We Have Had the Worst Luck!!

It's been a bad dog year for us on the farm. Last year, the week before Thanksgiving, my beloved Magi dog died. She had 'disappeared' for a few days the week of Thanksgiving and we looked and looked and couldn't find her. Of course, when you live on the farm in the middle of nowhere, when they're gone, they're usually gone without a trace. Anyway, Jim finally noticed that our other dog, Max, was hanging out more than usual by the propane tank and when he went there to see what was up...there was Mags. She was 13 years old and had lived a good life with us here on the farm.

Then, a couple of months ago, the boys' Beagle dog, Lucky, lost his life on the paved road south of our house. I think I wrote about that little incident some time back in my blog... We had only had him for three years and he had NEVER strayed from the yard until this spring when Jim started bringing home chicken manure to spread on the field for fertilizer. I guess the pull to that stuff (YUCK) was just too much :( It led him to the neighbor across the busy paved road and he and that dog became buddies. We guess that he was probably on his way over to "visit" when he met his demise.

Then, on Monday this week, we lost our only other outside dog, Max. He had lived a good life with us here on the farm, too ~ and was getting up there in age for a farm dog. He was 11 1/2. A couple of months ago, we started noticing he was having problems walking and the vet said it was probably the beginning of hip dysplasia. At the time, it wasn't really bad enough to do anything about and we talked about what to do with him this fall. I was afraid it would get worse over the winter and he would get laid down somewhere and not be able to get back up and then freeze to death. I guess we don't have to worry about that now :( Jim made the comment a couple of weeks ago that he thought he was depressed at being an "only" dog and was getting lonely. But he had some pretty bad habits (like killing everything that came through the yard and destroying the siding on the buildings when a rabbit or something ran in there and he didn't know how else to get to it)....so we had made the decision a while ago that we wouldn't get another outdoor dog until he was gone so as not to instill those bad habits into another one.

After the boys' Beagle died, they each decided they wanted a dog...of course, they couldn't AGREE on just one. Wink wanted a mini-dachschund and Wyatt wanted a golden retriever. Since we knew the dachsie would have to be an indoor only dog due to size, and we knew we didn't want to get an outdoor dog before Max was gone, the decision was made to get a dachsie first. Thus the addition of Copper to our family almost two weeks ago now. Of course, now that Max is gone, we are plagued with the never-ending question as to why Wyatt can't get a dog now, too.

Unfortunately, this has to be a firm mom decision...with only 5 - 6 weeks left until the new baby arrives, I just can't take any more on my plate. And potty-training one dog at a time is enough for me! But it does feel strange to come home in the dark and not hear that familiar bark greeting and cold wet nose when you get out of the vehicle to go to the house...

Lots of New Things!

Whew! Yet another busy week at our house! We are proud to announce the addition of yet another four-legged family member...Wink got his new mini-dachshund puppy on Monday afternoon. His name is Copper and, while I was *extremely* apprehensive about having a dog in the house, he is doing wonderfully and has only had one minor accident thus far. We are crate training him and the first few nights were full of lots of crying (from both the kids and the dog) but things have calmed down considerably since then. Here is a pic of him playing with his new favorite toy...a stuffed pig that oinks when you squeeze its tummy!

He really is a nice companion and the boys just love him to death! They are always holding him (spoiling him) so he will end up being a lap dog for sure! Wink is already asking if he can sleep in bed with him once he's reliably potty trained. Works for me as long as I don't have messes to clean up!!

In other news, I finished up my RR quilt to exchange at Thursday's CCQ get together. It was another great quilt to work on...all of the girls in my group do such a great job and come up with the most awesome ideas!! I got a new one to work on that's due in six weeks and then will only have one more after that before we get our own back. I can't wait! Here's a pic of the one I just finished:

Now to just come up with something great for the next one!

In other quilt-y news, I feel as though I'm getting farther and farther behind on my list of to-do things... Since my trip to Minnesota was cancelled this weekend, I'm hoping to have time to do some clean-up in my ever-so-messy studio and then get to work! I am about 1/2 done with putting blocks together for the girls' quilt that I started on about a month ago. Sharon went over some applique basics with me on Thursday so now I can start with the leaves on the blocks I do have done.

Pat called this week saying she had my Wizard of Oz baby quilt finished so I need to take time out to go get that sometime next week. I *still* do not have the binding hand-sewn on my friend April's quilt so will have to make that a priority this week, too.

So many things to do and never enough time!!! LOL

On a lighter note, I've been reading a few blogs where the author lists her gratitudes for each day. After the tough day I had with the kids yesterday, I've decided that I'm going to try it to keep myself in a positive perspective. When you're fat, tired, HOT and extremely pregnant...sometimes, it's hard to look at the bright side!

