Katie is getting some good old time off. At school she gets one day off a week if she’s lucky. But alas, we are back in MA and she is getting a break for two reasons. I didn’t bring my truck home for break, so we’re basically home all day most days. Also, I don’t do winter weather. Snow/ice=wheelchair. So Kate is working 2 or 3 days a week instead of 6 or 7. So my posting will probably be pretty lax for a few weeks, it’s just because we;re not doing anything. So no worries, all is well. 
While trimming Katie’s bear claws I accidently cut one a smidge too short and it is bleeding. Since I have tried a band-aid in the past and that did not work. I attempted a new bandage, after giving her extra cheese of course.
A large tube sock and it is successful!
As a ploy to get Katie to drink more water I was told to put some low sodium chicken broth in her water. I did so last night and she could smell it. She was sniffing around her bowl, then the 31 gallon bin that I keep her food in, then she realized that it was the water. She started sniffing the water, then submerged her snout? in the water, exhaled, which made a bunch of bubbles and inhaled which caused an obvious coughing fit. I almost peed myself laughing! It was sooooo funny. I am tellin’ ya, for a bright dog, she ain’t that bright!
Kaite and I arrived home safely. The flight was not bad. They did give us the whole row and even though there was no bulkhead Katie fit fine and made herself at home. She is so good! We are going today with my sister to get our pics done for my mom for christmas as we usually do. Apparently we’re dressing up in red sox stuff this year? So Katie will be wearing a harness under her red sox shirt today. We’ll see how she likes wearing a shirt. But I figure to her it is the same as the 80 million harnesses I have had her wear. So I’ll post those pics when I get them.
ta ta for now!
Katie and I are flying back to MA tonight for the week. The flight should be interesting for two reasons… Spirit, the airline that we ar flying does not have a real bulkhead. They have what they call a bulk head but it is the same size as a normal seat. The other reason being that because all of the other kids flying home for break the flight is basically guaranteed to be booked, meaning they will sit people in the aisle with us which has never happened before. It wouldn’t matter if they had a real bulk head but I have a feeling this is going to be a very uncomfortable flight!
Katie and I returned yesterday from our trip to Philly for the FA symposium. I have never seen Katie so composed… Ever. We had connecting flights, so it was two flights on two days. She didn’t mind at all. She backed in perfect, looked out the window while the plane taxied on the runway and slept for the entire flight. On the flights home we were upgraded to first class so she had room to lay on her side and stretch out.
She was a hit at the conference. Probably about 10 people took info cards and were truly interested. But the general feeling was that people didn’t want their own dog, they wanted my dog to be their dog. Haha She has become very comfortable in many situations that used to make her nervous. She did not show one sign of nervousness in echoey, very crowded room nor when walking the very crowded streets of a bustling city. Instead of pulling pretty hard and then laying down when a bus went by she just backed up a step or two and sat down. The only thing she hasn’t made any progress on at all is nervousness around active/loud children… But I’m sure that will come in time.
All in all, great time with great people. 
We’re headed to Philidelphia for the weekend, pictures to come Sunday if I am not too exhausted!
I just wanted to give ya’ll a quick update, let you know I have been working with Katie on backing into a tight space for the plane ride. You know… In case she forgot. Haha
Next Friday Katie and I will be flying to Philidelphia for the second annual friedreich’s ataxia symposium. For those who don’t know, FA is the disease I have, it is basically a rare form of muscular dystrophy. I am assuming Katie will be the hit of the conference and everyone will want a great dane service dog. All the FAers who know about her do! I’ll be sure to take plenty of pictures.
Anyway, we will be flying up friday, and back down on sunday morning. It was difficult to find flights the only direct ones and almost all with layover included one of those small regional jets. The problem with that is that you have to walk out on to the runway and go up all those stairs to get on. I understand they have to bring a lift out if I request one but I am assuming that would freak out Kate. The other MAJOR problem with that is that there are only two seats in a row, therefore Katie would basically be laying across the aisle which they can boot you off a plane for. But alas I found tickets, they just were not at ideal times. The good thing is that my layovers are in NC, an airport with a cinnabon! <3
Then the next weekend we fly home for thanksgiving and the following weekend we fly back. Katie has been on a plane twice and did pretty well but by the of this month she will be a pro! Which is good since two weeks after I fly back at the end of thanksgiving break I fly home again for winter break. Haha
And lastly, I ordered Katie a new harness/vest. I love the vest she has now but I am having some issues with the harness under it. I need a about an inch or two of height on it which I can get if I loose it but when I loosen it I feel as though it isn’t stable enough. The new one should be coming early next week so I will post pictures and let you know how it works out.
