My Sun and Shield

Last Monday started off like any other summer day.  The kids slept in.  I slept in.  The only difference was that my baby had been sick for a few days and I told myself if he woke up sick I would take him to the doctor. 

He woke up around 1pm and could barely even walk.  Next thing I know he's throwing up profusely and still in my pajamas I throw on some shoes, put my kids in the car, and head to the nearest urgent care.

I am not one of those moms that takes her kids to the doctor for every little thing.  On the contrary, my kids NEVER get sick so if I am rushing my son to urgent care you know its bad.

It ended up being a LOT worse than I expected. 

I was in the urgent care for maybe thirty minutes when they're telling me an ambulance is on its way to take my baby to the PICU at Cook Children's.  When we get there he already has a room in PICU and there are about 10 nurses and doctor's already waiting for us.  That's when I am informed that his tests results were positive for type 1 diabetes and that right now his blood is poisoning him.  

His dad was diagnosed type 2 about a month ago and when they first told me type 1 diabetes I thought they were similar.  I was wrong.  The doctor sat us all down and explained what was going on and how he was going to be treated for his illness.  I felt like I was in a nightmare.  All I'm hearing is "for the rest of his life" and "could've been a lot worse if you would have waited to bring him in."  I am so thankful that my Mommy instincts kicked in and I took him in when I did.

DJ spent three days in the hospital and was released last Thursday.  

Ever since then it's been a whirlwind of scheduled meals, injections, glucose monitoring, planning EVERYTHING we eat and do, testing multiple times a day including a 3am reading every morning, and a complete life change in almost every possible way.  I have had no sleep.  I'm scared to let my baby out of my sight.  This is so not me.

D and his brother are going to spend the weekend with his dad tomorrow and I am freaking out.  I haven't left his side since last Monday.  I was with him every moment at the hospital and every moment since we've been home.  It makes me feel better to be by my baby's side.  I'm sure all you moms out there understand.

Thinking about being without my baby here is really getting to me so I decided to take my mind off things this afternoon and do something that has always been a way for me to relax and escape.  I stamped. :)

I decided to participate in two Verve challenges: the August Inspiration Challenge and the Viva la Verve sketch challenge.  I turned on my classic rock and I got inky!

I'm working with very limited supplies so I am pretty proud about how this turned out.  This sentiment from the Scripture Medley 2 set (which also happens to be on SALE right now!!) is perfect for the week we've had.  God has really poured his grace out on me and my family this past week and continues to be a sun and a shield in my life.    

I still have a few sheets from my Nana's Nursery Baby Girl paper stack left which were the perfect color combo for the inspiration challenge!  I drew inspiration from not only the gorgeous color combo but also the dream catcher itself and of course those gorgeous ribbons!  I pulled out my Nestabilities for the circles and stamped the image in Memento Rich Cocoa.   A few little pink swarovski crystals and a small bit of saffron ribbon completes a very simple, but therapeutic, card. 

I must admit that I am feeling a bit better since I was able to stamp!  It's been SO long!  I forgot how therapeutic it can be.  I smile every time I look at this card (which admittedly has been something that's been hard to do lately) and I know that my stamping bug is sparked again!    

As far as having a diabetic child our family has a long road ahead of us.  Our journey is just beginning but I also know that God is in all of this and there is a reason for all of it.  It's just hard.  Life can be so messy sometimes but that's where faith comes in and I'm thankful to believe in a God that is bigger than any mess this life can throw at us. ;)