Posted on by agilejack

A Bit of a Rough Weekend

I don’t talk about this a lot publicly, but Bender is epileptic. He had his first seizure six years ago this month, just shy of his third birthday. After nearly a year of seizures, around 22 in all, a significant boost to one of his medications did the trick. On Saturday we were all set to celebrate five years of being seizure-free.

He had a seizure Saturday morning before breakfast.

Bender is fine. He bounces back really quickly. To look at him yesterday afternoon and today you’d never know that anything had happened.

I am, however, not doing as well. I’ve known all throughout these five years of no seizures that he would likely have more seizures at some point in his life. So I wasn’t surprised to see it happen, but I’ve been feeling pretty anxious and very disappointed this weekend.

There’s really nothing to do about it now. No need for a visit to his neurologist unless he has more seizures. So I’ll keep hoping that we’re on our way to another five year streak and I’ll start counting the days, week, months and, fingers crossed, years again.

Last week I ordered a couple pieces of Kaffe’s shot cottons to use for the colorful wall hanging I want to make for my sewing room. They arrived a few days ago and I was right about which one I thought would work.

This is the teal that I was thinking would be best… if the color was true to what the photo online showed. To me it’s more of an indigo than teal. But the name doesn’t matter as long as the color is what I want.

Good news… the color is exactly what I wanted. This photo shows it a little lighter than it is in person, but I like this photo because it shows the color variation in the weave. One feature of the shot cottons is that the warp and weft are different colors. This makes the fabric color very deep and gorgeous!

I tossed some brassica scraps on top of this fabric to see how they look and I they look amazing!

The color in this second photo is more true. This is going to be a really fun project! Now I just have to figure out how big I’m going to make it.

Back in December @bksblingandbags on Instagram tagged me in the photo of a Frankenbag she made using a really fun cow panel.

I liked that bag so much that I found the Timna Tarr menagerie panels online and bought two of them… nine different images on each panel… because that’s what I do. If nine different images is good, imagine how good 18 images is!!!

Each section of the panel is approximately 10×10 inches. Here’s an image of the full nine-block panel.

One of those pig images will be made into a bag for me!

It’s getting close to two weeks without my Bernina. And another weekend has passed without me firing up my old Singer. But that’s ok.

After Bender’s seizure yesterday, I really felt like I needed some human contact today, so I messaged a friend of mine that owns a 10 acre property out west of Portland. I haven’t seen her for a few months and I asked her if she was up for a visit. So I drove the boys out there and we hung out in the glorious sunshine and warm temps for nearly two hours… just watching the dogs play and having some rare conversation with her and her husband.

She has three Labrador retrievers and they got along wonderfully with my boys.

Good grief… what a gorgeous day.

Please keep Bender in your thoughts as we hope for more years of no seizures. He’s a good kid. It’s such a terrible disease and so awful to watch.

90 Replies to “A Bit of a Rough Weekend”

  3. My Lab started having seizures as he got older, I think it was caused by the heartworm, flea, and tick medicine I gave him once a month. The seizures would happen closer together the older he got.

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    1. Yeah, I realized last night while talking to a friend that I did start my boys on a new flea treatment a few months ago. Waiting to hear back from our neurologist now.
      Anne

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  4. Hello,
    Sorry to hear about your “puppy”. Hope you and Bender are doing better. I so appreciate how sad you must feel. Bender is so lucky to have you as his Mom. We have our “puppy” who is almost 12. Has diabetes, dementia, is blind and deaf and has allergies and severe arthritis. On meds for all.

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    2. Seizures are certainly stressful to deal with. I put my dog on Chinese herbs and flower essences from a homeopath vet and it worked for the rest of his life after 4 years of seizures. He had bad side effects to western drugs so this was the answer for us. Worth looking into if they continue. Best of luck.

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  5. Hello. I am sad for you and Bender, but he is so lucky to have you and the beautiful countryside to live in. I shall send positive thoughts although I am in another country. (Australia).

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  6. So sorry to hear about Bender, I’m sure it was just little blip! You all looked as if you had a lovely day in the sunshine, just what you needed. Sending love and best wishes from my puppy, Jess.
    I love following what you’re making and I’ve just ordered some fabric to have go myself.

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  7. Sending healing thoughts your way. Here’s hoping it was his last and he’ll be right from here on. It’s hard to watch a beloved pet in pain or any kind of difficulty. Best wishes xx

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  8. Thinking good thoughts for You and Bender , he is such a handsome one, no doubt , he is in the best of care with you. Enjoy the Oregon nice weather for sure, as the frigid cold weather here in Maine has me dreaming of Springtime !! Looking forward to seeing the completed wall hanging you have plans for , Niki

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  9. Good morning! Each time I read your posts I think to myself, “wow, she is the most incredible dog mom.” I have so much love and admiration for you for giving your boys the most amazing life with impeccable care. You are so selfless!

    I am sorry Bender had another seizure and that you feel sad and disappointed. But he was placed in your home under your loving care because you are the mom he needed in this lifetime.

    We don’t know each other and have never spoken, but I am so touched by your love for them. You are truly an amazing mom.

