Dogs, Dirt and Boys

We have a huge dirt pile next to our pool.

We should have moved it 2 years ago

when the pool was put in but time gets away from you.

Tae liked this huge dirt mound for his trucks and shovels.

The dogs like this dirt mound for digging.

It keeps them from digging up the whole yard.

It's an eyesore.

But my needs aren't important right now.

Harley and Stewie love this dirt mound.

Stewie never returns the color he started with.

He's always ready for a game of "drop the scummy tennis ball in the hole."

I think it's like doggie golf.

Hole in one kinda thing.

But with a tennis ball.

That's covered in mud.

Harley is licking the mud off of his lips.

What you can't see is the kiddie pool we have set up for the dogs.

Actually it's just for Stewie.

Because Harley can't swim.

No really-he can't.

He's half English bulldog and half Dachshund.

Their body build doesn't allow them to swim.

He does know how to sink really good though.

See? Ridiculous body on Harley.

Stewie is lean and svelt. Harley is not. Never will be.

He runs 5 miles a day with Larry. Sometimes 7.

Then Stewie wants to play with the tennis ball while my

husband is plastered on the deck wheezing.

Not svelt.... Svelt and muscular.

Short dog keeps on keepin' on though.
His height disadvantage allows him to duck under tables and steal the ball away
from Stewie and then remain unseen.

No, Stewie is not biting Harley's butt.
Although he has.
But Harley bites Stewie's ankles too.
So I think they are even.

See the muscles on this dog?
Who knew that this is my husband's Hearing Dog?

He goes to work with him Monday thru Friday

from 9-5 and is truly the best service dog ever.

Except when he plays hole in one again.
Maybe he needs more golf time.

If Harley goes in after this ball he will surely disappear.

All that mud upsets the stomach so a little snack
of grass is always welcome.
Too bad Harley just peed there.
Dogs don't care.

Soon the dogs were bored.
The boy child wasn't and helped them dig the hole deeper.

Stewie much appreciated this.
I haven't seen Harley since.

'Course I wasn't really looking for him either.

I had coffee in the pool and an early morning swim.

Happy Summer!

Family Weekends

Let me introduce our fabulous Yellow Lab...who's more white than yellow...with very cute freckles on his ears. This is Stewie, my husbands Hearing Dog. Hearing dogs are service dogs. When this incredible dog is not alerting my husband to sounds he likes to just be a lab. A lab with a tennis ball obsession. A little OCD in service dogs is good.

Stewie is the best dog ever. Really. Except for the OCD issue.

He is also the fittest dog you'll ever see. He runs about 15 miles a week with my husband. Why? Because Larry can't hear oncoming traffic. Stewie alerts him to those sounds. Look how trim and lean he is. Great muscles and strength. And this dog loves to run with Larry. But when the run is over, Larry is wheezing and Stewie.......runs to find his tennis ball and wants to play. OCD.

See the intent stare on the tennis ball? OCD.

He is also the same way about responding to sounds. Good dog.

We did manage to get in some homeschooling today. Yes, I know it's a holiday but my week is incredibly full and the husband was home today to help with school work. This is Morgan in her thinking cap. I'm not sure what the glasses were for. Nutty girl.

Tae worked on the letter Cc today. He wrote all of his word wall words that began with Cc and by the end was reading them by himself. I love when their little brains explode!

Letter Cc work.

A magic wand makes school work go much faster.

See? Brain exploding. Tae learned to do the Monkey Bars all by himself this week.

Then he managed to climb over the wall. Stewie chased a tennis ball.

More exploding brains. He learned to ride his bike without training wheels.

Big sister stood by to catch the wreckage.

She also made sure he didn't drive into the street.

After a hard day of exploding brains, Tae felt a need to wash my windows.

Thanks little man!

Looks like his moustache from yesterdays face painting needs some washing too.
Hope your weekend was just as enjoyable.

Creating Sacred Space

The icky stomach flu bug thing has hit our house. Patrick was up all day and night vomitting. Larry didn't feel well today either. We were supposed to travel to Princeton, Massachusetts to NEADS (http://www.neads.org/) to celebrate Larry and his hearing dog Stewie's graduation. The weather forecast predicted a bad storm but mostly we got a dusting today. We didn't end up going though between Larry not feeling well and the storm and Patrick spent all day in bed anyway.

I did manage to get so much done today though. I'm loving all the organizing and it's making me feel really good to have some control over my household. Larry slept in this morning and while he did I enjoyed my coffee and made my list of things I needed to get done today.

