With all that said, a few weeks ago August had a seizure.  To first give a little background, for the entire 2 years that I’ve known August he’s had short (1 second or less) twitches or tics as he referred to them.  He has them anywhere from 20-200 times a day but for the most part they don’t interfere with his life other than being a little embarrassing and causing him to drop things occasionally (there’s a reason he’s not allowed to drink out of glass cups) and he’s had them since he was a teenager.  He also has spells where it seems as though he’s day-dreaming and won’t respond to me when I’m talking to him which he’s had for as long as he can remember.  But besides making me slightly annoyed and feeling like he didn’t care what I had to say I never associated those spells with the twitches.

For as long as we’ve been together I told him I wanted him to see a doctor to make sure the twitches were nothing serious but he wanted to wait until he graduated and had better health insurance.  But then a few weeks ago he had a legitimate seizure.  It probably only lasted 10 seconds but it felt like an eternity, and with that he decided he couldn’t wait to see a doctor any longer.

Earlier this week he was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.  It is characterized with absence seizures that begin in adolescence, progresses to myoclonic seizures (eg the twitches he has) around the onset of puberty, and in some people progresses to full-on grand mal seizures during adulthood.  The doctor prescribed him with some anti-convulsant medication and we’re taking everything day by day right now.  He’s supposed to avoid stressful situations (which is rather ironic given that he’s one month out from defending his dissertation which is just about the most stressful thing ever), sleep deprivation, flashing lights, and hyperventilating.

Since his diagnosis my emotions have pretty much run the gamut.  I’ve felt everything from anger that no one took him to the doctor sooner even though he’s been having these seizures for 15+ years, relief that at least we know what we’re dealing with and that medication helps the majority of patients, and fear that either we won’t find a proper medication and the seizures will continue to get worse or that any medication he takes will alter his personality (we are talking about medications that affect the brain after all).

So even though this is a blog about running, gluten-free eating, and my cute doggies, sometimes real life gets in the way off those things.  And from me to you,  make sure you give a little extra thanks for your good health; I know it’s an easy thing to take for granted.

And yes, my “little” sister is way taller than me, and has been for about 6 years.

So yesterday August and I decided to do something a little out of the ordinary and drove up to Austin to eat at The Salt Lick.  You might have heard of it as the contestants on Top Chef cooked there and it’s been featured on lots of food shows as having the best barbecue in Texas.  It’s a rather unsuspecting place when you first pull up.

But as soon as we walked around the back we saw a line out the door.  Considering it was 3 pm, that awkward time between lunch and dinner, I took that as a sign that it was be really good.  Thankfully we only ended up waiting about 30 minutes.

The restaurant was about what you’d expect at a barbecue establishment in that the whole place was full of big wooden tables and benches.  Oddly enough, our party of 2 got a whole one to ourselves.

We opted for the “all-you-can-eat” barbecue plate which included brisket, sausage, and ribs, along with baked beans and potato salad as the sides.

These people do not mess around when it comes to cooking their barbecue.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never been the biggest barbecue fan but this stuff was good and the barbecue sauce was amazing (maybe even as good as my beloved Montgomery Inn sauce).  We ate 2 plates worth and they even gave us a 3rd to take home.  It’s not every weekend that we drive an hour and a half simply to hit up a restaurant but we had a great time.  And if you’re ever in Austin don’t miss out on the best barbecue in Texas.

1.  I have 10 miles on the agenda this weekend and of course the weather looks terrible.  Seriously, I’ve been so lucky this training cycle weather-wise so it figures that my longest training run would have to be done in warm, muggy, and possibly rainy conditions.

2.  Since I’m loving all Gap workout clothes lately, just wanted to pass on that they’re having a sale (what’s new, right?) and you can get 25% off your order by entering the promo code GAPDEAL.  It even applies to sale items so you better believe I hopped right on over and ordered a few things, including this racerback top…

3. Our dogs, just like the rest of the dogs on the planet, LOVE to stick their head out the car window and enjoy the cool breathe on their face.  Funny thing though, even when we put down both back windows, they prefer to share.

Pretty sure they get all their weird qualities from August.

4.  Speaking of August, he’ll be at the bachelor party of his best buddy all weekend, and I have no idea what I’m going to do with myself.  Seriously, who’s going to volunteer to come over and make me laugh all weekend?  Good thing I’ve got the dogs to keep me company.

