More developments, and a big rock wall

Last weekend I jetted off to North Carolina for a weekend away with some girlfriends. We had a big time (perhaps too big of a time was had by some-people-who-shall-remain-nameless-because-it's-their-own-blog-and-they-don't-have-to-tell-if-they-don't-want-to?) in a cabin in the mountains, complete with a hot tub and once alive animals on the wall.

Unfortunately, Saturday morning I got a call from David that Ashley had had another seizure. This one wasn't as bad since she kept breathing and came out of it quicker, but still rather startling, nonetheless. This development moves us from the 'every kid is allowed one' category to the 'my child has a disorder' category. DAMMIT.

At this point, we are waiting to meet with a neurologist and see if they can shed any light on what's going on. It seems so hard to tell yet, since she's only had two and they were different. But, the thing that we DO know, is that we are not all gung-ho to put her on medication like the neurologist that our pediatrician consulted with recommended. Um, NoThanksAtThisTime. (I've read some UGLY stuff about some of the epilepsy medicines.)

For now Miss Ashley Kate is her usual, wonderful, oh so kissable self. And trust me, we're taking full advantage of that kissableness!

Lawd Have Mercy

baby's got her blue jeans on!


How happy we were to unearth these from the box of Ella's old clothes! Ashley Kate will be raised right, I tell you! :)

Easter Dogwood

Since today is Easter, I would be remiss if I didn't post this picture of one of the several dogwoods that we have around the house.

Don't know of the legend of the dogwood and Easter? According to Wiki:

There is a Christian legend of unknown origin that proclaims that the cross used to crucify Jesus was constructed of dogwood. As the story goes, during the time of Jesus, the dogwood was larger and stronger than it is today and was the largest tree in the area of Jerusalem. After his crucifixion, Jesus changed the plant to its current form: he shortened it and twisted its branches to assure an end to its use for the construction of crosses. He also transformed its inflorescence into a representation of the crucifixion itself, with the four white bracts cross-shaped, which represent the four corners of the cross, each bearing a rusty indentation as of a nail and the red stamens of the flower, represents Jesus' crown of thorns, and the clustered red fruit represent his blood.

Every spring when I see the dogwoods blooming, I think of the legend.

Can you hug and kiss your kids too much?

This is Ashley Kate, out in the yard for a little picnic today.

Seriously contemplating eating her shoe.



Forget the shoe, what's over there?



My people! Hey my people!



Did you hear me? I said HEY MY PEOPLE!

I purposefully show you these pictures of Ashley from today, so that when I tell you that we had a major medical scare with her last week, you will know that she is absolutely, 100% FINE.

The bad part:

Last Tuesday night, while David was giving Ashley a bath, she had a seizure (for all intents and purposes). She zoned out, quit breathing and went limp. Not the typical thing that you think of with a seizure, but essentially, that's what it was. She slowly began breathing again after about 30 seconds and then subsequently slowly began regaining focus and coming back 'to herself.' Our story of what happened, especially the part about her stopping breathing, concerned several doctors, so we ended up at a children's hospital in Atlanta.

The good part:

They tested her heart (perfectly perfect) and blood (perfectly lovely) in the E.R. that night, which really was the morning, and she was admitted for more tests. Wednesday she underwent an EEG to test her brain activity (perfectly humming) and a MRI (perfectly clear). Hallelujah!

The doctors tell us that generally kids are allowed one 'free' seizure, as long as these four tests come back normal. If she has another, then we will have to worry and become bosom buddies with a neurologist.

We were able to come home Wednesday night, and after Ashley and I caught up on several missed meals, gallons of beverages and HOURS and HOURS of missed sleep, we are back to our normal routine.

In the mean time, we now have a very, very expensive (but very, very worth it) emergency prescription that would stop a seizure, should it happen again.

This behavior here? Perfectly normal. The girl drinks like a FISH.

(I double dog dare you to click on this picture and gaze into the McClure blue eyes. I DARE YOU. But don't look at her long nails. It's been a long week. Oh, and those dark circles under her eyes? Those are from her sister waking her up during her nap. Don't look at those either.)

Improvisation

What we lack in a clothesline, we make up for in a grapevine frame.

More photographic evidence of Lilly earning her keep

I'm still here, somewhere, doing something. I'm not exactly sure what I've been up to, but I think all know what I haven't been doing!

While I collect myself and whatever else it is that needs collecting, I give you this: A Princess and her trusty Gold-Skirt-Turned-Cape Wearin' Dog.



Ashley's seat is in the office, well, because such is the life of a college student taking classes online that meet when David is at work and if I must keep the child in my sights, a tray full of eats will do it!