Tuesday, September 11, 2012

My Kooky Little Sage


At the moment I blog periodically just so that people don't start to wonder if I have ceased to exist. It's a shame because I enjoy blogging, I enjoy writing, but I don't seem to be able to stay on top of much of anything these days. We're coming up on 15 months of not sleeping through a single night. It has depleted me more than I ever could have imagined.

I don't like to come on here and complain. I also really don't like feeling like I'm in my eighties. So I'm afraid you'll have to just deal with a bit of complaining. Waah. There.

Yesterday I picked Noah up from school and he was grinning and bounding around, and once in the car, singing along (in his own special way- it has to be experienced, not explained) with the Lazy Town cd that was playing. He had let me give him a quick squeeze and kiss on the head before going in that morning, as well, so I found myself smiling through the rest of the carpool routine and drive home. This has not been the norm for Noah for some time. For months he has not been quite himself, a bit slower than normal, not eating well, fewer of those days where he is just full of beans and all wound up. His neurologist said he could be having lots of seizure activity that we can't see on the outside, on top of the too-frequent bits we are seeing. Or, she said, or, it could 'just' be general deterioration of his brain due to all the seizure nonsense since they began four and a half years ago.

Oh. Is that all?

We need to have another EEG done to compare to the one he had right after the seizures started to see if, in fact, there is permanent damage being done to his brain. If so, there is not too much to be done, so it's not an emergency type of thing. But it would be helpful to know so that we have a clearer picture of what is happening, or not. I've said it before, but seizures really and truly bite. It's an area doctors really don't know anything about, it's everybody's best guess as to what's going on, which means treatment is throwing darts and hoping one sticks. It's medication roulette, if you will. It's a hoot.

Noah regularly teaches me and reminds me of what is important. A day of feeling pretty good is a big deal, not to be taken for granted. You never know how much time you've got with anyone you love, so even the junky days are a blessing. Noah can go through stretches of absolute misery, pain, and sadness, but the moment he feels pretty good, he is up, smiling, swinging outside, gleefully chucking water at some electronic device, loving life. He doesn't dwell on or relive or complain about those bad days. He is amazing that way.

I'm trying to, in my own way, follow Noah's example, which is why I am upright and tidying up after dinner rather than laying on my soggy lawn with my head through the fence letting loose a scream of utter ballistic exhaustion. Meanwhile, we will get Noah checked out, and hope the news is that he will be as present and communicative as he manages to be right now, for a good long while.

I adore that boy. I am so blessed to be his mom.

8 comments:

Elizabeth Schatz said...

No fun, Wendy! I had no idea about Noah and his seizures. I sure hope the news is good news and that you get a goodnight sleep very soon! It took Lexie nine years to sleep all night, so I know what that can do to a mom. Hugs!

CBG said...

Oh Elizabeth, 9 years. I'd be homocidal! Bless your heart, you ever smiling lady!

Jaime Holst said...

Noah has so much to teach us. What an amazing little man, I feel lucky to know him. And you Wendy are a great mom!

Kristen said...

It's okay to complain. And you're a great writer even when you are.

I must ask - the title?

CBG said...

Thanks Jamie! I wish you could work with him more. :-)

CBG said...

Noah. We just laugh because he is so quirky and nuts and in his own world, yet he gives you these looks and you just know he knows and understands everything, so much better than we do. He is a wise little nutcase that one. I love his guts. :-)

Dave and Jana said...

Oh my Wendy! I love that little boy so much! I think about him ALL the time! I really need to come visit you guys sometime!

CBG said...

Yes, Jana! We would love that. He still refers to us as Miss Jana here and there. Makes me laugh every time.