October 17, 2012

Quick post with pictures

By Bobbie

I know there are many of you wondering where we went, how the autism carnival and soccer game were and what we are up to now.  We are still here but our lives are as busy as ever.  Between mommy’s incredibly demanding course load at the university this year and daddy working a multitude of part-time jobs we haven’t had a lot of free time and when we have we are often spending it together as a family and not blogging.  Lucky for you I got stuck home for a couple days with a stomach bug so TADA, a quick post!

Rest assured Deeds and Magpie are doing fantastically and here are a bunch of photo’s for your viewing pleasure.  I will work on a much more detailed post next week when we mark the one year anniversary of getting Magpie (can you believe it’s been a year!).

All our love!

 

Leave a comment | posted in Autism, Family, Fun, In Public, School, Service Dog

August 30, 2012

A REAL Night for Autism

By Bobbie

Remember back when we were blessed by the amazing fans from the Real Salt Lake soccer team when we were fundraising for the service dog?  You don’t?  Well go back and check it out here.

Once again this team has shown how much it loves the the community and it is having an autism night.  It’s
Leo the lion’s Paws for a Cause Autism night on September 22nd!  If you love soccer this is the game not to be missed because with every purchase of a $20 ticket using promo code SAHARA on their website, a $5 donation will be made to support the 2012 Autumn Carnival for Autism!

The carnival is something Deeds loved last year and is super excited for this year, especially now that he has Magpie.  He told me he is going to “show her around and if she is good let her eat a hot dog.”  I chuckled at that since he knows it’s the only treat she gets that she’ll do anything for.

We will be going as a family to the game.  It will be Deeds first time in a full crowded stadium but with Magpie there I know he’ll love it.  He has wanted to go to a game for a while now so I’m thrilled we are finally going to try it out with him.  He is really excited.

The link is to enter the promo code and get the tickets is http://www.realsaltlake.com/content/ticket-promotions.  Come cheer on the Real Salt Lake as they play Portland!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Autism, Heros, In Public, Service Dog

August 28, 2012

A week away

By Bobbie

A couple weeks ago we spent almost 7 full days off the grid at the family cabin up in the Uintas.  The kids are the 5th generation to be able to spend time there and it’s just fantastic.  It was perfect timing as the last hurrah before school started for everyone.  We had some friends and family with us for a couple of nights and then it was just us and grandma for the rest of the time.  We took a ton of pictures and so I’m going to let them speak for themselves.

It’s become one of Magpie and Deeds favorite places in the world.  Magpie gets to really let loose and act like the crazy lab she is and Deeds gets to throw rocks in water and watch VHS video’s to his heart’s content.  I think we played Hercules at least 4 times a day while we were there.  He got so obsessed with it that guess who is going to be our favorite hero for Halloween.  We seriously lucked out and even found the costume on ebay already.  Here is the run down for everyone’s costumes according to JD:

  • Deeds: Hercules
  • Gwen: Meg
  • Dad: Hades
  • Mom: the “middle” Muse
  • Magpie: Pegasus

We have everyone’s costumes ready now with the exception of daddy and magpie.  I just need to convince Deeds to let me make Magpie a black Pegasus and not the white one with blue hair like in the movie.

Back to the cabin…  We went on a lot of walks and little hikes with the kids.  Little sister was much more interested in the outings than Deeds was but it helped when we took a half an egg carton with us.  We put pieces of tape in the bottom of each spot and colored them each with a different color.  During the walks the kids would try to find stuff from nature to put in the spots with the corresponding color.

It was an amazing week and we made a lot of cherished family memories.  After a rough summer it was the perfect ending and way to kick off the fall.

Throwing rocks after swimming in the creek.

Magpie in the creek with an amazing view behind her.

Very wet Magpie watching Deeds play after she was done swimming.

Deeds balancing on his favorite log. We had at least one picture a day on the log, it was his favorite spot at the creek.

The doggies resting after a extra long walk.

The kids decided this fort about 10 minutes up a trail was the perfect spot for a snack and drink break.

Deeds jumping over a log on the trail.

