Not Quite What We Were Hoping...We Think

Shari called this morning. The EEG showed the typical signs of BRE...but only on one side of the brain. She's ordered an MRI to rule out any "structural abnormalities". She suggested we call back in a week to schedule that after preauthorization had been done. I called today. They worked things out for us...again, very accommodating. We will do the MRI Friday at 1:30 pm...then have a baby on Saturday at 7:00 am. I'm thinking that sounds a little restful at this point.

Beautiful Girl

I don't usually put my heart on a shelf for everyone to see. My posts generally deal with the day-to-day going ons of our family. I'm not sure I wanted to share these musings, but I feel compelled to. Maybe because we need your prayers. Maybe because I'm not as confident as I've just sounded here. Maybe just because...

This is what happened Sunday afternoon on a drive through the Uintas near Christmas Meadows.

I think it was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever been through. It was short-lived, but profound, and potentially life-changing. We still don't know yet. We may have known last night, but for a few brief moments, I left my phone in the car and wasn't able to discuss results with Shari, the PA who met with us about Amelia's incident. Part of me is ok with that because it has given me one more night to think that maybe we are just dealing with a benign condition that she will outgrow.

It's funny because I had just been thinking how beautiful Amelia is. She radiates life, enthusiasm, joy for playing, and it all shines through her enormous blue eyes, framed in the most amazing eyelashes you could imagine. {and I am not being exaggerative in that statement...all the nurses and doctors have mentioned her eyelashes} And then she smiles her crooked teeth growing in smile, and it just makes me smile.

Then to see her drooling like an infant, swiping at her face with no control, gnawing on her tongue in an attempt to speak...was such a stark contrast to the thoughts I had been having just days earlier. There was no sparkle, only confusion. There was no smile, only a lopsided, goofy grin. It's no wonder that my mind instantly went to the worst case scenario...brain tumor. Why else would she behave that way? It wasn't like a seizure with shaking and loss of consciousness. She was trying to communicate most of the time, with no success.

It's no wonder Sam was totally freaking out..."There's something wrong with Amelia" over and over again.

It chokes me up again to think of it. Nate stopping the car immediately, Me jumping out of the car, pulling Clay from the car to get to Amelia....to get her standing up, to see if she would respond, to get her talking to us.

And what a tender mercy that the ER Doctor in Ogden would refuse to do tests that he knew would be inconclusive or unnecessary at that point in time. What a tender mercy that the ER Doctor in Ogden had a son with similar symptoms, and who was treated at Primary Children's. What a tender mercy that we were able to have an appointment Monday afternoon, and that they were willing to stay late for an EEG.

An EEG that would hopefully confirm to us that what Amelia has is nothing more serious than Benign Rolandic Epilepsy.

A little outside info....

{"Benign"

	is almost always outgrown and may not require treatment;
	is not due to any underlying structural brain problem;
	may frequently recur; but would only very, very rarely cause any harm; and
	is not detrimental to the child’s intelligence.

“Rolandic” refers to the area of the brain where these seizures typically start: the “rolandic” strip, which is also known as the “motor strip.”

“Epilepsy” simply refers to “recurrent seizures.”}

Benign Rolandic Epilepsy. That's what they seemed to think caused Amelia's little episode. The only inconsistency that they saw was the fact that she had not been sleeping for a long period of time, which is customary with episodes. But they were able to confidently look over that little detail and maintain this as the most likely cause. I prefer not to go with the what-if-its nots because there is a lot of hope in this direction. There is no surgery, chemotherapy, or loss of brain or motor function in a permanent sense. It will not last forever, it may not require treatment, and it may not ever happen again in the day-time.

I will maintain that hope...

And I will let you know when day breaks what I hear from Shari.

Summer Fun

No pictures to post today, {jk...this post was begging for something a little more visual...I only have uploaded pictures through June} but I thought I would give a little update on how our summer is going so far.

We've played t-ball...the girls did. I coached. I'm sure I looked pretty funny out there, and it was not my first choice of things to do while I'm 8 months pregnant, but we ultimately had a really good time. It made me laugh that, except for one talented and interested player, the kids would all ask to be out. Some were a little disappointed when we didn't have enough players and they all had to play the whole game. During one game we tried to play 4 innings because we were moving pretty quickly. That did not really work out very well. We saw improvement, and by the last couple games we didn't have to provide quite as many reminders about where to throw the ball, when to stop playing in the dirt, and how to tag a runner out. It really was fun when all was said and done, but I was pretty happy to be done.

