Time Flies

I can't believe how much time has passed since our last post. Both the girls overall have been doing well. We went to the cabin last weekend and both girls were really great. I have a few pics of them I need to get off my phone. They lounged around, ate marrow bones abs pretty much whatever else they could beg off someone : )

Of course since we've been home Moo has been struggling with some explosiveness. I thought we had it Unser control with turkey and rice but no. Vet said time for 24 hours of fasting. Poor girl. If that doesn't work we'll add flagyl to the mix. She's acting pretty ok other than that.

My girls are real snuggle bunnies and vie for prime bed space in the morning. Aka: as close to me as they can get. I do love my snuggle time with both of my little girls. Getting out of bed can be so hard with the two of them sometimes....

Happy Independence Day!

Moo and O wish everyone a happy 4th of July!  

They also ask everyone to pass the cookies their way in honor of freedom and independence!  

Bone a petite! : )

So far in 6 Months

Sometimes I am struck with profound thoughts while walking with Ori.  Last week I took her to the car to get something work related and as we were walking back to the apartment I realized that theoretically we have 10 years with this dog.  And given time, I am going to fall head over heels for her with a love so strong and beautiful.  The difference is, this love is taking a very different course and time to blossom and grow.  The process is so very different than it was last time....but oh so beautiful nonetheless.

She is my dog.  I have grad classes starting back up and I've been doing my reading in the bedroom while Nick is out front in the living room.  Every night, she comes back not too long after I do to come and keep me company.  She's not always pressed tight against me, but she's on the bed with me.  She follows me around the house and certainly keeps me on my toes.  (2 weeks ago she ate my work flash drive while I was in the shower....)  There isn't a tissue box that she can't destroy or a plant that she can't eat in 2 seconds flat!  Her zest for life and love of the new and exciting puts a smile on my face and in my heart.  There is something about this type of dog that Nick and I are both drawn to.  With Tink we didn't know it until we had her for a while.  Now we quickly recognize the courage and life that dogs who have some sort of "disability" (I don't like that word) tend to have.  Ori has it just as Tink did.

This little monkey has come so far is 6 months.  The potty training has been so consistent and accurate.  She goes to the door when she needs to go out and did fabulous the weekend we spent at Linds and Jason's too!  She's our little problem solver.  At Lindsay's she learned how to knock the gate over and jump over it leaving poor Moo to pace on the other side not knowing how to step on the gate to go through!  Ori can also be caught figuring out an intricate plan to grab something off the table or whatever she thinks she wants!

I was in awe again this morning that we have 2 wonderful little girls.  I'm sitting on the couch and Molly wanted some love so I was petting her.  Ori jumped up for some too and the little interlude that occurred between the 2 cracked me up.  Moo is the dominant one, but she doesn't fight for certain things (like food, you figure that 1 out!) We figured it out, but both girls expressions were so funny "I don't want to share her!"  Molly sat right on Ori's face and O looked at her like "are you kidding me?" Just like typical sisters!
I am so grateful for the love that is demonstrated to me through these 2 darling girls!

Moo is 1 smart cookie!

So last night, Molly is laying on the floor and I'm petting her.  She rolls over and I rub her belly.  I talk to her in my silly baby voice and she seems to be loving the attention.  I stopped petting her, because I like to wait for her to paw at me (like Tink used to do) to tell me she wants more.  I then ask her "what do you want Moo?"  And wouldn't you know she jumps up and walks over to the kitchen and starts her cookie dance!  I laughed so hard!  Of course, I had to give her a cook for that!

As we were climbing into bed (Ori was already there!) Moo was wandering around the bedroom and Nick asked her "where do you want to sleep Molly?"  And as soon as he finished the question, she jumped up in bed and snuggled in next to me!  Ha!  2 for 2!  Both girls ended up sleeping in bed last night (My husband loves me!)  I had 2 little doggie balls curled up next to me 1 on top of the other almost.  I loved it!  The girls did have a long day in their crates (with a mid day dog walking excursion).  I find that in some ways that the long days are harder on Moo than O.  Molly isn't typically an overly friendly dog, but she was clamoring for extra love and we were happy to oblige, complete with snuggle time in bed!

