tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60704297605901761322024-03-14T13:41:44.369-05:00Rudy's Little BlogHi, 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.Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-32795759187810380462017-01-23T22:12:00.000-06:002017-01-23T22:13:22.874-06:00Playing Through the PainThe New Year started with much excitement and anticipation. After last year, we hoped for a medical issue free one. Mommy had been having some back pain, but it wasn't slowing anyone down. Daddy and Mommy went to a comedy show on New Year's Eve. They saw a man named Louie Anderson. He is from Minnesota and always does a show here on New Year's Eve. He is also on TV and does many shows around the country.<br />
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New Year's Day was fairly quiet. We all just hung out at home and watched football. Mommy's back was starting to feel worse, so she rested.<br />
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On January 4, her pain was so bad, it was making her chest and throat hurt, too. It was getting hard for her to breathe and swallow. Finally, Daddy called the doctor and they said to take Mommy to the ER. Away they went. Ringo and I were very concerned and a little bit scared.<br />
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They spent a lot of time there, did some tests (EKG, X-ray, Blood) and determined it was just badly sprained. No fractures, heart concerns or anything major. The doctor gave her some medicine to help with the pain.<br />
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While she was trying to recover, she has kept up with our commitments. We had two great children's programs. One was part of family picnic storytime. It was very cold (below zero), so the crowd was limited. The other program was just a storytime, that was awesome! 50 to 55 people showed up. WOW! We love doing children's programs. The kids all love to share their lives, we sing songs, read our books and eat cookies!<br />
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We have another event on Feb. 4th. It is a community outreach in Minneapolis.<br />
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Last Saturday, Daddy and Mommy went to a concert that featured songs by the Beatles. That is a band that played many years ago. They loved it! Mommy had to rest the next day because of her back. We are trying everything we can to help her get better. She is trying hard to "limit her activity," but it is difficult for her - she tries to stay busy and help. That is called, "playing through the pain." We hope she doesn't have to do it for much longer.Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-67933432983088459112016-12-20T22:46:00.001-06:002016-12-20T22:48:04.120-06:00Wrapping up 2016 - Hey! That's funny!After celebrating Thanksgiving, Mommy and Daddy took a mini-break to Las Vegas. The trip was planned and paid for well before we found out Mommy needed surgery, so they were determined to make it no matter what. I think they used it as motivation for Mommy's recovery.<br />
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Even though she wasn't 100 percent, they went and had a marvelous time making some new memories. Taking it a little easy and a few extra naps is good for everyone, right? Some of their highlights were: eating at fancy restaurant called "Prime" overlooking the famous Bellagio fountains. They sat at George Clooney's favorite table! He often ate there while filming "Ocean's 11."<br />
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While at the Venetian, they went on a relaxing gondola ride and saw a fantastic show called, "Human Nature Holiday." The group did a wide variety of music from motown, the crooners to modern Bruno Mars', "Uptown Funk." Yes, the audience did dance!<br />
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The room they stayed in had a fabulous view of the fountains and the Vegas strip skyline. Daddy could have stared out the window for hours.<br />
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While the people were in Vegas, Ringo and I went to see our friend, Jennifer. We had a great time. we played and slept with our human friends at night. During the day, we played with our furry friends. We love going there! One Sunday, Mommy and Daddy were asked to do the reading at church. Daddy did part of it and Mommy did a part, too. A couple of verses really spoke to her and went like this: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf, unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy." People said they did a good job.<br />
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On December 14 we had a Donate Life Holiday Lunch. It was very nice with lots of delicious treats. The Donate Life group said it was to thank them for all their hard work this year. It is a cause very close to our hearts.<br />
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I can't believe Ringo's birthday will be on December 22nd! He has been with us almost 2.5 years! Wow! He has added a lot of interesting fun and excitement to our family, you never know what to expect!<br />
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Book orders have slowed down slightly before the holidays, but that is normal. We went to Washington State, New York, Texas, Kansas and Australia!<br />
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A couple more dates have been added to our calendar. February 4th we have a community outreach and April 8 is our Donate Life Ambassador Recognition Brunch.<br />
