Training day 3 and 4

Sorry I missed a day... I was so tired last night. The night before I made the mistake of putting a Nylabone in Chevy's crate. He picked it up and dropped it at 1 and 3 then Nate woke up at 3 and moved into bed with me. Last night was a little better. No Nylabone, quiet Chevy... Nate was up at 12:50 and came to bed with me then but slept until 6am. Training yesterday was our first day with Jeremy and our first tracking day. Things seem to be getting better. Chevy is still feeling out how far he can go with me, but realizing that we can work together. He loves his treats from the Liver Lady. We went tracking yesterday and I was rather worried. The weather was beautiful... 79 and sunny. Nana, Shelby (one of the training assistants) and Nate went and hid. Chevy just didn't seem too excited and he was stopping to smell racoon poop and whatever else crossed his path. We had a lecture on how the dogs track and I was wondering how this was going to go. We got back to the hotel in the evening and Kelly Howard from the Sept class came in with Eldora or Ellie (Chevy's sister) and we loaded up the Pilot with the two dogs and went to Wright State University for a Fundraiser for Mallory Hollar, one of the students there. The Foster program is trying to raise funds to get Mallory a SD from 4 Paws. We walked in and I instantly felt like to Mom of a rock star. Chevy was fostered there and we got to see many of his fosters. Grace, one of his foster Moms immediately teared up and started crying. Of course, I did too. Thanked her for all the work she did to get Chevy ready of us. She was so sweet. She has another foster now, but has a special place in her heart for Chevy. We also met Alex who stole Chevy away for a picture in the Picture booth. Alot of the students recognized him and I usually had a group of people around me at any given time. I was asked to get up on stage and introduce myself and say a few words about Nate, Chevy and 4 Paws. I really hope the fundraiser went well for Mallory. Nana and Nate stayed back at the hotel as it was rather late. Today, we started our day at Dayton Children's hospital for blood counts. This awesome Cancer Mom... Jennifer Bridenbaugh who has a 16 yo son, Michael, with DS and leukemia met us in the parking garage and stayed with us until we got back in our car to head to training. It was so nice to have someone that knows where to go stay with you the whole time. Her beautiful daughter Lydia was our escort too. We got the counts later in the day and they are still low. Last week the preliminary counts were 500 for his ANC, but I found out today they were really 400 and today he was 480. His platelets and his HGB remains steady. His sinus issues seem to be resolving too. We will check again on November 5th but as of right now he is off of chemo until then. We got to 4 Paws just a few minutes late and started training with Jeremy. We tracked with Jennifer Varick today. Boy can that girl run.... no wonder she is so thin. I saw a different dog today. OMG.... he saw the first dog go out and he bolted forward... I had to hold him back. When it was his turn and Nana and Nate were well hidden he lost his dog mind and took off. Never once stopping to sniff anything but Nate's scent trail... He found him in minutes. Again, with the 2nd track... this time he went out with Corey, DaMyron's daddy... we try to mix up who Nate goes out with so Chevy doesn't track Nate's companion instead of Nate. So, if Nana goes out with him every time, Chevy may familiarize himself with Nana's scent instead of Nates. Chevy found him so quickly. I couldn't keep up either time... I need to start running again for sure. Unfortunately tracking today was in the rain.. rather misty at first but pretty much a downpour with our last track. We got back in the car. Chevy and Nate passed out. Went through McDonalds drive thru. Ate lunch at the hotel and Chevy and I went across the street to train at the mall. I really enjoyed this because you got some one on one time with Jennifer and Jeremy. It really helped me to refine my commands and some of the bad habits I have from obedience training many years ago with two dogs I had. Chevy did well. It also gave me time to sit down and talk to some of the other families and share stories about he dogs, how tired we were and where the closest Starbucks was. Two of the dogs took a poo in the mall... so glad it wasn't Chevy.

Several of the parents have told me that they love Nate and he lights up the room when he walks in. Brought tears to my eyes... I'm one very proud Mama. Finished up at the mall... came back to the hotel and Nana had Chili waiting for us. What a day. Nate is already asleep, Nana is in her room and Chevy is passed out at the foot of my bed. We track every day for the next week. No track on Graduation Day a week from today. Training is very overwhelming but so rewarding. When you walk away, your brain is on overload, but when you see the bond forming between Nate and Chevy it's all worth it. When Chevy gets in the car from the back, Nate reminds him, "Lelly, down" and then when he lays down, Nate pats his head and says "Good Boy". So amazing and utterly cute. I've noticed Chevy looking for Nate and trying to get to him at different times, when Nate gets out of the car first or walks away from Chevy you can see Chevy wanting to be with him. I love it. I'm going to bed early tonight. More tracking tomorrow... and that means more running in the wet and cold. Hope that hurricane holds off... one of our families is from the NJ area... praying for everyone in it's path. Much love to everyone again for making this happen. The bonds we are forming not only with Chevy but with the other families and everyone at 4 Paws is priceless.