Friday, February 18, 2011

One Proud Mama

As I was talking to one of Lovebug's teachers this morning, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that she was giving each one of her friends hugs and telling them she missed them.  How sweet is that? 

Then later in the morning I got a call today from Lovebug's preschool.  It was one of the parent helpers asking me a question about her pump and dosing her for her snack.  She had already checked  Lovebug's blood sugar and had a question. I walked her through it and it was all taken care of pretty easily. The conversation wasn't an abnormal one but it was the what she said at the end of the conversation that really resonated with me.  Lovebug is one amazing little girl.  

Yes, yes she is.  I already knew that, but when someone who doesn't know her that well or know much about diabetes to say that, meant a lot.  It made me smile and gave me those warm fuzzies. 

All that got me thinking.  I know that Lovebug is an amazing kid, but how amazing I am just starting to realize.  

The realization is setting in more and more each day, that she is teaching me a lot about myself.  She is helping me be a better mother, daughter, and friend and she is only 4 years old!  

She is always thinking of others first. The way she shows love to her friends by making them  friends and her teachers at school cards and notes or drawing them pictures.  There are some days that her daily folder is packed with 5 or 6 "notes" for her friends.  

She is always asking how Daddy is doing?  When he is tired and lying on the couch she will ask him if he feels okay or if he is just tired.  She worries about her sisters when they are hurt or sick. She will randomly come up to me and give me a hug or tell me that she loves me.  She always gives her big sister a hug when she gets home from school and is super excited to see her. On Sunday mornings she will run up and give her teachers a big hug.  You can just tell that she loves people and cares about them.  

When she was diagnosed the Type 1 she was so sick.  She was my one kid that just never got sick.  To see her sick was really hard.  She was so needy and just not herself.  But from the first shot of insulin she received in the hospital, she has always had the best attitude.  

She has never complained about shots.  When she was first diagnosed she would remind me that she needed her insulin before she ate, or remind me to poke her finger. (she still does on occasion when I am distracted and forget!) She hasn't ever cried for a Sensor change or an infusion site change for her pump. (although a couple times I have gotten and "ouch, ouch, ouch, Mommy) She doesn't ask me why, or complain about her diabetes. (at least not yet anyway.)  She is so laid back with the whole thing.  She just goes with the flow and doesn't worry about it.  

Her teachers have told me that she helped them when they were first learning her diabetes care.  Mrs C and Mrs W would tell me she would give them a high-five when they got it right.  Lovebug would come home and tell me that she Mrs C got it right on the second try today and the she was so proud of her!  That is just CRAZY!  I guess she even high -fived the principle,  Mr. N when he was in her room and helped out one day.  She is really encouraging to others, and it blesses my heart to see it.  

I have to admit that I could take a few cues from her.  I need to be more laid back and just go with the flow.  That's hard for me. I like to be in charge and know what to expect. I don't particularly like life's little forks in the road or detours. It's that first born in me!  I have noticed that when I am having a frustrating day with diabetes and I want to ring it's little neck, Lovebug is the one that will calm me down, so to speak. When I see her start complaining the way I am, well you get the point.  It's a HUGE wake up call.  

We are coming up on our 2 year Diaversary soon and two years into this, I couldn't be more proud. She is what makes diabetes tolerable. She is my little blessing, diabetes and all. 

 I am certainly one proud Mama.  

7 comments:

Wendy said...

Lovebug,
I am so proud of you. You are a wonderful little girl and I can't wait to see what amazing things God has in store for you. Give your mommy a hug from me...and keep on shining your beautiful bright light!
Love,
Aunt Wendy
(who lives in a magical land called Candy Hearts)

Unknown said...

She sounds amazing Heather. You must be so proud of her. I am in awe at her giving, sweet nature. Love the note writing - Bridget used to do that ... and still likes writing her pen pal (Autoimmune Island's Queen Alopecia)...

Give her a fist bump from Cyber Auntie Reyna!!! xoxo

Joanne said...

How sweet, she does sound like one amazing little girl!

Shannon@ The New Normal Life said...

She does sound like an amazing child but I am sure a part of that is due to her amazing mommy! I hope you have a great night and know that you are amazing too!

Trev said...

She is amazing, I am choked up reading your post. Reminds me so much of my little princess who was diagnosed at 18 months. So small, so brave, so innocent. I am constantly humbled by her resilience.
Thanks for the post.

Dawn @ Sugar Free Candyland said...

Awwww! How sweet!I actually believe that, our kids that have diabetes (or any other disease/disability for that matter) kind of, in a way, makes them a little more sensitive to others and their feelings. This post has actually taken me back to just a few short months after my Lenny was diagnosed. We were at walmart doing some grocery shopping. It was bedtime snack time, and we were running late. Hubby took Lenny into the mens room to check his sugar and give him a shot, when a man came out of a stall and saw my husband doing this to Lenny. Surprisingly, the man did not say a single negative thing, no wierd, insensitive looks or remarks. Instead, he sat there and watched, while he washed his hands. I'm sure he asked a few questions at some point, but, at the end of it, when Hubby was done giving him his shot, the man looked at Lenny and said, "You, sir, are a brave little boy!" When my husband told me this story in the car on our way home that night, tears flooded my eyes. Lenny was 3 1/2 years old when he was diagnosed. He was only attending Head Start (preschool) for about a month and a half or so when he was diagnosed. Ever since then, all the nurses, teachers, etc. that have had to help him with his diabetes care hands-on, have commented on how great his attitude is towards his diabetes. How he never complains about having to get his sugar checked, shots, site changes, etc. How, in fact, he jokes around about it all, and has such a great sense of humor both about his diabetes, and non-diabetes things. They tell me that he COULD have a bad attitude about it; he COULD totally fight him with everything hes got to NOT get these things done, but he doesn't. They chalk up his great attitude about it all to us and how we have helped him handle and cope with it all, but honestly, I chalk it up to him and his always awesome personality, sense of humor, and (overall) great attitude. Yes, I'm sure in part, how he handles it all could be due to us and how we have always made it look like it was "no big deal" and rarely showed a "bad" attitude toward it, and the fact that we dont freak out over highs or lows, but, all in all, it is HIM who chooses to have this attitude about it!

Keep up the great work mama, and Lovebug!

LaLa said...

Sweet, Beautiful and Amazing --- Lovebug, you are all of those things and so much more!!

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