"Hi, Lisa, not to alarm you, but we think Ava may have had a seizure at daycare."
...
That was the phone call I got around noon today. As expected, my stomach instantly dropped, I actually felt my blood inside my body and my heart skipped about five beats. Everything around me slowed to a snail's pace and I kind of wanted to throw up.
I tried to listen, but I was obviously panicking.
"...put her on the changing table... clenched and shaking... just happened... call your pediatrician..."
As my head and body tried to align, I squeaked out a few questions. Yes, she's okay now. No, it didn't last long. Right now, she's eating a cracker.
I called Ava's doctor and talked to a nurse who asked me more questions I didn't have the answers to. So, in addition to being terrified, I was now also useless because, obviously, I wasn't there.
With my limited information, the nurse couldn't say whether it was a seizure or not. (AKA, go to the ER versus go to the pediatrician versus go calm yourself because it was nothing.) So I requested a same-day appointment just to be safe. They told me they had a 12:30 or a 3pm. It was currently 12:18.
"Be there in 10 minutes," I lied.
I flew out of the office, grabbed my girl and sped to the pediatrician. I barely remember the drive, but I know for a fact that I yelled at 60% of the cars in my way. We were 15 minutes late and seen immediately.
Did I mention it's a solo-parenting week for me? Dave is in Berlin right now, though he was two seconds away from flying home when I called to let him know what was going on. No, Dave, let's see what the doctor says first.
The doctor assessed Ava and asked more questions that, this time, I was prepared to answer. (Even in my haste to pick Ava up from daycare, I grilled them on what happened.) She did clench and shake, but her eyes did not roll back in her head; in fact, she looked directly at the teacher when it happened. It lasted several seconds, not minutes. Afterwards, she seemed fine and not dazed/sleepy. These signs all pointed to NOT SEIZURE.
Relief is an understatement.
Did daycare overreact? Maybe. But that's not a chance I was going to take, and I'm glad they didn't either. Within an hour of me picking Ava up, I had already dropped her back off and returned to work. She was fine the rest of the day -- played with her best friend, Ainsley -- and was a happy, sweet girl the rest of the evening after I picked her up again.
And now here I am, sitting down with multiple glasses of wine, a peacefully sleeping baby and a newfound appreciation for my healthy child.
Hug your kids, friends. Tightly.
Showing posts with label daycare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daycare. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
The daycare daily cracks me up. Every time.
I've gotta say, I am becoming such a daycare convert.
Just look at this hilarious daily report I get! (And, yes, I did warn them about her being Benny'd due to her allergic reaction-rash.)
My girls eats better than I do. Waffles for breakfast, lasagna for lunch and cheddar bunnies (whatever they are) for snack? Come on. That's adorable.
Just look at this hilarious daily report I get! (And, yes, I did warn them about her being Benny'd due to her allergic reaction-rash.)
My girls eats better than I do. Waffles for breakfast, lasagna for lunch and cheddar bunnies (whatever they are) for snack? Come on. That's adorable.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Daycare recap
We're on our official Week 3 of daycare and it's been... an adjustment. Here's a quick recap:
Week 1
Day 1: Ava was too sick to go. Great start!
Day 2: Ava was displeased when I left.
Day 3-5: Ava was SO PISSED when I left. Scream-cries. I picked her up early some days because I just couldn't handle her being so upset.
Week 2
Day 1: Dropped Ava off immediately after leaving the airport from our family weekend in NY. She got sent home a few short hours later with a fever.
Day 2: Too sick to go.
Day 3: Too sick to go. Is this for real?
Day 4: Went, but screamed bloody murder when I dropped her off. I feel like this isn't working out.
Day 5: Repeat Day 4, except she also cried in the car on the way there (and didn't stop until I rapidly opened and shut her window for the 10 min. drive). Fussy during the day and didn't seem happy. I'm so ready to quit my job and my life just to stay home and comfort this poor, angry nugget 24/7.
Week 3
Day 1: Better day... Ava sat at a table and did a puzzle all by herself.
Day 2: Good day... Ava played with another kid for nearly 30 min. without needing any teacher comfort/reassurance. She also hugged her main teacher, Miss Felicia.
Day 3: Another good day! Ava didn't cry as much when I left because I stuffed her face with Puffs and ran away. During the day, she "painted" a strawberry -- and cracked up the teachers because she kept staring at her hands when they were covered in paint -- and ate a meatball with lunch.
I think she's starting to find her groove. She still cries when I leave, but it's already more short-lived. She prefers to play by herself in a crib, which they let her do for an hour or so as a way to get her more comfortable and build her confidence. I think it's working. Bonus: She's quiet as a mouse in the mornings now when she wakes up because she just entertains herself until I come get her.
In hindsight, transitioning to daycare in the midst of the separation-anxiety stage may not have been the best idea, but we're getting there. The sickness is a major downer (she spiked a 102 fever tonight out of nowhere, too. Praying it doesn't last through tomorrow), but she's definitely getting the socialization and new experiences I wanted.
I just hope it keeps getting better.
Week 1
Day 1: Ava was too sick to go. Great start!
Day 2: Ava was displeased when I left.
Day 3-5: Ava was SO PISSED when I left. Scream-cries. I picked her up early some days because I just couldn't handle her being so upset.
Week 2
Day 1: Dropped Ava off immediately after leaving the airport from our family weekend in NY. She got sent home a few short hours later with a fever.
