Dr. Rowe: The Big Fundraising Reveal + A Few Words From Him

High Five

We made our now annual trip to Hopkins this week to see Dr. Rowe. I started out the appointment by revealing the fundraising total to Dr. Rowe.

As always, I had an amazing two hour (!!!) appointment with Dr. Rowe that filled me with great hope. We have new things to try and new choices. I'll do my best to blog soon about the appointment (I know I have been terrible about keeping up with blogging lately!)

I Think He's Happy :)

Thanks to all of you who so generously donated, we raised enough money to fund Dr. Rowe with three research assistants over the summer (or in whatever time period he wants to hire them).

As you can see, he's very happy with the results of the fundraiser!

Time for the Big Reveal!

 I loaded up a little briefcase and told him he might be needing the items inside of it: three clipboards (one for each research assistant he can now hire) and a 'check' with the grand total.

The grand total?

$8,266

Receiving the 'Check'

Here is a little note from Dr. Rowe himself that he wrote to me after the appointment:

It was great to see you yesterday, and to document the progress in the last year. I so appreciate the efforts you have made to support my clinic. This is just fantastic. Among other things, this kind of fund raising helps the Department of Pediatrics know how much the work I do means to others, and keeps the wolves from my door, so to speak. All very important, along with being able to hire some really sharp and creative students each summer. I have loved having them around.

Thank you all again for your amazing support of my journey and of Dr. Rowe and his dedication to patients like myself. 

For anyone who would still like to donate, the fundraising page remains open until the end of the year. Click here to donate.

Blessings,

Emily

Love and Illness: One Year Anniversary

Us: On My Birthday at One of Our Favorite Parks

Happy One Year Anniversary Baby!

It's difficult to believe that one year ago today--on December 8th, 2014--Kiernan and I went on our first date at a cozy local bar with a fireplace and chatted easily for 2 1/2 hours. We had met just a few days earlier on November 30th. For our next date, we went to our favorite Thai and Sushi restaurant in town. 

This evening, we plan to return to our favorite restaurant and possibly, if energy allows, make a trip down memory lane to the cozy little bar and sit by the fireplace and have a drink. 

October 10, 2015

On our one year anniversary we find ourselves in a little different place than we expected to find ourselves. Having been out of the dating scene for so many years, I let my expectations for a perfectly linear relationship get in the way of what blending two adult lives can really look like.

We're not engaged right now. And we're not ready to be. And we're okay with that.

Instead, we found ourselves hitting a low point, facing our biggest challenges yet, and deciding that what is best for us is focusing on the journey that is us; focusing on right now; focusing not on what the future holds, but cherishing our hopes for it; and most of all focusing on making ourselves the best partners we can be for each other.

Life is rarely, if ever, linear. And Kiernan's steadiness is what keeps me together when I freak out. 

We've found this reset to be a period of renewal, and I've found myself falling in love with K all over again.

I have learned so much over this past year with Kiernan. I've learned that, while my illness certainly makes our relationship more difficult, challenging and unique when it comes to everything from sex to children to the activities in which we can engage in and share, it is not ultimately what causes us the most difficulty.

Instead, we struggle just like any couple does--with the same issues I hear all of my friends talk about or read about in articles. How do we be the best partner to each other? How do we communicate well? How do I learn to speak up with my needs?

This realization that, in so many ways, we are just like every other couple navigating a love relationship, helps me to see that love and illness are indeed possible. More than possible. Just a lot harder sometimes.

I find myself at this one year anniversary with Kiernan feeling grateful for the journey--all of it. The ups, the downs and the in-betweens. 

I am grateful to this man who shows me grace, patience, kindness, thoughtfulness, tenderness, humility and a willingness to work hard at making us the best we can be. 

Kiernan is what one calls 'a good person', which is the greatest compliment we can give someone. He is also my favorite funny person. And since sense of humor is a sign of intelligence, we can now declare that Kiernan is way smarter than I am. :) 

Pushing Me in the Rolls

He continues to journey with me through this illness, which has thrown me a major curveball the past six weeks. My illness affects our relationship, but it does not define it. I am chronically ill, but I am not my illness. Kiernan plays the role of caregiver sometimes, but it is not his only role. He continues to teach me what is possible.

Us

I hope that my journey with this man continues for a very, very long time.