5.  I need to make this quinoa with corn and scallions dish as soon as possible.  I mean how fresh and springy does this look?

What is the difference between a service and therapy dog?

“Service animals are legally defined (Americans with Disabilities Act) and are trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers who have disabilities.  Federal laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places.  Service animals are not considered ‘pets’.”

“Therapy animals are not legally defined by federal law, but some states have laws defining therapy animals.  They provide people with contact to animals, but are not limited to working with people who have disabilities.  They are usually personal pets of their handlers, and work with their handlers to provide service to others.  Federal laws have no provisions for people to be accompanied by therapy animals in places of public accommodation that have “no pet”  policies.  Therapy animals usually are not service animals.”

Source: PetPartners.org

What qualifies as a disability that may require a service dog?

Check out this chart.  It clearly walks through the steps of identifying whether an individual has a disability which would qualify for a service dog.  Note that protection, emotional support, and companionship do not qualify.

How long does it take to train a dog to become a service dog and at what age should that training begin?

It normally takes 18-24 months to fully train a service dog and training usually begins before they are weaned.

What sort of training does a dog need to become a therapy dog?

To be recognized as a true therapy dog, dog and handler must be registered with a therapy dog organization.  There are lots of therapy dog organizations across the country; to find out the most popular organizations in your area call your local hospital or nursing home and ask which organizations they permit.

Dog and handler must pass a test which demonstrates that the dog responds to basic obedience commands and is well adjusted to interacting with adults and children.  A test example can be seen here.  Through the therapy organization the dog will be covered by insurance and permitted to visit certain hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc with permission.  The top organizations are PetPartners and Therapy Dogs Incorporated.

Is it legal for someone who does not have a disability to have a service dog in public?

The short answer…no.  The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the rights of the individual with the disability.  A service dog is legally considered an extension of that individual and that is why they are permitted into public establishments.  If the person using the service dog does not actually have the disability for which the dog is trained then the dog no longer falls under the definition of “service dog”.

If you see someone with a dog that is behaving inappropriately or is clearly not a service dog what should you do?

Report it to management.

Basic guidelines to follow if you have a therapy dog.

1.  When referencing your therapy dog it’s best to say “My pet who works as a therapy dog…”.

2.  Do not take him/her in public where dogs are not invited unless you have asked permission.

3.  Do not bring him/her in public with their vest on, even in a dog-friendly place.

4.  Only have the dog wear their vest in public if it is an event for the therapy organization.

5.  If a person asks to pet your dog, say yes, he/she is not a service dog, please let me make them sit.

6.  If people ask if he/she is working, say no, he/she is not a service dog.

Basic Things To Know About Service Dogs and Their Handlers

>>A service dog is there to aide the person with a disability.  The “service” the dog is providing could range from mobility assistance, guiding, or assisting with a medical condition.  Just because you can’t see the person’s disability does not mean it’s not there.  And yes, it’s rude to ask what their disability is.

>>Be prepared to hear “no” if you ask to pet the dog.  All service dogs will most likely have a patch on their vest that states “do not pet”.  That patch is not there for no reason.

>>Don’t purposefully try to pull the dog’s attention away from its handler.  This includes doing things like talking to the dog, making kissy noises, or making hand gestures towards the dog.  The dog is there to provide a service and distracting it for even a few seconds could be detrimental to both the dog and handler.

For more information and sources with greater detail check out:

ADA Revisions

Common Questions About Service Animals in a Place of Business

The majority of information here was provided by Service Dog Central and its users.

That’s right, almost all of my current favorite running clothes were bought at Gap.  And they have a sale virtually every day (I bought all of my stuff at 30% off and today you can get 20% off just by entering the promo code GAPGIFT) so everything is very reasonably priced.  So, now that you know my little secret, let me show you my personal favorites, some from Gap and others not.

Favorite Tops

GapFit Breathe striped racer tank- $19.95 ($15.96 with 20% off)

GapFit half-zip running pullover- $49.95 ($39.96 with 20% off)

I’m not a huge fan of super form fitting tops and this one works perfect.  It’s bright so everyone can see me and just loose enough to breathe.

Favorite Bottoms

Asics Every Sport Short- $22.40 on Amazon

 I LOVE the wide waist band on these shorts.  And for that style they are by far the cheapest I have found.  I like these so much that I own 3 pairs.

