Pictures, Potty Training, Etsy...

Well we got her two year pictures on Sunday and we were very anxious at the beginning because she is so shy of strangers. There was one person in particular who helped warm her up, and made her laugh. We've been looking at the difference in her from last year to this year. We couldn't get her to smile at all last year for her pictures - we tried!! But hind sight here she was in diabetic ketoacidosis and was ridiculously sick and we didn't even know. It makes us so sad and feel so awful that we didn't notice the signs earlier - We know that we can't go back and change things - but we just feel so bad that she got so sick!!

Last year...

 

 

This Year...

 



We were sleep training when she was sick - we used the cry it out method. We let her cry for 10 minutes and then go lay her down and she eventually would fall asleep. Well when we found out she was sick we felt immense guilt for letting her cry - because she was trying to tell us she didn't feel good and was sick! So needless to say we do not let her cry herself to sleep - and thankfully she is very good and going to bed. She asks to bring a baby or her dolls or a book to bed with her almost every night. She is just amazing! While the cry it out method did work - and we understand that it works for many people the fear of her crying because she's low or crying because she's high and has gotten sick or peed through her diaper - is too much to not answer her cries.

We are hoping to try to potty train here soon. This will be quite the task since her sugars will play a key role in potty training... keeping her as regulated and as in target as possible is going to be REALLY important - however sometimes her sugars go high for no reason - nothing can be explained and sometimes they do great without explanation. So we will do out best and we will continue to try to potty train. If she's not ready then we will try in a few months but we would LOVE to be out of diapers!!

Been thinking of opening up an Etsy.com shop - Sarah would crochet blankets and washcloths and sell them to help our monthly expenses. Living with one income is very difficult (as many know) and driving to doctors appointments etc. adds to the expenses and stress. Any thoughts on whether or not it would be worth it would be awesome!! We'll keep trucking along and we are doing great and loving life every minute by minute!!

Take Care,
McKenzie, Sarah & Elsie

Dentist...

We were incredibly nervous yesterday when we went to the dentist. We walked in there and saw two other small kids leaving and they were happy so we were more confident after that. They called us back and were in a double room a teenage boy was in there finishing up his visit. He was talking to Elsie and she wasn't scared at all!! The hygienist asked if she'd like to sit on one of our laps or she could sit in the big chair. Elsie said she wanted to sit in the chair! So we put her in it and she opened up and let the hygienist get right in there. There was a small spot of tarter build up on one tooth, which in the area it was in is common for anyone to get build up, but Elsie actually let her use the metal scrapper and got it off really quick. She was so amazing... opening her mouth so wide for them! She has 16 teeth - 8 on top and 8 on bottom. She has her two year molars to come in still (so YAY we still have some teething to do!) But everything looks great as far as the jaw structure and her teeth etc.! We are so happy and excited!! Sarah always loved going to the dentist so hopefully Elsie will like it too!! These are some pictures of her trip to the dentist!! She is seriously the most amazing person in the world!! We couldn't be more proud!!!

 

Made a call to Noreen (our diabetic Educator) today. We have been having some low blood sugars at bedtime. We aren't sure where they are coming from. We have excellent sugar levels all day and then at night she goes down to 100 or lower before bed. Mind you she still has insulin going throughout the night and going to bed at 100 is sure to drop her low at night and we hate to give juice or milk at night - so we usually have her over 150 when she goes to bed. WELL last night she was 184 before her night time milk. Her 8oz of milk at bedtime is 12g of carbs and we usually have to cover half or all of it depending on her sugar level. Well last night we decided to NOT cover any of it and see how her sugar was in the morning. She woke up this morning at 88!! After no coverage for 12g of carbs!!  Well Noreen said that when she plays outside she could continue to burn carbs etc. for 12-36 hours after playing. So we are going to NOT cover bedtime carbs for a while and see how things go.  Sarah's mom is watching Elsie for the night while we go to Grand Rapids Gay Pride - we haven't been away from Elsie overnight since March of 2013!! Sarah's mom has watched her for a couple hours here and there - but nothing long term - and we trust her completely to do it BUT its always scary!! So we wanted to have a good grasp on things before this weekend.

 

This is a picture of her average hourly blood sugars  -  the green shaded area is our target range and we're ALMOST ALWAYS in that range which is great!!! Proud Mommies over here!!

 

 

 

So we're still moving in the right direction...Elsie is growing like a weed!! She's meeting and exceeding milestones!! She's so smart and so beautiful!! Thank you all again for all the support!! We love you all!! Keep praying for Elsie and a cure for this confusing disease!! We're becoming pros at this but would love to say someday she USED to have diabetes!!

 

Take Care,

McKenzie, Sarah & Elsie!!!

Long awaited update...

OK so our computer has been down and getting a new hard drive etc. for a couple weeks now. We have been having a great time with Elsie in these last few weeks, Her sugars have been kept at a well maintained level. We have started getting the hang of this whole exercise thing. Its been awesome to see her swim and play and she LOVES to play in the water at the beach. She has absolutely no fear - which is good but gives Moms a heart attack when she dives underwater - she'll always come out smiling.

We have had a couple lows from the exercise!! But we have been really good at bringing her up from a low without going sky high - which TRUST me takes a lot of finessing!! We are pretty proud of ourselves. We have a very active little lady on our hands. - She always makes new friends at the park and plays so well with them - The older kids at the park protect her and make sure she goes down the slide safely and its kind of awesome to have them guide her and Moms can relax at the park!!

Today we have a dentist appointment at 4:30pm - SO nervous - not sure what to expect!! We were encouraged to get her into the dentist fairly early because of the nighttime lows we get and have to give her juice or milk at night - and her saliva will naturally be higher in sugar from the diabetes so we'll have to have more dental care more likely - so we're trying to get her comfortable early - Sarah didn't have any cavities until she was 21 years old - so lets hope Elsie follows that side of the gene pool for dental issues... :-)

Everyday is a new day and a new blessing for us to spend time with Elsie - We are beyond blessed and thankful for all the support from friends and family  - Elsie's birthday party is about a month away and we are so excited to share that day with family and friends!!

Take care,
McKenzie, Sarah & Elsie too!!