Connections

Poor Eva. The EEG tech who walked into work today after a long holiday weekend and had NO IDEA what she was in for at 11:00 am. Sure, when she saw Kellyanne and her beautiful smile and gentle demeanor, she may have thought, just another day at the office. Well, that's where it ended. Eva did a great job hooking 24 electrodes to KA's head - a 2 hour process, whereby Kellyanne kicked and screamed and cried the whole time, well almost the whole time.  Luckily, Michael and I are pretty tough and our philosophy with anything, especially medical procedures, is 'do whatever you need to do to get the job done'!  Don't get me wrong, we aren't heartless.  We told her we loved her and kissed her and hugged her and told her she was doing  great, even though she was being terribly rotten : )  But she really was a champ! Who would honestly want to have 24 red x's marked  and then 24 electrodes gooped and then glued and then air dried on their head? And then to top it off, get wrapped up like a mummy with gauze all over your head and under your chin and ears sticking out and wires wrapped in some sock like contraption as long as Rapunzel's hair and then have those same wires connected to a recorder box and placed in a black tote bag that has to be carried close to you so you don't de-connect!

It was quite a sight, KA wrapped in a blanket, strait-jacket style, sitting on Michael's lap with me sitting on Michael's knees facing him and holding Kellyanne's head still while she cried big juicy tears and drooled all over me, so Eva could do her job. Michael admitted to initially thinking we weren't going to get it done today. I KNEW we would. There was no way we were leaving there without the whole contraption on, up and running. Now it just needs to stay on for 2 days and 2 nights and then we are home free.  I then get the priveledge and honor of de-electroding her on Thursday morning. Sound like fun? If you think so, come on by for the party.

I know we are not the first people to have an ambulatory EEG done on their child. And I thank God everyday that Kellyanne is healthy. I pray for those parents who have sick children, really sick children. KA presents challenges for us, but there are so many other people who have it so much worse. I will try to never lose that perspective. I will try to never stop praying for those children and their parents. It's funny as I write this and I think again, no one is really spared.  Everyone has something that presents a challenge in their lives.  I'm just grateful that our challenge is our sweet Kellyanne. What an opportunity for personal growth - and who couldn't use that? (Honestly, I could use a lot lately......if only I had time)

So as Kellyanne's brainwaves are connected by electrodes to a little recorder box I will try to stay connected to the reality that life's not so bad!