Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Saddest Site that You've Ever Seen

Thanks to those of you've who've noticed us missing and wondered if we are ok.  The answer is yes and no.  The biggest reason that we've been missing is that we just went on a two week vacation, but let's rewind to the day before we were supposed to leave.  I was talking to a friend on the phone.  I picked up Ollie when he was getting fussy.  I was holding him, trying to calm him when he had a seizure.

My world stopped.

One moment he was fine, and the next his body jerked to a weird angle and went rigid.  His eyes rolled back, and he stopped breathing.  I screamed for Larry while Ollie turned purple.  I know it sounds dramatic, but I had no idea what was going on, and I felt like I was watching his life slip away and there was nothing that I could do.  After about what felt like an eternity, but was probably a minute, Ollie started breathing again, but went limp and would not respond to anything.    

Larry called 911, but then we decided we could probably get the the hospital faster if we drove ourselves rather than wait for an ambulance.  We dropped a poor, bewildered Creed off at Tai & Kersten's down the street (thanks for running out to meet us at our car to get him).

At the hospital Ollie finally started acting a little more like himself. They decided to do a scan to make sure he didn't have a brain injury.  This was the saddest scene that I have seen in a very long while.
 Thankfully, everything was clear.  They think that Ollie did indeed have a seizure, but they don't know why.  Seizures are a misfiring of the brain, and can be common in small children since their brains are just developing.  It might be nothing.
 After following up with our pediatrician and a neurologist the next day, we were cleared to leave on vacation because there is nothing they can do unless he has another seizure (in which case they will cover him with electrodes for 24 hours to see what they can see).  Hopefully it will not come to that.
So we were off on our vacation, and all the while every tiny cry, cough, and wiggle from Ollie made my heart skip a beat while I watched for any sign of something wrong.

So far, so good!

21 comments:

Bavonia said...

How frightening. I am so happy to hear that he is just fine. Much love to you all!!

Jessica said...

I can't even imagine how scary that must have been. So glad everything is okay.
Jessica

Heather said...

Oh Steph, that is the saddest picture. I can't imagine the panick. Thank goodness Larry was there, having another adult with you at a time of crisis is a big help. Glad there have been no repeats.

Love you.

Elizabeth Moon said...

So scary! The same thing happened to my little sister when she was very young and I still remember how terrifying it was. She has never had another one,thank goodness!

Megan B. said...

Wow, that would be so scary! I'm glad he's okay.

kate said...

Scary! My son had what was officially diagnosed as "unexplained blood loss" at 5 months old. It was totally terrifying. I can completely relate to being scared that every little thing is a recurrence. Hang in there! Hope it never happens again!!

The Palmers said...

oh stephanie my heart goes out to you. It is the worst thing when you can't help your little, its somehting I wouldn't wish for anyone, good luck with it. Hope all is well with Ollie, and you and Larry. We will keep you in our prayers

Reba said...

Oh, Steph! I really hope it's a one time thing. so scary for such a cute boy.

TX Girl said...

You made my heart race. How incredibly scary. I hope everything turns out okay.

Sara said...

That had to be so frightning! I'm so glad Larry was there with you and that you have such good friends to watch Creed. I hope it was just a weird one time thing. He's so adorable! In about 27 years I want him to marry my daughter ;)

Nikki said...

Oh Stephanie . . . my heart is aching and I'm at a loss for words . . . I'm glad he's doing well and may it never happen again. Hugs and lots of love!

Amy @ OurScoop said...

Oh how scary!! I hope he's okay! He seems like such a sweetie!

Abby said...

That must have been absolutely terrifying, I can only begin to imagine. I hope it comes to nothing and he is A-Okay, they are such resilient little things, thankfully. I hope you're okay too :)

Tenay Jo said...

I'm sorry Steph that Ollie had a seizure. They are the scariest things in the world to see in your little one. Hopefully he won't have another one again.

Quick question. Didn't you mention a couple of times in your blog that Ollie has Reflux? If so, that might be why he had a seizure. Weston had really bad reflux when he was a baby, and he would have seizures every once in awhile, after he ate, which freaked us out. We had him checked multiple times, and in the end our doctors felt he was fine, but was probably having those episodes because of his reflux. They gave his problem some fancy name, but I can't remember it right now. But if he does have reflux, and he does have a few more seizures, ask your doctor if it could be attributed to reflux. The good news is, Weston has totally outgrown it. But it was the scariest thing in the world to see him tense up and turn purple when he did have seizures...so I know how that feels. I really hope it was just a one time thing for Oliver.

Beazer said...

Yikes! I'm so glad you weren't alone when it happened. Hopefully all continues to go well and you don't have to see that again.

taniawillis said...

oh steph!!! (((((HUGS)))) thanking God that Larry was around to help you through it. i can't even imagine.

Shar said...

That is so scary! I'm so glad Larry was there to help and that everything went well at the hospital. I hope that Ollie grows great without any more seizures and we'll keep you in our prayers. :)

emily kate said...

Wow, reading this made my heart hurt. I can't imagine the terror. I hope it ends that it was just a fluke and will never happen again.

(I just clicked over from someone else's blog. I haven't been here in awhile. Creed is so big! Oliver is so darling! What a sweet, happy family.)

lisa h. said...

that is so scary, I'm sorry that happened. I hope he'll be fine and it wasn't a sign of anything more.

Kim said...

I'm glad our little guy is doing great now. He is so cute and getting so big. I can't wait to hear more about your trip. Love you!

kirsten said...

being a mom breaks your heart and freaks you out on a regular basis. sheesh.

nice to 'meet' you yesterday! the shower was gorgeous and perfect.