What a roller coaster ride...

I was just apologizing to a friend because I haven't been a very good friend lately. I have been so preoccupied with my own life that I haven't taken the time to have much communication with my friends. I sort of let them go by the wayside when I am riding this roller coaster called life.

This last week has been one heck of a ride. Last Thursday my hubby woke up with a pain in his hands. He said it felt like he slept on them funny. Friday he woke up and they were worse with additional pain up his arms. Saturday when he woke up he had lost a lot of strength in his hands and they were sore almost up to his shoulders and his legs were starting to ache. He headed to the Urgent Care. I was in Wisconsin Dells but he called me while he was waiting for test results. He called after he got them but was only told that most of his results were fine. The told him that his blood sugar was elevated and if his condition got worse he should go straight to the ER. He called me Sunday morning and told me I needed to take him in to the ER as soon as I got home because he had no strength in his hands. He couldn't even turn on a faucet or open a door anymore. He knew he couldn't drive himself.

I got home about 6:00 PM and we ate a little dinner and headed to the ER. My niece stayed with the girls and the plan was to take her home that night depending on what time we got home. I ended up getting home at about 3:30 AM. They ran a number of test. A lot of different doctors and nurses came in. They had him on a saline drip because some level in his blood was elevated and so was his blood sugar. After much convincing they admitted him into the hospital.

The next day he didn't get much information but there was one doctor/nurse that indicated that he would be there overnight again. He had a muscle test done. His description was that it felt like they were electrocuting him. They couldn't explain his muscle loss or why his nerves were reacting as they were. They told him he would be there another night and he apparently had an argument with the doctors because we had court the next morning. After his threat of removing his own IV they consented to giving him a day pass.

I picked him up at 7:45 AM and we headed over to children’s court. We sat for a while and weren't sure if the girls Mom would show up. By the time we were called she hadn't shown up but the last court hearing she surprised everyone and walked in as the judge was about to postpone the case. She never did show and the judge found her in default. He listened to our testimony and asked for the Guardian ad Litem's opinion. She stated she thought it was in the girls best interest if Guardianship be transferred to us permanently. The Judge agreed and we are now permanent legal guardians of both girls.

When we got back to the hospital there were 4 or 5 doctors reviewing my hubby's case and they were trying to decide on the best course of treatment. They told him the options and wanted to know what he wanted to do. One thing to do would be treat it as Diabetes related symptoms and have him follow up with doctors and get on a regimen to treat Diabetes. The other option would be a spinal tap and based on the results he could have a treatment that sounded pretty severe. My hubby decided on the less evasive treatment and is treating himself as a diabetic. This was a tough pill to swallow but we are using this as an opportunity to change our lifestyle. We are going to quit smoking and start healthy eating and exercise. With any luck he will be Diabetes free in no time at all.

Through all this there really seems to be a big stressor done in our lives. I learned to appreciate everything you have rather than dwell on what you want. I am turning to God to help pull us through whatever else comes our way. Only he can help us find the correct path to be on. That may even include a few detours such as Diabetes.

Hug your spouse. Hug you kids. Let everyone know just how much you appreciate them. And be sure you don't forget about your friends. They can life you up when you are on the downward slope.