Oliver Hits the Pool

I'm certainly "bearing it all" to post these photographs (eek!), but I wanted to share a few images of Oliver enjoying his last "Waterbabies" group swimming lesson this morning.

Thanks, NeNe for taking our pictures!

"Billy Goat" and the Barber

Okay, okay ... I'm behind.

*grin*

It was recently brought to my attention (you know who you are ... ha) that I had not blogged about Oliver's first haircut ... so, here it goes!

On February 17th, 2013 ... after MUCH debate ... and after one too many persons exclaimed "What a precious little girl!" to me ... we decided it was time to give "Billy Goat" a haircut.

I'll admit ... as much as I loved his wild hair ... and as much as it totally suited his scrappy personality ... it was time.

Perhaps, over time.

Sheesh, it was worse than I thought, looking back.

Oliver did fabulously in the chair.

And emerged a new man.

How handsome, right?

Now, I wish I could say that he suddenly started towing the line and minding his p's and q's to match his fresh new look.  Inasmuch, not quite.

He's still just as wild as ever, living up to his "Billy Goat" persona ... just with a much more sophisticated look.

District 12

On our trip to pick up Wookie, we happened upon something really cool.

Okay.

That's an understatement.

We happened upon something phenomenal!

E & K Kennels just happens to be about 2 miles away from :

Do you have any idea how exciting this find was for Justin and I?

I kid you not, we were driving down a country road following printed directions to the kennel ... when we began driving past tons of small, abandoned homes.  I said to Justin, "Eww ... this is kinda creepy." His response was, "It reminds me of District 12 from The Hunger Games ... google where that was filmed."  (seriously ... I'm not kidding)   So, I googled ... and low and behold ... we were literally driving through the movie set without realizing it.  How observant my husband is!

All the hustle and bustle of filming is currently over, so after we picked up Wookie ... we drove back into District 12.  

WOW!!!  WAS IT NEAT!!!

The area where "the reaping" was filmed was marked with explicit NO TRESPASSING signs, so I do not have photographs of that section.  Nevertheless, we definitely saw it.  So cool.

I was, however, able to snap a few photographs of District 12.

Peeta's Bakery:

Katniss and Prim's House:

The village:

This movie set it an actual abandoned fishing village in the small town of Hildebran, North Carolina just outside of Hickory.  Being there felt just like stepping into one of my favorite films of all time.  It was a little surreal.

So ... next time you are driving through North Carolina ... or looking for a new puppy ... you might just get the opportunity to step into the movies.

C'mon ... who else can say "I rescued my puppy from District 12"?

So cool!

Welcoming Wookie

Introducing ... our newest family member:

Heath's "Wookie" Here

... better known as Wookie ...

Justin and I drove down to Hickory, North Carolina to pick up this sweet boy on Saturday.  We feel incredibly blessed to have found him, too.

As most of you know, I am a "Griffy" fanatic.  That's short for Brussels Griffon fanatic (Maggie's breed).  Well, they are very rare.  In fact, most people ... dog lovers included ... have never even heard of them.  So, as we searched for another Griff to welcome into our family, it wasn't easy.  We were looking into having one flown across the United States to come live with us ... as the majority of Brussels Griffons are born out West.  That's when I ran a google search for "Brussels Griffon North Carolina" and came across this beautiful little guy.

He is a "Broodle Griffon" which is a designer dog breed.  His mommy, Dolly, was a Brussels Griffon. His daddy, Pierre, was a Toy Poodle.  We found him at an amazing kennel called E & K Kennels which came with glowing reviews from both area vets and yelp.com.  I would certainly recommend the kennel to anyone looking for a new puppy (www.ekkennels.com).  We truly feel like this little man fell into our laps at just the right time.

He was a "reduced puppy" because he was already 18 weeks old (born 9/21/12).  You know me and my clearance rack shopping ... well, apparently, that gift extends to puppy purchasing!  It was a perfect fit!  He has that "Griffy" look with the added health benefits of being a mixed breed.  He is also a little older, so he's less fragile for Jackson and Oliver.  And ... he already knows how to "fetch," is quickly learning to respond to his name, and is doing eerily well with housebreaking.  I literally keep saying aloud "where did this puppy come from"???

I wish you could see him now.  As I type, he is sound asleep in my lap.  That's another great thing about Wookie ... he's a big snuggler.

We are in love!

Welcome to the family, Wookie!

My Finest Friend

Maggie Mae

November 11, 2005 - February 4, 2013

The day came, although I pretended it never would.  Ever since Maggie Mae entered my life, if I ever made reference to her departing, it was accompanied by "a long, long, long time from now" or sometimes more wistfully, "But, Maggie's going to live forever."  I believe I truly thought she would never leave my side with a child like naivety.  I never wanted her to.

