Excitement at the AWANA Games

Yesterday was the "AWANA Games." It used to be called the AWANA Olympics, but apparently THE Olympic Committee didn't like AWANA using their name. So, some years back, the name was changed. Our church had not participated for 20 years. Pastor Phil thought it would be fun to do it again, so we did.

Karissa participated with the T&T group from our church and Micah was there with the Sparks for the "Sparks-A-Rama." Matt was at a quiz in South Bend, Indiana. So, I had recruited one of our former quizzers to help me with the "little kids." (Thank you Amanda!) The T&T games started at 9:00. Part way through, Micah wasn't feeling very well. My three older kids have had colds this week and he seemed to be having a little trouble breathing. So, I gave him his inhaler and he seemed to be doing slightly better.

T&T finished and we ate the lunch we had brought. Then it was time for the Sparks at noon. Micah seemed a little under the weather, but said he was feeling okay. During the second or third game, he was moving pretty slowly (not like Micah). A few minutes later, his coach came walking over to me with Micah and he was saying he felt like he was going to throw up. I thought, "Uh oh!" Then, when I looked down at him, I saw his eyes start to roll back. I was holding a sleeping Rachel, but I told another parent who was standing next to me, "We need to get him out of this gym to some fresh air and give him his inhaler." She picked him up and off we went. After he had his inhaler, he laid down for a bit and seemed to be doing better. We both agreed, he shouldn't play any more games. So, we went back in to watch.

As we sat in the gym, he just didn't seem "right." So, I decided that we would just go home. As we went to get our coats, Micah started leaning on me really hard and could barely walk. He also was worried that he would throw up. I found the room where I knew the officials were going between sessions and where I knew I would find some people from our church that were helping with the organization of the day. From there, someone went to get the nurse that was there to hand out band-aids and put ice on bumps and bruises. She was frustrated because she didn't have a stethoscope and couldn't really tell how Micah's breathing was.

Eventually, we made the decision to call the paramedics. Of course, they got there about the time the Sparks were finishing an the next group of T&T kids were arriving for another round of AWANA games. And since the officials were done in the gym, they were headed for their "break room." So, we got moved out to the hallway. By this time, Micah was just sprawled on the nurse, had to be carried to the hallway and looked very pale and weak. Amanda went to get Pastor Phil in case details had to be worked out for someone to help with my kids and van. So, of course, we had a large crowd around us. The paramedics weren't quite sure either just how bad he was doing. No one was comfortable with him "crumpling" to the ground twice and no one wanted him to go into respiratory distress during my 40 minute drive home. They checked his oxygen saturation (it was pretty good-- about 92) and for two doses of albuterol so close together, his pulse wasn't even that high (only about 96). As we waited, he seemed to get better. So, I made the call to drive home and go to the hospital near us if he wasn't getting better. Since Amanda was with me, I felt better about that decision. Here's the kicker: when we got home, Micah runs up the stairs, grabs a ball and starts bouncing it around the living room. "NO SIR MISTER! I do NOT want any more emergencies while Daddy is still gone."

What a day! (Oh and did I mention that Karissa threw up in the car on the way home?)

God gave amazing peace through all of this. I had several people comment to me or someone from my church about how calm I was. At one point, after I couldn't reach Matt on the cell phone and the paramedics were coming and Micah was looking pretty bad, I had about 30 seconds to a minute of panic. But, after asking God for a clear mind and direction, He really gave it. I was so thankful! Pastor Phil, unfortunately, happened to arrive at the scene and ask what was up during my time of panic. So, he had to see the tears in my eyes and the frazzled look on my face. But thankfully God gives grace for all situations when we seek Him.