people change,
And through it all, our friendship shall remain the same.
That's such as a life, and how things come to be.
Just thought you should know,
HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO ME.


Anne Hall

I know that this blog was originally created for updates on Reed's health, however I also want to tell you more about him.  You see Reed's heart is as big as the universe and there is one person in his life that he loves and cherishes more than any one else!  Her name is Brooke Horton, yes, it is his older sister.  I remember the day I was told that she had been conceived...I was 20 and her dad was 25.  I could have never dreamed how my life was going to change.  Shortly, two years after Brooke, along came Reed.  Now, I can't make anyone understand that when Reed was born (after a very long pregnancy), Brooke had her baby brother.  She would argue with me about taking care of him.  I remember specifically that she would sit in front of his highchair, we would take turns feeding him, and she would say, "Mama, it's my turn now".  She even would change him...or at least say, "He told me that his diaper is wet" (when we all knew he didn't say anything, only normal baby noises)...but maybe she did know that he was wet!

With that being said, I want to explain why I want this blog to be all about the most precious young lady I have ever known in my life.  I continuously ask myself how this little girl so very small, has grown up and gotten so tall? As a gaze in amazement when I look at her and realize that as she gets older that each age is my favorite.  She is my miracle that never ceases to be miraculous, even when she is being a 17 year old teenager.  Brooke exudes God's grace, love, and beauty on the inside, I promise, but on the outside she has the ability to break your heart with a look, glare, or even a small smile.  Her tongue is quick with wit, yet she also has the ability to bite, however her brother loves her unconditionally.  I have learned from these two how to love my sisters.  They can simply be in a room together and not say anything.

The day that Reed was diagnosed with diabetes, Brooke stayed the night with us at the hospital, I remember waking up in the middle of the night realizing that there were four eyes staring at the ceiling with big tears running down their faces.  She would look at me and cry, she would look at him and cry, she would look at the ceiling and cry.  You see these eyes are my life!  These eyes have lived through my bad choices, my life, and my joys.  These eyes have loved me unconditionally and now I know they love each other unconditionally, the way I have prayed for them to be!

I am thankful, daily, hourly, second by second for the brown eyed girl that is behind the brown eyed guy that brings joy to my life.  This quote makes me think of my children, it is about a sister, "She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities.  She is the one who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.  She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.  She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.  Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child"---Barbara Alpert.

I love you, Brooke and Reed, and thank you for letting me be part of your life...

God, I am praying for both of the kids, take them and mold them into your own image...

Simple AMAZING

They make me laugh, cry, and be thankful!!!
I love you, guys!

Reed is in the play at Mauldin High School, 42nd Street!!!!  How wonderful.  I am so proud and happy for him.  He has had a tough nine weeks, but the play has been his saving grace.  We go back to the doctor on the 29th and I am confident that everything is going to be okay...other than the fact that he is drying up and blowing away.  He is struggling with eating, saying he has no desire to eat or is ever really hungry.  I have noticed that over the past few weeks that he brings home a great deal of his lunch, however I have just played it off as his nervousness about being at school.


My prayer right now is:
Lord,
Thank you for another month of no hospitals, for no sickness other than the day to day of diabetes, and for loving our family beyond measure. 
Please continue to allow us to touch people's lives in a way that you have intended for us to plant seeds of love, growth, and forgiveness.  
As we look into the holiday season...thank you.
Hold us in your grace, tight in your strong hands.
Help our friends, that are struggling, to know that your strength is omnipotent, holy, and unfailing. 
Lovingly yours,
The Goodlett-Horton household


My friends, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."Deuteronomy 31:6

Love, 

Tammy 

"When you talk...

you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer EVERYONE in the way you should" (Colossians 4:6).  When a kiddo hurts every one hurts, as adults we thrive on ways we can help them grow and become adults that can survive in our world.  I realize that I am no scholar, however through my psychology studies, I have learned that the teen years are tough, sad, and irritable.  But whenever these feelings don't go away, it becomes a bigger issues.

