California May 2014

Every time Misty and I leave on a trip I always have the idea that I am going to blog every night so I don't forget anything, but we always end up having too much fun during the day and by the time we get back to the hotel all we want to do is go to sleep.  So we have been home a few days now and I am just now sitting down writing.

After we left St. George on Sunday we went to Las Vegas and spent the night at the Excalibur Hotel.  Before we went to the hotel we went to the Hoover Dam.  I haven't been there since I was in Jr. High.  Here is a picture of Ned and Misty with the Dam in the background.




















After we checked into our hotel we rode the tram over to Mandalay Bay and then we walked to the M&M Store.  Then we headed to the Mirage where we watched the volcanoes in front of the hotel.  On the way back Misty and I and some friends that met us in Vegas got a little lost on the walk ways because of construction (and because I have no sense of direction) so we missed the water show in front of the Bellagio.  Everyone was exhausted that night!!

Monday morning we headed towards California.  We stopped at the Sea Bee museum and walked around for awhile.  Then we checked into the hotel in Anaheim and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

Tuesday morning we went to Disneyland! We decided to stay in California Adventure all day.  It got pretty hot that day so we found some shade for the dogs and Glen and his brother stayed with the dogs while the others went on some rides.  We saw the Aladdin show since it was in a nice cool building. Misty slept through it all.  After we watched World of Color we headed back to the hotel.  Here is a picture of Ned and Misty playing with Pluto.
















Wednesday we headed to Oceanside.  We planned on checking in at the hotel and going to SeaWorld but the fires in Carlsbad changed those plans.  We got stuck on the freeway about 18 miles outside of Oceanside for almost 2 hours so by the time we made it to the hotel we decided to stay there and not get on the freeway again so we watched the news and watched as fireman tried to fight at least 3 different fires.

Thursday we went to CCI for the tour to see who Ned was going to be sharing his kennel with.  Then we went to the beach! We keep the dogs on their leash and take them down by the water to let them splash around for awhile.  After they played in the water Ned started to dig a hole and he wasn't going to stop until he reached China!! Mike would start to cover the hole back up and Ned would start digging again.  We took the dogs back to the hotel and gave the dogs a bath in the tub in our rooms.  We walked on the beach that night and watched some of the fires burn as the sun went down.

Friday was graduation/turn-in.  That is always a bitter-sweet day! It was hard to say goodbye to Ned but he is now with professional trainers for the next 6 months so he can be a great service dog for someone.  Here is a picture of Misty and Ned on turn-in day.     

   

GOOD LUCK NED!!!!

California May 2014 Day 1

We have started our trip to take Ned to puppy college.  On this trip, Glen's brother and wife are with us.  We are spending the night in St. George.  We went to dinner at a pasta place and then Glen got lost on a round-a-bout and we ended up back on the freeway and gave us all a great laugh!! We are spending the rest of the evening in hotel relaxing.  Tomorrow...........Las Vegas!!

CCI Christmas Party 2013

Ned

Cabo

Misty

Ned

Flower

Flower and Misty

Misty

Topper

Diva - She even had her nails painted for the party. =)

Wallis had a little too much fun and fell asleep half way through the party.

Misty and Diva

Misty

Topper, Misty, and Diva were the graduate dogs.

The dogs had a blast even though we dressed them up and took LOTS of pictures!  Misty always likes to see her friends.

Who needs a job? I DO!!!!!

Today is day 3 of the IRS shut down and Misty and I are getting VERY bored!!!!!!!! Today we had an opportunity to attend a outreach activity for CCI.  Lily, Ned, Misty and I went to the Jr. High where our friend Marilyn works.  Marilyn is raising Wiita to become a service dog.  Wiita will go to puppy college next month and hopefully graduate in May 2014.
We talked to the kids about CCI and what the puppy raisers do to train the dogs and I talked about attending training in Oceanside,Ca.  It was good to get out of the house for awhile.  Here are some pictures from today.


Ned, Misty, and Wiita

Misty and Ned practicing "cradle" with some of the students.  Cradle is when the dog lays in your lap and lets you pet them until you tell them "release"

Ned

Misty crossing her legs like a lady.

 

Misty's 5th birthday

Last night we had a party for Misty's 5th birthday.  Fun was had by all!! This November it will be 3 years since I received Misty as my service dog and she has done an AWESOME job!!!
Here are some pictures from the party.

Mistys birthday cake

Ned is taking a break from playing

Misty is trying to get someone to give her a carrot.

Misty REALLY wanted a piece of birthday cake!

The dogs LOVE playing together!

Misty still looking for carrots.

Peach Days

It's been awhile since my last post.  August was a tough month! The first Sunday of the month I woke up with GREAT pain in my right shoulder and arm.  The only position I could keep it in was to put in on my head.  My mom took me to instacare and the doctor gave me some medicine so I went back home and by Tuesday I was so sick form the medicine and it wasn't helping my arm.  So Tuesday I went to another doctor and she put me in physical therapy for an hour.  That helped for a couple of hours and then I was in pain again.  Wednesday morning about 4:30am I called my mom and she took me to the ER.  They gave me a morphine shot and he thought it might be my shunt tube so he ordered a MRI.  I HATE close spaces so I HATE MRI's!!!!!! But I got through it.  The MRI didn't show anything and Friday I finally got in to my doctor and he gave me 3 cordizone shots and within a few minutes I could move my arm again!  The lesson I learned was next time I have a horrible pain call my regular doctor FIRST!!!
That whole week I didn't go to work and the only places I went was doctor offices and the ER.  So poor Misty had to stay home that whole week but she was AWESOME!!! She knew I didn't feel well and so she never left my side.  The week I returned to work I fell on my front porch and jammed my index finger on my right hand.  I thought I broke it but turns out I just tore the muscle away from the bone.  If it's not healed in another month I have to go to a hand specialist.  I am SO tired of doctors!  I am doing much better now.  I have been going to physical therapy twice a week.  My arm is feeling much better and my finger is only a little swollen.
Both Misty and I were happy when we were able to go places again even though it was mostly work and physical therapy.  Yesterday we went to Brigham City to be in the Peach Days parade.  The CCI service dogs and training dogs were invited to be with the float with the people we visit once a month at the Link Center.  It was a BLAST!!! It was about 2 miles and mostly downhill so I mostly coasted all the way.  Misty loved seeing some of her doggie friends.  After the parade we went to the car show and walked around to see some of the booths.  Misty was exhausted by the time we got home she didn't move for 3 hours.















Misty getting ready for the parade

One of Misty's friends, Larry

















Waiting for the parade to start

During the parade

On Saturday Misty and I went to Salt Lake to the Angelman Walk.  Angelman Syndrome is a rare disease that affects each person differently.  That's about all I know about it.  The day started out VERY rainy!! We got to the park and we thought it would end up getting cancelled but about the time the walk was about to begin it stopped raining.  We just stayed at our table and people came to talk to us and play with the dogs. We were with our friends, Brady and Marilyn and their dog Wiita, who is in training to become a service dog.  As the day went on it got warmer and warmer.  This is a picture of Misty and Wiita trying to stay out of the rain.  Yes they are laying on a blanket instead of the grass, in case you haven't noticed I spoil Misty LOTS!  

They love going anywhere that they will get lots of attention.  After we were done in Salt Lake we went home to rest for awhile and then we went to the movie "The Host" with a friend of mine I hadn't seen for awhile.  Misty is very good in movies as long as I bring a blanket to lay on.  She doesn't like to lay down on hard floors.  I wouldn't either.  =)