Sam's been pretty busy this summer. He started his summer out at a wrestling camp in Vernal with the high school team. It was not easy for this mom to let him go...but he had a great time and learned lots of valuable skills. He also spent a week at scout camp and will spend the last half of next week on the Trek that our stake is doing. They can take 17 lbs of supplies, and will be walking 8-12 miles each of the three days on the hike, pushing a handcart. I hope that it will be a defining experience for him. Babysitting has been a little of a new adventure for Sam this summer as well. He's enjoyed watching Lindsey's kids a couple times, and he's been very helpful when I have need of a sitter. And of course I have kept him busy mowing the lawn and doing other chores like taking care of animals. (pigs, dogs, and horses)

Clay also started his summer out at a wrestling camp. We took him to Idaho to attend a camp with Wyatt. They had a really good time. Clay loves to spend time with his cousin!

It was definitely a highlight. He had a day camp for scouts, which he enjoyed, and went for a little campout with Nate on the way to get Sam from scout camp. He had a blast at the family reunion too. Otherwise, it is difficult for him to stay focused and productive. He claims that he is very bored. probably.

The girls kind of get the short end of the stick from my perspective. They did the trip to Idaho and the family reunion.

Otherwise, they just enjoy playing with cousins, riding bikes, not cleaning their room, and begging to play with neighbor friends.

I'm trying not to freak out about being ready for another baby in the house. Clothes are out...not washed yet. We're working on finding better sleeping arrangements for Henry and the baby. We took a trailer full of things to DI on Friday. It felt good to clear out a little. But I'm thinking it wasn't quite enough.

Nate's kind of been over many aspects of the trek that they are doing this week. It's kept him busy! Yesterday we spent the entire day doing/supporting his callings. We went from Mirror Lake where we had a Stake hike for the new sports committee that he is over. That was a fun little family outing. When we got home we changed to go to Bear Lake for the rededication of Camp Hunt and the council executive board meeting for our local boy scout council. {Nate's on the executive board} We got home just in time to swing by the stake youth dance to see if they needed any help getting set up. Well, after an hour, there were some music issues. So, long story short, we were there the rest of the night, getting home at 11:30. phew.

We're staying busy:)

My Mia is 7

Amelia Mae. Such a beautiful, delightful, responsible, and often madening child.

"I wanted my hair in ponies today...like this, no like that, you're not doing it right"

{get the idea?}

Going to school has really given her a great deal of confidence, and has really let me see how responsible she can be.

Some favorites:

school subject...math

movie...Aladdin

song...Praise to the Man

food...left-over macaroni & cheese, chicken noodle soup, s'mores

clothes...pink and white striped t-shirt with denim (jeans, capri's or shorts)

to do...play with cousins

place to be...at cousin's house...(better than at home?) oooh, home....I love being at home. No, Disneyland.

restaurant...Olive Garden

best thing to do at Washington DC...swim

favorite thing at home...play outside, ride bike

She checks the school menu regularly and has a ham sandwich cut into triangles if the school lunch doesn't work for her.

She's very helpful if she wants to be. If not, don't even bother.

She is quick to bring me notes and notices from school, and takes her school work seriously.

She has not been quick to read, but is finally trying to read things, and is catching on. She's much more mathematically minded.

She loves to have things to do, especially anything active like swimming, bike riding, or helping her dad with projects.

She won't leave for school without a hug and a "love you mommy...see you at 3:40" and everyday after school she jumps up and runs to me with her arms stretched out..."mommy!"

For her birthday she wanted an umbrella and a hamper. hmmmm. It doesn't rain much here...it's for the sunshine, mom.

I got her a fuzzy blanket too. And some clothes.

She wanted to see a movie with her cousins for her birthday this year, so we did. It was super-fun.

Oh, and the cake. She wanted butterflies with bright colors.

