1.28.2006

Please read this.

I've been a terrible emailer and blogger lately...I'm sorry for that. Been trying to spend more time scrapbooking and with my family. I do have a part time job now as well. I'll tell you about that later but right now, I have to share something else.

We had a big scare with Zachary yesterday. He's been sick for a few days with a little viral infection. Thursday night he developed a slight fever. We gave him Tylenol and put him to bed. Friday morning he woke up at five. Still had a fever and felt a bit warmer than the previous night but not HOT in a scary way. More Tylenol and we napped together on the couch. By 7 when we woke up his fever was gone. At 8:30, he had a seizure. And I'm crying again just typing this. My baby boy just laid down on the floor and started shaking. His left hand was up in the air twitching. His eyes were open but he couldn't see me when I was holding him. His head fell back and his whole body went limp. I called 911 and the ambulance took us both to the hospital.

He'd had a febrile seizure. If you have small children or will ever have the opportunity to care for one, please read the link. I'm hoping I'm in the minority of parents who aren't familiar with them. If I had known more, it might not have been quite as scary. There shouldn't be any long term health effects and *hopefully* he won't have any more. If he does though, at least we'll be better prepared. His temperature at the hospital was right around 102...not terribly high. The onset of the seizures is caused by the rapidity of the temperature rise, not necessarily the actual temperature. His temperature rose approximately 3 degrees in a matter of minutes. Just educate yourself so you know what to expect better than we did. Yesterday was one of the scariest days of my life.

35 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:52 PM

    that is SOOO scary E. I'm so sorry you guys had to go through this, I can't imagine how terrifying it was!

    My nephew also had one, around the same age I think. He's never had one again fortunately!

    I hope that Zack (and you!!) are on the mend...Love ya!

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  2. Anonymous9:57 PM

    I have been SOOOO worried about you! I'm so sorry you've been going through this - I feel bad that I even emailed you in the midst of this. I hope that he is feeling better and that you are doing well. How scary!

    YAY on the part time job - YAY on the scrapbooking - YAY on the time with family! :) All great positive things for you - that will lead to even more wonderful things I'm sure. Can't wait to hear more.

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  3. Anonymous10:06 PM

    sending lots and lots of ((hugs)) .. i've never been through this, but i know others that have... scary stuff. i'm glad he's okay, and your mama heart WILL recover....

    glad all is (mostly) well with you, i was just thinking of you yesterday and almost emailed...

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  4. Anonymous10:31 PM

    I am sorry this happened to you, but I am glad it was a febrile seizure instead of a regular one. My daughter had one at 18 months. She had to stay in the hospital for observation because it was over four minutes long. She has never had another one and she is almost 6 now. I do have to warn you that every time either boy has a fever you are going to worry that it will happen again. This is normal to worry, but most likely it won't happen again. Hugs to you and your family.

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  5. Anonymous10:58 PM

    oh my goodness, e...
    i cannot even imagine
    how scary that must have
    been.
    i read the link (thanks so much
    for sharing it)--i have never heard of this.
    i will keep all of you in my prayers.
    i'm thinking of you, my friend...

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  6. Anonymous12:03 AM

    Erica hon, SOOOO sorry to read this!! ( Celeste just navigated me here) I'm glad he's okay now but how horribly scary for you guys. ((((((hugs)))))) Hope you will never have to live through that again. hugs to sweet Zack, thinking of you!! xoxo

    mel

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  7. Anonymous1:06 AM

    Alex had two of these in a 6 month period before the age of two...I'm so sorry you had to deal with this...

    Hope he is doing better:) It's such a scary situation to go through...

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  8. Anonymous9:16 AM

    Oh E! I am SO sorry that you and little Z had to go through that! How scary! I will keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers! Let me know if you need anything, ok? Thank you for the link. Hugs to you!

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  9. Hey Erica -- I'm soooo sorry that you had to go through that with him. How scary!! So glad Z's okay, though, and thanks for the link! HUGS to you, girl!

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  10. Anonymous11:40 AM

    {{{Hugs}}}

    So scary, and I'm so sorry that Z had to go through that.:( You give him a few extra hugs now, ok?
    -a-

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  11. Anonymous1:53 PM

    Oh Erica that is so so so scary. I'm so glad that Zach is fine now and let's hopethat's the last and only seizure he will ever have. A seizure is a very very scary thing to witness. BIG hugs from our family to yours.

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  12. Erica, I can only imagine how scared you must have been! I am so glad that everything is fine now. Poor baby! Please know that I'm thinking of you so, so much. Let me know if I can do anything for you at all. Big hugs my friend. ((((((HUGS)))))

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  13. Anonymous3:45 PM

    Huge hugs for you and Z and prayers coming your way.
    I am familiar with them.
    My nephew had them, more than once. It is very scary. When they brought him to the hospital the 1st time, the ER people didn't know what it was and did a spinal tap on him, among other things....he was just so little. I'm glad your ER was eduacted in this, scary nonetheless.
    I also have a friend and one of her children had one or two.
    I have been thinking of you so often....I'm sure this is why.
    God bless you all Erica!
    Hugs!