The Mess Maker Meets her Match

Nick and I were playing a game at the dining room table this evening and Ori got a hold of Nick's pay stub.  She chewed it up and spit it out making a mess under the table.  At the end of the game, I went to clean up the mess and Molly beat me to it!  She cleaned up the entire floor minus 1 piece! 

She did a similar thing this morning with a cardboard paper towel roll this morning.  She spent 15 min eating the cardboard Ori chewed up while I was showering!  At least it's high in fiber!

My crazy girls!

Lousy Alarm Clock

Yesterday morning I was trying to steal a few more minutes of sleep before I got up for the day.  Nick had left and O was snuggled up next to me.  Moo decided to sit by the closed door and wait.  Until she got tired of waiting that is.  She jumped up on the bed, sat down on top of me and proceeded to paw at my leg repeatedly.  She wasn't taking no for an answer!  I asked her how many cookies her daddy bribed her with to do this, but she wasn't telling!  I finally got up and our routine resumed with a few good yodels from Moo thrown in for good measure.  I'm laughing about it now, but I certainly wasn't happy at 7:15!!  Nick fed the girls all weekend and he isn't quite as generous as I am with the portions so she must have been extra hungry and anxious for the breakfast train!  A roundabout complement from Miss Moo if you will.  Good thing she's cute!

Thank you Patti!

Patti from Woof!  otherwise known as fairy dog mother has done it again and sent the girls 2 beautiful blankets.  They're beautiful and we love them very much!

Don't look at me...

Ok, I'm ready now!

She loves that huge green cuz and her new blankie!!

Moo isn't so convinced she wants to sit on the blanket

the cookie quickly changed her mind!

wrapped in the lovely blanket (gimme that cookie dad!)

my 2 pretty girls together

Awww, can we have them now?

Posing pretty

Such good girls!

the blankets by themselves... aren't they great?

These blankets will be fabulous for snuggling and for keeping beds looking fun and festive!  We are so spoiled over here-- thanks again Patti!

Memories

I woke up this morning with Tinker on my mind.  I drove to work and could feel her in my arms, my memory and senses heavy with the last time I held her.  I could feel her body pressed against me that day even after she crossed the bridge.  Still warm and full of the love that she gave to me every day we had together.  I tried to move my mind to a happy thought and I saw Charli walking through the Petco door with Tink in her arms.  I could feel Tink in my arms like the first time I held her everything so new and filled with life.  Charli handed her to me and I didn't let her go....  memories so vivid, forever etched in my mind and in my senses.  The first and the last...

Sometimes I think we did things backwards.  I was given my heart dog so early in life that now things will never be the same.  I guess things are never the same regardless.  In my effort to control the tears this morning, I thought of how God cares enough about me to send such a perfect little dog into my life when I needed her the most.  He demonstrated His love to me in so many tiny ways with the gift of Tinker.  And for that I am eternally grateful.

On our walk last night I was thinking about how different things are now.  When we first adopted Tink we were new doggy parents, everything so new, so particular and so important.  We had only 1, so precious and sweet and we doted and learned together.  We still dote and learn, but we're slightly more seasoned having several fosters come through and now our 2 beautiful heathens here (whom I love dearly).  I chuckled at the somewhat inaccurate but comforting thought that Tink taught me how to love so much that it takes 2 dogs instead of 1 for me to give all the love I have to give.  (This is while Ori is eating every plant she can get her mouth on and Moo is distracted by yet another fire hydrant : )

It's been over 8 months and while I don't think that time heals, I do think love heals.  It takes time to learn to love and to use the love I've been given differently.  I wouldn't trade these 2 girls in for anything, but my heart still aches over my Tink.  The sharpness surprised me this morning as the ache has been dull for a little while.  Grief is a lifelong process but fortunately for us, so is love.  No matter how it hurts, I will choose to love.

