Our "Storytime with Stacy" on Thursday, October 16th in Hastings was so much fun! To summarize it - we talked about kidneys. What did we learn? Kidneys clean blood, we only need one, Nyla's birthday is on Saturday, Greta likes to read and Amos has a friend named.... Noah!
To add a little more detail - Programs in October are tough. You never know what the weather will be like, so it is hard to plan. On Thursday, it was beautiful - sunny and 70! Mommy was worried no one would come, it was too nice outside. It didn't look good at first. The librarian told Mommy and Daddy right away two of Mommy's biggest groups were going to the apple orchard and apologized for missing her this time. Mommy replied, "I don't blame them, I'd be at the orchard, too! It's gorgeous today!" Soon after that people started coming in - many of them new friends! Everything worked out all right. Mommy had a great time talking to the group of 2 to 7 year olds for a whole hour. One little girl thought she should dress up for the event, so she wore a tiara and wings (so cute)! We sang "Happy Birthday" twice, read three books, shared many fun ideas and enjoyed treats! Starbursts seemed to be the favorite.
All the children were very well behaved and seemed to be enjoying themselves. The librarian was amazed that they were so attentive. Mommy's secret? Ask them questions, explain things and engage them. Go along with the flow and never be surprised by what they come up with at any given moment!
Here's a little slide show of the event!
Love,
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Vacation and Upcoming Events
After little brother, Ringo graduated top of his class from puppy kindergarten (he was the only one who showed up), the family decided it was time for a mini vacation!
Mommy and Daddy went to Las Vegas for 3 days, while Ringo and I went on a sleep over to our friend, Jennifer's house. We like Jennifer. She has many puppy friends and they like to play! Jennifer's oldest daughter likes Ringo and the youngest girl loves me! It's nice to have human friends to hang around with when our furry friends leave for the day. When we were on our puppy pack walks, Mommy and Daddy went on a gondola ride, visited a wax museum and saw a couple of shows. Fun for all!
Ringo did very well on his first sleep over. I watched him closely the first day, but he was great!
Last week, Ringo and I both had check ups at the vet. We are in perfect health! Ringo was a hit - everyone thought he was cute and friendly. I have really taught him well!
Our vet clinic decided to carry our latest book, "What's it Like in Heaven, Rudy?" We really appreciate their support. They have a very soft spot for our sweet Rudy and miss him, just like us.
Next week, we have a children's program at the library in Hastings. It's called, "Storytime with Stacy." She has a big fan base over there. It will be a lot of fun. She is looking forward to it. We plan on sharing our books about kidneys, "Rudy Gets A Transplant" and "Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine." Since it is MEA week, we wanted to make it more educational. Of course, questions will be answered!
At the end of October, Mommy and Daddy will be taking part in the Harvest Festival at First Presbyterian Church of South St. Paul. It will be a big event on Sunday, October 26th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A chili cook off, baked goods, hand crafted items, fun and us - who could ask for anything more!?
Our last event currently scheduled is in November. It is an adult education class. They asked Mommy to come in and share her life story. Wow! She has a lot to share! It should be very interesting. She could talk for days about her cute puppies, but I'm sure she won't. She's also had a very interesting life besides her awesome furry children.
Welcome in fall, everyone!
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Mommy and Daddy went to Las Vegas for 3 days, while Ringo and I went on a sleep over to our friend, Jennifer's house. We like Jennifer. She has many puppy friends and they like to play! Jennifer's oldest daughter likes Ringo and the youngest girl loves me! It's nice to have human friends to hang around with when our furry friends leave for the day. When we were on our puppy pack walks, Mommy and Daddy went on a gondola ride, visited a wax museum and saw a couple of shows. Fun for all!
Ringo did very well on his first sleep over. I watched him closely the first day, but he was great!
Last week, Ringo and I both had check ups at the vet. We are in perfect health! Ringo was a hit - everyone thought he was cute and friendly. I have really taught him well!
Our vet clinic decided to carry our latest book, "What's it Like in Heaven, Rudy?" We really appreciate their support. They have a very soft spot for our sweet Rudy and miss him, just like us.
