Quick Update

Things have been a bit crazy lately but I wanted to stop by and give you a quick update...

We...
*went to the farm, took some family pics (which we hadn't done really since last March!)

*taught a couple good friends to shoot (always fun!)

*finally took the last of the holiday decorations down...yeah, we were sort of those people...the outside stuff was all down on New Year's but the inside stuff sort of just stayed

Joshua...

*has been pulled in 12 different directions all at once but seems to be handling it pretty well and will hopefully be home more after next week

Me...
*finally has a picture of JUST me that I like (no kids, no Joshua, JUST me...wow...it's been YEARS)

The boy...
*is on a photo boycott...he refuses to smile for real anymore

*loves his new bike but not as much as his sister does...(this is her pouting because she didn't get to ride it)

The girl...

*went in for her 18 month well baby check up and is up to the 12th percentile in both height and weight (woohoo she's proportional)...unfortunately she's still not yet 20lbs so we'll be rocking the rear-facing car seat for a while longer

Bubba and the foster puppy...

*Bubba has, for the most part, enjoyed having another dog to wrestle with but I think he's also looking forward to the puppy finding a forever home so he can just lay around

*we thought we had found the foster puppy a home but it fell through so the search continues...who wouldn't want this sweet girl?!

Oh my goodness, I just looked at the clock! I have to get ready, Joshua and I are going to the theater tonight (eeek!). We have tickets for Jekyll and Hyde and I've somehow convinced him to go big and where his dress blues. Meanwhile, I bought a pair of black 6" heel because I'm crazy awesome like that!-my husband is a foot taller than me, I have to do something!

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend was a little bitter-sweet. Saturday was awesome for my mom, my aunt and my cousin. They all finished the half marathon at Disney World. 

It was an adventure and I couldn't be more proud of them. The thing is, I was supposed to be there too but because of several reasons...the Army and Joshua's civi job being the main culprits...I couldn't go. I was angry. I walked around pouting like a child. It was supposed to finally be my escape and it didn't happen. Once again, I was stuck at home alone with the kids and the dogs. Yes, dogs. Our Bubba and our newest foster. 

The foster puppy is a sweet one...full of love and joy but she's still very much in that puppy stage so she's a little all over the place. She's a big girl which makes the "all over the place" a little more problematic. Mostly because we have a small house and small children-both of whom were sick this weekend-you know, because Murphy's Law dictates that if you're going to be down, you might as well be kicked.

Thankfully, the kids have recovered, Joshua came home last night and I'm fully confident we will find a forever home for our active little guest.

(Foster) Furry Friday

It's he the cutest?! The dog. The kid is pretty cute too but today is all about the puppy.

A couple weeks ago we agreed to take the little guy in as our foster puppy. We've had foster puppies from time to time in the past and every time we do it, we always go into it knowing that if we absolutely fall in love, we'll adopt the little guy (or girl). This time was no different. When we heard his story, we knew we had to help.

This sweet puppy was barely two months old when a woman saw her neighbor kick the puppy down a set of cement apartment stairs. She courageously ran over and confronted the man. She called the cops and long story short, they found out that he was not only abusive to this little one, his mommy and the rest of his litter inside the apartment (to the point where the mommy was starving and barely able to nurse) but ALSO had a home nearby with THIRTY more dogs. The man was taken into custody and charged with animal cruelty and other crimes related to suspected dog fighting. The police took the dogs to the local shelter but the brave neighbor who initially called the police offered to take the little guy who'd been kicked down the stairs. Unfortunately, her son's asthma prevented her from being able to keep him more than a couple days but she saved him from going to the shelter. Pit and pit mixes rarely do well in shelters. 

So, that's when we stepped in. A friend working for a Pit Rescue posted his pic on facebook and we couldn't turn our backs.

He had worms. He wasn't housebroke. And he was a "rescue"...which can mean so many things. We didn't know if we'd have to address aggression issues. We didn't know if he'd be scared. The lab/husky rescue that we adopted, Murray, was severely abused before he came to live with us. It took months before Joshua could walk into the same room or make a sudden movement in front of Murray before Murray wouldn't pee out of fear.

Thankfully, this little guy seems to have been rescued before any long lasting effects could take root. Sure, he was a bit nervous to begin with but he quickly became a bouncy bundle of puppy love-playing with both the kids and our Ridgeback without fear. He's a funny little guy. He LOVES shoes. He hasn't really chewed them (although to be honest, we've been quick to not give him the option)...he lines them up...like in a perfect straight line. It's a little OCD. 

It's sad how many people are appalled that we let our four year old and even our one year old play with a pit puppy. Even my mom sounded a bit nervous when I told her we were fostering a pit. I hope that these images, our experience with this great little guy helps break down some of the barriers of breed prejudice. 

We seriously considered keeping the little guy but the choice was between adopting him and not having the space/flexibility to foster any more puppies or keeping him until he found a forever home and continuing to be open to foster as needed. We talked to the boy about it and explained everything. He said he'd be said if the little puppy went to another home but he really wanted to help more dogs. So, today, we drop this little guy off to go to his forever home. I'm sure there will be tears but when another puppy in need comes along, we'll be able to help.