27 hours ...

i read about this blog in a magazine recently; while i was in the doctor's office ... some of you have probably already heard of matt, liz & madeline ... but it is so real & touching ... i can't help but pass it along incase you haven't.

http://www.mattlogelin.com/

i suggest checking out the section on the home page that says if you are a first timer to this blog - "click here"

another reminder to always appreciate the loved ones in your life ... joe, thank you for you ...

refreshing photos

i did not get a chance to catch any of the inauguration or the festivities that went along with it. we were on vacation & did not have access to a tv for most of that day ... so, i've been trying to catch up a little bit online ...

even if he is a politician ... these photos are refreshing.

randy part 2

isn't this picture much better ... a better day in randy's world! poor guy ... even though he's feeling under the weather - still perky enough to pose for a picture as his little friend plays with him. she keeps insisting he wears this funny blue hat ... and shows him her new airplane & the jeep from the "pink jeep tours" that joe & i went on. a good sport.

in the middle of the night i woke up to him getting up from his bed to make his way to the water bowl & then hop on the couch ... this is wonderful because he couldn't get up there by himself at all yesterday. he must of broke his fever ... what a wonderful feeling that must of been.

i awoke this morning to him back on his bed & was able to get up on his own without too much stumbling & asked to go out ... perfect! he drank all day long & has even gotten his bark back. he always barks at joe when he starts dancing ... so, he decided to test him with the "canadian jig" & yup randy is back on top of his game in that department.

the only thing we have going that still makes me a little nervous is his eating ... really not wanting to eat all that much ... but who does when your sick - right? it will come ...

i just can not believe the change in him within 24 hrs. i don't know how many times today joe & i have said "i really thought we were going to lose him yesterday" ... but, we didn't ... & i think he has quite some fight left in him ... what a come back!

back from the 80's ... (weather that is)

we're back ... and we had a great time ... & it makes us miss family. joe really misses hanging out with his brother. it would be so fun if we could be closer. we had a what, how, where dinner - which was the funnest dinner party idea ever! ... little hiking, sunshine, jeep'n, live music, zoolights, beautiful scenic drives, scorpions, ancient dwellings, ink, shopping, traffic, & airports (northwest is not recommended ... their snack is a can of tuna & chips & only offer drinks once on a 4 hour flight) ... oh & (on our way back our stroller was broken in detroit ... & then when we got home to manchester it was missing all together) but with that said ... we traveled safely - which is the most important part! ... so we are thankful for that

josie got to spend quite a bit of time with grandmama & grandpapa ... which she loved! lucky little girl! she'll be happy to see them this spring!
personally, i am just thankful to have a couple days to recoup before starting the real world again. josie still has been going to bed around 10 pm & waking up at 9 am ... (kind of a bummer at night, but it's wonderful to sleep in in the morning!)

we did come home to a very sick dog ... randy, our old white guy is not well. this morning we actually thought that we might have to say goodbye ... but with some reassurance from the doc, we are going to see how the weekend goes. yesterday he got antibiotics & was doing ok ... but, this morning he couldn't move ... his back legs were not functioning. he would not even eat chicken pot pie, ham, beef stew - or anything ... & no water; not even from my fingertips. dr. lester believes that he has an infection in his spine ... so he has the fever & yuckiness that goes along with an infection & the pain of it being in his spine. the doc wanted joe to swing into the office today to pick up an appetite stimulant to see if it would help ... & it did. this afternoon he did eat some chicken & ham ... and finally drank some water. then tonight he ate a little more, got up on his own to get some water & asked to go outside. (we had been making him go out) he made it down all the stairs to josie's room without one mishap. (he always comes down with me when i get her ready for bed ... last night he fell down them all). we just need the antibiotics to fight the infection & need randy to keep his strength up & the doc thinks he might be able to beat it ... i think he can. he's definitely not giving up yet! ... so any good thoughts will help! this morning amongst the sadness of randy's desperation came josie ... she totally knew something was wrong. she kept giving randy her pacifiers, a cookie, & she would take her favorite puppy & put right by him. she also gave him mooches on his paws ... very sweet!

oh, ok, & one last thing ... i am really going to try to do better at this blog thing & write more often. time, time, time ... might get on my side?

10 days & counting

it's almost here ... & we can't wait. on the 15th we will be leaving for AZ!! we have started to get our things in order ... reservations are made in manchester on the 14th (thanks to a free room at the holiday inn & complimentary breakfast & airport shuttle - perks for working for the common man) to save us from a very early morning trip to the airport ... we still have to wake up early - but at least it is not the weeeee hours of the morning with an hour drive ahead of us.

we have our luggage out, a few brand new books hidden away for josie & some of josie's favorite toys have disappeared so when she see's them on the plane ... she will be so happy that she will sit for 5 hours staight :)

the dogs have there room reserved at the kennel & biscuit has his kitty-sitter lined up ... always feel bad about the animals ... but biscuit will get some much needed rest (yeah right ... he is always sleeping!) & the dogs will get to play with all the other dogs at the kennel - so that's fun ... right?

while we are out there dominic & i will be sneaking away for an overnight trip to sedona while josie has a special sleepover with grandmama & grandpapa ... & we are just so excited. we are staying in the same hotel that we stayed in when we got married & have dinner planned at the restaurant we went to for our reception. i'm sure we will be doing a little roaming around the area too - possibly a jeep tour or a quick trip to jerome ... jerome is "a mile-high town with 50 mile views" an old mining town, that turned into a ghost town until hippies & craftsmen settled there in the 60's. a funky little place.

the best part will be hanging with family & relaxing! i can't wait for josie to see everyone & it will be so fun to watch her. the last time mon'oncle p saw her she was only 4 weeks old & ma'taunte kt hasn't gotten to see her yet ... so it is all very exciting!

besides packing & making lists (& losing them & having to start new ones ... as i am famous for) ... just need to print those tickets & we are ready to go!