If we were having coffee, I would actually be sippin' my sweet tea instead. I'd invite you in and you'd probably relish in the cool, calm air. Our house is constantly air conditioned come June 1. Surprisingly our power bill in the summer is lower than in the winter. Go figure?
We'd take a seat at the dining table and I'd comment on how great you look and you'd comment on my gorgeous Peonies! We'd chit chat about our husbands and kids for a bit and I'd tell you that the hubs just got a new job and we might be moving by the end of summer. That is, if I have things my way. His (previous) company told him a while back that they'd begin restructuring come summer - and if you've ever worked in corporate #Merica, you know what that means.
I'd tell you that we had such a great, relaxing, holiday with friends that included good BBQ, fireworks, and easy country livin'. We spent the majority of the day munchin' on ribs, chicken, burgers, fruit/pasta/potato salads, and my favorite, 'Star Spangled Fruit Pie' (recipe to come). How was your holiday? Did you do anything special?
By now, I'd need a refill and offer you one as well. Our evening ended early, right around 8:00 p.m. At about 10:00 p.m., this cute little duo walked over to the local stadium to watch the fireworks. I stayed home to work on some blogging and watch The Golden Girls. #notkidding
At this point, I may get a bit emotional. You may even see me come undone. I would try to hold back the tears, but it isn't easy. I'd tell you that I haven't gotten much sleep this week. I'd tell you that my strength as a mother is definitely being put to the test.
It was Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 4:30 in the afternoon. I'd just gotten up from a nice, comfortable nap. I went to the kitchen to grab a drink and started to 'pick up' things here and there. The house needed cleaning and I had the energy. I stepped over to the garbage, peered around the corner to the family room and motioned for Lennox to come. I asked her to replace the garbage bag for me as I went to take it out. I lifted the bag out of the can, placed it on the floor to tie it shut.... and it happened.
My twelve year old daughter collapsed to the floor taking me and the garbage down with her. She'd managed to hit her face on the dryer in the process. With a history of Epilepsy in my family (myself and my mother), my immediate reaction was a feeling of terrifying shock. She didn't answer right away and a flood of emotions rushed to the surface of my every membrane. Emotions remnant of my father's passing, just five years ago.
When she came to, I must have been shouting, crying and shaking because her first words were, "Mommy what's wrong? You're scaring me!" She thought I was having a seizure. I told her she passed out and she said the last thing she remembered was sitting on the couch. Both my husband and I knew something was wrong and to the ER we went.
Because this was the first episode, we drove to the closest hospital, even though it's not the one our doctors are. The ER Physician had mentioned seeing a lot of patients that day with syncope (fainting) because of the temperatures (113 that day) and it didn't surprise him. I explained to him my family history of Epilepsy and he simply brushed it off.
After six hours or so, we were discharged, sent home with some referrals and off to bed. Hopefully to sleep off some of the trauma. 12:45 a.m., I woke up with that motherly instinct in the pit of my stomach. There she stood, hauntingly, in the doorway to our bedroom with a blank stare on her face. It was happening again.
This time we drove the 30 minutes to "our" hospital and I requested a friend that I am in school with, whom I know works night shift. I told her the situation and asked her to request some specific testing. EKG's, orthostatic vitals, in addition to normal procedures. I'm working on my Nurse Anesthetist degree and this time I wasn't leaving until I had answers.
I got a short answer for sure - Orthostatic Hypotension. Basically a drop in blood pressure when rising from a sitting and/or supine position. Gravity takes a hold and not enough oxygen gets to the brain leading to fainting. However from other symptoms she'd been having, the doctor stated she could have something called Neurocardiogenic Syncope and wanted us to see a Pediatric Cardiologist.
So, Wednesday we took her to the Heart Center to get a Holter monitor to wear for 48 hours. She'll go for a tilt-table test next week and her annual physical after that. I expect by the end of the month we'll have some kind of plan that results in healing and/or management.
As the week has gone by, I've pondered my faith more inquisitively. We haven't been as active in our faith over the last year as we know we should be. We have chosen to be lazy. We have chosen to be bitter and wear anger on our sleeves. A recent event caused us to make a decision to start attending church again. It was the smartest choice we've made in a long time.
I'm extremely thankful for a loving God who teaches through agency. I'm thankful as a mother, I can choose to let this experience strengthen me. I'm thankful as a student, I can let this experience instruct me. I'm thankful for educated healthcare professionals that I trust to care for my child. I'm blessed beyond measure and believe I've taken too long to realize that.
I encourage you that when hardships draw near that you draw near unto that which brings you strength and resilience. Even if you think you don't deserve it.
I will not tell you, 'It will be okay.' I will only tell you the truth, 'This too shall pass.'
Linking up here.
