Sunday, June 20, 2010

In Which We Have A Not So Great Father's Day

So today, as you no doubt all already know, was Father's Day.  Connor got his daddy two presents: a scone pan and a three-minute long seizure. 

One gift was slightly more well-received than the other.

The day started off well enough; after a leisurely brunch we headed down to the Meeker Days Festival, where we sat in a parking lot for a while waiting for the ran to let up and listening to The Vinyl Cafe on the radio.  When it became obvious that the nasty weather wasn't going to change any time soon, we decided that we'd rather spend the day somewhere dry.  So we drove up to a mall we hadn't explored and spent some quality time walking around together and browsing.

We stopped by a gourmet food/kitchen shop, where Connor helped pick out the first of his daddy's presents.  Then we looked at several different shoe stores for a good pair of Chuck Taylors or something similar for Jeremy.  Jer's gotten to the point where his feet are flexible enough that his tennis shoes aren't "challenging" him any more, so he wanted a good pair of fairly low-to-the-ground shoes that would help him continue to stretch out his feet and add to his flexibility.  We found a good pair at the third shoe store, and then decided to go find a late afternoon snack. 

Jeremy decided he wanted "breakfast for, um, snack" and so we drove to a local pancake joint, which is where Connor delivered his second, surprise gift of the day.  When I turned around in the front seat to grab my purse, I saw that Connor had a completely blank expression on his face and his head was down on his chest; a sure sign that he was having a seizure.  A quick hard rub to the bottom of his left foot (the place he is most sensitive to and defensive of) that garnered no reaction confirmed it.  We laid him down on the back seat of the van, started the timer, and hooked him up to oxygen.  His right leg started jerking rhythmically shortly thereafter.

He only stopped breathing for about ten seconds this time, thankfully, so that wasn't so bad.  What was a little more disturbing is that for about two minutes after the seizure was obviously over (he was breathing, making facial expressions, tracking with his eyes, etc) his whole left side from the neck down remained completely non-functional.  He could squeeze my hand with his right hand, and he'd jerk his right foot away from a tickle, but the left hand and foot were dead weight and didn't respond at all, and he showed no indication in facial expressions that he was even feeling me moving or tickling them.  This is new, and was more than a little disturbing at the time, though I've since done my homework and, while I'll wait for a neurologist to confirm it, suspect that what we saw was something called Todd's Paralysis, in which case it's not that worrying.  That's not to say I didn't totally freak out at the time, and we'll make darn sure the doctor knows about it.

Needless to say, we didn't eat any pancakes. 

We spent the rest of the evening quietly at home.  Connor spent most of it either napping or clinging like a limpet to me; I actually let him watch an entire movie as a special treat (Mulan-- his favorite).  We went 22 days without one and I was finally starting to relax a bit again; guess it's back to the drawing board.

Hope everyone else's Father's Day was slightly better!

~Jess

8 comments:

leah said...

Oh, goodness. What a day! I hope the neurologist gets back to you quickly and confirms that the temporary paralysis was the Todd's Paralysis. I'm sending all my thoughts and prayers in your direction, so that those seizures go away!

Niksmom said...

Sending prayers and good thoughts. You guys are sure due for a break!

Tom said...

I am so sorry he had another exciting seizure. He sure does know how to keep things interesting. On a slightly related note, if the neurologist does confirm Dr. Jessie's diagnoses, perhaps this is a good excuse to bring back Medical Mondays.

I, for one, miss Medical Mondays and the scribble drawings of different anthropomorphic body systems.

Love you,
-T

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Oh, BUMMER!

I was thinking of you yesterday, as we were just up the road a ways (sort of) in Issaquah.

I think you're well on your way to a medical degree, but not the way you'd plan things.

Praying for Connor,

Julie

Julia said...

No, no, no, Connor. You're not supposed to do that sort of thing. They've upped your meds again and again, and it's time to find a new and less physically taxing way for you to keep your parents on their toes and your mother's nose in the med books. Body piercing, for example. I bet if you suddenly made an appearance with an eyebrow ring and a large thigh tattoo, it would have the desired effect on your parents' adrenaline levels.

Wherever HE Leads We'll Go said...

NO! Connor really needs to learn to give better presents. A 3 minute seizures is NOT acceptable!

Praying you are able to chat with the neurologist and confirm your theory and figure out what needs to be done next.

Anonymous said...

Aw, Jess. That just stinks. Poor little guy.

-j o'c

Colleen said...

Oh my, so sorry to hear about the eventful Father's Day. I hope Connor doesn't have a seizure like that again for a long time!

 
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