Miss Shelby, Tunisian crochet

I want to share the good news that lil Miss Shelby and I have been officially accepted into the HandiDogs program! We begin in the September training class as the summer one about to begin has been filled for some time. I am tremendously excited!

I feel I now know why Shelby came to be part of our family so unexpectedly. We went to the Humane Society that morning in the hopes of adopting Gizmo, after several failed attempts to adopt a small dog. We know those little guys simply weren't meant to be and Gizmo was. Shelby however was completely unexpected. While we were being processed for Giz, we saw Shelby, a shy little girl in the kennel across the way. There was just something in her eyes, and we knew we couldn't leave her.

So, the next day they had their surgeries and microchipping and came to their forever home. Gizmo finally stopped shaking as he did in fear constantly during our couple hours at the shelter, and both pups came to realize they were here to stay. Gizmo came out of his shell and has shown himself to be a clever and playful little goof who always "talks" when he yawns. Shelby came to love DH and I, and even the children, intelligent and very quick to learn. Both crate-trained without incident and faster than we ever imagined. Shelby learned on Day 1 that it was her bed and how to let us know she needed to go out. Giz took about 4 days for the crate, and immediately knew about the restroom as well. Shelby is an amazingly smart girl, proving her wit by learning every trick we have taught her on the first day.

I can hardly wait for the training process. Shelby and I will take 6 10-week sessions to train and certify her as a HandiDog, which will allow her to go any public place as my assistance dog. Yesterday was a particularly rough day with my pain levels, and she quite clearly knew. She tried to get up in my lap on the recliner several times, which she knows is a no-no, so she ended up staying on the floor next to the chair and just put her head against my leg and looked at me contently. I never thought I could like a big dog, having had terriers since I was 8, but she is a special, beautiful girl.

Tonight--well, morning since it's 3:37 a.m.--I begin making a sun dress for Meg. I will post updates along the way.

I recently had a femoral series of x-rays and next week have an MRI (lumbar). There is something going on in one of these areas but I can't determine the cause so they're trying to figure it out. I am going to ask my PCP for a manual chair, as the pain in my bones and joints is sometimes so great I can't handle holding my arm up and the scooter level to accelerate. With a manual DH would have to push me since I can't with the 3 pound limit, but at least I could get out more than I do now.

I just finished an online week-long Tunisian crochet class. Here is my classwork, a Tunisian-stitched bag which was then felted.

Pre-felting


Post-felting drying


Finished product

Service dogs & paratransit

When I spent a week in the hospital this month unexpectedly, someone from HandiDogs surprised me in my hospital room with a visit from a working dog. She strongly suggested I consider it given the rate of my progression.

I thought the timing was interesting and possibly a blessing in disguise. I have an 8 year old Yorkshire Terrier; at hardly 5 pounds Wolfie wouldn't be able to do much when it comes to helping out! However, in early March we went to the shelter to adopt a Cairn terrier posted to their website late the night prior. Thankfully we were there when they opened and the phone calls started pouring in to get him (little dogs never last long) and we got our 10 pound spaz of a 12 month old stray Cairn, Gizmo.

What surprised us more was that while adopting Gizmo, we were taken by a beautiful Rodesian Ridgeback (well by far extremely Rodesian and very slightly German Shepherd) named Shelby, also about 12 months. She was an owner drop off and terribly abused. We have never had a big dog before but something attracted us to her instantly and we simply couldn't leave her there. She has become the most trusting, good-natured sweetheart and amazingly intelligent.

We were afraid of going from 1 to 3 dogs in our 1200 square foot house with two small children, but it just felt right. The HandiDogs person said they have trained many Rodesians and love them.

I wonder if this is why Shelby came into our lives with such surprise?

I am considering applying for a scholarship, as this would be the only way we could participate. They train the patient and their dog so that the patient's specific needs can be addressed. The training process can take 2 years to complete, including for the dog to certify.

I just wonder if anyone here has a service dog and can share their experience, whether with training, certifying, how they help you, and life with them in general?

It occurred to me today to start taking note of Shelby, Wolfie, and Gizmo's behavior when I start to get hit with my seizure precursors, now that I have them pretty figured out. Today I couldn't help but notice that all 3 of three of them became rather suddenly clingy, instead of the typical 1 at a time sticking to my side. I had Wolfie and Giz against me in the recliner and Shelby literally across my feet on the floor.

I want to thank everyone for standing by me during this time. Your notes and emails of encouragement and prayer are very special to me and give me strength. I also feel incredibly blessed, as does my family, for the help received from our ASAP & CA-based friends of faith. I don't know if I would be here without it. I thank God for all of you.

I received a call today from the ADA transit people and they did decide after reviewing my application (thank you DH) that I meet the ADA requirements and thus will be able to receive Paratransit/VanTran assistance. This is the transportation system for people with disabilities who cannot use regular transit. For one, the service doesn't come all the way out to where we live (the city bus I mean), and even if it did they don't consider be able to use that because of the inability to know if there are any "environmental barriers" at any locations; basically none of us can know ahead of time if there are serious issues at locations such as lack of sidewalk and curb cuts that would prevent me from getting around in my scooter.

I hated putting in for it but am thankful and relieved now that if unable to find a ride, I can be picked up in my scooter at my house and be taken to doctor appointments, etc. The cost is pretty much the same as bus service.

I had hoped that our insurance cost would go down if we took me off the policy since I am no longer legally allowed to drive, but apparently not. It's a household policy or some such thing so it makes no difference that I'm not a driver any more. Ah well. It is very good to know I can get reliable paratransit service when needed.