Michael's musings

Sun, 29 Mar 2009

Febrile Seizures

It's not uncommon in our house for Liam to come running into our room at 2 or 3am, and climb into bed with us. I used to wait for him to go to sleep again, and put him back in his bed, since otherwise, he just kicks and head-butts us all night, and we don't sleep.

Lately he doesn't stay asleep when I return him, or doesn't sleep at all. Meaghan came up with the idea of putting his old crimb mattress under our bed, with sheets on it, and just pulling it out for him when he comes in. Recently, he has a need to hold hands when he goes asleep, so he is even close enough for that.

Yesterday (Saturday), Liam was sick, fevered, and even put himself down for a nap at 2pm. Bedtime was early, and he came into our room.

About 3:30am, after being woken by the cat barf'ing twice in the bathroom, we awoke this morning when Meaghan heard Liam seizing. He was convulsing, teeth going, etc.

The fact of the seizure was startling, but not entirely surprising, although this is his first we've seen. He did spill his juice everywhere on Friday night because what seemed like an arm spasm.

Teeth clenched, shaking, etc. wasn't a grand-mal. I've seen epileptic seizures in adults before (among people who hadn't had them in along time.

What was surprising, and caused us to phone 911 was that he was completely catatonic afterwards... his eyes would be open, with the eyeballs rolled up, or pointing wrong, and he didn't respond at all.

We dialed 911 (emergency), asked for an ambulance, and ambulance dispatch called back 1 minute later asking for details. (I'd never experienced that before, I think. Fortunately, I don't have much experience with 911)

Liam was breathing, although with difficulty as his nose was definitely all stuffed up, and his mouth was not open. I told Meaghan to get dressed, and told her that she was going with him, and I'd come by Vrtucar.

I got dressed after and waited for the ambulance. After they checked him up and hooked up the oxygen, and poked his foot to measure his blood sugar, I went to see about a vrtucar, and found that there wasn't one that was nearby (15 minute walk, and I'd have to swing back to get his car seat), and then I realized that I didn't want to drive. (When your child is ill, driving is really something you shouldn't do. Not having a car is really not that big a deal in a medical emergency. You really don't want to anyway) They ambulance hadn't left, so I went too. They had me ride in the front. We arrived at 4am.

A doctor saw us finally at 8am, and ... no big deal, home by 8:30am.

I was reading online at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/febrile_seizures/detail_febrile_seizures.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Febrile_seizure

and there wasn't anything said about how long it takes a child to return to normal afterwards. I asked the doctor, and she said that up to an hour of being out of it was to be expected. Wow. (Yes, I edited the wikipedia page)

Thu, 04 Oct 2007

Some highlights of pictures from 200

7 http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-09/img_4628-9-0.html http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-09/img_4638-9-0.html

In our house, a lot of trains are built. Many are operated by cookie monster.

The result, however, is usually disaster:

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-09/img_4631-9-0.html

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-08/img_4418-8-0.html

Oh, and Diesel is evil:

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-04/img_3961-4-0.html

I made this:

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-05/img_4044-5-0.html

and again, the next weekend, for the second party:

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-05/img_4094-5-0.html

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-05/img_4049-5-0.html

No trains at all:

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/photos/2007-03/img_3838-3-0.html

Wed, 06 Jun 2007

Daddy went boom on his leg

I got home today around 6:30pm.

Liam ran to the front door to greet me, and then immediately started crying and poking his knee. He talked about a boom on his knee, and while I was wondering he then poked my knee and worried about my boom!

Such a very sensitive person. It's really amazing.

Seems that he is feeling my pain. Only I'm not actually in pain, I just walk very slowly now.

It started on Saturday evening. Four and half hours into my Karate Black Belt test (at http://www.douvris.com/ ) I jump backwards while sparring, and at the time (I think), someone else who is sparring near Ray and I, also jumps back. Only I jump first, and they land on me, and my left knee takes the impact.

My knee cap was on the side of my leg. Sensei Dom put it back, and the pain went away. I tried to finish the test using a spare brace, but that didn't work, so I had to watch for the last 20 minutes. On Sunday morning, I didn't get to take part in the demonstration at all, I had to watch.

I did receive my belt though. I am now officially "Sensei Michael"... If you like, you may approach and receive wisdom.

