The River Club...

Okay, so we're not a club yet, but when the great River Litter finds their matches, we are bound to be feel like a club!

What am I babbling about? WELL!!! We were given an opportunity to accept a special needs placement from 4 Paws for Ability! Our dog has mild hip dysplasia that may never affect her ability to work.

We are super excited to be announcing that Mr. Ryan has been assigned to a training class when he will get his service dog. We will be attending training in December! How exciting! A new baby AND a special new family member this year!!

Savannah is a Member of the River Litter. Born at 4 Paws to Dad, River and Mom, Dreamer she is one of the first German Retrievers to arrive into our service dog program. We are hoping for great tracking dogs from this litter. Birthdate 5-29-2008

A tooth!

My baby lost his first tooth today!!!!

::sniffle:: Suddenly he looks so much bigger than he did last night....

And he found out he's going to be a big brother again. I haven't seen him this happy in a long time. He's VERY excited.

Gifts

To those who have found a way to be so very generous to 4 Paws for Ability in Ryan's name - all I can say is thank you. I know we are still a long way from our goal of $13,000 but you have set us on the path and given to help a wonderful cause and a great little boy who deserves all the chances in the world to be as close to normal as he can be.

I was offered a job about a month or so ago. It would have been good. I would have had free gym membership (something I've kind of been wanting, so long as I had a buddy to encourage me) AND I could take my kids with me. I could get out and socialize!! What better for a stay at home mom?

I asked Ryan what he thought about it. He gave it a great deal of serious thought and he said, "Mommy it would be fun, but only with less than 5 kids. I can't do more than that...please, Mommy, don't do it. Maybe after I have a dog friend...maybe then?"

He said something similar when Tom and I mentioned taking him and his sister to Disney World. He said how much he really really wanted to go...but only when there weren't people there. ::sigh:: The last time we took him into a large group he bolted on us and hid.

It was terrifying.

And now our friends are coming back to town in May for the same convention. Tom and I really enjoyed attending the convention, except for Ryan being terrified and just about losing it several times and then running off and hiding.

Another thing we have to give up...but at least this time I can tell myself it's "just for now" because we have hope. Someday, hopefully soon, Ryan will be done with fundraising and he will just have to wait for his special dog to be trained. Then we'll be able to look forward to going places and doing things again. Maybe it will take a whole year for Ryan and his dog to be close enough for us to go to Disney World or to a big convention, but that time will be so short compared to the 10-15 years the therapists say it would otherwise take.

Thank you again to those who have found money, pocket change, gotten a cheaper coffee, whatever to be able to help 4 Paws for Ability to help our family. We really appreciate it.