Thanksgiving Day

Isn't life about family and friends? We had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Thirteen at the table. Teaching our god-children how to make fresh whipped cream was so fun!

Only my helpers get to lick the beaters! One trauma at about 11:30, just as I was putting the sweet potatos and the corn pudding in the oven. My oven QUIT! Flashed on it's screen, "Call Service Professional". Thank GOD TT has been taking care of our great neighbor's dogs and had a key to their house. We used their oven and so once again, they literally saved the day!! Wheeewwww.

After we had all gourged ourselves on too much food, we had a Silly String War! What fun. Got us all laughing, running from each other. In general, we were breathing, which none of us thought we could do when we tottered away from the table!

You know, it is a great compliment when my Dot feels at home enough still that she takes a nappy! We had a lovely chit-chat. Okay, I had more photos for this post of TT. . . I don't know where Picasa put them. I will try again later.

Meanwhile, just wanted to say, we had a very good day. We hold Isabella close to our aching hearts and are healing a bit from our loss.
I moved a bunch of furnature around to accomodate all the people and decided I loved the change. So, our dining room is now where the living room was and the former dining room, which is right off the kitchen is a sitting room. I think the new term is the "occassion room"? Anyway, the house seems bigger, more current, and certainly more welcoming.

Christmas tree goes up tomorrow!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

gone

We are so sad. Picked up puppy at airport last night, 10:00. She was very dirty, as had been traveling in her little crate since 3:45. She flew from Kentucky to Cincinnati to here.

She seemed so tiny, frail. Brought her home, gave her some food and water, introduced her to Isabella. Well, puppy was scared to death of enthusiastic, tail wagging, barking big sister. She cried out in distress.

I took her to "her room", cleaned her up, against her will gave her some Nutrical and tried to get her to drink some more water. She threw up a couple of times. I thought it was from the stress.

This morning, I went into the bathroom to little piles of diarrhea. . . she was very weak, but wagged her tail when she saw me. Tim immediately took her to the vet.

They were concerned about all her symptoms and said they would I.V. her and keep her for the day. Two hours later, we lost her.

After the autopsy, the doc called me. She had Parvo. We could not have saved her. The stress of the trip most likely exacerbated it, but she was so tiny, bony, that she did not have much to fight with.

We have spent the rest of the day and night washing floors, laundry, decontaminating our home in protection of Isabella. She is current on her vaccinations. But it is still scary.

Our hearts are heavy. It will be a while before we recover from this.

nervous

Sister arrives tomorrow night at 9:30. I have given Isabella her bath and hair do. Spent a lot of time with her. She is used to being the only princess. . .

Have done a lot of reading on how to successfully bring a new puppy into a family. Don't introduce them face to face, but you know where they sniff each other. . . have not read, should puppy sniff Isabella first, or vice versa? Anyone know?

Gonna be careful to treat Isabella as the apple of my eye and not ignore her for the puppy. That's what has me nervous, because I think Isabella is so sweet because of how much I handled her and loved on her and talked soft and sweet to her. How is puppy gonna be secure if I can't do that?

"They" say that the first couple of weeks can be tough and then all of a sudden, they start getting along. That is encouraging.

I am prepared for the worst. Hoping for the best. Doesn't life settle somewhere in between?

I have not been painting. Just so busy with holiday preparations. I have almost all my Christmas bought and wrapped. Was concerned once puppy got here I would not have the time.

I start college in January. Still have CPT to take. I know I will end up in remedial math. I am fine with that. Will be good to pick up a paint brush again.

Having god-children and their families over for Thanksgiving, along with my dear daughter and son-in-law. Will be moving furniture around to accommodate that! We are very excited about the holidays.

Painting will have to wait!

sister

Isabella needs a sister and we think we have found her.

She's from Kentucky, eleven weeks old, her mother is daddy is three pounds, her mama is six pounds, so she is supposed to end up about five pounds. So, little sister will be bigger than Isabella.

Isabella has never been accepted by any dog. All my friends have very large dogs, so they treat her like an annoyance or like she is invisible. It has given her a bit of a complex. I think she will be much happier with a sista'!

Any suggestions for dealing with a new puppy and a one year old dog? And names. . . I have no inspiration yet. Any ideas?

art festival

We all went to the Art Festival today.

And we couldn't wait for the sugary funnel cakes! God-son and I got in a bit of a sugar fight and he inadvertantly doused me real good!

We had a great laugh. Look at my black velvet jeans! It was everywhere! Even in my purse.

Today was actually Isabella's first birthday. I feel real bad because we left her home while we attended Mass, then the Festival, then dinner at our extended family's house. She did not seem mad at us. And here I thought I was going to have a big party for her. Not a very good dog mommie am I?