If you have read the previous mom’s blog, you prob sweet a bit, even the brave dad (me) couldn’t keep my cool after seeing the Owen’s suffering. well, we hope that is once in a life time thing, to give you some relief after reading the mom’s long blog, I’d like you to meet the Owen after his full recovery (luckily, the fever subdued after one day). We didn’t go anywhere fancy, just take the road next to the neighbor. Obviously, he is loving North Carolina already…

I had the biggest scare of my life on Wed…I thought I was going to lose Owen. 

Wed morning, Owen had his 15 months wellness visit and got 3 immunization shots.  He was actually due for 4, and if I wanted to him to get the flu shot as well, it would have been 5.  I couldn’t bear the thought of so much pain in 1 visit, so I asked the doctor to move 2 shots to the next visit, and ended up agreeing to 2 “routine” shots and the flu shot.  I wasn’t sure about the flu shot, but the doctor said it is recommended for children under 3, even if parents have all gotten shots and even if Owen doesn’t go to daycare, so I yielded.  Big mistake on my part.

I went to work in the afternoon, but ask Grandpa and Grandma Yao to key an eye on Owen to make sure he doesn’t run a fever and to call me if something is wrong. I tried calling home several times, but could not get through but was not very worried since I did not receive any calls.  When I came home around 6pm and hugged and kissed Owen as I always do after not seeing him for a few hours, I was alarmed because he felt warm.  I told Sherwood that he feels warm; as usual, Sherwood laughed it off and said I was my usual paranoid self.  Trusting my sense of touch as a Mom, I took Owen upstairs to nurse; also took his temperature while he nursed and sure enough, he was running a mild fever (100.3).  I gave him Tylenol right away.  That was 7pm.  Other than being slightly more lethargic than usual, he was his usual self in the evening and went to bed at around 9:30pm. 

At 11:45pm, as I was getting ready for bed, Owen cried.  I went in to pick him up and was shocked by how hot he felt since Tylenol should’ve still be in effect (4-6 hours).  I gave him another dose and again, took his temperature while he nursed.  Just as I read “102″ on the thermometer, Owen let out a loud cry.  I quickly put him over my shoulder to soothe him, only to realize that his entire body had stiffened up and started jerking involuntarily every few seconds. 

I stormed out of Owen’s door yelling at Sherwood (who was downstairs), telling him that something is terribly wrong with Owen and for him to call our pediatrician right away.  All the commotion woke up Sherwood’s parents; I had hoped that they would be able to provide some guidance as to what was wrong and what to do but they were just as at a loss as to what is happening and what to do as I was.  As Owen’s convulsions continued, with his eyes rolled backward, I was about to go into hysterics. 

Just then, a voice spoke up, “Stop it. Hold yourself together. You can’t start crying or panicking now because Owen needs you. You have to stay calm and remain in control.” Now in hindsight, I know God was speaking TO or THROUGH me.  Either way, He was reminding me that I am responsible for Owen and had better start acting that way. After hearing that voice, it was as if I was split into 2 people: the hysterical Mom and the practical, level-headed Mom all in one.  I alternated from pacing around repeating “Is he going to be ok?! What do we do?!” one moment to giving everyone instructions on what to do the very next moment. 

Regardless of which “Mom” I was, I felt like the very life of me was slipping away, as I watched Owen’s little body (who seemed to have lost consciousness momentarily as his body took over) convulsed over and over again and all I could do was hold him.  What made it most unbearable was the fact that I did not know if Owen would stop breathing or not, and if there was anything that I need to do or not do to prevent that from happening.  After what seems like an eternity (in reality, was 2-3 mins), the convulsion finally stopped and Owen let out a cry (he could not even cry during the seizure).

After we described Owen’s symptoms/behaviors, we were asked to go into ER right away.  Even though the hospital was only 10 mins away, I was scared to death that Owen would slip into unconsciousness as he whimpered and started closing his eyes so I kept on calling his name to keep him awake. 

Owen was still running a fever of 102 when we arrived - after initial diagnosis, the doctor said Owen suffered from febrile seizure (only 3-4% children suffer from this) due to sudden rise in his body temperature.  We were instructed to strip Owen down to his diapers so he can cool off.  After the doctor gave Owen Motrin to reduce the fever, at 4am, his temperature finally came down to normal and we were released. I did not sleep at all when we came home since now I was paranoid and measured Owen every 30 mins to make sure he doesn’t run a fever again.