Today's Five Gratitudes

1) My kids and the fact that they're all healthy enough to *want* to kill each other

2) My husband who comes home every night and makes supper, usually without complaint

3) The companionship of our four-legged friends...without my cat, sometimes I think I'd go nutty!

4) As much as I hate to admit it, I am really thankful for the computer...the chance to talk with other like-minded individuals and the extensive information available about ANYTHING

5) A gentle breeze on a really hot day...the kind that makes you think it might just be 10 degrees cooler than it really is :)

I Forgot that I'd Been Tagged!!

My friend Tina tagged me a couple of weeks ago when I was having so much fun making trips back and forth to the hospital...Here it is, girlfriend! I might be slow but eventually, I remember!!! LOL

5 Things in my fridge:
~2% Milk
~Ketchup
~Pepsi
~Water
~Yogurt

In my closet:
~My husband's clothes
~Extra sheets/blankets
~The one pair of jeans from high school that I can't bear to throw out...even though I know I'll NEVER fit into them again
~Extra candles
~Costume jewelry

In my purse:
~Not much! It's really small
~Coupons
~ATM Cards
~Calendar
~My quilt sizing cheater card

In my car:
~Big and Rich CD (always in the player!)
~Garbage can
~The keys (so I don't lose them!)
~Wipes
~Band Aids and Antibiotic ointment in case we have any "accidents"

On my Tivo:
~Don't have one!!

Whew! It's been B-U-S-Y!!!

I can't believe I've let so much time go by since the last time I posted. On one hand, this pregnancy seems to be moving so S-L-O-W...but on the other hand, weeks go by and I wonder where the time went!

A week ago this past Thursday found me in the hospital again...this time for swelling issues. It was just my ankles when I woke up that morning (not unusual for being 28 weeks pregnant at the time) but by noon, my hands and face had joined in the party. A phone call to my OB's office sent me to the hospital to be checked out once again. Testing for pre-eclampsia came back negative but the Fetal Fibronectin test that they did came back positive for pre-term labor. Saw my OB the following Tuesday to find out what I should do...he's so laid back that we're doing N-O-T-H-I-N-G...N-A-D-A...Z-I-P. Go to the hospital if my water breaks or I start bleeding or I start having timeable contractions. blah.blah.blah. I also found out there is a high rate of false-positives for that test which, I figure, is why he is not worried. After all, it took a Pitocin jump-start and close to or more than 24 hours to have my three other kids...why in the world would this one think she should make an early appearance?!?! LOL Anyway, the test is only good for a two-week period of time...so I figure if I don't go into labor by Thursday this week...all is well. :)

On the quilting homefront...I've been working like a madwoman on a new quilt (I know, I know, shame on me). I picked the pattern up at Market and absolutely LOVE it!! It will go in the girls' room when it's finished. I chose a yellow background floral print that I've had in my stash for the past five years as the focus fabric and it is Gorgeous!! I'll post pics soon. I'm really putting it together because it has some simple applique and 1) I figure if I DO end up on bedrest due to problems...I need something to do and 2) the applique is minimal and the same shape over and over again so it will be simple to learn and easy to practice with for more complicated designs down the road.

Unfortunately, starting a new project means that I didn't get my May Goal List completed...but I'm not stressing and moving those to June. Some of them may be moved even further back since my trip to Minnesota this month had to be cancelled...BOO HOO... Barney says no travel further than an hour and a half to two hours from the hospital considering all that has been going on. While I understand and agree with that...it's still very disappointing as Sharon and I have been planning this trip since LAST summer after we had such a great time!!

I have accomplished much more on my "home" to-do list...last week, the kids and I spent a day cleaning out Miss A's room and getting it ready for Baby A. Everything has been rearranged and Baby A's clothes are all washed up and ready to go. Then we spent a day and a half on the boys' room...sorting their books (can't believe how many duplicate copies of stuff they had!), rearranging their closet, getting rid of stuff and switching their beds. Will has been complaining for MONTHS about getting the top bunk so we finally made the change (much to Wyatt's disappointment). We are going to try a six month on - six month off arrangement. Hmph. We'll see how that goes!! We also cleaned out the remaining storage stuff from the hallway and either pitched/put it away. Ah...the feeling of success!! Now we just have our bedroom to finish up there and it will be all done! I'm putting it off until next week, tho ~ too many other things this week to do.

Speaking of which...the t-shirts for the Barn Quilts will be ready for this weekend's BTF celebration. I'm starting to put them together this afternoon and hope they go quickly. I'm really in the mood to quilt and would like to get more of that done this week, too.

Well, off to re-prioritize my June goals, change the laundry around and get the kids out of bed. Need to get the day "officially" started!