Here are some thought provoking words.
Nothing is black and white anymore...and I'm okay with that.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
It's A.....
Dog!
We got this letter tonight addressed to Cole.
Hello Cole, my name is Slugger and I am a member of the S is for Special, Spectacular, Sweet, Sensitive, and Super Litter :0) We are simply the best! That is why there are 4 of us in this class! I have been working my whole life to get ready for you. When I was born it was at 4 Paws to Mom, Molly and Dad Romeo. I knew from day one I was destined to be a service dog and always dreamed I would have my own boy one day. I am not sure how I knew but I did and I bet when I meet you that you will look just like the boys in my dreams! Of course I am a boy dog with the name Slugger. My birthday is easy it is 10 three times! 10-10-2010 How cool is that. I hear you are coming to 4 Paws in just a bit over a week. I CAN'T WAIT!!! We will be best friends, I just know it! So hurry to Ohio my friend! xoxoxo Slugger
Obviously, this picture is from when Slugger was a little younger. We will post a more recent picture as soon as we can! Lots of emotions tonight, our world is changing.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Oh, Murphy and Your Law.....
I escaped to the Fortress of Solitude (aka the movie theater) last night, alone, just because I needed a serious break from reality. Thanks again to my friend Ruth for suggesting that I take a time-out there.
As I was waiting for the previews, I thought of Mr Murphy and his law-anything that can go wrong, will...and then I laughed to myself.
I feel like I should be walking billboard for this adage, lately. Especially in the last 72 hours. If I were Jewish, there would be a lot of 'Oy' scattered throughout this post.
I mentioned that we are in the middle of an intense med wean. We have now had to come to a standstill. The road just does not fork presently in order for us to take another direction, at least until after we get home from Ohio.
Cole is not doing so hot right now, there are still a lot of seizures and 4 out of 5 days at school last week he needed rescue meds and oxygen. His sleep has been wack-a-doo, his appetite so-so. His behavior...still bad. Until further notice, being outside is now off limits. It has been a definite trigger.
We can not go any lower on the Keppra without adding something else, because that will cause him to have more big seizures. Less behavioral issues, but the larger ones and overstimulation problems have definitely increased since the initial wean of this med.
We can't start the Clobazam because 1. It will change his body chemistry and therefore his scent...not good for the dog right now. 2. We always have at least a 2 week adjusting period when starting a new med. Sometimes it's a honeymoon, sometimes it is really bad. Either way, we will not be able to tell what is what when we add a new environment and being really overstimulated at training into this equation. Is it the meds? Is it the temp? Is it? Is it? 3. Some people see a decrease in seizures when they first get their dogs. Not seizure freedom, but a small decrease. We need to know exactly what is going on with his baseline so we can see if he changes. 4. It just plain might not work. It's a lot like two other drugs that we have tried that actually made things worse. So, we just have to hold on to our hats and pack a lot of rescue meds around. Dog-who-is-yet-to-be-identified...we're going to give you lots of practice.
All the while I have had the lovely experience of shuttling back and forth to the dentist and being on antibiotics. I have an infection somewhere in my mouth, hopefully not IN my tooth. I probably need a root canal and a crown, and get this...our insurance is not active until Jan. 1 (that's a fun story)! I have an appointment with an endodontist on Wed to see just how much work needs to be done. Y'all know that mouth pain is no bueno and in turn I'm averaging around 4 to 5 hours combined sleep at night. I might actually be flying to Utah over the weekend so I can get my procedures done first thing on Mon. Turns out, without the help of insurance...it is WAY cheaper out west. Even with the plane ticket. Plus, I trust our guy out there. Here, is uncharted territory. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to throw in a lunch with my besties? Now, I am also having pain on the other side...say what?! More info on that once I see the endo on Wed. Maybe he will know what the heck is going on in there.
I sent a 4 page letter to the Superintendent, Principal and some other important people on Thurs about the dog and the law. Have not heard a word back. We had to call a plumber. The car needed a bunch of work done in order to pass inspection. We had to steam clean our couch. Still working on the oxygen fiasco. Getting closer to a solution. Six months later, but still, progress! :)
Sunday, Cole had a small seizure as he was going down the stairs and it threw off his balance. He tripped and fell down the last two or three. He kept saying his foot hurts, there is a bump on it and he was still limping Monday. Plus, an increase in seizures which means he is either in pain or getting sick. Nothing else had changed. So, we took him in for an x-ray, which was clean. Does this sound familiar? Last July, we let it go and came back 4 days later to find there was a stress fracture, (this is the other foot). With his history of high pain tolerance and a previous break, we were not going to take our chances. SO-Cole is in a splint and has to be non-weight bearing until we can see the pediatric orthopedist on Friday. Cole. Non-weight bearing. This is going to take some creativity.