Next week, we have a children's program at the library in Hastings. It's called, "Storytime with Stacy." She has a big fan base over there. It will be a lot of fun. She is looking forward to it. We plan on sharing our books about kidneys, "Rudy Gets A Transplant" and "Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine." Since it is MEA week, we wanted to make it more educational. Of course, questions will be answered!
At the end of October, Mommy and Daddy will be taking part in the Harvest Festival at First Presbyterian Church of South St. Paul. It will be a big event on Sunday, October 26th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A chili cook off, baked goods, hand crafted items, fun and us - who could ask for anything more!?
Our last event currently scheduled is in November. It is an adult education class. They asked Mommy to come in and share her life story. Wow! She has a lot to share! It should be very interesting. She could talk for days about her cute puppies, but I'm sure she won't. She's also had a very interesting life besides her awesome furry children.
Welcome in fall, everyone!
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Giving = Happiness
Even though the weather has been a bit cool this week, Ringo and I have enjoyed it. We have fur coats, so it has been perfect for Frisbee and whiffle ball play! As usual this year, we are below the average temperature for Minnesota. Twenty whole degrees, sometimes! That's a lot.
Ringo is done with puppy kindergarten now and he did very well. The teacher was very impressed with his ability to pay attention and stay focused. She said that is hard for puppies his age. He watches everything going on around him, just like me!
A few blogs ago I told you about Mommy's pancreas. She has been back on insulin for a while now and I am happy to say her labs are getting better! We are all very excited about it! It was an adjustment, but "that's life!"
We have a children's program coming up next month, so Mommy is working on it. It is for her little fans in Hastings, so she's working on something new. They really support, "Storytime with Stacy."
Recently I heard a story about happiness on the news. It said you should be willing to give more than you take. That seems automatic in my home. I see it happening all the time. I am going to work on it with Ringo, so he understands it eventually. He is pretty good at sharing (for a puppy) and this seems to be the next logical step.
Although I probably don't need to, I worry about him getting caught up in the "me" generation philosophy. I hear it all the time, "Take care of yourself." Maybe that works sometimes, but everyone needs a little help once in a while. There is something called karma, it means what goes around, comes around. If everyone just takes care of themselves, there is nothing to go around!
This may sound a little philosophical for a puppy, but I think about things a lot. I get that from Mommy. People don't know it, but we give many books away. It feels good. Sometimes we hear how other people enjoy them and our programs. That feels great! Karma, my friends!
Ringo is done with puppy kindergarten now and he did very well. The teacher was very impressed with his ability to pay attention and stay focused. She said that is hard for puppies his age. He watches everything going on around him, just like me!
A few blogs ago I told you about Mommy's pancreas. She has been back on insulin for a while now and I am happy to say her labs are getting better! We are all very excited about it! It was an adjustment, but "that's life!"
We have a children's program coming up next month, so Mommy is working on it. It is for her little fans in Hastings, so she's working on something new. They really support, "Storytime with Stacy."
Recently I heard a story about happiness on the news. It said you should be willing to give more than you take. That seems automatic in my home. I see it happening all the time. I am going to work on it with Ringo, so he understands it eventually. He is pretty good at sharing (for a puppy) and this seems to be the next logical step.
Although I probably don't need to, I worry about him getting caught up in the "me" generation philosophy. I hear it all the time, "Take care of yourself." Maybe that works sometimes, but everyone needs a little help once in a while. There is something called karma, it means what goes around, comes around. If everyone just takes care of themselves, there is nothing to go around!
This may sound a little philosophical for a puppy, but I think about things a lot. I get that from Mommy. People don't know it, but we give many books away. It feels good. Sometimes we hear how other people enjoy them and our programs. That feels great! Karma, my friends!
Friday, August 22, 2014
Fun and Focus
Last week Mommy and Daddy went to a concert. It was a beautiful night for an outdoor concert at the zoo. They saw a singer named Pat Benatar. She is one of Mommy's favorites. They had a really good time. I like seeing them with big smiles on their faces when they come home. I think it is good that they have play dates like I do. They are going to another concert next week. They will see one of Daddy's favorite bands named "The Moody Blues."
Ringo and I are going to have a couple of play dates coming up. Ringo has never been on a play date, so this will be a new experience he will enjoy. I will help him and introduce him to all of my friends. He will like Max and Jennifer. I think they will like Ringo, too. He is a good little brother, even though he has a lot of energy!