This is the dry erase board in my office/classroom. Notice that there are only two things not crossed off. I have to make a payment for a Prairie Class that Morgan and Tae will be taking next month. It sounds really cool and I'm very excited about it. The other thing I still have to do is finalize curriculum for next year. We are buying all of our books used from Amazon this year to help save money and the money that I save will be used for classes and field trips for the kids. We missed out on a lot last year because we didn't budget well so I'm really excited to be able to finally let them join in on more classes outside the home.

So what did we do today? I baked two loaves of bread, a pan of brownies, finally cleaned out my bedroom closet (4 hours worth), cleaned and emptied two huge boxes that were in my bedroom, finished painting the bedroom (ok-Larry did that yesterday along with hanging my new Roman shades, curtain rods and curtains), updated our Monthly calendars for March, made a Roast Turkey dinner, made more laundry detergent, found some recipes for homemade bagels

( I refuse to pay $3.99 for 6 bagels anymore), and found some recipes for some homemade cleaners because I refuse to buy the chemical stuff anymore).

Yeah-I know- what's happened to me? I make my own laundry detergent, cleaners, bake bread, raise chickens for fresh eggs, and have turned into the frugal housewife. The weird thing is that I'm loving all of it. Everything we do to sustain ourselves is less impact on the environment and brings our family closer together. None of it is hard to do but it does take planning to accomplish. Today, I'm dog tired from doing so much.

This is our sacred space-fresh and newly painted. The wall color in this picture looks peasoup green but it's a nice mustardy color.





I still have some pictures and artwork to hang but am loving my space. The kids are not allowed in here. It's mom and dad's space. No toys, no playing and no hanging out.





And yes, I finally tackled my closet today. We actually have a floor in there- I was beginning to wonder. It's all organized and neat. I threw out 4 bags of garbage, packed things away, straightened, washed and ironed tons of lines and donated a ton of clothes to charity. Whew! I'm very glad to have this whole area done.



Tomorrow I tackle the main bathroom linen closet. We have a very full week with Pediatrician appointments, Dentist appointments, art and sign language class, our coop, soccer practice and I have a meeting at church. I also go back to work this coming Friday night and am not looking forward to it. Patrick will be on a field trip to a Synagogue as part of his Neighboring Faiths curriculum at church. Catch me if you can.

And here is my funny little man. He helped me to make brownies today.

Chocolate everywhere!

Caution: May Contain Fruit

My husbands work graciously sent this really lovely fruit basket while I'm recuperating. Actually, it came in a box and had pears, apples, mangoes and oranges. Really nice. The thing that stumped me was the label on the top of the box. In big bold letters it said, Warning: May Contain Fruit. Hmmmm. Now If I was shipping a fruit basket, would I need to put a warning label telling me about the product? What exactly is wrong with the fruit that I need to warned that it's fruit. I could see if it had peanuts or something that might cause an allergy but it's fruit. Fruit shipped as fruit... in a box. No mystery there. Hmmm.

These are our dogs, Pete and Stewie-they are best buds. Pete stays home and sleeps all day while Stewie is out at work with my husband working as his hearing dog. Larry has been deaf since the age of 4.

Stewie alerts Larry to the telephone ringing, someone knocking at the door, the kids crying, smoke alarm and many other sounds. Tonight, Larry ran to Target to pick up a few items for me. There were two girls there ooohing and aaahing over Stewie and trying to get close to him and pet him. Their mother stood by and said and did nothing. Stewie in his ever present working mode, stared straight ahead and only focused on Larry as he should. He's spot on in public. In restaurants, he curls up under the tables and sleeps and only responds when Larry needs him. So what annoys me? People who clearly see the sign on Stewies vest that says, "I'm working-please don't pet me" and ignore it. Stewie is not a pet, he is an assistance dog. He is on duty 24 hours a day and loves working for Larry. He's a Lab and all Labs need a job or they turn into lunatics that don't behave.

At home Stewie loves to play but also knows at a moment's notice that Larry may need him. We always stop to educate people that may have questions about hearing dogs. Questions are different than interrupting a service dog at work and preventing them from doing their job. Yet people on a daily basis, often ask to pet Stewie. Last week while at Walmart, a woman and her family blocked the aisle so that Larry and Stewie couldn't get through. They stood there and stared at the dog and were talking to the dog in a cutesy voice trying to get the dog to respond. Larry just explains that he's working and excuses himself. Some people just don't get it. So here's the thing....feel free to ask questions, don't pet or talk to the dog, tell your kids (and adults) that we are not being rude, and move on.

