Hi, I'm Rudy. I'm a cute Toy Poodle who writes children's books. I live in Minnesota with Daddy, Mommy and my little brother Boomer! My big brothers Dito, Kirby and Dexter live in Heaven. I have learned so much from all my brothers, Mommy and Daddy too. Mommy and Daddy do programs for children and adults. They talk about me, blindness, transplants, living donors and many other things. I'm writing my little blog to share news and events that happen to my family and me. Hope you enjoy.
We hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season; we sure did! As the year draws to a close, let us reflect on the last year and look forward to the new year.
We had a relaxing Christmas Eve and Day, highlighted by a nice meal, watching Charlie Brown Christmas on TV, listening to the Carpenter's Christmas CD, playing with our new toys, a candle light service and seeing Star Wars in 3-D!
Ringo and I had a play date and spa appointment. We feel so much better with all that shedding hair gone! The mani-pedi's were a nice treat, too.
Mommy and Daddy visited with my Uncle John and human cousins, Jake and Lauren. They had a great time.
We look forward to a visit with Aunt Tammy and fuzzy cousin, Barkley this Saturday. We will have some nice fluffy snow to play in!
2016 is only a couple days away and we look forward to an exciting year ahead. We are taking on some new volunteer activities, which I will explain in great detail next time. Right now, I just want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, fun-filled 2016! As always, thank you for all your support! We couldn't do it without you!
We won't say much because we know everyone is crazy busy this time of year. We have been doing many things around our house - writing lots of letters, wrapping presents, playing Frisbee and getting some projects ready for next year.
Ringo wanted to let everyone know that today is his birthday! In his two short years, he has already learned that having a birthday so close to Christmas is very confusing. He keeps wondering if he is getting a birthday treat or a Christmas treat. I tell him, "Count it as a Birthday treat. If you are good - you might get another one in a couple days for Christmas."
Here's little bro Ringo with the crazy bear that shows up every birthday.
Since I haven't written for a while, I would like to catch up a bit before we get rolling.
I hope everyone had a nice Veteran's Day and had a chance to thank a veteran for his/her service.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and spent time with family or friends. Maybe you had the time to relax and ponder all the things you are thankful for in your life. I am very thankful for my little bro, Ringo, Mommy, Daddy and my Frisbee! I am one lucky puppy!
Mommy and Daddy participated in a local Author's Fair on November 14. Mainly, they advised beginners on what it takes to become an author. People like free advice. Mommy told them they need to work very hard and get used to a lot of rejection. Writing is just one part of being an author. You also need to promote yourself and do hours of marketing. It's not easy! One person asked when she could expect to turn a profit. Mommy said with a big smile, "If you are looking for profits, don't quit your day job! Unless you are someone famous; a lot of writers don't turn a profit. We do it because we love writing - it is a passion."
An update on Mommy. Some of you know her pancreas transplant doesn't work anymore. She started taking insulin last year. In the last few months, she was having several low blood sugars daily. It was really starting to affect her overall health. Daddy said it was getting hard to see her deteriorate. It took a lot of effort and daily interactions with medical professionals, but Mommy finally got her insulin pump! The pump will allow her to have better control and most importantly, she can suspend insulin from entering her body when she feels a low blood sugar! Mommy is on day four and she is already feeling better than she has in months!
I should add Mommy's pretty blue insulin pump to the list of things I am thankful for, I guess I will! It's happy dance time!
In Minnesota, weather this nice in November is called a bonus! While we are outside taking in as much of the bonus as possible, I will leave you with these pictures. Lots of playtime leads to?
We will have a guest blogger this time. Since it is
Halloween season, we thought we would share a story Mommy wrote. First, I
will wrap up a few items. The weather is great. The Autumn leaves
are all kinds of beautiful; Ringo and I have enjoyed playing in them.
Without further ado...
Haunted houses, witches, jack-o-lanterns,
black cats, ghosts and goblins. Halloween is a holiday children look
forward to for months. Especially the trick or treating. Who
wouldn't be a fan of going door to door, dressed in costumes, collecting
delectable treats to savor over the next few months? It was like a dream
come true! Until the Halloween when she was eight years old.
Halloween was going to be great that year.
She and her little brother had new hand made costumes, two sizes to big
to accommodate the foul weather jackets that may or may not be needed!
Her brother was a cute clown. She was the traditional witch.
They were going trick or treating with their friends, a group of five in
all, some younger - some older. It was a familiar neighborhood - lots of
children, a church, a couple of schools and their day care.
The group had "hit the streets"
hard, going up and down three blocks. The younger kids were getting
tired, so they went home to admire and relish their booty.
