Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A Scary Trip to the ER
In case you haven't heard the news, Addison had a febrile seizure on Sunday afternoon.
Febrile seizures are caused by fevers, and it isn't how high the fever is, it's how fast it spikes.
Addie had a low grade fever on Saturday and we attributed it to teething (damn molars!) but then on Sunday morning, she was hotter and we took her temp and it was 102. We gave her Tylenol, and after morning nap, she seemed to be doing better and didn't feel warm, so we continued on with our plan for the day to go to Bass Pro Shop to look at the fish and get some gear for Chris's birthday.
While the girls and I were waiting for Chris to check out, Addie started getting fussy so I took her out of her stroller, and she felt hot, but we'd given her another dose of Tylenol before heading out, so I didn't think much of it. As Chris was coming back, Addie's arms started shaking and I looked at her face and it was frozen. I yelled to Chris to call 911 and started yelling for help, yelling "she's having a seizure!"
Thank GOD there was a nurse and a doctor close by. They came running over and when Addie started arching her back, the nurse took her from me and held her for the remainder of the seizure (it lasted 3 minutes) and then they both stayed with us while we waited for the paramedics to show up.
We were taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital, (poor Addie threw up several times on the way), where Addison was given ibuprofen and observed until her fever broke a couple of hours later.
We learned that 4% of kids will get febrile seizures, and they're just more sensitive to fast spikes in fevers. If they've had one, they're more likely to get another one, so we need to watch her closely for fever and treat it with medicine right away. If Tylenol or Advil doesn't bring her temp down within 1/2 hour, we need to give her whichever one we haven't yet and give her both until the fever breaks. We need to get her cool as soon as possible, so striping her down, cool bath, etc. and we need to consider 100 a fever for her instead of the usual 100.4.
A febrile seizure isn't going to cause any long term damage, and Addie won't suffer any brain damage or anything after the seizure. It's scary to witness, but there aren't long term effects, it's just the brain's way of re-setting itself after a quick rise in temperature.
Addie's temp has spiked the last two nights, which has led to several tepid baths, but no seizures. A good tip: if you ever do use a bath to bring down a fever, make sure it isn't too cold. If the child is shivering, it will actually raise their temp. We're learning as we go, here... I've been sleeping in the guest room with her in the packnplay cause it's just too scary to leave her all alone. A woman in my twin's group has offered to give us her old video monitor, so that might be helpful (or it might just make me more neurotic, we'll see!)
Prayers are appreciated. My dad gave me a good visual for times like these: God is the mountain, and you just have to stick the jam in the crack and hold on tight. So my faith is like the jam device, stuck into the crack in the side of the cliff. Gravity (Addie's seizure) is pulling down on me, but I'm just holding on tight, knowing that God is steady and constant, ever-present, looming larger and stronger than the seizure. THERE before, during and after, and, as always, full of Love and Grace. And I also like to picture wings, wide and strong, coming out of the mountain to hold me, and Addie and Chris and Emily, holding us while we hold on.
Febrile seizures are caused by fevers, and it isn't how high the fever is, it's how fast it spikes.
Addie had a low grade fever on Saturday and we attributed it to teething (damn molars!) but then on Sunday morning, she was hotter and we took her temp and it was 102. We gave her Tylenol, and after morning nap, she seemed to be doing better and didn't feel warm, so we continued on with our plan for the day to go to Bass Pro Shop to look at the fish and get some gear for Chris's birthday.
While the girls and I were waiting for Chris to check out, Addie started getting fussy so I took her out of her stroller, and she felt hot, but we'd given her another dose of Tylenol before heading out, so I didn't think much of it. As Chris was coming back, Addie's arms started shaking and I looked at her face and it was frozen. I yelled to Chris to call 911 and started yelling for help, yelling "she's having a seizure!"
Thank GOD there was a nurse and a doctor close by. They came running over and when Addie started arching her back, the nurse took her from me and held her for the remainder of the seizure (it lasted 3 minutes) and then they both stayed with us while we waited for the paramedics to show up.
We were taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital, (poor Addie threw up several times on the way), where Addison was given ibuprofen and observed until her fever broke a couple of hours later.
We learned that 4% of kids will get febrile seizures, and they're just more sensitive to fast spikes in fevers. If they've had one, they're more likely to get another one, so we need to watch her closely for fever and treat it with medicine right away. If Tylenol or Advil doesn't bring her temp down within 1/2 hour, we need to give her whichever one we haven't yet and give her both until the fever breaks. We need to get her cool as soon as possible, so striping her down, cool bath, etc. and we need to consider 100 a fever for her instead of the usual 100.4.
