We got a call yesterday, one of those calls that makes your stomach drop.
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| This little stinker, he should be in ad for Crocs |
Let me back up with the story. (This is more for my recollection when in a few years I can't remember how this all went down). A few weeks ago Colton started doing this weird move where he would drop his chin to his chest and roll his eyes upwards. I didn't like how it looked, unsure if there was something wrong, or if he was a baby learning a new move. We had dinner with our friends the Zimmers, and Candice (a physical therapist who works with kiddos under 3 years old) saw him do a "mini" version of it and said she didn't want to scare me, but those could be seizures.
Stomach dropped in that moment. She said many babies grow out of them on their own, but if he continues, to have the doc check him out. I didn't see him do it again for a few days. Early last week, I saw him do it for the first time since she had mentioned seizures. Which when she mentioned it, it totally made sense to me, they lasted a few seconds, but resembled a small seizure. So as we sat at breakfast and he did it again my stomach dropped.
Now I am the mom that is guilty of not going to the doctor for things. Most times when the kids are sick, I figure let the body do it's thing and whatever it is can run it's course. Not this time around. We went to the doctor that morning (1 week ago).
Our doctor (who I absolutely love) didn't seem that concerned and said if it is seizures, most babies do outgrow them without any long-term negative effects. He did suggest I try a loud, sudden movement right in front of his face to see if I can snap him out of the action (staring off is also another mild form of seizure and he had done that as well, I just assumed that was a baby thing). He did take some blood to check a few levels, but didn't seem too concerned about the seizures.
I was so thankful for that reassurance. The next day he had a couple "episodes" and thankfully he snapped out of them when I did a quick action with a loud noise in front of him. Poor sister got really upset when I did this, she thought I was yelling at him and she started to cry telling me not to yell at her baby brother. Somehow I do tend to stay very calm with the kids (even in their rough moments) that my actions startled her. She sure loves her brother.
I hadn't heard anything from the doctor's office last week, so I assumed everything in his blood was fine. Then yesterday the call came, my stomach dropped before I even answered it.
The nurse told me that Dr. Rahto wanted us to come in as soon as possible, that Colton's thyroid numbers were high. She said it wasn't life threatening (which in actuality scared me more because my mind didn't even go there, I was much lower in my concern until she brought that to mind). We made an appointment for this morning. I hadn't heard of thyroid problems in babies, I had heard about them in women, often during or after pregnancy. I started googling thyroid problems in babies, then Steve suggested I wait and let the doctor share with me the situation and not get worked up over things I am not even sure of. Great advice husband.
Steve and I have been in prayer, shared our situation with family and people we know who are prayer warriors. I had such a peace going into our appointment, knowing that God created Colton's body and he cares about him even more than I do. My God who created the heaven's and the earth is in complete control. I do believe that with all my heart.
After Steve and Dr. Rahto shared their hunting stories and exchanged pictures of deer, we got down to business. Colton's numbers were high, meaning he has a Hypothyroid. Colton got more blood drawn today for some more testing. First the doctor wants to make sure the initial results are accurate, if so, tests will be done to check a number of levels to see what the cause of the results are. Regardless of the reason, if he has hypothyroid he will be treated the same.
Here is the good news/bad news. Good news, this is treatable. Bad news, he will be on medication the rest of his life. That though to me is wonderful news considering the alternative. Doc said that before the medicine was created, babies/kids with this situation had extremely stunted growth (very short) and often were mentally handicapped. With the medication, Colton will live a completely normal life besides the fact that he will take medication every day and will visit the doctor annually to check things.
That is wonderful news to me. Now I don't want to get ahead, because we do need to wait for the results, but I am assuming that the initial results were accurate, and this will be our new normal moving forward. If the results were wrong, then great, no need for a specialist or medication.
I believe God was watching over us with the "false seizures." If we had not gone in for that, we might not have found this out for years, when more damage would have been done. I asked how kids are diagnosed if they don't happen to have blood work done like Colton did. Doc said that it is often later, teenage years, when the problems show themselves (lack of growth and mental retardation) is when the issue is diagnosed. Praise the Lord we have found this early. I am not upset about this situation, yes it is less than ideal, but I am just so grateful, that if is a serious issue, we have caught it before there are any problems, and my son can live a normal life!
So that is what we have going on right now. I look forward to hearing the results (I assume we will get them early next week) so we know how to move forward. We often take health for granted, I am so thankful for my God who watches over us, and the medical community who God has gifted to take care of his children.
I am a blessed woman!
