A Terrifying 2 to 5 Percent

I'm resurrecting the blog after four months for two reasons:

1) To educate other parents of something I knew nothing about until last weekend.

2) To give myself closure to the worst day of my life.

I'll start off saying everyone in my family is healthy and okay. I don't want to scare anyone. I just feel writing this all down will help me process the emotions of that day and work though what I'm still feeling now.

Last Saturday was pretty typical. One of my girlfriends was coming over for dinner with her family that night and I'd spent the day before cleaning the house. Avery and I headed off the Y for swim lessons while Chad stayed home with Chase.

After a quick trip to Target for swim diapers, we made it to the Y just in time. I took her coat and clothes off in the locker room to put on her swim suit, and I noticed a small shiver.  I asked if she was cold and she just looked at me and smiled.  We walked out to the pool together and she was her normal, happy self.  Avery isn't afraid of the water, but she doesn't love it.  So I didn't think too much of her not wanting to participate in the group activities and instead preferred for me to hold her and bounce up and down in the water.

About 15 minutes into the lessons, Avery collapsed in my arms. I immediately yelled for the lifeguard and when I got out of the pool I noticed she wasn't conscious. I ran into the lobby screaming for help and for someone to call 911.  By the grace of God, there just happened to be an ER nurse having coffee in the lobby who ran over, grabbed Avery and laid her down on the couch cushion. After that it's all kind of a blur. Two doctors suddenly appeared. I'm not sure what kind of doctors, if they were there working out, or what. The nurse gave Avery mouth to mouth and someone brought over oxygen. A man I'd never seen before was holding me telling me it was going to be okay while I was screaming for them to help her.  I was borderline hysterical.

The lobby swarmed with people and employees were yelling for everyone to clear the lobby.  A woman asked what I needed and I gave her Chad's number.  There were two old coworkers of mine there.  One called Chad's parents and asked them to rush to our house to stay with Chase while the other collected my things from the pool and locker.  Somehow I was able to remember the locker number and combo.

One of the men helping Avery (maybe one of the docs) was the first to say "fever seizure." I had never heard the term. The seizure lasted one minute and Avery regained consciousness soon after. I was able to calm her down in the ambulance by singing her favorite songs. All of her medical tests  came back fine. She was perfectly healthy except for the fever she had, just 101.5 at that time.

The doc explained febrile seizures happen not because of how high the temp gets but how quickly it rises. Avery was perfectly fine Saturday morning. And she was not warm before we got into the water. Evidently they are pretty common and occur in 2 to 5 percent of kids ranging from 6 months to 6 years but are most common in toddlers. They cause no brain damage, are not linked to neurological problems and are not associated with epilepsy. Children go on to lead normal, healthy lives and are in no way affected. Docs say they are totally harmless and classify them as a "childhood event."

The ER doc didn't think she needed to be admitted but the pediatrician at Avery's practice who was on call said we could be for observation if we wanted. My mama gut told me to do it even though we ran the risk of Avery catching something else in the hospital. After a couple hours in the pediatric wing at Saint Johns, Chad left to pick up Chase and go home for the night while I stayed with Avery.

 A good girlfriend (the one who was going to come for dinner) came by to see us.  While we were talking and I was holding Avery on the bed, I noticed she began to feel warm all of sudden. We took her temperature and called for the nurse.  Before they could respond, Avery had another seizure. This made their diagnosis of febrile seizures almost a certainty since her fever spiked right before the seizure (which we didn't know for certain before).

Febrile seizures can run in the family.  I didn't know (or at least didn't remember at the time) that my sister had two fever seizures when she was two years old. I was just one at the time.  I also didn't know that my half brother who didn't live with us had them as well.  Both are perfectly healthy now and of course have no memory of the seizures.  They never developed epilepsy and have no serious medical issues. 

I know Avery is fine now.  She was diagnosed on Wednesday with Roseola by her pediatrician.  It's a nasty virus that carries a fever spike as its first symptom with a very mild respiratory infection.  When the docs checked Avery out, they said her throat and ears were just a touch pink.  She didn't have a cough or a runny nose.  Roseola causes a very high fever for 3 to 5 days followed by a body rash. It also causes febrile seizures in 10 to 15 percent of kids because of the fast fever spike.


It's safe to say I'm a different person after going through this.  I'm pretty sure the docs and literature who say it's harmless (although technically accurate) have never held their child in their arms while she seized.  I can't even articulate how gut wrenching and terrifying the experience was - both times. I'm having a hard time shaking the images and emotions from the day so again, that's part of why I'm writing it all down now. 

I've also read and been told not to have fever phobia or let the anxiety overwhelm me. Avery will continue to have normal childhood viruses, along with Chase.  They'll have fevers, coughs and runny noses.  Avery has a 30 percent chance of having another one. Chase is slightly more likely than another child simply because his sis had one. It's very rare for a child to have more than two in their lifetime, and again, children grow out of these by around 6.

