The big blah!!

The Kapp house has been pretty crazy for a while now. It started a few weeks ago. Tessa out of nowhere came down with an ear infection. She wasn't sleeping and crying constantly so I took her to the doctor. They gave her an antibiotic and we were on our way. She got a little better, but by 5 days later she was miserable again. So we took her back to the doctors. She still had the ear infection. The doctor put her on a different antibiotic and we were on our way again. This time she only had 1 good day and was miserable again. We waited a couple of days to see if the antibiotic would kick in, with no luck!! So we went back to the doctors. This time he gave her an antibiotic shot in both legs and told us to come back the next day. We went back and one ear was better, but there was still infection in the other ear. So she got two more shots and told to come back the next day. Went back the next day and her ears were declared well again.

Part two. She felt a little better for a day and then seemed to come down with the flu. She was very miserable. She cried day and night and only wanted to drink. So, that's right, we went back to the doctor!!!! He said she didn't have an ear infection but it probably was the flu and to try and keep her hydrated. So we did for 3 days. After 3 days I was beside myself. She was getting super skinny (which you know is crazy skinny), she cried if she was awake and was sleeping 90% of the day. So I called the doctor and said I just didn't know what to do and asked what he thought. He said to come in the next day. We did (yes we are up to 7 visits in 3 weeks by this point). He said let's run blood work and see what she is deficient in that is making it so she is not healing as she should be. We went and got the blood work done.

Part three. After the blood work, I am not kidding, the doctor called within the hour. He said that all the blood work was normal except the blood glucose. It was 400 (100-200 is normal). He said he was calling Primary Children's Medical Center and we would probably be sent right down. He called 5 minutes later and said go directly there without passing go or collecting $100. So off we went. My parents met us there and took Simone and then came up and got Elise and took them to their house in Provo. They re-checked all of Tessa's blood work and it became official that Tessa has Type 1 Diabetes!

Part four. We stayed at the hospital for 3 days and learned how to give shots, prick fingers, calculate carbohydrate amounts in food and so much more. I did like the part when I got to give Chris a shot. He was being a punk and I goofed up so he got 2 shots. That will teach him to he such a smarty pants!! Really it was days stuffed with a lot of learning how to take care of Tessa. We learned so much. There were a lot of highs and a lot of low (both with her blood sugar and our sanity)! But overall we saw drastic changes in Tessa. She is happy again, looks good and doing so much better. We had been so worried about her health for so long not knowing what was going on.

Conclusion. The questions remain how are we really going to be able to do this? How will this work with school? Will we really be able to keep it all straight in our heads? Are we going insane??? And a lot more. I have always thought that we really don't get a choice in what we go through, just how we go through it all. So most of the time a good attitude is in order and all is well. I am sure I will feel very overwhelmed at times (especially because I don't think it is possible to be underwhelmed!)!

Blessings. There are so many huge blessings in all of this. First and foremost my parents. I called them panicked and they dropped everything and just took care of us. I am so grateful they have always done this for me (now I don't have to someday in general conference feel guilty I didn't tell them). Second, we really have amazing doctors and nurses, etc in this area. We were so taken care of and helped. What a blessing to have a top notch children's hospital in the area. Third, Chris is amazing. He just jumps into everything with an amazing attitude and carries the load until I can muster the courage to jump on board as well. An example was after learning how to give shots he was disappointed that Tessa didn't need a shot that night for him to give to her. Poor thing had to wait until the next morning. There are so many other blessings as well!!

So...how are we doing? Better. I am so glad to have my sweet Tessa back and being happy! Now don't go saying to yourself or to me that I handle things so well and that I am amazing (yes people say that from time to time to me). I am not handling this well, I'm just handling it like all of you would too. If I had the choice I would give this challenge back!!! Oh well, I don't get the choice! I guess I will just move forward!!