Teams Updates

This picture is of Phillip on his first day of first grade. It may look like a picture that is 'nothing special' but to us - it's a miracle! You see - a year ago (pre-Lacey) Phillip didn't WALK down stairs - he sat and 'slid' down them. Now - with Lacey by his side he walks right down! Also, it shows the faith Phillip has in Lacey, because as soon as he gets to stairs or un-even turf - he reaches for his 'puppy' (that's what he calls her)! Also - the fact that he is standing there letting me take the pictures is something special in and of itself! A year ago, he would not sit still for a picture - but NOW with Lacey by his side - he is SO PROUD of her, that he sits (or stands) still and lets me take as many as I want! Thanks so much for providing us with Lacey - who assists Phillip in walking down stairs, teaches him FAITH in another being, and also allows me to be "snap happy"!!

The second picture is nothing short of WONDERFUL! It's a picture of Phillip - hugging Lacey - of his own accord. This is something that very seldon happens to US (his family) - so when I saw him go over to Lacey and give her such a big, loving hug - I had to snap a photo. Phillip is not spontaneously affectionate often, and the fact that he chose to 'love on' Lacey for seemingly no reason, all on his own - meant the world to me. I don;t think I wold care if she never listened to me again - as long as she continues to be Phillp's best friend - that is good enough for me. (Not that she does not listen, she does!) I don;t know what we would do without her!

The last one is one of my favorite pictures because it displays one of the biggest changes in our lives. This picture is of Phillip - asleep, in his own room, on a bed,( with Lacey). This picture shows the biggest change because before Lacey - we spent hours trying to get Phillip to bed almost every night. He would get out of bed and lie in the floor and kick or beat the door until we came in (over and over and over) and put him back in bed. Eventually he would fall asleep behind the bedroom door. Now, with Lacey - he goes to bed happily -with his girl by his side! No more kicking and beating the door, no more frustrated Mommy & Daddy going in and out of his room for hours after bedtime - just sleeping little boy & best friend! The picture also portrays the love that Lacey feels for Phillip - because she is sleeping, curled into a little space - beside her boy . . . when there is an entire twin size bed (and her kennel "den") right next to her. She chose - on her own accord - to sleep beside her best pal! No more long, aggravating nights thanks to Lacey. No more tired and sleepy boy thanks to Lacey . . . Thanks to Karen & 4 Paws!!!!!!!!! Thank you! Sincerely, a well rested family in NC - the Dixon's!

Cody does have an alert now- Cody gets hyper, anxious, gets right under my feet- as early as 20-30 minutes before Aiden's seizures up to the seizure. he's doing a great job of laying with Aiden during and after the seizure...once I calm him down and let him know everything is ok.We had a trip to the ER for a prolonged seizure (45 minutes) Cody was great at the ER and of coarse everyone loved him to pieces. He was not with Aiden when this seizure started.. Aiden was at preschool. boy did that help us in our push to get Cody into the school... we shall see.

Picture 1 & 2: Aiden & Cody at training in Ohio. Aiden had a focal seizure during training and Cody was there to comfort him. Cody laid with Aiden until he woke up. They had only met 4 days earlier.
Picture 3: Aiden and Cody vacationing in Tucson AZ. Picture 4: Aiden and Cody Easter Sunday 2007. Practicing his sit command and enjoying the beautiful day. We used to have to limit Aiden's time outdoors because the sunlight seemed to provoke seizures, but with Cody around they don't occur as often as they had before Cody joined our family. Picture 5: Aiden and Cody waking up in the morning. For the first time in 3 years Aiden sleeps in his own bed with Cody by his side. Mom and Dad are not as afraid to leave Aiden alone now that Cody is with us. Cody has had a calming effect on our family and Aiden's seizure activity has decreased.

God Bless You,

Alison

Sam has been really great this holiday season which is very unusual. We haven't had nearly the meltdowns and he has made some good progress on his IEP, which is typically not the case. When I picked him up from school the other day for the dentist, they said all day long he had been pointing to his schedule and asking "car? dog?" He will actually tell people his dog's name! He doesn't even tell people his own name. I just think that is so cool.