WHAT YOU TALKIN' 'BOUT, WILLIS?

Still Thankful..

Well, turns out the fever was pretty serious. His fevers usually go up at night and on Turkey-Day night it went up to 105.4. While leaving for the hospital Jackson began to have a febrile seizure, from his temperature rising so rapidly. He stopped breathing for a minute and turned a horrible blue. We took him back in and called the ambulance. I pried his mouth open and he quickly began breathing again through his nose. His color slowly started coming back but he was lethargic and his skin still blazing hot. The ambulance came and took him to the ER.

They ran blood, urine, nasal swab for flu, and chest X-rays and found nothing. His throat was very sore. He had a flu shot on Tuesday and a lower fever Wednesday night, so our guess is a negative reaction to the flu shot. Last night his temp went up to 104 but we got it down by putting him in a lukewarm tub of water and kept alternating Motrin and Tylenol all day.

Tonight, THANK GOD!!, he seems OK, no fever whatsoever. He is currently throwing pizza on the floor and all seems well. THis was the scariest night/moment of our lives and all I can think is to try to help some others if this ever happens to your child. So here are some notes for new parents:

1. Stay calm. At least 1 of the parents needs to stay cool and methodical while the other freaks out.

2. Review CPR for infants. Luckily we only got to the clear the airways part of this, but I feel confident I could have taken the next step if needed--thanks to classes I took almost 20 years ago!

3. Febrile seizures are common in toddlers, especially boys. They usually have no residual effects.

4. Keep all your phone numbers handy. Doctor, Poison Control, neighbors with medical training, etc.

5. Flu shots??? Never again for our son unless he starts getting the flu every year.

6. Ear thermometers are crap. Even when you get a consistent reading, Jackson's was always higher rectally. Even as we left the hospital they said he was fine at 98.9 in the ear. After Kerry told them to do it the other way the found it was still 102.3.

Finally remember that every moment with those you love is a gift. I never prayed so much on Thanksgving and I guess we will probably have a lot more to pray about every year from now on.

PS - I'm not completely unsure that Kerry's side of the family may have Lycan (werewolf) blood. Every time he got the fever was at night during a full moon.

Posted by cmwillis at November 27, 2004 6:49 PM | TrackBack