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Soon it will be Christmas. We are slowly getting ready for the holiday, even though the weather has not been accommodating. 23 below last weekend! We hope everyone has a happy and joyful holiday season. We send love and happiness to all of you. Thank you for your support. We appreciate it!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-26227472266263121552016-11-21T22:23:00.001-06:002016-11-21T22:23:16.660-06:00We're BackThe last time we wrote, the weather was in the mid-60's. Wake up call for us - yesterday it didn't get above freezing all day. We have definitely turned the corner towards winter! I do like this time of year - my Frisbee flies nicely (when the wind isn't gusting) and there are great smells in the air.<br />
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Many of you know Mommy had surgery a few weeks ago. She is recovering well, just a couple set backs. That is normal for Mommy because Daddy says she pushes herself too hard. Mommy said we were the best nurse pups ever and we really took good care of her. When Mommy was being wheeled to the recovery room, a funny thing happened. The surgeon told her the surgery had gone smoothly. Mommy was still a bit sedated and responded, "Smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy?" The nurse laughed. The surgeon chuckled, saying, "or Jif if you prefer." We don't think he got the Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" reference, but that's all right.<br />
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Ringo and I are feeling great. We get our playtime especially on weekends when we can play longer at lunch. We also have plenty of snuggle time in a nice cozy house.<br />
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If you live in America, you've probably heard about the election. Ringo thinks I should run for President next time. A few people have agreed with him, so I will consider throwing my hat in the ring in 2020. I wore one of Daddy's ties to see if I could pull off the diplomatic look and I think it works. It's my power tie and it gives me power!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGalZb97gID0_uhKkw1WDP970SlmSirqHivS13nEFLhi9jxGyc22e12P48e5AJYJqmu753UMMiNEIQo8wM1OuOvwPkl8lRYr4Hq2tkOoAtMeQKsoxrLT0cE4GlqfZn6TnXTwMyUQLcSr4/s1600/Boomer+in+Tie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGalZb97gID0_uhKkw1WDP970SlmSirqHivS13nEFLhi9jxGyc22e12P48e5AJYJqmu753UMMiNEIQo8wM1OuOvwPkl8lRYr4Hq2tkOoAtMeQKsoxrLT0cE4GlqfZn6TnXTwMyUQLcSr4/s320/Boomer+in+Tie.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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The last couple weeks, our book orders have really picked up. That makes us both happy and excited! We like helping others understand different subjects.<br />
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We have started adding a few dates to our calendar, but we always have room for more. So far, we have a Donate Life event in December, a children's program/family picnic on January 6th, another children's program in mid January and one more children's program in June. We tentatively have a school event scheduled in May, but no final date yet. Yes, we are booking that far out! Please keep us in mind, if you ever need a program or speaker. We do both children and adults!<br />
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This is a busy holiday season - we really didn't celebrate Halloween because of the surgery. We always recognize Veteran's Day in honor of Daddy, and the other service people. It will be Thanksgiving in a couple of days. I like that holiday, it smells so good! In another month, it will be Christmas - WOW! Oh, that's right, little bro, Ringo's birthday is on December 22nd. He will be 3!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab<br />
<br />Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-55705425249356095442016-10-13T22:09:00.000-05:002016-10-13T22:12:06.319-05:00It's Hard When You Realize Life Isn't Fair<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Recently I wrote about making lemon Meringue Pie out of
life’s lemons. Well, I’ve got another
old saying for you. The past is the
past, the future isn’t guaranteed so live for today because it is a gift. That is why they call it “the present.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During this truly magnificent season, that is exactly what
we have been doing. Filling our days
with activities, both inside and out has been a real gift. Ringo is mastering the art of fetch with his
ball. He has watched me enough now to
know… you have to bring the ball back to Daddy!
What a fun game! We have
celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, fun time with friends and a couple of play
dates with Jennifer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mommy and Daddy took a nice relaxing trip up “North” (I
don’t know where that is), to ride the 100 year old carousel, saw a great
concert, celebrated Hmong New Year as VIP guests, taken many walks, and done some household
projects including landscaping. I think
it looks great, too! We have made some
wonderful memories we will always cherish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This all leads to the title of this blog. Life isn’t fair. I learned this a few years ago. I saw my brother, Rudy, living with kidney
disease and then going to Heaven when he was way too young. Around that same time, Mommy had some tough
surgeries for something called cancer. I
heard that she has had other big surgeries called transplants before I was
born. It sounds like a lot and well, not
fair. When is enough, enough?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Little brother, Ringo, joined our family in July,
2014. Since then, he has seen Mommy
break her foot, be hospitalized for an obstruction, learned that her pancreas
transplant no longer works and get Shingles.