Magpie waiting for Deeds and I while we headed out for one of our many outings.

Bundled up watching for moose during one of our night walks. Deeds is actually wearing his great great grandfather’s coat, it was pretty cute. We would take glow sticks with us, I think it was the kids favorite.

Yet another shot on our favorite log.

Deeds watching his “favorite cabin movie”. The kids would play titans and heros while together. To the best of what we could determine it was a bit like their version of cops and robbers.

Deeds and Magpie splashing around.

Deeds sitting in the creek and trying to convince little sister to try it too.

Drying off in the sun after all the splashing around in the cold water.

Deeds swinging, we found it on our first night walk and then went back every other night we were there.

Pushing dad and Gwen on the swing.

Deeds counting his 24 glow in the dark bracelets from our walk the night before.

Side note: I love that last picture for a few reasons, one is that you can clearly see the side of his face that was burned so badly on his third birthday.  It still amazes me that it healed so well and that the hair grew back in almost the entire area.  You really have to look close to see the scars on his forehead.  Such a miracle and blessing for our little guy.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Burn, Family, Fun, Service Dog, Travel

August 4, 2012

Orange you glad I made Jello

By Bobbie

We had a family reunion today so I whipped up something I’d seen a picture of online.  Jello with an fruit twist.

The only tutorial I saw used a juicer to get the pulp out of the oranges.  I don’t have one so I just used a spoon to scoop out the fruit after I cut it in half and it worked out perfectly and gave a much cleaner look.  Once they were halved I put them in a muffin tin to keep them upright.

I made the jello with a thicker consistency than the typical directions.  More like the way you would make jigglers.  I used one cup boiling water with one 6 oz package then added a half cup of ice cubes.  I made two different packages and it filled 4 oranges with some left over.  Could have done another orange (maybe two) but since it was my first time and I was in a hurry I didn’t hollow out any more oranges.

Fill the oranges with the jello to the top.  If you’ve poked any holes in your oranges it will become apparent as you are trying to fill them.  Having the muffin tin under helps in this aspect since it will catch any spills.  After they are set slice them as thin as you would like.  I found it easiest to put it jello side down and slice the peel first.

This was such a huge hit that Deeds was sad when they were gone and I should have made a TON more for the reunion.  Now we know for next year.

My niece attacking her coveted Jell-o orange slice

Little sister with evidence of her enjoyment of her treat all over her face.

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Family, Food, Fun

August 3, 2012

PICTURES

By Bobbie

I have so many pictures to share with everyone.  We’ve been trying to pack in end of summer fun and all our “to-do” list before school starts for Deeds and mommy.  I’ll start with pictures from going bowling with the kids today.  Just check out the captions to get all the fun info.

Magpie watching the kids while they bowl.

Sometimes Deeds ball would go so slowly he would just lay down to watch it. Good thing it wasn’t crowded at all.

Gwen is watching for her ball to come up with Deeds plays.

Here are some random pic’s from the last week:

Deeds loves having Magpie sit in the back seat of daddy’s car with him.

Well don’t they look comfortable.

Deeds helping make his favorite peanut butter cookies.

Watching donuts being made.

These kids take eating donuts very seriously. I could tell it’s been a while since they have had one by their intensity.

He actually posed like this. Couldn’t get another picture of him without out half a bite in his mouth.

Sweet Dreams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 comments | posted in Autism, Epilepsy, Magpie, Mild Cerebral palsy (CP), Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), Service Dog

July 21, 2012

Cotton Candy Dreams

By Bobbie

A neighboring city was having its annual “Foam Day” today so we all headed to the park to check it out.  They use the fire trucks and shoot foam into a field and everyone can play in.  I wasn’t sure how Deeds and Magpie would do with foam covering them from head to tail (literally) so we enjoyed a couple hours of pre-foam activities and then left before the actual foam started to fly.

Gwen tells me “Mommy I love bruders Pie Pie.” and then leans in and gives her a kiss.