She was and always will be my life's finest friend.

I love that word to describe her ... finest.

So simple, as Maggie too was ... yet so profound, like her impact on my life.

*   *   *

Maggie Mae joined our family in 2008, almost immediately after Justin and I were married.  She was a "rescue dog" of sorts, a retired breeding dam.  We were told she was an excellent mother; a quality she would later prove when I brought home babies of my own.  At first, Maggie was painfully shy.  She had never been a pet, and she wasn't sure what to make of toys, treats, and cuddling on the sofa.  Gradually, she learned to trust us ... and soon she chose me as her "person."  Her breed, Brussels Griffons, are known as "velcro dogs," meaning they attach themselves to a single caregiver and follow them everywhere.  So, whether I was in the shower or making breakfast, there she was.  She was my first baby ... and my love for her never wavered.

Maggie Mae has been my secret sharer for the last 5 years.  She witnessed my worst, yet continued believing I was the best creation in this world.  When Jackson was diagnosed with PIS, I turned to her with reckless abandonment, because I never felt the need to explain my tears.  She understood them.  She never questioned, gave advice, or made me feel silly.  There was little I found more comforting than feeling her small warmth beside my body.  Knowing she would be there when I returned home from an upsetting trip to Shriner's was a comfort like no other.

Now, my heart is broken.  I ache to have her back with me.  After bringing Maggie home from the vet on Saturday afternoon, her condition rapidly declined.  Although we had hoped it would, the diuresis did not return Maggie's energy.  She was almost immediately lethargic and continued to be unwilling to eat.  By Sunday morning, she was showing signs of withdrawal from us and generalized weakness.  By that afternoon, her back legs were unable to bend, and she was stumbling when trying to walk.  On Sunday evening, when I returned from being out, I found Maggie Mae lying on the kitchen floor by her water bowl.  I feared she had passed away because she did not respond to my entrance.  However, upon approaching her, she lifted her head to look up at me.  I carried her to the couch and spent the next few hours just stroking her fur and expressing my love.  Once Justin came home from work, Maggie's condition was very, very poor.  We knew that she was ready to go home ... even if that meant making the difficult decision to let her go in the morning.

To the very core of her being, Maggie Mae put us first.  After telling her everything we needed to say, including countless "I love yous," Justin and I both tried to sleep downstairs with her.  Maggie was lying on her favorite blanket in her "special spot" on the corner of our couch.  We did not want to leave her.  Justin grew uncomfortable on the floor, and asked me to sleep upstairs so he could have the couch, and I obliged.  By that time, Maggie did not want to be approached or touched.  I blew my Maggie a kiss and said "I love you sweet girl, goodnight," and climbed the staircase.  Within 5 minutes, Justin called up to me to tell me that Maggie Mae had passed away.  It was around 1:15 AM.  In true Maggie fashion, she waited until I, her "person," had left the room to pass ... and she did so on her own, freeing us from the burden of having to make the decision.

What an angel.

*   *   *

I have good moments and bad ones.  There are moments when I chuckle aloud, remember the way she used to bully Tobey off of my parents' bed when she was younger.  Then, there are moments like this evening, when I find myself turning toward her spot on the couch and motioning for her to follow me up to bed.  I crumble in tears.  I am blessed to have know my wonderful "stinky Griff."  I am forever changed by her unwavering devotion until the very moment she was called home.

This morning when Jackson walked down the stairs, he said to us:  "Maggie float away."  I don't think that was a coincidence.  Perhaps our loyal girl even visited Jackson's dreams to tell him goodbye as she left this place.  It would not surprise me one bit.

I am imagining her that way now ... floating away towards the heavens ... greeted by Tobey, and Prissy, and Spot ... making a new "special spot" on the Rainbow Bridge until the day we will meet again.

Rest In Peace, Maggie Mae.

You are my finest friend.  

Oliver Is Nine Months Old!

Oliver is NINE MONTHS OLD (yesterday)!

