Oliver's trip to the ER

Today was a very eventful day.  But everyone is okay.

Stephanie wanted to take me out for a pedicure since my birthday was last Thursday.  We had some other errands to run, so Levi and Oliver and I headed down to visit with the White family today.  Steph and I did some shopping, and then we went to get our pedis.

About halfway through the pedicures, I called to check and see if Oliver went down for his nap okay.  Robert said that we needed to come home as soon as possible because we needed to take Oliver to the hospital.

Wait, what?

Needless to say, I was freaking out a little.  Mostly because Robert didn't tell me what was wrong.  I called back after we rushed out of the nail place, and Levi said that Oliver had thrown up a lot and was very lethargic.  I have a mild break down, and we rush the two miles back to Steph's house.  Meanwhile, I called the pediatrician's office.  On the weekends, the peds office has an answering service that has the folks at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta call you back and advise you on what to do.  I called and told them what was going on, and they said someone would call me back.

We made it back to Steph's and Levi was outside holding Oliver.  Oliver looked SO SO SO pitiful.  He was flopped on Levi's chest and his eyes were barely open.  He was breathing, but he just looked so bad.  I broke down because he looked so pitiful, and Levi kept telling me, "He's fine, sweetie...he's breathing...we just have to get to the hospital.  Do you want to drive?"  Of course I didn't want to drive, so Robert offered to drive our car and I rode in the front while Levi held Oliver in the back.  On the way to the hospital, Children's Hospital called and we talked about what was going on.  Robert and Stephanie only live a couple of miles from the hospital, so we were on our way when the nurse called.  After a few questions, she asked if Oliver could make eye contact, and when I said no, that he could barely keep his eyes open, she said that we needed to pull over and call 911.  So I hung up, called 911, and told the dispatcher where we were and asked if we should just keep going to the hospital.  He said it was up to me, so we decided to go on.

Once we got to the hospital, we went to the Pediatric ER and were seen right away.  After they checked his vitals, we noticed he had a fever of 101.2 (under his arm).  The nurse gave him some Motrin, and told us she thought he had had a febrile seizure.  I knew what that was (but of course didn't put two and two together when I was freaking out), so I calmed down.  In about an hour, Oliver was fine, moving around more, talking, and asking to eat.  The doctor came in right around that time and checked out our little boy.  He said that febrile seizures are not dangerous, that 4% of children have them, and then of that 4%, 75% never have another one.  He told us to keep an eye on the fever tonight (if he was to have another seizure in the next 24 hours, we'd need to take him back to the ER) and if he was okay to call the pediatrician on Monday.  His throat was a little red and scratchy, so he did a strep test, but it was negative.  Looks like our boy has a virus, and the fever spiking is what caused the lethargy.  The vomiting is not usually a symptom, so he was prescribed a drug for that if it happened again.  We are alternating Tylenol and Motrin tonight, and hopefully all will be well with Oliver.

He was very much himself after that first hour, so I'm not concerned.

If anything, I am thankful.  I know it's weird to say that after something like this happens, but really...this could not have unfolded in a more perfect way.

First of all, Levi almost stayed home with Oliver.  Which means I would have been half an hour away, with the carseat, and would have had to drive back home distraught at the news that my 19 month old son was in the ER.

Secondly, we were two miles from the hospital.  Where there was a Pediatric ER.  The hospital where we live doesn't have one of those.

Third, we had a friend RIGHT THERE who could drive us to the hospital.  I could not have driven, I don't think.

Fourth, it happened on a weekend, when Levi was home (yes, Levi works from home a lot, but still)...meaning the calm, level-headed, good-in-a-crisis parent was there to calm down the hormonal, pregnant parent.

It was so scary.  And the doctor said, "Aside from really bad croup in the middle of the night, a febrile seizure is the scariest thing for a parent to see."  It was scary.  But I am thankful.  God had us in the right place with the right folks at the right time.  I am praising Him tonight for His protection today!  And every day.  But especially today.

Keep us in your prayers, as the next 24 hours are going to leave me a bit worried.  He could have another seizure in the next 48 hours, but if not we should be good to go...however we will be checking on him frequently throughout the night.  Thank God for video monitors, while we're at it!  =)