I still cannot believe that Reed is 14, I can't believe that he is in the 9th grade, and most of all I can't believe how our lives have changed in the past 3 month.  It has been exciting, but very melancholy....he is smart, talented, and funny...but most of all he is a freshman in high school.  He has some of the same hopes and dreams as his sister...who by the way makes me cry every single day, especially when I realize how we are one day closer to her college years.  They are certainly tears of joy, but the are tears that have made it possible to be in this place in our lives.

I imagine when they are both graduating from college and heading out into life, I will have a flashback to their freshman years, when they first became very independent, and I will realize that they both power my heart, mind, and being, they both inspire me, and every single day remind me to keep my faith in my Father above.

My tears of joy make me realize that I need to be kind and pleasant to EVERYONE....yes, EVERYONE!!!!!!!!  I find this very difficult when people are not kind to my sweet children...to anyone's children.  From a medical perspective, Reed is doing great.  We are struggling with more low's than highs right now, and have realized that we do really eat far healthier than most average American families!!!!

Thank you for your prayers, and know we are praying for you!!!  Thank you to all of you that continually ask how Reed is doing...overall doing well, most days, still struggling with the day to day life of a chronic disease....

The most courageous young man I have ever met in my life...

Yes, that would be Reed Horton.  Maya Angelou is quoted saying, "One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. "  


Reed is kind, true, merciful, generous, and honest.  I think that his disease has finally caught up with him.  I received a text message from him today saying that he didn't feel well.  I did not hesitate to tell him I would meet him at the nurses office.  We checked his blood sugar level and it was normal, I looked into his eyes and knew that he simply did not feel good. He asked to stay at school and shortly after I left he continued to text me telling me he didn't feel good.  After telling him to go to the nurses office again, he came home.  As he and Kandee Willis would say, "Bless his pancreas", because my strong, handsome, young man slept for three hours.  He has dark circles under his eyes, and still does not feel well.  This week in Physical Education class they began running, outside.  Thankfully he has it first period, and it has been cooler in the mornings.  HOWEVER, he still does not feel well.  

Dr. Amrhein and his wonderful staff told me to be prepared for the down days as well as the up days, and today was a down.  I am so thankful that I am able to stay home with him when he doesn't feel well, that I can go to the school when he needs me, and that our family understands when they need to be quite because Reed doesn't feel well. Even the twins were angels today after school, because they knew...God is good even in the bad.  He has provided and set me up for this time in my life.  Thank you, Lord, for furnishing a house to live in, food to eat, money to buy medicine, and a husband that does not ask any questions about a child that is not his flesh and blood.  I am so grateful that I have such a time as this to reflect on where and what God has provided for our family.  


I have come to the realization that today has been a bad day for Reed, and that there will be many more.  But there is victory in a new day!  I know that we are learning and growing from each and everyday that he is fighting diabetes.  I am praying that he becomes more comfortable in his new skin and that his illness continues to strengthen him.


The second full week of school....ohh boy...is it Summer yet?

"The Words I Would Say"

Reed and I were on the way to the doctor today, to have his pump connected, and this song was on the radio, it is by Sidewalk Prophets.

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say 


From this, I want to tell you all, Reed has had a wonderful day, the doctor's appointment was AWESOME and his A1C level is 7.5, which is unheard of!  We are strong in the Lord, and have not given up hope, Reed IS and IS GOING to do great things, I already know, God's got his hands on him, and on you.  We don't live in fear, we have forgiven but can't forget about his disease, but I know why he is here....he is the closest thing to heaven I have here on earth....

You can grant yourself the freedom to live and let live, to love...

and let love.  How do you get your nearest and dearest to change their behavior, actions, or feelings?  Love them unconditionally, so much so that it hurts (you and them).  You maybe asking, "now how do I do that?"...and the answer is....STOP giving a darn what they do!

