Type 1 Diabetes.  Katelyn has Type 1 Diabetes.  A life-threatening illness with no cure.  This is what we learned when she arrived at TCH.  A virus attacked her pancreas and caused it to stop producing insulin.  She would have to take insulin injections for the rest of her life.  Her carefree life for the past seven years was about to change more than any of us could possibly imagine.  All of our lives were about to change.

So now here I am, learning all I can about Down syndrome AND Type 1 Diabetes.  To say I was on information overload was an understatement.  In keeping with the tradition of always finding the positive in each situation, the positive aspect to this extremely difficult situation was now that Katelyn was admitted to Texas Children’s as well, I had a bed to sleep in and would no longer have to trek back and forth from home to the hospital.  During the next week, I spent my time going up and down between the two floors from John William to Katelyn, John William to Katelyn.  Over and over and over.  I was learning about carb counting, insulin correction, long acting insulin, short acting insulin, target blood sugar, low blood sugar, high blood sugar and ketones.  I learned how to give my daughter an insulin shot.  I learned how to give her the Glucagon shot in case she passed out.  I was terrified.  Completely terrified.  But I did not show it to Katelyn.  I put on my brave face every single day.  Moms have an incredible knack for being able to be brave for their children, am I right?  It was an exhausting seven days in the hospital with her, both mentally and physically.  All the while, praying John William would continue to improve so that we could all just go home. I just kind of floated along, with the help of family and friends.  My village was still in full force, anticipating my every need.

Two children in the hospital at the same time.  TWO!  I began to wonder why in the world God believed that I was strong enough to handle that scenario.  Two, in the same week?  Could He not at least have spaced it out a little bit?  I wasn’t doubting God’s plan, rather, I was doubting myself.  Was I even worthy?  Then it all began to make perfect sense.  He had given me every tool I needed.  A strong faith.  A rock-solid marriage.  A support group of family and friends.  A Prince of Peace.  He knew I would need John William to be able to handle the monster of a disease that is Type 1 Diabetes.  Because if you are lucky enough to know John William, you know that he simply makes everything better.

Katelyn was released after a week and John William was released after a month.  We would all be home as a family to begin our new normal.  The life God planned for us. Yes, in one short week our life had completely changed.  A change that centered us.  A change that made us grow.  A change that made us better.

Life is full of storms.  Real storms that shake the foundations of the life you have built.  This particular storm shook me deep into my core.  But it is the plan He had for me.  I trusted Him to be my anchor.  I am forever grateful for the friends and family who simply got in my boat and helped me weather the storm.  It’s just a small part of my story, but it gives you a glimpse into my life over the past ten years.  A beautiful life. Thank you for bearing with me for three long posts.  I had not intended for my story to take three posts, but I needed to explain it in stages.  As we move forward together on this journey, I will share about topics that are close to my heart.  Life lessons I have learned and some lessons that I am still learning at age forty-three.  I will share how I completely transformed my relationship with food.  How I have become the strongest, healthiest, happiest version of myself.  What I did and what worked for me.  Glimpses of grace from my soul. And if just one person’s heart is touched, just one person is given hope, just one person is inspired…then it will all be worth it to me.