Friday, November 30, 2012

You know that one friend that you don't see for years and then when you do see them, it's like they never left. Can we just be like that? I know it seems like years since I last wrote but life has been a little hard. I hope you are still there.
 I will now try to play catch up. We are still with the in laws and cross you're fingers, I think it might change soon.
I had the most low key Thanksgiving day of my life. It was My family, My brother in laws family and a cousins family. 6 adults and 10 kids. That is crazy small for us(remember were both from large Mormon families). It was really nice, I didn't do a thing except make cranberry sauce. My dear sister in law and best friend did it all. 
You see, we had a bit of a crisis two days earlier. Like our craziest yet. Monday morning I woke up to Davy tapping on my face. Which means she climbed out of her crib and opened her door, that is not easy for her to do. I pulled her into my bed to cuddle and she fell asleep. That should have been my first warning that something was wrong but you know i was thinking, Score I get to sleep in! 
20 minutes later, Davy bolts up, stares into space and then starts screaming. My first thought was nightmare. But then she did it again. I run to Scott and she does it again and we can tell she not seeing us. So I think, did she go blind?!! She does it yet again, we go downstairs to get her shot and I run to get my phone so I can video it for the Doctors. As I start to leave Scott he yells my name and I turn to see the most Horrific thing in my life. Davy is out, she's grey and her whole body starts to shake.
I run to call 911, throw my cell at Ollie and say call Beth. I then yell for Max to get her shot and I tell myself to remain calm, I don't scare the boys. 
Now we wait for the ambulance......We can't tell if she's breathing..........We all kneel and say a prayer,
The 911 team and Beth come at the same time. They give her oxygen, ask some questions and then I'm on a gurney and my lifeless daughter is put in my arms. Worst moment ever.
On the way to the hospital they test her blood sugar and it's a 38( crazy low). They need to put an IV in her asap. I'm thinking, no way in this moving car and with her hidden veins. But that beautiful Medic miraculously gets it in first try, truly a miracle. We get to St Jude's and I'm told she had a seizure. Which would be her first.
 I right now want to tell any Mom who has a child that has seizures, that I am truly truly sorry for what you have to go through. You are amazing in my eyes. Seizures are so unnatural and scary, you are so helpless. It would be so hard to deal with that.
SO with this news we are on another ambulance being sent to our second home, CHOC. The nurses all know us and joke that they should reserve a room for us. That would be nice if it was a single room, with no roommate, like that ever happens.
Let the tests begin!! As awful as this was, we really did end up with the best outcome. Davy is not epileptic, nothing going on neurologically. She is hypoglycemic and it was a perfect storm of things that made it so deadly. She had a cough(remember she doesn't handle sickness well), she ate early and we did her growth hormone shot earlier that night. And that shot regulates her whole body and that includes her blood sugar. 
Now we have to be on top of her eating and check her blood when things don't seem right. We can do this, not so bad, right?
Davy bounced back to her old self pretty quickly and we ended up being home in time for Thanksgiving. 
I can say I have never been more thankful on any previous Thanksgivings. It was so good to be home and have our Davygirl with us. This was such a wake up call to how fragile my Davy is. I think I have kinda slacked and have loosened up when it comes to her and this experience has reminded me how careful I need to be.
When she first woke up

Davy's ride to CHOC

EEG
SOmeone is ready to go


Happy to be home

When I got home, I talked with Max and Ollie and told them how amazing they were. They were so quick and helpful in such a huge crisis. I asked them if they were scared because it would be OK to be scared.
Max said the scariest part was, that I was acting so normal when it seemed like Davy wasn't breathing.
Hah, so my trying to remain calm backfired, go figure.
Just so you know, we are all doing well now, Davy has been extra naughty since she's been home. So it's business as usual.
Hope all is well with you. I'll try not to be a stranger.

31 comments:

Lynne said...

So good to see this update...but what a scary one that ended well. I always cry over your posts. SO happy she is ok.

Wordfiend said...

Oh, Ruth. What a nightmare! Hypoglycemia can happen quickly and is life-threatening. So proud of your boys. It's always fascinated me how children have gut instincts about what's going on.

Debby said...

I was just thinking about you the other day. My youngest son had a seizure disorder. We adopted him when he was 5 but that was after one year of living with us as a foster child. When he had his first gran mal on Christmas Eve. during an ice storm....I thought he was dying. He went on to have granmals, petit mals and other kinds for about 6 years. The medication made him either wild and crazy or like a zombie. We survived but I know how scary that is. So glad that Davy's was due to other reasons.
HUGS and Prayers.

Jill said...

My cousin had a brain tumor when he was 12 and had the frontal lobe of his brain removed. He's now almost 40 and has had seizures almost everyday of his life since then. They are truly horrifying. I'm so sorry but am so impressed with the way you all handled it. Kudos. And I'm glad she's safe and sound at home.

annieglan said...

Oh thank God! What a miracle that little sweetie is. I'm glad she's home safe and sound

Stephanie said...

It was so good to hear from you. Thank God she came into your room that morning. Thank God she's okay. :) whew. scary one, mom.

Miggy said...

Oh my goodness. I'm so glad she's ok.

And seriously, we need to talk. We had our own terrible Thanksgiving experience and although totally different, so much of what you said was the same. Worst moment ever. Check. Perfect storm. Check. In the end OK, but a huge lesson for us. Check. I kid you not I used those very words... Sorry I'm getting off course but point is, I'm SO glad Davy is well. And hope you guys have a new address soon.

BriBedell said...

I don't know you but I seriously love you. What an amazingly awesome family you have. I follow you on Instagram so I saw your picture of Davy on there. There is a special place for people like you in heaven. That's for shizzle.

Ps. Glad your back
Pps. :)

Heather said...