On a positive note, I have been cooking a lot lately. Unfortunately, it tends to happen when I am really happy or really stressed. Been cranking out some good stuff. I watched a Doris Day movie in my bed. Cole giggled. None of us are IN the hospital. Our couch is clean! I think we have a couple of nurses with good potential (now if we can just fill all of the shifts).
It was so nice to just sit in the dark, with hardly anyone there, and eat my sandwich and cupcake in peace last night. FYI, eating a cupcake in the dark is dangerous. I had crumbs in interesting places :) There was no one to take care of. I was forced to turn off my phone, no waiting for matches, e-mails, calls, or interruptions. Just me, turning my brain off and becoming engrossed with the story. It has been so long since I did something like that. Superman goes to the Fortress of Solitude when he needs to be alone. Me, I'm going to the movies. Murphy can't bug me there, even if it is only for 2 hours.
*I'm so frazzled that I was speaking about yesterday, today, etc...when some of this stuff happened over three days ago. Mercy! I have fixed it.*
As I was waiting for the previews, I thought of Mr Murphy and his law-anything that can go wrong, will...and then I laughed to myself.
I feel like I should be walking billboard for this adage, lately. Especially in the last 72 hours. If I were Jewish, there would be a lot of 'Oy' scattered throughout this post.
I mentioned that we are in the middle of an intense med wean. We have now had to come to a standstill. The road just does not fork presently in order for us to take another direction, at least until after we get home from Ohio.
Cole is not doing so hot right now, there are still a lot of seizures and 4 out of 5 days at school last week he needed rescue meds and oxygen. His sleep has been wack-a-doo, his appetite so-so. His behavior...still bad. Until further notice, being outside is now off limits. It has been a definite trigger.
We can not go any lower on the Keppra without adding something else, because that will cause him to have more big seizures. Less behavioral issues, but the larger ones and overstimulation problems have definitely increased since the initial wean of this med.
We can't start the Clobazam because 1. It will change his body chemistry and therefore his scent...not good for the dog right now. 2. We always have at least a 2 week adjusting period when starting a new med. Sometimes it's a honeymoon, sometimes it is really bad. Either way, we will not be able to tell what is what when we add a new environment and being really overstimulated at training into this equation. Is it the meds? Is it the temp? Is it? Is it? 3. Some people see a decrease in seizures when they first get their dogs. Not seizure freedom, but a small decrease. We need to know exactly what is going on with his baseline so we can see if he changes. 4. It just plain might not work. It's a lot like two other drugs that we have tried that actually made things worse. So, we just have to hold on to our hats and pack a lot of rescue meds around. Dog-who-is-yet-to-be-identified...we're going to give you lots of practice.
All the while I have had the lovely experience of shuttling back and forth to the dentist and being on antibiotics. I have an infection somewhere in my mouth, hopefully not IN my tooth. I probably need a root canal and a crown, and get this...our insurance is not active until Jan. 1 (that's a fun story)! I have an appointment with an endodontist on Wed to see just how much work needs to be done. Y'all know that mouth pain is no bueno and in turn I'm averaging around 4 to 5 hours combined sleep at night. I might actually be flying to Utah over the weekend so I can get my procedures done first thing on Mon. Turns out, without the help of insurance...it is WAY cheaper out west. Even with the plane ticket. Plus, I trust our guy out there. Here, is uncharted territory. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to throw in a lunch with my besties? Now, I am also having pain on the other side...say what?! More info on that once I see the endo on Wed. Maybe he will know what the heck is going on in there.
I sent a 4 page letter to the Superintendent, Principal and some other important people on Thurs about the dog and the law. Have not heard a word back. We had to call a plumber. The car needed a bunch of work done in order to pass inspection. We had to steam clean our couch. Still working on the oxygen fiasco. Getting closer to a solution. Six months later, but still, progress! :)
Sunday, Cole had a small seizure as he was going down the stairs and it threw off his balance. He tripped and fell down the last two or three. He kept saying his foot hurts, there is a bump on it and he was still limping Monday. Plus, an increase in seizures which means he is either in pain or getting sick. Nothing else had changed. So, we took him in for an x-ray, which was clean. Does this sound familiar? Last July, we let it go and came back 4 days later to find there was a stress fracture, (this is the other foot). With his history of high pain tolerance and a previous break, we were not going to take our chances. SO-Cole is in a splint and has to be non-weight bearing until we can see the pediatric orthopedist on Friday. Cole. Non-weight bearing. This is going to take some creativity.
