My Ty Guy!

WRITTEN AUG. 2, 2010-

I anticipate it will only take a few weeks of daily being committed to get updated on my blog. The reality is that will probably not happen, but today I am motivated so I will begin. I thought I would mix it up and give an update on each member of the family.


In no particular order, I will begin with Ty.


My Ty guy. He is an all out little boy who loves to catch lizards and frogs, is always climbing things, constantly throwing something, loves building things, draws and creates like an “artist,” and when he grows up wants to be an astronaut. He will start 1st grade in a few short weeks and will be in the gifted and talent program (I had to throw that in…I’m a proud momma). He is easily loved and is quick to make friends. He is great kid who saves his mood swings and temper tantrums for his parents. He obeys best through bribes and “deals” likes to have “rewards” for his behavior and accomplishments. My favorite moments with him are on days in which he has had a nap and therefore gets to stay up late with me. On these nights he will typically lie in bed next and just talk…the conversations have ranged from questions about Santa Claus to questions about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity.

My all time favorite thing about Ty is his love for his family. He is a family man and when asked if he could do anything he typically responds with…just spend time with my family. He is an amazing big brother, a pest at time and awesome at getting both the girls to a level of anger and high pitch in their scream. But then there are those times like last night, when he randomly says to Ava, “ I love you girl!” and sweet comment of how Ali is going to be a great sister when she gets bigger. While they all do their share of bickering they get along and our house is usually fun of laugher and imaginative games. Ty's new passion is to hold Ali and carry her around. He loves to be the 1st one to her when she falls or cries, so he can pick her up and comfort her. I’ve been giving him the task of “being in charge” and “babysitting” while I work on things in another room such as laundry or cooking dinner. He is takes his responsibilities seriously…today he needed a cup of water to help Ali wash down the tip of a crayon that she ate.


January 28, 2010 he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and he has handled it like a champ. He isn’t perfect and from time to time I get the grip and grumble of, “I don’t want to check my blood sugar” especially when it means he has to stop his play activity. Ty having diabetes is a tender spot in my heart, and at moments I find myself feeling sorry for him and the unfair card life has dealt him. The reality it that it complicates things and slows him down at times. I’m particularly thinking of a time earlier this summer when we went swimming at a friend’s house. He hit a low blood sugar at the same time his insulin was peaking and he had to sit out of the pool for almost an hour as I desperately tried to get his numbers up…eat 15 carbs wait 15 minutes, re-check blood sugar… still low. We had to repeat that process at least 4 times. He was NOT happy with me then. Unknown to him it has affected his social life. He doesn’t go far from my side and I’m unwilling to let him do any sleep overs yet. When I hear stories of kids and teens with diabetes dying, it makes me that much more protective of him. I know at some point I’m going to have to cut the strings or at least let out a little more line so day by day I’m teaching him all he needs to know about diabetes. I’m in the process of making flash cards so he can learn carb counts of foods and have them memorized. He already knows how to read food labels and which foods are the healthiest choices. On July 6, 2010 he started on an insulin pump, the Animas Ping. It was been life changing. He was on 3 daily injections of insulin each before a meal prior to the pump. Now he get an “injection” AKA infusion set 1 time every 3 days. It’s a catheter that stays inserted into his skin and gives him tiny doses of insulin every 4 minutes, and bigger amounts to cover his food every time he eats. At this point he is checking his blood sugar 10-12 times a day. 10-12 times is alot of checks compared to the mandatory 3-4 checks a day but it’s what we have to do due to his high activity level and being so new on the insulin pump. Just after 6 months of having diabetes just looking at the scaring on his finger tips from blood sugar checks just breaks my heart.
Just a few days after school let out, Ty spent three weeks at a camp for kids with Type 1 diabetes. Camp Sweeney was a great break for me from diabetes. Knowing Ty was taken care of was a huge relief. He had a wonderful time at camp, he NEVER cried or let on that he missed me while at camp. His counselors loved him and said he was by far the most popular kid at camp, especially with the ladies. He was one of the youngest of 200 kids there. I know he loved all the attention and limitless activities. When he came home he was already asking about how much longer until he got to go back again. Jeff and I want to make it a possibility for him every year as long as he wants to go.


He is my daredevil and risk taker. Last week our family and went to help out at church camp. Half way through the week one of the “little kids” fell about 15 feet down the face of a cliff. That little kids just so happened to be Ty! Apparently he climbed down about 5 feet and winded up falling the rest of the way, breaking his fall on a ledge. Those of you all familiar with Camp Hensel will know the “cliffs” and drop off right off the back porch of the mess hall. He came out with some bruises and scrapes and during the 20-30 minutes it took to rig up a rope to pull him up, he found joy in all the roly-pollies that were on the cliff face.

I call him my miracle baby and have told him the story many of how being pregnant and carrying him healed me from my pseudo-tumor. That’s at least what the doctors have said, and I completely agree. What is supposed to be a life long disease managed only with medication was healed and vanished through his life growing inside of me. He is my son, my oldest, and I love him.