Keeping Us Busy

The New Year has brought busy times with it. Ashley's Volleyball Team's games have started. They are 0 for 2, but have come so close to their first win as their new school's first team. They're having fun and Ashley is getting tons of play time. She is the second tallest girl on her team.

Mack continues to grow and Daisy continues to tolerate him. This shows just how much she has to tolerate:

Mack has slept in his crate in the family room at night since we got him last month, but lately he's starting to understand where Daisy sleeps and has been trying to invite himself in. We gave in this weekend and brought Daisy's downstairs bed up for Mack and he slept throught the night in our room on it both nights! It seems there will be no more crate for the puppy at night anymore!

Exhausted.

Attention: Long Lost Blogger Found

It's been awhile. I realize that. Things have been so crazy around here since we got this puppy. It almost feels like we brought home an overly hyper and curious toddler last weekend. Things actually got pretty stressful around these parts.

Mack came home last weekend and by Monday morning he was running a 104 fever and very lethargic. I took him to (a very expensive) vet appointment to find out that his kennel cough had progressed into a secondary bacterial infection. He's been taking antibiotics (which are *so* fun to shove down his throat twice a day) and he seems to be almost over it. His cold like symptoms are still around but I think he's at the tail end of it.

Daisy got sick, too. The same day I took Mack to the vet I brought home some Nylabones for the dogs to chew on. Daisy chewed hers up into chunks and was throwing them up by 4:30am the following morning. We were getting pretty worried about her, praying that she didn't have a blockage. Two days of vomiting later, she had gotten over it.

Mack is doing awesome in the house training department. He's had no accidents in the house over the past 4 days and is the sweetest thing. Daisy seems to be tolerating him for the most part, but when Mack tries to initiate her in play, Daisy goes ballistic on him. We have no idea how to handle that. I know we have to let her assert herself as dominant dog, but my gut tells me that we should only be letting her "respond" to him to a certain aggressive level. We were given the number of a animal behaviorist when we adopted Mack and I'll be calling her tomorrow. Those times stress us out a lot and we really need to figure out how to deal with it if we want Mack to work out.

Last, but not least - we all have horrible head colds. For the last few days I've thought that maybe Ashley and I were fighting allergies, but Bret and Ryan both started getting the whole sneezing, head congestion, stuffy nose thing today. I'm hoping we're over it by Christmas later this week.

Three days until Christmas Eve. How the heck did that happen? It seemed like it was so far away and now all of a sudden it's about to be here and gone. The kids are starting to get really excited. We caved and opened up gifts between each other tonight which made the kids really happy to get a gift each ahead of Christmas.

Thankfully, we're ready for Christmas to come. We're anticipating that it may be a little sad and hard at times since this will be our first Christmas without Bret's mom, but we've worked hard to make sure it's a good one.

If I don't get back here before - Have a Merry, Merry Christmas!

Adjusting

Mack came home yesterday morning and things are going very well - busy, but well! Housetraining has been a lot easier than we had expected. He goes every time we take him outside. We found out instantly that he's a beggar the minute any kind of food came out. Funny how he automatically sits on his own when someone has food, but doesn't know how when you ask him to.

He's very playful, which Dasiy doesn't seem to be doing so well with. He constantly tries to engage her in play and her response is to growl at him. I may call the animal behaviorist number they gave us just to see how they recommend dealing with that. I'm not sure if we should let her deal with Mack on her own or if we should keep him away from Daisy. It seems to me that Daisy is trying to teach him manners, but Mack isn't get it.

Still top dog.

I was prepared for a rough night last night, but was nicely surprised that he let us sleep until 6:45am with no accidents. That's huge in my book!

Preparing For Baby

While we anxiously wait for tomorrow morning to come, I'll be busy puppy proofing around here. First on the list was finding a safe place for him to be when we can't be watching him. Not my idea of home decorating, but we don't really have a choice and didn't want to buy 3 different size crates, so that left us with one big one that comes with a partition. See that pretty little tree by the fire place? That would be just one of the many things that's going to have to go.

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to the Christmas tree and the Lego Train. Also, family members can probably expect presents this year with puppy teeth marks.

This plant that I have somehow miraculously kept alive since my mother in law's funeral just screams "Play with me, puppy!" Where on Earth am I going to put this where I won't forget about it?