Patrick and Morgan had sign language today. My neighbor and fellow homeschooling mom picked the kids up for me since I'm unable to drive. While the kids were gone, I had some nice time to work with Tae one on one. Being the smallest, he always has to share his time with the other kids. And let's face it-as homeschoolers we are always together. Tae was digging thru some books that a friend gave us and found this one that let's the kids use a dry erase marker to do their work. Tae LOVES dry erase markers. He has his own dry erase board for drawing or doodling or putting his magnetic letters on.

It's amazing to watch how he's putting things together. He's figuring out that letters have sounds with them. A few weeks ago he didn't understand this. I don't push him but he's getting it on his own. He did this all by himself and only put a K for the beginning letter in cup. "Kite begins with K" he said. (He often looks at the alphabet chart on the wall for sound and letter comparison). It's so confusing to them when they start to learn the sounds with letters-especially the letters that don't fit the norm. He'll get it. I forget that he's not even 5 years old yet. I remember this age with my other two kids. Watching the wheels turn and it seems for weeks they are stuck on one thing and then just explode with new concepts.

He worked on this page too. Beginning sounds. I was laughing because he had no idea what the milk carton was. Homeschooled kids never see or use milk cartons like public school kids. When I told him that is was milk he said, "Why isn't it in a glass jug?" We get our milk delivered each week the old fashioned way. Perhaps if it was in a sippy cup with a crazy straw he would know what it was.

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New Years Coming and Going

Happy 2009! I hope you all had a terrific and safe New Year. I spent the night celebrating with my patients at the hospital...most of whom had no idea that the New Year had even come upon them. Instead of the usual homeschool/life snippet today, I thought I would recap the year at our lovely home.

Last January, we hired a dog trainer for our new dog named Pete. Pete was a rescue from Boxer Angel Rescue and came to us with some issues. Jeff from Solid K9 training (http://www.solidk9training.com/) continues to work with us and helped us understand

Pete's behavior.

I was busy with the church visioning weekend where we determined our vision and mission statements for our church (http://www.westminsteruu.org/). It was a great experience in planning and the event took the whole weekend. Thankfully, I had my fellow church member and friend Maureen to help. Our Small Group Ministry program was in full swing and going well and my group of six women continued to support and uplift me.

Larry continued to act as treasurer for the RI Chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association and Patrick attended many meetings with other kids who had Tourette's.

The kids all continued with their Sign Language classes at Exeter Library on Thursdays.

March brought more changes for us. Our dog Pete went to spend 3 weeks with the trainer, Larry decided that he needed a new hearing dog after all of these years without one and we traveled to Princeton, Mass to NEADS (http://www.neads.org/) to have his initial interview. Larry was also evaluated by Dr. Duff to see if he would qualify for a Cochlear Implant. Many hearing tests and physical exams followed this appointment before they would schedule the surgery. It had been difficult for Larry as his hearing continued to deteriorate at a rapid rate.

March is the time when Larry's bonus comes in and I ordered all of the kids curriculum for homeschool for the coming year. Whew-that was cumbersome. And for the first time, I involved the kids in what they wanted to study besides the normal subjects. It has been a huge turning point for me to let the kids take charge of their own learning.

May brought the return of our DRE Renee at church, she has been traveling and homeschooling for the year with her two girls. They shared their video slides with us from across the country and we marveled at the hospitality that other UU churches showed them.

Our new above ground pool was installed and it wasn't long before the kids were swimming in the chilly 58 degree water.

I also started my own homeschool group called The Meetinghouse. We started meeting once a week in our empty in law apartment. The group has now grown to over 30 and we've made some remarkable friends. I also ordered some baby chicks in our efforts to become more self sustaining. It would be several weeks before they arrived but in the meantime, Larry tilled me a new huge garden and put up a fence to protect it from the deer. We also purchased two rainbarrels to help water the garden and Larry was busy working with the kids on the chicken coop that was converted from part of our existing barn.

The kids finished up the school year at the end of May and I submitted report cards to the school and filed our letter of intent to homeschool next year. The new superintendent was apparently not aware of homeschooling laws and denied almost every homeschooler their "permission" to homeschool. Many months of negotiations took place until an understanding (in the homeschoolers favor) was reached. All of us were eventually approved.

June found us planting our garden and spending many hours out there with the kids. We planted bottle neck gourds, pumpkins, beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, eggplant, broccoli, and tons of sunflowers.

Roger Williams Zoo also opened their Flutterby exhibit and the kids and I made several trips there. It was a calming, relaxing place with the most beautiful butterflys.

In July, our eight baby chicks arrived by mail. The kids were so excited and spent the next few weeks taking care of chicks.

