Prayers....

Things are looking good still. No more seizures and Hannah seems to be feeling better than she has in quite some time. Let's pray that continues.

I wish y'all could hear her night time prayers. It's the cutest thing. She's heard me praying specifically and now she's doing it. She says, "Lord, please keep healing Hannah's body(she talks about herself in third person still). thank you it. Heal her brain and it's 'mical(chemical) and 'lect'ical(electrical) system. Help her 'nition(cognition) to keep improve. Thank you for healing her body. We love you Lord. Amen" She leaves words out here and there but the gest of her prayer is that she thanks God for his healing and asks him to continue it. Then she asks God specifically to touch her brain and it's chemical and electrical system and her cognition to keep improving. It's just darling to hear.

Please keep her in your prayers

Today was good....

I took Hannah to the doctor this morning and she checked out o.k. She gave me a name to a geneticist and I made appointments with them and an allergist/immunologist today. Those appointments are in October. Dr. Beyer asked Hannah if she wanted to go to school and Hannah said, "I like school" so she went on to school and from what I was told she had a good day.

David and I attended Central Baptist last night with Hannah. They took up a special offering for her to help with the travel expenses we'll have going to Ohio in March. It's been incredible how these people have reached out to us. They've really helped take a load off us with the help they've given. These people are amazing. I'm so thankful that we've gotten the opportunity to get to know them.

People are reaching out to help in ways I never imagined. It seems like every week someone emails me or drops by with a helping hand. They will never know what they do for our spirits. It is so hard some days to just keep your chin up. Yesterday there was a hymn sung about heaven and it's an upbeat, uplifting song. I stood with tears in my eyes. I don't want to lose my girl, and for a moment I almost panicked as I tried to think of someone on the other side that would care for her if God were to take her. I know that's dark, but you can't help but think about things like that when you've been faced with the situations we have lately. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it. You hold on and you present a tough front, but out of the blue when your guard is down, things like that sneak in. My panic eased though as I allowed myself to think about the fact that there will be no more pain, sickness, fear, or sorrow there. I don't want to lose my girl. I don't want to lose any of my loved ones, but I don't have to fear for them. Their Father will be there and He loves them more than I ever could. Sometimes you just have to let yourself think through these things so you can remind yourself of the awesome truth that everything is going to be o.k. No matter what.

Sorry for the ramble. LOL! Sometimes I just let my fingers go and Lord only knows what they type. Please continue to pray for Hannah.

Unquenchable Spirit....

Last night as David and I was laying in bed with Hannah between us, we couldn't help but realize her unquenchable spirit. It's really quite amazing. Hannah has not been well since May but you'd never know it. Just Friday she had a terrible day. Is she down or depressed? Nope. She's grinning from ear to ear and making us all laugh. This little girl is amazing. I have to admit to you that I'm afraid I do not posess the same unquenchable spirit. I do get down and I do feel defeated. I get depressed even. There just seems to be a peace Hannah has that I do not. I want it too. These are just my thoughts this morning.

Recovering and improving...

Hannah slept well last night. I gave her the clonazapam when I gave her the zonegran and it made her a little loopy but it allowed her to rest well once she relaxed enough. Today she's ran a little fever and we've continued the tylenol/ibuprophen regiment. We see her pediatrician on Monday. So far no more seizures. PTL! I'm going to call an immunologist on Monday. Please keep her in your prayers.

ER Visit

Well, we had more than one seizure and the second one lasted going on 4 minutes when I intervened with diastat. We took her to the ER and her temperature was 102.7 when we got there. They took blood, urine, and an chest x-ray. Hannah's sick. Again. Her white blood count was 23,000. The only thing they found was a little redness on one of her ears. The doctor ordered a round of rocephin and then gave us a prescription to get filled to continue on antibiotics at home.

The neuro called me when we got home and he is upping her lamictal to 50 mg's morning and 75 mg's night. He also called in a drug called clonazapam that he wants me to give her every 6 hours while she is sick in hopes that it will keep a status at bay.