Along the way, she noticed her shoe was
untied. She stopped at the corner to tie it. The group went ahead
because they didn't notice she stopped.
She knelt down to tie her chunky brown
shoes. The girl stood up when finished and fell right back down. It
was a hard fall, knocking the wind out of her. As she awoke, she heard
kids laughing and running away. She didn't know what happened. Didn’t
she tie her shoe right? Did she trip herself? Why did her head hurt?
Putting two and two together, she figured it out. It was not an accident. The real give away was the fact that her bag of treats was gone.
The laughing kids had hit her over the
head, knocked her down and stole her candy. Adding insult to injury, they
had taken the little blue pocket flashlight belonging to her dad. The
girl put it in the candy bag when she tied her shoe. She didn't want to
misplace it. She felt really bad about it being taken.
She caught up with her group of friends
and told them what happened. They were close to their destination, where
her dad was waiting to take little brother and her home.
When they got to their home, the little
girl went with her dad to a couple of neighborhood houses so she could at least have a couple treats. She was still scared.
When she turned nine years old, the little
girl was diagnosed with type I diabetes. The diagnosis was in September.
She would never have a trick or treating again, where she could collect the
delectable treats and savor them all by herself.
She did go trick or treating the
Halloween of her ninth year. She wore the traditional witch costume and
the chunky brown shoes. She didn't go with friends - she went with an
adult and her brother. The little girl was still scared. She gave
the candy to a neighbor girl who was in the hospital. The bullies had
taken away her innocent little girl Halloween dream.
Yes, that little girl was me. Even
though this happened many years ago, the memories are still very vivid.
The story is all true; nothing has been embellished for effect.
After that Halloween, I never felt safe
walking in the dark, especially alone in the dark. It made belonging to
choir, band, volunteering, concerts and sporting events very difficult to attend. I always had to walk home in the dark. I participated in the events, but was always frightened. Often I ran, holding my breath. I would go out of my way if
I heard or saw something suspicious. At 19, I lost my sight. I had
no choice but to walk in the dark for the rest of my life.
Do bullies realize or even care what their
actions do to their victims? Victims can forgive, they will never forget.
The scars are forever. What about the bullies? What price do
they pay?
Hello Everyone! As you can tell by the greeting, it's little bro, Ringo writing this blog. I will start with the weather update - for the seventh weekend in a row, we have enjoyed sunny weather! The temperatures have varied from chilly to very warm, but the sun has been shining for much of the weekend days.
A couple weeks ago, Daddy took Boomer! to the Vet for his annual check-up. They were surprised by the weight he had gained! Upon further examination, it ended up that Boomer! has hypothyroidism. Not to worry, this is a very treatable condition and he will need to take medicine every day for the rest of his life. Other signs of his condition were lethargy (being tired) and loss of hair. It's hard to tell hair loss on Boomer! because he is a Lab and they tend to shed a lot!
He's already feeling better, much more active and his hair feels nice and shiny!
Mommy and Daddy had another Children's Program last week. They had a great turn out (27 children and 17 adults)! The library was very happy, and considered it a success. Mommy and Daddy thought it was great, too, and had a lot of fun! They always enjoy talking to the children (and adults) and sharing our stories. The kids asked some really good questions.
Their next event is a Local Author Book Fair on Saturday, November 14. We hope to schedule more events, fingers and paws crossed! Book orders are slowly streaming in, I guess everyone took the summer off and are catching up now.
I hope everyone is taking advantage of the beautiful Fall season and absorbing all the sunshine you can!
Love,
Little Bro, Ringo
Since it is Fall and the new school year has started, we have kicked off our new season of Programs and Events. Mommy is still rehabbing her foot, but can wear special shoes and doesn't need crutches! With Mommy's progress, we felt comfortable scheduling again and are continuing to book more!
In preparation for the new season, we promoted little bro, Ringo to Junior Writer. He will still be under my supervision and all final decisions will be made by Mommy or Daddy. Ringo was excited to begin his responsibilities and expand his writing skills. Look forward to more words from Ringo!
We also got a card reader, so we can accept credit and debit cards! A new banner now dons our book table at events. It looks really nice! Daddy added a new calendar of upcoming events to our web site so everyone can track our movements!
We had a fabulous children's program today called "Storytime with Stacy" at the Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings. Several delightful youngsters were eager to hear Mommy's talk, listen to Daddy read two stories and they taught us a new song called, "Open, Shut, Open, Shut."
