Fall and Stuff

Can you guess who I'm being for Halloween?

Welcome Home Sweet Joey

Joey hurt his back last weekend. We're not sure how he did it, but w were told it was not an uncommon injury for dogs like him with short legs and longer backs. Our vet worked for a week trying to help him... his back legs were paralyzed and he had lost control of his urine and bowels. We were hoping that he would improve, but he did not. So on Friday afternoon our Joey was welcomed home by the person who loved him more than anybody... I can just picture Catie as she stood at the gates of Heaven and Joey bounded into her arms. I have no doubt they spent the weekend running through the fields of Heaven. I'm even betting there was a little wrestling involved as Catie couldn't really do that with him here on Earth b/c of her balance.

The day we brought Joey home, Catie was about a week out of her 3rd major craniotomy. She was still feeling not so great and moving slow. She was very nervous about hurting her head. I knew Joey was the dog for us when he gently crawled up on top of her where she was lying and they both fell sound asleep.



He was always such a comfort for Catie. Just as he knew what Catie needed... he always knew what Izzy could handle as well. He was gentle and easy with her when she was small and in recent months they have enjoyed some hearty play in our great room. Iz dubbed him JoJo and that's often the first word from her mouth when we pull up at the house...


Oh, we'll miss him.... but I also know that he's just fine and that he and our girl Catie are basking in joys we have yet to know or understand.

Fall Break... Aaaaahhhhh...

You've just gotta love fall break!!!!! Being home for the last several years, I had forgotten how good Friday afternoons and the beginning of a few days off can feel. I'm here to tell you, it feels good!

Things are going well here... Izzy is growing, my belly is growing (not sure which one is growing faster!). Iz is cold and sniffle free at the moment (though she's shared her last cold with her daddy). The dishwasher and washing machine are running and I'm trying to catch up on a few things. Iz even seemed to catch on to the idea of vacation this morning. After waking at her normal time, she and I decided to curl up on the couch. She actually fell back asleep!!! :) There were some serious snuggles going on. I eventually got up and got a few things done, and she continued to snooze (see pics in entry below).

She's just woken up from her nap and I think we're going to fold a load of clothes! Hope things are good in your neck of the woods!

More Izzy Pics

Bubbles and Puppy Love

Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Yep, you read right! We're having a BOY!!!!! We weren't going to find out -- we never have until this time. And we tired not to this time, but this little man wanted to be seen!!! I guess he was worried he wouldn't have anything but pink to where when he got here if he didn't make it known that blue was the color of the day. We looked away at all the right times during the ultrasound -- didn't even peek (though I was tempted too). Tre' and I were looking at the pictures that printed out before we left the ultrasound room when Tre' noticed something on one of the pics in his hand. He showed it to me and there was no mistaking boy parts peeking from behind a leg. We asked to double check and we just laughed. A boy!!!! What in the world are we going to do with a boy???? I'm betting we figure it out... I remember a day when we didn't know what to do with girls!! :) We'll name him after his daddy, Charles James IV and we'll call him Chip. Chip was on Catie's list of approved boy names (directly behind Flounder and Lucifer (you know the cat from Cinderella -- told her NO way, NO how on that one!!))... She liked Chip b/c of the little teacup on Beauty and the Beast. I just like the name and I like the way it sounds when we say Chip and Izzy. A BOY!! Who'd of thunk it???

Dancing Queen

Oh sweet Izzy -- what joy you bring to our hearts! Tonight we had the chance to be with friends and hear a little live music. Izzy loved it, she moved to the music and stomped her feet to the beat. She was absolutely cracking me up and did NOT want to get off the dance floor if there was any music going. We've got to work on that dancing etiquette a bit as dancing to your own beat can get in the way of other folks during the Electric Slide or the ChaChaCha. Every time she came off the floor, she would say, "Dance!" Too funny and so sweet. I hope she's always as comfortable and confidant as she was tonight.