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January 31, 2006
learning the hard, scary way
I feel so bad for my Little Bear. Last night he started getting kind of whiny and grumpy around dinner time. He barely ate anything and kept making snoring sounds which is his way of saying he wants to go to bed.
So at about 6:30 we crawled into bed to read books and watch tv. I put him in his pjs and he was being really clingy and teary. He dozed off for a bit around 7 and he was moaning in his sleep, which is so unusual for him. He woke up around 7:30 and was so warm and sweaty. He tends to run a little warm so I pulled the covers down and decided to change him out of his sweatshirt and into a t-shirt. I kissed his forehead and told him that he felt hot.
I was about to get up to get a t-shirt and the thermometer when the scariest thing happened. Little Bear siezed up. His arms went out, his eyes closed, his face contorted and turned white, then blue. He was stiff as a board, which isn't that unusual since he has cerebral palsy, but this was very different.
I snatched him up, yelling his name and trying to dial 911. The seizure lasted maybe 35-45 seconds, which felt like an eternity. Then he just went limp. To me this was even more fightening than the seizure. He was completely white and his eyes were all rolling back in his head and he was just a wet noodle.
Thankfully the fire station is only blocks away, and they arrived in about 3 agonizing minutes. There were about 5 firemen and 4 paramedics. It was overwhelming but they were all so amazingly kind and helpful. Little Bear started coming around right after they got there and he freaked out. He screamed his brains out and flinched whenever anyone tried to touch him. Someone got a hold of Grumpy at work and he met us at Children's Hospital. Little Bear and I rode in the ambulance.
We were at the hospital until after 11. The Dr. gave Little Bear something to break his fever and waited until he was feeling more like himself. He had spiked a fever of almost 103 pretty quickly and apparently this fibral seizure is a totally normal reaction to high fever in kids his age. Why didn't anyone ever mention that to me before? Scared the bejeebus out of me. At first I thought it was something to do with his cerebral palsy. We still have to take him to his neurologist to make sure things are ok but the Dr. seems to think he'll be fine. I also didn't know that because he has had this seizure once he is more likely to have more when he gets a fever. Apparently at some point he will grow out of it though.
Did I mention also that I was in my pj's - looking fine (not) and that my house is a complete and utter pig sty at the moment because we've been too tired to clean up anything the last couple of nights and because I have piles of Goodwill donations all over the house. I am mortified that so many people saw my house in such a revolting state. Mortified I tell you.
But I am just thankful that Little Bear seems to be fine today. I cna't wait to go home and give him kisses.
Posted by bugg at January 31, 2006 11:50 AM
Comments
That is so scary.. I am glad he is ok. I have a friend back home whose little guy had several of these seizures and he did eventually grow out of them, but that doesn't make the moment any less intense..Poor little guy.. As being a parent isn't stressful enough.
Posted by: Chastity Edlefson at January 31, 2006 02:19 PM
A friend of mine used to have seizures when he was very young (so he tells me) and *yep* he did indeed grow out of them. How strange things can be.
I'm glad you're okay, you're little guy is okay, and the even littler one, too.
And sod being mortified about a messy house. My place is a pigsty and I have no excuses!
Posted by: newplanet at January 31, 2006 02:38 PM
oh my! how terrifying for you sweetie! i'm so thankful that little bear was ok. poor little guys needs some ice cream after that one!!!
Posted by: ms bees knees at January 31, 2006 04:01 PM
Oh, Bugg. I'm so sorry. I cried as I read your post. It's so hard to watch our children when they are sick. And add to your pain Little Bears CP. Sad to say you've got about 50 more years of hurting when your kids hurt. Just the other day I told Brad how bad I feel when one of our kids are sick. Know what he said? You have to allow them to have their sickness. That seemed wierd at first but I have to admit it has started to make sense. Anyway, one piece of advise. There are so many more important things than a clean house. Love those things.
Posted by: justme at January 31, 2006 08:11 PM
What a scary ordeal! I am so glad that he came through it okay. Yeah, I hear seizures are pretty common in kids . . . but that doesn't make it any easier, I'm sure. Hang in there . . .
Posted by: Jayne at February 1, 2006 08:17 AM
Chas - You aren't kidding! I was a mess. But he's happy as a clam now. Makes you stop and be extra thankful for what you have.
Newplanet - I'm glad to hear people saying that they really do grow out of it. Thanks so much for your kind words. Grumpy felt so bad he cleaned the house yesterday! Yeah!
Bees - Thanks! I think we could all use some ice cream now, and a smoke and a shot....and maybe some muscle relaxers, uh yeah.
Justme - You are too sweet. Thank you for your kindness. I think I understand what Brad is saying and he is right. I kick myself for caring about the house - I swear I have OCD.
Jayne- I appreciate the support. I wish I had known about this whole sizure thing before, maybe I wouldn't have been such a basket case. I swear I read the manual when we brought the kid home!
Posted by: bugg at February 1, 2006 10:41 AM
Kisses and hugs to Little Bear! So glad it came out okay...and they DO grow out of those things.
Posted by: Mona Buonanotte at February 1, 2006 12:10 PM