We read "What's On My Nose?" and "Rudy's Check Up." We figured these two were good choices for this time of year. Since it's coming up to cold and flu season, it is a good time to learn about what happens at a doctor's office (Rudy's Check Up). If you have ever read, "What's On My Nose," you'll know why that was a good choice! A hint, there is a beautifully colored leaf in the story! We will include some pictures from today's event with this blog. We hope you enjoy! Aren't they cute?
So far, we have two more events scheduled. Another children's program will be held at the Heritage Library in Lakeville on Friday, October 16 at 10:30. Please join us, if you can! We always have a good time!
In November, we are participating in a Local Author Book Fair. It will be on Saturday, November 14 from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Western Service Center Atrium in Apple Valley. It's a perfect opportunity to meet authors and have them sign your books. Don't forget, Christmas will be right around the corner....
While Mommy and Daddy are out and about, Ringo and I like to enjoy this beautiful weather! We play as much as we can outside - chasing leaves as they fall off the trees and also squirrels collecting acorns. We also get the Frisbee, football and tennis ball out for a few rounds!
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of our dear friend, Ali Gratz, suddenly and quietly passing away in her sleep on September 9, 2015. Ali was the illustrator of our first book, "Rudy Gets A Transplant," and will always be a very important member of the Rudy's Little World family.
At age 11, Ali drew illustrations that were charming and thoughtful. Having been through a kidney transplant herself, she was able to convey a child's perspective to a difficult subject. Ali captured Rudy's spirit and added a calming quality to the book that helped take some of the fear away. She inspired other children to try their hand at illustrating.
Ali experienced more in her 19 years than most, struggling with lifelong kidney disease (FSGS), but had a love of life and lived every day to the fullest. Some of her favorite words: LIFE, LOVE, HOPE and JOY.
Her motto's included: "Look forward." "Never give up." "Make someone smile." "Always take time to get goofy and silly." "Do something for others."
Ali dealt with her health challenges by showing care, consideration and compassion to others. She will live on in the hearts of many all over the world. We thank Ali for sharing her extraordinary talents with us and thank her for teaching us all how to make the most of every day. Time is precious. Cherish it.
In Minnesota, we can always expect winter to be cold. It's just a matter of how cold and how much snow. The rest of the year... you never know. This time of year is very unpredictable. One day can be sunny and high 90's, the next can be windy, rainy and mid 60's! Last weekend was a mix of both.
Saturday, Daddy and Mommy went to a wedding. It started out warm, sunny and very windy. The ceremony was outside and the wind blew everything around. Daddy read a Robert Frost poem and did a wonderful job. Daddy's an excellent reader! Everyone went inside for the reception (a fancy word meaning eating and talking to friends). That is when the storm rolled in! The wind was blowing so hard, the rain didn't come down - it went sideways!
Sunday was a lot better, but still windy. Ringo and I had a spa day at home. It was our first one ever! We didn't know how Ringo would handle it, he is such a youngster and very unpredictable! Daddy clipped my nails first and filed them nicely. I was very still and held my paws up so Daddy could reach them with ease. I wanted to be a good example. Ringo didn't take the hint. Mommy held him while Daddy clipped and filed his nails. Mommy was in charge of the singing, kisses and keeping the little guy calm. I was there for moral support. I liked our Mani-pedi's!
We ordered a new banner for our upcoming events, it looks very nice. Our book sales have been unpredictably slow this summer, so we hope they pick up!
We have a few programs for this fall, but we would like to get more. Mommy and Daddy do great programs, so if you know anybody needing a great program.... :)
Mommy's therapy on her foot has been progressing well. She is able to put more weight on it and walk longer!
For the past few weeks, Mommy has been having some vertigo. That is dizziness and makes her shaky on her feet. She also gets sick to her stomach. She can be great for a couple days in a row and then it will hit her unexpectedly and suddenly! Very unpredictable! We are not sure what causes it yet, could be sinuses, a pain in her neck, or the knock she took in the head when we got our new refrigerator.
Weather, love, business/sales, behavior (especially of little brothers), health - all unpredictable! Wow! Is anything in life predictable? I'm going to think about that a while. I need a nap!
Where has the time gone? I can't believe it is August already. The only reason I know it is for sure, is because we celebrated my sixth birthday on Sunday.
Since it was my birthday, Ringo asked me if he could write the blog this time. I told him he's still too young and needs a little more experience, so he asked if he could write a few lines. I said, "Sure, give it a try. By the way, those 'lines' are called sentences." I'm always trying to teach the little one and groom him for the family business!
Without any further hesitation, here's little bro, Ringo!
