I feel privileged to get to be granddad for Lilian in Ronnie’s absence. When Karoni telephoned, I was careful not to let her know that I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. Did I mention I get into trouble with the General routinely for failing to communicate important information to her? I would think the expectation for sharing important information would go both ways. For whatever reason, the General had not mentioned to me that we were keeping Lilian. I would think my need to know was fairly important since Treva was stranded in Alabama with Craig waiting for his truck to get repaired.
Lilian was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes about a year and a half ago. The General and I have previously attended a full day of training to orient us to information needed to manage a proper treatment regime. The one thing I most remember is the need to have a healthy respect for the serious potential of harm if not managed and treated properly. When we’ve kept Lilian in the past, I have been amazed at her maturity in handling her treatment regime. She not only understands the need to count carbohydrates, but also routinely does so and then calculates how much insulin is needed. She really doesn’t need a lot of support. I am always amazed at her level of independence.
Apparently, with type one juvenile diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. Consequently, managing one’s diet will not negate the need for insulin. Insulin must be provided at different intervals throughout the day.
Karoni also mentioned the plans Lilian had initially made regarding Halloween had fallen through. Prior to leaving town, Karoni had come up with a “plan B” for Lilian’s Halloween extravaganza that evening. I didn’t articulate it verbally, but I was relieved that Halloween evening was already covered. I’d be at a loss to know what to do. One of the downsides of living in the country is that most people don’t go from door to door.
I picked Lilian up from school and she seemed pleased to see me. She still had a residual headache, but she had calculated blood sugar counts, administered insulin and was confident she’d be okay soon. She was looking forward to the evening.
The General telephoned several times through the course of the day. News concerning the truck was questionable. At one point, the truck had been repaired. Craig paid the bill and was headed back to get the General. During the commute, a warning light came on and Craig returned to the dealership. They found more problems. At some point, the dealership promised they’d work into the evening to get the trouble repaired. Their initial estimate of time needed to resolve the subsequent problem was 9 hours. It sounds like a very full day; especially when round two of the repairs didn’t start until around 2:00 p.m.
I guess you could say I was “on pins and needles” wondering if the General would make it back to Texas in time for me to pick her up on Saturday. Did I mention I was scheduled to leave town on Sunday afternoon for a judicial summit in Fort Worth? Apparently not! I also had failed to communicate that information to the General as well. With that oversight, I guess we were one for one.
I won’t bore you with the details, but Plan B related to the Halloween plans also fell by the wayside. In addition, Lilian’s blood sugar issues were all over the chart. They would start down and then for no apparent reason, the next reading of her blood sugar level would be extremely elevated. At one point today, my gut feeling was to head for Dell Children’s Hospital. Fortunately, I got in touch with Karoni who suggested another course of action first. Thankfully, the level began to subside. It subsequently elevated again and now is at the lowest level it has been since I picked her up from school yesterday.
The entire experience has had the undertone of being an “on pins and needles” kind of two days. However, Lilian and I have had fun! Plan C quickly pulled together for Halloween was second to none. We both had fun! We now have more pleasant memories shared. The General is now home! She seems a little road weary, but grateful to be back. In addition, Craig starts his new job in Texas on Monday morning. Becky's family has orchestrated a wonderful "Welcome to Texas" experience for Craig. Her mother has also promoted order from chaos with the move and has their furniture arranged and looking great. In addition, she provided an incredible meal this evening for all of us. For a pins and needles kind of venture, it has had a wonderful conclusion.
Life is good!
Don