22 pounds (75%)

30.75 inches (> 95%)

17.75 inch head circumference (45%)

At nine months, Oliver:

is an absolute "wild man" by definition

cannot be left alone for a single second without getting into trouble

has a strange fascination with electrical cords which freaks everyone out

can technically "army crawl," but chooses to roll everywhere instead

has learned how to pull-up to standing independently

prefers to stand and play (rather than sitting)

wants to play with Jackson's toys instead of his own

says "DaDa," "NeNe," "MaMa," and "Hi"

rode his first rides at Chuck E Cheese this month

can wave hello on cue

can clap on cue

participates in "Patacake" and knows most of the motions

gets suuuper excited about said "Patacake"

eats 5, 5oz bottles daily

also enjoys one fruit, one veggie, and one bowl of cereal with prunes each day

can feed himself using a pincer traps (puffs, yogurt drops, etc)

wears size 12-18mo and size 18-24mo clothing

wears size 4 Huggies diapers

still loves hanging upsidedown

is fondly referred to as "exhausting"

sleeps completely through the night

now sleeps in his bedroom crib during nap (instead of in his swing)

adores his paci

gets cranky when everyone else is eating at the table except for him

is still know as "brother" by Jackson

is always noticed for his crazy hair

smiles so big you cannot see his eyes

... and fits perfectly into our family!

Happy Nine Months, Baby Boy!

Mama loves you, my "wild child."

Visiting My Beloved

Putting on my "brave face," I stopped by the "hospital" this afternoon to spend some time with my baby girl.

My heart is breaking for her ... seeing that little nub-tail wagging 1,000 miles a minute when I walk up to her crate ... looking into those big, brown, googly eyes ... and just snuggling that sweet body -- taking her in as much as I possibly can.

Oh, how I love her!

Nothing has really changed in the last 24-hours with my Maggie.  No new labs have been taken.  She seems to be feeling better on her IV fluids and medications.  However, other than a very few bites ... she is still not really eating.  Sherry, Maggie's nurse (and my angel), was there by my side again today.  She has been so amazing to me!  We talked again ... about how when Maggie comes home she will require twice daily subcutaneous water boluses to even survive.  I cannot put my beloved through that for long.  What quality of life would that be?

I'm not sure if my tears will ever dry ... but I would rather bring Maggie Mae home for a few good days than for weeks of bad ones.  I think that's what she would choose for me, her Mama, if the tables were turned.  It's a mutual affection.

But, that decision is not one for today.

Today was about visiting ....

And loving ...

And just being ... together ...

And although we will soon part in a physical sense ... that is something Maggie and I will always be ... together.

No longer joined "at the hip" ... but at the heart.

News About Maggie Mae

Today I went to what has to be one of the saddest places on Earth ... the "hospital ward" at the vet's office.  It is with a boulder on my chest that I write this post, but I find that writing is often therapeutic for me, so here it goes.

Our beloved Maggie Mae has been steadily losing weight for about 6 months now.  At first, it wasn't anything drastic, so we figured it correlated with Oliver's arrival and was perhaps related to nervousness.  Overall, Maggie was acting like herself ... barking at the front door, begging for leftovers, and snuggling up close to us in bed.  Then, about 2 months ago, she really began to look thin.  Her little 12 pound frame didn't give much room for weight loss.  She was still eating, but it seemed like she only wanted table scraps.  Often, her dog food would go for days untouched ... but, when she got REALLY hungry ... she would eat.  Since her annual vet exam was due in January and she wasn't showing any other symptoms, we waited to take her at the first of the year.

Her January exam went well other than marked weight loss.  She weighed 9 lbs. 13 oz. down from 12 lbs. the year before.  Her vet listened to our account about her eating habits and suggested either dietary changes or an expensive bloodwork panel.  We opted to attempt dietary changes first.  We tried a slow change over to canned dog food ... which worked for awhile until she began to vomit.  Then, we switched to simply chicken with white rice.  Again, it worked for awhile ... until she began to vomit.  Then, Maggie Mae stopped eating all together.

This Tuesday, we took her in for the bloodwork.  Well, today I received a telephone call from the vet explaining the results.  It wasn't good.  In fact, it was very bad.  Maggie's kidney enzymes, Creatinine, and BUN were extremely elevated ... so much so that it was nearly certain she was in chronic renal failure.  As soon as I heard those words, my heart stopped.  I know from my nursing background that people in CRF are candidates for kidney transplants or dialysis.  Neither are options for dogs (unless you are a millionaire).  The vet was gentle in his recommendations, but really gave us only a few options.

As I type, my best friend is hospitalized at the vet's office to receive IV fluids, antibiotics, and antiemetics.  Her little body was so full of toxins that she could not eat without vomiting.  Her current therapy will flush her kidneys enough to allow her to temporarily feel better.  However, after a tearful heart-to-heart with Maggie's wonderful nurse Sherry this afternoon during my visit, the prognosis is probably not good.

There is a fraction of a chance that this therapy will restore enough function to Maggie's damaged kidneys for her to return home and thrive on a special diet and some kidney medications.  If that is the case, we will be thrilled.  However, much more likely, this therapy is palliative.  It will allow Maggie Mae to recover enough to come home a spend a few special days with her family before crossing over the Rainbow Bridge.

