18 Years Ago, This Week...

I was diagnosed with my disease... with my "thing" you could say... 18 years ago this week I was not feeling well, and had just started my freshman year of high school.... 18 years ago this week I lost 11 lbs in 2 weeks... I slept non-stop...I drank gallons and gallons of water... I couldn't make it through a 40 minute class period without going potty at least twice... and 18 years ago this week... at a Dr's appt with CountryMum the Dr said... take her immediately across the street to the hospital we are admitting her. 18 years ago this week I was in the hospital for 6 days to learn how my life was going to change...

18 years ago this week they told me to expect a CURE within 5 years... 18 years ago this week RN's showed me how to inject my 14 year old belly with needles, taught the CountryRents how to stab their child and sleep a little less soundly at night... 18 years ago this week my entire FAMILY was affected...

I did it all wrong for the first 10 years.. mostly...all wrong...and there is still no cure... don't GET me started on the conspiracy theory about how I'm making the Rx companies and medical community BOATLOADS of money off my pump supplies, insulin and test strips... but the point is...

It does not define me. I will not allow it. I love to talk about it... I love to educate people and I love to teach my nieces and nephews about it when they ask... but I will not let it consume me.

That being said... I pray everyday all day that Minnie does not have to experience it. It has always been a concern of mine (even though mine was "stress" induced) that I would pass it along to my child. Hence the reason I went so long saying I didn't want kids... I couldn't imagine doing something to my baby through my poor control or genetics that would cause them to end up with this... even though that is rarely the case...MORE often than not the babies of diabetics are just fine...

The chances are that Minnie will NOT have the disease... that she WILL be healthy and that I HAVEN'T grown a toddler (even though they think she's in the 90% for weight right now :) and I'm super proud of that... but....

she will have something... everyone does...and it is up to Husband and I to teach her to have OTHER things DEFINE her... positive things... Godly things... GOOD things... regardless of what is thrown at her or what she has to deal with.

18 years ago this week... I never thought I'd be less than 3 weeks from delivering a baby that is all mine....18 years ago this week...