Day 2: Too sick to go.
Day 3: Too sick to go. Is this for real?
Day 4: Went, but screamed bloody murder when I dropped her off. I feel like this isn't working out.
Day 5: Repeat Day 4, except she also cried in the car on the way there (and didn't stop until I rapidly opened and shut her window for the 10 min. drive). Fussy during the day and didn't seem happy. I'm so ready to quit my job and my life just to stay home and comfort this poor, angry nugget 24/7.
Week 3
Day 1: Better day... Ava sat at a table and did a puzzle all by herself.
Day 2: Good day... Ava played with another kid for nearly 30 min. without needing any teacher comfort/reassurance. She also hugged her main teacher, Miss Felicia.
Day 3: Another good day! Ava didn't cry as much when I left because I stuffed her face with Puffs and ran away. During the day, she "painted" a strawberry -- and cracked up the teachers because she kept staring at her hands when they were covered in paint -- and ate a meatball with lunch.
I think she's starting to find her groove. She still cries when I leave, but it's already more short-lived. She prefers to play by herself in a crib, which they let her do for an hour or so as a way to get her more comfortable and build her confidence. I think it's working. Bonus: She's quiet as a mouse in the mornings now when she wakes up because she just entertains herself until I come get her.
In hindsight, transitioning to daycare in the midst of the separation-anxiety stage may not have been the best idea, but we're getting there. The sickness is a major downer (she spiked a 102 fever tonight out of nowhere, too. Praying it doesn't last through tomorrow), but she's definitely getting the socialization and new experiences I wanted.
I just hope it keeps getting better.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Brace yourselves; daycare is coming
Monday marks Ava's first day of daycare and I'm having that parental freak-out where you doubt everything ever.
Is it the right move for her?
Will she get enough attention?
What if she doesn't sleep?
Will she pick up bad habits from shitty kids?
Are the teachers going to be attentive enough?
Is she going to be freaked out by a new environment?
Will she feel abandoned?
WHAT AM I DOING?
I know.
I need to get ahold of myself.
Especially because this last week marked our "transition days" at daycare. Here's how it went:
TRANSITION DAY 1
I took Ava for 1 hour at the end of the day and hung out with her so she'd be comfortable. She crawled all over the classroom (away from me -- good sign), touched other kids' faces like a weirdo, tried to steal another baby's bottle, took 50 toys off the shelves and chewed on a rubber elephant. Success.
TRANSITION DAY 2
I took Ava for 1 hour in the morning, but hid out of sight for most of it. She was a little confused, which may be because of daycare or may be because it was the morning. She's out of it in the morning. She didn't crawl around as much. She mostly watched everything going on around her. Okay, then.
TRANSITION DAY 3
I took Ava for 2 hours in the morning and left her there. I. Was. Traumatized. I always thought it was so absurd when these mothers cried after dropping their kids off, but holy cow, I get it. I didn't cry, but I was instantly sad, for no reason. I work two blocks away for Christ's sake. But it just felt like I was dumping her and leaving her with strangers and weird kids and no dogs and oh no what have I done?
When I picked her up, she had just woken up from a nap. "Wait, MY kid napped?" I asked. She did indeed, along with the other children. A lovely 20-min power-nap in a cozy bouncer. The only time she cried was when she wanted her diaper changed, they said. I was shocked it went so well.
But Monday is a whole different ballgame. That's her first full day. I've already enlisted Dave to come with me so I don't lose my mind. I already got my webcam access rolling. I'm trying not to be a neurotic loon.
Please pray.
Is it the right move for her?
Will she get enough attention?
What if she doesn't sleep?
Will she pick up bad habits from shitty kids?
Are the teachers going to be attentive enough?
Is she going to be freaked out by a new environment?
Will she feel abandoned?
WHAT AM I DOING?
I know.
I need to get ahold of myself.
Especially because this last week marked our "transition days" at daycare. Here's how it went:
TRANSITION DAY 1
I took Ava for 1 hour at the end of the day and hung out with her so she'd be comfortable. She crawled all over the classroom (away from me -- good sign), touched other kids' faces like a weirdo, tried to steal another baby's bottle, took 50 toys off the shelves and chewed on a rubber elephant. Success.
TRANSITION DAY 2
I took Ava for 1 hour in the morning, but hid out of sight for most of it. She was a little confused, which may be because of daycare or may be because it was the morning. She's out of it in the morning. She didn't crawl around as much. She mostly watched everything going on around her. Okay, then.
TRANSITION DAY 3
I took Ava for 2 hours in the morning and left her there. I. Was. Traumatized. I always thought it was so absurd when these mothers cried after dropping their kids off, but holy cow, I get it. I didn't cry, but I was instantly sad, for no reason. I work two blocks away for Christ's sake. But it just felt like I was dumping her and leaving her with strangers and weird kids and no dogs and oh no what have I done?
When I picked her up, she had just woken up from a nap. "Wait, MY kid napped?" I asked. She did indeed, along with the other children. A lovely 20-min power-nap in a cozy bouncer. The only time she cried was when she wanted her diaper changed, they said. I was shocked it went so well.
But Monday is a whole different ballgame. That's her first full day. I've already enlisted Dave to come with me so I don't lose my mind. I already got my webcam access rolling. I'm trying not to be a neurotic loon.
Please pray.
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