Hello, everyone! I'm Ringo, Boomer's little brother. He said I could write a few sentences for the blog this time. I'm glad he asked because I want to tell you how great he is. Boomer! is an awesome big brother and continues to teach me many things every day.
This Sunday was Boomer's sixth birthday. All he wanted was a couple of special treats, which he shared with me. He also wanted to play Frisbee and lots of it! That Frisbee is his favorite play time activity. Usually I chase Boomer while he runs after the red disc. Once in a while Daddy throws it to me, but I am too little to catch it in my mouth like Boomer! I prefer to chase Boomer. He always pays attention to me, keeping track of where I am at all times.
My big brother watches over me, shares with me, teaches me, encourages me and loves me very much. The feeling is mutual :)
Happy Birthday, Boomer!
Love,
Little Bro, Ringo
P.S. Don't forget to read my writings with an English accent as I am quite British! Ta!
Even though the Fourth of July and Daddy's birthday are over, we still had some very important dates to celebrate!
On July 15, we reminisced about Mommy and Daddy's fabulous experience 5 years ago. That is the day they met many terrific people in New Jersey! They still keep in contact with many of them.
On July 16, we celebrated the 6th anniversary of Mommy and Daddy's transplant. That's right, Daddy gave Mommy one of his kidneys and saved her life! Isn't it wonderful that they are such a good match?
One year ago on July 17, we had a little guy join our family. We named him Ringo, or should I say, he chose the name, Ringo! He has been quite a blessing to our family - full of energy and character. He's a pretty good little brother, too!
Today (July 22nd) we will remember our older brother, Kirby. 6 years ago today, Kirby went to Heaven. He was Mommy and Daddy's first puppy and taught them a lot! He especially showed them how much they love puppies in their life and that opened the door for the rest of us! Thanks, Kirby! Brothers Dito, Dexter, Rudy, Ringo and me owe you, bro!
Here is a picture of my little brother, Ringo, smiling as usual! He is not quite ready to start writing yet, but he does add to the creative process!
Why are summers so busy? I asked myself that question after I heard Mommy and Daddy talking about the weekend ahead. Is it because the weather is nicer (around here, anyway) than in the winter? That might be partially true. In the summer, we spend more time outside playing. Daddy has to cut the grass in our yard so we can run around. There are always projects to do that can't be done when it's cold outside.
This year, Mommy and Daddy went on a vacation that lasted 8 whole days. Ringo and I had a long sleepover play-date with our friends! When they returned, Daddy had many photos to sort and organize. He likes to take photos!
We also had Daddy's birthday! His birthday is on July 5. When he was young, his Mom told him the whole country lit fireworks to celebrate his birthday. She said they did it the night before because they were so excited! So, with the holiday and Daddy's birthday, they saw many people (family and friends).
Next, they will be going on a paddleboat ride on a river. It sounds like a lot of fun! Next month, they are going to a concert at the Zoo. Even though it's at the Zoo, Ringo and I can't go - I think the animals would scare little Ringo and the noise would hurt our ears!
One of these days, I hope we will be able to catch up with some of the normal activities (maybe a rainy day) For now, I will feel lucky and enjoy the sunshine! Never a dull moment.
Daddy and Mommy went on a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C. this month. While they were gone, Ringo and I had an extended sleepover at the home of our friend, Jennifer. We also had a fabulous time! Every day we had at least 5 to 7 furry friends and human friends to play with us. I made sure I spent at least one night with each of the humans in their beds, so no one felt left out.
Daddy had not been to our nations capitol before, so they wanted to be sure they saw as much as they could. Mommy planned a full itinerary for them including visits with family and friends!
The first day was an exploration trip to find out how to use the Metro (the train system in the D.C. area). They flew in mid-afternoon and Mommy's brother (John) picked them up at the airport. The traffic in D.C. is a lot busier than where we live!
Mommy said it was so nice seeing Uncle John again. I know how she feels. When my brother, Ringo is away from me, I miss him, too!
Mommy and Daddy never used a train before, so it was quite an aducation. They looked up the routes they would need each day and became real experts at something called the "Blue Line." The list of adventures included breakfast with our Senator (Al Franken). They got to say "Hello" and have their picture taken with him, but then he was off to vote on something.
After the Capitol tour, they walked outside and saw the capitol on the outside, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court and several sculptures. Daddy took many pictures (at least 750 of them)!
Later that day, they had dinner with Uncle John and his family. I found out I have two human cousins named Lauren and Jake!
Day two, Mommy and Daddy went to Arlington National Cemetery. They took a trolley around the cemetery because it is very big.