Do you find yourself being judged, abused, criticized, and feel like nothing is good enough?  Well, then close your mouth!  Think about, for a moment, what to say...we are like perplexed piranha's.  Sometimes we don't know the right thing to say back or even how to escape the criticism and judgement.  However, if we would accept people as they are, and realize that they do not need to change for anyone but their own good,  we can begin to erase our intense negative emotions that trigger our fears and defensiveness.  I have found that loving without caring is sometimes a useful approach.  ESPECIALLY WITH FAMILIES!    When care appears, unconditional love vanishes!  There are many shades of sadness, fear and various outcomes!

When Reed was first diagnosed, exactly one month ago today, my fear for his future somewhat overshadowed his existence.  For me loving without care means that I stay calm for him, I love him to pieces but I have to leave my care at the door when he chooses not to eat a snack in the middle of the day.  For me loving without care means that I love my mother enough to step back and care enough to walk away.  You see real healing and real love are from people who are both totally committed to helping, themselves and others, and are able to emotionally detach.

Our nature is to be anxious and controlling, Reed does not respond to this, nor do many other people in the entire world!  I love Reed and do care about what happens to him, however I care because he is still my dependent child, he is my only son (blood son), and he is one of the closest glimpses of heaven I will ever see on earth (and so is Brooke, even when she is huffing at me).  But I have to remind myself, no matter how well my intentions are, I have to learn to love without caring what the end result will be.

This is a bumpy ride, especially from the eyes of a 9th grader with Type 1 Diabetes.  However I am learning from him that when I feel sad, angry, or anxious I have to stay focused on one being, and that being is GOD!  God does not ever have to do anything to make me happy, He never has to change or alter His behavior, and He does not always like mine.  He will never leave me nor forsake me.  Ask your self by filling in the blanks, "If ________ would only ________ then I could feel __________".

The key element is "I could feel ________".

As much as I would love for my sentence to read "If there were a cure for diabetes I would ask that there be enough medicine to heal everyone in the world, then I could feel confident that Reed will live a very long and prosperous life".  However I realized that my sentence should say, "If I would only trust God completely then I could feel honored to be chosen by Him to have a child with Type 1 Diabetes".

The first day of school was trying, and I want to thank you all for your prayers, love, and concern for Reed.  I also am so shocked that there have been quite a few people asking where the blog is!!!!  Thank you...

Remember that the Walk for Diabetes is September 10 at Fluor Field...let me know if you would like to walk with us!!!!!

Did we get approved for the pump?????

I recently, as you all know, have become intrigued by the topic of hope!  If anything I think it will help Reed with his sense of hope in living with Diabetes.  With that being said, are you hopeful or hopeless?

The basic needs of hope according to "Hope in the Age of Anxiety" by Anthony Scioli and Henry Biller are attachment, mastery, or survival.  There are three "pure forms" of hopelessness and a breakdown in one of these three needs can most certainly be overcome.  These three are "alienation, powerlessness, and doom".  By recognizing which one of these we need to confront, we can restructure our thoughts and become armed with prescriptions of hope that put the light back into our lives.

In my own life, I am a very hopeful person.  I hope for a cure for Diabetes, I hope for happiness in our family, and most of all I hope for Reed to be successful in whatever journey he takes.  With these thoughts, I realize that my Brooke also is a very hopeful person.  Her dreams and desires are to become a surgeon.  She is determined to accomplish great and wonderful things, and I know that she will.  Where is your hope?

Reed is the "Shooter" (he gives himself his insulin shots) and I am the "Pricker" or as he calls me the "Prick"...every single time we laugh about this and I know people are wondering why he is calling his mother the "Prick"...if they only knew, huh?  We have learned that we are powerful over the disease of diabetes, we have days where we feel alienated (after he spent the afternoon in the condo at the beach with his great friend Freddie and we were in the heat...I think he was the smart one), there are always  words that coms to us that inspire us during the day, and most of all we are not limited by the disease...we maybe challenged, but not limited.  Helplessness is not an option.

As we pack to come home from the beach, I ask you, is hopelessness an option?  Do you want to be hopeful?  By coming to the realization and clinging to hope in the midst of trials, a difficult situation can become bearable, hope will enable you to get through it.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" Romans 15:4.

