Update...3 years later!

Just found my blog. Imagine that! I'm hoping I will be able to keep up with it now.

Emma and Aubrey are 3 years and 4 months old. We recently had a HUGE scare with them where they were in the hospital for a few days. On Sunday, April 15, 2012 we left home to go grocery shopping. The girls seemed a little out of it but we didn't really think much of it, figured they were just getting sick. On the way into town they were acting sleepy but asking for food so we stopped at McDonald's to get some food for them then headed to the gas station down the road. They were acting super thirsty the whole time. Once we got to the gas station I went in back to give the girls their food and they didn't want it, they just wanted their cups. They NEVER turn down french fries. I also noticed Aubrey felt cold and her hands were shaking really bad. I wrapped her in her blanket and figured she was cold or something. When Adam came out of the gas station he opened the back door to fill the girls cups and noticed Emma was shaking as well and Aubrey's hands and feet were discolored. We then made the decision to take them to the walk-in. We got there and explained what was wrong and they took us to the ER right away. After blood tests, xrays, and a urine test they told us that their blood glucose levels were in the high 300s and then asked if we preferred Marshfield or Wausau hospital more. I was confused but told them Wausau as Adam's insurance prefers Aspirus affiliated hospitals. So they called down to Wausau then told us they had to send us to Marshfield because Wausau didn't have a properly equipped Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. WHAT? You are sending my children where??? That's all I could think. Then I started to cry as they said they would get the ambulance crew to help get the girls ready. The girls had eaten by this time and were acting like their normal selves but they still needed to be seen. The ambulance crew told me that it would probably be easier to transport them in the ambulance in their carseats and sent me to get them. Adam stayed with the girls and I walked out in the lobby where my parents were and broke down. I was so scared. Mom had Aubrey at this time since they were prepping Emma and figured hooking up IVs would be easier on both of them if they didn't see the other cry. We all went outside and Dad helped me with the seats. We finished getting prepped to go to the PICU and I called my mother-in-law and step mother-in-law while my dad called my grandma. Then we headed out. We were in the Medford ER for roughly 3 hours. I rode down in the ambulance with the girls and Adam followed behind. That ride was hard but the ambulance crew kept me talking about stuff to keep my mind off of what was going on. We got to the PICU at 9pm and Adam arrived shortly after. The ambulance crew stayed until we were all settled in. I hugged them all and cried as I thanked them for being so wonderful. That night was hard on all of us as the girls were monitored every hour. They hooked them up to insulin and checked their sugar levels every hour. They were allowed at first to have some water as they were so thirsty. Then later one of the nurses melted down some sugar free popsicles for them. Adam and I left for a little while and walked around Walmart after the girls had fallen asleep, we hated leaving them but we needed something to eat and needed some air. We were both very stressed out. We got back and I took a shower and we sat in the family room and ate. We went back in by the girls and tried to sleep a little. Monday morning the doctors said the girls could eat! Emma ate no problem, Aubrey threw a tantrum but finally ate. Then some doctors came in and told us that after lunch we could move out of PICU and go to the regular pediatric unit as the girls sugars were in a normal range by then. Once we got there my parents and Donavyn got there and Mom, Emma, Vyn, and I walked around while Dad and Adam stayed with Aubrey. It was nice to walk around. We met with a few more doctors to discuss the girls and then were told that if morning sugar checks were fine we could go home on Tuesday. Tuesday before leaving we were given blood glucose meters and shown how to use them. For two weeks after that we had to take their sugar readings 4 times a day, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime.

Two weeks after their hospitalization we met with a pediatric endocrinologist, or a pediatric doctor that deals with diabetic children. She said because of their readings she didn't think we had to check them anymore unless we noticed the same signs as before in them. We were so happy! She also was concerned about how tiny they are, Emma at the time was 28lbs and Aubrey was 26lbs. Both girls come up to my waist. So they are tall but skinny. That mixed with some developmental issues(speech problems and they don't run)had the doctor schedule us to meet with a genetic counselor. So in August we get to see the pediatrician again as well as a geneticist.

So far everything is fine and the girls are normal...well as normal as they can be!