1/12/2008 -3 lbs
1/22/2008 -11 lbs
1/27/2008 -12 lbs
1/30/2008 -14 lbs
For some reason I forgot to record any weights in Feb 2008.
3/10/2008 -22 lbs
5/15/2008 -8 lbs Lost my focus for a while and regained.. GRRR
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Way overdue for an update/ Wendy
well, it seems that I am way overdue for an update around here. If I still have any readers after this extended silence, I'll do my best to bring you up to speed. :)
We moved back to Athens offically at the beginning of June. I missed Asheville (and the lovely mountian climate) alot this summer! Mid-June, we drove to VA for a family vacation in Williamsburg, and we had a great time! However during our trip, our 15 year old Belgian Sheepdog, Wendy suffered a stroke as she was being boarded with the vet. I have to wonder if the stress was too much for her given her age. :( Wendy came home, but her health declined alot after the stroke, and mentally she was not the same dog.
In August we began a educational adventure- virtual public schooling! How does this work? Well, much the same way that college level distance learning does...however the younger the child, the more hands on assistance and teaching the parent must do. For example, S is in 6th grade. He is pretty self sufficent- attending online classes that make use of web conferencing software, completeing and submitting his assignments online, etc. D, who is in 3rd grade, still needs quite a bit of teaching, especially in subjects like math. But both boys are doing very well, and flying through the curriculum. D had advanced an entire grade level in math by September, and S has just completed an entire grade level in math this week..the week before thanksgiving. Granted, I've been encouraging them to focus alot on the math, as it's been a weak area in the past..but man oh man!
However we discovered in August that it was impossible to get any serious work done with Baby J at home. He was far too distracting. Cute toddler antics trump the boys interest in schoolwork any day! (Not to mention, both boys and I have ADHD...so we couldn't make that arrangement work at all no matter what we tried!) So right after labor day J began attending preschool at a local church and he's loving it! He goes to school from 9-12 Monday through Friday. We get alot done during that time, and finish the rest during his afternoon nap. We save late afternoons and evenings for extracurricular activities. Both boys are in martial arts, and a fine arts progrma that meets on Thursday afternoons. I'm looking for another social outlet for them...cub/boy scouts maybe? 4-H? I'm not sure. Suggestions are welcome! :)
We've battled almost chronic illness this fall since J has been in preschool. Cold upon cold, ear infections and stomach bugs. I'm hoping that all settles down soon as his immune system adapts to all the new germs he's around. Speaking of J, he turns 2 this Friday..so I suppose I can no longer call him Baby J.
And lastly, I mentioned earlier how our belgian sheepdog Wendy had been in declining health since her stroke in June- this afternoon we went to the vet because things had really gone downhill the last week or two. He confirmed that she was in kidney failure and was severely dehydrated. There was nothing that could be done to correct or help support her kidney function at this point. And given the cognitive problems she had suffered since her stroke, her chronic and painful skin problems she'd been having, and her terrible arthritis, we decided if was time to release her rather than allow her to continue to decline and suffer needlessly. Making that decision has got to be one of the hardest and most gut wrenching choices a pet owner must make. We are all grieving her loss deeply. None of the boys can remember a time in their lives without her. The older two boys are taking this very hard, and J is confused. He asks "Where Ninny?" (his version of "Wendy") and says "cry?" when he sees the tears falling. I suppose he will forget about her altogether soon enough...though the rest of us never will. She was an amazingly smart and loving dog. She was adopted from a dog rescue as a middle aged dog, and quickly won our hearts and the hearts of just about anyone who got to know her.
So I want to end this post by honoring Wendy- who was the smartest dog I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Wendy girl, I love you more than words can express. You have been my friend, playmate and protector of my children, guardian of our home. You were the 4 legged vaccum that never let food thrown from a highchair hit the floor, and you sounded the alarm whenever anyone dared knock on our door. You were truely a member of of our family, and your absence will leave a painful hole for us. But I hope that where ever you are now, there are sunny days with grassy fields full of squirrels to chase and lots and lots of tennis balls.
We moved back to Athens offically at the beginning of June. I missed Asheville (and the lovely mountian climate) alot this summer! Mid-June, we drove to VA for a family vacation in Williamsburg, and we had a great time! However during our trip, our 15 year old Belgian Sheepdog, Wendy suffered a stroke as she was being boarded with the vet. I have to wonder if the stress was too much for her given her age. :( Wendy came home, but her health declined alot after the stroke, and mentally she was not the same dog.