He also witnessed Daddy rupturing his bicep and having surgery. That seems like a lot and is a bit
overwhelming for a little guy. Recently,
Mommy got some more tough news. She
needs surgery on October 25<sup>th</sup> and … it’s hard to say, kidney
function took a hit. Ringo doesn’t
understand why. Frankly, I don’t know
what to tell him. Life isn’t fair and
sometimes you just have to play the cards you are dealt. (No more clichés, I promise!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though we have had some tough news, we will keep
enjoying this fabulous season and make incredible memories. We will thoroughly enjoy the time we have and
pray things remain stable. We will love,
laugh, dance and play. We won’t waste a
moment because each day is a gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will try to keep you posted, but Ringo and I will be
Mommy’s nurse pups – for a while. Mommy
also helps me write. Until next
time….<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab</span></div>
Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-77429355225477021862016-09-15T21:47:00.000-05:002016-09-15T21:47:45.352-05:00When Life Gives you Lemons, Make Lemon Meringue Pie!I'm sure you have heard the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Well, our family has been given its share of lemons. In fact, I think we have our own lemon tree! We have tried to make lemonade every time. Sometimes it's sweet, but once in a while it can be a bit sour! For the most part, we are a positive family, finding positivity in everything can be be rather challenging!<br />
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Earlier this summer, I wrote about how Mommy had been hospitalized. She lost a bunch of weight and all of her strength. Before this set back, Mommy and Daddy used to walk along a great walking trail that went around the perimeter of our neighborhood... When Mommy lost her strength, they couldn't even make it to the end of our block which was only two houses away.<br />
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Following the nice walking trail was no longer an option. Walking has always been an important part of our plan to stay healthy. So, what did Mommy and Daddy decide to do with our lemons? The decided to take walks in front of our house, and gradually work their way down the block. They stayed on our street, in case Mommy got tired. As the summer went on, she got stronger. Not only did she gain strength, but Mommy and Daddy started meeting all the neighbors! It started out as waves, increased to saying, "Hello" and then... people started coming down their driveways and introduced themselves! Now we know just about everyone on our street! We have a very nice, diverse group of neighbors!<br />
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Our family had lived on this street for several years and only knew the families on either side of us and the people across the street!<br />
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This outcome was more than just a glass of sweet lemonade - it was a big piece of lemon meringue pie! Moral of the story, when life gives you lemons, make something out of them... and be creative!<br />
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Other news from our little world... we have a new page on our website. It talks about Mommy's experience with Donate Life and the importance of organ donation. Here is a <a href="http://rudyslittleworld.com/donate-life/" target="_blank">link</a>, so you can check it out. Our books have gone to Canada twice and a few other cities in the U.S.. We are always grateful for our supporters.<br />
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Ringo and I have thoroughly enjoyed playing outside. We hope for a nice long autumn season, but know snow is inevitable!<br />
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We are currently booking programs for the Fall and Winter - we already have one planned in January. That seems so far away, but it will be here before you know it! Time goes by very quickly, so we can't waste it. Once it's gone, you can't get it back, so make memories now!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-43934486962383967712016-08-16T22:40:00.000-05:002016-08-16T23:11:29.561-05:00Boomer's Birthday and Our Young Friend, LoganI celebrated my seventh birthday earlier this month. It was a great day with lots of singing, dancing, a new Frisbee and a birthday treat!<br />
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My new Frisbee has a hole in the center. I let my little bro, "Ringo" play with it because he loves it. He sticks his nose in the center and runs around. The problem is... the Frisbee covers his eyes! It's very funny and it doesn't seem to bother him at all.</div>
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Mommy talked to a group of nurses for their new hire orientation/training about the importance of organ donation. The coordinator thought she did a good job. She kept it short and sweet because they were running late, but it was still very impactful. Since it has been a slow month for Rudy's Little World, we have had time to enjoy the weather.</div>
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Mommy and Daddy took a nice boat ride on the St. Croix River. It was a beautiful sunny day!<br />
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We also worked on a landscaping project in the front yard. We have been putting it off until everyone was healthy and strong because it is hard work! I think Mommy and Daddy did a wonderful job - with a little help from a nice young boy named Logan. He came over and asked if they needed some help. His help saved them at least a half day of time! He ran back and forth for Daddy and lifted rocks and took care of garbage. He was GREAT! We can't thank him enough for his kind offer to help.<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer, the Mellow Yellow Lab</div>
Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-26445467816254022372016-07-21T21:27:00.000-05:002016-07-21T21:27:05.735-05:00Fireworks, Birthdays, Vacations.... Oh my!Weather, storms, sun, hot, humid... Such is the month of July.<br />
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As with many people and puppies, we celebrated the Fourth of July. Mommy and Daddy went to see the fireworks - Daddy loves them! Ringo and I stayed home in a quiet, cool house. We prefer it that way!<br />
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The next day was Daddy's birthday. We love to celebrate that event as much as we can, so we had Birthday Fun Week! We sang "Happy Birthday" many times and gave him many kisses. Daddy and Mommy went out to eat a few times and had great fun with loved ones.<br />
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So far this month, we have had a few nasty storms! Lots of rain and wind... and then the heat and humidity!<br />
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Mommy and Daddy took a nice little vacation "up North" this year. They hadn't done that before, so it was a new experience for them! While they were gone, Ringo and I went to Jennifer's house. We have such a good time there. We play and take walks a lot. I discovered something new and tasty to eat... Kleenex! I heard it's not good for me, so I can't eat it any more.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy had a wonderful time during their getaway. They walked a lot, ate some delicious food, danced a little and spent one whole day on a boat! The weather was almost perfect, just a bit of drizzle once and a storm one morning. The day on the boat was nice and sunny!<br />
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While on vacation, Mommy and Daddy celebrated the seventh anniversary of their kidney transplant! In case you didn't know, Daddy gave Mommy one of his kidneys.<br />
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We have had to limit our play time outside this week. It has been too hot and humid to be outside for very long. It's kind of a bummer because I love to play Frisbee, but it is very dangerous for dogs to be out in this extreme heat. Dogs don't sweat, so we can get sick very easily. Make sure your furry friends have a cool place to hang and lots of water to drink!<br />
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Rudy's Little World has had a few sales and Mommy will be speaking to a group of nurses in two weeks.<br />
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We hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are! In Minnesota, summers are short... much like this final paragraph!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-52216716640850510072016-06-22T21:47:00.001-05:002016-06-22T21:57:17.800-05:00Precious MomentosI can't believe we are nearing the end of June already! Time is flying by. The weather has been typical for the beginning of summer - a little rain followed by a little heat. Ringo and I have enjoyed our nice green big backyard. Life is good for us puppies.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy celebrated another anniversary. They are both recovering nicely. Daddy's arm is getting stronger and healing with his PT (physical therapy). Mommy is regaining some strength after her hospital stays by taking many walks with Daddy and finally getting some of her appetite back.<br />
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We celebrated Father's Day by giving Daddy a T-shirt and two of our favorite biscuits! He is such a great Pup-Daddy, he said we were so good he let us eat the biscuits! What a guy!<br />
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We received some very thoughtful thank you notes from the third graders we visited last month. Those kids are very creative and talented.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy were so impressed with the students. <br />
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They were attentive and responsive. When they asked about Rudy, Mommy explained his passing (that's what we say in schools, etc. - at home we say he went to heaven), they showed empathy and shared their stories about losing a loved one.<br />
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One young boy asked for Mommy's autograph. So cute! Another student asked us to come back every year until she was in 17th grade. She figured we would be dead after that. It was very sweet.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy still talk about the visit and the school has already asked them to return next year!<br />
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We hope you can see some of the adorable details in the students' notes!<br />
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I hope you are having a great June!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-57578659120955850002016-05-31T22:03:00.002-05:002016-05-31T22:03:11.090-05:00Can We Skip May Next Year?Even though May has some wonderful qualities like warmer weather and our favorite fragrance of lilacs, it has not been kind to us the last two years. As you may tell by the lack of activity in our blog, it was quite a month!<br />
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You may recall, Daddy had surgery on April 29 to repair his ruptured bicep. Mommy took good care of him for a few days, but started feeling really sick. She ended up having to go to the hospital on May 8 and stayed there for 8 whole days. The doctors figured out she had a nasty virus called Shingles. Since she is a transplant recipient, it didn't present itself in the normal way. Mommy felt awful - nauseated, fatigued and in a lot of pain from the bumps all over her body. She was not able to eat or drink anything, so she was very dehydrated.<br />
