Getting Ready for our Trip

So today me and Ro have to run some errands to get ready for our trip tomorrow.  We are off to Idaho for a family reunion.  Last night we went out to see Harry Potter and she did great at the movies!  She slept for most of it, and some parts were loud but she went right on relaxing!  Such a good girl.
Things are going pretty well, aside from the fact that while closing our front door she smooshed her foot and is scared of it now...but I've been talking with Barb and hopefully we will work her back into it soon!  She's back to being able to close it from inside without hesitation, but I'm going to leave the tugging it shut alone until we get back from the trip.
She's done well with picking up my keys in the last few days.  She had started not getting them when we were out and I tend to drop those a lot.  I haven't tried it again while we are out yet, but I think we'll try today and see how it goes since at home she's been doing great.  We've also been practicing some of her other skills and they are going well.  She helps me with the laundry by pulling the basket down the hallway.  She does it better then I ever did!  She also does really well with the hall lights turning them on/off.  The last big improvement I've noticed is when we are outside.  Her focus is so so so wonderful!
Ro had also shown a liking of Alexis' carebear...and while I was in the other room I heard a 'conversation' going on.  Alexis was explaining to Ro that bear was her special toy and that she could play with her other ones but not the bear. (it was pretty cute!)  So I decided that we should get Ro a special stuffy so she'd leave bear alone.  We went through the girls stuffed animals and I told them to let me see any of them they would be o.k. with giving to Ro.  They put in one of the ones I've had for, well, 11 years or so!  It's a black cat I called 'Marmite' after the yummy stuff I put on toast! (Zane doesn't like it...I think it's wonderful!).  When I let Ro go over and grab one, that's the one she went for.  And so far it's worked, she leaves everything else alone and loves Marmite!!  It's a special stuffy-one Zane gave me when we first started dating so I'm glad it's getting some love again! :)  Anyhow, here are some more cute pics of her and her new stuffy!  I'll try to keep updates going while we are on our trip!

Out to Lunch

Today we had plans to meet Ro's puppy raiser (well one of them!) for lunch.  I was worried that we almost might not be able to go because this morning Ro was whining at the door, so I took her out thinking that maybe she needed to go to the bathroom-and she had diarrhea.  Never cleaned up runny dog poop (have to say it was not my favorite thing for sure)...so I called Barb because I wasn't really sure what to do.  I didn't want to rush her to the vet if it wasn't necessary.  We decided that I would feed her half of her normal morning food and see how she did.  As long as she didn't have runny poop for a few times in a row then she should be fine.  Ro came in and looked very tired, so I fed her and let her sleep for a few hours.  When she woke up she seemed to be fine!  So I took her out and let her pee and waited a bit to make sure she didn't have to go again.  We came in and played a little bit (didn't want to make her sick).  She seemed fine so I called to let her puppy raiser know we'd be there!
Ro was thrilled to see her again!  She did a good job of listening while being so excited!  In the last few days me and Ro have really been 'clicking' and I'm finding that we are working really well together. It was fun learning all about the family that raised Ro from when she was about 8 weeks old until 18 months old.  (It was obvious that she came from a very loving family that enjoyed having her.)  They really did a fabulous job in exposing her to many things.  I know that it was probably very hard for them to give Ro to advanced training after loving and working with her for so long, but I am very grateful for all they have done for her (and us!).  I have always tried to keep in my head all the love and hard work that people before me have done, but this really gelled it all together.  I think that CaPR does a great job of finding loving people to help raise the puppies and gets them great training.  So, thanks again to everyone for helping us on this journey! :)
When we got home the girls were having a play-date with one of their friends.  So we had two extra adults and another little one.  Once again, Ro was so well behaved and I wanted to keep up our routine of practicing her cue's in the evening.  We went into the other room and even with the kids laughing and being loud in the other room she did fabulous.  She didn't even solicit for attention when we finished and came back in, she just relaxed on the floor and stayed focused on me!  I might need to do my makeup more often now-there will always be eyes on me!! hahah! (just kidding-makeup takes too long...)

One thing I forgot to finish talking about yesterday was about meeting with Barb for the leash.  We actually ended up getting the custom leash while we were there!  We showed our ideas to Katrina, and she came out with a bunch of hooks and rings and we were able to figure out a workable design-and then she went in the back and made it right then!  So we were able to leave with a new leash.  I think it is going to work out great, it hooks to my wheelchair so that I can use my hands for pushing and helping me carry things.  It can also be a regular leash and even has different lengths when you use different rings.  I'll have to take a picture of it in the next few days and we will be making it more permanent when I get my new chair (hopefully soon!).

Settling down

The past few days have made for quite an adjustment!  There have been both ups and downs, but we've been able to work past both.  I have been finding that juggling three kids, a husband, a cat and a dog to be exhausting to say the least!  We went to an appointment I had to order my new wheelchair, but apparently I was taken off the calendar and not informed, so that was frustrating!  It is looking like I won't be able to get a new wheelchair anytime soon.
Me and Ro have managed to go out a few times to get some good skill practice in.  Things have also been going better at home and I'm finding that she is doing great with still listening to me with a million distractions going on!  Her 'legs' skill where she helps me stretch is coming along wonderfully and she only occasionally needs me to add in the hand cue.  She does fabulous retrieves for me at home when I drop things, but when we are out I'm finding it more difficult.
Today we are seeing Barb and going to a meeting about getting a custom leash made!  We just got back in from a fun game of retrieve and Ro did an excellent job of coming right back and not being distracted! Yay!
Anyhow, here is a photo I managed to get of the kids (Riley was not cooperative though!).  Thought it was pretty cute! :)

Day Fourteen: Public Access Test

So today we took our Public Access Test.  After the test we went back into the mall to sit down with Linda, DeAnn, Barb, Hudson and Chivay to find out that...we passed! :)  Ro got her official service dog vest which she looks gorgeous in!!  Ro was VERY excited to see Chivay, her therapy dog buddy, and I had a hard time calming her down, but after a bit she was able to relax and take some photos with everyone!  Here is my favorite one because you can see her spiffy new vest!