In August we began a educational adventure- virtual public schooling! How does this work? Well, much the same way that college level distance learning does...however the younger the child, the more hands on assistance and teaching the parent must do. For example, S is in 6th grade. He is pretty self sufficent- attending online classes that make use of web conferencing software, completeing and submitting his assignments online, etc. D, who is in 3rd grade, still needs quite a bit of teaching, especially in subjects like math. But both boys are doing very well, and flying through the curriculum. D had advanced an entire grade level in math by September, and S has just completed an entire grade level in math this week..the week before thanksgiving. Granted, I've been encouraging them to focus alot on the math, as it's been a weak area in the past..but man oh man!
However we discovered in August that it was impossible to get any serious work done with Baby J at home. He was far too distracting. Cute toddler antics trump the boys interest in schoolwork any day! (Not to mention, both boys and I have ADHD...so we couldn't make that arrangement work at all no matter what we tried!) So right after labor day J began attending preschool at a local church and he's loving it! He goes to school from 9-12 Monday through Friday. We get alot done during that time, and finish the rest during his afternoon nap. We save late afternoons and evenings for extracurricular activities. Both boys are in martial arts, and a fine arts progrma that meets on Thursday afternoons. I'm looking for another social outlet for them...cub/boy scouts maybe? 4-H? I'm not sure. Suggestions are welcome! :)
We've battled almost chronic illness this fall since J has been in preschool. Cold upon cold, ear infections and stomach bugs. I'm hoping that all settles down soon as his immune system adapts to all the new germs he's around. Speaking of J, he turns 2 this Friday..so I suppose I can no longer call him Baby J.
And lastly, I mentioned earlier how our belgian sheepdog Wendy had been in declining health since her stroke in June- this afternoon we went to the vet because things had really gone downhill the last week or two. He confirmed that she was in kidney failure and was severely dehydrated. There was nothing that could be done to correct or help support her kidney function at this point. And given the cognitive problems she had suffered since her stroke, her chronic and painful skin problems she'd been having, and her terrible arthritis, we decided if was time to release her rather than allow her to continue to decline and suffer needlessly. Making that decision has got to be one of the hardest and most gut wrenching choices a pet owner must make. We are all grieving her loss deeply. None of the boys can remember a time in their lives without her. The older two boys are taking this very hard, and J is confused. He asks "Where Ninny?" (his version of "Wendy") and says "cry?" when he sees the tears falling. I suppose he will forget about her altogether soon enough...though the rest of us never will. She was an amazingly smart and loving dog. She was adopted from a dog rescue as a middle aged dog, and quickly won our hearts and the hearts of just about anyone who got to know her.
So I want to end this post by honoring Wendy- who was the smartest dog I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Wendy girl, I love you more than words can express. You have been my friend, playmate and protector of my children, guardian of our home. You were the 4 legged vaccum that never let food thrown from a highchair hit the floor, and you sounded the alarm whenever anyone dared knock on our door. You were truely a member of of our family, and your absence will leave a painful hole for us. But I hope that where ever you are now, there are sunny days with grassy fields full of squirrels to chase and lots and lots of tennis balls.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Handshake?
Something has happened with my eldest child lately. Suddenly, I'm wierd and lame! But only in public..appearantly at home I'm still fine and he enjoys my company quite a bit. He is especially particular about our interactions around his peers.
S left on a 4 day, 3 night class trip this morning. There was no hug for mom as he boarded the bus with his classmates this morning. The best I could get from him was a reluctant handshake. It appeared he'd rather walk away and pretend he didn't know me. Ahhhh...emerging adolesence!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Preparing to move and little thespians
Helloo faithful friends!
I apologize at my silence, and lack of updates. I haven't been much in a writing mood recently..which doesn't mean anything is wrong..I just haven't been writing.
So here's the scoop: last week D and his class had an amazing opportunity...some West Afriacn performers came to his school and worked with his class for a whole week. They learned about African dance, music, culture, and a bit of Swahili! They were also invited to perform with the group at a local arts festival. This was a big deal!! Here is my 8 year old in his youtube debut:
My 11 year has a class play tonight...he's excited and rather nervous. So I'll perhaps have some photos or video to share of him as a norse giant.
And we're moving, in 2 and a half weeks! W00t! I've begun the packing/cleaning process..but there is still plenty to do!
I apologize at my silence, and lack of updates. I haven't been much in a writing mood recently..which doesn't mean anything is wrong..I just haven't been writing.