That was fun too. Except that I put the big butterfly on the white cake, and she wanted the big butterfly on the chocolate cake. Can you say meltdown? It didn't really matter too much because by the time it got a booster seat thrown on top of it, and jostled around in the car on the way to uncle Darren's, it was a mess. Good thing I took pictures before we left=)

Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh Bear

The kids have been begging to go to Disneyland forever. I guess that I'll admit I was anxious to go again too. We had such a wonderful trip the last time that we went...

Nate and I decided to go in June when there was a conference that he wanted to attend. When that date turned out to have a conflict with wrestling camp, we decided not to go. We couldn't go any later because of the baby...not to mention not wanting to be there in the hot California summer. Any earlier and we'd have to take the kids out of school for a week...so we did. I'm not sure how, but we managed to keep it a secret until the day we left. It was pretty fun.

4 days at the Park.

(note to self: never go on a Friday! No matter how enticing the parades and fireworks seem to be, they are not worth the crowds)

Overall, we had a great time. It was good to get away from the stresses of life for a few minutes and spend some family time together. But we've got our fix of Disneyland, and have convinced the kids that we can't go again for at least another 3 years.

Here are some favorite pics=)

But, the breakfast is fun with dancing, characters to meet, and the most delish Mickey Mouse waffles. My kids ate cereal..(really?)

We figured out a few systems that worked, and the older boys got to ride their favorites multiple times in a row without too much waiting.

California Screamin' seriously my favorite roller coaster, and what I missed most by being pregnant this time. This would be the 4th ride in a row for them.

Henry like watching them take off. And the water, loves the "wa."

Henry loved the carousels, especially the one with a horse. (You've got to hear him make a horse noise...it's priceless)

OK, so you can't really see the delight in this picture, but I promise. He screamed and cried, and grabbed onto the belt when I tried to take him off.

And knuckles and high fives for all the characters once he warmed up to the idea.

Mia likes the roller coasters, especially the Matterhorn.

Good thing Amelia had the umbrella she got for her birthday. We had a good bit of rain one morning.

Emma didn't seem to like very much, and spent quite a bit of time with me and Henry waiting while the others rode things that she was sure she wouldn't like.

She did like the little roller coaster in Toon Town that lasted like 28 seconds, the characters {we waited 1/2 hour at least to see Tinker Bell...no complaining}

the Winnie the Pooh ride (which we rode 3 times in a row, and maybe a total of 5 times altogether). And the carousel next to California Screamin'...perfect placement of that ride.

Aladdin ranks up there with one of my favorite Disney shows. We saw their production of the show, and it was fabulous!!! Henry was even good during the whole thing. And then, bonus, we got to meet Aladdin and Jasmine. {see how thrilled Amelia is? and Emma told Jasmine she wished that she could pet tigers too}

We wore all the kids out. It was a quiet trip home:)

Gonna Try The Private Thing Again

Hi family and friends.

Just gonna let you know that I will be making the blog private again. While I love sharing, I don't feel I can be quite as personal or candid as I would if I knew exactly who my audience is:) If you want to keep up with us, just drop a note to my email and I'll send you an invite in a couple weeks. If you don't accept the invite within a short period of time, it will not be valid anymore, and you'll need to be invited again.

I'm setting up another blog to be public, so you won't miss out completely if you want to hear about some of our comings and goings. It'll just have a little different slant...

(gonna do this in all my spare time:)

So, for this blog...email me at lesterbunch@gmail.com

for the other...www.crazywith8.blogspot.com

(for grandma...just have mom do what she did last time, and you'll be all set)

Seeking Sunshine

Spring Break...*sigh*

The first couple days were spent nagging, begging, urging, and pleading for my kids to get some work done around the house. not really very fun.

And, the weather was chilly to say the least...wind, snow, rain...

Then we packed up the car and headed to warmer weather and some days of fun with cousins.

{Nate's cousins}

We stayed with his beautiful aunt and her family...3 kids still at home.

It was a lovely change in pace for us. Things just slowed down a bit.

We went to the zoo

had a picnic at the park

went on a date to the temple

dyed easter eggs

played football

had a couple egg hunts

helped with Josh's Eagle Scout Project

flew kites

went for walks

got ready for Easter, laughed at Henry who loved the fish, baked cookies, watched movies {some better than others}, swam, ate In-n-Out...

ok, so that sounds like a lot to do in just 4 days. But it was rejuvenating, refreshing, and inspiring to spend time with such good, kind family. We found all kinds of sunshine:)