Ella is off medication! Even when checked with her blood for the allergy tests her phenobarb level was 6 — it was 60 at its highest point in the past (pre-surgery). What a pleasure not to have to give her any pills. Ella continues to develop but honestly I can’t imagine seeing her ever sit by herself or stand or walk. But then, when she wasn’t even holding up her head I couldn’t imagine her doing that either and she certainly does now… Still it is hard for us to see the progress when we are with her all the time and it is so gradual. This morning we took Ella on a bike ride for the first time. Her head is so large that she fits right into Gaul’s old helmet (that he wore until around the age of 8!). Ella seemed interested although she did fall asleep in her seat on the way back. We rode to Newton Highlands where we had brunch. Ella’s favorite game at the restaurant was, “Throw The Placemat on the Floor and Have the Waiter Pick It Up”. Yesterday I had a scare. We all went to the lake to swim. I took Ella right in. I only put her in about waist deep but I guess the water temperature compared to the air shocked her or something. She started shivering. Then I noticed that her hands looked pale blue. I thought “Oh no A SEIZURE”. After almost having a heart attack I realized she probably just got chillled from the water. Today I took her into our wading pool in the afternoon and her hands took on the same blueish tinge. She was fine otherwise though.