We have had a wonderful vacation---tours of Savannah, dolphin cruise, ate at Paula Deen's restaurant, and had more of the beach than some of us can tolerate.  Today we are going to the Bass Pro Shop...yipee, can you feel my excitement!  I can't wait to get back home....sleep in my bed, and not have gritty sand on my feet even when I am inside, but I know that God gave me this trip with Reed (and everybody else) to become even more comfortable in our skin...ohhh, and by the way....we have been approved for the pump, and may even have it before school starts back!!!!!!!

Laughter

There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, more wonderful than the sound of laughter...especially when it is four children sitting in the floor making up dice games, laughing until they are crying.  Humor is infectious.  I found some interesting facts on Helpguide.org.

• Roaring Laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze
• Laughter binds people together and increases happiness
• Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress
• The best thing of all...it is free!!!!

I have found over the past 14 days, our families laughter has made me feel good.  It has helped and encouraged us to have a positive outlook through difficult situations.  It has given us courage, strength, and provided us with hope.  

I think of the song in Mary Poppins..."I love to laugh"...my sisters will laugh when they read this.  We used to sit in the living room and watch this movie...so much so that I even had the record, yes I said the record.  My favorite line is this, "The more I laugh, the more I fill with glee, and the more the glee, the more I'm a merrier me, it's embarrassing!  The more I'm a merrier me!".  

Here is the link on "You Tube"...hope it makes you laugh like it makes me!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1dkTrNH92Y

I will sign off with "the more I laugh, the more I'm a merrier me!"

Laugh more, cry less, and love often!!!

Father, let me hear the WORD clearly...

so I can understand it.  Please do not let my understanding be muddled by my sinful nature, and soften my heart so I can act faithfully in accordance with what I have heard.

I am excited to say we have made it to the beach!  Reed spent his first day as a Type 1 on the beach all day long.  His blood sugars were consistent, with 2 rice crispy treats, 2 chicken salad croissants, several crackers, and lots of water...we were very, very, happy!!!  I love that boy!  His best friend Freddie came to the beach with us, and he has got to be the most patient, tolerant, understanding kiddo ever!!!  Anytime Reed has appeared tired or hungry, Freddie just goes along with him.  It is so wonderful to have friends like Freddie.  I am so relieved to know that our first day has been a success!

As I sat on the beach today, the verse that came clearly to me was Luke 8:17-18, "Everything that is hidden will become clear, and every secret thing will be made know.  So be careful how you listen.  Those who have understanding will be given more.  But those who do not have understanding, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."  Always be willing to listen and slow to speak.  Listen with understanding.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything that was hidden has become clear.  It has been made known.  My son has been given the chance to see the world through different eyes than many.  He can listen, learn, and understand life through eyes that many of us can not see through.  I love you, Reed...

We are heading to Savannah tomorrow...can't wait to show Reed our big surprise tomorrow night!!! Will keep you posted.

Praying you know...

We are beach bound!!!

you're a blessing to me.  I want to share a prayer that was on a card a dear friend sent me, that is my prayer for you all.

"Dear Lord,
There are so many wonderful people I love, and I ask Your forgiveness-and theirs-
For not letting them know all the times that I could how they're kept in my thoughts, and my prayers.
How the things that can seem so important each day really mean nothing at all.
Compared to the warmth and the blessings we share in a visit, letter, or call.
So, please help me remember there'll always be time to accomplish the things I must do,
But the memories we make with the ones whom we love are the treasures that last all life through."

(Emily Matthews)

I am so thankful for my friends.  This week is wrapping up and we are leaving tomorrow to go to the beach!!!  Tybee Island, yaaayyy.  I will be updating our blog, but I wanted to end our week by saying a few words of courage.

Ashley, you know who you are, God is with you always.  It doesn't matter how much of a struggle we are going through, but there is always someone praying for you.  There is always someone with you. But most of all...GOD LOVES YOU!!!  I am so grateful I saw you yesterday, and I am praying for your courage.