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Ringo and I tried very hard to take care of Daddy while Mommy was in the hospital. She ended up having to go back in for a little tune-up because of the horrible medicine that hurt her stomach.<br />
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We also had some great fun with 5 health classes at Como Park High School - and delightful 3rd graders at Tanglen Elementary. Mommy talked about the importance of organ donation to the health classes and she talked about Rudy's Little World and our lives with the elementary kids. It was great fun, but very exhausting. I think Mommy pushed herself a bit too hard, but that is Mommy - that is what she does. She will never miss an opportunity to touch the lives of others.<br />
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Daddy's arm is healing, the surgeon did a great job. It will be a few months before he can play Frisbee with his right hand, and even longer before he can ride his motorcycle. It will be hard to stay patient with his progress.<br />
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Now you know why I would like to skip May next year. I realize we can't skip the time, but maybe we can call it something else. Perhaps April part two or the month formally known as May?<br />
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I included extra pictures this time, since we haven't written for a while. Enjoy!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-65942433086552361192016-04-27T22:59:00.006-05:002016-04-27T23:01:04.077-05:00What a Week!Have you ever noticed when someone asks you, "What's new?" or "What have you been up to lately?" it's hard to answer the question? You know you've been busy. Days are filled with activity and weeks start running together. Once you sit back and think about it, things start to become clearer and you remember all the stuff you've done!<br />
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Well, we've had one of those stretches! Mommy officially graduated from PT. She will continue on her own and hopefully keep progressing with the nightly walks she takes with Daddy. It's probably a good thing her PT is over because we found out Daddy's surgery will be on Friday, April 29. It will fix his ruptured bicep, so he won't be able to use his right arm for a while. That will be tough because he is right handed. Ringo and I are going to have a sleep over at our friend, Jennifer's house for the first few days after the surgery. The doctor said Daddy will have some discomfort, so he will have some "happy" pills to help. Mommy will also take care of him. When Ringo and I come home, we will help, too.<br />
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Last Friday, Mommy and Daddy went to a concert. They saw Pat Benatar, Mommy's favorite female singer. They had a great time.<br />
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The next morning, Mommy and Daddy went to a Donate Life Ambassador recognition brunch. They met a very nice man who was an outstanding keynote speaker and kidney transplant recipient just like Mommy. His name was Bruce King. It was a beautiful day, so we spent some time outside when they got home.<br />
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We celebrated Rudy's Birthday on Sunday, April 24. He would have been 12 years old. We think of him often and really miss him, especially Mommy. He was such a cool little guy with tons of energy (even more than little bro, Ringo!). Without Rudy, there would be no Rudy's Little World (or Blog-spot)!<br />
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Along with all of the activities I just told you about, we have been doing stuff around the house to prepare for Daddy's surgery. He has been working on a massive project for school. We have also filled a few book orders and prepared for an event in May. So, I guess we have been busy! Now that I remember all of this, do you think anyone will ask me, "What's new?"<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-75664596795760372372016-04-07T21:34:00.002-05:002016-04-07T21:34:47.603-05:00Injuries, Surgery and Real Shoes, Oh My!A couple months ago, I hurt Daddy. I didn't mean to, but it happened. We were playing tag on a nice sunny day. Daddy reached out to tag me and I ran right through his arm. All of a sudden the fun stopped. Daddy was in pain! Ringo and I ran over to him. Ringo jumped up as if to say, "Daddy, Daddy are you okay?" I looked down because I felt really bad, then looked up with my big brown eyes saying, "I'm so sorry Daddy, I didn't mean to hurt you. We were playing, right?" Daddy looked down at us and said, "Come on fellas, let's have dinner. I'm okay." His arm was dangling and looked really weird.<br />
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The pain was constant and his arm turned black, blue, purple and other colors! Mommy asked him to go to the doctor many times. He finally did this week. He needs surgery! Daddy has a ruptured bicep. The doctor wanted him to have surgery next week, but Daddy wasn't ready. He has a big project at work and wanted to do more research on the procedure. He and Mommy are going in next week to talk to another doctor and ask questions. Anybody know a really good orthopedic surgeon? We want this done right the first time. Daddy will be out of work at least a week, not able to lift any thing for three weeks, weight limits for 4 - 6 months and a cast! We will have to figure out how to do many things around the house without Daddy's strength to help us. A few projects around the house will be put on hold. The worst thing for Daddy - no motorcycle.<br />