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  14. So sorry to hear about this Erica. I heard the basic story on from my Dad & Sue, but your info here really helped answer a lot of questions that I wanted to ask...and didn't want to bother you with.

    Anyone who knows you can see how much you love those boys and how much you love being their mother, so I know it must've been horrible for you. I'm really glad that this is a common thing and that researching it made things a little less scary for you.

    Even though we don't get to see them all that often, we sure love our little nephews (and their parents, as well!) and we're sending well wishes all around.

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  15. Oh my gosh Erica, when Jen told me about this I wanted to come over and hug little Z...and you too:) Just hug eachother for me, ok?

    I am so glad that it turned out to be something not-so-serious, although I'm sure it seemed pretty darn serious at the time.

    I'm so sorry you had to go through this. But thank you for posting about it so we mothers know a little bit about it.

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  16. Oh NO! I can imagine how scared you were. I'm so glad he's OK. I know they are pretty common, but still...no fun at all. I hope you are feeling a bit better today. giant HUGS to yoU!!

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  17. Anonymous9:10 AM

    oh my gosh, how terrifying! i can't even imagine how scraed you must have been. thanks for sharing that link. and hope he is feeling better! ((hugs))

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  18. Anonymous11:32 AM

    E, I'm so sorry you and your family had to experience this. I have a few girlfriends whose kids have had them -- I can only imagine how terrified you were. Thinking of you and sending many, many hugs your way!!

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  19. Erica, you'll be glad to know HOW MANY kids get these... and suffer no ill effects. I'd probably get a call every other week from a parent freaking out about it. And most it's just scary. I'm sorry you had to go through that. You poor thing -- seems like you have a stressful life right now. I hope the little guy feels better.

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  20. sweet erica...
    im so damn sorry you had to experience that...
    and what an amazing woman you are for sharing that with us...
    i have never heard of that.
    thank you so much...
    i hope you are doing better...
    i do.
    we will chat soon...

    ash

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  21. Anonymous1:22 PM

    Erica, that had to be soooo scary! I cannot imagine how terrified you were! I had never heard of it either, so thaks for informing me! I hope Z is all better now.

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  22. OMG, Erica that is so scary. I am glad you and Z are ok now!!Thanks so much for the link...I had never heard of that before.

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  23. Anonymous5:20 PM

    My gosh, Erica...that is SO scary!! And Z is about the same age as F. I'd freak. SO glad it was something common and temporary. Whew. Hugs to you and yours.

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  24. Anonymous5:31 PM

    Oh my gosh girl! I'm so sorry that you both had to go through that - I'm so happy though that it's not something permanently wrong with him! Thanks for sharing the link - I can't imagine how scary that would be! You and Zack are in my thoughts! Hugs!

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  25. Anonymous11:14 AM

    This is one of those posts where you have to hold your breath and skip to the end and make sure everything turned out okay. That is soooo scary, but it sounds like you handled everything perfectly. Hope you all are well now!

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  26. ooh...erica
    that post just gave me chills.
    thank God everything is ok.
    my best friend's little girl use to get febrile seizures.... they are so scary.
    i'm sending you both hugs....
    xxxe

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  27. Anonymous11:36 AM

    I'm so glad things turned out ok. sounds sooo scary.

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  28. Anonymous4:52 PM

    thank you.
    I've read the link.
    I am aware now.
    I'm so sorry you had to go through this, but so thankful that Z is OK.

    xo,
    moon

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  29. Anonymous7:37 AM

    OMGosh, Erica...what a scare for you all..so glad to hear that Z doing better...will be thinking of you lots-hugs

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  30. oh, e...
    i am so so so sorry you had to experience that.
    sending you so many hugs and lots of love and positive thoughts.
    xoxo,
    g

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  31. OH, Erica!! I hope he's ok now! Big hugs to you!

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  32. Anonymous10:32 PM

    Oh Erica! How scary! I hope he's doing much better and you never have a shock like that again!

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  33. Anonymous12:18 AM

    so sorry to hear about this, E. Big hugs to you and to Z. I had a febrile seizure around age 4 and my family still talks about this to this day. I was biting down on my teeth so hard that my dad put his fingers in my mouth and I almost chewed his fingers off - that tells you of a parent's love. I know you would have done the same for Z. Give him lots of hugs and kisses. And talk about it until he's 80 so he'll know how much you love him forever. :)

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  34. Anonymous12:13 PM

    OK, I'm REALLY late here. SO sorry you had to see Z go through that. I know about febrile seizures and know they are usually "harmless." But I also KNOW I'd still fall apart if I had to watch one of my boys go through one. Hope you never see it again.

    Kendra

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  35. Anonymous8:20 PM

    OMG - late here too! So sorry you had to go through that - for him and you! How scary! My cousin (she's an adult) just had a huge seizure just out of the blue. Totally freaks you out. I'm so glad there aren't any lasting effects and he's better. Wow.
    Robin

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