SuperGus

Yesterday at 10 in the morning, Gus had his first (and LAST, do you hear that Gus?) ambulance ride. He was enjoying his first time in a staff meeting with mama when he became limp, blue, and lost consciousness. In a room full of smart professionals, all the right things happened very quickly, including rescue breaths, a prompt summoning of the paramedics, and the instant appearance of a nursing faculty member who quickly assessed that Gus was having a seizure.

After spending the day in the hospital, this very terrified family learned that Gus had suffered a Febrile Seizure. Over that night and the next day, we also learned that the quick-rising fever that triggered the Febrile Seizure was caused by the childhood illness Roseola. We also found out that Gus' seizure was, more specifically, an Atypical Febrile Seizure, which simply means that Gus' seizure was not a perfectly classic presentation and so we must go to Children's Hospital of Seattle and have an EEG.

Febrile Seizures are benign (though absolutely horrifying) and do not cause brain damage. Gus has a 30% chance of suffering another seizure the next time he has a fever, and children with this tendency grow out of them by early childhood (around 3). His chances that he has an underlying seizure disorder that will persist through adulthood are increased by about a percentage point over the rest of the general population (so very low). The EEG will just make sure that the atypical presentation of the seizure was just that--not quite textbook--and reassure us that he is what we already know--perfect.

We owe a great deal to our smart and loving friends and colleagues who jumped into action and offered help and food over these last crazy two days. We want to reassure our friends and family that Gus is fine, feeling great, actually, and there is no reason to worry about our brave and happy kid. If you're learning about our adventure through this post, please know that we haven't had easy access to communication methods or time, but please call or email us with any questions.

Oh, and upon the arrival of his 13th birthday, Gus is immediately grounded for two weeks. You saw it in writing here.

Happy Father's Day!

This dad is a 'get down on the floor dad;' a dad who instead of looking for who to hand the baby off to, won't put him down. This is the dad who has been there at every park outing, and makes snack, and reads and reads and reads every story a million times so that when his babe is crying in the carseat, this dad can recite every one from memory. This dad is the dad that takes his son on 'just the two of us' outings--for fun, to show his kid the world, to give mama a break just to read and drink tea. This dad is the snuggley dad, the funny dad, the dad who will carry his cranky son all the way through the grocery store just because that baby doesn't want to sit in the shopping cart seat. This is the dad that doesn't care what anyone thinks but his babe, and that baby loves his daddy's singing and dancing no matter where a performance is required for entertainment. This dad has been here, from the beginning, was the very first to hold his son when he was born, has walked the floors with him so many nights, and has passed on to his sensitive and sweet son his intelligence, sense of humor, and general lovingkindness, and will, no doubt, pass on to his grandchildren another wonderful father--another wonderful father being made right now, in his dad's arms. This is the dad who when asked what he wanted for father's day said "something Gus and I can do together." And that's them, a boy and his father and a wagon they both love, roaming all over the neighborhood all weekend long.
Love,
Mama

Fourteen Months! (two days late, but Gus has been busy)

Gus Loves:
Nursing
Dancing
Music of all kinds (and can ask for the iPod, and can work it)
Ponytails
Tomatoes
Guacamole
Salmon
Louise the dog (and he loves his chore with Daddy--walking the dog--and will ask to do it)
Fountains
The beach--and really all hiking destinations
Being tall enough and weighing enough to get the carseat turned around (though it's still not his best friend)
Drums
Talking, humming, "singing", making up new signs for things, making funny/animal noises
Buttons (the kind on clothing--he calls them "butts")
Gus Does Not Love:
Getting up early
Unreasonable limits set by his parents
Gus Can:
Tell hilarious baby jokes (like hold the cell phone up to his ear and say 'blah, blah, blah. . . Dada!')
Drink through a straw
WALK!
Throw a ball

May Visitors! Matt, Jessamyn, and Maud explore Seattle with Gus

In town for part of Memorial Day weekend, our dear friends braved hotels, large congregations of the public, and restaurants with two little kids who helped out by avoiding all naps.

Felt storyboard=little break for parents

Gus introduces Maud to Aquarium

Seattle Market