[Lynne1]

I had my first at 39 and my second at 41. Keeping your bgs in check is the most important thing for a healthy pregnancy!

[Mick]

Although I'm not a woman, and of course didn't give birth to my children, I've been diabetic for 41 years, since the age of 13, and a dad for 23 years. I worried a lot before adopting our kids, how long into their adulthood I might survive. We went ahead anyway--adopting the first one, an infant, in 1983, when I was 31 and had been diabetic for 17 years, and the second, a 4-year old, in 1994, when I was 42 and had been diabetic for 28 years. Five years after that, I had a heart attack, and the issue of my mortality came into rather clear focus--my daughter was only 16, and my son only 9. But I recovered, and my daughter graduated high school and then college. I'm teaching my son to drive this summer. My wife survived a serious battle with cancer 2 years ago, so I'm not about to die off and hope my wife survives--she's in remission for now, but we both fight day-by-day and take nothing for granted. I could die from diabetic complications, or live a long and healthy life, or get hit by a truck on the street tomorrow. Live the best you can today, and, as Ram Dass said, "Be Here Now." Our kids are the best reason we have for taking good care of ourselves, and for living a joyous life.

[camjen1]

Ok I guess I'm the odd ball and have to say I had my first at 17 years of age. Yikes I know!!

I had to grow up fast and on top of that I was diagnosed with diabetes soon after my son was born. Now 9 years later I'm by myself with 3 kids and diabetes just adds to the burden. I have to get my kids ready, get them off to school, help with homework, do my own homework, go to my classes and work almost fulltime. I never find the time to take care of myself and that is what really is depressing. BTW since we are showing off our kids, here's my youngest. She is the only one that is willing to pose for pictures so why not take advantage of it.

[Penny]

I worry about having complications and not having anyone to help take care of me. After having my first child at 19, I raised a large family. Now at almost 60, I am still taking care of people. I worry about not seeing my granddaughter safely raised, about having someone to look out for my grown daughter, that I take care of now. But even knowing all this, I would do it all over again. My children have brought me some heartache, but also more joy than I could put into words. My grandchildren were like the icing on the cake, I sure wouldn't have wanted to miss that. Even if I don't make it to see things taken care of, it is worth the time I had.

[Keezheekoni]

Sandi,

You're not an oddball. I had my firstborn 30 days after I turned 17. I was a good girl gone bad. But, I did graduate high school the year I got pregnant with him and went to college later. I have 5 kids, one who is 16, one who is 14, one who is 7, one who is 4 and one who is 2... actually the 7, 4 and 2 year-olds will be 8, 5 and 3 in the next month and a half.

Let's see if I can find a pic of all of them together...
everyone.JPG
Left to right: My husband in the blue shirt, Shayna (the 4 year-old), Kaycee (the 7 year-old), PJ (the 2 year-old, on top of Chris), Chris (the 16 year-old) and Tania (the 14 year-old). I'm taking the picture, so you can't see me! LOL

[KickStart101]

Wow, what a bunch of Beautiful Kids you Guys/Gals have.
Even the 2 little one's whose faces are a bit blurry. You's
must all be so Proud of them and thrilled that you can share
them with the World.

I was dxd. at age 3, had my Baby Boy(didn't know what an Endo
was 'til I was el preggo)at age 23 and my Baby Girl at age 27(got
fixed at the same time). Didn't get a meter 'til my Daughter was
3 yrs. Had to do the best I could with the Chemstrips while pregnant.

My Son had a fever seizure(I thought he was a Diabetic)at age
18 mths. Thankfully he isn't.

My Daughter started having seizures at 3 mths. old. Scared the
beejeebers outta me. Again I thought, Diabetes. NOT. Fever
seizures again. She had them, once a month. At age 3, we
couldn't get her fever down so we rushed her to the hospital.
They had to overdose her(their words)on 3 different drugs,
Phenobarbital, Diazipan(sp) and Lorizopan(sp), I think they were.
She was in that seizure for 1 hr. 50 mins. I remember when we went
to pick her up at CHEO. She was so little and cute and kind of stumbling
(I didn't know, she was still doped up)and she smiled at me and said, "Hi Mommy" like she was drunk. I thought, "OMG, she's retarded". Sorry, that was my thought.

They had done tons of tests on her and it turned out she was an Epileptic.
That was a surprise!! We have a couple of Folks with that condition in the Family, but hadn't considered that one. Anyways, she was put on a barbituate(Phenobarbital)until age 7, when the Dr. said, she can't learn much
while on that drug(thanks for telling us), so she put her on Tegretal and some
other drug. She Happily outgrew Epilepsy when she was 12 yrs. Then she got bad hives() so I had to paint most of her body with a paint brush and calamine lotion every night since the Hives covered most of her body. Her
Hives are much better now. I was told, none of this had anything to do with me being a Diabetic.

Anyways, so far they are fine(kow). Our Son Graduated from High School(won 2 awards in Chess tournaments)and College, volunteered for a few yrs. at the Shephards of Good Hope(while in High School)has been working for yrs.(a Happy tax payer)and recently got married. Our Daughter Graduated from High School,(won 4 medals in wrestling)(one award for Kindness yrs. ago),
has raised good amounts of money doing activities for charities including CDA, worked for 1 1/2 yrs., finished her first yr. of College and will be returning in the Fall. We wouldn't have missed a moment of their lives for anything, they've grown up to be caring, loving and responsible(usually)Adults.

Whether you have Kids is up to you, of course. If you are meant to have
Kids it will happen and you will experience the "feeling", if it is your choice
when the time is right. Best of Luck to you(and anyone else) whatever your choice may be.

[June91]

Thanks for the wise words, everyone!

My daughter got a little stopwatch toy from McDonald's the other day (plastic rectangle with screen, you get the idea, lol) and clipped it under her dress, proudly proclaiming that she's got a pump of her own now. My mom looked a bit unsure whether to cry or laugh, but I was rolling on the floor

[mark-TN]

Here is, Jake, our little bundle of trouble, I mean joy!

Click to Enlarge.
Click to Enlarge.
Click to Enlarge.


Mark

[christie]

i'm not sure if my input is what this thread is about but heres my 2 cents.i had my son when i was 27,after being told also that a baby was not possible and if it was slightly possible it was'nt advised.i had lost a baby prior to my son,which was really difficult.and my daughter was born when i was 30.so i being like some of the others are alone in raising my kids.do i worry about the future sure,i also feel guilty about having my son help me through the bad low times,but i know i'm a great mom,my kids are happy,healthy and over loved by a mom who just happens to be sick. and i hope i'm here to see grandkids.

[gettingby]

Originally Posted by christie

do i worry about the future sure,i also feel guilty about having my son help me through the bad low times,but i know i'm a great mom,my kids are happy,healthy and over loved by a mom who just happens to be sick. and i hope i'm here to see grandkids.

Christie, I think we all feel guilty about having to sometimes receive help from our kids. I do, too. The thing is that my daughter is almost 16 and she wouldn't have it any other way. As long as your kids are happy and healthy, that's all that matters.