A febrile seizure isn't going to cause any long term damage, and Addie won't suffer any brain damage or anything after the seizure. It's scary to witness, but there aren't long term effects, it's just the brain's way of re-setting itself after a quick rise in temperature.
Addie's temp has spiked the last two nights, which has led to several tepid baths, but no seizures. A good tip: if you ever do use a bath to bring down a fever, make sure it isn't too cold. If the child is shivering, it will actually raise their temp. We're learning as we go, here... I've been sleeping in the guest room with her in the packnplay cause it's just too scary to leave her all alone. A woman in my twin's group has offered to give us her old video monitor, so that might be helpful (or it might just make me more neurotic, we'll see!)
Prayers are appreciated. My dad gave me a good visual for times like these: God is the mountain, and you just have to stick the jam in the crack and hold on tight. So my faith is like the jam device, stuck into the crack in the side of the cliff. Gravity (Addie's seizure) is pulling down on me, but I'm just holding on tight, knowing that God is steady and constant, ever-present, looming larger and stronger than the seizure. THERE before, during and after, and, as always, full of Love and Grace. And I also like to picture wings, wide and strong, coming out of the mountain to hold me, and Addie and Chris and Emily, holding us while we hold on.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
We've Got Talent, Yes We Do!
Last night when I was cleaning up toys, I picked up our wooden disk stacking toy and asked Chris if he did this:
He swore he hadn't. Emily has been getting the hang of getting the little hole to line up with the peg, but neither of us had ever seen her stack them according to size. She must have done this while I was making dinner. Tonight, we tested her to see if we could watch her repeat this amazing feat. She mixed up the red and dark orange, but she does seem to be getting the pattern down.
This morning, Addison was in the living room while I was in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast. A suspicious quiet, followed by the crunching of leaves brought me in to find this:
She had used a push toy to climb up onto the table so that she could reach the plant. When I walked in and she saw the surprise on my face, the biggest grin spread out on hers.
Addison has been taking one step away from furniture for quite some time, but on Friday, April 6th, she took four steps from a chair to me. We had spent the afternoon with Enslea, and after Bree came to pick her up, Addie was standing by the front window, saying goodbye to her friend. Then she turned around, and took four steps away from the door. I was so excited I grabbed her up and rushed out to the driveway, where Bree was loading Enslea into the car. I had to share the big news! Then, two days later on Easter Sunday, Addison became a true walker. She was walking 4, 5, and 6 steps all over the place (and receiving lots of cheers from the Nicolls, which probably helped keep her going!) After Easter, though, it was back to crawling and single steps away from safe handholds.
But this morning, that table climb must have boosted her confidence, because the rest of the day she walked in little bursts all day long. We managed to get a little of it on tape this evening.
Moments like these fill us with such pride! Watching Emily stack the disks, deliberately choosing which one would come next, was so exciting. I think Chris and I were both ready to climb to the top of the roof to tell the world what a smart little girl we have.
But wait...there's more!
This morning, Addison was in the living room while I was in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast. A suspicious quiet, followed by the crunching of leaves brought me in to find this:
Addison has been taking one step away from furniture for quite some time, but on Friday, April 6th, she took four steps from a chair to me. We had spent the afternoon with Enslea, and after Bree came to pick her up, Addie was standing by the front window, saying goodbye to her friend. Then she turned around, and took four steps away from the door. I was so excited I grabbed her up and rushed out to the driveway, where Bree was loading Enslea into the car. I had to share the big news! Then, two days later on Easter Sunday, Addison became a true walker. She was walking 4, 5, and 6 steps all over the place (and receiving lots of cheers from the Nicolls, which probably helped keep her going!) After Easter, though, it was back to crawling and single steps away from safe handholds.
But this morning, that table climb must have boosted her confidence, because the rest of the day she walked in little bursts all day long. We managed to get a little of it on tape this evening.
Emily and Addison are changing, growing, and learning so much and so quickly. They amaze us every day and fill our lives with so much joy.
Can It Be? Claire is Three!!
On April 9th, Claire turned three years old. This was the first birthday party the girls have attended while mobile, and it was fun watching them watch the big kids.
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| Popsicle stick craft time! |
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| Playing with Claire's big girl toys |
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| Beautiful Mama with her little girl...and another one coming soon! :) |
Monday, April 16, 2012
Our Favorite Cottonwood Tree
There is a wonderful trail near our house that goes by many majestic cottonwood trees. We love these trees for their shade, and their great big trunks make great backdrops for pictures, too. There is one tree in particular that I really like. It served as a backdrop for Callie pictures in the spring two years ago.