Ringo is going to school every Sunday. They teach him easy stuff like recognizing his name (it's only puppy kindergarten :)), sit, wait, walking on a lead and focusing on his person. I must say, Ringo is doing well. It is hard for an energy filled puppy to focus very long. Focusing means you just keep eye contact with someone. Even people have a hard time with focusing now. (Most of the time it seems like they are staring at their phones.)
Without really knowing it, our books have helped another group of people. I'd call it a happy accident. Recently, we received an order from a children's hospital. It included Rudy Gets a Transplant, Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine and What's it Like in Heaven, Rudy. It surprised us at first. We are used to receiving orders for the kidney books, but this was the first one for What's it Like in Heaven, Rudy. We have been hearing from others that it's helped them, too.
Rudy continues to touch the lives of so many. Without trying, our focus has expanded to yet another difficult topic. I believe when a mission is pure and honest, that kind of thing just happens.
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Ringo and I are going to have a couple of play dates coming up. Ringo has never been on a play date, so this will be a new experience he will enjoy. I will help him and introduce him to all of my friends. He will like Max and Jennifer. I think they will like Ringo, too. He is a good little brother, even though he has a lot of energy!
Ringo is going to school every Sunday. They teach him easy stuff like recognizing his name (it's only puppy kindergarten :)), sit, wait, walking on a lead and focusing on his person. I must say, Ringo is doing well. It is hard for an energy filled puppy to focus very long. Focusing means you just keep eye contact with someone. Even people have a hard time with focusing now. (Most of the time it seems like they are staring at their phones.)
Without really knowing it, our books have helped another group of people. I'd call it a happy accident. Recently, we received an order from a children's hospital. It included Rudy Gets a Transplant, Rudy's Incredible Kidney Machine and What's it Like in Heaven, Rudy. It surprised us at first. We are used to receiving orders for the kidney books, but this was the first one for What's it Like in Heaven, Rudy. We have been hearing from others that it's helped them, too.
Rudy continues to touch the lives of so many. Without trying, our focus has expanded to yet another difficult topic. I believe when a mission is pure and honest, that kind of thing just happens.
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Boomer's Birthday
Last Saturday was my fifth birthday! I can't believe I am that old. Time really does seem to fly by quickly. Even though Mommy and Daddy said my little brother, Ringo was an early birthday present, they still got me a toy! It was a brand new Frisbee type thing. It's Orange and blue, hollow in the middle, and padded on the edges. It is so much fun! Ringo plays with it, too (when I'm done.) I'm a good big brother so I share my toys.
Mommy and Daddy brought out "Birthday Bear." It is a tradition in our house. For those of you unfamiliar with "Birthday Bear," he is a stuffed toy bear that sings the "Happy Birthday" song. This was Ringo's first experience with birthdays. He was a bit tentative around the bear, but got used to him after 2 or 3 times. I believe the bear's mouth moving freaked him out. Mommy and Daddy sing throughout the day... and I chase my tail... Ringo barks. :)
Mommy said I need to put a "cute alert" here.
I love playing outside with Ringo. He plays with a whiffle golf ball (his size) and I play with a Frisbee (my size). One day we were relaxing with our toys. We heard a noise out front so we ran to investigate. I always carry my Frisbee with me to keep track of it. After taking a few steps, I noticed Ringo left his ball. I dropped my Frisbee, grabbed his ball, brought it to him, and came back to retrieve my Frisbee. The little guy hasn't learned to take things with him; so I thought I'd help him out. That's what big brothers are supposed to do, right?
Another fun trick - I was chasing Ringo around the yard. We take turns chasing each other. All of a sudden, he stopped and jumped on my back! It looked like he was riding me like a horse! (Only sideways - his front legs were on my right and his back legs on my left.) I kept running and running until Ringo fell off. Daddy was laughing very hard! Ringo and I had a blast. What fun! I like having a little brother.
Ringo has been a good helper to Mommy. He keeps her company when she elevates her sprained foot. I have included pictures of Ringo and me with my new toy and a picture of Ringo helping Mommy.
Have a great weekend!
