Sleep well Izzy

This was the day we adopted Izzy from the animal shelter. She was 8 weeks old and full of fleas.




She was the cutest one of her litter and and it was love at first sight.




Iz, it's only been 4 hours and I miss you like crazy! Allie prayed for you tonight that you feel better. I know you do.

It's time

This is how we found Izzy today after we got home from the park. Gabe's bed is low and she can still get up in it. G wanted Iz to take a nap with him. I wanted G to nap and knew it would never work.

But, it's time for Izzy. For real this time.

Izzy hasn't been outside since yesterday...she won't go.

She can hardly walk around the house without slipping on our hardwoods. It's like her little wobbly legs cannot support her body.

She isn't eating...won't even eat human food (which if you know Izzy, is unheard of!).

Thus she won't take her meds.

She is coughing and throwing up.

She gives me a blank stare when I love on her.

Heavy breathing.



4:30 today. Just a short hour left with her. Please say a little prayer for me.

Missing S

The kids (Izzy included) were uber excited to see their daddy and barely let Stephen turn the corner onto our road before stopping him in the street on Friday evening. S opened his car door and both kids quickly jumped in to help steer the car to our house. They really miss their daddy. They aren't the only ones.

(Photo above) S had G airborn in his little tikes car. I couldn't believe my eyes with how rough those two can be. But G loves it. At one point, he was practically thrown out of his car, got back up, and wanted more.

Stephen brought so much life and energy into our down in the dumps house this weekend.

While some of it was put on to cheer us up, ALL of it was appreciated.

Can't wait to move and get our family back together! Missing you babe/daddy!

Izzy and contract

So.....

Izzy is still with us.

The vet said she has more time, and we don't want to put her down if it isn't time. So happy to see her when she got home. We have no idea of knowing how much time she has left. Could be two days....or 6 weeks.

Now, the house situation.

We officially have a contract on house #3. Set to close Oct. 28. We are ecstatic! I don't foresee any problems with an inspection, but you never know. We learned that with house #2.

Izzy's cancer

Izzy is not well.

It has been over 2 months now since she has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Honestly, I didn't expect her to hang around this long. Dogs without chemo will typically live 2 months with this type of cancer.

I can tell it is time.

Her fight with lymphoma will be coming to an end on Saturday morning. We have an appointment set up....and I don't expect her to be coming back home.

Below is a pic of Izzy I took his morning.. Notice her swollen lymph nodes around her neck. This is not normal. She just doesn't even look like herself anymore.



I have loved this little dog for the 7 years she has been part of our family.

Izzy....you will be missed.

The skinny

Don't let the smile fool you. G is all out T-R-O-U-B-L-E these days!!!!!! It's hard to admit, but I struggle managing G and his sister right now without S.

I am about 99.9% sure G is cutting his two year molars. I remember they were AWFUL with Allie. G is defiant, throws fits over me not screwing the lid to his apple juice cup on the way he wants me to, is not sleeping well, has explosion diapers, is over the top fussy, hits/swats at us, says "NO" 80% of the day with his bottom lip puckered out.....shall I continue?

I'm worn out. And I'm missing S like crazy. We left Hickory today to head home (What is home? Cause it doesn't feel like Pville anymore!). There have been many tears and...overall, I'm exhausted and am ready to move and get my husband back.

The kids are also showing signs of missing their daddy. Allie wanted to stay in Hickory today to be around S. She randomly has been going up to him and giving him hugs.

In addition, Izzy is not good at all. She is very lethargic. Her eyes look sad and weak. She is urinating and pooping all over our house. She doesn't jump up on furniture anymore. And her glands around her neck are unbelievably swollen where I had to take off her collar. I don't see how she can breathe. She is out of medication as of tomorrow night. I called the vet to request 2 more days of pills. We have an appt. to take her into to the vet Saturday morning. I seriously doubt she will come back home with us.

As far as house hunting....we were up in Hickory the passed couple of days. We found one home we are wanting to move forward on. I really hope the saying goes true....third time is a charm....

Pouty Face

This isn't just a post about G and how much of a challenge he has been to me lately. (Buuuuut, I have had enough "NOOOOOs". I've had enough hitting and swatting and fits when he can't eat a popsicle for breakfast. I've had enough of his crying fits because he isn't ready for bed at night. Bring back my sweet Gabe. Please.)

Again this isn't just about Gabe's pouty face....but my own.

We had our home inspection today for the home we were to close on Sept. 30th. In a nutshell, there were major structural issues and we had to walk away. I'm sad, but know there is a reason for all of this happening. So, we carry on and keep house hunting.

{sigh}

Red Cottage sunsets

Boy, do miss these beautiful views and sunsets....

See that little bench on the dock in the first pic? S and I sat there one night and watched shooting stars. It doesn't get much better than that!

Grammy and the Red Cottage

I realize I have been a complete slacker when it comes to posting pics of my own family.



I do have a slew of snapshots from Labor Day weekend that I would like to share....and will do so over the course of the next week.



Shall we start with Grammy? We shall....



Grammy. The lady usually behind the camera...



See that quaint little red cottage in the background? That would be the 800 sq. ft. cottage that 7 of us spent 5 days in last week. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this little red cottage and look forward to the many memories just waiting to be made there.

We bombarded the little red cottage just one day after Grammy and Pappy signed the papers to purchase the property.

But, I think they enjoyed the company...especially considering grandkids were involved.

Memories were made in the little kitchen baking brownies....




....snuggling with G-man after his nap.

(The red cottage came furnished. Some items Grammy could do without. But this trip, it was all there since we left them ZERO time to prepare for company and make the cottage their own. See those mallard bookends....back off...I got my name on the bottom of them already.)



.... and morning snuggles with Allie.

Looking forward to coming back next month.

(My apologies go out to Pappy. The only pics I have of you were portraits of your hand in front of your face...therefore, Grammy gets the spotlight.)

Newbie "O"

Some of our very dear friends in Pville recently welcomed Baby "O" into their family of three.

I was lucky to have the opportunity to photograph this little beauty at one week old. In my short venture photographing newborns, I've realized....the newer, the better. Miss O cooperated perfectly...sleeping through her entire photoshoot.

Nashville Photoshoots

We were in Nashville a few weekends ago and I had the opportunity to take pics for two amazing families. We met both of these families four years ago when we used to live in Nashville. This was my first time to meet their handsome little boys. What photogenic little guys. I enjoyed seeing you all again.

Busy travelling

We were in Nashville visiting this little guy and his family last weekend. thanks N for sharing your toys with the 3 kids who bombarded your space.




Allie was tickled pink her friend was also up for the weekend. She ended up spending the night and I understand Allie was telling her bedtime princess stories.









Izzy even had a friend to lay around with last weekend. Mattie is practically our other dog...we used to keep her a lot when we lived in Nashville. It was sad letting Izzy say her final farewell to Mattie.

***

We continue to stay busy travelling....from Nashville to Greenville to Hickory to Western Pennsylvania.

BUT...in the midst of it all, we managed to find our perfect home and have a contract on a home in Hickory. If all goes well, we will close Sept. 30th.