Even if Avery has another one, she'll still be fine afterward. But I now plan to carry thermometers in diaper bags along with fever reducers, which is a good idea for any parent I think.  And 95 to 97 percent of kids will never experience this so there is no reason to be overly worried.  But I suppose there are some statistics you can't avoid and every now and then you will fall into the 2 to 5 percent.  And when that happens, it's good to be prepared and know what to do.  As one resident in the hospital told me - knowledge is power.

My thoughts aren't complete without mentioning the thousands of parents who manage seizure disorders or any other ongoing medical issue with their child. Avery is so lucky to be a healthy child and to receive a clean bill of health but many others are not as lucky.  I was already in awe of these people, but now even more so. Their strength is truly remarkable.

I would also be remiss to not mention my husband, mom, Chad's parents, other family members and friends who have showed unbelievable love for my little girl and support for the family. Chad was so anxious when he got the call about Avery, when he packed our hospital bag he managed to include my fingernail clippers and Tums (leftover from pregnancy) but not any underclothes for me. So I stayed in my swimsuit. He also showed he's so much stronger than me in certain areas, and for that ... I'm so thankful.  We need to hold each other up when he have to.  There is truly no one else I would rather be bringing up these two beautiful children with than my wonderful husband.

Thanks for taking the time to read.  God's blessings on all your families.  Take care.

Stephanie

SAHM - Check In

So I've officially been at home for a little more than two months or so.  While I'm still freelancing for several publications, I spend the majority of my day chasing Avery around.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here are ten 11 things I've learned/experienced along the way in no particular order ...

1.  Never fold clothes when Avery is awake.
2.  Aldi really is the cheapest place to shop.  I just went for the first time this week and spent about $35 less than what I do at Meijer or Walmart. And their one off-brand brownie mix was the best I've ever had.
3. Each time Avery breaks into her rapid fire giggle, my heart melts.
4. The childcare at the Y is awesome. Not that I'm spending 2 hours on the treadmill, but it's nice to know they'll watch her for that long if I'm ever feeling crazy.
5.  Avery still fits perfectly over my large tummy. Love the thought of rocking both my babies at once.
6.  Girlfriend and "mama" time is important.
7. Avery must be sitting in the bathroom sink for me to successfully put pigtails in her hair.
8. It doesn't matter how many times you read Baby Farm Animals. Avery wants to read it again.
9. Getting things done through the week really does free up more time on the weekends for family and fun outings.
10. There is nothing sweeter then hearing Avery's version of "E-I-E-I-0" or "1, 2, 3"  Her two and three are perfect but she always skips one.
11. Avery lives to dance. Sometimes she won't even need music.  She'll just break into moves on her own.

She's 16 months now and so much fun ....

When I told people my plans of staying home or even when I answer the question, "what do you do?" now, I typically get one of two responses. People who say something like, "oh, I could never do that" and look at me like I'm crazy. And then those who say, "oh it's so nice you get to do that." 

And so far .. I think it's been a good mix of both. I love our alone time together. As another SAHM told me once, YOU get to show them the meaning of sharing with others, introduce them to new things while you point to airplanes and birds in the park, and be the one they run to when they fall down. All that has been amazing. But sure there are times when Chad gets home, and I'm immediately out the door to see girlfriends, go to church group or even get some alone time sitting in a pedicure chair. Breaks are essential. If not, I think you will (or at least me) go a little crazy. I feel that time is so needed to stay effective and purposeful at home.  Before leaving my full-time job, I limited this time to "must dos" because I felt like my time with Avery was so scarce to begin with.

So to have that balance now has really been nice.

Here are a few photos of our recent adventures ...

 

 

Do chickens really look like this? In Williamsville apparently they do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're headed to TN this weekend to see some family since it will be too close to baby brother's arrival time around Christmas.  Another mama/daughter road trip.  Except this time I'm pregnant and we're headed even further south. 

 

LOTS of animal crackers will be packed. I agree with the motto that when traveling with kids, you need to let things slide. :)

 

 

Until next time ...

 

 

Overhaul

Okay. It's confession time. 

I'm messy.  A closet hoarder. And going to bed with a sink full of dirty dishes has never bothered me.

Ask any family member, former roommate or friend that has seen the inside of my car before I do the 2 minute throw everything in the back trick. In some areas of my life, I'm super organized.  But in others, not at all. You'd think someone would be one way or the other, but evidently not.

But now, in my new role as a SAHM, the whole cleaning thing kind of falls to me. And it's something I struggle with. I'm sure having a toddler who enjoys making messes and being pregnant/tired factors into it as well. But I can only play those cards so long before I have to suck it up.

