A visit from Gramma Rose

Mom came for a visit this week. We had lots of laughs with Hannah. She is walking and blowing kisses and being all over silly! So here are a bunch of pictures from the visit!

Back on track

I've had a few days of not so good things going on even after losing Jazz. I think I'm finally "getting it together" though. After a rough birthday (wasn't feeling well and Hannah was NOT in a good mood all day) and then getting scammed by a magazine company....then finding out that my mare broke yet another stretch of fence at the trainers.....I was ready for some good news. My friend Laura just told me she's pregnant. I'm very happy for her and hope everything goes well. Of course she did ask me to keep the news quiet as she's only 6 weeks along but I didn't figure anyone reading this blog would run to her screaming "congratulations!"

Hannah has started walking. Not really far and only when we encourage her to. She's working on her balance and sometimes ends up flying sideways or backwards....so we've been really careful with it. She loves it though, she thinks we are playing a game. She is such a little ham. She makes me laugh constantly.

Hey Paul, I have known people like the ones you talked about in your recent blog. How about when I list one of our racehorses for sale....."race training only, has never jumped or had any other training....." and then I get emails asking how high my horse can jump and how he did at any shows....huh? Read for comprehension people!

Hang in there Bro....!

I've found myself browsing petfinder.com. Luckily they have not had anything listed that I HAVE to have. I need to wait. I don't have time for a pup right now and it's too soon. I just find the house to be so quiet......

The Hardest Decision

I put my friend to sleep today. Jazz came home from the clinic on thursday afternoon. She was bright and happy to be home. She could do little more han raise her head....but she was happy. The medication didn't seem to be helping her make any big improvements. I just couldn't put her down when she was so excited to see me, ate up her food and was able to "go" on her own. I gave her several massages each day, did physical therapy on her, bending and stretching her legs and fed her boiled hamburger and that cheap moist dog food she loved so much (that is horrible for their health!). We flipped her from side to side and up on her chest. Hannah got kisses from her and giggled until she got the hick-ups. Yesterday evening I think she started to go downhill. If she couldn't see me she'd cry. She had to have constant attention or she'd start to stress. This afternoon I took her to see a board vertified canine neurologist. After going over her films and doing a physical exam it was determined she had a 50/50 chance of getting better with surgery...$4500. He told me no medicine was going to make her better....time would not either. As far as he could tell (without an MRI) she either ruptured those two disks or had a spinal inpingement due to a tumor. Because of the fact she had become more neurological (excessive barking and head twitching) I made the decision to stop her pain. She was put to sleep at 5pm this evening.

Jazz was the best dog I could have ever asked for. She was wonderful with Hannah, fantastic around the horses and was 100% MY dog. She was my travel companion, my protecter, my running buddy and sometimes even my pillow. She gave the best doggie kisses too. I'm going to miss her terribly. The house seems too quiet without her here. I've already caught myself looking to let her out to potty.....at night it's always, "come on Jazz, let's go to bed...." and off we went. I know the pain will subside but for now.....I just want to remember my friend.....

Jazz...

My sweet little dog Jazz is in the doggie clinic. It appears she may have ruptured a disk or two in her neck. She can't stand, or sit up unassisted for that matter. Lou and I slept on the floor last night to be right next to her. The vet is treating her with steroids to try and bring the swelling down in her spinal cord. So far there has been no improvement. Her only other option is surgery...at 2k-3k. No gaurantees it will work or that she'd make it through it at her age. So I decided it isn't an option. Please send good "vibes," prayers or thoughts for Jazz. I'm so not ready to say goodbye to my friend.

Uncle Don

Who is not really my uncle, passed away yesterday afternoon. Don was the last of a dying breed. He loved the farm, loved the cows and loved his family. Affectionately known to some as "Opa" and others as the farm "Santa" Uncle Don always had something witty or silly to say. He still loved to flirt and goof around, even at the age of 88. I had the pleasure of knowing Don because he lived on the Farm Colony, down the street from my parents. Don was a wealth of knowledge. Anyone who was lucky enough to know him knew he was a special, special man. Don decided a week ago that he was tired. He didn't want to go through another hospital visit for his kidney dialysis so he stopped. He passed away at home with family nearby. God Speed Uncle Don, we will all miss you.

Owie!

We went to the doctor yesterday for Hannah's one year check up and shots. Hannah now weighs 24 pounds and 4 ounces and is 31 inches tall. She's always been in the 90th percentile or higher ever since she was born (for weight and height) so it didn't surprise me at all. We discusses her diet, change to whole milk and other questions I had. Dr. Ortiz said that Hannah is "Advanced." She said because Hannah is so curious, how she interacts and he physical ability....hmmmm...I asked her if she tell all the parents that....she said she wans't pulling my chain. So I walked out of there feeling pretty good about my little girl. Other than her shots (two in each arm!) it was a pretty good visit. She's been clingy and sore all day today and went to bed early. I feel so bad for her. She's got a pretty good sized welt on the left arm. She must have tensed up when the shot was given. Hopefully it will go away quickly though.

It was super cold today. The kind of cold that freezes the insides of your nose. No fun. The racehorses all had the day off today. So did Lego. If my lungs are burning I'm not going to make them work and burn too.
I've had some bad lower back pain lately. It goes down the outsides of both hips and into my hambstrings. Not sure what is going on since I can't recall anything type of recent injury. It's a little worse on the left side and sometimes make me feel sick to my stomach. I'm hoping it's not a kidney issue....but I'd think there would be other signs for that.

I guess that's it for now!

PARTY!!

We had Hannah's birthday party yesterday. It turned out to be a really good time. The kids all got along and played well together. It was relaxed and we got to catch up with friends we don't see often. Hannah got a few outfits, books and toys. Not that she needed MORE stuff but she sure loves everything! So enough talking, here are a bunch of pictures!

On the horsey report....Lego is doing fabulously! He totally reminds me of Wyatt....only younger....I've been working with him in the round pen, kjust lunging and teaching him to be soft in the bridle form the ground. Today was beautiful out so I hopped on and off we went! Right up the hill in the snow. The wind was whipping, the neighbor's dogs were barking, two minis were loose on our proprty and a tarp was flapping...stuck in the fence. Lego did NOTHING wrong. He just marched carefully along. How refreshing is that? I hope he continues to be so laid back. I love him! I can get over the cribbing, weaving and crabbiness while being blanketed....I can get over him being pushy with his head....he's so safe and so quiet under saddle. All the other stuff is no biggie! Woohoo!