Home: Day 2

Being home with Riley has proven to be so much fun...for all of us! You don't know the void you have in your home until it's filled with a wonderful creature! Riley is just that...wonderful!

Our family is beginning the bonding process with Riley and he is adjusting to us. Riley has sniffed every square inch of our home and has seemingly become rather comfortable on his puffy bed! I didn't have to leave for work until a bit later yesterday morning, so Riley stayed home in the morning with me! Then he had his only break of the day!!! After lunch time it was off to work with Josh! He went to a construction site! Tough work for a service dog! Then he greeted clients at Fred Motz Builders. Finally he was able to pick up the girls at daycare and meet all of the kids that he will be spending his days with. They LOVED him!!!

Our first full evening home consisted trying to convince the girls that eating dinner was more important than playing with Riley!!! Once that battle was lost, the girls got down from the table and an hour long session of tennis ball ensued! It was great! Logan and Leah took turns. We even heard Leah say, "My turn." (In her own articulation...the goal with this would be for her to articulate it so others could understand her, not just mommy and daddy!)

One cute note!! Logan was playing ball with Riley, running all over the house in her princess dress! She threw up her hands in touchdown form and yelled, "HE IS AWESOME!" referring to Riley! Now, how can you beat that? I know, just if Leah would feel that!

We will be meeting Jennifer, Riley's foster mom, on Saturday for some training at Lowe's. This will be the beginning of many sessions with various trainers. I know that he is in need of some more training! He's not so sure of our Swiffer broom! Who knew?!?!? Nevertheless, he's great with the girls and he's already a source for additional communication opportunities for Leah. What more can we ask for at this point!?

Oh, by the way, for all of you who we don't get a chance to talk to very often...we're moving! We bought a house (we'll close in Feb.) in DeWitt! So, if you want a house in good 'ole Grand Ledge, we've got a nice one!!! We'll cut you a deal!!! Seriously!!!

Keep checking in...I'm a posting fool!

Leah's Miracle is HOME!!!

Amen! We can hardly believe it...but Riley is home! Yes, that's right! Leah's partner is home with us now!

Thanks to all of you who made this possible! It's all happening now!!!! YEAH!!!!

For days and days before, we had talked to the girls about Riley, showed them the book that we made about him, described Riley's 'kisses', and had more discussions about being gentle! Well, finally last evening we packed the family up, including Mema (Grandma) and off we went to bring Riley home. We arrived about the same time as he and his foster mom...in walked a fluffy, blond, well groomed Riley! What a treat! Logan immediately said, "RILEY!!!". Leah retreated into Daddy's shoulder with a bit of fear and anxiety! Go figure!

We then got the low-down on all of his 'ins' and 'outs' as well as got all of our questions answered. The girls were running around the kennels' office like little pups! They even found a new home...Riley's crate! After a good deal of talking, we packed up the family once again...with one addition...a 55 pound fluffy addition!

All the way home Logan tapped me on the arm and said, "Mama, where Riey?" "Where Riey?" She's found a new love! So in love that parting for night-night was a bit rough!

His first night home was great! He seemed a bit on edge, but who wouldn't be with 2 year old twins screaming in your ears! Riley has had one new experience for sure...stinky diapers! Shoo-wee!!! The girls are adjusting to him as well. Logan was up about an hour early and throwing the Kong to Riley! She's already commanding him to sit, stay and go! Leah also got in on the action and told Riley to "Stay"! But the most heartwarming was "Night night Riley!!!"

The plan for Riley is to slowly adjust to his new family and get a bit of socialization with Josh and I at work. He will also go out and about with us this weekend. We will be beginning more specific training with him next week.

Again, thanks to all of you who helped us make Leah's miracle happen! This is just the beginning! Now we're going to see doors open for her and she's going to run through them...I just know!!!! AMEN!!!!

New Picture!!!

Attention!

I have a new picture! You all beg for pictures, and I have one!!! Jennifer sent me this one of Riley and his Foster Brothers this morning!!! Look at the size of Riley! He's going to take up the whole car when we travel to therapy! 1-800-SUV-MANN! Naaa!

Just so you know the name of his bros...they are...from left to right...Astro, Reuben, and Farley! Aren't they a motley crew?

We're still looking forward to January 28th as the day!!!

Leah's Miracle Is Set To Arrive!

Leah's miracle is coming home! Yes, Riley has a homecoming date of January 28th!