That afternoon, they went to cousin Lauren's graduation at Constitution Hall. All the graduates looked very nice, especially Lauren! When the ceremony was over they all went out to eat at a place with cheesecake! As you can tell, I love food!
A tour of the White House was scheduled for the next day. The First family was out of town, so they didn't get to meet Bo the dog :( Daddy said there were many rooms. He didn't get to take pictures because cameras weren't allowed inside. When the tour was over, they could take photos with their phones outside.
When Mommy and Daddy returned to the hotel, Mommy's friend, Stacy and her husband (Bill) were there. It is so funny that Mommy has a friend named Stacy because that is Mommy's other name, too! They hadn't seen each other for four years, so it was a wonderful reunion! After many hugs in the lobby, they went to the Botanical Gardens to see and smell the flowers. Then they went to a fabulous dinner at a two story restaurant on Backlick Road.
The next day they tackled the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It was a big place with lots of interesting stuff! Daddy and Bill took many photos, while Mommy and the other Stacy walked around and met many people. For some reason, people liked talking to the Stacys! It was so nice of Mommy's friend to push her around in a wheelchair - because of Mommy's foot, she is not able to walk more than 30 minutes at a time. Mommy can hardly wait until it is healed completely! After the museum, they had an Italian meal that was very tasty and filling!
That night, they hung out at the hotel bar while a storm went raging through the area! It was a nasty storm and a little bit scary! Stacy and Bill had to leave the next morning to go back to work.
The last two full days, Mommy and Daddy had a boat cruise on the Potomoc river where they could see Georgetown and all the memorials/monuments lit up at night. It was beautiful! On board, they had a nice meal and a band played awesome music.
The final day, they took a guided tour to make sure they caught all the memorials (Vietnam War, Marine Corp, Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean, WWII, etc.) It was very hot, so we appreciated the AC. They met Uncle John for dinner and one more hug. The next day, they took the shuttle to the airport and flew home to Ringo and me! I'll admit, it was nice to see them again - we were all smiles!
Love,
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab
P.S. Here's a little slideshow Daddy made of their trip - just the highlights for now...
On June 1, Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary. Being a puppy, I really don't know how much 30 is, but I am sure it's a lot. I am five and Ringo is 1, that adds up to six. I started counting on all my toes and got stuck. I guess I will have to admit I don't know 30, so it has to be very big.
As I rested in the sunniest spot of our big back yard, it dawned on me. What if Mommy and Daddy had never met? What would have happened? There would be no Waibel family, there would be no Waibel family puppies. No big brothers like Kirby, Dito, Dexter and Rudy! No little bro Ringo or ME! The thought of this really scared me. Ringo must have known I was deep in thought, because just at that moment, he pounced on me. Sneak attack! The little guy doesn't get me often, but this time I'm glad he did.
I didn't want to think about what might have been if Mommy and Daddy hadn't met a million years ago. I believe thirty has to be close to a million because they are both giant numbers.
In honor of the anniversary, Daddy made a fabulous slide show full of pictures from all their years together. He even included music that really fits the life they have lived and what is to come. The music is by one of their favorite artists, Gavin DeGraw. I hope you enjoy!
Just when Mommy was making real "strides" with her foot physical therapy, we had to take a step back.
On May 5, Mommy wasn't feeling well and had extreme pain in her abdomen. She was barely able to take her transplant meds that morning, but figured a little rest would help her feel better. Ringo and I watched her all morning, she didn't move much.
When Daddy came home at lunch to check on us, Mommy tried to take a sip of tea. What came next was intense! I won't share too much information, but I have never seen that shade of green or that much stuff come out of anyone before. That's right, Mommy threw up and it was a lot! Daddy was worried, as were Ringo and I. Mommy said she would be fine after a little more rest. She hadn't eaten or had anything to drink all day. She told Daddy to go back to work, she would be fine.
A couple hours later, explosion number two. This time, Mommy threw up even more! She was so dehydrated, her muscles were cramping up and she could barely hold herself up. She was able to call Daddy and ask him to come right home. She knew she needed to go to the hospital.
Daddy got home in record speed, helped Mommy into the car and off they went to the hospital.
When Mommy and Daddy got to the ER, they took Mommy's blood pressure. It was dangerously low, so they took her right back and gave her IV fluids, nausea meds and something for pain. After a CT and blood work, they determined it was an obstruction of the small intestine and some pancreas inflammation.
Mommy was in the hospital for five and a half days. For the first two days, she couldn't eat or drink anything. On day three, she had liquids and then moved to soft food. She got sick, so Mommy had to go back to liquids. On day five, she tried soft food again. It was mashed potatoes, her favorite! That was good enough to let her come home the next day!
