It's been awhile...

It has been almost 2.5 years since I have posted anything here.  I guess I got a little side-tracked.  Since my last post, many things have happened.  Our son started college and after one year transferred to another school.  With this transfer, he was able to play of the school's soccer team.  This past season he was one of the captains.  He will then graduate this spring. 
We had to say good-bye to our last dalmatian this past fall.  We are now a one dog family, with Sullivan, our Bernese Mountain Dog.  We have not had just one dog since we got our second dalmatian many years ago.  I'm thinking that being a one dog household is not so bad.  On the other hand, I would love another BMD.  I think Sullivan would too!  Since Sullivan is the only dog now, he has been getting a bit more attention.  He enjoys going for rides in the car.  He even gets to visit his grandparents once in awhile. 
Shortly after school got out last June, Sullivan went in for surgery.  He had a mast cell tumor removed from his belly.   Before having surgery, I researched mast cell tumor on the internet.  After talking with our vet, the tumor was sent in for diagnosis.  The tumor was an intermediate grade 2 tumor.  That puts it in the middle of the level range.  Sullivan recovered just fine from his surgery.  Keeping him still & quiet took some work.  He was just checked for a 6 month check up from his surgery & everything went well.  He now gets checked over regularly by us at home for any other bumps that might want to appear.
This fall, Sullivan & I got to experience the sport of agility.  We attended an agility class once a week.  Sullivan picked up quickly on all the obstacles.  Thank goodness the area was fenced in, because his nose does work quite well and he wanted to sometimes focus on the smells and not focus on his course.  The teeter toter was one obstacle that was not his favorite.   I think it was the sound and the movement of it.  I think the dog walk was his favorite even though it made me nervous because he would go so fast on it, I would be afraid he would fall off. 
I attempted to create my own "homemade" obstacles at home for us to practice.  I would love to purchase my own equipment, but it's just so expensive and then the other thought...I would have to move it every time Shawn mows the lawn!