    I will keep You and Bender in my prayers. I pray that Bender is seizure free and that the heaviness is lifted from your heart.

    Thank you for your courage in sharing this. Just another reason to really appreciate you and your Blog.

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  10. So sorry to hear about Bender’s recent seizure especially after such a long time of being seizure free. He’s lucky to have you for his mom. Please take care of yourself. Positive thoughts for both of you.

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  11. It’s so hard when our fur babies have medical issues. I will keep Bender in my thoughts for many years of being seizure free. I have Boykin Spaniels and one of them has had at least one seizure…visited neurologist, did MRI….no diagnosis. I think he had another one but this was over a 2 year period. I am terrified every time I have to leave him at home alone for what I may find when I get back. Big hugs.

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    1. I’d be pretty happy if Bender only had a seizure every couple of years for the remainder of his life. I’m keeping my fingers crossed! Maybe we’ll get to five years again.,
      Anne

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  12. So sorry to hear about Bender but hoping it is the last seizure for a very long time. My daughter had a pekingnese who had seizures and we always felt so helpless when it happened. We did everything that you could do for him but it was so painful to watch knowing and seeing what he was going through. He lived for a really long time. Sending positive thoughts for Bender and you. Hugs

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    1. Thanks Jean. It is a terribly helpless feeling to watch a dog go through this. I talked to a human friend who is epileptic and she explained what she experiences when having a seizure. Basically, she is typically unaware of most of it. So that made me feel a little better.
      Anne

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  15. My heart goes out to you. Watching a beloved pet/family member suffer is worse than suffering your self.
    Over the weekend there was a wonderful episode of All Creatures Great and Small (PBS Great Britain) that delt with a champion sheepherding dog who developed Epilepsy. You would appreciate how it was presented. Hugs in abundance. KBBarden

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  17. I’m sorry this happened and hope it’s just a blip on the radar and he’ll go on to have years free of seizures.

    I love Timna Tarr and took a couple of her classes. Her mosaic class is wonderful

    Be well. Take care of yourself

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    1. Thanks Lynne. I’m hoping for that too.

      I was looking at some of Timna’s work online last night when I was searching for the photo of the full panel. I want to look more closely at her work.

      Anne

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  18. I love reading about your adventures with your dogs and about your sewing projects. I hope all goes well with Bender and that he goes back to being seizure-free. I know it’s very worrisome for you. Take care!

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  21. I’m soooo sorry for you and Bender. I imagine you are frustrated and just want to fix it and make him better. He knows that! Keep loving him, he’s a great dog.

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  22. So sorry to hear about Benders struggles, and yours. Our fur babies take such a hold of our hearts that its devastating when they suffer. Prayers that he continues to thrive and bring joy to your life and I’m glad you are able to reach out for support💞

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    1. Thanks Jocelyn. It’s so hard that we can’t talk to them and explain what’s happening, and understand what they’re experiencing. But if Bender could talk, he might drive me crazy. I think he would not shut up!!!
      Anne

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    1. Thanks! It was really good to be outside when the weather is so gorgeous, and it was really good to be with friends I haven’t seen for some time. I’m glad I reached out to them. And the boys certainly enjoyed themselves.
      Anne

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  24. Sending doggie ((hugs)) to Bender – he is a beautiful dog, as is Rico.
    I noticed you wrote 9 animals in the panel but I counted 12- the laughing dog is a cutie; they all are. Hope you have a good week and get some sewing time with your Bernina 🙂

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  25. Oh, Anne, so, so sorry to hear of the seizure! Bender is so lucky to have you and Rico with him and he knows how much he is loved. Praying for healing and only happy days ahead 🙂 I love the animal panels and want to order too. Your new wallhanging will be gorgeous! Stay strong 🙂

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  26. Sending Hugs ❤ Love and Positive Vibes to Bender, you and Rico too! Hope you get your sewing matching back soon – those menagerie panels are fabulous. I love the teal fabric too. I am learning a whole lot as I go – piecing my Franken panels. Maybe I will have it finished by next weekend and send you a picture 🤞.

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  27. Sending prayers for you and Bender. It is awful to watch your dog have a seizure. I had a beagle that was epileptic. Love the panel, can’t wait to see your bags.

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  28. We too have a seizure dog. She is a blue heeler/German shepherd mix, we think. She too started with seizures at just about 3 years old. That seems to be the common time frame for it. We were shocked the first time it happened. After a number of episodes, she was put on phenobarbital. Had to up the dose when she had several double episodes. She will be 12 next month and has been seizure free since then. (She did have one seizure when someone forgot to give her the evening pill due to unforeseen circumstances.) I was really upset at first but several acquaintances who also had seizure dogs told me that the pheno worked great for their dogs and that they lived a good long dog life after that. So far so good for our dog. It is terrible to watch them go through a seizure as I am sure it is for people also. Our other dog at the time would also get very upset.
    I too remember that episode from All Creatures (and from in the books by James Herriot which I read voraciously, have you?) about the champion border collie. The owner could no longer breed him for champion offspring but the dog still had a great life. That’s about the best we can do for our seizure dogs … and really all our dogs no matter what. You are doing that for Bender!

