Tuesday, March 27, 2012

My Scariest "Mom Moment"

This weekend, on a casual Sunday afternoon trip to Costco... it happened. I was reminded that I don't have it all figured out.  Mayhem's forehead felt hot when I picked him up. I could tell he didn't feel well, and I mentioned to my husband that we should bring him right home. As we were driving home, his eyes rolled back into his head, his pacifier slipped out of his mouth, he began to drool, and his head was 'tick' 'tick' ticking to one side. I jumped into the back seat of the car, unbuckled him from his car seat and started screaming.  All I got in return was a blank stare. I cannot get the image of his face out of my head.

His body was limp, and he wasn't responding to me. My husband headed for the hospital, luckily we were very close. After driving through a few red lights and up a few sidewalks, we were there. I ran into the hospital lobby, screaming, "Where's the Emergency Room?!" I must have looked crazy, not that I cared. A nurse took us back, and took his temperature 104. "It's a febrile seizure," she said nonchalantly. "Is he OK?!" "The doctor will be right in."

[caption id="attachment_382" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="my poor baby mayhem"][/caption]

Meanwhile, I have no idea that a 'fever seizure' means he'll be fine. All I know is that I'm freaking out- can someone tell me what's going on?! Someone comes in to take down all our information, since we didn't come in through the usual route. At this point, for whatever reason... it all started hitting me.  And, Little J wanted to hop up on the bed and told me, "I'm sick too, Mommy. Is he going to be OK?"

After x-rays, a flu test, a respiratory virus test, and some baby Motrin- we were sent home. The doctor's parting words, "He'll be just fine." Well, I won't be. I am scarred for life. I'm so happy that this horrifying event is somehow not that big of a deal (medically, anyways). But I am still trying to calm down, 2 days later.

Apparently, a febrile seizure is something that happens to about 5% of children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. He will grow out of it. He likely is more prone to them, because his father used to have them. There is no long term damage, and as long as he 'comes back' quickly- no cause for alarm. I had never seen a seizure, and I had no idea what was happening. Now that I know, I can't say that it will be any easier the second time...

Here is a happy picture from yesterday, of Mayhem enjoying his Rody horse. Just to counter the depressing hospital picture. I needed to look at this a lot over the past couple days...

[caption id="attachment_383" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="I'm fine, Mommy!"][/caption]

Have you had a scary 'mommy moment'?  Please share, so I know I'm not the only one!

10 comments:

  1. Oh. My. Word. I cannot imagine the horror you went through during those moments. I was just sick for you while reading it. Having a sick baby is the most helpless feeling in the world. I am so very glad that your little trooper is fine and home and happy.

    Hugs to you, Mama!

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  2. My scariest mom moment wasn't nearly as frightening as yours. My daughter went face first (more like jaw first) into a picnic table at school while running around the playground. She didn't look that injured at first, but as the first day went on, her face began to swell and swell and swell. The next day after the incident, she looked like the Elephant Man, and was unable to eat solids. My first thought, she broke her jaw. Second thought, she crammed her teeth back up into her gums. I only took her to the doctor, but expected to have to go get xrays. It turned out that she had bruised her entire inside gums on the top left side, and had severe bruising through her face. Luckily, no broken teeth, no loose teeth, and no permanent damage to her face, but she had to eat smoothies and PB & J sandwiches for about 2 weeks, and its still sensitive when I brush her teeth. :(

    Its no fun to see little ones in pain, or so sick. Get better, baby Zach!!

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  3. Aww baby Mayhem - glad he is going to be okay :)

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  4. Helpless is exactly the right word. Thanks!

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  5. Aww, I remember that! Poor baby!

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  6. OM - so sorry to hear this! I can't imagine what you went through but am so glad he is doing better. Hugs and Love

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  7. Thanks, Jocelyn. It was awful!

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  8. When my son as a baby, he is now 14, he fell off a swing and hit his head. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he went limp. Seconds later he came to. After seeing a pediatrician he said he was just fine that it was more than likely a result of heat exhaustion and the fall. He never had another one, but man I feel your pain because it was terrifying!!

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  9. It is the scariest feeling! Thanks for sharing!

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