Petco Pics...

While we were at Petco with the "kids" on Saturday there was a woman taking pictures of people's pets and offering a free 8x10 portrait. We figured with Lucy just getting a new dress (and being relatively new to the family) we needed a family portrait done. Here are the resulting pictures (because of course we couldn't pick just one).
The boys were pretty hard to control but Lucy was a little doped up from her shots at the vet so she was very compliant. We had to get copies of these pictures because we have such a hard time getting her to sit still for the camera. She always turns away at the last second. Anyway, here they are...enjoy!

Lucy's 1st Party Dress...

We took Lucy to the vet today and were given the green light. She's healthy and everything appears normal. We were both VERY relieved to hear that. (The boys went with us to the vet's office because they love visiting the people there-we have the BEST vet).

On the way home, Brian and I decided to stop in at Petco to get some toys because the boys were being good...when 'what to my wondering eyes should appear' but a pink and purple polka-dot party dress :o) (And just Lucy's size too). It was meant to be-and WAY to cute to pass up.



A little later in the afternoon, Gina called to tell me she was going to visit her friend Rose, who just had a little girl and whose husband was out of town. Rose was feeling a little down so Gina and I decided to take Lucy over to cheer her up...I mean, what's better than a puppy in a party dress?

Answer: Nothing.

While there, Lucy got to meet Marlo, Rose's amazingly calm, beautiful baby girl. They weren't really sure what to think of each other.

but Lucy decided to give Marlo a kiss anyway. :o)

1 YEAR...

...I can't believe it's been a year since I had a drink. Soooooo much has happened. God has really blessed my life and His abundance is amazing.

I was able to spend the evening surrounded by people who love me and who I love dearly. What a blessing my life has become. Who knew, all I had to do was stop drinking and hand over the reins???

I'm so grateful to everyone who has believed in and supported me throughout the last year...better things are yet to come and I can't wait!

21 Weeks...

...It's definitely a girl!!! We had a sonogram today (the big one). They did all the measuring and weights. She weighs 14 oz. and her measurements average her out to be 21 weeks 1 day. She's perfect. No health issues, no alarms. God is good.

The sonogram was partly done is 3D, but every time the sonographer tried to get a picture of her face, she put both her feet in the way. It's actually pretty cute (she's laying in there, folded in half).



She also got the hiccups during the exam (which we also have on tape). The sonogram video is about 25 minutes long and I don't know how to only upload parts, so it's not here for anyone to see.

As far as names, we're thinking Madelyn Elizabeth or Camryn McKenzie (but of course, that will probably change).



I'm feeling pretty good, but look like a house! Looking down my belly doesn't look that big, but then I saw this picture Brian took...Bad Brian (apparently he's not good at 'slimming' shots). They say the camera adds 10 pounds, right? Hopefully it's just the way I'm standing, or maybe it's the shirt I'm wearing...I never liked that shirt anyway (actually it WAS one of my favorites) :o)

Funny side note: My belly button is getting shallower. I had an itch the other day and when I went to scratch it, (gasp) "I can feel the bottom of my belly button!" I've never been able to do that. Even weirder, I can SEE the bottom of my belly button, I'm not sure which is worse. :o)

Lucy-Lu...

Lucy is a Nut!!! We got her Monday (4/12) and brought her home, then Tuesday she spent most of the day in our tiny bathroom (with me walking back and forth every 1 1/2-2 hours for pee/poop breaks). Then Tuesday night we spent some time with her and she's really come out of her shell. She's bubbly and crazy and all around hilarious.


We bought a couple of baby gates at target and gated her into the kitchen (which is now her "room") and she seems content to be there. She doesn't cry when she gets put in there (which is a huge plus). Also, she's been really good about pooping and peeing outside. We have the occasional pee overnight, but she uses her "pee towel" that's laid down for that purpose, and she's had a few pee accidents inside while playing, but that's our fault for not taking her out/watching her close enough.


All-in-all she's a real blessing...lots of fun and as Brian said, "Baxter will be missed, Lucy will be loved." She's a good addition.

Sad, Sad Day...

I stayed home from work to take Baxter to the vet. Since we first picked him up, he's been doing this weird thing where he humps to poop (it's like a thrust). This is how he's been peeing as well. It's pretty obvious that he's incontinent, so I took him to the doctor hoping for a cheap. easy fix, but willing to figure out how to deal with an expensive, difficult fix. But either way, we were going to get him fixed. Imagine my surprise and horror when I asked Dr. May what we had to do and he told me there wasn't anything we could do.

He said Baxter's spinal cord didn't develop all the way and it wasn't something that we could do anything about. He wasn't going to be able to control his poop or pee, ever. Immediately I hugged Baxter to me and started crying. Dr. May said that with the urinary incontinence, he would probably get constant bladder infections (due to not being able to ever fully empty it).

After getting home and talking (or rather, crying) it over with Brian we both came to the conclusion that it's just not practical for us to keep him, which sucks, because we are both already in love with him.

We contacted the breeder, who told us that the only thing she could do is give us the female. I didn't want the female, I didn't want any puppy, but we had to take Baxter back.

I cried the whole way there (and was inconsolable the next day too). The breeder said that she would keep Baxter, that she had a yard and it wouldn't matter if he couldn't hold it (so at least she's not going to have him put down, which was my biggest fear).

Anyway, we brought the female puppy home (she's nervous and shy), but I hope she'll come out of her shell. It's hard to look at Lucy, because she looks so much like Baxter.

I know that God has His reasons for everything, but it doesn't make it any easier. Hopefully Baxter will have an amazing life...he will be sorely missed.

Poop Explosion...

If only I could transmit smell through photos, then you'd get the full experience. Suffice it to say, it smelled AWFUL...and we couldn't stop laughing.






The solution...

...a baby diaper, under a puppy diaper.