Always the Opposite - EEG day

Magnolia does not sleep. She does not sleep often and she does not sleep well. We have tried many things and are continuing to try a variety of new things but no luck so far. It is strange that she seems to function on such little sleep. Toller has to have at least 10 hours to function. He is actually much better if he gets 11. He has two speeds; running and sound asleep. Not a lot of middle ground. Magnolia is the opposite, usually.

We were suppose to have a follow up EEG after Magnolia's last seizure in January. However she had an ear infection and a nasty cough so we rescheduled. They wanted to sedate her for this EEG, which we had never done before. It did not seem like that big of a deal, but it heightened our concern. The instructions were to put her to bed two hours later than normal and wake her up two hours earlier than normal and keep her awake. Also no food for four hours prior.

The night before:

Brian went to bed, he had to work in the morning. Toller fell asleep on the couch so I sent him to bed (it is spring break for us). Magnolia was happy to be awake for the first hour after her 'normal' bedtime. The next half-hour she started to get sleepy and fussy. She kept looking at me like, 'Hello, you are always wanting me to go to sleep, what's up with you keeping me awake?" The last half-hour was hilarious. She kept trying so hard to fall asleep and I kept waking her up. I sat her in her highchair so I could keep an eye on her while I made her nighttime feeding bag. I turned my back on her for two seconds and this is what she does:

Sound asleep

I put her in bed and she slept better than she had in awhile. She still got up frequently, but it was a little less than normal. Or maybe it was that she was in her bed for four hours less than normal so it seemed like she was up less.

The next morning:

We unplugged her from her night feeding and gave her her medicine. Then we had to keep her awake. I gave her a bath. She feel asleep in it. I tried to sit her in her Bumbo.

She feel asleep in it

 I got out her favorite toys to play with.

She was so tired she could not even hold her head up. 

Toller was in charge of keeping her awake on the drive to the EEG. He was singing and shaking her legs the whole way. When we were called back and they started to get her ready she was getting agitated because she was so tired. They gave her the tiniest dose of sedation drug they could and she zonked out hard! She was perfect during the whole EEG. She started to wake up at the end when they were cleaning her head off. We went to an exam room to wait for the results. Toller kept Magnolia company and she polished off a bottle and a half of formula.

Still glassy eyed from the drugs

Watching T play games

Great news...EEG looked good. No sign of seizure activity. No need to increase the Keppra at this point. We go back in 2 months, unless she seizes before then.

When we got home Magnolia downed another bottle and then took a nice long nap. She was pretty restless and just generally 'off' the rest of the day. It was a rainy gross day here (of course because it is spring break) so we just had a veg day at home. Lots of curling up on the couch watching old movies, reading books and taking naps.  I cannot complain.

How to Make my Sister Laugh

Loving the nice weather

I work, and Toller goes to school, in a town about 20 miles from where we live. People are always asking if I mind the drive every day. I will not lie, when I realize I forgot something at school there are times when I wish I could just run over and pick it up, but I do not because of the drive. However, I actually love the drive to and from school everyday. It gives Toller and me some uninterrupted time.  We talk the whole way. Lately he has been on a "would you rather" kick. That is a fun and sometimes gross way to start my day. When I pick him up from school I get to hear all about his day while it is still fresh in his mind. He recently told me of a paper he wrote for class. He said the assignment was to write a "how-to" report.  I asked what he wrote about and he told me all about it. I told him I could not wait to read it and that I thought it would be a perfect thing to post on the blog. 

Without further ado here is his paper:

How to Make Magnolia Laugh 

by Toller 

2nd Grade 

There are a lot of ways to make my sister laugh.  Here are some. First you put Magnolia on a soft bed. Next you jump on the bed, but do not jump on Magnolia.  She laughs immediately.  Then you can take her by her legs and lift her upside down.  She will laugh hard.  Lastly you can talk in a squeaky voice. Magnolia will laugh or smile. It is fun to make Magnolia laugh!

Toller is right. She laughs immediately.

Laughing so hard

Taking a break

Spring has Sprung

At least for today, it was gorgeous outside. Parent conferences are over. State testing (for me) is over. The days are beginning to be filled with more sunlight. Toller (and Brian as coach) started soccer practice tonight. Spring break is around the corner. Life is good. Hope yours is as well!

Sweet Magnolia

Such a rough life

Pink Skeletons

Magnolia was all smiles tonight

Working so hard trying to stay balanced

Look no hands!

But for only a second

Love the dimple