Day 5

This is Matt & Omri just before Omri fell off the bed.  He looked so startled when he fell off, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw he was Okay.

Today was nice!  It was a little cool outside but sunny.  This morning, we went around the room, like every morning, and Jeremy addressed questions, issues, etc. we may be having with the dogs at night and how to handle them.  We've been having a problem getting Omri to jump up into Mom's truck so today at lunch, Jeremy went outside with us & showed me what I was doing wrong.  Ever since then, Omri's jumped up into the truck like a pro.  I just hope it continues to work as well in the days to come!

Mom, I lost my ball....

There's my ball!

Jeremy & his German Shepherd 

Matthew & Omri in "place"

One of the other kids' sisters drew this.  I like it.

This is Omri under the table at supper.

This is my self-portrait...I know I look pasty & pale...We woke up late & I didn't put on any makeup or fix my hair.

I think Omri was less than impressed with our supper!

Poor Omri!  He was SO tired after supper & Barnes & Noble!

I think Omri is picking out his favorite one to "steal" when Matthew isn't looking, how about you?

I'm thinking Omri kinda liked having a roommate, don't you???

I'm still not entirely sure what possessed Matthew to get inside Omri's kennel, but they seem to be bonding okay.

2 boys in 1 kennel...hmmmmmmmm

After we went around the room asking questions, Jeremy introduced the class to some things like having the dogs do balance work, hit the silver Handicapped open door button, etc.  Next, we had a brief introduction to tethering.  This is going to be my lifesaver!  He demonstrated with Omri & Omri just stayed focused on Jeremy & then me.  He did SO good!  He stayed in a "down" and would just occasionally look at whomever was being tethered.  (This is the appropriate response.)
This afternoon, we went over problems at lunch, how to groom the dogs (Omri is pretty low-maintenance, but we're in a class that every other dog is a Golden Retriever.), how to pick the correct brushes, nail clippers, how to brush, how to bathe, what shampoo to use, etc.  We also went over the proper treats, toys,etc.  For those who haven't gotten their dogs yet, rawhides are NOT appropriate.  Jeremy will tell you why when you get here.  Omri is a strong chewer so we have to get him heavy duty chewing toys.  Jeremy recommends Kong and Nylabone. 
ON a side note, please pray for one of the other moms in our class.  She is really having a hard time with getting her toddlers to understand the service dog isn't for them & is feeling really guilty.


Love,
Dea

Day 4

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today is my birthday & I think watching Matthew & Omri bond is probably the BEST birthday present I could ever ask for!

We spent the morning going over basic obedience commands, distractions, heeling, etc.  Then, after lunch, we headed to the mall in Beavercreek.  I forgot to take my camera so I don't have any pics for today.  ( I honestly don't think I would've had the time to take any 'cause I was so focused on Matthew & Omri.)  He did a most excellent job!  The biggest distraction we had were the 3-4 year-olds.  Omri really wanted to just go running up to them & give them "kisses".  :-)  He didn't, but you could tell he WANTED to.  Other than that, he did great! We'd walk into a store & he'd just stand, sit or lie down til we told him otherwise.  A lot of the mall patrons wanted to pet Omri.  For us, that's no big deal as that's part of his job.  We want him to bridge the gap Matthew sometimes has in social situations.  Omri will hopefully get other kids to think Matthew's cool cause he has this really awesome dog and they'll want to hang out with Matt.  He really feels like no one likes him sometimes.  As a mom, it just breaks my heart to hear him say that.  He also says no one loves him.  Omri is really starting to build his self-confidence.  :-)  Omri is also starting to obey Matthew when he gives Omri commands.  Matt's chest just about bursts with pride when he does that.  It's cool to watch.

Anyway, sorry for no pics, but I'll try to take some tomorrow.  Oh, almost forgot, when we first got to the mall, we got Chick-Fil-A, and Omri just went into an "under" and stayed there til I told him to heel.  Everyone in the food court was looking over & grinning at us.

Hope ya'll had a wonderful day, also!

Love,
Dea

Day 3

Whew!  Talk about a LOT to take in!  We continued to work on basic obedience skills like sit, down, heel, come, etc.  We also reinforced "tricks" like shake, high five, gimme 5, etc.  The seizure alert dogs worked on "bark" on command.  Omri can do it, also, but there's really no reason for him to do it when he's working so it's just a fun thing for now.  Something funny happened during training today, though.  Jeremy had us working on "come".  Omri was doing really well by staying in his "place" and just watching as I walked away.  As long as he could see me, he stayed where he was..alert, but not moving.  When Jeremy had another mom and I walk out of sight, Omri came running...looking for me.  He was SOOOO excited when he found me.  Of course we had to redirect him and do it a couple more times til he stayed til I came back & released him, but the look on Omri's face when I reappeared was so cute, funny, heart-melting, etc. all at the same time.  He is such a sweetheart.

