Super Scary

So tonight we had another super scary event with one of our kids. Here's the summary:

Evelyn woke up from her nap feeling a bit warm and not wanting to eat or drink anything. I figured it was her 2 year molars since she had been waking up some nights and was chomping on anything she could get her hands on. Anyway, I ended up giving her some Tylenol because she started to get warmer and I had to leave for a New Intern Welcome party for Doctor's Hospital. I handed off kid duty to Patrick (who also had to watch our friends Nathan and Carter since Ashli was joining me) and I was off to mingle and recruit new doctor's spouses. As soon as I pulled into the driveway of the party Patrick called. In a very calm voice he said, "I just called and ambulance for Evelyn." I thought he was joking because we kid about how crazy she is and adventurous - never would I think he was serious. I even told him that he needed to quit joking - I was just getting to the party and had to go. Then he said again - very matter-of-factly (in doctor mode now that I look back), "I am serious. I had to call and ambulance, Evelyn had a grand mal seizure and was not breathing for almost 2 minutes. She is ok now, but we need to take her to the hospital." I immediately dropped everything off and headed home.

He said he had taken all the kids outside to play and she was running around like normal - maybe a bit slower than usual - but nothing way wrong. Suddenly, the boys wanted to go in for a drink so he turned to get her and saw her start walking funny and then she just collapsed. She started seizing in all 4 quadrants and her eyes rolled back and she was not breathing. She had a rapid pulse but was starting to turn blue. He took her inside and checked her airway, breathing, circulation. He called 911 and she started to gasp and breathe on her on again. She slowly came out of the seizure and stabilized but was in a post-seizure state...sort of like a rag doll. She didn't care when the EMS took vitals, etc. I got home when the ambulance was there so they let us drive her in since she was stable and Patrick was a doctor. We got top notch care at Children's and Ashli took Gavin for us during the whole thing (A HUGE THANKS).

I had an eerie sense of calm, maybe because Patrick was so calm, maybe because my mommy instinct told me she was ok. Evelyn has had a history of febrile seizures before so we knew that a rapid increase in her temperature could set it off. We have to be very careful even when she shows the slightest sign of a temp. It turns out she has hand, foot, mouth virus which caused the high spike in temp, which caused her seizure. We are grateful there was a logical reason behind it - at least we don't have to worry about WHY she seized. But we always have to be careful when she gets a temp because once they have multiple episodes, they are more likely to keep getting them. The febrile seizures usually go away by the time they are 6 - but that is 4 more years of worry!!!

We want to make all of our friends aware - since we were at playgroup, over friend's houses, etc and this is a communicable disease. Please check for fatigue, fever, rash on hands, feet and mouth. Ashli told us Nathan also spiked a fever tonight - so it is definitely going around!

Anyone who knows me...

photos by nbc4i.com

knows I slept under my FITTED sheet covers last night. After be woken up at 11:45 by thunder lightning and TORNADO sirens, I tried to wake Patrick up (a very hard feat). He did not believe me so I turned on all 3 local channels and saw on of my worst fears approaching...severe thunder and lightning storms as well as a tornado warning. The storm developed so quickly they did not have time to even have a "watch". Hail, lightning that was non-stop and lit up the sky...all of it developed right over our streets in Hilliard (over our exact location in Hilliard as they showed on the NBC radar - following the worst parts of the storm street by street). I was totally freaking out as the weathermen were telling us that "This is NOT a drill, get in your basement now". So, did we go to our basement? NO! I was frozen in fear (for real) and Patrick kept sleeping!!! Even when I heard the golf ball sized hail - I started shaking Patrick again, who kept assuring me we would be fine. Next time - I am really not listening to him. Although the storm did eventually pass (after about 30 minutes), we saw that there were 2 other storms JUST like it following it's tail. So we braced for rounds 2 and 3 (well actually just I braced - the kids and Patrick slept through it all). The power flickered on and off - but there was no wind. The national weather said they spotted a tornado on their radar during the 1st storm, but then lifted the warning for the other 2, downgrading to just a severe thunderstorm. Once the 3rd storm finally passed (over an hour and a half later), I was so shaken up I couldn't fall asleep for another hour or so. Overall, a terrifying experience for me!!! The only cool part was watching the live radar and really tracking the storms. They could turn the radar into 3-d mode and you could see the HUGE storm cells - all 3 traveling in a row. It was a beautiful and magnificent show of what mother nature is capable of.

Baby steps...

I loved this little poem to match this picture of Evie I took at our playgroup today. We went to Ballantrae Park (aka the Bunny Park, the Fountain Park, etc). We were just about to leave and she FINALLY started getting wet and playing in the water when she decided to talk a little stroll. I followed the baby step footprints and found her, staring up at the huge hill with the bunnies on top. I also included some other cool pics from the day...


Someday I'll jump through puddles, take a stroll or run a race.
Someday I'll walk across the street, or maybe walk in space.
Someday I'll scale a mountain, or join a ballet corps.
Someday I'll walk a tightrope, or explore the ocean floor.
Someday these feet will do some things that only heaven knows,
But for today they're happy just to wiggle all their toes.

Nathan having fun splashing the water around.


Gavin running head/face first into the water spray.


Evelyn getting up the courage to go near the fountains.


Gavin on top of the Bunny Hill.

Things I thanked God for yesterday

1. I thanked God for my friends and family.


2. I thanked God for my husband and kids.

3. I thanked God for not letting it rain, even though most all other areas of Columbus got drenched, so we could hold a going away party for our friends, Cara, Phillip and Hailey.


4. I thanked God that my friends are amazing cooks/salad makers/dessert makers/appetizer makers/food bringers so I didn't have to make anything for the party and we still had tons of delicious (mostly healthy) foods!


5. I thanked God that they kids ate veggies (even if it was doused in ranch dressing).

6. I thanked God my husband took over Grill duty and made delicious dogs, burgers and chicken for everyone.


7. I thanked God that there were THREE yummy desserts to choose from (even if some of us chose all 3 - not just Angie).


8. I thanked God that the kids all played together very well and ate at tables together, like real friends do.


9. I thanked God for the guys getting to hang out and catch up.


10. I thanked God for little girls who love dolls, and little boys who help their moms.


11. I thanked God for neighbors who dress alike and play alike.


12. I thanked God for little friends


And big friends.

A few fav pics

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the beach. To see ALL pictures - check out http://picasaweb.google.com/kellybull/MyrtleBeach2008.

This shows off the tide pool, my baby, and my sucking my belly in pose.


My loves...


Gavin getting eating by an alligator


The Pack-N-Play Sport was used for baby jail as well as an eatery.


Dessert (frozen yogurt sticks) at our playground.


Our visit with the Pokablas.