thanks for the support. we ALL had a quiet night. i feel so much better when i get more sleep. i bumped up his phenobarb this am, he's getting 137mgs in the am and 153 in the pm. (phenobarb pills come in odd sizes so the numbers are odd.) we'll do another blood level in mid january to check his med level, but also check his liver values and make sure there i'm not burning out his liver. i won't be moving him to the second and third generation anti seizure meds, a choice the vet agreed with. i do love my vets, that is why, in no small part , alex is still here after having had seizures for 9 1/2 years.