Jennifer, I love that you gave me a cross to remember many memories of times long ago.  Psalms 3:5 is one of my favorites!!!  "Trust the Lord with all your heart" and I will take this one step further...with all your soul, mind, strength, mood, courage, life PERIOD!  I love you and am thankful you are part of my life.

Most of all, I don't know if all three of my sisters ever read this (I know one does), but THANK YOU and I love you more than you would ever know.

You all are some of the people I care most about and I want you all to know it.  I am praying that you will know in your heart that I am not sure where to begin, but I am thankful for you in my life and the blessings you have been.

My Reed, Brooke, Ben, Mary, and most wonderfully sweet Tobes, THANK YOU for the most wonderful twelve days we could have with our new life.  We have laughed, smiled, and cried and you all are our strength and courage. "You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you as you are to them" (Desmond Tutu).

Finally, please mark your calendars for September 10---It is the Juvenile Diabetes Walk, and yep we are getting a team together.  I will be posting a link on my "Facebook" page...we would love for you to be on our team!!!!  There will be a cure in our lifetime for Type 1 Diabetes, I have the faith to know IT WILL HAPPEN!!!

Have a wonderful weekend....

"He comforts us every time we have trouble..."

Reed and His Pop after his play this year at MMS!!! 

"...so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us." (2 Corinthians 1:4).  I am always in awe of how God gives us these gentle reminders of how He comforts us, so we should comfort others.

Reed is very apprehensive about our doctors appointment in the morning, he is having his first round of extensive blood work...ugh, sigh. He is still being a brave heart and soul, and his courage is astounding, for me as his mom.

I, now, continuously look for ways to be involved in the Juvenile Diabetes Association, and our recent discovery is a support group that was created with the idea of supporting adults.  Well, long story short, the group has sort of transformed into a support group that is for everyone, even Type 3 Diabetics (those people that love, support, and put up with low and high blood sugars).  I have received my first e-mails from them today, and am excited to be part of the group...kind of strange to be excited to be part of a support group, and to receive my badge of being a Type 3 Diabetic!!!

Our voices do not have to be profound in finding a cure or a new way of dealing with Diabetes, only sincere.  By sharing a few spoken words and a few moments of attention a powerful effect on someone's day can be life changing.  I encourage you to extend the comfort that God has given you.  Strike up conversations in your everyday path, and you will see how many people are incredibly lonely and think that no one cares!

Our verse today was "God has chosen you and made you his holy people", this means that Reed has been chosen to take on the world with his disease, "He loves you.  So you should clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12).  The hardest for me is patience, I am praying for grace, love, and kindness for our family and yours.

"Arrange whatever pieces come your way" (Virginia Woolf).

As a Christian, I am always challenged with the question, "What does God want for my life?".  If I had asked myself this 3 weeks ago, I would have said happy/healthy children, a great marriage, and the ability to plant seeds wherever I go.  When I ask myself this question today, there are a few alterations I have made to my answer.  It has taken me a few days to realize that I do have happy/healthy children, a great marriage, and I still have the ability to plant seeds EVERYWHERE I go.  My territory has been expanded 10 fold, and my life and blessings have been favored and claimed in ways I can not imagine.

I go to one of my favorite books, "The Prayer of Jabez".  The prayer reveals that Jabez understands many things that people do not.  There is only ONE GOD...yes, I will repeat, ONE GOD!!!!  He needs to be the center of our world, our work, our life, our children.  How awesome!!!  In Proverbs 16:3 it says, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established".  My works have been committed for a while to the Lord, and I know that my thoughts are already established.  He will increase my territory to plant my seeds EVERYWHERE I go!

This struggle that everyone has with choosing to rely on God is perfectly normal...a growing process.  God is always faithful to those who serve Him.  Yes, I said always, not sometimes, not every other day, but every single day that ends in Y!

Reed is attempting something in his life that is so big that failure is guaranteed, but God will step in to intercede in his everyday life.  He has been our blessing from day one, I ask you...what are your blessings today, and what were they 3 weeks ago?  Have they changed significantly or have they changed just a little?  Either way, God knows what He wants for our lives.