Morgan also got two Guinea Pigs for her ninth birthday. It was a momma and a baby named Hazelnut and Oreo.

Larry went in for his Cochlear Implant surgery. He did well but it was a nerve wracking time for me. It would be six long weeks before the implant was activated and whether we would know if the surgery was a success. He was plagued by tinnitus for the entire six weeks while he waited.

The kids had a great time yucking it up with Larry and the phrase, "Can You Hear Me Now" was heard often.

The kids swim lessons continued in August and we made full use of our pool. I celebrated my 40th birthday by getting Lyme disease. The tick that bit me also gave me Erlichiosis and Babesiosis. It was a difficult summer but my church helped us out tremendously by supplying meals when I was unable to cook and visiting when I was feeling down. Larry took much time off from work to help care for the kids and for me.

Morgan started Soccer in September and had games every Saturday. The kids started back to their schoolwork around the second week of September but since the weather was still so warm we spent a few last dips in the pool.

Larry and I were busy finalizing fundraising efforts for his hearing dog named Stewie. We managed to raise the full amount needed for his hearing dog and decided to go ahead with the planned fundraiser and donate the money raised to the Canines For Combat Vets program thru NEADS. There was much to be done for the fundraiser and my long time friend and fellow adoptive mother Lori B., helped tremendously with planning.

Larry also had his Cochlear Implant activated and it was a huge success in bringing new sounds to him that he never experienced before. Things like dripping water faucets and squeaking sneakers on wet floors were all new to him.

Larry's mom also went in for knee replacement surgery and stayed at a rehab facility for a few weeks getting her strength back.

October was very busy. Our fundraiser went well and we raised several thousand dollars toward the Combat Vets program.

Larry's brother Kevin and his Jazz band provided the entertainment for the fundraiser. Larry's niece Sofia sang and Gabriella played the drums.

Kevin plays an awesome sax.

Lori helped me with the auction table and did an outstanding job of promoting the items.
I was also able to attend the UUA conference in Worcester, Mass with several other church members. It was a wonderful day of faith and fellowship.

Our chickens finally started laying some eggs. They were delicious. The eggs-not the chickens.

Sadly, on October 12th, Larry's mom passed away. It was a difficult time but the family, as always, pulled together.

The last week of October Larry traveled to Princeton, Mass for a weeks training with his new Hearing dog named Stewie. He was gone for the whole week which was really difficult but came home on Halloween in enough time to see the kids in their costumes.

November brought with it some colder weather. I harvested the last of my gourds for drying over the winter. Morgan finished outdoor soccer and started competitive indoor soccer after making it through tryouts.

I gave my first sermon on Organ Donation at our church and did an info table after the service.

I completed my RN credentialing and CPR renewal for work and the kids took some time off from school for Thanksgiving.

I returned to my doctors office as my Lyme disease entered the chronic phase and I was plagued with new and also returning symptoms. Lots of repeat bloodwork didn't show much but my body was not happy.

December brought the joy of the season as I spent lots of time with the kids. Our homeschool group made lots of Christmas ornaments, had a great cookie swap and the mom's got a nice night out at Clayground where we painted ceramics and we celebrated a wonderful Christmas pageant and Christmas Eve Candlelight service with the kids at church.

Larry's Dad came to spend some time with us and we so enjoyed having him here.

I was finally able to see an Infectious Disease Doctor and restarted another course of antibiotics for the Lyme disease. We are contemplating IV therapy to hopefully eradicate this nastiness and get me healthy again.

Larry took some much needed vacation time away from work but managed to get a lot of house repairs done. Our bedroom is now painted (we only stripped the wallpaper off last February so completing this within a year-well not so bad for us).

New Year's Eve we were hit with another snow storm and the kids are happily playing outside in 12 degree weather.

Overall, it was a difficult year but also one that brought many blessings of family, friends, fresh chicken eggs and an abundant garden, healthy, happy, thriving kids, friends, hearing dogs and new hearing, outpouring of support for our fundraiser and a renewed hope with the election of President Obama. We are focusing on the positive aspects of our lives as much as possible and this year for us was all about developing the community of love and sustenance around us. It has all happened, perhaps not in the way we envisioned, but it did happen.

Financially, we continue to struggle as do many others in these hard times. But our home and family provide the haven and respite that is so needed in times of struggle. We continue to provide the best example we can for our children and for ourselves because ultimately, the rest will work itself out. We hope that all of you continue to look for the everyday gifts that are present in your lives despite the trials and turmoils that may come.

Blessings to all for a prosperous, healthy and happy New Year.

Bev

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