Caleb had his first communion this weekend. He was excited. A little nervous. I had to drop him off in the hall of the church with the other communicants about a half hour before the mass. Family waited in the church. Before dropping him off, Caleb checked his blood sugar. He was around 100 but with some insulin on board from lunch. We didn’t want a low during the next hour and a half, so he had a juice box. I gave him instruction to ignore DexCom unless he was 300 double arrows up or if he felt low. Otherwise, just relax and enjoy.
Easily said. Not so much done.
Each communicant is assigned a pew. He or she has a seat at the end with his/her family next to him/her. Caleb’s pew was toward the front on the right side. We had a very nice view as the children processed into the church. They all looped around a full time before taking their seats in their assigned pews.
We watched the children as they intently walked through the aisles. Some solemn, some smiling. All endearing. None saying anything to anyone.
Then Caleb turned the corner. My smile broadened when I saw him. He was walking as instructed, as the others did – hands in prayer, not too fast. As he got closer to us, he began to mouth something and sharply move his hands up and down a couple of times.
I only caught the end – “double arrows up”.
I felt a little badly that this was on his mind, but couldn’t help laughing at the animated way in which he was trying to communicate to us while also being respectful in church. Although he was passing by us to do his full loop around, he would be sitting next to us in just a moment. This tidbit of info could wait.
We have a still shot, which doesn’t quite capture the animation:
And an attempt to reenact the scene:
I shan’t name names, but I wasn’t the only one who laughed. Caleb completed his procession and took his seat. He told me “217 double arrows up”. I quickly gave a little bolus, he told us we were disrespectful for laughing in church, and the mass went on without further incident.
He was proud and happy at the end. I was too.
And DexCom was 98 flat.
Please note: it is not advisable to make dosing decisions off of a CGM result. I am not a medical professional and the postings made herein should not be taken as medical advice in any way, shape or form.
This is Caleb... 
Totally cute post…loved the re-enactment…and congrats to your First Communicant!
The picture captures the gesture very well!
aw! he looks so handsome and grown up! congrats, caleb!
and don’t tell him that i laugh in church all the time… 😉
Wow, he’s growing up. Too funny and I can just imagine a double thumbs up/down while others are bowing in prayer 🙂
I love this story. 😀
Great story and will make a treasured memory, despite the D interference factor. Also, go you for including such a responsible disclaimer!
This cracked me up! Congratulations, Caleb!
Congratulations Caleb! You are such a handsome young man!
Congratulation to Caleb. Glad it ended well. What a handsome and brave young man.
AHAHAH the reenactment! the music! his face! the gestures! ahahaahaahah so awesome!
the difference between the pic at the top of the post and the one on your blog header is staggering. he’s grown so much!
I love this story. Back at my first communion, when eating happened around the insulin, and communions don’t get moved just because it’s snack time, there was a cooler with my mom and there’s a picture of me with a water bottle full of milk in the middle of the ceremony.
I’ve had this post sitting in my Reader since you wrote it just because I LOVED it so much! He DOES look so much more grown up just from even last summer and I’m not sure how that is possible.
I think God probably understood laughing in church just this one time, but Caleb is right, you should show some respect 😛
But seriously, isn’t it just the worst when you get the giggles at the worst possible time, and the fact that you are laughing makes you laugh even more?!