Thank you, Kiernan, for the gift of this year together with you.

 I love you very much, babe.

Emily

Monday Dog Blog: Long Walks

Little T and Big G Taking a Break

We were super excited to get out for a nice long walk when we got home from Chicago. Look at all of that green space around here! :)

Mom takes us on walks as often as she can.

On this particular day, we went on a super long walk and we had to take a nice little break on a park bench.

The benches are there for dogs too, right?

Happy Monday! Happy Hanukkah!

Blessings,

Tovah Rose and Gershwin 

Monday Dog Blog: Big Trip to Chicago!

G: Make Sure You Don't Leave Me in Chicago!

Hey everyone! It's Tovah Rose here. I'm tired of Gershwin hogging the keyboard!

We haven't had much time to blog because we have been busy little travelers. And then, we have had to recuperate from all of our big adventures!

A Little Nap Before Hitting the Road to Chicago

We took a BIG trip. All the way to Chicago! We went to visit Mom's side of the family--her brother, niece, nephew and their significant others. We fell in love with all of them and got pretty spoiled!

All Buckled In!

We were both so goo in the car. Gershwin likes to have a couple of 'babies' with him to snuggle, and I love my little pod. 

Snug As A Bug In A Rug!

It's quite cozy!

T: Funky Hair Day

We've never been to a big city before! We weren't too sure about the record snow fall and ice storm that hit while we were in Chicago, all of the city noises, and not having a big yard to run around in, but otherwise, we really had a blast!

Look at ALL of These Pillows in the Hotel!

Mom and Mommy were so proud of how well we just went with the flow. 

We rode in elevators, stayed in a hotel room, navigated funky sets of stairs, peacefully co-exiested with Mommy's cousin's dog, snuggled in bed with Mom and Mommy all night long, and met everyone. 

Time To Head Home!

It was a great adventure and it was great to meet everyone. We decided that we really aren't city dogs, though, and are happy to be home where there are not so many crazy noises and we have our big yard  to enjoy! 

Back Home and Resting with Mommy

As you can imagine, Mommy is very happy that she was able to make this big trip to see her family, but she is also still really wiped out. We've, as always, been taking really good care of her.

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Tovah Rose

More Graduations!

Two Tired Pups! 

I am so proud of my little ones, but right now I'm especially proud of my little guy and Mom, who just completed the beginning agility class at the dog training club we go to for classes. 

At the end of the last agility class, both puppies ended up on my lap. Tovah Rose was pooped from behaving for O (the resident 3 year old 'assistant'), and Gershwin was pooped from running 17 obstacles in a row! Tovah didn't even make a fuss when G jumped on TOP of her to be on my lap. Ha!

Gershwin Never Takes His Eyes Off Of Mom

Gershwin absolutely couldn't wait to go to class and he loved every minute of it. By the end, he couldn't wait to get home though, and collapse in his crate. 

Too Much Energy to Turn Around!

One night we found him with his head towards the back of the crate, as if he had literally fallen down from exhaustion before he could make the turn around in the crate!

Our little guy isn't very fast (we like to call him Speedy and Flash just for fun), but he really enjoys doing agility and we think it's a great way for him to deal with his fearfulness.

If you're viewing this in email, please go to my blog to view the post and video or click HERE to view the video on YouTube.

I got to go to the last class where I saw Gershwin and Mom perform 17 obstacles in a row. Mom says any errors Gershwin made were due to handler errors on her part. :)

I hope you'll take two minutes to watch the YouTube video. It ought to bring you a Monday smile for sure. I can't believe he is able to do that huge A-frame, the chute, the walk and all of the jumps. He may have been the littlest guy in both the foundations and beginner classes, but he was certainly brave!

This little girl is the resident helper who is at all of the classes we've attended. While I was there to watch Gershwin, I brought Tovah Rose along and O wanted to be 'in charge'. Tovah was very patient and O was very happy to hold Tovah's leash and give her treats when she behaved.

Way to Go Gershwin and Mom!

I'm really thankful and proud of Mom for taking Gershwin to two agility classes this year. Physically, it's way too demanding for me. We'd like for Gershwin to be able to continue learning, but we also feel it's important for Tovah Rose to do some learning next.

Yay G!