I'm worried. As usual, right? My worry right now is that I feel like I'm drugging her. I'm giving her tylenol every four hours, and ibuprophen every 6 hours, clonazapam every 6 hours, 75 mg's of lamictal at night, and 300 mg's of zonegran at night. Plus an antibiotic. It's incredible.

Hannah has been sick since May. She never gets more than a day or two where she doesn't have some kind of illness going on. I'm taking her to her pediatrician on Monday and I'm also calling a immunologist/allergist in Benbrook on Monday. We are going to get to the bottom of this. Good or bad news!

Right now she is awake and doing o.k. She's laying up in the bed watching Strawberry Shortcake with David. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. Me too, please. I'm weary.

Seizure day...

Hannah is recovering from a seizure this morning. She was unable to go to school She woke me up at 3:30 just really restless. I thought she might have a stomach ache. Around 7 she was running a fever and I gave her ibuprophen and by 8 she was having a tonic clonic. She came out of it alright. It lasted about 2 1/2 minutes and it was only one. I was sitting there praying the entire time...."just be one....just be one....just be one..." I didn't have to give her emergency med either. I've got a call into the neuro. He's probably going to have me increase her lamictal.

Things have not been too good around here lately. Really stressful. Melt downs have increased, but if a seizure has been brewing then that explains them because she's sometimes really cranky a couple of days before she has one. On Tuesday she basically cried most of the day.

Yesterday I had lunch with her at school. I was a little leary of it because routine is really important to Hannah. Kids with autism actually feel physical pain when their routine is interupted. So, I debated most of the morning and decided to just try it. I think it went alright. She did think she was supposed to come home with me but seemed to adjust when I explained I'd be back later and for her to go with her teachers. It felt good to do something "normal" with her. Something I did often with my boys.

I'll update as needed. Please pray she gets over this virus or whatever it is.

Service Dog calls 911

Rover, call me an ambulance — dog calls 911
9/14/2008, 6:38 p.m. EDT
By AMANDA LEE MYERS The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — "Man's best friend" doesn't go far enough for Buddy, a German shepherd who remembered his Michigan training and saved his owner's life by calling 911 when the man had a seizure.

And it's not the first time Buddy has been there for owner Joe Stalnaker, a police officer said Sunday.

On a recording of the 911 call Wednesday, Buddy is heard whimpering and barking after the dispatcher answers and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.....

Read the rest of the story here....

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-57/1221421448252630.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

Not a good Day...

Hannah has had trouble going to sleep the last couple of nights. Today she's had melt down after melt down. I don't think she did at school, but she cried all morning at home and started in the van after school when Zach tried to play with her some, and hasn't stopped. I cannot understand what she is saying to me. Something about "happened". It's times like these when I feel completely helpless. If she could at least tell me she was mad, hurting, etc. I think it would help. At least I'd know how to respond. This is when autism really sucks.

Aren't they having Fun!?!?

Can you tell that those are Hannah's favorite PJ's? As soon as she walks in the door she thinks she's supposed to change into her PJ's. Yep, she gets that from her mother! I love PJ's too! Hannah LOVES Jeida. She's so excited to see her and really enjoys playing with her. Jeida is so patient with Hannah. I can already see a difference in the way Hannah interacts. She really studies Jeida when she plays and tries to mimic her. That's exactly what we need! PTL! The pictures are blurry. I'm not sure what happened but when I tried to fix them it just made it worse so we got what we got! LOL!

September 4 paws class gets their dogs...

Hi all! I got permission to post some of the letters and pictures that the September class got telling them who their dog is. A few weeks before we go to training is when we find out which dog is ours. They do not tell you until then because they do not want something to happen that would change the dog you are getting, and you've already attached yourself to the dog. They send an email from the dog to your child telling them about themselves and attach a picture. Here are some of the ones the September class got.

Hello!