GapFit gFast heathered capris- $49.95 ($39.96 with 20% off)

I am obsessed with these capris.  I have worn them on every single long run and I just ordered a 2nd pair in black.  I just hope it’s cool enough on March 24 that I can wear them for the half marathon.  And if you don’t want to take my word just check out the reviews!

Favorite Accessories

Nike Air Pegasus 29- $100 on Zappos.com

After 2 failed shoe-buying attempts I finally found a new pair!  I tried 2 different pairs of Brooks (both purchased at Dick’s Sporting Goods which I don’t recommend as I ran one 3 mile run in them and I had to threaten to never shop in their store again to get them to return them) and they were very uncomfortable on my foot.  I ended up at Fleet Feet Sports and it was fantastic.  If you’re ever not sure what shoes to buy I highly suggest going to a local running store to get fitted.

Lululemon Skinny Satin Pirouette Headband- $12

This is the ONLY headband I have that stays put through a workout and that I can wear for an entire day without getting a headache (I even wear it to work sometimes).  I own a bunch of Bic Bands and Sweaty Bands and while those are great for workouts, I have to take them off about an hour afterwards otherwise I end up with a raging headache.

So tell me…

What is your favorite brand of running clothes?

Have you ever tried any of the workout clothes from Gap?

The views aren’t too bad and even though it’s very crowded on Saturday and Sunday mornings as long as you keep an eye out for the bikers coming around the corners it’s a very enjoyable place to run.  Saturday morning we did 6 miles and next weekend we’ll tackle my first double digit run in 3 years (it was supposed to happen this weekend but I still hadn’t found new shoes so I stuck with something shorter).

>>Did you know that hard ciders are gluten free?  We bought the Woodchuck variety pack at the grocery store Saturday afternoon and sampled them all over the course of Saturday night and Sunday.

Source

They were all pretty good but my favorites were the 802 and amber.  Our maker’s choice was their spring beer which had a strong maple syrup flavor.  It wasn’t my cup of tea but August really liked it.

>>I love that August and I have developed a ritual of taking the dogs on an extra long walk every Sunday morning.  Yesterday we drove over to a trail right next to my old apartment that we used to walk all the time when Eloise was just a puppy.  We did a little more than 3 miles and it’s just the perfect way to start every Sunday.

Thankfully we did not in fact see any rattlesnakes, and even if we did I would not be inclined to try and pet them.

>>Is putting makeup on during the drive to work in the morning the new thing?  As I was sitting in traffic this morning I noticed the lady in front of  me putting on powder and the woman behind me putting on mascara.  Is it really that difficult to wake up 5 minutes earlier so you can apply your makeup before you leave the house?  And no offense, but your makeup can’t possibly look that great if you’re applying it while driving a car.

Hope everyone has a good Monday!  I have a dentist appointment so I know mine is going to be fantastic (sarcasm).

Happy Friday everyone!

Original sources for all images can be found by clicking on the image itself.

Please note that photo is hers not mine.  I can never get food to look as pretty as that.  To get to the original recipe click the photo or link.  And you should definitely click on them and make this meal asap.  It was so good that about an hour after we finished eating August asked if I would make it again, right that moment!  Ha, obviously I said no, but we will definitely be adding this to our regular rotation of meals.

2.  I officially purchased my first Easter candy and it was none other than Cadbury Mini  Eggs.

Not going to lie, every year I anxiously await until the stores put those bad boys on the shelves.  I’m convinced they’re made with some sort of drug and that’s why they’re so irresistible.

3.  Apparently today is National Chili Day, so if you’re interested in celebrating and need a good, easy chili recipe I’ve got you covered.

I’m no chili expert but that venison chili was delicious.  And even though we’re out of venison I need to re-create it with beef.  I have no doubt it’d be just as tasty.

4.  I’ve never considered myself to have much of a sweet tooth, I mean I’ve had a container of cookies and cream ice cream in the freezer for almost a month and have eaten a grand total of 2 spoon fulls.  But this past week I cannot get enough Nutella.

My new favorite thing is simply to spread it on a tortilla and eat it for breakfast, or as a snack, or for every meal of the day.  Ok, not really, but it’s darn good.  For me, Nutella is definitely one of those foods I just can’t have in the house because when it’s there I want to EAT IT ALL.

