R.I.P. Roxie

8/7/09 - 4/16/10

I can hardly believe how difficult losing Roxie has been - on all of us. For Joe, I know it is really tough because he had worked so hard with her and had so many plans for her this summer and fall. For me, I can only assume that it's so tough because I spent the last 7 weeks with her (and she was just a baby, and she wasn't sick, and it was so sudden and unexpected...). Sami still talks about her like she's coming back, even though we have told her that Roxie won't be back. And Leroy, well, I can't figure him out.

Before this all happened, I was planning on posting the differences between Roxie and Leroy. So, I decided to just do it anyway - a little tribute to the bitch that I secretly loved so much.

When I forgot to shut the garage door behind me when I was going to let Roxie out of her kennel:
Roxie: Out the door faster than I could blink and tearing up a path in the neighbors yard.
Leroy: Sits by the door and stares at me wondering if I am going to shut it or if he has to.

When out for a walk and we pass people (who are on the other side of the street):
Roxie: Jumped up in delight doing little doggie cartwheels at the idea that there are more people on this earth that could love her and that she could jump on.
Leroy: Keeps his eye on them to make sure they don't do anything crazy.

**She had the stinkiest farts I've ever smelled in my life. **She was an amazing hunter who didn't get a real shot at it yet. We just discovered on Friday evening when playing with her in the backyard that we have had quite a few mice/voles in our yard and she has found and killed them all. Leroy probably wouldn't notice if a bird landed on his nose unless it dropped a shadoobie on his face. **She ate poop. Fresh from the 'fountain'. The most disgusting thing I think I have ever seen, but when I see Leroy dropping one now it makes me a little sad because he no longer has the uncomfortable look on his face that can only be put there by another dog with her face directly under his bum while he tries to do his business. **She ate anything and everything (as the aforementioned clearly states). If we took our eye off of her for one second she would have something in her mouth that she wasn't supposed to. **She was Leroy's best buddy.

Sad Ending

We had a sad ending to our extremely awesome day yesterday. Joe got home around 1:30 yesterday afternoon and I've hardly let him out of my sight. Sami was delighted to see him when we picked her up from daycare. She had to be woken up from her nap (Janet told her that Mommy was there to get her). Sami came out saying "Mommy" in her sweet surprised sleepy voice when she saw the man standing next to me and ran into his arms, gave him a big squeeze and didn't let go for quite a while. She was silent for a long time and had a smile stuck on her face for even longer. They bonded for a while and then we went out for supper, came back home and played with the dogs for a while. Once things settled down in the house and it started getting dark outside Joe took Roxie out for a run to get some exercise and Roxie broke her leg. Very weird how it happened because they hadn't made it far from the house and they weren't running through rough terrain or anything. Her leg just snapped and then was dangling loose. Joe brought her out to the Casselton vet to get her checked out. We were really hoping that it was just dislocated, but that was not the case at all. It was a bad break that would take lots of treatment and my never have correctly healed. Roxie did not come back with Joe last night. We are all so confused and sad and disappointed and devastated.

Less than 24 hours!!

Joe is on his way home and we get to hug him tomorrow!! We are at Target trying to pass the time and the dogs are hungry at home!
Kate

Don't tell Joe

I 'took care' of the dogs.
Kate

Update!

Six Days To Go!

Above: Sami is wearing her new dress (while displaying six fingers for me). She is such a girly girl. It didn't help matters that I purchased and wore a dress (actually two) for the first time this week. It is possible that I have worn a dress before, but I have blocked it out of my memory. It is so comfortable not having a band digging into my belly/waist. I'm pretty sure my dress wearing won't go past pregnancy...maybe a little post baby until I can fit in my normal clothes again. Anyway, it's a lot easier to tell Sami she can't wear a dress to school (daycare) when I am not wearing one, so this week was a challenge. So, since she couldn't wear a dress all week, she finally got to wear one today.

Below: Sami in her new jammies, exhausted and ready for bed.

Only six days until we get back to our normal routine and have the household husband, daddy, chef, animal caretaker, etc. home. The time hasn't gone by as fast as I had hoped it would, but now that the weather is nicer and we are able to be outside a bit it really helps. The dogs are sick of hearing me threaten to leave them on the interstate, they've caught on that they are empty threats. I'm just so glad that this is a very temporary situation!

Pregnancy Update: I am at the end of my second trimester and just starting the major leg cramps/charlie horses in my calves and feet. Was a very unpleasant surprise to wake up to this morning at 4:30. Juan Carlos is a pretty active baby. Sami was very active as well, but I don't remember seeing as much movement as I do this time. It's very distracting. When I was pregnant with Samantha I took a liking to steak and wanted to eat it all of the time. This round I just want chocolate, which really isn't any different than when I'm not pregnant except now I say that I want it because I'm prego. I still feel like it's a boy, although I thought that Samantha was a boy until the ultrasound proved otherwise. We'll find out in a few months!

One week!!!!!!!

We have only one week exactly until Joe gets home! Cartwheels!!!
Kate

Redneck?

Thanks Easter Bunny!

That's marker on her nose.

Twins

So I was at Burger King for lunch today (not a good choice, I know, but it was delicious) and the cashier said: "you look like you're ready to pop any day!" To which I replied: "actually, I have a few months to go...but I'm having twins." Hehe. RELAX! There is only ONE Juan Carlos in there!
Kate

I Ruined Her Life

This is the face of a certain 3-year-old that just told me "you ruined my life" because she asked me to help her take her Barbie's dress off, so I took it off for her.
Kate