Diabetes Diagnosis

TJ was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on December 20, 2011. We were planning on flying to Boise that morning for the holidays but a frantic call from our pediatritian that morning with our blood test results put all plans (and our old life) on hold.
Our bags were packed for our 2 week trip so we just loaded them into our car and rushed to the E.R. at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas.
TJ was so dehydrated that the doctors and nurses couldn't get an IV started. He was down to about 17 pounds by this point. His veins were just so restricted. After 18 pokes that first day, the physician got one in his neck. He said it was going to be temporary, just to get fluids pumped into him.
A lot of blood was taken by a lot of nurses. They moved us up to the PICU for intense, constant care. We were there for 2 days.
Todd's sister Tiffany lives in Fort Worth and she came to the rescue. She brought us lunch and dinner and was so helpful by getting things from home that we left and made life easier. After work her husband, Adam came and helped Todd give TJ a blessing. Rock wasn't allowed in the ICU because he is under 3, but they got to see each other on the endocrine floor.
Every 2-4 hours (I can't remember which), they needed blood samples, even all through the night. After he had some more fluids, they tried more IV's in his hands/arms. No luck. They had to resort to a femoral line for his main IV. It was into TJ's inner thigh, groin area. It was very positional too. When they needed to take blood, they had to move the needle or TJ's leg or both around and around to get it to bleed for them. All night long they had to wake him and move him for that blood draw. I would get so mad at those nurses. They also came in to get his vitals every so often to and wake him up! Poor guy just needed rest! I was so grateful when they let us move.
On the second day, they moved us to the endocrine floor to be watched by the diabetic specialists. They came in a lot less, but it seemed their timing was the WORST! He didn't have a real nap until the last day we were there. Our stay lasted 4 days.
On the 6th floor, we started our diabetic education. Diabetes educators and dieticians came and taught us how to administer insulin and check blood sugars, and how and what and how much TJ could now eat, how to monitor that and the rules to follow. It was a lot to take in and tomorrow I am going to a class all day to learn even more.
When TJ saw Rock for the first time, he was THRILLED!! Someone his size and a familiar face! His best friend! I wish I got it on video. Rock sat in bed with TJ and they played with TJ's toys and smiled.
He also had Estrella (his "favorite") come the first night in the ICU. She's a NICU nurse at a hospital in Fort Worth and rushed over after work to see TJ. Valerie, Alan, Aiden and Emily Anderson also came to visit. And George and Lorna came from Denton. Plus, Summer and Brenton Anderson lent us their Christmas tree since they were leaving town and we now weren't. They worked it out and we had a wonderful pre-lit, pre-decorated tree to put presents under. Thanks to everyone!
My family drove down from Idaho to come and bring Christmas to us since we couldn't go there any more. They were a sight for sore, sore, tired eyes. Todd's mom, Calista was also able to fly down from Boise to help take care of our little guy. She spent the next 2 nights in the hospital with TJ so that Todd and I could go home and get good nights rest. It was needed, but so hard to walk away from my little boy laying in that bed.
Meal times were always difficult. TJ's appetite changed so drastically and all of a sudden he wouldn't eat anything. Meal times are still hard, but I think he's getting some appetite back, thank goodness.
Wednesday night TJ started showing us a glimpse of his old self, smiling and joking and entertaining like he does so well. There were bad times and better times and I know it will continue to be that way for a long time. It's always a battle, but one you can win.
Because of his femoral IV line they had in his leg, TJ got a very large blood clot from the back of his knee into his stomach. His leg was very swollen and seemed painful. They got him on blood thinner too. The clot should take about 3 months to dissolve completely. But his leg isn't swollen anymore and he walks on it just fine.
This kid has had a ton of bad things happen all at once.
-Had just gotten over a cold
-New ear infection diagnosed the day before the hospital
-Getting 2 molars in, bad teething
-Yeast infection
-New T1 diabetes
-Blood clot
It was great to have so much help at the hospital. We also received a cute teddy bear from Joel, Lila and kids. The diabetic doctors we are working with are really awesome and our main doctor is LDS too so that's nice.
TJ has gained 2-3 pounds since being admitted to the hospital and we are hoping to have him gain much more and chub up a bit. He's always been in the 10th percentile for weight and 70% on height.

We got to go home the day before Christmas Eve so we were home for the holidays! Since being home he has become his old self again, talking, laughing, learning and joking around. He's active and silly. He's a lot easier to make laugh which is really fun! He jibber jabbers all day and has learned every family member's name. It's super cute!
Thank you for your fasting, prayers and faith. We are doing great and adjusting much better than we thought. Todd went back to work today and we are getting a routine back. All of our lives are different but they won't be less happy or less normal because of this! We will all be stronger and closer to the Savior.

{Photos in the next post}