Thanks to God Owen is ok now but even just remembering this entire incident gives me the chills. In hindsight, I feel horrible for being such a careless Mom - I should have been monitoring Owen’s fever more closely and not allowed his fever to run so high…my poor baby suffered because of my carelessness.  It is a lesson I will never forget and a mistake I can not afford to make ever again. Another thing - I will only permit Owen to get a maximum of 2 shots/visit from now on; his little body can only take so much at a time.

I hope no one else ever have to go through this horrifying experience but this is what I have learned:

1) Dress baby lightly to allow heat to escape
2) Overlap Tylenol and Motrin if you have to to keep the fever down
 Tylenol: every 4 hours
 MOtrin: every 6 hours
3) Do _NOT_ give baby any liquid during seizure: it may get to his lungs
4) If the seizure last more than 5 minutes, call 9-1-1 immediately!
5) Report all seizures to your pediatrician - seizures of any kind should not be taken lightly!

Both Owen and I wish I have a pouch to stick Owen in - that would make us both very happy! Considering we have never been apart for a day since his birth, the only thing we’re missing is the pouch else we’re inseparable just like mommy kangaroos and their joeys!

Nowadays, I can’t bear not seeing for Owen for more than a few hours…I start missing him badly.  Owen’s the same way…it’s not as bad during the day, but whenever he sees me, he latches on to me and won’t let go.  Like today, he kept on coming by the study room and holding out his hands for me to pick him up.  After a few minutes, Grandma or Grandpa Yao would come over to take him away so I can work but Owen would start crying hard.  This happened 4 times, and it saddened me more and more each time. 

I now have to scurry and hide as I move around the house during the day if I am working from home because as soon as he sees me (and the little guy has a sharp sharp vision), he’s crawling like mad towards me and crying at the same time if I am getting away from him.  Then as soon as I pick him, he’s smiling and will wave goodbye at Grandma and Grandpa Yao.  If they step closer to us, he would make a growling sound, but if they step away, he would smile.  Cuttest button in the world!

If when I come home from work or some other place after being out for a little while, Owen gets upset if I don’t go straight to him and pick him up.

Grandma Yao shared a touching incident 2 days ago: she said that Owen was playing in her room and looking at items here and there.  When he came across a picture of Mommy and Daddy, he started kissing it! It melt my heart because it shows that he knows he is so very much loved and loves us oodles as well.

are the ones that I share with Owen.

Owen grabbed a small lollipop yesterday from the Halloween pile and the poor baby was sucking on it with the wrapper still intact.  I had let him taste a lollipop last week and I guessed he remembers and wants it.  I felt sorry for my little angel and reasoned, “It is ok for him to suck on one occasionally.” So I took the wrapper off and handed it to him. 

My sweet considerate son sucked on it briefly, then took it out of his mouth and stuck it in my mouth for me to suck as well (all without any prompting whatsoever!).  A few seconds later, he pulled it out of my mouth as to say, “Ok Mommy, that’s enough.” and stuck it back into his own mouth.  This back and forth continued - with Owen managing the entire process of who sucks when - until we finished the entire lollipop together. 

I never knew lollipops could be this sweet…but I guess when you are sharing it with the love of your life, that shouldn’t be surprising.

Oct 31, I think everyone with children knows what that day is. (Jane said Christian is not supposed to celebrate it, but anyway, we have to make exceptions)
Thanks to Owen, now we are no longer the household that can only provide candies, we are also the consumers!! With Owen being the leverage, a so cute version after we dressed him in the pooh-bear costume, it is not hard at all to get candies.

Leaving auntie staying at home base to serve other children candy, five body guards (two parents, two grandparents, and jane’s cousin) escorted the King Owen to sweep my neighbor-hood. People nowadays are too generous, our little basket became full after we just visited the neighbors in the cul-de-sac, not wanting to waste too many candies since we don’t want to eat that, so we called it a day. Don’t think Owen knows what is the thing people given to him, too him, these are a full basket of “toys” which can kept him busy for a while (Owen likes to dump the candies from the basket and then put them back one by one, what a organized kid!!)