So tell me…

What have you been eating this week?

I’ve received multiple questions about running with my dog…how often do I run with her? How far? How do I do it without her pulling my arm off?  So I thought I’d do a short run down of what helped me teach Eloise how to run appropriately (aka without jerking my shoulder out of socket) by my side.

1.  Get a breed that’s known for running.  If you know that one of the qualities you want in a dog is a running partner then do a little research before you have your heart set on a certain breed.  Don’t get a saint bernard if you live in Florida and want a dog that will be able to keep up with your half marathon training.   Check out this post to get an idea of how far some breeds are able to run.

2.  Your dog has to learn to walk before he/she can run.  Work on loose leash walking using a standard collar and a regular leash while your dog is young.  The hardest part of our dog training has been teaching Eloise to walk on a leash without pulling.  It has taken many hours and lots of walks to get where we are today.

3.  Wait until your dog is fully developed.  A lot of breeds that are known for their running prowess are also known for developing hip dysplasia.  These breeds include golden retrievers, laborador retrievers, and german shepherds.    If you start your dog running on hard surfaces (like the sidewalk) too early the hip joint may not develop properly which can lead to problems down the road.  While your dog is young (<8 months for large breeds and <18 months for giant breeds) most of their running should occur during play time on the grass.

4.  Invest in a harness or gentle leader.  Once your dog is old enough and proficient at walking, I recommend buying a no-pull device.  We use an easy walk harness where the leash clips at the front of the chest for Eloise.  A lot of people also use a gentle leader where the leash attaches under the dog’s snout, which is what we have for Duncan.  This ensures you will have maximum control while running and will keep the dog from pulling at all.

Easy Walk Harness

Gentle Leader

5.  Slowly work up your dog’s endurance.  Dogs, just like humans, have to build their endurance.  Your very first run wouldn’t be a 5 miler, and neither should your dogs.  Start small, say 1 mile, and slowly work on building distance.  Eloise has gone through my entire half marathon training plan with me and is ready to conquer a 10 miler this weekend.

6.  Keep temperature in mind.  Dogs don’t sweat like humans.  To get rid of body heat they pant.  This makes them much more sensitive to warm temperatures.  Keep this in mind during the warm summer months.

7.  Have a constant eye on your dog during your runs.  Dogs are extremely devoted to their owners.  So much so that they’ll push themselves to the point of exhaustion or injury just to keep up.  Your dog should be able to run comfortably at your side or slightly in front of you.  If you notice your dog falling behind, take a water break and allow them some rest.

There are lots of benefits to running with your dog; it’s a great bonding experience, you’re both getting exercise, they offer extra protection, and it tuckers the dog out (and a tired dog is a good dog ).  There’s no reason that with a little patience and a lot of practice that you and your dog can’t have a long running career.

>My chest has been so sore the past few days that I was seriously starting to worry I might be pregnant.  So worried that I purchased a pregnancy test, ended up peeing on myself a little trying to take it in the bathroom stall at work, and watched as it came out negative.  Realistically I knew the soreness wasn’t actually a result of being pregnant (but a small part of me was still a little disappointed when it came up negative) but I’m now back to having absolutely no explanation for the discomfort as that time of the month is still almost 2 weeks out.

>Our dryer has been broken for the past 2 weeks and we’ve been using the guest bathroom as our clothes hanging area.  Thank goodness we almost never have guests over to the house.

>We’re no longer doing therapy training with Eloise.  I wasn’t even sure I wanted to mention this as it was the cause for all the stress and the lack of blogging last week.  But as it turns out, the group we were training through didn’t keep up to date with the laws about service dogs vs. therapy dogs.  When we signed up we were told that Eloise would be classified as an emotional support service dog (which as we understood it was the same thing as “therapy dog”) which allowed her rights into public places like the grocery store and movie theater.  But in reality the law was changed in 2010 and now states that animals aiding in emotional support are not covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  What all that means is that we were breaking the law the past month and a half by taking Eloise in places where she wasn’t technically allowed to be.  You can read the comments that brought this to my attention on this post.  Obviously we were extremely disappointed, contacted the trainer immediately, dropped out of the program, and asked for a refund.  We have every intention of finding a new program to work with but it’s being put on hold a few months while August finishes up graduate school and we search for new jobs.

So tell me…

Do you have anything to confess?