Reed has had a pretty good few days.  We go back to the doctor on Thursday, and I have made a promise to myself and Reed that no matter how difficult I find it, I am not going to constantly ask him if he is ok.  He has reminded me on numerous occasions that he will let me know if he is not OK!  So as much as I frown, I smile because I know that he will let me know whether he is ok or not!

My prayer today is for you to have comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, and laughter to kiss your lips, but most of all  love to complete every part of your life...

Father, teach my children "the secret of....

Father, teach my children the "secret of being content in any and every situation...through Him who gives them strength" (Philippians 4:12-13).  This is my prayer tonight for my children.  The great commission placed on my heart tonight, as I type, is to smile at everyone, it is an easy and powerful way to show that Christ is at work in me.

Reed has had a great two days.  His blood sugar has fluctuated, it even dropped this afternoon while being at the pool  to 63...but his dad did what he needed to and it has been up ever since.  I am still very unsure of how we are making it day to day, but I know that it is God's strength.  I am praying for his favor, for that amazing young man, and know that God has a great plan in his life that is beyond measure.

Some of you have asked how Reed "got Type 1 Diabetes", and the answer is that it is not contagious, it just happens.  There are no warning signs and it does not just jump on you...(big laugh).  Type 1 Diabetes is different than Type 2 because it is not asked for.  Type 1 is when the pancreas shuts down and does not work at all, whereas Type 2 is due to diet, lack of exercise, and your pancreas still works, just not enough to keep up with your body.  Type 1 takes time to adapt to the disease, however it does not prevent us from living a full and active life.  With the right kind of support from people like you, that are reading our blog, Reed will live, learn to cope, and thrive regardless of the demands that the disease imposes.

I go to one of my favorite versus of scripture, "Do not be bitter or angry or mad.  Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others.  Never do anything evil.  Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ."  Ephesians 4:31-32.  Pray for your children, for their favor from God, and for their strength and courage to handle anything this world brings to them.

Reed reminded me of this today.  God will protect and guide us to make the best of this, just the way he has in other situations.

"Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers". (Robert Ingersoll)

The flower for our honey!  Reed took this picture last spring.

Today has been the absolute best day yet!  Blood sugar levels have been consistent, Reed had a friend over, and he is still saying that he will be the best patient Dr. Amrhein has ever had, and I will be the best mama he has ever had to deal with.  Don't tell anyone, but we even splurged and ate at Sonic tonight...yes, we had to take a little more insulin before bed, but how in the world can you be 14 and not eat Sonic.  His eyes are looking bright again, and I think he is only worried about the blood work in the morning, because he has become quite comfortable giving himself an injection in the tummy.

Just for those of you that do not know what got us to this point, a few weeks ago, he began complaining about a sore throat and not being able to get enough to drink.  Then when he would drink he would go to the bathroom excessively.  Over the weekend, he swam in Championships on Saturday afternoon and when we got back into the car he almost passed out.  We stopped and bought him a drink and essentially had to hold him up to get him to drink it.  We came home and HAD to get ready to go to the Miranda Lambert concert (grin).  Before the concert we ate burgers, and he seemed a little sluggish, however very exited (another BIG GRIN).  When we got to the concert he only asked for a soda...after he drank it, he became sick at his stomach, so much so that he sat for most of the remainder of the concert.

Sunday he would not hardly get out of bed or off of the sofa, and I knew that Monday morning I had to get a doctor's appointment ASAP!  In the mean time, I checked his blood sugar first thing Monday, and it was 240.  This was first thing in the morning, no food or drink on board, and still elevated.  By the time we got to the doctor that afternoon it has soared to over 400.  We were directly admitted to GHS...his first hospital stay overnight since he was born.  He showed such signs of bravery and love for life.

Since we have been to the pediatric endocrinologist, that we LOVE, we are living life making honey without flowers!  We have an appointment Friday morning, July 23 to learn about carbohydrates!!!