Joshua's Birthday

My children are getting older.  (Which sadly means that so am I!  LOL)  

Joshua starts his birthday morning in much the same way that he starts every other day.  Taking steps that most of us don't have to and considering things that most of us (thankfully) can take for granted.  He checks his blood sugar level.  This is a tough thing to balance - especially in the midst of puberty.  

Breakfast is always foods chosen by the person celebrating.  Joshua chose biscuits and sausage gravy.  The crown is from a popper - also his request.  :-)

Opening gifts.

Notice anything about this picture?  Like which character is not his favorite.  LOL

Lunch - subway sandwiches.

And now for a clue/scavenger hunt story designed by his brothers.  I love when they do things for each other like this.  Something that I started long ago and is now a tradition that they enjoy doing for each other.

The search is on.

Just what he wanted - a ripstick.

He has gotten to be pretty good on it and really does get great use out of it.

We set up games in the afternoon for a competition.  Ultimate frisbee with our own course around the yard and...

in the woods too.

The trickier the better in their eyes.

Adding up the scores to see who won.

Next up ... bocce ball.

And lastly ladder ball.

For dinner ... "tacos that someone else puts together".

Happy Birthday 14th Joshua.  

I'm so thankful for you and glad that you are my son.  I prayed for you for a long time before you were born and was so very happy to welcome you to our family.  I enjoy your humor and your wit.  I'm thankful for your teachable heart and your willingness to learn.  I'm encouraged by your bravery and your desire to impact the world around you.  I pray for you that you will learn to listen to God's words and follow Him completely.

I love you!
Mom

Krispy Kreme Race

The Krispy Kreme Challenge.  Its a well known race in the area and in the world of runners due to its unique set-up.  Run 2.5 miles.  Eat 1 dozen doughnuts.  Run 2.5 miles.

Sounds crazy doesn't it?  Its all for a great cause though.  All of the money raised goes to North Carolina Children's Hospital.  One that we have personally been to and most grateful for.  

Christopher has run in this race for 4 years.  Roger for 3 and this year Joshua also joined in this year.  (Yeah, for those that know him, he didn't quite do it all as described above.  Not a great plan for one with diabetes.)  

We met them at the half-way point (Krispy Kreme doughnut store) with extra water bottles.  They have tables and tables filled with doughnuts and there are thousands of people standing around trying to eat a box full of doughnuts.  

I don't think I mentioned that this race sells out every year.  

We enjoy coming and seeing many of the runners in silly costumes.  It is quite entertaining.

The race is a challenge not due to the length, but due to the difficulty of eating the doughnuts in the midst of the run.  Some do it with relative ease.  

Many struggle but manage to get it done.

Some don't even try to finish.  

And others wish that they didn't. 

My children like being there to experience it all (well, almost all of it).  It is fun to see their family and friends.

And the younger ones are hoping to get a few doughnuts out of it.

Not a sight that you see too often at this race I would imagine.  Joshua is checking his blood sugar.  Even though he started the morning low and ate a low-carb, high protein breakfast, his numbers have risen.  Its a stubborn and difficult disease.  He eats 2 of the doughnuts before taking off again.

Roger with one of his friends.

At the end, the volunteers have much work to do in cleaning up.  This is where the racers toss their empty box before they set off to finish the race.  (Some run as "casual runners" who aren't required to finish the box before completing the race.)

As the runners leave, we head for home.  It was fun to see them and support them.  And to cheer them on in raising money for a great cause!

Hope your day is a sweet one.

Blessings
Leslie

Our unexpected trip

Some days just end up being not what you had thought.  It goes back to making plans.  So many days our plans work out and the schedule is followed and all seems right.  Then there are other days.

Days when you recognize the plans are just tentative in the big scheme of life.  Days when you come face to face with what is really important.  Days when you recognize that you really aren't in control at all.  Days when your vision shifts and you see more clearly what was true all along.

    Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21

Last Thursday, Joshua got sick.  I thought it was a stomach bug and we treated it as such.  As the day went on though, things just didn't get better.  And by night time things were really bad.  I had been out with the other children at a play (Rebecca was performing) and when I returned and looked at Joshua, I just knew.

We were going to be headed out.

I talked with the doctor on call to confirm what I thought was best and then Joshua and I headed out.  He was miserable.  Very dehydrated (unable to keep things down despite our best efforts).   High ketones.  Very high blood sugars.  (Again,  just not coming down.)  I didn't take a picture of him in this state.  It just didn't seem right somehow.  He looked bad enough that one of the nurses even asked if this was his normal skin color.  (No, it wasn't.)

We went to UNC hospital.  Its where he is seen for clinic visits.  He was admitted to the peds ER and quickly diagnosed with what I already knew he had.  

DKA

Diabetic Ketoacidosis - a potentially life-threatening  condition results from dehydration combined with high blood sugars and acids called ketones.  

That's the simple definition (well, maybe).  Ketones are dangerous because they can wreak havoc on the whole body causing damage to other organs in the body.  

We spent hours in the ER as they tested and started treatment and we waited for a room.  Joshua was moved up to the PICU at about 4:30 in the morning.  

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’Isaiah 41:10

We found out the following morning that the attending doctor was a friend.  That was a sweet surprise.  He was wonderful!  As were all of the nurses that cared for Joshua.  We could not have asked for better care!

