24 hours and a life change

I don't know that if someone had told me 15 months ago that a four legged 2 year old lab would change our world for the better that I would have believed them. Around 24 hours ago this sweet child of a dog came into our lives. Around 24 hours ago our lives forever changed. In this short amount of time he has eased the worry of Jon and I. He has cleared the skeptics minds about his purpose and job. He is a true gift from God. Jack has a new best friend in this sweet dog. We have a new family member - although a certain brown dog is not too happy about this.

One of my biggest things that I struggle with is worry. I think that as moms we are naturally inclined to worry. When you have a child with a chronic illness or medical fragility, you worry just a bit more. You are always worried about if there is another child around that might be getting sick and how it will affect you child. For most Type 1 parents, we worry about their numbers getting too high and our child going into DKA or their numbers getting too low and them slipping into a coma. Even though I work outside of the home, I still have a never-ending life of doctor's appointments, school meetings, calls to the insurance company, homework, bills to pay, house chores to do. God has been reminding me lately that I need to work on my patience - that is not one of my spiritual gifts. He's also been really working on me and my worry. Just earlier today I was reminded of a verse in Matthew 6 when Christ was giving His sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:33-34, He tells us to seek His kingdom and not to seek out worry. He then says "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I feel that when I worry, I am trampling all over God's plan for my life and for Jack's - because much of my worry is over him.

I know that God has big plans for this little boy. Oh if I could just get a glimpse but I will try my best to wait and help him follow God's call on his life. I'm learning that in all my worry it never usually accomplishes anything. I have to step up, step out and ask God for guidance. Usually it's me saying "ok God. You and me. Together we got this." Probably not the most correct way to go about it but it works. I said a few months ago when Jon was promoted out of the blue, that it felt like God had grabbed us by the shoulders and turned us and told us to walk. I feel that that is the same thing that happened when Jack was diagnosed. I was told by his endocrinologist that I was one of the most calm parents he had seen in quite a while. I believe that is what happens when God lifts the veil over your eyes just a little to the path He is leading you down. For a long time after my dad died I was angry at God. Angry because He let my dad die. I can see now that it was my dad's path and that what he lived with for 20+ years and his death would benefit me greatly some 13 years later. I won't say that I was calm when Jack was diagnosed but I was completely at peace with it. It was another one of those "ok God. You and me." moments. I know that if I didn't know Christ as my Savior I probably wouldn't be as focused as I am on Jack and Jon.

It was one of those brighter lights on the path that led me to email a complete stranger with questions about Diabetic Alert Dogs. By doing that, we now have 2 wonderful friendships that we wouldn't have had otherwise. By doing that, we have a sweet and funny little lab sleeping in the floor helping Jack with his blood sugars. I am so thankful to God for opening all of the doors that needed to open for us to get this dog. For opening all of the doors to get the dog into the school with Jack. Without Him our lives would be nothing. Without Him we would be lost.

For now.

Kim

TODAY!!

Today is the day! The day that we have been patiently waiting for. Bubba is making the drive to Jacksonville to bring Izzy to us. Jack is over the moon excited and can barely contain it. We pray for safe travels for Bubba and Izzy. Today and tomorrow are going to be a whirlwind but in such a good way with a great ending. I will post pictures once I get some.

Yesterday, we got final approval for Izzy to go to school with Jack on Monday. It has been a long road with the school but it will all be worth it. Tomorrow we go to the school for 2 hours to let Izzy and Jack get accustomed to the school without 1200 students in it.

God is so good!!

For now.

Kim

6 days!

Man, life has been crazy busy!! I feel like we have been going nonstop since Christmas. As many of you know we made the decision late last year to get Jack a Diabetic Alert Dog. We began working with Hub City Service Dogs to find and train a dog for Jack. Jack has a very, very difficult time knowing when his blood sugar is low. Most of the time he has no clue. It has been a long process but I know that God is in this and we have to do things in His timing.

Here we are, now 6 days away from our Izzy making his appearance. It definitely has been in God's timing. The first dog that we had didn't have the food drive needed to be a D.A.D. She is now a PTSD service dog for a soldier and I am so excited that she can help someone else. The second dog that we were introduced to was doing really well until just about 2 months ago. She started showing dog aggression and Bubba didn't want to bring her to our house and there possibly be a problem with Penelope. When Bubba called to tell us what was going on with the 2nd dog, I immediately became discouraged. He quickly told me that he had been secretly training another dog at the same time. He said that this dog was doing great and was actually ready to be placed. Our Izzy is going to be a 2 year old yellow lab. Our Izzy is a boy, not a girl. We decided to keep the name Izzy because that is what Jack picked out and I had just ordered a special dog tag for the dog's collar for school with the name Izzy on it. So on Thursday, August 20, our Izzy will be making the trip from Hattiesburg, Mississippi all the way to Jacksonville to join our family. Jack is over the moon excited about having this resource.

Life is going to change again - but this time in a good way. Many times I feel that life is always changing for us as Type 1 is so unpredictable. It changed when we went from daily injections to the insulin pump. It changed when Jack agreed to do a trial of the Continual Glucose Monitor (CGM). It will change when Izzy comes. It will change when we get his CGM.

In all of the change, it could have been easy to turn away from God. To turn away from His loving arms and support. To turn to the world and a "woe is me" attitude. Instead, we have run to God. Run to Him for comfort when scared, for strength when weary, for rest when so very tired. Run to Him for help when we didn't know what to do. We have continued to be faithful to God and what He has called Jon and I to do as Jack's parents. There are times when my brain is fuzzy and my body is tired that I have to tell myself that I am not alone. Jon and I are not alone in this walk. God has put so many people in our path that also walk this journey. What an amazing support group we have found.


Life changes. God does not.


We have started a Facebook page for Jack & Izzy so I am going to do my very best to update the blog as often as possible.

For now.

Kim