Matthew enjoyed his "game time" on ESPN.com today.

During Matt's meltdown...Omri's like a HUGE teddy bear for him...lots of comfort!

When we got back to the hotel, we put Omri in his kennel while we "reconned" the mall where we'll go tomorrow to make sure I could find it.  After walking around the mall, we went to PetSmart to get Omri a new ball that he can't take apart, I hope!   We got back to the hotel & I took Omri out for a potty break.  He heeled a lot better tonight.  He and I went back to the room, and he went straight to Matthew & laid at his feet til Matt got up.  We did have a mini-meltdown with Matthew when I told him it was time to stop playing video games on the computer & start winding down.  Omri was on the bed resting & Matthew was crying and sassing me...he was about to get upset!  Matthew instead laid down on the bed next to Omri, buried his head in Omri's fur & cried there.  Omri just let Matt squeeze him and love on him til he calmed down.  Matt had all of his weight on Omri & Omri just laid there until all was well again.  THIS WAS SOOO WONDERFUL!  Omri got lots of treats and loving from me when this was over.  He is currently resting on the bed while Matthew watches the Golf Channel.  (What can I say?  He's a guy, right?  a small one, but still!)


Tomorrow, we go to the mall for our first public outing.  I'm a little nervous because I still don't feel confident with "heeling", but that's why we're going, right?

Love,
Dea

Day 2

Today, I realized just how "dog dumb" I am.  I have never walked a dog in my life.  I've been walked a few times, but I've never been walked.  :)  Today, we learned how to walk with our service dogs in "heel".  It's like I'm walking a whole new dog, now!  There are still a few minor problems that are mine, not Omri's.  He's like a rock.  He's just trying to figure out what I want him to do.  The different accents/pronunciations are confusing to him according to Jeremy.  We also worked on getting the dogs to stay in a sit or down without saying "stay".

This afternoon, we reinforced earlier commands & also learned their "tricks" like high five, gimme five, shake, etc.  Omri was in "lap" with Matthew during training, too.  That's where he lays on Matthew giving him that DEEP Pressure sensation that Matthew likes.  Matt just grinned when he did that.It's really cool to see the calming that occurs when Omri does that.  It's like Matthew's anxiety levels drop instantaneously.  

Before we left today, we learned "jump" and "off" so the dogs could get in & out of the vehicles and on/off furniture, stuff like that.  Right now, Matthew and Omri are lying on the other bed relaxing.  It's so nice to see.
Til tomorrow, stay warm & love your kids and dogs.

Love,

Yes, Matthew has his feet on Omri's back...  :)

Dea

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, we fell in love with our  newest addition!

Matthew giving Omri treats

Omri's happy!  Sorry about the blur, but he kept moving..or I did...not sure which!

This was worth EVERYTHING!

Here's a small update of our day.  I'm kinda tired cause I didn't get to sleep until after 1 last night so this may be short, but here goes.  
We were EXTREMELY surprised when Jeremy, the head trainer, said," Matthew, are you ready?  Let's bring out Omri, first!"  WOW!  We were definitely not expecting to be first!  Matthew was grinning from ear to ear!  He resembled the Cheshire Cat!  At first, Matthew was kinda overwhelmed with the sights, scents, etc., but by the end of the day, he & Omri were starting to be buds.  :)  The morning was pretty much taken up with intro's & "getting to know your dog" stuff.  This afternoon, we learned basic obedience things like sit, down, etc.  The dogs are pros at this....me?...not so much!  HA!  
The differences in dialect and intonation between the handlers and the trainers will slightly confuse the dogs until they get to know us & respect a little more than they did today.  Omri tried all his tricks to get treats until the trainers and Jeremy worked with me to learn how the dogs were trained.  People wondered why I had to go to training for 2 weeks.  Let me tell you, 2 weeks doesn't seem like it's going to be long enough.  Other parents who've gone before me have done it, so I know it isn't impossible...overwhelming, but not impossible.
Omri is staying at the training center tonight, but tomorrow, he'll come back to the motel with us.  That may provide a little anxiety for me...not Matthew!  It's been a LONG time since I've had an inside dog.  Anyway, I'll try to take more pics tomorrow & post them on here.  Please leave me a comment here so I'll know you dropped by.BIG THANK you to everyone who helped get us here & who helped us raise the money necessary to train Omri.

Love,Dea and Matthew 

1 week to go!

