Seizure

At around 7AM this morning, my sister found my nephew Gabriel having a grand mal seizure and vomiting.  She tried to keep him on his side to prevent him from aspirating on his vomit while she waited for the paramedics to arrive.  The paramedics worked on him for 30 minutes, but were unable to stop the seizure despite large doses of medication.  He was rushed to Banner Desert in the ambulance while still seizing and they did not expect him to live.  Normally, he would go to St. Joseph's where his regular neurologist and neurosurgeon are, but they didn't have time to take him in the ambulance and he wasn't stable enough to air vac.  Seizures that last that long generally result in either death or severe brain damage.  Since he already has severe neurological problems (bi-line shunt in his brain, cerebral palsy and mental retardation in addition to all the problems that he experienced as a premie), it is an absolute miracle that he does not appear to have any additional brain damage.  He continued to have seizures throughout the day at the hospital, and is heavily medicated, but he did wake up a number of times and he knew who we were and seemed to be aware of his surroundings.  He was alert enough to ask for water (which he couldn't have because he was having trouble breathing) and to say "take it off" while waving the arm with his IV and pulse/oxygen monitor.  Please keep Gabriel in your prayers as he is not out of the woods yet.  He is in the PICU at Banner Desert and he will remain there until they stabilize the seizures and hopefully they will figure out what is causing the seizures as well.  This little guy has been through more in his five short years than most of us will experience in our entire lives.  It is heartbreaking to watch him suffer, but he is a fighter and we are trusting that God is in control of the situation.

Doctor visit

We saw the pediatrician today for Charlotte's two month well baby visit and vaccinations.  I almost cried when they gave her the shots and I heard her scream.  She calmed as soon as I picked her up, held her and gave her the pacifier, but I was still upset.  She seems to be handling it well overall.  She has slept a lot today and been a little fussy, but nothing like what I prepared myself for.  She got three shots and one oral vaccine.  We couldn't get the polio vaccine today because they were out, so we'll just get that one next time.  I have been reading Dr. Sears' book on vaccines and am considering using an alternative schedule from this point forward.  I had to get everything today because it is one of the contingencies at my job in order for me to bring her with me to work.

Stats from today: 

Two months and two days old

25" long - above 95%

11 Lb 12 oz - 75%

Long and thin - obviously she takes after her dad :)