Today has been quite the day. Today has been the same as every other day. But at about 5:30, things started to change, fast.
Carlei came to me and said that she was hot and she was lying on the floor. Very strange for an active 2 year old.
I felt her and she was HOT. I took her temperature and it said that it was 102 degrees Fahrenheit. She felt much warmer than that. She I gave her 1 tsp of Advil.
I then sat down to hold her because she wasn't feeling really well. I was on the phone with Justin and Carlei went unresponsive. I hung up with Justin and called 911. She twitched a little but and then started to turn blue, so I started CPR. I was completely hysterical and frantic at this point. She then started to vomit and I rolled her onto her side.
I had Lizzie run and get my good friend and neighbor, Kalli, who is an RN and also 8 months pregnant. When she got there the paramedics were still not there. The operator was asking me for directions to our apartment complex, they didn't know where we lived. Justin comes rushing in the door; he was still at work because he was on call. The the cops and then finally the paramedics came. (Come to find out Justin was going about 70 MPH down the road and the cops followed him to our home. Oh and no he didn't get a speeding ticket.)
The paramedics checked her out. She was stable and they were pretty sure that she had a febrile seizure. We chose to forego the ambulance and to take her the ER ourselves. Kalli took Whitney, Brayden and Lizzie back to her house for me so we could focus on Carlei.
We got the emergency room and they were waiting for us, so they took us right back. Carlei was still in just a diaper. I brought her a light night gown but they wanted her to stay in a diaper so she would cool down faster.
While at the hospital, they took a rectal temperature and checked her oxygen levels. They also gave her some Tylenol since her fever was still at about 103. The doctor came in and told us that she must have some kind of a viral infection and that she why she spiked a fever so quickly. So we needed to control the fever and then she would be fine. We had to give her Tylenol and Motrin every 4 hours even throughout the night.
After the hospital, we stopped at Walgreens and bought some children's Tylenol and Motrin. I also bought a very nice ear thermometer. It costed us quite a bit of money, but if I was able to get an accurate reading earlier then she wont have had a seizure. In my opinion, it was/is worth every penny.
We went and got some ice cream cones since Carlei did so well at the hospital. Once we got home, I threw away our old thermometer.
I took Carlei to see Dr. Packer the next day. He did a CBC test and her count came back at 7000 which is excellent, no sign of a bacterial illness. So it must be a viral. Keep Carlei on the meds as directed by the hospital and she should be fine.
On a more personal note, I was terrified! I has freaking out, crying uncontrollably. Whitney was crying just seeing Carlei in such an unresponsive state. She loves her sister so much. I don't know how we would cope if some worse happens to her again, or anyone else in the family.
I am just so grateful to my Heavenly Father that he was watching over her and protected her from any kind of damage. I am so grateful that her seizure was very, very mild to what it could have been. I am grateful to Kalli who "waddled as fast as she could" to get over to my place to help me and for taking my sister and the other 2 girls. I am grateful for all of the concern and calls that we received from family and friends. I am grateful that Carlei is a strong, healthy 2 year who plays, laughs and gives me so many kisses and hugs each day. I love you, Carlei.