Little sister wasn’t a big fan of all the bouncing and sliding action so she hung out with Magpie and mommy in the shade a lot.  Deeds thought it was the best thing ever and would just fly down all the wet slides.  Since Jeremy is still out of work we have really been looking for free activities this summer for the kids to keep them entertained and it’s amazing how much you can find to do.  Maybe next year we’ll have to stay for the foam part too.

We took Magpie’s vest off at one point when it started to heat up and then the wet kids laid against her while munching on cotton candy and drinking water.  It cooled her down and it was just too cute not to share.

Our handsome boy with his “best service dog friend” Magpie.

This afternoon Deeds and I went to a book signing and then I promised him he could look at the Disney Store before we went home.  I was so pleased with how well he did at the book store.  When we got over to the Disney store Magpie was very tired so she sprawled out on the cool tile and the next thing I know Deeds is sprawled out next to her.  The two little turkeys were almost blocking the entire entrance to the store so I made sure no one was coming, snapped a couple pics and then we headed home.  We got some strange looks but we are getting used to that now.

Cuddle time in the middle of the mall.

A sure sign that it’s time to go home.

 

 

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Autism, Epilepsy, Family, Fun, In Public, Service Dog

July 16, 2012

A Service Dog and Hot Days

By Bobbie

Keeping cool in the shade.

Summers in Utah can get very hot.  We live in a desert climate so while it is often “dry” heat with little humidity still very hot.  When I lived in Florida I learned what a difference the humidity made.  I learned that it can be a lower temp and still feel like 106 degrees in the shade.  In Utah if it’s 106 degrees it’s probably because it is literally 106 degrees.  This past week or two there have been multiple days with temps reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  This has led us to become much more aware of Magpie and her needs due to the heat.

Here are the tricks we have learned to help us brave the heat with Magpie.

  • Water, water, water.  I don’t get out of the car anymore without a bottle of water just for Magpie.  I don’t always take the travel bowl since I can cup my hand and she can still drink but it’s imperative in the heat that along with everyone else she stays hydrated.
  • Asphalt.  I grew up walking around by the pool all the time because of swim team.  I remember sprinting across parking lots barefoot because of the blistering heat and it’s a good reminder for remembering that Magpie doesn’t wear shoes.  We pay close attention to if she starts pulling or high-stepping due to hot surfaces and we get her off of them asap if she encounters them.  I’ve even tested it with my hand a few times to make sure she would be okay.
  • Scope out the shade.  We always find the shady spots at the parks and pools for Magpie.  There is also a beach umbrella in the car just in case there isn’t any easily found.
  • Hot, hot, hot.  I have learned that Magpie reaches her heat threshold at the same time I do.  Since I have a bad heart the heat can really make me feel incredibly ill.  I don’t know if Magpie picks up on my feeling sick or just starts to have problems with the heat at the same time but she will stand up and refuse to lay down if we’ve been outside too long on a hot day.  The kids have learned that it means play time is done and we all head back to the car or inside for some air conditioning.
  • Take the vest off.  If she starts getting hot I take her red service dog vest or harness off.  Legally she doesn’t have to have them on, we do it to avoid questions and educate people but I’ll just carry it if she shows signs she is struggling to cool down.  Poor black doggie doesn’t need an extra layer on her back in the heat.
  • It’s okay to leave her home.  If we are going somewhere where I am worried she might not be okay due to the heat it is okay, and better for her if we just leave her home.  Yes ideally I’d rather have her with JD as much as possible but not at the risk of her health or her not wanting to go anywhere because she is miserable.
  • NEVER leave her in the car.  This is just common sense.  You would never leave your child in a hot car, same goes for Magpie.
  • Brushing.  You wouldn’t necessarily think it but brushing her more frequently has helped a lot.  Poor Magpie sheds a LOT so we are usually quite good at brushing her but making sure we do it even more often in the summer keeps her coat thinner by pulling up all the hair that’s falling out.

We hope everyone else also has a fun but safe summer and remember a lot of these tips would be great for your pets too.  We are so thankful for all Magpie does for Deeds and we plan on taking good care of her through the years so that she can continue to be his constant companion.

3 comments | posted in Magpie, Service Dog

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