I may leave this guy out just for some comic relief. If Mack takes on the snowman, who will win?

So as you can see, I really have no idea where to begin. I also noticed him nosing around at the electrical outlets in the visiting room at PAWS yesterday. At least I still have the plastic white plugs to fill those in with from my babysitting days.

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Daisy is clearly trying to figure out what is going on here. She's been watching our every move for the past couple of days and keeps going over and sniffing the crate. (She refuses to go in it, though.) I can already see the look on her face when we bring Mack home. It will say, "What in the hell is this and what I am suppose to do with him, huh?!"

New Addition

Daisy gained a companion today. Luke has arrived and will be here for the next couple of months while my Aunt moves. Both dogs have gotten along great.

Luke
Daisy

However, the bird's days may be numbered as Luke has shown quite a bit of interest.

Who Laced My Diet Coke?

Someone must have put something into my Diet Coke this weekend to get me moving, because not only did I thoroughly clean the house, but I also steam cleaned the carpets, washed everyone and their mother's clothes, towels and bedding and painted the kitchen trim and door because the paint has been worn off for awhile and it was driving me crazy.

I am now so tired that I can barely keep my eyes open, but I did get it all done!

Why so much, do you ask? Because Luke is coming on Friday! My aunt sold her town house and needs someone to watch her dog for a couple of months until she finds and moves into a new place. She is unable to take Luke with her to where she'll be living until that time, so he will be staying with us.

Since we'll be having two very hairy and massively shedding dogs here, I figured this was probably my last chance to clean so thoroughly for awhile. That and I didn't want the house to smell so strongly of Daisy when Luke gets here. I've heard that can make it easier on a dog coming into a new home that already has a dog.

So, now that I've had a bit of a break, I need to go swap out my summer clothes in my closet for my fall clothes. According to my weatherman, fall is expected in a couple of days. I can't wait!

Ever Changing

Life never seems to stay very still for us over here. It seems like summer just began and now it's going to be over in 3 weeks when the kids go back to school. I thought with the end of summer sports and summer activities that we would have a breather, but I was fooling myself because I honestly don't know how to not be busy.

Ashley is excited to go back to school and has gone straight from summer ball to school ball. Softball try-outs started this week for the middle school and while she's made the team, we still have yet to find out if she will be on the Varsity or Junior Varsity team. Practices start immediately on Thursday and will be everyday except for Fridays and Sundays. Whew, here we go. Sometimes I feel more like a chauffeur than a parent.

Ryan has scaled down to just swim lessons, with only two more remaining, so things are momentarily calm there. With the start of school comes the whole stress of making sure Ryan gets what is needed with his hearing and learning disabilities. We've given him the summer off from working so hard, but it's time to get cracking again.

In other news, we're adding a new dog to the family. We currently have Daisy (see picture on masthead above) who is 9 or 10 years old. She is the biggest sweetheart and everyone commonly calls her the neighborhood dog. People love her that much and welcome her into their yards.

My aunt has a 4 year old Golden Retriever, named Luke. She's moving and sadly cannot take him with her. We've offered to take him and the kids are really excited and having a hard time waiting the 3 weeks until my aunt can bring him down here. It could have been sooner, but we have our upcoming annual weekend vacation to Grand Bear with Bret's brother and his family and didn't want to upset his adjustment period here.



So, that leads me to a question I've got for all of you. I've found a lot of valuable information in regards to adding another dog to your family online, but I'd love some advice from anyone who's been through this. Daisy has her annual appointment at the vet tomorrow and I'm going loaded with questions for him. Does anyone have any suggestions on making the transition easier on both dogs? I'm pretty sure Daisy will be the dominant dog as Luke is very laid back and easy going while Daisy is pretty laid back herself and very well behaved, but is very protective of her turf. I'd love some feedback!

Cleaning Is My Enemy

There's something about cleaning my house that brings on stronger than usual tuggings to smoke, which may be why I've let the chores slack lately. My house is now clean and I dare you to find a dust bunny anywhere, but man those tuggings. I'd have to sit down and regroup and remember that it's been 41 days now since I quit and that I didn't really want one. What I wanted was a break - an excuse to procrastinate. But I got through it and am still proud of myself for being strong.