Joshua stayed several days in the PICU - less than originally anticipated as he responded quickly to the treatment.  He was hooked up to a number of things - several IVs, pulse ox, blood pressure, heart, etc.  And obviously had his blood taken or tested many times.

 One afternoon, when he was feeling better, a volunteer came by to see if he would like to play a Wii game.  He loved this distraction!  What a great opportunity for a volunteer too!

 Wonderful nurse Daniel taking great care of Joshua.  He really went above and beyond the regular care to make Joshua comfortable and also to make him laugh.

 Not many visitors in the PICU as you had to be 13 or older.  He was happy to see his Nana (my mom) and his sister one afternoon.  And another sweet friend that brought a balloon, game, snacks and cards from her kids.  (Joshua loved these and said it made his night.)

 He skyped with his younger siblings which was a great option all the way around!  You  have to love modern technology!

 We filled the time reading a good book (The Westing Game), playing games (he won most of them!) and just talking.

 On Saturday night, he was moved to the regular floor.  He was so excited to lose some of the many cords and to have the freedom to get out of bed.  Interestingly, he was moved to the same room that he had when he was diagnosed.  We both recognized it immediately.  (And so did one of his brothers too.)

The next day was his final day there and he had more visitors.  Christopher and Emily.

 His younger brothers too.  (Eliana had a runny nose so she stayed home.)

Friends too.  The stay in this room was short - less than 24 hours.  Soon it was time to head home.

While we were in PICU, I saw a number of Life Flight helicopters.  The landing pad must have been near the window.  Reminded me to pray often for someone coming in needing critical care.  Joshua was not able to see them due to where his bed was in relation to the window.  We did see one coming in from his regular room though.  I'm thankful for this system that I know helps to save many lives!

 We headed home with his numbers in a better range.  Changes were made to his rates and hopefully this will help to keep this from happening again.  Puberty and diabetes are a hard combination.  I've heard this often and I've seen it too.

 This was a scary reminder of how serious this disease can be.  I'm thankful for the many strides that have been made in helping to manage diabetes.  Praying though for a care because insulin is not a cure. Its a band-aid to help until a cure is found.

This disease stinks!  And that is putting it mildly.  I'm so very thankful though to live when we do so that Joshua has the opportunity to live a full life while managing his blood sugars.

Through it all, God is in control.  I could see His hands in so many things.  His peace, His care, His protection.

Its hard to know how much to write when you are sharing about something hard and it involves your teen-aged child.  I want to share - and he was fine with this too.  I want others to know what we (and others with diabetes) are dealing with.  This disease is relentless and just never takes a rest.  You can't forget about it for even one day.  Its there all the time.

There is still much for which to give thanks.  I'm so very thankful to live close to such an amazing hospital with doctors and nurses that are outstanding in so many ways!  I'm thankful for the level of care that we receive.  I'm thankful to live now so that Joshua has choices and options that the opportunities to live his life as fully as possible.  I'm thankful for family and friends who supported us through this with meals, rides, visits, emails, txts, phone calls and prayers.

I'm thankful for my precious son.

Thankful for the One who gave His Son.

We are still resting and trying to recover.  Joshua has picked up a cold/cough along the way.  So far, his numbers at home have all been good except for one.  Hoping to continue to see great numbers and no spiking or rebounding.

Thank you again for your prayers and support.

Love
Leslie

Happy Birthday Joshua!

I officially have 3 teens.  Its hard to know what to say after that.  LOL  I have found these years to be not so bitter as they are portrayed by many.  Its not to say that there aren't challenges - there are.  But the sweetness of developing a relationship, deeper conversations and growing maturity all make this age one that is a lot of fun too!

Happy 13th Birthday Joshua!  I remember praying for you for a long time before God graciously allowed you to join our family.  Your arrival was sweet and the years since have been filled with much joy, laughter and love.  I'm so very thankful for you!

I love watching you grow in your interests and desires to understand more about your faith, history and the world around us.  I enjoy the conversations that we have on a variety of topics and the ways that you challenge my thinking.

Joshua's day started with the breakfast of his choice - on the red plate!  If you notice the chair, my children love having a "throne" for the birthday person to sit in while he/she enjoys the meals of the day.

Its hard to be patient when you have a gift you are just so excited to give!  Swords, a shield, a mask - all important things for a hero to have in hand.

Lunch was outside and it was a beautiful day.  Pizza.  Most of us ate it as it was.

Joshua wanted his with ice cream on it.  He thought it tasted good.  None of the rest of us were swayed though.

We made a trip to the Lego store as he had something in mind that he wanted to get.

Home for cake!  A fun day celebrating Joshua.

For our family, the 13th birthday is a special one.  We have chosen to mark this year as a transition to adulthood.  We invite friends over to share with and then to pray over the newly turned 13yo.

The men had a time of sharing and then we all joined in for a time of prayer.

We had a barbecue dinner which was catered and gluten free!  (Q Shack for anyone local.  I was thrilled with this and they even delivered for a very small fee!)  It was delicious.

It was a fun time with family and friends.  I'm thankful for this sweet way of celebrating this milestone.

Joshua, I'm proud of you and love you more than I could even explain.  I know that God has great things in store for you and I pray that you would continue to seek Him with all of your heart.  I pray that you would stand firm in your faith.  I pray that you would be a strong, hard-working and caring man.

I am thankful for you and so glad that you are a part of our family.  I'm thankful for your heart and for your curiosity and desire to learn.

I love you!
Mom