Puppy Love

This video was taken about 4 years ago when Allie was a puppy. I came across it the other day. The other dog in the video is Sam. Sam passed away two summers ago! He was just the best dog! Ever since Allie was a puppy, she always loved laying on Sam in the yard!

Many neighborhood people would comment on how cute it would be as they drove by. Wherever Sam was...Allie would be laying right on top!

In this video Sam reminds me of a gentle lion. He definitely was king of the yard! We really miss him. Ben remembers him and always asks when we're going to see him again. His latest question was: "When we die will we see Sam then?" It's just amazing at the things kids think of!

Thinking of you and missing you Sam!

Hachiko: A Dog's Story

This post will probably make you laugh and cry! Sorry, but it will! I can't even talk about the subject without crying....my husband thinks I'm nuts! lol

If you read my blog regularly...you know that I have a Richard Gere obsession! It's probably borderline unhealthy, but that's ok! lol We all need to obsess about something. Some woman may prefer chocolate...but I prefer older men with gray hair! Now don't go hiding your grandfathers just yet....I don't like just any older gray haired guy...just Richard Gere! lol

I mean look at him....he's gorgeous! I don't know who is cuter in this photo...Richard or the puppy! lol
Anyway, I need to get to the whole reason for this post. I'm a little ticked off! Yes, I said it! I'd probably have a few other choice words, but this is G-rated blog for the most part, so I'll keep the obscenities to myself!

Back in the middle of December the movie "Hachiko: A Dog's Story" was supposed to premier in the United States. I was totally psyched up! I already had friends to go with me. But as the date neared, there were not any previews or anything. So I started investigating. This movie has a Japanese background, so it was shown over in Japan over the summer as well as a few other countries.

It did extremely well! In Russia it is listed as #6 of the top 200 movies of all time! Sony Pictures (the enemy) picked up the movie and decided to not show it in the theaters because they didn't want to put the advertising into it that close to the holidays. Whatever the reason, it wasn't shown and I was one unhappy stalker...I mean camper! lol ;)

So I kept investigating and found out that it is going straight to video! WHAT?! Absolutely ridicoulous! Marley & Me was successful and didn't get the reviews that this movie did! Let's just hope that all the websites are incorrect and that it will be in theaters this March!

I have never had a preview make me cry before, but this one did! Everytime that I watch it, I cry! I can't even talk about the movie without crying! lol So maybe it's best that it is going straight to dvd. I don't want to embarass myself in public! I'd rather cry hysterically in the privacy of my own home! lol We all know what "Nights in Rodanthe" did to me! lol I can't even talk about the horses in that movie...I'll cry! lol

But the whole basis of this movie is the bond that people have with their pets. It's a strong bond, and I know if you've ever had a dog you can relate! I have often said that I am closer to animals than people! I know that may sound harsh, but it's true! During all the rough times in my life when I have felt alone...the one person who has loved me unconditionally was my dog! As a matter of fact, my dog Allie has been by my side this whole time that I have been laying in bed sick! It's amazing how loyal they are!

Hachiko waited everyday for his master to return home from work! But heck, insert my picture beside the dog...if Richard Gere was getting off that train, I'd be waiting there loyally everyday too! lol

But here is the trailer to the Hachiko movie. Be sure to turn my music player off on the right hand side of my blog to hear the trailer. Oh, and make sure you have some tissues ready! ;)

Did you cry?

Wow...not sure if I can handle this!

It looks like we will probably be giving away our new puppy Dixie! I am so broken up about it! She is the first puppy that we had since we had children, and we didn't realize how much it would impact our lives! With two toddlers our life is chaotic enough, what were we thinking bringing a puppy into our home?! I feel like a horrible person, but she's just not working out with our family. I've always thought that Golden Retrievers were laid back (we had two of them) but Dixie is extremely wild! I think that besides her being a puppy, the kids probably get her way too excited!

Benjamin asked the other day if we could give her away. He said that he's tired of being scratched, and tired of her chewing his toys! Alex was scratched the other day right under his eye and it bled. I know she's just a puppy, but I think our kids right now are too young to have such a big dog around. Especially one who is always biting at them, scratching them, and jumping up on them.

I want her to go to a good home. No one really wants her because she's already 4 months old. At least nobody wants to pay much for her. I think she would be better off with another family. I cannot give her the time that she needs and deserves at this point in her life. I just feel soo badly about giving her away! If she were a person she wouldn't be given away like this and that's what makes it soo hard. I know she's just a dog, but she is so special and amazing that I feel like a terrible mom and dog owner to do this. What do you think?

I'm just soo stressed out being a stay at home mom with the kids, but this is a much added stress. As I'm writing this I am crying, I will probably have to make the decision tomorrow and it's just too hard for me to do. So if I'm not online for a couple of days you'll know why.

-Ruth Ann

I'm Finally Back!

Hi everyone! I'm finally back from what has been one hectic month! I don't even know where to begin! Let's see... it's been crazy because I have two toddlers...not to mention that one is going through the wonderful "terrible twos!" And yes, I'm being sarcastic..there's nothing wonderful about them!