Oh Ruth! So so scary. My best friend had a grand mal in front of me and that was terrifying, I can't imagine seeing your child that way. So, SO glad she was okay and the doctors told you how to avoid it in the future!

jojo said...

Oh.....no words. This post made me cry, then breathe a sigh of relief, then want to give you and your whole family a big hug...

Anonymous said...

Aside from that being a horrible, awful story that no family should have to experience, I can't believe how much Davy has grown since you last posted!!!! Such a big little girl. We have also had some health issues with my 10 month old daughter that have seemed unrelenting, and I have often thought of you (even though I don't actually knew you) and how amazing you have been through everything. I have a new respect for that feeling of "if it's not one thing, it's another." You manage to handle it all with so much grace (although I'm sure it doesn't feel like that at times.) xoxo

whitneyingram said...

A family in my old Upland ward has a 4 year old daughter who has MAJOR seizures. Multiple times a day. Her worst was 45 minutes long. And they don't know what is wrong with her. Terrifying.

Kel said...

Gosh how frightening for you all. So glad that Davy is ok. She has certainly perfected rockstar hair by bath time!
Hope the new digs are sorted soon and give you lots of space.

Barb said...

I've missed hearing about Davygirl, I'm so thankful all is well. Please don't be a stranger anymore, even though we both are strangers to each other. I love your Davy!

Georgia said...

Oh Ruth...my heart aches for what you went thru. I know FIRSTHAND how scary seizures can be. When Gina was young, she had 3 of them. I'm happy to hear that all turned out well. So scary. And a big YEAH for your boys. They are such good kids Ruth. I've been missing you.....and would love to get together and catch up on life (maybe over a diet coke...hee-hee).

Lana said...

Ruth, I'm so sorry you had to go through that! I really admire you and Scott for being such good parents. And I just wanna give Davy a squishy hug- she is so cute! Here's hoping the rest of the holiday season goes better.

MindySue said...

My heart is beating so fast right now! I am sooo glad that everything has turned out okay. My prayers are with you all!!

Melany said...

oh my gosh my heart pounded as i read this, i can't imagine having to go through it. you guys are so brave and i'm so glad that davy was able to recover quickly. love that last pic in the tub!

Reenie said...

I'm still here!! I check daily for any updates, but I thought you were just busy packing... and moving.

Goodness, how scary for you all. I'm glad everything turned out okay. I can't believe how much she has grown, and how long her hair has gotten.

Your boys did great =)

Melinda said...

There is no way I could remain calm, I'm so glad you could! My daughter used to cry so hard she would stop breathing and pass out (I know this is so minor compared) and THAT would freak me out, so I can't imagine how scary that situation would be. I'm so glad its something you can deal with. I love the pictures of Davy, I think she's amazing. I think you're amazing. I think you're whole family is amazing. :)

Heather said...

That must have been so scary... I'm so glad it turned out well for you guys! My prayers are with you, all of the boys (Scott included) and your baby girl!!

Ora said...

BEYOND scary! I'm so glad things are ok now. Sugar checks on top of all the other stuff you have to do?! If anyone can do it - it's YOU!

As for Thanksgiving... IMO - you had the most important job - without cranberry sauce there is no Thanksgiving ;) Hopefully you'll get your Christmas wish answered and have a home soon :).

Kristin said...

What an incredible entry you posted. I am SOOOO thankful that little Davy bounced back. You are an amazing momma, an inspiration to us all. Adding Davy to our prayer list !!

Lena said...

That is super, super scary, and I am so glad you had a happy ending.

I'm impressed that Davy can climb out of her crib and how she is such a big girl now.

And I am very impressed at a paramedic who can insert an IV on the first try while in a moving vehicle. That's real talent.

Amy Rex said...

i had to try really hard to hold back the tears... i am at work and reading this. i'm so glad all is well. you guys are awesome!

P.S. i am so happy you guys will be in our ward!

Jen Hoppie said...

Happy to have you back. Still friends!

PilatesMom said...

So glad you are back. Totally understand the hiatus, there were tons of times I needed to check out of things for awhile. Make sure our friendship is a labor of love and not something you dread and we will be here. I am so thankful the latest crisis turned out so well. Hypoglycemia is scary but at least she does not have to tske seizure meds which can dull their little personalities.

So happy to hear from you and prayers from our family to yours always.

PilatesMom said...

So glad you are back. Totally understand the hiatus, there were tons of times I needed to check out of things for awhile. Make sure our friendship is a labor of love and not something you dread and we will be here. I am so thankful the latest crisis turned out so well. Hypoglycemia is scary but at least she does not have to tske seizure meds which can dull their little personalities.

So happy to hear from you and prayers from our family to yours always.

PilatesMom said...

So glad you are back. Totally understand the hiatus, there were tons of times I needed to check out of things for awhile. Make sure our friendship is a labor of love and not something you dread and we will be here. I am so thankful the latest crisis turned out so well. Hypoglycemia is scary but at least she does not have to tske seizure meds which can dull their little personalities.

So happy to hear from you and prayers from our family to yours always.

Crystal Price said...

Just read your post. Wow. That must have been hard. So glad you things are better. I also noticed that you mentioned St. Judes. I live really close to Memphis if you ever need a place to crash. I have a special needs daughter too (cleft lip and palate). Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

So glad this all turned out well! We are keeping all of y'all in our prayers (at least mine i know fo sho!) I love my davybaby so much and she means the world to me too! All of your children! Max, Ollie, Harper, and Davy are all the best cousins in the world and I couldnt ask for any better families I have right now! And not only did this post not make me realize how greatful I am for you guys, but it made all of us feel thankful! I love you guess and glad to be able to hold that DavyBaby in my arms again!!! <3 love you all! <3