OK, it has only been 2 weeks since Halloween! I'm finally getting around to blogging. Pretty good for me. I don't usually get Christmas cards out until Valentines Day.

Katherine, Sarah & Wonder had a very fun Halloween. Because of her "magic diet", Sarah can't have candy. So, we passed out small toys ahead of time to the houses in our neighborhood. Sarah really enjoyed knocking on doors and saying "Trick or Treat"!

Sarah & Wonder also got to go bowling. The staff was so impressed with how much fun Sarah was having that they gave her a free game. Even after bowling 4 games, she was not ready to go home.

They sure do make bowling balls heavy these days! Wonder got quite a work out holding down the bowling alley floor.

Overdue update and photos.

Sarah and Wonder continue to do well together. Wonder recently helped Sarah during a hospital admission. She was admitted to the hospital for 5 days to receive a therapy called IVIG. Although this therapy acts on the immune system, studies have shown that it can help with refractory seizures too. Wonder stayed by her side the whole time, helping to comfort her when the nurses put in her IV and sleeping by her side.

Wonder is truly a multi-purpose service dog. He even acts as a book stand when needed!
He loves to throw his ball in the bathtub and then jumps in and plays with it. Crazy mut! Check in again soon for Halloween pictures!

So, I've heard rumors that some people are upset about the distinct lack of updates to this blog. All I can say is sorry. As usual, life has been chaotic in our home and there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Earlier this month, Sarah travelled to Chicago with Wonder and her family to see her epileptologist and attend the IDEA League "Improving the Outcome" conference. It was a wonderful experience. Dr. Dravet, pictured above with Sarah and her mom, travelled from France to speak and meet with families in consultation. She is an amazing woman who really cares about the children affected by the syndrome that she described in 1978.

Katherine was thrilled to be able to meet Dr. Dravet. Upon first seeing her, Katherine's eyes got big and she asked me, "She's famous, isn't she?" It was wonderful to see old friends and to meet lots of new families going through the same experiences. There is a lot of exciting research underway and I believe that huge advances are on the horizon for the diagnosis and treatment of Dravet syndrome and other related "channelopathies".





Wonder travelled with us and was absolutely perfect. He was a bit confused about the complete lack of grass in the big city. He absolutely refused to do his business on the concrete and it took about 2 days for us to locate a suitable spot within walking distance from the hotel! The poor dog was walking a bit funny by the time he was able to go!

Wonder is at his new home.

Well, we survived the trip home without incident. I was too exhausted to managed to blog, but now I have had a nice quiet weekend recuperating and am ready to face the world again. Wonder was super on the plane. He seems to be adjusting to his new home without a problem. He is mesmerized by the gerbil and will stand staring into it's cage for hours.
Today Wonder helped us take Katherine to school and then went to meet Sarah's therapists and teachers. Everyone was very impressed with what a calm boy he was. He stayed in his down in the classroom while the kids came to pet him one at a time. He still hasn't alerted to a seizure. Sarah had two this morning. I saved the shirt she was wearing so that we can work more. It's time for Wonder to start earning his keep!

Graduation Day

Well, it was a long day, but we did it. Wonder and I passed our public access test at the mall this morning. Then we all went back to 4 Paws to sign papers and celebrate.

First photo is of the proud graduates. Next is of Sarah, Wonder & I with Karen, the founder and director of 4 Paws. Karen is an amazing woman who has the biggest heart in the world! We are so grateful for all the work she does to help others.
Well, it's time to pack the last few things and head out to the airport.

Last day of training :-(

Well, it's hard to believe, but we are officially done with training. We take our test tomorrow and then, assuming I don't totally blow it, we graduate! Here is a photo of the great master, Jeremy, imparting his wisdom to his disciples.


I somehow managed to get both Sarah and Wonder to look at the camera with Jeremy. He really knows his dogs and I learned a lot. Thanks, Jeremy.

Here's a great one of friends Angela and Alexa doing the wheelchair conga. They were a riot zooming around like a locomotive on hyperdrive.

Last, here are brothers, Treasure & Wonder chilling out together at our Mayniac pre-graduation party. I took plenty of video of the event, but somehow only managed to take photos of the dogs! (When I get home I'll download the video to the computer. I brought the wrong cable, so I can't do it here.) We had a really nice time. Tammy decorated the room with streamers and a poster with photos from training. There was cake and plenty of great snacks. Melissa broke out the champagne and made mimosas for everyone. I have to say what a great group of people the Mayniacs are. All the families got along and contributed to training in so many ways. I know that these are folks I would have liked to get to know and become friends with no matter what circumstances brought us together. Overall, this has been an exceptional experience that I will never forget.

Day 8 of Training.

Here's a photo of yesterday evening's visit with the other "Mayniac" families at the Residence Inn. Today was a nice slow day. Sarah made it through the night with no seizures. We spent the morning at 4 Paws continuing our obedience work. Wonder practiced "nuzzle", where he nuzzles Sarah when she is having a tantrum to redirect her into more acceptable behavior (petting Wonder). At the lunch break Wonder had a bath and then we joined the other families for more work at the mall. I had planned on going back to the RI for more social time, but decided on a nice quiet evening at the hotel instead. Sarah & Wonder have been sleeping very well together, but I'm still adjusting to having the dog with us. Now I wake up when Sarah moves and when Wonder moves! Things will be better at home after we all get used to each other but for now, I'm pretty tired. Wonder didn't complain about the afternoon nap either! It's hard to believe, but tomorrow is our last full day of training. Time is flying by.