Home from Sleep Study w/Zayben age 4

[3DzMommy]

If you didn't read my previous post my youngest son Zayben age 4 has obstructive sleep apnea. We had to go to a special sleep clinic for infants and children Children's Hospital in Seattle, WA.

Washington State is very large but because Sleep Apnea is so rare in children we only have one place that can handle the special needs, and size of children.

We made it back from Children's Hospital in Seattle/Bellview in one piece. A long drive (3 1/2 hours each way) and very sleepless night at the hospital during the sleep study I'm glad it's over.  

We drove up on the 29th during the day stopping in Tacoma, WA to drop off our middle son Devôn with Grandpa who had driven down from Silverdale to take him for the night. Then the rest of the way up to Seattle/Bellview WA area where they have a very special sleep clinic just for infants and children with Sleep Apnea.

Lance, Zayben and I stopped at a park to play while we waited for check in time. I figured that if we got him tired enough he might go to sleep when they wanted him to not when he was ready. He normally doesn't go to sleep until 3 am or so and is up before 8 am. It didn't really work.

Check in is 7pm they had him hooked up to a couple dozen different wires to check everything form breathing out mouth & nose, pulse, brain activity (8-10 wires all over his head), wires on his legs & arms to see if muscles spasm, chest (fallow heart beat etc.I think), and his back. His head was wrapped in gauze so he wouldn't pull at the wires, tape all over his face to keep everything in place, tubes by his nose, and even some to check for eye muscle movements. I'm not a Dr so I'm guessing or they told me what some of the stuff was for.

Zayben is 4 so obviousely he DID NOT like any of the wires. The told him he had to stay in bed but they let him watch TV until 10pm then things went from bad for him to worse they turned off the TV. After all its a sleep study they need him to sleep. He was not having it. He screamed, cried, and begged to go home like he was dieing. After more then an hour of non-stop crying he fell into a fitful sleep. I slept next to him until 4am when I had to get up. He wake about every 40 min - crying again, or just checking that I hadn't left him, or doing the startle awake thing he does then fall back to sleep. Around 4 am he fell into a little bit deeper sleep but they woke him up at 6 am because check out is 7 am.

We left the hospital and drove up to Edmond's to catch a ferry across to Bainbridge Island. Zayben LOVED the ride of the ferry boat. We got out of the car and went up to observation deck during the crossing. Because we were heading away from Seattle in the morning we had the boat pretty much to ourselves. It's a beautiful ride if anyone ever gets a chance to take the Ferries in the Seattle area DO IT !!!

We spent the 30th with Lance's parents and headed back home in the late afternoon. With potty breaks and stopping for dinner we didn't get home until after 10 pm.

Now we wait 4 - 6 weeks for the results. Wish us luck.