Thatcher's Story

Thatcher's Story
I didn't want this to get lost in my list of posts, so I am creating a place so that everyone can easily access this link. Please read this touching story about baby Thatcher, our friends son who was born with a rare liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant. Jessie has worked closely with Brad for over 4 years and I became friends with her while working at WSA until I left last spring. Thatcher was born a month before Braden and this story really hits home for me. When I look at Braden I think about how incredibly lucky I am. This could just as easily be our him going through this. Jessie will most likely be the living donor for Thatcher and they are in need of our prayers! I promise you will be touched by reading this story. Thanks!

Sunday, January 6, 2008

The Doggy Doctor is comin' to visit!

We have been having some major issues with Cooper and have been contemplating what our next move will be. Shall we give him up, knowing that it would probably be in his and our best interest, or should we try and improve the situation and try and find a specialist that can help us! We have decided to go the latter route because we just cannot bear to think about giving him away. After calling a friend who owns a boarding and training facility, she was able to help us find someone who specializes in more than just your normal obedience training for dogs. After talking with her, she told us that she will be able to help us control him and create a more relaxing environment for both Cooper and us. It sounds like WE will be the ones being trained, not the dog. If any of you have ever watched the Dog Whisperer on TV you know that it is always the "owners" with the problem, not the dog. I pretty much agree with this, as I know that Cooper is a "more difficult" dog than most and it will take some training for us to understand how to handle him. Please pray for us that this works, so we dont have to face the day where we must give him to another home. After many tears and thinking about it alot lately, I have decided that if after we go through this and it still doesnt improve that I will more at peace with letting him go. I just want to know that we have tried all of the options first. Also pray for us to be able to stick with our "envelope system" (budget) right now! We will need to do this in order to be able to afford the trainer! Whew! It is going to be expensive! Cooper better know how much he is loved!!!

4 comments:

Darby said...

I hope everything works out with your trainer! I know how much you all love Cooper!

Wadsworth Family- said...

Good luck. It 's so funny that I just read this because Jeff got a call today from our neighbor that "Buddy" had busted down two boards in the fence and was laying on their back porch! Also, we did the "Financial Peace" evelope system too and it really works. Amanda

Nikki said...

I really hope training works. We also had to have a trainer for Beamer. He was absolutely terrible as a puppy. He would not let anyone hold him or even pick him up. One trainer told us to take him back. We found a lady from Knoxville that come to our house. It really was more for us like you said. We had to learn how to handle him. It was a lot of positive feedback for him and not a lot of "no's". I am so thankful that we gave it a try and did not take him back. I hope you guy's have the same luck. We will pray for you because I know how much pets mean!

Anonymous said...

Tara; I'm sure Hillary & Brett have told you about ALL of our "critters" - (2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 fish, Brittany's hamster died recently). We have come to the conclusion that our critters are nice enough to allow US (4 adults) to live in THEIR house with them!! And the smallest, Shamnu (she is a Chihuahua) is the boss of EVERYONE & EVERYTHING!! My heart goes out to you because I could not imagine having to make that kind of decision. We will keep our fingers crossed and before Hillary ask, sorry, but no Cooper cannot come live with us, the critters out number the people now!!

Take care,
Lydia