Our Crazy Week, Part 3

So Jake started kindergarten on Monday the 24th. He only met for one hour of orientation. But we took plenty of pictures of the blessed event:










Anyway, I finally got Ben down for a nap, Jacob was in the backyard playing with friends, when I hear Jake started to cry hard. I didn't become alarmed, because Jake has the tendency to overreact. He came in the back door and said he broke his wrist. Just remember, Jacob ALWAYS thinks an arm or leg is broken when it really isn't. However, it only took me one look to see that he definitely broke his arm. I helped him to the couch, grabbed a small, flat, rectangular pillow and splinted his arm. I called Marty THREE times before I could get through. He met Jake and I at the ER (thank goodness for excellent health insurance), and Jake was all fixed three hours later. He broke the right radius and ulna. Poor guy. Now according to Jake, "my arm will be broken forever, and I'll never be able to ride my bike again." And the Oscar goes to Jacob Asay!

Our Crazy Week, Part 2

So I thought things could only get better after Jacob finally got over what has to be Salmonella. I was wrong.

Last Thursday was just like any other day. I took the boys to the park to play and feed the ducks. We met up with Marty and his grandma at Olive Garden; she wanted to take Jake out to lunch before school started on the following Monday. I got the kids home after lunch, and put Ben down for a nap. We played outside after nap. We had dinner and went outside again. The boys played with their friends on the swing set. Ben must have gone down the slide fifty times. Their friends had to go home around 8:00. I went inside to start the tub while Marty went around front to get the kids in and clean up the toys.

I just remember sitting on the side of the tub, waiting for it to fill. I heard Marty say in a very panicked voice (Marty NEVER panicks) "Jenny come quick, something is wrong with Ben. JENNY!!!). I ran into Ben's room. Marty had laid him on the changing table. I looked at my baby and saw him having a seizure. His color was quite dusky. All four extremities were moving rigidly in a rhythmic motion. His head was turned up to the right corner, and his eyes were rolled to the upper right hand corner. I was petrified. Forget being a nurse. I was a mom and my heart hurt like I have never hurt before. I told Marty to call 911. He gave the dispatcher our address and the initial information about what our emergency was. I took the phone from him and started rattling off my assessment. She asked me if he was conscious, and I remember wanting to say "Are you for real? He's having a seizure!" But I bit my tongue and answered her questions. I had Marty time it. It lasted for 5-6 minutes. He had stopped by the time the paramedics arrived. His sugar was fine, his temp was 98.5. His other vitals were stable. We went to the ER since Ben has never had a seizure before. And yes, I was quite petrified. Is it a brain tumor? Does he have some kind of brain lesion, be it an old or new brain bleed? Did he fall while we were not looking? Did he eat something? Is there lead in any of his toys? Did one of the new energy-efficient light bulbs break that we don't know about and he has mercury poisoning? Etc, etc, etc.

Long story short (for now at least) his CT scan was normal. His labs were normal. His lumbar puncture was normal (in fact it was one of the best and clearest LPs I've seen).

We are now seeing Dr. Denise Morita, a pediatric neurologist at Primary Children's. Her PA was not so impressive; she came across as being too concerned about looking cute and being ditzy. The exam room was so not how I would imagine a premiere children's hospital. In fact I was quite underwhelmed with my PCMC experience until Dr. Morita came in to talk with us. She was wonderful. She ordered an EEG and a sedated brain MRI. We were able to get the EEG while we were there. However, the MRI isn't scheduled until October 2. She gave a prescription for diazepam PR to give for seizures lasting longer than five minutes. She explained that if the EEG and MRI come back negative, they will go on a working diagnosis of epilepsy since it runs in my family. Yes, Larsons have the funky genes. Dr. Morita explained that to them, a diagnosis of epilepsy is a good thing, versus brain tumors, head trauma, etc. Sounds good to me.

Anyway, this is all we know, but we will definitely keep you posted. Here's a cute picture of Ben with his EEG gear on:

Our Crazy Week, Part 1

We took the boys down to St. George for one last weekend before school started. The boys love to swim down there, and now Papa (g-pa Asay) has a 4-wheeler down there for us to use. Needless to say, Jake and Ben were all smiles while on the new toy.

However, the fun ended prior to our vacation. We went to a Mongolian BBQ. It was Jake's first time. Marty took Jake while I went through the line with a bowl for Ben and one for me. Ben was in his high chair, right next to the line. We forgot to tell Jacob that he needed to wait in line to have his food cooked. The next thing I realize is Jacob is asking Marty if the chicken is rotten. Poor guy tasted the raw frozen chicken.

The next morning at 5 am, Jacob started throwing up. We had to go back home so Marty could get to a meeting early the next morning. Poor Jacob was such a trooper. We left at 2 pm and got home five hours later. Jake only got sick once on the road. He felt wonderful by the end of the trip, and was back to normal, or so I thought -- He was sick until Wednesday (three days later).

Zoom Zoom

Here are some cute pictures of boys being boys. I just love my boys to pieces. They are so fun to watch. They are 100% all boy!






We did celebrate Jacob's 5th birthday on July 25th. I will have to post about all the festivities later. I didn't have my camera charged, and Aunt Ginger took the pictures with her camera. She should email them soon so we can post about the blessed event.

Kickin' It Cousin Style

We have the pleasure of having the Olmsteads (Ginger, Matt, Molly, and Jaxon) visit us for a week. We are having a great time. True to Kim form, Kim has called at least twice every day to see what's happening, wishing she could be here.

So far, the kids have played on the Slip 'N Slide and played in the kiddie pool. Anything with sun and water is wonderful; it's a tried and true recipe to make sure the little darlings sleep well at night.

Here are some pictures, mainly for Kim so she can pretend she's here too!!!

Grandma Jo

We like to take the boys every year to Grandma Jo's grave for pictures on Memorial Day. Here are the boys and Jordie and Jacie. Ben really fought having to cooperate in case you can't tell.

I never met Joanne before she passed away. I know she is an amazing woman. She raised an amazing son. I am thankful to her for molding Marty into the wonderful husband and father that he is today. I know that life is different for Marty without his mother here with us. We periodically talk about "what if." I know Joanne wishes she could be here with her grandkids in body. To hold them and love them as any grandmother would. I know she held Jacob and Ben and loved them before Marty and I ever did. She hand picked these wonderful and energetic little ones just for us. Thank you, Joanne!

Lagoon Fun

Yes it is time for me to catch up on blogging. We bought Lagoon season passes this year instead of Cherry Hill. We took the boys for the first time on Memorial Day. It was a lot of fun to see them grinning from ear to ear. We had so much fun. Jacob really wants to ride the "big person" roller coasters, but his is just a hair too short. Fortunately for Ben, Jacob has to ride the "little kids" rides. I think Jacob still had as much fun on the little rides as he would have on the other rides.

My favorite part was watching them giggle. Their is nothing for genuinely wonderful than to see what fun is through the eyes of my children. I just so love those boys.

We also went to Lagoona Beach, where I strictly banned picture taking. The water is SUPER frigid. It's so cold that it literally takes your breath away. Ben was shaking with blue lips after 15 minutes of water play. Yeah, that's cold.

Here are my beloved boys!