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Mommy and Daddy brought out "Birthday Bear." It is a tradition in our house. For those of you unfamiliar with "Birthday Bear," he is a stuffed toy bear that sings the "Happy Birthday" song. This was Ringo's first experience with birthdays. He was a bit tentative around the bear, but got used to him after 2 or 3 times. I believe the bear's mouth moving freaked him out. Mommy and Daddy sing throughout the day... and I chase my tail... Ringo barks. :)
Mommy said I need to put a "cute alert" here.
I love playing outside with Ringo. He plays with a whiffle golf ball (his size) and I play with a Frisbee (my size). One day we were relaxing with our toys. We heard a noise out front so we ran to investigate. I always carry my Frisbee with me to keep track of it. After taking a few steps, I noticed Ringo left his ball. I dropped my Frisbee, grabbed his ball, brought it to him, and came back to retrieve my Frisbee. The little guy hasn't learned to take things with him; so I thought I'd help him out. That's what big brothers are supposed to do, right?
Another fun trick - I was chasing Ringo around the yard. We take turns chasing each other. All of a sudden, he stopped and jumped on my back! It looked like he was riding me like a horse! (Only sideways - his front legs were on my right and his back legs on my left.) I kept running and running until Ringo fell off. Daddy was laughing very hard! Ringo and I had a blast. What fun! I like having a little brother.
Ringo has been a good helper to Mommy. He keeps her company when she elevates her sprained foot. I have included pictures of Ringo and me with my new toy and a picture of Ringo helping Mommy.
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Meet Ringo!
There is a lot of great news to share with everyone, so I won't talk much about my favorite subject, the weather. It was cold and then hot. It rained and then it was humid. Sometimes it was cloudy, other times sunny. The last few days have been beautiful, perfect to play in our back yard with my new little brother, Ringo!
My family adopted Ringo last week. He is about 6 months old. They thought he was a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix. but he is kind of big for that to be true. We think he looks more like a miniature Pinscher mix. Ringo is very smart and quickly learned the routine around our house.
I was difficult picking a name for him. He didn't respond to anything. We tried almost a dozen names before we landed on Ringo. Daddy said he looked British. He also smiles all the time. I included a picture of him so you can see what I mean.
Mommy said I am being an excellent big brother. I am very patient and tolerate a lot. Ringo likes to chew on me and jump on my back. He chases me around the house and yard. Once in a while, I chase him. It is fun.
Our book sales have been steady. We received a nice email from a woman saying she really liked our books and appreciated our efforts to make difficult subjects less scary.
Last Saturday, we participated in a fund raiser for a charity called "Pets Loyal 2 Vets." They match furry friends with veterans. We had a good time and met some new friends. People liked looking at our books and talking with Mommy. Daddy took many pictures.
We also donated a set of Rudy books to the silent auction and several people bid on them!
We are donating another set of our books to a charity called "Home for Life." They will have it in an auction in a few months. They help animals who have special needs and need a forever home. We really like helping charities. It makes us feel good.
I feel good about my little bro, Ringo. I think he will be a nice addition to the family.
Love,
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab and Little Bro, Ringo!
My family adopted Ringo last week. He is about 6 months old. They thought he was a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix. but he is kind of big for that to be true. We think he looks more like a miniature Pinscher mix. Ringo is very smart and quickly learned the routine around our house.
I was difficult picking a name for him. He didn't respond to anything. We tried almost a dozen names before we landed on Ringo. Daddy said he looked British. He also smiles all the time. I included a picture of him so you can see what I mean.
Our book sales have been steady. We received a nice email from a woman saying she really liked our books and appreciated our efforts to make difficult subjects less scary.
Last Saturday, we participated in a fund raiser for a charity called "Pets Loyal 2 Vets." They match furry friends with veterans. We had a good time and met some new friends. People liked looking at our books and talking with Mommy. Daddy took many pictures.
We are donating another set of our books to a charity called "Home for Life." They will have it in an auction in a few months. They help animals who have special needs and need a forever home. We really like helping charities. It makes us feel good.
I feel good about my little bro, Ringo. I think he will be a nice addition to the family.
Boomer the Mellow Yellow Lab and Little Bro, Ringo!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
"Hakuna matata," Mommy!
