Well, the humane education office has another foster dog during the day. This little gal, Daisy Belle, was found emaciated near Duck Creek. Anyhow, she took over two weeks to recover enough to be fostered by Jill. She is a doll and is getting braver each day. She has a head tilt and is unsteady on her feet but hopefully things will improve. The head tilt could be from an ear infection that damaged her brain or some other neurological problem. No one is sure quite yet. Every time I pet her I try and massage her neck!

I hadn't had a chance to spend time with the Vicktory dogs so I went during lunch to visit my girl Georgia. A class from KY sent her a care package and a photo of the class holding up a sign that says "We Love You Georgia" it is so cute! I also got to walk a beautiful girl named Halle, she coward with her tail between her legs but would stop on occasion to let me pet her back and bottom. No shame I tell ya!

I feel like I should be giving birth this week! My stomach actually feels bruised from Addison growing so much. She has been really active and gaining strength. I do not know how women do this multiple times. Just in case those hormones trick me into forgetting the tough parts I am going to keep a journal. I won't let those hormones out smart me, no siree.

I just heard on the news that People Magazine won the bidding war to take the first photos of JLo's twins. It dawned on me that neither Daron nor I have received any phone calls from the paparazzi bidding on Miss Addison’s first photo shoot. Maybe they don’t have our current phone numbers? Maybe they will be hanging in the trees and lurking around the hospital dressed as Dr’s and nurses after I give birth. I might have to ask Officer Nagle to serve as our security. Ahh so much to think about.

I have updated the photos from our hike into the box canyon. Daron’s parents look like they were made to live here, don’t they? I jokingly asked David to climb up this big rock that was sticking out of the cliffs and he did it. The photo doesn’t do it justice!

The stray cat we picked up has been enjoying the view from the top of her cattery! She still enjoys sleeping on the guest bed and cuddling with me but during the day she loves to watch the birds from her perch.

Just a few photos that I forgot to add to the earlier blog. The Ducks my Mom got when she visited with new pink and green and white bows to match the room and Daron's Dad on the computer, asleep after we worked him to death, poor man.

It has been a great three full days with Daron's parents and I am afraid we have tired them out. Actually, we gave them so many tasks that wore them out. Daron and I were moving a bit slower a lot sooner than they were and I, of course, took naps here and there. I used the excuse that I am pregnant but in reality we all know how tired I usually am! Ha. Anyhow, here are some photos of the BEAUTIFUL and AMAZINGLY COOL cattery that Daron and his Dad built in two days! You would think that Sunday they would rest but they replaced the bathroom door that Zeena had partially destroyed when she accidentally got locked in not once but twice! Then Daron's Dad wanted to replace an outlet and fix the dangling live wire that was hanging out of the ceiling fan (it's a rental so we overlook a lot of things). Anyhow, I though Daron was going to pass out right there on the floor from exhaust but he pulled his boot straps up and helped finish the job! Now when a tall person comes over or somebody puts Addy up over their heads we don't have to worry about electrocution.

Paula made improvements on the baby's room up until the last minute. We even hit the one store in Kanab that has house and baby goods - Family Dollar - and she got us some storage drawers for more onsies and diapers as well as some cute pink kid hangers for some of Addys more special pieces of clothing. Chip and Sarah and Madison send Addy a beautiful yellow baby blanket with ADDISON embroidered on it. I LOVE IT. I use to have a yellow baby blanket that I never let go of when I was a kid.

Paula, David and I went on about an hour hike in a box canyon by our house and we took Zeena B so she could run. Unfortunately, the hike is near the shooting range and she ended up spending the whole time shaking under an evergreen tree. Poor little thing. Then when we brought her home I had to cut sap out of her fur so she looks a mess. Then the boys were working on the electrical projects and everytime we turned a breaker off there was a beep. That sent her into a shivering fit and she spent the whole evening in the bathroom. On a good note, Paula, David and I had a great hike!

Daron's parents made it safely to Kanab and needless to say we put them right to work! I asked David if he could build a cattery for me and he and Daron went right to work on Friday morning. They did an amazing job the first day but it got to dark to take a final photo from day one.

Paula and I looked at the belly and decided at 33 weeks along we ought to finish the baby room. We, of course, asked the boys to help with a few things in the beginning...