We got a call this morning from his 'Foster Mom", Jennifer, and she said she needs a bit more time with him for the socialization part of his training. Seems that Riley is a bit of a wimp when it comes to foreign objects, large and small!! Thus, he needs some more exposure before coming home.

Jennifer reported that Riley's 'manners' are great, his temperament is outstanding, but like we had heard before...he is still a puppy! A little dense! She stated that when he's outside he doesn't like to come when he's called. I can just imagine him in the spring time frolicking in the green grass chasing butterflies and grasshoppers! Can't you see it now???

On a side note in this post, I'd like to address the same question that so many people have been asking Josh and I, "So what is Riley going to do for Leah?" Let me try to explain.

All of you know Leah so you know that she seems to be developing normal. She is... She looks normal...heck, she's beautiful (I'm her mom!!!), she acts normal, etc. Things are just moving a bit slower than we'd like...but she is making progress...HUGE PROGRESS since all of this began!!!!!

Leah has been diagnosed with a motor planning delay as well as an expressive speech delay, which we believe is going to be labeled as apraxia. The motor planning delay simply means that the mind and body do not work well together. She just can't get the two to synchronize. There is nothing cognitively 'wrong' and there is nothing 'physically' wrong. It's simply that the messages between the two don't work well together. For this delay Riley will go to therapy in Battle Creek and work with her there. He is also being trained to play back-and- forth with Leah, accept a toothbrush so Leah can learn to brush his teeth then ultimately her own teeth properly, Riley is being taught to accept kitchen utensils so Leah will learn to scoop and stab food to feed Riley then ultimately feed herself appropriately, Leah will brush/groom Riley, and Riley will be harnessed for Leah's wobbly stability!

For the speech component, Riley will go to speech therapy with Leah at Sparrow and Leah will be taught how to appropriately respond to social questions about her dog. (Just think of the numerous people that will approach our family and her because of this MIRACLE!!!) Is this your dog? "Yes". What's your dog's name? "Riley". Also, she will need to be able to express the commands to Riley! So Riley will act as a communication dog as well.

We also have to admit that Riley will be part of our family. He will not strictly be a working dog...ugh...we already love him like a family member! We are looking forward to having him as an assistance dog for Leah just as much as we are as having him as a companion dog for our family!!!!

So, mark your calenders for the week of the 28th! It's Leah's week of Miracles! Riley is coming home. Now just know, adding a dog to a household is a bit like adding a child so a blog post may take a few days to add! But just wait, I'll add one with a bunch of pictures...I PROMISE!

Is He Home Yet?

The simple answer is....drumroll...NO!

Sorry folks! Riley is still not home! We are waiting...impatiently...for word that he is coming home to Leah! We've heard from so many of you, "Is Riley home yet?" "So, does Leah have her doggie yet?" NOPE!

We're thinking that next weekend will be her miracle weekend! We are hoping to hear that he he's been socialized enough with the two trainers, his basic obedience is set and he's ready to come home to his family and to his partner!

Sorry that we don't have great news, but at least it's news!

We'll keep you posted!

Happy 2008

So sorry it's been so long...yet again! (I seem to apologize a lot on this Blog, don't I? Time just flies by!!!) As you might imagine, with the Holidays and twins, things can become a bit hectic! As all moms, I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!

The Knight's had a wonderful Christmas and restful New Year! (Three of us were asleep when the ball dropped!) The girls actually extended their Christmas gift opening until December 27th, when they opened their last present. They were just happy playing with what they had received gift-by-gift. So, we were happy to extend the event by a few days!!! Santa was generous as well as were so many relatives and friends!!! (Can you say spoiled twins!!!)

Well, now for the Riley update! He's doing just fine! Riley's living at the foster home being 'socialized'. Last we knew, he hadn't yet been to a restaurant, but to most other venues. We're told he's still a puppy...AKA...running into sliding glass doors! DUH!!!! He's still on track to come home to our house within in the next 2-3 weeks to begin the bonding process. After that, we'll begin private lessons to begin work on the service training.

We're trying to prepare the girls for Riley. "Gentle, Logan!" "Be Nice, Leah." BAM, BANG, CLUNK! Oh, thank goodness he's got a good temperament! Please let him have soft teeth!!! :)

Naturally, I don't have any pictures of Riley with the girls as he's a bit further away now. But I will share some Holiday pictures with you...Enjoy!

Happy 2008!