Happy 4th Of July!

Happy 4th of July!  I'm trying to adjust to the fact that it is currently 7/04/2011 already!  Anyway...

As much as I would love to say that we have a full schedule of partying and eating today, I can't.  Just about everyone we know is out of town.  So, it is just Jeff and I and the dogs.  Who not only are terrified of thunder, but fireworks as well.  Only problem with the 4th being on a Monday?  An entire weekend of our neighbors letting off fireworks.  Last year we lost Nico due to the fireworks.  You can read about that Here, and Here. 
And then, one year ago this week, Bella came in to our lives.  Her story is here.

Well, I'm off to grab some groceries, and drop off a friends dog that we had for the weekend.  (Yes, that means with my Moms dog, we had 6!)

Happy 4th everyone!

Best You Tube Video Ever!

If you have ever read my blog, you know that we have a house full of animals.  A friend of ours showed me this video on You Tube and it is great!

Enjoy!

Let The Thunderstorms Begin!

I'm typing this with 4 dogs all trying to cram themselves under my desk.  Summer has finally arrived in Florida.  When you live in Florida, you realize quickly what a true Summer rainstorm is.  You receive 3 to 5 inches of rain in a very short amount of time.  And with that brings a LOT of thunder and lightning.  And along with the thunder and lightning, comes 3 extremely anxious dogs.  Since Duchess is now deaf, they don't bother her, but between my other 3 and my Moms dog who I'm dog sitting for the next 3 weeks, they can't handle the stress!

Along with that stress, comes lack of sleep for Jeff and I if the storms come at night.  In looking at the forecast for the upcoming week, I may as well have had a baby for the lack of sleep I believe I will be encountering!

I was referred by our vet to try out the Thundershirt for our dogs.  That or Xanex.  I couldn't imagine putting my dogs on medication for storms that I don't always know will appear.  So, I will be trying the Thundershirt.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  You really need to check out their website, the videos are quite convincing.  I will keep you informed once they arrive and we have had a chance to try them out.

I'm not complaining about the rain.  We haven't had in any months and when the daily temperature has been topping out around 97 degrees, you really find yourself wishing for it.  Our lake dried up and all of our fish died.  I knew something was up when I went to leave the house and our pond, well it was actually just a puddle, had around 20 vultures surrounding it.  At least they ate all of the dead fish and I didn't have to deal with the smell.

Let the power outages begin and BRING ON THE RAIN!

The Reason I Have Only One Child

Kyle is it.  The one and only.  And he takes up all of my time.  This morning is a perfect example. In  my previous posts, I discussed his schedule at school for this week of exams.  Crazy schedule, I know.  However, what I failed to pay attention to, because why would I, was the start time of the school day. 

I brought Kyle to school today, turned into the school and it was no man's land.  No one.  Nada.  As I came around into the car loop, I could see a few buses dropping kids off.  But I was the ONLY car in the car riding lane.  This is not normal.  Usually it takes me 15 minutes to just get through the car loop.  Oh, and the student parking lot?  EMPTY!

I turned to Kyle and asked him what time school started today.  His response, "same time it always starts."  Ummm....look around, obviously not!

I dropped him off anyway, with strict instructions to go wait at his math teachers room to hand in the homework that has been sitting in his backpack for a week!  I drove home, pulled up the schedule online and sure enough...7:30-8:30 - BRUNCH. 

I could have slept in!  UGH.  And why would I have slept in you might ask?  Because my other reason for only having one child is that I have 4 dogs.

One was sick last night, starting at about 10:45 (because no one can be sick during the day when you want to take care of them).  Jeff and I were up again at 3 with the same dog.  Then it started to pour at around 5.  One dog that doesn't like the rain equals 4 dogs getting upset due to dog number 1 being upset.  When the alarm went off at 6 I just wanted to cry. 

Now I am off to the dentist, Kyle has his appointment with the dentist at 1:30 today, because lets remember he is out of school at 12:30!  Then tomorrow we start all over again, Kyle in exams, but it is Jeff's turn at the dentist and doctors.

Ft Wilderness

As I said in my last post, we spent the weekend camping at Ft Wilderness.  It is always enjoyable, quiet and relaxing.  It was supposed to be just Jeff and I, however, after Kyle's ear infection, he didn't go with his Dad, so he had to tag along with us.  Then Nico, our Shiba Inu, who loves the camper, whimpered and cried when he saw the camper come around front and he realized he wasn't included.  So, our trip turned into a family vacation instead of relaxation for two.

What would life be without these little changes?  Boring and lonely.  That is what I say!

Here are a few photos from our trip:

Nico and Jeff taking a ride

Nico:  How does he drive this thing?

Our campsite

Nico keeping an eye out for us

Nico's campsite

Play area and Dog Park

The sign speaks for itself

Entrance to Hoop Dee Doo Review

Hoop Dee Doo Review Show, Kyle was actually brought up on stage for this when he was around the age of 8.

Kyle just lounging, literally.  Look at the size of those feet!  Don't you feel for me and the fact that I have to pay for shoes to fit those?

New store at Downtown Disney, you design your radio control car.  Jeff and Kyle putting their batteries in.

Kids stopped from all over to check out the new cars.

It was a good time, and I enjoyed getting out in the camper for a change.  I hadn't been camping in over a year and a half.  Jeff takes it 4 wheeling quite often, but I don't go.

