The Ryan Newman Foundation

June 18, 2012

May was a crazy month, but also nice with being close to home with the races at Darlington and then two weeks at Charlotte. It allowed me the chance to continue preparing for the baby. She’s on track and doing well, but mom is ready for her to arrive. I’ve got a few more weeks before I stop traveling to the races. Sonoma will be my last flight and then I’ll have more time to get the last minute things done I need to.

Oddly enough, one of the things I enjoy when we race at Charlotte is the Pit Crew Challenge. I really look forward to it. This was the fourth year I drove the car and the second year doing it while being pregnant. I know what you’re thinking…How did she fit in the car?J Well, the guys on the 39 team did a good getting me comfortable and not have to worry about my baby belly getting in the way. When I was pregnant with Brooklyn, Aric Almirola was slated to drive for Ryan if I went into labor and he wasn’t able to be at the track and his seat was sitting at shop. The guys had me go down for a fitting and they put it in the car and it worked out great. I only wish the competition went a little better for us and we hadn’t been eliminated after the first round.

Ryan also likes the races close to home – especially this time of year because we start getting calls about hurt or abandoned fawns. We are licensed with the State of North Carolina Wildlife for fawn rehabilitation and once they start coming, it seems to never end and they need round the clock care. Currently we have 40 babies at the farm and all are bottle fed every four hours. We have my cousin Michelle taking on the majority of the responsibility. She’s attending NC State and then the Vet School in a few years, so it’s not only something she enjoys, but it will help her in the future.

Many of you might have seen the pictures of Brooklyn feeding the deer – she absolutely loves it. She is definitely an animal lover and that makes me so happy. As she gets older she’s getting more and more aware of them, what to do and mimic their sounds. It’s so cute to watch and I hope her sister is the same way.

Speaking of animals…Harley has developed a fear of thunder and it seems to be since Digger died a few years ago. She never cared before, but it’s like Digger’s in her when it’s storming. Digger would always run into the shower to try to hide and now Harley does it. I feel bad for her and might need to try a Thunder Shirt on her. I’ve heard a lot of people say they work.

And then there’s my sweet boy Dunkin. We’ve been continuously fighting a skin condition he has on his nose. We’ve been to the vet and were prescribed creams and medication, but it won’t go away. Now we need it to dry out so that a biopsy can get done and hopefully diagnose what’s going on with him.

It’s always something with our pets isn’t it? This early spring/summer caused for fleas and ticks to arrive early and there’s more than usual, so remember to use flea/tick preventative on your dogs and cats.

This weather is also going to cause for more unwanted litters – especially kittens. Many shelters are calling it doggie-gheddon and kittie-gheddon. Please spay and neuter your pet and help prevent unwanted litters.