Gryffin tested positive for Parvo this morning -- in spite of having been vaccinated twice against it. (He's been sick since Saturday and we've had him at the Vet twice since then). He has about a 60% chance of pulling through, the vet estimates.

I can't believe this ... but we are the owners of another Yellow Lab!

Since the loss of Grady two days ago, we have been grieving pretty hard. I still see him everywhere. Mark misses him terribly. But we had resolved never to have another dog.

Then, a friend, Loarn, mentioned to Mark that he has a yellow lab puppy he needs to find a home for (AKC-registered, from his controlled-hunting guide dogs). We prayed about it and think it was a God-incidence, so we bit the bullet and picked up a VERY SMELLY puppy. He was born March 8, 2007, so he is 3 months old. We immediately bathed him. He looks very different than Grady, in spite of being the same breed; he's darker, with a longer nose.

We named him Gryffin, Gryff for short; Gryffindor's Magic for his "official" name.

Our 13.5-year-old lab Grady, who was an important member of our family, is gone. :`````( He suffered a stroke on Saturday evening, and this morning had to be put to sleep by the vet. There was nothing more we could do. All of my family is heartbroken, but most especially my son, who is sobbing inconsolably. I'm so grateful for all of your prayers for my family and I know it probably seems ungracious to ask for more, but we need them anyway. Thank you.