Finding Normal

Thankfully, life's beginning to settle down a bit.
For the time being, the consuming whirlwind has subsided!
The sun is once again shining...

Rollerskated with the school.
Hung out with cousins.
Our first birthday party post diagnosis= TOTAL success!
Sold 200 boxes of cookies!! First sale: Claire's diabetic doctor! :) ha!ha!
Jumped in puddles.
Planning a 35th bday party for Lon.
Eating out again! :)

Life is good. We can't complain!
One day at a time!
One meal at a time...trying not to get caught up in the numbers game of T1...

Heck, I'm even contemplating going a roller derby next weekend!! :) (Whip it any one?!)

One Week Later

Amazed what a difference a week has made.

Claire is no longer as fearful of her blood tests and insulin injections. Her tears and tantrums have subsided. She no longer runs away when "it's time!" There are no more 45-minute-screaming-bloody-murder-wrestling-matches-that-everyone's-balling-by-the-end bedtime insulin injections...(Praise God!) She's learning to push through her fears and focus her mind by reciting Scripture when she's unsure of the next poke. Her current favorite is Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says do not fear, I will help you, Claire!"

She's made a smooth transition at school in a number of ways. She's educating her peers all about Diabetes T1. Only eating low carb snacks in the classroom (i.e. jerky, carrots, cheese sticks, walnuts, cashews, sugar snap peas, pistachios, etc) and has she ever been responsible about this! If a special birthday treat is shared at school, she puts hers in a baggie to eat with dinner, and scibbles down the hall to get herself a sugar-free crystal light Popsicle as her celebratory snack. She's also been UBER responsible about her new school nurse visits...bringing her blood tester and insulin to the nurse before her lunch recess poke, off to recess, then an insulin shot on the way to the lunchroom, eats lunch (which all carbs have been tallied), then returns to the nurse to retrieve her Diabetes paraphernalia before returning to the classroom. PHEW!

Diabetes affects the whole family...even little sister Kate. While she's been an incredible support, this little cookie is starting to crumble, too. She's not so sure she's ready to trade in goldfish for walnuts...but likes the drinking crystal light with her after school snack. :) We've decided that one way we can support Claire is to eat the same way as she does. We're all learning to snack in a healthier way.

Lonnye was hesitant to take his monthly Kansas work trip as well. Normally, it's hard for him to be away, but under these circumstances, even harder. But we decided he should go...needing to keep life as "normal" as possible. His only change of plans is cutting the trip short by a few days so he can be a part of Wed doctor appointment. This family is SOOO blessed by this man...

My learning curve has also been steep, but am thankful Claire & Kate & Lonnye are gracious with me. I never imagined giving blood tests/injections and counting carbs would be a part of MY daily routine. I've got a lot to learn!

And talking about facing a giant that puts you on your knees...that's exactly what Diabetes has done to this family! Our mealtime prayers have exploded for all our loved ones who face medical challenges, too. Praying for others in the midst of our struggles brings much needed perspective. Sisters praying for sisters at bedtime. God also showed me some verses to pray over the girls...writing them out and hiding 'em in their rooms has been fun, too.
Here are a few of our favs:
"I know that God is causing all things to work together for your good, Claire & Kate"
"The Lord has a plan for you that includes a hope and a bright future, Claire & Kate"
"Kate & Claire, the joy of the Lord will always be your strength!"

Praying our journey will bring Him glory...somehow...someday...

Claire's Perspective

Dear american girl magazine,
it been a really tuff time
in montana i have diatetes
and i am on my break from
school. and i am scared
to go back because diabetes
is a desies and I need to
take shots and inclin to stay
healthy or i will get sick
Love Claire Finneman

Some quick details

I must admit (as most of you know!) I'm NOT a detail girl, so I apologize for the lack of information about Claire's T1 Diabetes diagnosis. Here is a glimpse of our new reality:

Claire started having major thirst and going to the bathroom all the time this past month, especially while on vacation in So Cali. Those are classic signs of diabetes. Lon knew that, but denied it and just kept praying it was a phase and nothing else. Unfortunately it continued so we had her checked last Wed (Dec 29.) It was a simple pee test and we had the results within minutes. Her blood sugar was 518 (5x more than normal) and her Hemoglobin A1c was 11.9 which means that she has had this for awhile. We were also surprised to learn she'd lost 2 pounds in the last 6 months. We are lucky she was not hospitalized. Typically T1 Diabetics are hospitalized for three days to get the blood sugar under control and educate the families. Lon's medical education and background came in handy and they felt comfortable not hospitalizing her because of this.

Type 1 Diabetes is the most common in kids (Type 2 Diabetes is the kind in overweight adults). They are both severe, but Type 1 means that her body is not producing insulin (so that is why she needs insulin shots) where Type 2 is often that the body can still produce some insulin but the body's cells just do not take it (and can be treated more with pills). It's a life-long journey for us all!

Claire says she feels the same as before the insulin shots and diagnosis. She's always been a healthy, happy, active & social thang. We'll see what we all think in a few weeks when her blood sugars are stable.

Claire is now her own science/math project! She does finger pokes before every meal to test blood sugar levels and then takes the proper amount of insulin in a shot with her food. She's learning how to count her carbs and make the healthiest food choices. We are simply amazed at how we she is owning her new responsibilities! (The girl has more self control than I do! :))

She can eat ANYTHING as long as it's at meal time and paired with insulin. Cupcakes, cookies, jerky, pasta...you name it. :) She's learning how to save treats from school to eat with dinner.

We've yet to eat out and try carb counting/shots/blood tests in public, but know it's in our near future!

Claire's school has been incredibly supportive and helpful. Our doctor and nurses have also gone above and beyond to help us with this steep learning curve.

Thanks for all your prayers and support, too! Wish we could respond to each one personally, but can't. Know how much it means to us, though! :)

Happy New Year!

NYE family edition...snow fire, sparklers, weenie roast, headbands the game(SO FUN btw!)a finger poke, an insulin shot, and early to bed all around!
Even go-go the walking pup welcomed 2011 with us!
Relaxed, fun, low-key...just what we needed!

PS Can you see the glow and spark returning to Claire's face already?!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SIX!!!

Celebrated Roodle's birthday a little early this year...family style! Here's the surprise volcano cake! It was D.E.L.I.C.O.U.S. Can you tell she was a little embarassed?! :)


Spent today, her actual birthday with Emmy, Gramma & Papa! Sooo fun and thankful to be able to celebrate with them! The highlights: monkey bread, family fun, wii dancing, phone calls, mail!!!, finally seeing the lastest kid movie---the Rapunzel one?!--SOO GOOD!, fast food lunch, and angelfood cake with a sweet neighbor! SOO FUN!!!