Addison or Addyson (we haven’t decided on spelling yet) will be happy to know that BOTH of her grandmothers took part in creating the baby room, particularly the windows. My mom and I sewed the black and white curtains and Paula sewed the tie backs and added green hearts to the bows. Paula also made a baby quilt from the material my mom bought (it is hanging over the black chair).

From One Mama to Another!






















Well, it has been a couple months since I lost Rodeo and I have really been missing our time together. Our dog Zeena is great but she doesn't have the same soul as Rodeo did.

I decided with "the belly" getting so big I can't really eat a proper lunch so why should I go to the lunch room? I decided my time and heart would be much better spent helping soulful, sad, scared dogs. So "the belly" and I have volunteered to spend a few lunches a week sitting with some of the Vick dogs. I hate to even use that mans name so I am going to call them the victory dogs. The first day I volunteered with the dogs CNN was filming. I stayed out of the way by spending time with two gals and a handsome man named Lucas. After spending time with the gals I ran into Lucas who they were taking back to his kennel after his big "interview" I said "hello" and he gave "the belly" and I a big hug. In fact, he put his big, scarred head on my shoulder and just relaxed into me. Can I just say "oh my gosh I just want to wrap him up and put him in my pocket!" The CNN guy took a photo for their blog and I just saw it on the site it is: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/07/vick.dogs.rehab/index.html
Yup, that is my shoulder, no autographs please :)

Anyhowb back to the gals, one of the caregivers thought that my email about me and "the belly" volunteering was so funny that he thought it only appropriate to have me hang out with Ellen "belly" as they call her. You can tell by her teats hanging down low and ragged that she was mother to God knows how many pups and her right cheek sabs due to nerve damage from fighting. I walked right up to her and said "Ellen my teats are going to look like that soon!" She thought I was so funny that she wagged her tail! I, of course, started to think of my teats (and stomach for that matter) turning out like hers and started to get a bit concerned. I reforcused my attention to Ellen. Focus, focus, focus. Anyhow, I figured she had multiples and that HAS to be harder on the body! Ellen got her "belly" name because when she meets you she rolls on her back and gives you her belly to rub. Of course, she didn't do it when I got in there, instead she wanted treats and wanted to play. Go figure. We did get her to pose ever so briefly for a Double Belly shot! I figured Addison will really appreciate this photo when she is older. Maybe.

The next gal I hung out with was a fighter and a mother. Her name is Georgia and her tongue hangs out because her jaw was once broken and healed at an awkward angle. She has a tail that zig zags, scars from puncture wounds on her face, legs and torso and was obviously forcibly bred. In fact, she has no teeth. All 42 had been pried out. I only hope this was done under vet supervision which is highly unlikely. The fact is if a dog gets one tooth removed and has pain meds it is pretty excruciating. Why would some idiot pull out the teeth you ask? So she can't harm the male when she is forced to breed.

Despite all of this Georgia is happy to see me wiggling and cuddling. She has a beautiful face with deep brown eyes. I sit on her dog bed and massage her ears. Within a few minutes she is snoring. I hope at this moment that she is happy and at peace. I hope that in time her emotional wounds will heal. We are concerned that the dogs will experience post traumatic stress disorder much like soldiers or abused children. She still barks incessantly at her doghouse and rolls her toys so obsessively that her nose is rubbed raw. It reminds me of children who are abused and will rock obsessively. I know I cannot change her past but I know that I can be an active participant in brightening up her future. Though "the belly" and I are sitting at a slightly awkward angle I don't move for fear that I will disturb her sleep.

Tomorrow I will spend time with an extremely timid dog named Cherry. She is a black and white pit mix (who actually reminds me more of a boston terrier) who cowers when you walk by. "The Belly" and I will spend time in a room with her. It may take 20 or more sessions to have her approach me but that is one thing "the belly" and I have is time!

Daron and I went to St. George yesterday in search of a crib. It took about 15 minutes to decide which one and about 2 minute to find the bedding. We were either lucky or just didn't feel like spending all day deciding between Rainforest animals vs. Princess sheets. The room is coming along. Right now it just has a mish mosh of stuff piled in there. When Darons Mom comes I plan to have her help me arrange and rearrange and jazz it up a bit. When we got home from St. George it as late and Daron stayed up and put the crib together.