On a positive note, I have been cooking a lot lately. Unfortunately, it tends to happen when I am really happy or really stressed. Been cranking out some good stuff. I watched a Doris Day movie in my bed. Cole giggled. None of us are IN the hospital. Our couch is clean! I think we have a couple of nurses with good potential (now if we can just fill all of the shifts).
It was so nice to just sit in the dark, with hardly anyone there, and eat my sandwich and cupcake in peace last night. FYI, eating a cupcake in the dark is dangerous. I had crumbs in interesting places :) There was no one to take care of. I was forced to turn off my phone, no waiting for matches, e-mails, calls, or interruptions. Just me, turning my brain off and becoming engrossed with the story. It has been so long since I did something like that. Superman goes to the Fortress of Solitude when he needs to be alone. Me, I'm going to the movies. Murphy can't bug me there, even if it is only for 2 hours.
*I'm so frazzled that I was speaking about yesterday, today, etc...when some of this stuff happened over three days ago. Mercy! I have fixed it.*
Monday, October 10, 2011
A Poem
There once was a group, set to come to 4 Paws
Each one was different, unique in their cause.
There are 7 boys, balanced with two sweet girls
the children involved are more precious than pearls.
They call themselves the Houdini Howlers
They wish that they had mind reading powers.
This group with much persistence did beg
They even tried to enlist help from Peg!
A fierce case of "Matchitis" some parents did catch
Eagerly checking their computers for a match.
For over a year some have been waiting for this
Great opportunity they don't want to miss.
Some have empty space in their heart, waiting to be complete
by a new friend, one with four feet.
2 weeks from tomorrow, this group will arrive
Only if the suspense they do survive!
Please, Pink Girlz, give us our match.
Or a scary, frightening plan we might hatch.
Pumpkins could suddenly start to arrive
If we don't hear from you today by FIVE!
______________________________________________________________
Here is our contribution to the begging today. Thanks mom for helping me with the finishing touches!
A little back story-
The Pink Girlz are a secret group of dogs who steal the matches and send them.
Peg is an employee of 4 Paws, who is also a parent of a child with a service dog.
One of the kids in our class, had her previous service dog pass away earlier this year and she misses him very much.
Now to the funny....one particular mom in our group has gotten a little crazy. She has self-diagnosed herself with "Matchitis". Her latest caper is that she bought over 100 pumpkins to be delivered to 4 Paws for Ability and dumped on the lawn tomorrow, UNLESS we get our matches. She is hilarious! I can't wait to meet her in person.
Some people have asked why 4 Paws makes us work so hard for our matches. Truth is, they don't! It is not a requirement. It's just fun and a tradition. Some classes hardly beg at all, and only right before they get close to match time. Our theory-hit 'em hard and hit 'em strong :)
Each one was different, unique in their cause.
There are 7 boys, balanced with two sweet girls
the children involved are more precious than pearls.
They call themselves the Houdini Howlers
They wish that they had mind reading powers.
This group with much persistence did beg
They even tried to enlist help from Peg!
A fierce case of "Matchitis" some parents did catch
Eagerly checking their computers for a match.
For over a year some have been waiting for this
Great opportunity they don't want to miss.
Some have empty space in their heart, waiting to be complete
by a new friend, one with four feet.
2 weeks from tomorrow, this group will arrive
Only if the suspense they do survive!
Please, Pink Girlz, give us our match.
Or a scary, frightening plan we might hatch.
Pumpkins could suddenly start to arrive
If we don't hear from you today by FIVE!
______________________________________________________________
Here is our contribution to the begging today. Thanks mom for helping me with the finishing touches!
A little back story-
The Pink Girlz are a secret group of dogs who steal the matches and send them.
Peg is an employee of 4 Paws, who is also a parent of a child with a service dog.
One of the kids in our class, had her previous service dog pass away earlier this year and she misses him very much.
Now to the funny....one particular mom in our group has gotten a little crazy. She has self-diagnosed herself with "Matchitis". Her latest caper is that she bought over 100 pumpkins to be delivered to 4 Paws for Ability and dumped on the lawn tomorrow, UNLESS we get our matches. She is hilarious! I can't wait to meet her in person.