My name is Aljax and my best friend in the whole world was Karen but now it is you though I will always love Karen. She saved me when I was a puppy. I lived for a while with a boy named Matthew but he always wanted a Chihuahua size dog and me, well I am not even close to that size LOL Actually I am quite large! I hope that is okay with you. I am the cutes dog ever! At least that is what Karen tells me every day. I am a master tracker with loads of experience! I can't wait to meet you. I am just so excited. It will be so good to be with a boy again and I know you will love me even though I am big, right? Can I sleep with you and be your best friend? Hurry and get here my best buddy Tristan, I am waiting for you! xoxo Ajax

Hello Buddy! My name is Barley. I was named after a very special golden retriever named Barley. Karen and Jeremy rescued him from the shelter and he was the coolest dog. Unfortunately he died 2 days later from a deadly virus they had at the shelter. Everyone at 4 paws was devastated. He was such a cool dude and I am honored to carry on his name and walk in his footsteps. My Mom is a Golden Retriever named Opal. I also live to honor her. She died of Cancer last year so I guess I have a couple of angels watching out for me and I plan to make them proud by being the best service dog to ever walk the earth. I feel like I know you already because they told me so much about you. I am so excited you are coming to meet me! I can't wait to go home with you and snuggle with you in your bed at night. Do you like to play ball and do you like hot dogs? Do you like to smell grass and flowers and things? I bet there are lots of things we can do together! Now I am really excited. I will try not to smell all the blades of grass in the playground so we can smell them together I mean just think how much fun that would be :0) XOXO Barley

Hello Katie

I have been so worried about you! Everyone says you are back home now and all is safe and sound that is so good to hear! I am sorry you have so much clean up to do.If I was there I could help you pick up all the sticks in the yard. I love to do that. I have been working very hard learning your scent from the shirts you wear so I will know you as soon as I meet you! I want to do my very best. I have worked so very hard for this moment. My name is Canyon and my sister Sequoia and brother Yosemite are also in the class as well as our half brother Barley. Our Mom is Allie and our Dad is Hobo and we were born at 4 Paws. I have been working very hard since the day I was born for this day. I am a boy dog but that is okay.If you want to play dress up or have tea parties I will be happy to play with you! Hurry up andcome up here to 4 Paws where it is DRY :0) BTW I hope no more of those big storms ever come our way once I move down cuz I will just have to scare them off! Hurry and get here OKAY????????????????????? XOXO Canyon

HELLO BEST BUDDY! OR IS THAT BFF? I know that is the modern way though I never text myself. My name is Sequoia and I am a member of the National Parks Gang. My Mom is Allie and my Dad is Hobo. I have 2 brothers and a half brother in this class, Yosemite and Canyon and then Barley who's Mom is Opal. Apparently my Dad is quite the "MAN" here at 4 Paws because I have a VERY large family! I hope you do not mind that I am a girl. really I am not a girly girl like Piper, I am more of a tomboy like Gracie. I mean you do not have to dress me in Pink or any thing like that. You can put me in Green Camo and we do not have to play dress up unless we dress like cowboys and Indians or something like that. I love the tracking game best of all. I hope you like it too. I bet you will because there is always a really cool prize at the end of the track! Hurry up and get to Ohio so I can teach you how to play! xoxoxo Sequoia

Hello! My name is Yosemite and I am a member of the national Parks Gang. My brother Canyon and sister Sequoia and also our half brother barley are also in this class. Us Goldendoodles rule! We are the stars of the class. Our Mom is Allie and our Dad is Hobo, Barley has another Mom named Opal. We were all born here at 4 Paws. We are really cool dogs and are the smartest in the class! We are the best trackers also but be careful what you say to the others as we do not want to hurt their feelings. Do you like to play ball? Do you like the tracking game? How about hot dogs? Do you like hot dogs? Right now I get a cool treat when I track but when you get here I will be tracking the best reward ever..... YOU! So hurry up now and head on over here because I am waiting to see you! xoxoxoxoxo Yosemite (YO SEM IT EE) like the famous park. But you can call me MITE short for mighty dog!