(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_on_the_Floor, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti_Kwan_Leep )

On Monday, I saw a sports medicine doctor at the Carleton Sports Medicine Clinic. I got an X-ray this morning (along with my teeth cleaning), and saw my physiotherapist. Third injury in the past 8 months... To be fair to Karate, none of the injuries would have needed attention except that I didn't want to stop training, and they prevented me from training.

Thu, 11 Jan 2007

This video is illegal in some places

Today I posted a video on Youtube of my son Liam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNV4AdZx4Qw

(If you want the AVI file, I can make that available. I'm told that there is a way to get a raw stream out of youtube)

Liam is 19 months old, and he has four major passions:

1 Chasing the cats and squealing loudly 2 sitting on my desk, talking on both my phones at the same time (a cisco voip phone, and a polycom PSTN two line phone). I think it would be funny to teach him to pick up random telephones, scream "Sell! Sell! Sell!" into them, and run away.

3 playing with his Thomas the Tank Engine toys (and trucks, and anything that can be pushed around the place)

4 watching Thomas and Bear in the Big Blue House videos

The video I took is illegal in some places.

But, not for the reasons you might think. While, yes, we do have some videos of him swimming in the tub that I won't post, it does seem reasonable that I can take a video of him... watching a video.

You'll notice in this video that Liam is watching TV. On TV, you can even hear Tutter the Mouse talking. There is a splash of sun over the screen.

But, in many places (not Canada, where we have a "Fair Use" regime) this would be considered illegal copying. If Hollywood has it's way, to plug this "analog hole" (me pointing my video camera at my TV set), they would force the makers of all video cameras to look for a watermark in the signal.

If my camera saw the watermark, it would BLANK the input.

So, if I pointed my camera at Hollywood content, even if my son was also in the picture, my camera would blank. Even 50 years (or was it 75? or was it 100?) after the video was produced, and it is supposed to go into public domain, I still would be unable to take a video (or maybe even a picture) of my son watching his favorite show.

(nice firehat too, eh?)

Tue, 05 Sep 2006

Things to do while waiting

This got emailed to me. Google could only find it on one other blog, and I suspect they got it as well.

Might as well give it a home. Why can't stores put nice chairs in various places for husbands to sit on?

January 12, 2006

Re: Mr. Bill McCubbin Multiple Complaints

Dear Mrs. McCubbin,

Over the past six months, your husband, Mr. Bill McCubbin has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this type of behaviour and have considered banning the entire family from shopping in any of our stores. We have documented all incidents on our video surveillance equipment. Three of our assistants are attending counselling from the trouble your husband has caused. All complaints against Mr. McCubbin have been compiled and are listed below.

15 Things Mr. Bill McCubbin has done while his spouse is shopping:

1. June 15 2005 : Took 14 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking. Some religious factions can be extremely upset by this.

2. July 2 2005: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7 2005: Made a trail of Apple juice on the floor through ailse's 2 and 3 leading to the Toilets.

4. July 19 2005: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code 11' in ailse 4..... and watched what happened. (This is a code for a terrorist attack the assistant is still off work with stress)

5. August 4 2005: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a family bag of peanut M&M's in the lay away service till Xmas.

6. September 14 2005: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. September 15 2005: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows and sleeping bags from the bedding department.

8. September 23 2005: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and asks, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

9. October 4 2005: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, and picked his nose then proceeded to eat same. ( We had to replace £3000 worth of equipment after the female guard on duty threw up over it )

10. November 10 2005: While handling guns in the newly opened hunting department, he looked dishevelled and asked the assistant if she knows where the antidepressants are kept

11. December 3 2005: Darted around the store suspiciously whilst loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.

12. December 6 2005: In the auto department, practiced his "Madonna lookalike' bit using different size funnels.

13. December 18 2005: Hid in a XXXL clothing rack and when overweight customers came anywhere near, he yelled "PICK ME FATTY !" "PICK ME!"

14. December 21 2005: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumes the fetal position on the floor and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!" (And; last, but not least!)

15. December 23 2005: Went into a fitting room, shut the door and waited a while; then, yelled, very loudly, "Hey anybody out there, There's no toilet paper in here!

Wed, 24 May 2006

Liam is 1

One year ago, my son Liam Ronald Morris Richardson was born.

http://www.sandelman.ca/lrmr/

What an amazing year it is has been.