Stomach Virus and Dog Training

What a week!  I've been blessed in the fact that if either of my kids are sick, they don't act like it.  They don't slow down or stop eating too much and they still smile and nap the same.  Unfortunately, that makes it tough to tell when they might actually be sick. 

So Sunday Addie threw up in the car (in her baby car seat).  Then about 2hrs later, she threw up again, this time all over my sister's nice new rug.  Right before this, I fed her a bottle and then immediately picked her up to get her hand print on the painting we were doing.  So I thought I might have pushed her little belly a little too hard while picking her up. 

As a side note, I appreciate the fact that my sister and her husband use my family as a learning tool of things to come in their future.  In the 2 hrs we were at their house, one daughter threw up and the other one was painting on their new dining room table.  And even though we took precautions to keep it clean, she's still only two and likes to get up with paint on her fingers.  Thankfully, the only damage was to the rug.

Then on Wednesday, Addie threw up again at dinner.  I coughed this up to her gag reflex and gagged on a small piece of meatloaf.  We took a picture and sent it to my sister.  Addie was smiling and laughing and the table, floor, and Foster's head were dirty. 

By Friday afternoon, Hannah lost her lunch.  Then proceeded again at dinner, 9:30 at night, and a little of breakfast the next morning. 

So by Saturday afternoon, I had completed 5 different loads of laundry of just throw up.  Awesome.  All the while, both girls were still happy and playing, no fevers, and acting normal. 

Saturday morning we had our second round of a personal visit from a dog trainer, Lisa, to help with Foster's anxiety (he gets SUPER excited when he is outside and sees other dogs).  She was very nice and provided us with great training ideas to help us move in the right direction.  Our goal is to be able to walk both dogs, at the same time, with both girls, and get back into our family walks.  Lisa had 5 kids in 6 years and has 6 dogs!  Why do I think my life it hectic sometimes! 

Anyway, last week we decided to allow Foster to not be in a crate while we were out.  He did great last week.  We tried this again on Sunday.  We went to dinner at my parent's house and we were going to be out of the house for about 6 hrs.  When we got home, I was so excited because the house was still clean (nothing was chewed, no mess anywhere).  Then I went upstairs to put Addie to bed and I had to go into my room to turn the heat up.  I could smell something, but couldn't tell where the heck it was coming from.  Turns out Foster had an accident on our bed.  Our bedroom was the only door left open because his bed is in there.  But rather then pee on his bed, he peed on our bed.  So at 8pm on Sunday night, I'm taking off our down comforter and doing more laundry.  I got to sleep last night with a sheet and some knitted blankets.  We only have one down comforter.  Foster passed out cold in his bed.  Good boy. 

He's out the crate again for Monday - this time for 7 hrs.  Can't wait to get home today :)

1st snow of 2012!

Yeah!   We finally had some snow this winter!  Everyone got out to play - even if it did take us 20 mins to get out the door (all the while I'm praying that Hannah won't have to go to the bathroom as we are walking out the door :))

Hannah and Daddy went down one hill, but it was too rocky.  But she did enjoy getting in the sled and going around the neighborhood. 

The brown clump on Hannah's lap is Addison.  I might have over-dressed her :)  She actually couldn't sit because she couldn't bend at the waist.  At least she was warm!

Foster, Foster, Foster

Foster has been with us for a little over a month now and aside from a few issues, he is doing great with our family.  Our biggest issue with Foster is that he doesn’t do well with being locked up by himself.  We started with him in our laundry room with a blanket to sleep on – every time we left he had an accident and was slowly scratching away our molding around the door.  We then moved to a crate and put him in the same room as Bailey.  We thought this would be fabulous.  They can see each other and this should keep him calm.  Our first time leaving him locked in the crate (with a yummy peanut butter Kong), we actually videotaped him.  First 15 mins were rough, but eventually he settled down.  However, he still had accidents.  Now, a boy dog having accidents in a metal crate means that he kindly pees out of the crate on to our wall and carpet.  Perfect!  At least he settled down – we must be moving in the right direction. 