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It's a good thing we are a great team! That is our big news... on the lighter side, Mommy wore real shoes for the first time in over a year and a half! She said it felt strange! She was very careful and walked slowly for a short time. She gave herself a mild concussion earlier this week, but at least she got to see many colors of stars in her head!<br />
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Ringo and I are great - someone needs to be healthy in this family. We are excited about spring and the book orders we've been having lately. A nice size order was sent to a hospital, a few books to our Canadian fans, one out East and six titles locally. Not a bad ten days! We hope it continues! I think we are in for an unusual and exciting Spring! Wish us luck!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-35399726378581240262016-03-14T21:48:00.001-05:002016-03-14T21:48:47.355-05:00Daddy Saves the Day, Mommy's Promotion and More CelebratingWe all know that Daddy is a super hero. Well, recently he saved the day again. Daddy works at a library system. While doing some work at one of the branches, he noticed that the children's librarian was very stressed out. When he asked what was up, he found out the performer scheduled for a children's program had not shown up. Daddy offered to step in and read some Rudy stories. The librarian was so relieved and Daddy was a hit. The room full of children expected to hear an opera singer, but they got to hear awesome Rudy stories and Daddy even sang the "Rudy O'Tooty" song! The kids loved it!<br />
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Recently, Mommy was promoted to once a week for her foot physical therapy. Everyone is very excited about her progress. It has taken almost a year, but she has learned how to walk with a normal stride again and has gained a lot of strength back! She gives much credit to the anti-gravity treadmill that allowed her to walk without bearing weight.<br />
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As I said in my last blog, we love to celebrate. Last week we celebrated Mommy's birthday - and we celebrated all week! She spent time with family and friends. Of course, her favorite celebration was Ringo and me dancing to Birthday Bear's singing. She loves that so much! I don't know where that bear lives, but he shows up every birthday and then goes away!<br />
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On March 15, we light a candle for our older brother, Dexter. He went to the Rainbow Bridge many years ago. St. Patrick's Day is March 17th, so I think we will celebrate that day as well. I think we should read "Rudy O'Tooty" and sing Rudy's favorite song. What a great idea!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-22068054345388242422016-02-22T22:23:00.001-06:002016-02-22T22:27:01.621-06:00Many Things to CelebrateIn our house, we like to celebrate... even the normal everyday stuff. We celebrated Valentine's Day (kind of - Daddy was sick), President's Day (a day off!) and National Love Your Puppy Day (my favorite).<br />
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We celebrated the nice break from Winter this week with 40 degree temps and sunny days! The snow melted, so we don't have the nice soft landings when playing Frisbee, but it is nice to soak in that sun! We celebrate that Ringo is getting old enough to sit still so we can brush him!<br />
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More importantly, we celebrated a huge milestone for Daddy. He was recently recognized for 25 years of service at the Dakota County Library System. 25 years is a lot! I don't even have enough toes to count that high! We are so proud of him!<br />
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Mommy had a couple of Donate Life Ambassador events. One was meeting fellow ambassadors at the regional office and hearing their stories. The other was going to a high school and talking to two health classes. She was very excited about it when she came home. Both Mommy and Daddy were impressed with the students and how engaged they were. We look forward to doing more of those talks in the future.<br />
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Our tribute to Ali fund raiser is still going, so it's not too late, if you would still like to donate. We have received some very nice emails from people who knew Ali. They thanked us for doing this project. Here's a <a href="http://rudyslittleworld.com/books/rudy-gets-transplant-tribute-ali/" target="_blank">link</a>, if you are interested.<br />
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Daddy has started his Spring semester in school. He will have one more class after this one - then we will celebrate his graduation! He has worked very hard!<br />
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Hoping for green grass soon!<br />
Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-16477430079405217752016-01-31T20:04:00.000-06:002016-01-31T20:04:39.743-06:00Update on Big Project, Remembering RudyWe had the little tease last blog about our big project... due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to postpone the launch of our project. We received a call about a production issue - we could have the product with a mark on it OR wait, which lead to the delay. This project is too important, so we want it to be perfect!<br />
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We hope to launch in a few days, so here are a few details. We have created a new version of our first book, <i>Rudy Gets a Transplant</i>. The new book has 32 pages and is hard cover. We included a tribute to our dear friend and illustrator, Ali, who passed away in September. We have seen the finished book and it is beautiful! With this book, we hope to raise some serious money for a charity close to Ali's heart. We also hope to continue sharing the importance of organ donation.<br />