On Sunday, May 10, Mommy came home just in time to celebrate Mother's Day with us! Ringo and I had a card for her and we even worked at a little dance to say "We missed you, welcome back!" I jumped up to give her a kiss, while Ringo did circles around me. After my kiss, Ringo jumped up and gave Mommy more kisses while I did circles - wagging my tail. It has been a slow, but steady recovery. Mommy has to work on stretching her stomach back to its normal size, again. She is still doing her foot therapy and hasn't thrown up since the hospital!
I guess this is life, two steps forward and then one step back. It's kind of like a health cha cha. It's a good thing Mommy likes to dance!
I can not believe April is over! When the weather is nice, does the time fly quicker? It has been a wonderful Spring for us in Minnesota. We are due, the last few springs were non-existent! I heard on the news that the lilacs are going to blossom sometime between May 7 and 12. Lilacs are the real sign of spring! My family loves their scent, so we are looking forward to them.
Mommy and Daddy participated in a book and media sale at the First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul. It was to support some missionaries. They always enjoy helping important causes. We don't have a lot of money, so donating the proceeds from book sales is a way we can help.
On April 24, we celebrated Rudy's 11th birthday. Even though he is in heaven, we know he watches over us. He can see us singing "Happy Birthday" to him and I'm sure that makes him happy!
Our book sales have been steady and we are very grateful for it. We had a book order every week last month. We're keeping our fingers and paws crossed that it continues.
Ringo and I had a play date at our friend, Jennifer's house. Mommy and Daddy went to our human cousin Emily's wedding. Furry cousins weren't invited. We had a good time at our play date and Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the wedding. We were all very tired at the end of the day. We played a lot at Jennifer's house!
Mommy is still going to PT for her foot. It is healing, but not
completely healed yet. The doctor wants her to take it slow. Mommy is
disappointed by that, but she understands. She was told at her last
appointment that the healing process could take at least 6 - 12 months,
if there are no setbacks. So, we go slow! Happy May, everyone! Hope
you have some fun in the sun!
In my last blog, I mentioned an interview Mommy had with a radio pod caster named Donna Seebo. Here is a 4 minute video of the highlights. Daddy added pictures to the audio, so you can see what they were talking about. I hope you enjoy it!
Like a typical April in Minnesota, we had some sunshine and now some snow. Living in Minnesota, we know we can never predict the weather this time of year. I remember four years ago, Mommy and Daddy were on their way to New Jersey for a "Take Your Child to Work" Day and we didn't know if the plane would be able to leave! It snowed 14 inches that day! Two years ago, they were coming home from Las Vegas and it snowed 12 inches! If you want it to snow in April, plan a trip out of town!
Speaking of out of town...We recently had an order from London, England! Ringo wanted to deliver it in person because he thinks he is British! Last week we had an order from Massachusetts. A nice woman ordered them because a doctor recommended the books to her! It is nice to hear that kind of news. We love helping others.
On April 17, we celebrated National Donate Life Day. It is a very special day in our home. As most of you know, Mommy has had several transplants. This has been possible due to three people; a woman in Florida donated her organs and Mommy got her pancreas. She has also had two living donors who each donated a kidney. Those generous people are Daddy and Auntie Tammy. Without them, Ringo and I would never have had the chance to meet Mommy. Wow! We are lucky! We are all very grateful for good people willing to share their spares. We encourage you to check that box on your ID.
Love,
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab
I'm getting a little tired of talking about my favorite subject, the weather. In typical early Spring fashion, we have been teased with a few nice sunny days and brought back to reality with the threat of snow. In our state, we have a chance of snow until mid-May! The forecasters predict rain for the next few days. I guess that's all right if it doesn't get too cold. The rain will help the grass and trees turn green. If it stays warm enough, it will help our sure sign of spring - the lilacs - I can already smell them in my mind!
Mommy had an interview late last month. It was on a pod-cast with a woman named Donna Seebo. I think Mommy did a great job. She talked about some of her challenges in life and our books. I heard her say our names a couple of times, so I know she talked about us, too! Mommy likes to talk, which is a good thing because the interview was 30 minutes long.
Mommy has been busy lately. She started Physical Therapy for her broken foot last week. The machine she uses sounds really cool! It's called an anti-gravity treadmill. Somehow the therapist zips this huge bag around her waist and pumps it up with air. The process takes away the gravity so she can walk without putting weight on her foot. AWESOME! She is up to 15 minutes per session. She also rides a bike with a little resistance for 10 minutes. We have a bike at home, so the therapist said she can start riding it at home as long as she doesn't overdo it.