A couple weeks ago I was in the bathroom when my two-year-old (Alex) came up to me and said: "I sorry Mommy!" I said: "What did you do?!!!!" He grabbed me by the hand and took me downstairs only to find a half dozen eggs broken throughout the kitchen and dining room! He emptied the entire carton! Thank goodness there was only 6 eggs left!

Then a few weeks ago I came down with a horrible ear infection. After about four days, when I started feeling better, I stopped taking the antibiotics. Well it's back with a vengeance! I started getting extremely sick this past Friday and went to the doctor on Saturday and the ear infection has returned, along with bronchitis and a sinus infection! This past weekend was horrible! I do not remember feeling soo sick in my life! I had a high fever, I had chills, I threw up! And it lasted for days! I still feel really sick today, but at least my fever has gone away! It was so bad that I told my husband that I would go through childbirth all over again than to be this sick! It was horrible! I was very fortunate, he took care of me and took two days off of work. He watched the kids since I remained in bed for two days, and cleaned the house! He totally took care of me!

Lets see...last week Dixie started Puppy Training Classes. She is also going through the "terrible twos" if there is such a thing for puppies! She doesn't listen, and she's is getting gigantic! I think she's part dinosaur or moose! Anyway, the day before training I had to take her to the vet. I feed her several hours before the trip but that didn't matter. She threw up all over the floor in the back seat area of my van!!!! And I'm not talking about just a little either...and in five places!!!! On the way back Ben started yelling: "Dixie...please don't throw up on my side!" LOL

I was laughing hysterically, it was just one of those moments! So apparently Dixie now gets car sick! It figures, she never throws up when she travels with my husband! lol I think I'll just drive his car next time!

So her puppy class came and I decided to only feed her very early in the morning and when her class came that night she wouldn't get sick. Well you know what? She got sick anyway! But I kept her in her crate with a throwaway pad inside for easy cleanup! Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do? I will be making this trip with her once a week for a couple months. It's about a half hour trip each way.

Oh, and today she ate my new cell phone! I have a cute little LG-NV and now 1/4 of it is chewed up! I swear she knew what she was doing, and did this just to make me mad! lol

She always destroys everything! She ate my phone charger, she ate about 100 pacifiers and hundreds of toys! But my phone of all things she left usable! It's like hey if you're going to eat it, eat all of it, so I can get a new one. But now I have to carry around a chewed up usable cell phone. It's very stylish! lol And also, she pulled a box of Kleenex off the table today and pulled them out one by one and chewed them up!

My kids have been one main reason I haven't been blogging lately. I decided to give homeschooling a try (at least for preschool). And we're learning alphabet recognition among many other things right now. It's really neat to be out and about and my son will notice a letter he is familiar with on signs. It's exciting to know that I'm teaching him things and he's loving it! But we're seriously thinking about homeschooling him in the future as well, but that's another post!

So that's been my month wrapped up in a few paragraphs! lol

I also wanted to share with you a photo of the wonderful package I received in the mail from my swap partner Tangee. I was in Lori's for the Love of Birds Swap. I was partnered with a very creative lady, Tangee from A Sparkly Messy Life. Look at all the wonderful goodies she sent me.
A very vibrant colorful tote on the left (which is my absolute favorite), a shabby Easter Bunny holding a glitter egg, a French flour sack, a barn star, a couple shabby chic decor books, a Love photo frame, potpourri, a stuffed bunny, a shabby iron bird, and some beautiful jewelry! Thank you soo much Tangee, it was great swapping with you!
And one more shout out to my BBF (best blogging friend) Kristin over at "The Goat" who sent me a letter that was in my mail today! It was such a sweet surprise, and really made my day! Thank you Kristin! You are so creative and I am so glad that we met through blogging! Well everyone I should get some sleep it's almost 1:00 am! I just wanted to catch everyone up on my life, and I will catch up reading my favorite blogs soon and I'll start posting again! Thanks for your patience!

Hugs, Ruth Ann

My puppy and an Award!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to give you an update on my puppy Dixie. Yesterday she went to the vet and she still has a Urinary Tract Infection...poor thing! It's making her housetraining very difficult! She was put on another round of stronger antibiotics, so hopefully it will now clear up!

Since her last appointment (ten days ago) she gained 4 pounds! She now weighs a whopping 16 pounds! She's such a little cuddly moose!

Last week I made her official "birth announcement!" I know, she's not a baby, but I wanted to make something to celebrate her birth! Here it is:

I got the baby scale at an antique store in Ohio and I was just dying to photograph something on it! Since I won't be having anymore babies, I thought it would be perfect for the dog! And no I don't have pink walls (eventhough I would love that)...I just used the magic of Photoshop! The bow in her hair is just a digital scrapbooking element too! She can't wear bows yet, her hair isn't long enough! Hopefully by this summer her hair will be longer and she'll be sporting all kinds of cute pink bows! And that is her "official name"....Duchess Dixie Valentine!