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During the launch we will tell you more about the charity, "Wishes and More" and it's fabulous work for chronically ill children and their families. This book has been a labor of love.<br />
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We remembered our dear angel, Rudy, yesterday. Three years ago, he crossed the rainbow bridge. We think about him every day, he is truly loved and missed. 3 years, wow!<br />
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Last weekend we had a sleepover at our house. A little guy named Bump came over. He was cute and small. Only 10 pounds and a bundle of soft fur! In some ways he reminded us of Rudy - mainly the size and the little tongue kisses. He was very smart and quickly learned our routine.<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-44322890484520755152016-01-13T20:04:00.000-06:002016-01-13T20:05:53.588-06:00New Year News2016 started out with a bang - literally. While driving on New Year's Eve afternoon, we ran over something looking like a pile of snow. Well, it wasn't! Bang! Our tire blew and the rim got crushed. Daddy managed to get the "Rudy Mobile" over to the side of the road and a guy came over and helped put on our spare.<br />
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Now for some good news! After a lengthy process, Mommy found out she is an official Donate Life Ambassador. She had to fill out several forms, write an essay, do a background check and an in-depth interview. We are very excited!<br />
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She will be doing some of the same things we already do at our programs plus speak to high school driver's ed. classes, nurses, organizations and businesses, training, official events and possibly parades! We are looking forward to this new adventure and hope to expand our outreach.<br />
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I have been feeling great since I started my new thyroid meds 3 months ago. I feel like a new puppy!<br />
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We had a bit of a scare with little bro, Ringo recently. Last week, he woke up at midnight making a strange noise. It sounded really weird. He wasn't exactly choking, but it sounded like there might be something lodged in his throat. Off we went to the ER. Daddy took Ringo to the hospital, while I stayed home with Mommy. The vet figured out that Ringo's epiglottis wasn't in the right place and the noise was called a "reverse sneeze." Puppies do that to try getting the epiglottis back into place. It wasn't working this time, so Ringo was getting a bit stressed. The doctor gave him a shot to clam him down and it really helped a lot! They finally got home at 2am. We didn't get much sleep that night! Ringo is back to normal now, but this could happen again. At least we will know what it is next time!<br />
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Already so much excitement and we are only two weeks into the new year!<br />
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Right now, we are experiencing a very cold spell. That means single digits for highs. Ouch! It's hard to play outside in that kind of weather. Just like most things, it shouldn't last long.<br />
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We are also working on another big project, but I am not ready to share the details - yet. Soon! We hope in a week or two... how's that for a teaser?<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-36055751582241522702015-12-30T21:33:00.000-06:002015-12-30T21:36:31.629-06:00Happy Holidays - Wrapping Up 2015We 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.<br />
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
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Mommy and Daddy visited with my Uncle John and human cousins, Jake and Lauren. They had a great time.<br />
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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!<br />
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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!<br />
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Peace and Love!<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-61198165273122873932015-12-22T22:18:00.000-06:002015-12-22T22:18:07.864-06:00Happy BirthdayWe 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.<br />
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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."<br />
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Here's little bro Ringo with the crazy bear that shows up every birthday.<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer, the Mellow Yellow Lab<br />
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<br />Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-41332111525102862112015-12-01T22:38:00.002-06:002015-12-01T22:38:45.623-06:00Pump it Up and Other StuffSince I haven't written for a while, I would like to catch up a bit before we get rolling.<br />
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I hope everyone had a nice Veteran's Day and had a chance to thank a veteran for his/her service.<br />
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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!<br />
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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."<br />
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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!<br />
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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!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-57932299816869340542015-11-08T09:54:00.000-06:002015-11-08T09:54:12.787-06:00Enjoying the Last Few Days of FallIn 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?<br />