Some people have asked why 4 Paws makes us work so hard for our matches. Truth is, they don't! It is not a requirement. It's just fun and a tradition. Some classes hardly beg at all, and only right before they get close to match time. Our theory-hit 'em hard and hit 'em strong :)
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Priceless
The latest installment from the Houdini Howlers
We have also contacted an insider to smuggle in a sheet with "October Class Wants Matches" to the 4 Paws office. It was hanging in the trainer's desk area on Friday morning.
We have got to be wearing them down :)
Friday, October 7, 2011
The Begging Continues
The most recent group effort for begging.
How can they resist these cute kids? We have been flooding 4 Paws with pictures, letters and packages. We're hoping to make a record for the earliest matches that have ever been sent out :)
I also sent in a picture of Cole at the window, looking for his new dog. Heartbreaking!
The next installment may, or may not, include a picture of Cole wearing a doggie raincoat.
Stay tuned!
How can they resist these cute kids? We have been flooding 4 Paws with pictures, letters and packages. We're hoping to make a record for the earliest matches that have ever been sent out :)I also sent in a picture of Cole at the window, looking for his new dog. Heartbreaking!
The next installment may, or may not, include a picture of Cole wearing a doggie raincoat.
Stay tuned!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Harvest
It has seemed a little bi-polar around here. It's either going really great, or not-so-much. I wish we could say that we live on nice, even middle ground...but we don't! At least not right now :) All of the random pictures and stories marking the good stuff are landing on the family blog it seems.
In between the tooth infection, impending dog battle and needing new brakes for the car in order to pass inspection, I noticed that fall has really arrived this week. There are hints of red and orange in the trees and the chill has come to the air. We got pumpkins to grace our porch last week and the Autumn decorations I put up in the beginning of September are finally starting to fit in.
I have always lamented the end of summer. For the first time ever though, I am grateful to see it go. I gave myself a quick orange pedicure and pulled out my boots and sweaters, ready to put the last season behind us. This fall will be full of memories that we have not been able to make in years previous. Already we have visited an apple orchard and went to a pumpkin patch. Now we just need a corn maze and a hay ride and I think I will explode from happiness. These are the things that I looked forward to as a child and I am finally getting to share them with Cole. Memories of this time of year are so sweet. Apple cider, Halloween costumes and harvest. Growing up on a farm, the season of harvest was always very prominent in our lives. After working so hard all year cultivating, planting and growing our crops-we finally saw the reward. Plus, there was nothing quite like fresh french fries in the potato cellar. Grab your own potato from the enormous pile and cook it up right there. After all of the hard labor that we have been putting in to Cole's education, I am beginning to see glimpses of the reward. He has already learned things that I could not teach him at home. Overall, even though it seems like the storm is raging, we are finding moments of peace and contentment. We've been planting more than potatoes around here. We're cultivating an environment in which our little boy can grow and flourish. It's hard work, but we hope to see a high yield (to use some farmer lingo).
All pictures taking by our budding photographer, Cole.
In between the tooth infection, impending dog battle and needing new brakes for the car in order to pass inspection, I noticed that fall has really arrived this week. There are hints of red and orange in the trees and the chill has come to the air. We got pumpkins to grace our porch last week and the Autumn decorations I put up in the beginning of September are finally starting to fit in.
I have always lamented the end of summer. For the first time ever though, I am grateful to see it go. I gave myself a quick orange pedicure and pulled out my boots and sweaters, ready to put the last season behind us. This fall will be full of memories that we have not been able to make in years previous. Already we have visited an apple orchard and went to a pumpkin patch. Now we just need a corn maze and a hay ride and I think I will explode from happiness. These are the things that I looked forward to as a child and I am finally getting to share them with Cole. Memories of this time of year are so sweet. Apple cider, Halloween costumes and harvest. Growing up on a farm, the season of harvest was always very prominent in our lives. After working so hard all year cultivating, planting and growing our crops-we finally saw the reward. Plus, there was nothing quite like fresh french fries in the potato cellar. Grab your own potato from the enormous pile and cook it up right there. After all of the hard labor that we have been putting in to Cole's education, I am beginning to see glimpses of the reward. He has already learned things that I could not teach him at home. Overall, even though it seems like the storm is raging, we are finding moments of peace and contentment. We've been planting more than potatoes around here. We're cultivating an environment in which our little boy can grow and flourish. It's hard work, but we hope to see a high yield (to use some farmer lingo).
All pictures taking by our budding photographer, Cole.
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