The next few weeks will be filled with soap making since the pumpkin festival will be upon us soon.  Looking forward to some cooler weather and the Holidays!

It's the 7th of September

It is the 7th of September already.  I'm not ready for how quickly time is going by me.  The last few weeks have just been one big blur.

Kyle returned to the doctor on the 2nd and had his ear suctioned out.  It was disgusting to watch and painful to for Kyle.  The improvement in him though within an hour of having this done was amazing.  He finally returned to school today.  Can't wait to see the amount of homework he comes home with this week.

We spent the weekend at Fort Wilderness at Disney.  We love to camp there.  As does Nico.  We were not planning on taking any animals, but Nico was making such a fuss that we decided he could tag along. 

Nico riding shot gun

A good time was had by all and I will post a few more pictures later!  Have a good week everyone!

Reminder: Puppies Like To Chew

Jeff and I ran out for lunch today.  All of the dogs stay in our sun room when we go away, Bella is in a cage and the rest just stay back there via a baby gate. 

When we returned, Bella was in our kitchen and the three other dogs were still in the sun room.  Now, it is common knowledge that Bella can jump any fence.  Or climb one for that matter.  What confused us was we could glance back and see that the door to her cage was still locked shut. 

As we went to investigate, this is what we encountered.

Yes, that is the arm of the couch

Guess she felt she needed some more cushioning in the bottom of her cage

The gaping wound

Bella not looking at the camera because she knows she is guilty

We finally realized that if you look back at the first picture, you can see that the links on the top of the cage are not connected.  She must have been pushing and pushing to disengage the links, and scamper through the top of the cage. She most likely escaped through a space about 6 inches.  It couldn't have been easy, and it had to have hurt.  I wish I could have watched the other dogs watching her.

We have adjusted her cage so that she can't do that again.  And moved it away from the couch.  I am now off to look for a slipcover.

Bella and Duchess update

Bella decided I needed a kiss while I was sitting on the floor with her last night.  She slobbered all over my lens.  It was time to get it cleaned anyway, I guess.

Here she is giving me a profile shot.  Isn't she a beauty.  I laugh at the baby gate in the background.  We haven't needed a baby gate in forever, but we have 3 strategically placed around the house for the dogs.

And this has to be one of my favorite shots.  Please notice that her hind legs are up to her neck.  She has these long legs that she just doesn't know what to do with.  And how about that tail?  We have a friend who called me and asked when we decided to adopt a baby giraffe.  Bella goes back to the vet today for her final series of heartworm treatements.  30 more days and she should be good to go!

Duchess update:  Duchess is doing well.  She will be on steriods probably for the rest of her life.  Her bronchitis is gone, and the steriods will help keep the inflammation around her heart down for the time being.  The vet was astounded at her bloodwork, that it didn't look like the bloodwork of a 15 yr old dog!

Grass

Roxy playing ball

I'm not sure where time has gone, but I know one thing, it's GONE! 

I wanted to post photos of our trip up North when I returned.  Well, that was at the end of June.  Things got crazy after I returned, lost dog, found dog, new dog, etc....

So, I am now going to post a few pictures.  Better late than never!

Some of you may be asking if Kyle has forgotten how to stand up.  For those that don't live in Florida, you just can't understand what it means to be able to sit on the grass. 

Florida grass is awful.  Not only is it awful, you cannot, and I will say it again, CANNOT go barefoot.  Unless you have a special desire to be attacked by fire ants. 

So, in honor of Kyle and the wonderful grass that we were able to sit on, walk barefoot through and play on, this post is for him!

Duchess

Kyle and Duchess 1996

The photo above was taken one afternoon sitting in our living room.  How this picture has remained in perfect condition, not in any photo album through 3 moves and 14 years, I can't figure out.  It is one of my favorite shots of Kyle.  Look at that face, "Whatcha taken a photo of me for Mommy?"

Then there is Duchess.  Her coat is shiny, ears perky, face dark with a shine in her eyes.  My husband at the time brought her home one day from work.  She had been in an abused home and figured we could take her in.  I at the time, didn't want the dog.  Which is why she became, my dog. 

Duchess always follows me, she slept under my bed for years until her legs and back could no longer handle the contortion she put herself through getting under there.  She is the last one to move from my side when the others go running away.  Always looking back to make sure you are still where she thinks you are.

She would protect Kyle and I from anyone who came to the house.  Which caused a few problems, like the time a kid from down the block was selling candy as a fund raiser.  My roommate at the time didn't lock Duchess up before answering the door, Duchess got a hold of the kids shoe, the kid jumped on my roommates back screaming at the top of his lungs.  It is funny now, but wasn't so funny then as I forked over $125 to buy chocolate bars!

Anyway, Duchess is now 15 years old.  This past weekend she has started to show her true age.  She spent yesterday at the vet having a Senior Work Up.  And, the news wasn't good.  Her pancreas is enlarged, her spine is showing problems and there are two masses on her heart.  On top of that, she has bronchitis.  She came home with us last night on steroids to help with the bronchitis, and to await the final results of her blood work and x-rays. 

We aren't ruling her out just yet.  The last time she had a bad spell, we were afraid that Gracie would be left alone so we got Nico as a just in case.  That was 7 years ago!  But, honestly, I realize we have been graced with her much longer than most dogs.

Last night, her and Kyle hung out.

We will keep everyone updated on her.