Then we got a really nice gift from Barb and family-delivered (carried) by Chivay- too cute!  And then we went out to lunch.  Ro and Chivay were very well behaved during lunch!  I really enjoy sitting and talking to Barb, she has been so helpful during our training and I couldn't imagine doing it without her!  I think this marks a new chapter for our family and we are very excited for what the future holds! :)

Day Thirteen: Meet the Family

So late last night Zane and the kids got home.  Today was our first day as a family...and unfortunately I was grumpy :(  I have not been feeling well and I tend to be a tad on the unpleasant side when sick.  The transition seems to be going fairly well though!  I have to keep reminding the girls that they aren't to be giving Ro cues, but she seems to listen to me rather than them anyhow.  They like to play 'Find Brobee' and would play all day if I let them, even Ro got tired of the game I think!
Barb came over to give Zane a quick 'how-to' on taking care of Ro so that if I am sick in bed ever, she would still be taken care of.  Zane was really good about listening and learning all the new stuff!  So far so good it seems!

Day Twelve: Last Practice at Mall

Today was our last day of placement training to get ready for our public access test on Monday.  Although it is exciting to think of how far we've come, it's hard to believe that Barb won't be with us when we go out anymore...I will have to do it all on my own, though  I am feeling more confident working with Ro. Barb had prepared a practice session for us with a list of things to do on our own around the mall.  There were things like having Ro in a 'down' while I look at clothing and I needed to make sure she stayed calm and waited for me to continue on.  Another thing we have been working on is having Ro stay calm when people come and talk to me or ask to pet her.  This is definitely becoming easier as we practice...but even when I tell people that she's not to be pet I'll glance over and they are trying to pet her!  I'm glad that Ro loves people, but I know that I have to keep an eye on that so that while we are out I can still get things done without having to stop a million times because people are wanting to pet her!  Anyways, I think we did well on our practice session.  Ro was really well behaved, in fact-while we were at a shoe store I had her under a table while I browsed for awhile and then I called her to me and she came right away and a lady said "There's been a dog in here?!  She's so quiet!"  Exactly what I was looking for, people shouldn't really notice she's around if her and I are doing what we need to be doing.  We also practiced some pivots and making sure Ro and I are able to turn and stay in position.
This evening has been very quiet as I am not feeling too well.  I woke up this morning with a bit of a sore throat and my sinus' hurting.  It was doing better around lunch time, but when we got home I started feeling worse again.  So we took a short nap and have been watching more TV.  Zane and the kids will be home late tonight so it should be fun seeing how our new family dynamic will play out!

Day Eleven: Practical Skills, Mall and Grocery Store

Today we practiced a lot of practical skills that we have been learning the past few weeks. Barb watched while I worked with Ro so she could give me feedback on how I'm using the cues.  I really want to make sure I'm using them correctly so that I don't confuse her.  Sometimes I still use 'up' when I really mean 'stand'-so I have been trying to be conscientious about what I say to her.  Also...I tend to repeat myself instead of giving her process time.  So if I want her to sit I say: "Ro, sit...sit...sit.  Good girl!"  Whoops!  It's getting better though and I am finding myself doing that less and less!  Hopefully I can be more mindful and use the leash less as well!  It's hard changing your mindset, but I think we are doing pretty well overall.  
After practicing our skills at home we headed to the mall.  Me and Ro are doing well at 'reading each other' and I am finding that she is walking where she needs to be with me correcting her less and less.  When I was in line to get food a lady asked me if Ro has to work 24/7.  I didn't realize that people thought that!  So, I'll let you judge for yourselves...does this look like an over-worked dog?!

I think she looks like she's smiling!!  Barb and I were laughing so hard when we saw her doing this, I was very glad to snap a photo!! :)

After lunch we walked around the mall and practiced more of the skills we will be doing for our public access test on Monday.  I think for having worked together for only 11 days we are doing well!  Hopefully we can keep it up and do well enough that I will be able to take her out on my own soon!  While Ro and I were browsing one of the staff in the department store came up and asked if I needed any help or had any questions.  She also commented on how cute my dog was.  The reason I bring this up is because many times I'll go into a store and be ignored (or stared at while trying to do something difficult) and I found it refreshing that I was being helped instead!  Once we were done with the mall Barb said she'd meet up back at the car so that I could practice getting Ro out by myself...well...I have a terrible sense of direction (thanks Mom-love ya though!) and it took us a long time!! I kept going out all of the exits from JCPenny's because I knew we parked by it, but couldn't find the car!  Ro just looked at me like "Why are we going in and out so much?!"  But eventually we found it and headed to the grocery store.  I needed to pick up a few things so that I could eat tonight!  Once we got home Ro took a long nap-I think she was tired from looking for the car so long!! Hahaha!! 
After her nap I took her out for a run along the canal that runs by our house.  There is a lot of green grass and an extra wide sidewalk.  It was really nice and she did an excellent job of keeping pace with me-even down the hills! :)  Our day was fun, but we are both super tired-so we decided to watch some TV on the couch so we can rest up for another fun day tomorrow.