In exactly one week, Matthew & I will be headed to Ohio to get his Service Dog & learn how to handle him/her.  We still don't know the breed or name, but Matt's getting excited.  His "Smart Dog" is going to be one spoiled, loved working dog!  Jason said Matthew was up nearly all night last night with night terrors.  I REALLY hope his SD helps!  sleep deprivation is no fun for any of us.  I think Scott's the only one who is able to sleep through them.  (Maybe it's because Matt's always had em...not sure....)  Matthew is SO hyper today!  I don't know if Jason & I'll survive the weekend!

The temperature difference between here & OH is bound to be a shock to our systems.  Yesterday it was 75 degrees here.  Today it's a little cooler...in the mid 50's.  Scott's allergies have attacked him BIG time today...either that or he has a cold.  Either way, please keep him in your thoughts & prayers.  I just gave him a Benadryl so I'm hoping that'll help.

Our neighbors adopted the cutest little dog from the pound!  He's a rat terrier just like Mojo!  Mojo is our rat terrier who went to live with his Nana Shatterly in Georgia when we moved to Texas.  Mojo, along with Sugar, the cat, have adapted fairly well to the Georgia humidity.  Nana, Jason's mom, says they are 2 spoiled animals! Aren't they supposed to be???

Anyway, Jason & I have a silent prayer request.  I don't want to go into details, but we covet your prayers about some things going on.  Thanks,

Love,
Dea

14 Days til we leave!

Since it's just 14 days til Matthew & I leave Jason & Scott in Texas to get his Service Dog, I thought I'd make a heartfelt plea to Karen & Jeremy & the rest of the gang at 4 Paws who are deciding which dog we'll get:

Please make my child's day
Do whatever you may
come up with our matches
before we pay our taxes
this we humbly pray.

We get his SD on Feb 14!  WOOOO  HOOOOO!!!  We are anxiously awaiting notice from Karen at 4Paws as to the breed & name of Matthew's new friend!


Love,
Dea

18 DAYS!!!

We have 18 days til we meet Matthew's new friend!  WE absolutely cannot wait to meet his Service Dog.  And on Valentine's Day!  How appropriate is that??????

28 Days

WE only have 28 days to go!  28 days til we meet our new buddy!  28 days til Matthew gets his Service Dog.  Wooo Hoooo!!!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Scott & Matthew felt this was needed....not sure WHY!

 I'm still not entirely clear as to WHY the Halo Army Snipers felt it necessary to take up vantage points in the Christmas tree.  Scott said it had something to do with the ornaments and lights staging a mutiny? 
Oh, these boys!  There's never a dull moment around when they're home, that's for SURE!

The Cookie Masters (or is it Cookie Monsters?) at work!

Our Red, White and Blue Christmas tree!

 

As you can tell, the boys had a wonderful time decorating the Christmas cookies! (By the way, all the cookies were gone by 5 the next day!  HA!)

Blue gingerbread men?  Oh, well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and remember to Thank God for sending us Jesus, without HIM, Christmas is just another day!

Love,

Dea  

Family Time!

This summer we went to my 20th class reunion for my high school  Cotter High School---home of the WARRIORS!!!  We were considered a big class...we had 36 kids graduate, I believe.  The picture above is of the bridge that crosses the White River at Cotter.  My parents owned a trout dock there when I was growing up.  

Jason and I left the boys with my parents when we came back.  They stayed about a week before they got homesick, so we met them at the Bass Pro Shop in Garland.  This picture is taken from the front of the store.  We had a devil of a time getting all 4 of them to smile at the same time they were looking at the camera!  Phew!  I'll say this, they adore their grandparents!  On both sides!  We're hoping to be able to see Jason's parents soon. 

We also recently found out that we will be going to get Matthew's Service Dog in February.  He and I have to be there for 2 weeks to learn how to "handle" the dog and learn how he/she works.  :-)  We are currently soliciting funds for our trip.  If anyone knows of anyone who is willing to help us, please let us know.  We estimate it'll cost between $2500-$3000 for the trip. (This includes travel, meals, and hotel.)

Who would've ever guessed that I'd be a mother of boys???  I love them to death even when they drive me crazy.  Can anyone explain how they can each be as good as gold when it's just one of them, but the minute the other shows up, the "devil" in them comes out????  Anyway, it's started to cool off here finally this year!  That means it's in the 80's instead of the 110's.  Hee hee!  This also means it is SOCCER time in the Shatterly household!  Scott mostly plays goalkeeper (goalie for those of us, including me, who don't speak soccer!) Jason is the assistant coach.  The head coach and Jason come up with all sorts of one-liners during games and practice like, "Sorry I didn't send you an email telling you to be off-sides!"  Those of us on the sidelines laugh so hard we cry at times!  

Enough rambling for now, let me know if you have any ideas on how to be a good soccer mom!

Love,

Dea