I think my mommy is great. I love her so much. Recently, she has been dealt a couple more blows. Unfortunately, this is not the first time. I asked her, "Mommy, why does this happen to you?" She kissed me on my head and said, "That's just my life, Boomer." Well, I think it stinks.
Since I joined this family in the fall of 2009, I have witnessed a lot. In July, 2009, Mommy had her second kidney transplant. My wonderful Daddy was her donor! Six days after surgery, older brother, Kirby went to heaven. In December, 2010, Daddy was in a bad accident. It almost killed him and it totaled the truck. Three months later, they were involved in another car accident. The guy in front of them was committing insurance fraud. In April, 2011, our sweet little Rudy was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
In October, 2012, Mommy received a cancer diagnosis. Two surgeries in December and January followed to remove it. Our dear Rudy went to heaven on January 30, 2013. He was her little cheerleader. He witnessed even more than me. He seemed to know exactly when she needed kisses or a happy dance. We really miss him, especially Mommy.
The last couple of months Mommy has sprained her foot badly. To top it off, she found out her pancreas transplant is no longer working. Rudy joined the family in July 2004 during the long recovery after the pancreas transplant. Wow! That is too much!
Through all of this, Mommy still gets up every morning with a smile on her face. She doesn't want to waste any time because it is precious. She takes great care of Daddy and me. Does her best to keep up the house, write blogs and a new book for Rudy's Little World. That's our tribute to Rudy. I have heard her sing a song that goes like this, "Happiness runs in a circular motion. Falters like a little boat upon the sea. All of our souls are deeper than you can see. You can be happy if you let yourself be." She learned it as a young girl. Singing is a way to cope. If you are singing, you can turn off your inner thoughts. Walking and dancing also do the same thing for her while relieving some anxiety. Win, win!
Last week I heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her first kidney transplant in 1995. One month out she had a rejection episode and a bad virus called CMV. That's not good. She was sick for three months, but recovered. During this time, Mommy adopted the theme, "Hakuna matata," a phrase from the Lion King. It means, "no worries." The tune lends itself to a nice little dance! This theme has been helpful over the years. We need it now as she deals with the latest issue. So, "Hakuna matata, Mommy!" I'm your cheerleader!
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
Since I joined this family in the fall of 2009, I have witnessed a lot. In July, 2009, Mommy had her second kidney transplant. My wonderful Daddy was her donor! Six days after surgery, older brother, Kirby went to heaven. In December, 2010, Daddy was in a bad accident. It almost killed him and it totaled the truck. Three months later, they were involved in another car accident. The guy in front of them was committing insurance fraud. In April, 2011, our sweet little Rudy was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
In October, 2012, Mommy received a cancer diagnosis. Two surgeries in December and January followed to remove it. Our dear Rudy went to heaven on January 30, 2013. He was her little cheerleader. He witnessed even more than me. He seemed to know exactly when she needed kisses or a happy dance. We really miss him, especially Mommy.
The last couple of months Mommy has sprained her foot badly. To top it off, she found out her pancreas transplant is no longer working. Rudy joined the family in July 2004 during the long recovery after the pancreas transplant. Wow! That is too much!
Through all of this, Mommy still gets up every morning with a smile on her face. She doesn't want to waste any time because it is precious. She takes great care of Daddy and me. Does her best to keep up the house, write blogs and a new book for Rudy's Little World. That's our tribute to Rudy. I have heard her sing a song that goes like this, "Happiness runs in a circular motion. Falters like a little boat upon the sea. All of our souls are deeper than you can see. You can be happy if you let yourself be." She learned it as a young girl. Singing is a way to cope. If you are singing, you can turn off your inner thoughts. Walking and dancing also do the same thing for her while relieving some anxiety. Win, win!
Last week I heard Mommy and Daddy talking about her first kidney transplant in 1995. One month out she had a rejection episode and a bad virus called CMV. That's not good. She was sick for three months, but recovered. During this time, Mommy adopted the theme, "Hakuna matata," a phrase from the Lion King. It means, "no worries." The tune lends itself to a nice little dance! This theme has been helpful over the years. We need it now as she deals with the latest issue. So, "Hakuna matata, Mommy!" I'm your cheerleader!
Love,
Boomer! the Mellow Yellow Lab
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