What's In A Number?

Numbers.  Ever think much about them?  We start learning about numbers when we are very young.  We learn to count our fingers and our toes.  We learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide.  We see them every single day, when we drive down the street, as we see speed limit signs.  We see them on the calendar, and on clocks.  But do we ever stop and THINK about numbers and what they could mean?
In our house, numbers are a huge part of our day.  They've been a huge part of our lives since 2000 when Colton was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  See--there's a number right there, 1.   From that moment, our lives changed forever and every single day would result in watching and waiting for numbers to be 'low or high'.  
There are 365 days in a year, 52 weeks in a year, 12 months in a year, 7 days in a week.  Just thought I'd throw that out there in case you forgot about learning it in school. =)
8 x 7=56  Thats how many times in a week that Colton has to stick his finger to check his blood sugar.  2920....any idea what that is?  Thats the total of how many times he sticks his fingers in a year--at 8 times a day(in a 24 hour period).  1460...guesses?  That is a rough number for how many shots that he got per year for EACH of the first 5 years he had diabetes.  Give or take a few more--on sick days or if he needed an extra injection to cover a high glucose. 
250--the number of units of insulin that Colton puts in his insulin pump every 3 days.  
68 and under=blood sugar readings that are considered too low, and can result in a seizure if not treated quickly.  70-120...70 is on the verge of being a low, and a 'normal' glucose shouldn't be over 120.  90-120--Colton's 'target' range for his blood sugar.  Numbers over 200 are considered 'high' for a glucose.  Anything over 300 is bad, and the higher the number the more serious the situation.   Numbers are replaced by the letters HI if his glucose is over 600.
178.  Doesn't look or seem too bad right?   Well...................thats a good question. It could be good or bad.  I have from time to time, periodically and randomly checked my own glucose.  I checked my blood a few nights ago. I can't explain it, I just felt weird.  I washed my hands, grabbed an extra glucose meter we have and was floored at the reading.  It had been over 2 hours since I'd eaten.  But, 178 is what appeared on the meter.  An  hour afterwards, 158.  I went to bed, and got up the next morning and checked myself before having anything to eat or drink and it was 132.  
Type 2(Oh look! Another number!!) diabetes runs in my family.  My grandpa had it, and my uncle has it.  I do not know for sure who else in my family might have had it, before my grandpa--they didnt keep track or records of that kind of stuff.  It took me about 24 hours of contemplating and wonder and the urging of friends to finally make me a doctor's appt. So, I go in on Friday, so they can determine whether I need to do as my son, and watch numbers on a daily basis.  Is it going to be a big deal if I have to?  Not really.  Why not?
Because I've been watching numbers already for the last 11 years.  Not because I want to, but because I have to, to take care of my son.  And if he can do what he has done every single day for the last 11 years of his life, then I can too.  When he was first diagnosed, I use to ask the Lord, "why'.  "Why my son?  He's only 2!"  But its not the question of why.  Its why not?  God has a plan for each of us.  No questions asked.  He is in control of our lives, what happens, when it happens and how it happens.  And if that means watching numbers and counting carbs, etc, then thats what I'll do.  
What's a number to you?