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    1. I think we’re a few episodes behind you on the new season of All Creatures. But I will watch for that episode.

      I think 3 years is a really common age for the onset of epilepsy in dogs. Bender’s seizures have been controlled on potassium bromide and keppra. So we do have phenobarbitol in our back pockets if we ever need it. It’s nice to know we do have options.
      Anne

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      1. FYI: The episode I saw with the seizure border collie was in the original series (and the books) so I don’t know if it will be in the redo that is on now. The original was more accurate and inclusive to the books than the current one but I have loved them both.
        My dog took a good 30 to 45 minutes to come back from the seizures. She would get up after a couple of minutes or so and then wander around not seeming to understand what had happened. I had to stay with her and it always seem to be in the dark of night. The pheno made a huge difference and we are thankful for each day we have with her. Sorry that I have made two long replies but this whole seizure thing can be devastating when first encounter and it makes one wonder about the future for the dog. Valentine’s Day will be her 12th birthday so we will continue to celebrate! Hoping you have many more years with Bender also!

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      2. WE are really lucky that Bender is back to normal quickly after a seizure. I know people who have dogs that aren’t back to normal for a couple days.
        Anne

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  29. Our first labbie had seizures also. She took phenobarbital which managed them.
    Too much exercise was one of her triggers. I read somewhere it was good to stay next to them and talk to them calmly throughout. Betsy would come out of them a bit muddled but recover quickly. Best wishes for you and Bender.

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    1. Thanks Nikki. Bender comes out of his seizures pretty quickly and is back to himself in a matter of a few minutes. But it’s pretty difficult to watch while it’s happening. I’ve kept a detailed log of all of his seizures and there are really no patterns with what has been his trigger. Our first neurologist told me I was going to drive myself crazy if I kept trying to identify a pattern to his epilepsy. He said it’s very random… get used to it!
      Anne

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  30. Our 6 year old lab was 100 % FINE the first 4 1/2 years of her life. Then she too came down with idiopathic epilepsy. We love her too much to not treat it. For the last few months we are down to 2 seizures a month – with a few little follow up episodes. She is on more meds than an entire floor of humans in a hospital. But she is soooooo very sweet and none of her seizure meds seems to have any effect on her personality. So We know exactly what you are going thru. Hang in there – we are rooting for Bender !!!!

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    1. OH, I’m so sorry. It’s such a horrible disease, and there are so few answers. You just have to get used to “I don’t know.” I know we’ve been very lucky in Bender’s experience. I see so many dogs who have a much rougher path with this terrible disease.

      Bender is the happiest dog I’ve ever known. Luckily, he’s not as aware of all of this as I am.

      Anne

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  31. I understand your feelings. My furry companions over the years has brought me more love and then sadness than one can imagine. 🤞🏼Sending positive thoughts out to Mother Nature to keep him happy and healthy!💚

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  34. Bender is such a beautiful dog. I know how difficult it is to watch our fur babies suffer. Sending positive, hopeful thoughts that this was a one time occurrence and he will continue healthy and seizure free for many years to come.

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  35. So very sorry about Bender and another seizure. Loads of healing comforting prayers sent your way. I have my cat children (5) so I know what you mean, plus 2 different cancers (breast and Waldenstroms) that I am “currently” in remission from. All we can do is enjoy the time we have doing the things we love – the rest is a crap shoot (and I DO mean crap sometimes!). I really enjoy your news and your beautiful creative projects!

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  39. Hi Anne,
    I’m so sorry to hear about Bender. Dogs are so wonderful in that they don’t dwell on a difficult moment and just charge ahead enjoying life. I hope he has many long years of good health ahead. I hope you are also able to not worry about him.

    I wanted to ask you where you order your shot cottons. Do you find them to be similar weight to regular quilting cottons or are they lightweight as I’ve often found. Thanks in advance for your answer.

    Best wishes to you and Bender,
    Marjorie

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    1. Thanks Marjorie. it is nice that Bender is not at all worried about this situation. That’s all up to me!

      these are the first Kaffe shot cottons I’ve ever purchased. I got them from gloriouscolor.com. I’ve heard that they are more lightweight than regular quilting cotton, but they don’t feel much different to me than other Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics. Granted, I haven’t made anything with them yet. I’m considering using a light fusible interfacing on it before starting this project. Not sure yet.
      Anne

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  41. I’m so sorry to hear that Bender had a seizure. I hope it was a blip, and that he’ll be fine. Sending warm wishes for a long, healthy life for your beautiful boy. ❤️

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  42. Sorry to hear about your concerns for Bender. We had a malamute 30 years ago that had seizures. It’s very scary to witness, but our vet thought that just staying calm and talking to the animal while it’s happening, is a little calming for them. They need your reassurance and support. Hope this helps. Hugs and prayers for both of you.

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    1. WE have lots of experience with seizures, unfortunately. I have a friend who is epileptic so I asked her about what she experiences before, during and after seizures. The good part is that she’s never aware of a seizure happening, or the immediate time after. So that’s good news.
      Anne

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