Chad is great about it all. But he also happens to be messy (sorry babe). This is both good and bad. I suppose if he were a super neat freak, we'd have hired a professional organizer for relationship counseling by now. But since he is also messy, I've developed some bad habits that are hard to break now.

When I said I was a closet hoarder above, I meant it quite literally. Our foyer closet has a poker set of Chad's that we've never used in our four years of marriage or in the six years I've known him. When you open it, blankets shoved onto the top shelf fall on your head. And most of our closets are like this (besides Avery's which is super organized). Last Saturday, I spent four hours cleaning out my closet. Three trash bags and four Goodwill bags later, I had all my summer/winter skinny clothes (I use this word loosely) in tubs and maternity clothes hanging up. It was amazing how much stuff I was holding on to. And most of it had no sentimental value whatsoever.

So my plan for the weeks ahead is to do this in other areas - pantry, baby cabinet, bathroom cabinet, and so on. And as we begin to prep for baby #2 (begin is the key word, nothing has been done yet), I'm sticking with the old saying - out with the old, in with the new. I love walking into my closet now and not feeling overwhelmed.

Clutter free = happier me.

Plus, when going through old purses (most of which I threw in the Goodwill bag), I found an old camera memory card with a pic from when Chad and I first started dating.

If memory serves correctly, I think this is from the bar crawl where you play miniature golf. Chad happened to be working one of the stations. Fast forward six years and boy is our life different. And we wouldn't want it any other way.  As I'm typing now, #2 is moving around and even throwing a few kicks and punches. Our family is so blessed.

Other fun photos from recent adventures ...

 

 

 

 

Avery and I discovered a new passion for window crayons.

 

 

 And then Chad showed us up ....

 

Avery loves the dishwasher, brooms, mops and doesn't even mind putting her toys away.

 

 

 

Give her a couple years ... 



 

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 



 

 

Catch Up!

So it's been a while since I last posted. We've had our fair share of sickness here. Mainly me, but I suppose that has something to do with the pregnancy. It takes a little longer to shake, I guess. 

But lucky for me, I've had a little person helping me with things around the house.

 

And sometimes, she'll add a little something extra.

Avery's also very helpful unloading the dishwasher.  I take out all the forks and knives of course, and then she pulls out the small items to do her own sorting. I've never seen anyone so excited to unload the dishwasher. She'll hear me open it and come running with a huge smile on her face.

 

 

Despite not feeling well, we've still managed to get out each day. I think that's important for both of us. Even if it is just outside for a little while.

 

 

And when it's too hot outside, we just find things to do inside.

 

 

 

 



So we're gearing up for next week. We have a trip to the lake planned with some family, and I hope we'll all be at 100 percent by then. And maybe that will mean more thoughtful posts from me.

Until next time ...

 

 

Ups and Downs

Okay, since I'm too inpatient to wait for Photobucket to resize all my photos, I decided you'll have to be okay with small photos ... at least for now.

Avery is now 14 months and each day I swear she gets cuter and cuter.

Two weeks in, we're starting to find our groove. I'm finally getting energy back and feel capable of getting off the couch.

But for now, I'm channeling that energy into fun activities with Avery, and not the other 100 things that need done around the house.

 

We capped off the weekend with a swim party with friends. My friend's baby who is just 7 months  was splashing like crazy and wasn't phased at all by the water. But Avery was a total priss and got mad when the slightest bit of water touched her face. Hanging out with the other kids and eating watermelon was more her speed.

 

And finally, I can't document details of my life without mentioning my beautiful sister Susan.

photo by Garrett Driskill, my adorable 4-year old nephew

Our family was hit with some really tough medical news this week.

Susan is the most giving, nurturing and selfless person I know. But she's also a fighter. And I know she can and will beat any roadblock put in her path. I only hope I can show her the same level of love and support she has shown me these past 30 years. 

Thanks for reading ...

Surprise!

Baby Lahnum 2 at 12 weeks

2 under 2! 

Yep. Come Feb. 1, I'll be taking care of a toddler who barely slows down to sleep and a newborn! Baby 2 (nicknamed Sneak) wasn't planned just yet, but safe to say Chad and I are thrilled. 

After months of planning a surprise getaway for our 30th birthdays (we're just 8 days apart), the biggest surprise was on me.  That morning, and the day after Avery's 1st birthday party, I took a test since I was a little late. One of the planned stops on the trip was a winery so I wanted to be safe.

After the initial shock ... we both grew more excited as the day went on and were talking baby names on our way to St. Louis.

It will be hard (as people keep reminding me), but how great will it be to have kids so close in age. I have a sister not even 12 months older than me, and it made all the difference growing up. 
I also just left my pr job to do freelance writing and be a full-time mama. So that will help. And that's actually what this blog will be about.

The world doesn't need another mommy blog. But I do need a creative outlet to highlight this huge transition in my life. 

So even if it's just my husband and sister reading, that's enough to justify it for me. :)