Saturday night we put the dogs in their crates with their peanut butter Kongs and go hang out with our neighbors.  About an hour into being there, Hannah comes running into the kitchen…”I see Foster”.  I’m like, “that’s right, you can see into our office from the window.”  Kev’s like “She has such an imagination.”  3 hours later, we go home and SURPRISE!  Foster greets us at the door.  I go into the office and Bailey is sound asleep and Foster’s crate is still locked on top, but he somehow got himself and his blanket out of the crate.  He’s 60 lbs.  The crate is metal and it wasn’t bent at all.  Still don’t know how he did that.  Good news is that the house wasn’t damaged at all.

Our new approach is to see how he does not locked up at all.  Sunday, we give them each their Kongs in their crates – but we don’t lock Foster’s.  He was home alone for 3 hours and for the first time – no damage or accidents!!  Maybe we’re finally making progress.  I’m pretty sure he stole Bailey’s sleeping spot on the couch while we were out.  And I’m well aware that it isn’t fair that Bailey is still in her crate and Foster is out, but Bailey also gets to sleep on the couch and bed and Foster gets the floor.  So I’m figuring that it evens out. 

We just received this letter from the shelter –

Susan --- My name is Celeste and Farson now Foster came from our high kill shelter to Almost Home and Carolyn shared this with me- I can’t thank you enough for adopting through a rescue and giving this boy a home- when he first came to our shelter and was picked up as a stray I was sure he would be reclaimed and someone was looking for him- he came in very clean nails trimmed so mannerly and obedient house broke and day after day he appeared to be looking for someone and soon became very kennel depressed and stopped eating and the shelter put him on the euth list- it made me sick- I loved this dog and felt so bad for him not being able to reunite him with his family- thanks goodness a friend of mine offered to foster him so he wasn’t put down until I could fine a rescue to take him - I had sent his pictures to many rescues begging for help with him and was thrilled when almost home said they could take him- it brought tears of joy to my eyes
when I seen this update and pics of him- he looks fabulous and I thank you all for loving him and giving him this wonderful home- he appears to love the little one in the home:) I shared this with my friend to - take care and give him a hug for me-

Almost made me cry. 

Dressing for School – Our weekday morning workout

Dressing a Two Year Old

Being two, Hannah is under the impression that she is completely capable of picking out her own clothing every morning.  Most of the time, we can agree on an outfit by giving her two choices and she gets to pick one.  Which works wonderfully; but on days when we have to get out of the door, we don’t always have the time to discuss each option and their colors, shapes, textures, and if it matches Addie’s outfit or not J.    This causes a major morning meltdown about everything.  She doesn’t like the outfit, doesn’t like breakfast, doesn’t want her hair brushed…. finally we get in the car and off to school where she is a complete angel…pick her up and its right where she left off…doesn’t like her outfit, rips her hair tie out, doesn’t like dinner…  It’s incredible that she has that much memory to literally pick up the crying exactly where she left off (and still was excellent at school). 

Last Saturday, we did allow Hannah to pick out her own outfit.  Hannah chose the below outfit:  Red leggings, a Red and Pink stripped hoodie, a bright blue t-shirt, Pink and Purple rainboots, and her Pink and White stripped headband…and our one errand was to Pet Smart and she was very excited that she got to wear it out J 

Dressing a Crawling Baby

Dressing Addie is like trying to dress…well I can’t think of a good comparison, because she is like trying to dress an active baby.  Trying to get her to sit is pretty close to impossible and lying down is completely impossible.  Addie’s has never liked to lie on her back and she flips right over, usually twisting the pants in the process.  Our general routine is her laughing and giggling and crawling away with me behind her trying to fit her pants on from the back.  Getting a shirt on usually requires grabbing arms as they are flying around looking for something to grab hold of (normally a toy; sometimes a dog’s tail, Hannah’s breakfast, or whatever else is in her reach).  

After the girls are dressed, time for hair and teeth.  And most days Hannah’s hair is pulled back nicely somehow, which is also a discussion and possible debate; as Hannah likes to leave her hair down, but she doesn’t know how to tuck it behind her ears yet so it is always in her face. 

This leaves me about 15 mins to put together a work outfit – usually includes a relatively close fitting outfit (sometimes too big, sometimes too small), minimal make up, hair usually pulled up, and nice heels.  I love heels.  They are normally the nicest part of my outfit J. 

And out the door we go! 

