So what is it?

We had the follow up with the neurologist today. After viewing the 6 or so episodes we got on video, he doesn't believe it is seizures. He's seen thousands of seizures and these just don't fit the mold. He said to call if they get worse but otherwise he's healthy. I'm relieved it's not epilepsy, but what is it then? I'm going to go back to his pediatrician and talk to him. There is a connection between the episodes and Sawyer's bowel movements. He doesn't always have a bm with the episodes, but I think he always has an episode with a bm. I wonder if maybe he has a fissure or something that is making it painful for him to poop and maybe that is causing the problems. I don't know. All I know is something isn't right.

The Country Life

Diagnosis unknown

It's been a long day. We didn't sleep well. Sawyer has a horrible cough and is wheezing and was restless. We left at 7:30. The clinic is 2 long hours away. Sawyer had the EEG. He was up early and we didn't let him sleep on the way there because they wanted him asleep for the study. He cried the saddest cries not because he was in pain, but because they were touching him and gluing electrodes all over his head. I was glad my sister was with me because Jody would not have been able to handle it. They did the test, we left and got a bite to eat and we headed back to meet with the neuro. The EEG was normal but by the descriptions of what is happening and the video of an episode I have my cellphone, he suspects it is complex partial seizures. He wants us to videotape some more episodes so he has "more ammunition" to work with. We are to go back next Wednesday with the videos and decide on a course of action. He gave us a prescription for a medicine in case he has a bad seizure that he doesn't come out of. If it is seizures, they will put him on topomax for at least two years. While we were there another ped heard Sawyer's cough and said it was worse than any of the patients she had seen today. I commented that he was wheezing and he's been on antibiotics for a week. She said he needed steroids so they wrote a script for that too. The two hour drive home seemed like it took forever. Sawyer slept the whole way. Poor thing. Now that we are home, I realize that he's running a low grade fever too. He looks sick. If he's not doing better in the morning, I'll probably make an appt with out reg ped. I can't imagine him being so sick after having a shot of roseffin (sp?) and being on oral antibiotics. I feel so bad for him being so sick after going through everything else today. Anyway, I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to give Sawyer a bath and try to get some of the goop out of his hair and then we will curl up in bed. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. They've really meant a lot to me.

A new place to call home

My sister and her kids have been living with us since Christmas. They are planning to relocate here. Her temporary housing finally made it down from Iowa last week- a 54 year old trailer. The interior is in great shape. The exterior is a lovely pink and silver. I love it because it looks so hillbilly.

TIMBER!

You have to be creative to find ways for entertainment when you live in the middle of nowhere. Our house is down in the woods, and if there are more than two vehicles here, parking is a nightmare. My sister and I decided to take down a tree so we can have a circle drive. All it took was a sawsall, a hatchet, a rope and a van. We managed to get the tree down without injuring anyone or anything. We rock!

Meet #2

Olivia had her second meet today. She only had two practices since her last meet and I thought she did great. Her scores were:

Floor: 8.67 1st Place

Vault: 8.25 7th Place

Bars: 6.80 3rd Place

Beam: 8.05 4th Place

And she got 3rd Place for All-Around. Great job, Olivia!

I took Sawyer to the ped today because he's been having some worrisome episodes. He starts making a weird nose with his lips, his head pulls back and his legs tense and curl up. He usually has about a dime size worth of poo after it's over. I originally thought it was because he was constipated and it hurt to poo. But the episodes are getting worse and his bms aren't hard anymore. It occured to me that he might be pooing because of the episode and not vice versa. I counted yesterday and he had at least 10 episodes. My mommy radar says something is not right.

The ped confirmed my suspicions and thinks it may be seizures. He is referring us to a pediatric neurologist. He wants Sawyer to have an EEG and we will go from there. They are suppose to call me with an appt date on Monday.

I'm trying not to freak out. It is what it is and we will deal with it. One of the scariest thing for me is the meds used to treat seizures. I've seen the side-effects they had on Anna. They are some strong stuff. Part of me wants to hold Sawyer and cry. Watching him have these episodes is heartbreaking. I know it has to be scary for him, and he is too young to understand what is happening. I am going to get him a priesthood blessing tomorrow. Hopefully there are some words of comfort in it. If you would pray for my sweet little baby boy I would greatly appreciate it.