Everything went well at the Clinic today. We really liked the neuro that Chris saw. She said she has a 'few tricks up her sleeve', and the list of meds yet to try is longer than we thought. There will be no surgery talk for a long while, if ever. (*whew*) We are introducing a drug called Lamictal. It has a good side effect profile, but the downside is that it has to be introduced very slowly - slowly as in, it will be 8 weeks before we get to the maintenance dose. Then we watch and wait, and if he is stable, then we will start to remove the Topamax. 1 in 200 kids get the 'Lamictal Rash' - which is why it is introduced very slowly. If we see the rash, we stop the drug.

Chris does not get random seizures here and there, he has seizures in 'clusters'. If he has one seizure, we know for certain there are more to come within in the next 24 hours. Usually 5-6. It is like a fire spreading in the brain...you think the fire is 'out', but it is still smoldering. All it takes is one little 'spark', and the flames rekindle, and his medication can't keep up with all the sparks, so it is not effective. That's why we give him the Ativan (like a valium), which 'quiets' the brain and stops the seizures. Obviously the goal is to stop the seizures from happening at all, but we may never achieve that kind of control.....or, as he gets out of adolescence - it may get better. Who can predict? All we can do is what we are doing, and of course, keep him safe in the process.

Grace will take her medicine every night now at bedtime. Last year, we gave it to her to 'abort' the stomach episodes as they happened. Now, the goal is to keep them from happening at all. Her doctor mentioned to me that abdominal migraine is very prevalent in Scotland and Sweden (?), very rare in the US. He also said the tendency comes from the maternal side. I just found this random mention interesting because I am adopted, and don't know my 'heritage'. My hubby asked me if I have bagpipes in my closet! ;-) Funny guy.

That's all ~ just wanted to post the update for anyone following the saga of my two kiddos. The third kiddo just goes about her 8th grade life, striving for straight A's and crushing on some boys, watching YouTube videos and John & Kate Plus Eight. OH to be young again....

Until next time....