EEG Party

Dave had an EEG on Thursday.  He's been having "events" that may or may not be seizures.  This poor kid has had enough doctors appointments and pokes and wires to last him two lifetimes, and he's only 4.  An EEG is a sleep deprivation study, so he got a few hours of sleep on Wednesday night and then I had to wake him up and keep him (and me!) awake until his 1PM appointment.  So we had a party.

I started Wednesday night out with a nasty migraine.  I waited until 1-something AM to medicate to hope it would last all day.  Chocolate and excedrin pretty much fix everything.  By 2 something AM I was feeling much, much better, and not as tired as expected.

 Dave was ready to party with a slew of movies, watched back to back.  Madagascar 2, Up, Monsters, some of those repeated again, Elf, on and on for hours and hours.

 Of course what is a party without a little 2:30AM popcorn?

 By 3 and 4 AM we were really wearing out.  Dave and I had a little argument when I told him he needed to stay awake. "No! I go sleep! I need rest a little minute."

 We bartered and he agreed to only stay awake if I would rub his feet for about 15-20 minutes.

 He "need mama hold my hand"

 By 5:30 or 6, we had another burst of energy and Dave and Katie played tug of war.

 Dave lost.

 This is the first she's really ever played with him, she's always been a little afraid.

 And she basically dragged him around the room.

 Spiderman made an appearance around 7

 And he played with the batcave.

 Nothing abnormal with a 7 AM tortilla.

 I was a little relieved when the sun rose- it seemed like we were supposed to actually be awake.

 He was a good sport and stayed in a good mood through most of the day.

 Around 8 we "practiced" getting an EEG and I put stickers all over his head.  He thought it was pretty silly.

 Grandma came over around 8:30

 She needed a pretend EEG too, so she got smiley stickers.

 We busted out the big blocks, which our friend so graciously loaned us.

 He built for a good hour or two.

 This one was his masterpiece--designed by himself. He was so proud.

 Thanks to my mom I was able to get about a half hour of sleep and a shower in, which made all the difference in the rest of my day.  She gave him a bath and afterwards, he tried to set up a little sleeping nest on her.  Dave would tackle her to the floor and then lay on top of her and suck his thumb and pull his ear, which means he is about to fall asleep.  She would try to get him back up and he'd giggle and tackle her all over again.

 It was almost time for the appointment! We had a totally nutritious and balanced lunch of frozen pizza and cheetos.

 Bart came home early from work to be there for the EEG, and was the only way Dave stayed away on the drive down to Lowell.  For the half hour drive, we put on a circus show in the car, were blasting music, singing, dancing, acting like CRAZY people just trying to keep him awake.

I didn't take photos at the EEG.  It was rough on Dave, and a pretty traumatic experience, but he still acted like a champ despite all the tears he cried.  We don't have results yet.  He fell asleep for about 5 minutes during the study,  10 minutes in the car, and then came home and laid down on the couch for all of 3 minutes before.....

 begging Bart..."comeon daaaad...les build sumpin!"

 I am grateful we were able to go and have it checked out.  Had our Dave been born even a dozen years ago instead of 4, it is very likely he wouldn't have made it past a couple months old.  He has beat the odds in so so many ways.  I can't express the joy he brings to my life, each and every day.  Despite any restrictions his body has and continues to give him in this life, he is really a happy boy with so much love to give.  Grateful.  Love him.  But boy am I glad that day is over :)