1. His "Travelling Buddy" (the IV pole). He liked to watch the computer screen.
2. The enormous meals.
3. All the attention from nurses and doctors and nursing students and social workers and volunteers and nurse practitioners and diabetes educators and Mommy and Daddy.
4. Playing with the nurses.
5. Sleeping in the hospital bed with Daddy.
6. He could make the bed move up and down.
7. Peeing in a bottle.
8. The insulin shots (because they tickle {praise the Lord!}) and that the finger pokes don't hurt.
9. Making snowflakes to put in the window and praying for the next kid who would be in the room.
10. Getting new stuffed animals and a drawing pad and stickers to share with his sisters.
11. Watching Thomas and Toy Story 3 from his bed.
Joshua had been excessively hungry and thirsty the last three weeks. He urinated a couple times an hour. Renee did some research last Tuesday evening; everything pointed to Type I Diabetes. She got an appointment at the clinic here for Wednesday morning. Urine and blood tests showed very high blood glucose levels. We were to be booked into St. Mary's Children's Hospital that same afternoon. Joshua and I drove down, leaving Renee and the others at home. Once at the hospital he was hooked up to saline to get re-hydrated. Another blood test confirmed diabetes. Doctors recommended Renee come down the next day to begin our education on keeping Joshua healthy. Graciously some friends took the girls and our pastor and wife drove Renee and Hudson down to the hospital. Thursday was filled with learning and trying to retain and praying that we would not get overwhelmed. Thank-you for others who prayed that as well. We could have returned home Thursday night, but didn't feel comfortable with the dosing and carb counting. But by Friday morning we had gone through a couple of different glucose level scenarios, had showers at the Sheraton, and had a better grasp on this new life. Understanding of how Joshua's body is working will grow in time. Truthfully, even before these last few days we've often felt just on the brink of what we can handle. But what better place to live than where we are constantly reminded to call on Jesus, because He brought us here and He means to do great things in us and through us here.
Joel.