Good Things of the Week –

·         Addie can pull herself up to a standing position

·         Foster became an official member of our family

·         Hannah’s progress report from school was excellent

·         Hannah loves to do her after school ‘exercises’ – a fast paste round of Simon Says with jumping jacks, twirls, and leg lifts. 

Giggle Friday!

Time for Giggle Friday!  Quotes and Doings of this week...

Hannah -

• I ran over a stick driving her to school.  She asked what it was and I told her.  To which she responded "Be careful of the car Mommy."  Yes.  Thank you.
• When we left the house for school Daddy was still in sweats.  Hannah got in the car and told me "Daddy not work today.  He not dressed."  Because we all know that, unfortunately, we cannot wear sweatpants to work. 
• I put Hannah's hair in a high ponytail and she was very mad at me because it was a "short ponytail."  I didn't know what she was talking about, but I moved it down to a low ponytail and this made her much happier because now it was a "long ponytail."  Apparently if she can't run her fingers through it, her hair is too short. 
• Hannah just figured out that if she bangs a fork hard enough on the table it makes fork marks.  Mommy and Daddy were not happy.  Last night she told us a dinner "I no bang anymore."  Good, at least you listened. 
• Hannah is big on pretend.  Anything that she knows she's not suppose to have, she says "I just pretend."  So when she gets the nail clippers and starts going toward's Addie, she says "I just pretend."  Good try, but I don't think so. 

Addie

• Managed to spill Bailey's water bowl two days in a row.  The bathroom floor has never been so clean!
• Really likes meatballs and thinks its funny to let Bailey lick her hands before eating more food. 
• While sitting on the floor, Addie crawls up and on my lap and then flips her head back so she can be tickled. 

Happy Friday!!

A Little About Us

If you are reading this little blog, it might be helpful to know a little about us :). 

My husband and I have been married for almost 5 years and we have known each other for 9 (that's still hard for me to believe).  We met through a mutual friend one night out at a bar in NE Philly on Kev's birthday and two days later I called him to say Hi...We got engaged skydiving about a week before my 26th birthday.  Kev was not able to jump because he was on crutches so he wrote 'Susan, Marry Me Please' on a large white blanket in red spray paint so I could see it once the parachute went up.  Yeah, that was a pretty good day...5 years later, we now have 2 beautiful girls and 2 dogs. 

Hannah is almost 2 1/2 and she is a little firecracker.  She started walking at 11 months and hasn't stopped since.  We always say she has two speeds - full speed and sleeping.  And with full speed, I'm not talking about just her physically running everywhere, but with talking too.  She talks, sings, tells stories...starting when she is still in her bed in the morning and ending when she goes back to bed.  She is stubborn and strong willed, loves being outside, is an excellent big sister, loves school, and overall just a very happy little girl. 

Addison (Addie) is 9 months old and is slowly starting to show her personality.  Addie is crawling, which means she's into everything.  She loves to 'chase' her sister, play Peek-A-Boo and hug.  She gets a good giggle when she is near the dogs and likes to try to climb on the couch to pet Bailey.  Addie is a little more high strung than her sister.  We definitely can tell when she isn't happy about something :).  But she smiles all the time and we love her little giggle (she claps for herself when she laughs :)). 

Bailey was our first 'child.'  We bought her 6 months before we were married and she is spoiled rotten.  She loves to chew and play and cuddle, but only likes to cuddle on her terms, not ours.  Foster is our newest addition.  We just adopted him 2 weeks ago.  He is doing wonderful and adjusting well.  He is great with the girls, but is still a little iffy on how to play with Bailey. 

That's us in a nutshell :)

A New Year and a New Idea

The start of a new year always brings around new ideas and resolutions.  Other than the typical 'I'm going to get in shape' resolution, I wanted to start a small blog.  The idea started because I was working on my girls' baby books and noticed that I wanted to write a lot more than I had room for.  I started using the back pages of the baby books to fill in quotes and milestones - then I thought that this might be fun to try. 

Working a full time job and having a 2 year old and a 9 month old, I sometimes forget about all the 'little' things that make me laugh (sometimes not right away, but eventually will).  So other than writing about the hecticness of our normal day (which may come up too :)), I am going to have a daily account of what the girls did, good or bad.  One day, everything will make us laugh :)

Please bear with me as I learn how everything on this blog works.  Pictures and posts will come slowly at first :).  But I'll get there.