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Naptime! Have a great day!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab<br />
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Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-68749391169938313872015-10-28T22:07:00.000-05:002015-10-28T22:07:27.231-05:00Halloween Bullies<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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...</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">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?</span>Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-73405577341805833462015-10-19T23:04:00.001-05:002015-10-19T23:06:04.524-05:00Learned a New Word - Another Fun EventHello 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.<br />
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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!<br />
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He's already feeling better, much more active and his hair feels nice and shiny!<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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I hope everyone is taking advantage of the beautiful Fall season and absorbing all the sunshine you can!<br />
Love,<br />
Little Bro, RingoStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-22212161937358374252015-09-30T21:09:00.002-05:002015-09-30T22:23:24.366-05:00We're Ready!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!<br />
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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!<br />
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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!<br />
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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."<br />
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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?<br />
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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!<br />
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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....<br />
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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!<br />
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Happy Fall!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-33050488626933572622015-09-12T21:58:00.000-05:002015-09-12T21:58:17.166-05:00AliIt 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Her motto's included: "Look forward." "Never give up." "Make someone smile." "Always take time to get goofy and silly." "Do something for others."<br />
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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.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXY7mjCGpeLvT6j7kdh3kJtHGRjamBzjgV9BVvaFK8i2FqQVtwONYffz1EfbPF_X118KmsXX4snN8QrCOgpoFOf0Sud_qUmFgKrXNX5PrMtfZ_iv2GCjckLqo_sP_tgdNxy4u2o3Fw_zc/s1600/Ali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXY7mjCGpeLvT6j7kdh3kJtHGRjamBzjgV9BVvaFK8i2FqQVtwONYffz1EfbPF_X118KmsXX4snN8QrCOgpoFOf0Sud_qUmFgKrXNX5PrMtfZ_iv2GCjckLqo_sP_tgdNxy4u2o3Fw_zc/s1600/Ali.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Class of 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-87638150131015217132015-08-27T22:10:00.000-05:002015-08-27T22:10:12.951-05:00UnpredictableIn 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.<br />
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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!<br />
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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!<br />
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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!<br />
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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.... :)<br />
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Mommy's therapy on her foot has been progressing well. She is able to put more weight on it and walk longer! <br />
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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Love,<br />
Boomer the Mellow Yellow LabStacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070429760590176132.post-19938889307103034302015-08-04T21:43:00.000-05:002015-08-04T21:43:19.470-05:00Is It August Already?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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKsC88a7balwEJLSd9G_3W-7W6IyRNzv3mL-LksCCmtHvCmcraSjAIEgo2GKzNYHb5YxgaRPyk1Gl12ngaNdDE-NhgIXA3nhTNLypMOHi6u9KqtTMQus_7q7jUg7siai83fbLfH20Tjk/s1600/Boomer-at-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKsC88a7balwEJLSd9G_3W-7W6IyRNzv3mL-LksCCmtHvCmcraSjAIEgo2GKzNYHb5YxgaRPyk1Gl12ngaNdDE-NhgIXA3nhTNLypMOHi6u9KqtTMQus_7q7jUg7siai83fbLfH20Tjk/s320/Boomer-at-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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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!<br />
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Without any further hesitation, here's little bro, Ringo!<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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My big brother watches over me, shares with me, teaches me, encourages me and loves me very much. The feeling is mutual :)<br />
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Happy Birthday, Boomer!<br />
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Love,<br />
Little Bro, Ringo<br />
P.S. Don't forget to read my writings with an English accent as I am quite British! Ta! Stacy Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13437833973338823805noreply@blogger.com0