Hey Erik, My name is Blue and I am a boy, Black Lab. My real name is Blue's Clue's but they all call me Blue. I am a fun dog and can't wait to play with you. I hope you like to play ball and play the tracking game. Do you like to eat? I love to eat. I love hot dogs especially and Peanutbutter in my Kong. I love Tennis balls too! I want to go everywhere you go and do everything you do and play and play and play! Can I sleep in your room? Will you really, really be my best friend? I never had a best friend before and I have wanted one for so very long. Now it is almost the day you will come and meet me! Not long now. I am so very excited! Hurry up my best buddy ever and get here so we can start having fun! xoxoxoxoxo Blue

My name is Ginny and I am a Yellow Lab. I came to 4 Paws with my kids. They gave us all Harry Potter names. My full name is Ginny Weasley. Two of my kids are in the class too. I have to brag. they are so smart and they get that from me! Potter and Sirius are in the class. We came from a shelter in Kentucky, very nice people from Wayne County found us and told us they take all their special dogs to 4 Paws and that we were certainly special too! I can't wait to meet you. I really don;t mind boys, in fact almost all my kids are boys but I always dreamed my partner would be a little girl! YEAH I just knew it was meant to be because I am just such the little girl's dog! I hope that you are coming to 4 Paws really fast! How long is a week? I think I heard we have to sleep 10 more nights and then we will wake up and find you there! How cool is that! Hurry up my little best buddy, best girlfriend, special partner and keeper of all girls secrets! See ya soon! xoxoxoxoxo Ginny W.

I feel like I have been waiting on you forever. I think you are the most special boy ever for loving me just the way I am. I was so sad and thought no one would ever want me, not that I feel there is anything wrong with me. I can track better than all of them! But you know they gave me that label, sigh. I am so glad you do not care about "labels". I have been working extra hard because I want to be the best service dog ever so you will be so happy with me! I love to play ball and want to sleep in your room. I still remember sitting in the shelter asa puppy praying for a boy to love biut all the boys kept coming and taking other puppies. Karen says that is because I was meant for you and I think she is right! So hurry, hurry, hurry and get here to see me, Okay? xoxoxoxoxo Hans PS Didn't I grow into a handsome dude! Now don't listen to Karen who lectures my ears every day showing them pictures of GSDs and telling them to stand up. I think they give me character!

More glasses pictures

It looks like I'll have to go to the specialty store in Fort Worth and get Hananh some glasses. These just aren't very good ones. They are easily warped and really, they're too big. That's what I get for trying to save some money and actually use our insurance. (((sigh)))

New Glasses

Hannah got her glasses today. She hasn't been too thrilled about it so far. The first picture she's striking that pose that was cute but is starting to get annoying! LOL! I'm not sure why she started that. The second one I got while she wasn't looking and the third one I caught her with a McNugget in her mouth. LOL!

Play Date Day...

Here's a couple of pictures of Hannah and Jeida today. See the broke blinds in the back of one of the pictures....those are courtesy of our 12 yr old cat! LOL! Not! I think these two had a good time today. I know Hannah did. You be the judge! Where she got the idea you are supposed to make that kind of face every time a camera flashes I'll never know. LOL! It's kind of cute though, don't you think?

Fund Raiser....

Wow! That's about the only word that even remotely comes close to describing the experience we had on Saturday. It was one of the most amazing, touching, and inspiring days of our lives. These people were incredible to us. The amount that was raised was incredible. I'm talking unreal. I don't feel comfortable disclosing that amount but I will say that it will nearly pay for our 12 day hotel stay while we're at training.

The people at Central Baptist were very generous. The donations covered the entire back porch. Rachael and her team worked hard and tiringly to put everything out the night before. I came by to see if there was anything I could do and was unprepared for what I saw. I hadn't dreamed there'd be that much stuff donated. I cried on the way home that night. That wouldn't be the last time I cried either. We all got up Saturday morning and got to the sale about 8:30. It started at 8:00. They had already made $500 when we got there. People were so generous in their donations for the things they were purchasing.

