Late weekend update the good the bad and what path are you on!

I really wanted to do this post earlier in the week but things have been busy around here!

This past weekend was a pretty good weekend overall. I got to spend a nice long weekend with the wife and family just enjoying each others company.  For this upcoming weekend I have another 3 day weekend as I am taking the day off Friday, yippee!!!

My wife and I  accomplished a lot in Alayna’s bedroom as far as hanging various items on the walls.  Yes, we are not a very decorative household but we figured we should at least make the baby room look like a little girl’s room.  So far, we have accomplished hanging items on 3 of the 4 walls.  We still need to arrange how the next wall will look as far as where things will be hung.  It literally took us hours to get the 3 walls decorated that’s because we are perfectionists. Yes, that trait is good and bad at times.   Let me tell you this bedroom has felt like a never ending project but once we are all done with the room I promise I will post some pictures.

So like I said the weekend was pretty good.  But there was also some sad/bad news that we received over the weekend.  I know some of you may be holding your breath right now so I will let you know Alayna, Maria, and myself are doing just fine. 

Before I get into the sad/bad news I would first like to give my readers a little info on my family. I have 3 brothers and I am the oldest yippee for me! Yes, my parents never had a dull moment running to every practice, game etc. with 4 boys.  Out of the 4 of us, I was the one who was inflicted with the wonderful CF.  My 3 brothers were tested for CF and  are gene carriers of CF. Thank GOD they do not have to worry about this disease!   My parents are both carriers of the CF gene and were actually unknown carriers.  Looks like my family fits the textbook CF definition of the 1 in 4 chance of having a child with CF as both my parents are carriers of the disease.

But I am not the only one in the family that is battling with a chronic disease.  One of my brothers was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about 6 years ago.  He developed mono back in his senior year and shortly after he recovered from mono he was later diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Talk about some horrible news!  But like we all know life isn’t fair.  He seems to be doing pretty good though with managing his diabetes.  

At this time when my brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes my parents had many emotions running through them.  I know they felt terrible and were very sad. They have 4 kids and 2 of them have a chronic disease.  Let me state this to you mom and dad none of this is anyone’s fault!!! There are families who have it way worse off then we do and then there are families who have no illnesses to worry about.  But its just plain fact that the both of you have given us the best shot at life so do not ever feel like you could have done something differently!!!

So with 2 kids having a chronic illness my parents never stopped worrying about their other 2 children.  My parents nightmare came true again over the weekend!!!!  My one brother who has been healthy to this today was losing a bunch of weight (not on purpose) and peeing more frequently.  He told me these symptoms about 2 weeks ago and I made sure to tell him you better go to the doctor to get yourself checked out.  

This past weekend he was informing my mom of his symptoms and she decided to test his blood sugar at home with a glucose monitor.  He had his blood sugar reading and the monitor said something to the fact of HIGH. My mom panicked and my brother then tested his sugar a second time.  It was over 500!! WOW!  So they called the doctor and he informed them to get to the hospital right away.  Later that night he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Talk about a real punch in the gut!  

Let me tell you a little bit about my brother. He has to be one of the smartest individuals I know. He has done extremely well in his undergrad course work majoring in biology/chemistry to become his ultimate goal a veterinarian.  He has graduated from his undergrad studies and is now pursuing veterinarian studies.  I know that he has big goals, dreams, and aspirations which will all be achievable.  This diagnosis will not be a setback for you at all brother!!  I can already see your determination and fight to reach your goals and I cannot wait to see you walk across that stage in the next four years.    

When you are diagnosed with a medical condition or there is a big change in your life you have two paths that you can choose from.  You can take ownership of the diagnosis and make it your number one priority to beat it or you can say well I am not going to worry about it until it really impacts my life.  I know you will take ownership of this diagnosis because that is the only way you will be able to live out your goals, dreams and aspirations.  I hope that I have set an example for you of how I live my life with CF and have taken ownership of this disease.  No matter what I am always here for you and I will be your biggest supporter when it comes to battling this disease!!!

I LOVE YOU RYAN!!