While Mom and Gershwin went to agility class on Wednesday evenings, the four of us all went to Canine Good Citizen classes on Monday evenings. I knew this fall wasn't the best time to take a class because I wouldn't have a lot of time to practice given all that was going on, but it's always good to be amongst new situations, dogs and people. It's always good to be reminded of the fundamentals. 

Yay TRTT!

We had a FANTASTIC teacher this time around, who did everything she could to accommodate my needs. Last time around, I found myself struggling because the teacher seemed to struggle to work with my disability. But Mel said to me that what matters is making the training and the dog fit into MY life. I really did cry from her kindness.

I really enjoy going to puppy class. We enjoyed the teachers we had this time around, we enjoyed the people and dogs we met, and we enjoy the bonding time with the puppies. It's an all around win for our family.

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Emily

Monday Dog Blog: Sick Mommy + Remodeling

Keeping it Real

Mommy's been having a rough week, so we've been making sure to take good care of her.

She's been suffering from the worst gastroparesis flare she's had in a very, very long time. At first, she thought it was something she ate, dealing with a lot of chaos and stress, or a combination of those things, but it turns out she missed about four days worth of a very important medicine before her lunch and dinner meals. This medicine helps to tell her stomach motility to keep moving.

She learned two very important lessons:

1. Check her pill packs more carefully (she doesn't fill them) 

and

2. She REALLY needs this medication, which is called Domperidone and comes all the way from Canada.

So, Mommy's been really feeling blue about this setback which leaves her with extreme nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea. She also feels terribly weak, fatigued, and unable to do anything. 

She's started to eat some of Mom's famous Jewish Penicillin and a small amount of other foods while making sure to stay hydrated, so we hope that each day she will begin to see improvements. It's just that it takes her body a while to come back from things.

We are more than happy to oblige her need to cuddle and stay in bed all day. We have even, at times, peacefully coexisted on the bed.

Things are pretty crazy at home right now! In addition to trying to do our best to take care of Mommy, the whole house is in major disarray. On Monday and Tuesday, Mommy got new floors put in her bedroom and study. Then, the rooms needed to be painted and touched up. So, all week she has been sleeping in Mom's bed.

On Our Way To Kierny's

On Sunday afternoon, we headed over to Kierny's house with Mommy. As you can see, we wanted to make sure we didn't get separated in the chaos, so we stuck close together on the car ride.

We'll be staying at Kierny's with Mommy until Thursday afternoon while the hardwood floors are refinished. 

Poor Mommy. She was looking forward to this week long stay, but it's so hard for her to be moved around when she is feeling so sick. 

We assure you, though, that we'll continue to do our very best to take care of her!

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

Tovah Rose and Gershwin

Monday Dog Blog: Small Claims Settlement

Snuggle Bug

Hey! 

It's Gershwin here this week, squeezing a blog post in at the midnight hour. It's been busy at our house with remodeling and puppy class, so I haven't had as much time to type!

What I'm here to tell all of you is that, after all that happened with the groomer and our awful ear infections, Mommy and Mom filed with the small claims court.

Tovah Rose and I couldn't blog about it because we didn't want to risk Mommy's chance of getting a settlement. 

I am happy to report that Mommy was able to recoup the vet bills plus the court filing fees. The only money she didn't recoup was the grooming fee. This is a huge financial stress lifted.

Many of you continued to ask how we were all doing and if Mommy and Mom planned to take any action against the groomer. Because the groomer had been alerted to my post on Facebook about the situation, I could no longer elaborate on what the plans were.

We're all very relieved to have this behind us. Mommy was able to settle with the insurance company and avoid having to go to small claims court. 

Mommy still feels guilty about what happened, but she also says she has learned a lot from the experience. 

Please, please, please triple check a recommendation to a new groomer. Document everything. Ask on Facebook for people's experiences. Look on review sites. Talk to the dog people in your town. Specify exactly what you want and do not want done when your puppy is groomed.

We live in a small town and Mommy trusted the recommendation for this groomer (since it came from another groomer). 

Mommy did try to work out an agreement with the groomer, but it wasn't possible. The last thing she wanted to do was take someone to small claims court. But we all knew she was doing the right thing. If you ever find yourself in this type of situation, please stand up for yourself and us puppies! We don't want other dogs to go through what we did.

Thanks for all of your support during this stressful time!

Happy (belated) Monday!

Blessings,

Gershwin and Tovah Rose