Hannah was enjoying the playground with her brothers. I looked over and she was in a swing. I was so excited. She had never stood the swing before. It was a sensory issue and to see her swinging and enjoying it was a HUGE accomplishment. My heart was singing. She got to stay for a couple hours before she had to go home. I can tell you though that the two hours she was there she was having the time of her life.

I met several of the church people. I'm telling you, these people are amazing. Ruth Ann, her children, and husband were at the sale all day helping. The pastor's wife(sorry, lost her name) was there all day working with their daughter. Pastor Manning stopped by and we met him. Of course Rachael and her crew were there working. There were so many people. I wish I could remember everyone.

The whole day was incredible. Have I said that before? I have always been on the other side of this thing. You know, the side that does the work, the side that is doing the helping. It's a side I've always loved to be on. I loved the feeling I got when I was "giving". It can almost be addicting if you let it. To be on the receiving side was a little uncomfortable I have to admit. It's hard to NEED help. It really is. I don't know that it's pride. Maybe it is. I can tell you though, that I am so glad that I've had this experience. The feeling you get when you realize you're not alone. This burden is not one you have to bare all on your own is wonderful. It has brought a sense of peace to my turmoiled mind. I never want to forget what these people did for my precious little girl! NEVER.

Pictures from Sale Today

These are my guys! Aren't they handsome!?!?! Kyle and Zachary

Hannah enjoying the slide on the church playground

Hannah posing before heading down the slide. Note the white vest. That's her cooling vest. It keeps her core body temperature at a safe level so she doesn't overheat.

This is all the garage sale stuff. It filled the entire back porch area which is about the size of a gymnasium.

A closer look at some of the stuff and workers.

This is Rachael and one of her daughters. I think it's KC. I'll find out for sure and make a correction if I'm wrong. LOL! All three of her girls were there helping at some time during the sale. They are awesome girls. She should be one proud momma!

This is Ruth Ann. She is one of the leaders in with Rachael over Girls in Action at

Central Baptist Chruch. Her daughter, son and husband were at the sale too. I should have done a better job of picture taking. I'm regretting not having picutres of everyone. These people are amazing.

This is my man, David! Hot and tired, but still looking good!

This is a picture of the sale; shoppers, stuff, and workers. The lady in the brown shirt and pony tail is the pastor's wife. I forgot her name.(my memory is getting BAD lately) Anyway, she was really nice and down to earth. I wish I had gotten a better picture of her and her family. They were great! Her daughter was at the sale and her husband and son stopped in as well.

Here's Hannah striking her famous pose!

This is Hannah swinging. I have to say that this day was full of precious times for us. Hannah had never willing gotten in a swing. It's a sensory issue. She just couldn't tolerate the swinging motion. Not today! We had to pry her out of it. Her bubba Kyle had the honors of easing her into it and then the duty of giving her the pushes. LOL! He can get her to do alot of things none of the others of us can. I don't know what we'll do when he leaves for college in two years!
Still Swinging.

Still Swinging. Zach is looking on.

Still Swinging

Swinging. Zach and Kyle are hanging out to make sure all is well.

Hannah in the Paper/You'll have to click on it to read it...

Meet Jeida

This is Hannah's newest little friend, Jeida. I've attached a couple of pictures. Ignore the mess of a table behind the pictures. I've been getting things ready to take to Hannah's fund raiser Saturday and well, my house is a disaster! (stop laughing....o.k.....it's more of a disaster than it normally is) Anyway, Jeida is very kind to Hannah and tries to help her play. Believe me that's a frustrating job at times! LOL! Anyway, Hannah loves Jeida and was really excited when Jeida came home with her today. They've had ice cream, chicken nuggets, watched videos, played with games, and play doh. I'm so excited that Hannah has this opportunity. It's been tough to work out play arrangements that work for everyone. That, and it's just tough to find kids that will tolerate another child that isn't just like they are. Kind of sounds like our adult population, huh? Anyway, we wanted to share this day with everyone because it's VERY special to us. This is the FIRST time anyone has ever came and played with Hannah, EVER.