Hello All!
        Just an “Owen and Rebecca update”.       We are doing great!  Owen surprises me every week; he seems like he knows how to read my mind.  Yesterday we went to brunch at a very crowded restaurant.  Owen was perfect, backed up and got under the table.  He stayed there the whole time.  A waitress dropped a full plate of food right in front of Owen.  I said, “leave it,” and he did.  He was the perfect gentleman! 
        My walking is a little bit better than when I was staying with you at Canine Helpers.  My doctors are shocked.  The physical therapist thinks it’s because I’m out walking more and I’m not so tense and nervous when I’m out.  I am so much more confident knowing Owen will get the cane for me or lie down beside me and help me up.  We went to Barnes and Noble.  I dropped books … Owen picked them up.  He is doing okay pushing the buttons for doors.  I’ve attached a rope on a very heavy door at school so he can open it for me.
        We’ve been practicing “medicine”.  Owen   knows how to go to get a bottle of pills – it’s a different color than the other bottles.  He knows how to find the bottle and bring it to me.  Now I’m adding “water from the fridge”.  He is pretty good about going to the fridge, opening it and getting something out.  He is not always consistent with the water bottle.   He brought me a bottle of ketchup last week.   Smile … we will get there!
        Owen is great on the stairs, very patient and does a good job bracing.  I’m going to try out some scooters next week.  I’ve been using one at school when I get too tired.  Owen is great with it.  I don’t have to ask him to pick up things I drop … he just knows to do it!  When I say, “let’s go to school” he will get the backpack and bring it to me.  He woke me up two weeks ago – I was napping and had a very bad bloody nose.  He woke me up and let me know something was wrong.  
        Owen is doing great!  And because of him, I’m doing great!!!  I can’t tell you how much he has opened doors for me (sorry for the pun).  I loved him before, but with each passing week I adore him even more!