Now on to my award! Yesterday I was so excited to find out that Kelli from "Outside My Kitchen Window" gave me an award! My first ever award....I was jumping up and down! Kelli has such a wonderful blog about her precious family...you have to check it out! Thank you soo much Kelli! This means alot!

The rules of this award are:
Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.
I'd like to give this award to some of my new blog friends:
Kristin: The Goat

Beth: Rambling Gal

Lori: Morning Glories and Moonflowers

Betsy: Snips, Snails, and Mommy tales.

Darlene: Darlene's Days.

Carrie: Carrie's Little World.

Amber: The McIllece Spot.

Echo: Echo Kirkland.

Poor Little Dixie

My poor little puppy Dixie isn't feeling well. She has a Urinary Tract Infection! A couple days ago I noticed that she was squatting in the house several times. And this was unusual for her, because ever since we got her she would go to the door and go to the bathroom outside. When I took her outside I realized that she was squatting every couple of feet. I figured the following morning I would call the vet because this seemed like a health issue. So the next morning we woke up and she had blood in her urine!

The vet asked us to bring in a urine specimen. What???? "Ok Dixie go into the bathroom and take this little cup and give us a sample!" lol How on earth is that possible?
With a little creativity, we managed to get a sample and sure enough she has a UTI!

It was a rough night for me last night. She was up every hour to two hours wanting to go outside. And she'll spend several minutes squatting and squatting and squatting! Poor little thing! I feel so bad for her because I know what it's like to have a UTI. She's on medication now for the next 10 days, so hopefully she'll get better soon!

And she is such a sweet little thing. As sick as she is she still is extremely patient with the boys, and still runs and chases after Allie in the yard! We are soo lucky to have her! It's like a new little adventure and is like having a newborn all over again! My first son was up every two hours for feeding so Dixie reminds me of that! Otherwise, she is doing great!

If you haven't already, sign up for my GIVEAWAY....there's only 3 days left!

Have a great weekend everybody!

-Ruth Ann

Our New Arrival!

Today we finally got to pick up the new addition to our home!You'll have to be patient with me...I have a ton of photos to share with you from our day today!

Isn't she the sweetest thing? She absolutely LOVES playing outside in her big backyard! Look at her run!The boys just love her...and she absolutely LOVES the boys! As soon as she got to meet them she jumped all over them and gave them tons of kisses! They sure like giving her kisses too!

Here's Ben giving her a kiss!Alex just had to kiss her too! She's just soo lovable, you can't help it!

And I just love this photo!She is such a good little eater! Man she can really eat, and she drinks a lot of water too! Right now she is the size of my little dog Allie...but not for long! Here's Allie is getting acquainted with her... Doesn't she look sad in this photo? I know she misses her wonderful family! Hopefully in the next few days she begin to love us too!Right now we're undecided about a name. We like either Dixie or Daisy? We were planning on naming her Dixie...but the name just doesn't seem to fit? My husband likes Daisy...and my oldest son wants to call her either "Butterball" or "Rose Bud" (from the Air Buddies movie)! I like Grace or Gracie. Choosing a name seems to be harder than picking out a name for a baby! Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to "girl her up" tomorrow and put a pretty bow in her hair...I'll make sure to share a photo.

In the meantime...The Steelers WON! Wooohooo! It was a great game! And tomorrow is Groundhog's Day! I wish I was up there to celebrate! Tomorrow I'm going to share Groundhog Day memories! lol

Hugs,
Ruth Ann

I'm Soooo Excited!

Tomorrow is going to be a fantastic day! Not only are the Steelers playing in the Superbowl, but more importantly I'm picking up our puppy tomorrow! Isn't she the sweetest? She's a Golden Retriever and is the cutest little thing ever! We're not sure what we're going to name her yet....possibly "Dixie." After I bring her home I will post a better photo for you, and you guys can help me pick out a name!

She's a little "miracle" dog. Her mom became paralyzed at the beginning of the pregnancy. Vets in the area wanted to euthanize the mom and her puppies. The mom's owner, who is a wonderful woman, decided to travel over two hours to a Pittsburgh Animal Hospital! She refused to have her dog euthanized! After an operation and a few weeks of recovery the mom bounced back and had eight healthly little puppies! She had six girls and two boys!

I am sooo lucky that this little sweetheart will be joining our family! I know she'll make a wonderful addition!

Golden Retrievers are awesome! We had two in our family, a brother and a sister. Sara died about 4 years ago from cancer and Sam died this past summer from a stroke. Sam and Sara lived a long happy life. Sam was 15 years old when he passed away, and we miss him and Sara tremendously!

On another note, I went grocery shopping today and it was CRAZY! There were tons of people in Walmart...it seemed busier than Christmas! That's what happens in Western Pennsylvania when the Steelers make the Superbowl...it's like another Holiday! Hope everyone has a wonderful Superbowl filled day tomorrow! I'll post more pictures of our new addition tomorrow night!
Go Steelers!

-Ruth Ann