Ringo and I will have to watch her. Mommy is very motivated to get back to her normal activities.
Rudy's Little World was very happy to receive a big book order from our friends at Child Life Services at the U of M Children's Hospital. They have been great supporters all these years and we really appreciate them.
Daddy had some time off from his school for the Easter/Passover holidays. He will be back at it working as hard as ever very soon. It seems like there is always something going on around here. I think that is good. If nothing else, we can all take a walk around the backyard and enjoy the new smells of spring and say hi to the neighbors! Life is good!
A few weeks ago, Mommy had a birthday. Birthdays are a big deal around our house. Of course, we bring out the Birthday Bear to sing. The one celebrating the birthday has "Happy Birthday Fun Day" where they get to choose whatever they want to do that day. Mommy and Daddy usually go shopping and out to dinner. When it is my birthday, I play Frisbee, get a new Frisbee for a gift and have a special treat. I usually share my treat with my brother. Ringo hasn't figured out his "Fun Day" routine yet, probably because he has only had one birthday.
I must explain something very special that happened on Mommy's Fun Day. Mommy and Daddy had gone out to eat at one of their favorite places they don't get to visit often. Shortly after being seated, the server brought over their favorite wine and said it had been paid for by one of Mommy's best friends. That was a great surprise! Mommy and Daddy continued enjoying their delicious meal and laughed about many events that had happened over the past few days. I bet they told stories about Ringo and me, we're pretty funny! In case you didn't know, Mommy and Daddy like to laugh and they do it often. They enjoy each others company.
Towards the end of the night they asked their favorite server if she would take a picture of them. Big smiles all around!
When the server came out with the bill, she leaned in and said, "A table just down from theirs picked up the bill and said they wanted to treat them." Mommy and Daddy were stunned and overwhelmed. The server went on to say these nice people do this sort of thing on occasion when they are moved by someone they feel deserves their kindness. Daddy managed to squeak out a 'Thank You' as he was still overwhelmed. After she left, they sat there in silence for a moment. Those kinds of things don't happen to Mommy and Daddy, so it was very touching. Daddy and Mommy were both misty eyed, but Daddy composed himself enough to approach their table to thank them. The woman from the table came over to Mommy and wished her a "Happy Birthday," and gave her a hug. The woman's name was Pacy! (Mommy's other name is Stacy!)
When Mommy and Daddy got up to leave, they stopped by the nice people's table to thank them again. Once there, the table started a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Mommy and even sang harmonies! It was quite good! What a wonderful evening made even more special by random acts of kindness!
I can honestly say the giver and the receiver of a random act of kindness both feel awesome - kind of warm and fuzzy all over! Try it!
Love,
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab
This blog will be short because the weather has been too beautiful to stay indoors. Temperatures in the 50's and 60's with sunshine aren't exactly normal for Minnesota in March, so we're enjoying it while we can! I promise to write another blog soon talking about random acts of kindness and birthdays! Happy Spring!
On the morning of Sunday, February 15th, we had a big scare. Daddy, Ringo and I woke up like normal. We noticed Mommy was still asleep. Daddy looked at her, she wasn't sleeping in her usual position. He felt her and she was sweating from head to toe. Daddy quickly ran to grab a soda and a meter called a glucometer to test Mommy's blood sugar (glucose). Mommy has always been able to wake up when her glucose gets too low; this time she did not. It was 34! Normal glucose is 70 - 100. This reading was dangerously low. We are so grateful we woke up when we did, otherwise Mommy might not be here today. Daddy was awesome. He got her to drink enough soda to pull her out of it.
Mommy was in a deep dream like state and kept asking strange questions. She tried laying down and drinking her soda at the same time. Daddy stayed focused. After 20 minutes or so, Mommy's glucose was 62. A few minutes later, Mommy woke up completely and asked what was going on. You could tell she was exhausted. I think everyone was. We were scared!
Mommy has T1D, also known as Type 1 Diabetes. In 2003, Mommy had a pancreas transplant that temporarily cured the diabetes, but it started failing about 8 months ago. Now she must take insulin again. People with T1D need to have insulin everyday. They must monitor their glucose frequently, eat throughout the day and pay attention to every thing. The challenge is to lower the blood sugar, but not so low that it gets acutely dangerous.