Did you know that when one quits smoking, their dog becomes depressed? Poor Daisy lays around looking at us with sad, mopey eyes and wonders what the heck is wrong with us. She misses her frequent field trips out to the side of the garage where we would be stay at home busy bodies and take inventory on what was going on in the neighborhood. Now I never think to go outside and Daisy doesn't tell us when she has to go - she just holds it. Plus I don't get my daily dose of neighborhood gossip anymore. I have no desire to go outside where it's usually cold and windy this time of year and I no longer need to go out and pretend smoke my short stubby straw or hollowed out cigarette that Bret stuffed with pieces of paper towel that first week of my quit. (I do still have little straws in every sweatshirt, jacket and jeans pocket I own though.) So, poor Daisy gets let out in the morning when the kids go to school and then by 2 or 3pm I realize she hasn't been out in forever and end up feeling like the world's worst dog owner. Thank goodness Bret remembers to feed her in the morning or she'd probably starve to death.

Anyway, my house is clean and the dog got to go outside tonight (after Bret reminded me 3 times) so I'm heading off to bed - before midnight for a change.

Cat In The Hat

What a maniac! We're pretty hard up for entertainment over here!

The kids are spending the night elsewhere overnight tonight while Bret and I party with Emily and Jon and the rest of the neighbors one last time before they move next month. (Hence the sleeping bag on Ryan's head.)

On a more serious note, we had to take Daisy to the vet today because she hasn't been eating and she's not walking very well. Turns out she sprained her back. Poor thing. We were worried it could be something more serious and thankful it's not. (Or at least it won't be when we get the results of her blood work tomorrow.) No more fetching the ball for now. Doc's orders, Daisy!

Poor Confused Dog

The snow has finally almost all melted outside and Daisy is more confused than ever. The section of grass that we've trained her to do her business on is still pretty snow covered even though almost everywhere else has melted. When she went out to go tonight, she walked around confused (or very ticked off) and then finally settled on a very tiny section in her "territory" and did her thing. I actually laughed out loud, watching her tip toe through the snow to that very small spot. OCD or just confused?

Morning Walk

I took Daisy for a walk this morning after the kids got on the bus and Bret left for work. However, I'm not sure that she understands who is suppose to be walking who.

I then managed to lock myself and the dog out of the house. (Stupid key pad wouldn't work!) I then had to borrow Teri's car and drive over to my in-law's house to pick up a spare house key. This isn't the first time so one would think I'd get around to having a key for myself made, right? Wrong - it's been three years and I still haven't done it. Maybe in the next three years I'll get around to it. Better yet, I'll add it to Bret's "honey do" list.

Intruder

Last night at about 4:30 in the morning, after putting Ryan back in his own bed (yes, again) we woke up to a loud crashing noise from somewhere inside the house. Bret jumped out of bed and searched the house (in his boxers - was his plan to flash the intruder?) while I held onto the phone ready to dial 911. After a few minutes of searching he finally figured out where the noise came from.

To see the intruder, click here.

Scared the crap out of us. Yet, Daisy slept through the whole thing. Some watch dog.

Temptation and Disobedience

Everyone ended up gathering around in our neighbor, Perry's backyard this afternoon, while he was working on building a wall to go around a pond he's putting in for his son, Jared. The boys provided some assistance spraying water into Perry's concrete mixtures. (Perry didn't get wet, of course.)

This is the view down to the creek behind Perry's yard. Looks pretty tempting to a bunch of kids, right?

Wrong. It was the dogs that couldn't resist. Below would be Teri's dog, Simon who got caught in the act. (And probably a cold water hose down when they got home.)

This would be Scott, Bret and Teri - looking down at all of the action as Maggie contemplates going for it again.

These would be the two creek covered dogs and Daisy, who was smart enough for her own good to stay out of the creek, chasing each other around the yard. Her staying away from the creek had nothing to do with the fact that she thinks she's a princess and loathes any kind of water.

Mama Dog Misses Her Pups

Don't worry, Daisy. The kids will be home from school soon enough.

All this poor dog has done is mope around the house since the kids went back to school.

That is until Kate came over and spoiled her...lol

A Boy And His Dog

Poor Dog. . .

And yes, Ryan got himself dressed this morning.