So here's the scoop: last week D and his class had an amazing opportunity...some West Afriacn performers came to his school and worked with his class for a whole week. They learned about African dance, music, culture, and a bit of Swahili! They were also invited to perform with the group at a local arts festival. This was a big deal!! Here is my 8 year old in his youtube debut:
My 11 year has a class play tonight...he's excited and rather nervous. So I'll perhaps have some photos or video to share of him as a norse giant.
And we're moving, in 2 and a half weeks! W00t! I've begun the packing/cleaning process..but there is still plenty to do!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Ok, ok..an update
It has been brought to my attention that I haven't posted in some time, and therefore people are wondering where the heck I am and what's going on.
Well, here's the last few weeks in a nutshell-
We came back to NC and Molly is doing very well. She's going to be just fine, though she stil needs to be carried up and down steps and may need to be for a while.
We've spent the last week and a half dealing with a nasty virus that is a stomach bug and upper respiratory crud all rolled into one. None of us escaped it. D was the first to get sick followed by S and baby J, and finally me and DK. (That's what he gets for spending weekends with us!) So far, D is now well, and the rest of us are still sick, but recovering slowly. (I say optomistically as I sniffle and rub my aching sinuses)
I can't tell you how eager I am to move back to GA. Taking care fo 3 kids alone is no fun...make that 3 puking kids and it's REALLY no fun!
S is turning 11 on Friday and he's so so excited. There are about 6 more weeks of school and they are packed full! Book reports, science fair, school play, spring carnival...etc, etc etc. I'm sure it was always this way, but this year it seems so much more overwhelming.
Gotta run..baby J woke..but I'll post more soon. I promise.
Well, here's the last few weeks in a nutshell-
We came back to NC and Molly is doing very well. She's going to be just fine, though she stil needs to be carried up and down steps and may need to be for a while.
We've spent the last week and a half dealing with a nasty virus that is a stomach bug and upper respiratory crud all rolled into one. None of us escaped it. D was the first to get sick followed by S and baby J, and finally me and DK. (That's what he gets for spending weekends with us!) So far, D is now well, and the rest of us are still sick, but recovering slowly. (I say optomistically as I sniffle and rub my aching sinuses)
I can't tell you how eager I am to move back to GA. Taking care fo 3 kids alone is no fun...make that 3 puking kids and it's REALLY no fun!
S is turning 11 on Friday and he's so so excited. There are about 6 more weeks of school and they are packed full! Book reports, science fair, school play, spring carnival...etc, etc etc. I'm sure it was always this way, but this year it seems so much more overwhelming.
Gotta run..baby J woke..but I'll post more soon. I promise.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
More on Molly
After that last post, Molly had to go back to the vet because she was refusing to drink and hadn't urinated in 24 hours. She wound up staying for 4 days. For a number of days she was unable to urinate at will, and only when either the vet would compress her bladder, or her bladder would become so full she'd have an accident. Poor thing.
But by Saturday she was able to come home, and she's doing very well now. She eating and drinking and has control over her bladder again, and is hobbling around very well. She looks rather pitiful hobbling, but the vet said it's important we make her walk a few times a day to help in healing. She has some horrible abrasions on her belly that look alot like burns (the vet called it "road rash") but they are getting better too. She takes her medicine very well too. Mostly, she just wants to be close to us and loved.
But by Saturday she was able to come home, and she's doing very well now. She eating and drinking and has control over her bladder again, and is hobbling around very well. She looks rather pitiful hobbling, but the vet said it's important we make her walk a few times a day to help in healing. She has some horrible abrasions on her belly that look alot like burns (the vet called it "road rash") but they are getting better too. She takes her medicine very well too. Mostly, she just wants to be close to us and loved.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Molly comes home
Things were a little up and down with Molly today. This morning the vet told me that she still hadn't urinated, her hind end was flopping over when they tried to stand her up and they were concerned about some other internal or neurological injury. Well by early afternoon those issues has resolved themselves and Molly seemed to be doing as well as a dacshung who met an SUV could be doing.
But she was eating, and drinking, and urinating..so the vet gave the go ahead to see how she did at home tonight. She is going to be my constant companion in her laundry basket bed for the next few days, because she is completely unable to move herself. (Doxies just don't do well on 3 legs) And she needs alot of care...but within 2 weeks he expects she'll be able to get around (carefully) again.
We are all so happy to have her home!!!
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