We could force Maggie to "fight" her condition with daily, home subcuteaneous fluid bolus injections and a drawer full of medications ... as well as frequent (even weekly) trips to the hospital ward at her vet's office to prolong her life.  But, neither Justin nor I feel that is the type of life our little girl would want.  If her kidneys do not resume function on their own from this initial treatment, they never will.  She would spend the rest of her life on IV drips (at home and inpatient) only headed toward an inevitable death.

My heart is absolutely broken.

She's not even "gone" from us, and I miss her terribly.  I already find myself looking for her on the end of couch or at my feet to find she isn't there.

Maggie Mae has been my confident, my silent but all-knowing best friend in the world.  She has seen me through countless challenges and snuggled away my tears.  If she were here right now, I know she'd be doing just that.

I love her so much.

As always, prayers are greatly appreciated during this time as we make difficult decisions about our first "baby," Maggie Mae.

Duck Tape Boy

Introducing ... Duck Tape Boy!!!

No, really.

I'm serious.

This is the new face of Duck Tape.

... at least at the Shriner's Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina ...

I just wanted to share with my blog family how excited I am about Jackson's little 15 minutes of fame.  A couple of weeks ago, I decided to write a letter to Duck Tape Brand sharing with them a little about Jackson's condition and how their product impacts both cast waterproofing and decorating fun.  I explained to them how wonderful I thought it would be if they donated a Duck Tape display to the Shriner's "cast room" so that each child in a Mehta cast could choose a patterned Duck Tape for his/her new casts.  Low and behold, last week I received a phone call from the corporate offices of Duck Tape Brand, letting me know that they were DELIGHTED to extend such a donation in Jackson's honor.  A few more phone calls to Shriner's Hospital ... and, it should be well underway at this point!  I am going to be choosing a photograph of Jackson wearing his Duck Tape-covered Mehta cast to send to the "cast room" to hang beside the display for other children to see.  We are so excited about this generosity for such a wonderful cause!  Go Jackson!

***

If you are interested ... here is a copy of my letter:

Dear Duck Tape brand,

Moving boxes … wallets … prom dresses – all interesting uses for Duck Tape, but I bet mine is better!  Duck Tape has been one of many unlikely products to be a true “life saver” for my 2-year-old son, Jackson, who was born with a rare and potentially fatal (without treatment) medical condition called Progressive Infantile Scoliosis.  Since he was an infant, Jackson has worn a series of plaster body casts applied by Shriner’s Hospital for Children to straighten his severely deformed spine.  Without Shriner’s, Jackson’s aggressive spinal curvature would have continued to worsen as he grew and would have eventually crushed his internal organs.  The phenomenal news is although Jackson is still undergoing treatment at Shriner’s, his scoliosis curve has decreased from 50 degrees to only 4 degrees!  Obviously, God, incredible orthopedic surgeons, complex tools, and a plethora of medical technology have worked together to make that possible; however, Duck Tape has been there all along the journey as well.

Around Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Jackson is fondly known as “Duck Tape Boy.”  He loves his name.  As you can imagine, keeping a busy toddler completely dry for 6-8 weeks between plaster casts is no easy task.  So, using a little imagination, my husband and I decided to waterproof Jackson’s plaster casts using Duck Tape.  It has worked incredibly well, and the doctors and nurses have been telling other families about our experience with your product.  Before each serial casting, we take Jackson to the store to choose a fun new design for his next cast.  So far, Sponge Bob has definitely been his favorite!

The reason I am sharing our unique story with your company is to ask for your help.  It would be fantastic for other young children undergoing this complex procedure to have both the fun experience and the practical advantage of waterproofing their casts using Duck Tape.  Therefore, I am writing to ask you to consider donating rolls of your patterned Duck Tape to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.  If you are only able to donate to one hospital, I request that it be to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Greenville, South Carolina where Jackson receives his treatment.  You would bring so many smiles to the faces of these brave little ones!

Please contact me if you have any questions or to organize the donation:

[insert info here] 

I have included several photographs of Jackson in his casts wearing your amazing Duck Tape product.  Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jennifer A. Heath 

Potty Dance

We've been doing a lot of the potty dance around here this evening!

Because ... Jackson peed in the potty for the first time ever!

(hey ... you're on my personal blog ... what did you expect?)

*grin*

He was pretty excited to check out his progress ...

And he yelled "touchdown" when he realized his success!

And ... naturally ... we celebrated with birthday cake ice cream!

Another day for the [baby] books!