Two years later, Emily and Addison had a chance to pose at the base of the same tree! Addison was just getting over a stomach bug, so I wasn't able to get her to crack a smile, but a kind couple walking along the path helped me out by getting the girls' attention behind me, so at least I got them looking in the same direction! :)
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| It's hard to believe she was once this small |
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| These girls are mesmerized by big kids. Here they're watching some big kids go by on bikes. |
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Pigtails!
In March, we decided the girls had enough hair to attempt pigtails, and oh boy! have those pigtails been fun!
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| This is the face Addie gives lately when she sees something she really wants or she's really excited about something, it's usually accompanied by loud mouth breathing |
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| Emily's hair isn't quite long enough for two pigtails yet, but one is pretty darn cute! |
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A Little Friend
Kaia Lin was born on February 29th, which makes her a leapling! She came into the world three weeks early weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces. She's a healthy and alert little girl, and when she was almost three weeks old, Emily and Addison got to meet her!
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| So tiny, so precious, so beautiful |
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| To be honest, Emily and Addison were probably a little more excited to see Doogle, he was a little more active than Kaia. In fact, later when Doogie got to come out of his kennel, Addie chased him around, squealing with delight. |
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| Addie looking at the baby |
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| Emily reaches out to touch Kaia's hand |
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| The three girls |
Gate Breakdown
The girls like to sit at the base of the stairs and rattle the gate. It now has a bungee cord keeping it closed after they figured out how to open it. A few weeks ago, Emily rattled and rattled until finally, voila, the gate came loose. Addie and I came to see what was going on, and while Addison joined her sister in the gate breakdown, I picked up the camera to document this teamwork.
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| E: Hmmm, the gate didn't used to do that |
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| E: Maybe if I just pull it a little harder |
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| A: let me help you out, I'll get this side |
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| E: Oooo, this piece just came off, what should I do with it? |
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| A: Oooo I wanna see. Can I see? |
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| E: No way! This thing's mine! A: I want it!!!! |
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| E: Mmmmm, tasty. I knew it would be. A: Uh, wait a minute, do you see what we just did?!?! |
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| A: hehehehehehehehe |
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Vacuum Phobia
Chris took these pics of Addison while I was vacuuming a couple of weeks ago, and I think he did a great job of capturing her curiosity and apprehension. I usually can't vacuum when I am home alone with the girls because Addie gets scared and just wants to be picked up, but in order to be picked up, she needs to come near me, which means coming near the vacuum, which just makes everything very scary and complicated. So Chris usually distracts the girls while I vacuum. Addison's curiosity usually gets the best of her, though, and she'll break away from whatever game they're playing in order to investigate the noisy sucky thing.
The game Chris has been playing with the girls a lot lately is called "Spoon Island". The chairs are islands and it began with a spoon being the motivator he would toss from chair to chair to get the girls walking. The spoon has since become anything that is currently captivating their attention, but it's still a fun game around here!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Spring
So far, we've had a very warm start to spring here in Colorado, which means we've been spending a lot of time outside enjoying the nice weather.
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| On March 5th, we went to EB Rains park in Northglenn. Best. Playground. Ever. These are the post-play all-dirty-and-worn-out shots. |
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| Emily got to play in the sandbox for the first time on this playground trip |
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| Up next: Nap |
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| March 6th, so nice out we decided to eat lunch on the deck |
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| After lunch, it was out to the yard to play in the sun |
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| March 8th, back out to the yard for some exploring |
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| Emily practiced her rock climbing skills, going up and down our little rock wall, always being very precise in her hand and foot placement and always maintaining three point contact |
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| Me and my girls |
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| One of my favorite views these days, Addie by my side |
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| Backyard Exploration |
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| Eatin' stuff |
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| Eatin' other stuff |
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| March 14th, we took our first trip to the Denver zoo. The girls didn't quite get the whole watching animals thing, but they loved watching all the kids! |
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| March 15th, we went to the Smiley Library to return Library Doll, and while we were there we had a nice geese-watching session |
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| This squirrel begged and begged until we gave him a bit of MumMum, which he nibbled and then dropped in disgust before running away, telling all the park animals that we had lousy snacks |
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| March 27th, DeeDee came over to help out in the midst of a stomach bug epidemic, and while everyone was feeling decent, we went to the park for some fresh air |
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| Emily was on her own in the swings on this trip to the park since Addie's stomach was pretty queazy |
Watching the grass slowly turn green and the buds come out on the trees and bushes, listening to the birds chirp and the breeze blow, tasting the sticks, rocks, wood chips, dirt, grass, bugs, and yes, even goose poop.....ahhhhh Spring!
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