Exercise, stress, illnesses, metabolism and normal activity can affect glucose levels. This is our new reality. Ringo and I are fairly new to this. We have a lot to learn. Mommy and Daddy remember it from before the pancreas transplant. This was a scary wake up call for all of us. A new adventure. We have done some research on T1D and found some encouraging news. Researchers in Boston are working on a bionic pancreas and hope to have it available in 2017! It would work like a human pancreas, so low blood sugars wouldn't happen!
T1D is a devastating condition. It took Mommy's eyesight and kidneys. It usually happens to children; Mommy was 9 when she got it. It would be great if a cure could be found so the disease never existed.
Someone from the Boston team named David Panzirer said, "It is the only disease I know of where you are making dosing decisions with a medicine that can kill you if you get it wrong. You are doing those decisions 24-7."
This blog is a bit different from the norm. We felt the need to share this information to bring awareness to T1D. We hope a cure is in the near future. Thanks for giving us this outlet, all of you probably know someone with diabetes - you just might not know who yet.
When the weather is unpredictable, it is hard to know what toy to play with outside. The wind could blow the Frisbee out of the yard. The rolling wheel doesn't provide enough exercise in the cold. The ball is good for these cold, windy days because it is heavy and Daddy can throw it very far. Sunny, calm days are my favorite because I love to play Frisbee and Ringo is content chasing me.
On January 30, we lit a candle for Rudy. It's hard to believe he went to Heaven two years ago. We miss him so much. He did a great job picking out Ringo to join our family. We can see a lot of Rudyisms in Ringo. It makes us smile.
Mommy and Daddy had an event at the Cannon River Winery on Saturday, February 7. It was for local authors. They had a wine tasting, live music and eight authors. It was a good time, they met some nice people, made a few contacts, tasted some wine and sold some books! Ringo and I went to our friend, Jennifer's house. We saw our friends, both human and canine. Charming little Ringo met a new girl friend named Zoe! They were inseparable and cute. I got tired and took a nap on Jennifer's bed. We like it over there, it's fun!
Our book sales have been steady, which is quite nice. We'll never be millionaires, but everything helps. We had a big order (16 books) from a Children's Hospital in Missouri!
Mommy hopes she can stop using her crutches in a week or so. She'll still need the cast, but she can walk on it. Paws crossed! We're shooting for Spring!
Last week, a very dear friend and neighbor went to Heaven. Hobey Baker was a very wonderful boy who loved to run and rarely barked. He's a lot like me. We also have being mellow and loving our family in common. We loved to run the fence line together and he was the fastest of all of us. He was very special to brothers Rudy, Ringo and me. We will miss him very much.
Hobey had a tough start to his life, but was so lucky to be adopted by his people who gave him the TLC he needed and deserved. He came from the Red Lake Reservation, where he spent most of his time outside. When his people adopted him, he had a badly infected leg. They got him the medical attention necessary and saved the leg!
Like my brother, Rudy, his life on Earth was far too short. He loved life and touched the hearts of many. We knew his people loved hockey because of Hobey's name. Hobey Baker was named after a college hockey player from a long time ago. They have a trophy named after him that they give out to the best college hockey player every year. The name really fits our friend, Hobey Baker - because he's the best!
We included the link to little video of Hobey enjoying his Christmas present from us this year. What a happy boy! We love you, Hobey!
Hello everyone! For this entry, I have asked Mommy to be our guest blogger. She has written a piece that I thought might interest all of you. I have also included a link* to a 4 minute video that Daddy made called "Everything Happens for a Reason." I hope you enjoy. I'll be back next time. Love, Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab
Recently in the news, I heard about a woman named Amy Purdy, a paralympic bronze medallist and contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” At the age of 19, she had meningitis, which caused the loss of her legs below the knee and ultimately a kidney transplant 2 years later.
I can’t help but wonder if 19 isn’t a mysterious age where cataclysmic events occur? My life somewhat parallels that of Amy. Instead of losing my legs, I lost my eyes. I too had meningitis, but mine triggered Type I (juvenile) diabetes. Like Purdy, my life changed dramatically at 19, when I lost my sight after a 5-month struggle. At 31 I had my first kidney transplant. I also had a pancreas transplant at 39, and another kidney transplant at 45. Amidst all of the transplants, other health issues intruded.
Unfortunately, I am still trying to earn my “medal” and haven’t been on DWTS (although I’d love it!) I am trying to stand “On My Own Two Feet” (title of Amy's book) by also being an author. I pen the children’s series, “Rudy’s Little World” and currently have 6 published books about a variety of atypical subjects. I also speak to audiences of all ages and sizes, sharing my story and proving you can overcome challenges! Again, like Amy Purdy, I don’t let challenges keep me from obtaining my goals. I also believe everything happens for a reason.