The new green cuz

So we had a little Christmas here with a recent Amazon order coming through our house this afternoon.  In 1 of the 4 boxes was a green "good cuz."  I ordered a medium because that's what I thought the dino cuz was.  HA!  The dino is a small and Ori's eyes shot wide open when I pulled him out of the box.  He's so big that O had to figure out how to fit him in her mouth.  Sometimes I catch her carrying him by the foot.  The cuz for O is like doggy crack.  I've caught her pawing up at the dining room table when cuz is in time out.  She goes crazy over them and loves to kill them.  The squeaker is on the back of this cuz rather than under the feet and she's already working on getting the squeaker out.  We're keeping an extra close eye out whenever he's being played with!

What is more exciting than O playing with the good cuz is Moo playing with it!  Nick called me out into the living room to have me witness Molly chewing on the same green cuz trying to get the squeaker out!  I sat there in disbelief watching Moo chew and chew and work to get the squeaker!  What was equally amazing was Ori's behavior while Moo had the cuz.  She watched Molly and sat near her but not once did she get into Molly's space or try to take it from her.  (Ha, slightly different story than watching O try to jump over the back side of the couch to get it from me earlier this evening!)  O was originally chewing on a bone (a coveted bone might I add) and when the cuz started squeaking in Moo's mouth poor O wasn't sure what to do!  It totally made my evening to watch Moo chew on the good cuz.  These 2 girls are so good for each other!  Walking this evening Moo did fabulous keeping up with Ori and while she sleeps a lot more she's still chewing on bones, bullys, and now a cuz!

We also picked up a small tug-a-jug in the Amazon order and that seems to be a fun interactive game for the 2 girls with at least 1 human.  Ori pulls on the rope and when the kibble spills out like a pinata both she and Moo scramble to pick it up as fast as they can!  Molly hasn't quite figured out how to get the kibble out and Ori left to her own devices tried to rip the rope apart!

It's 9:30 and Ori is finally looking tired.  We spend over 5 hours in the evenings working to tire her out with walks, playing with toys and chewing on bones.  She's a blast to watch and play with and we're happy to help her find appropriate things to chew on!  She jumps a good 3 feet in the air up to grab a cuz or other toy from our hands.  Her back end is so strong that it end above her front end in the jump.  She's crazy and we love her so.

Ori did start the morning off by destroying a box of tissues though.  Ha!  Maybe her nose was running... or maybe she was cranky that she didn't get any coffee from my mug : ) 

Ori Really Does...

...Love her Mommy! The past few weeks Ori and I have had somewhat of a love/hate relationship.  I love her but hate some of her actions!!  As a result, our time together has almost been "going through the motions" with feeding, walking, etc.  This week however, things have mellowed and the softer side of O is reemerging.  Every night Ori jumps up in bed and snuggles in on 1 side, laying there all cute like "what?  I sleep here too!"  Last night, I snuggled up next to her and she pressed in real tight against me near my heart like Tink used to.  She must have known I needed some puppy love (and that I was her only shot from getting put in her crate for the night) but it was really nice.  I fell asleep with O cuddled up next to me and slept quite peacefully.


I was in the back tonight talking with Linds while Nick was vacuuming and Ori came and sought me out!  She jumped up on the bed and snuggled up.  Then back out on the couch, she was doing her best to jump in my lap and snuggle some more!  She's just in a Mommy mood I guess and that's totally cool with me : ) As I type this she's pressed tight against me.  Chances are good that if she's this snuggly now, she'll only get better as she gets older!

Sometimes I joke with Nick and Ori and ask "when are you turning 10?"  I love my "golden" dogs so much that sometimes it still amazes me that we adopted a 4 year old pup.  The older dogs just seem to "get it" with certain things.  I know Ori will get there...in a few years or so.  I mean, she's already such an amazing little girl, given more time, love and consistency, she's going to be that much MORE amazing!  But in the meantime, she's pulling puppy antics grabbing trash and weeds on our walks, destroying pens and chewing up paper towels, knocking my coffee cup over to drink the drops at the bottom, harassing Molly while she's pooping, etc etc.  I usually still laugh at her antics, but every once in a while it's not quite so funny! (Ok, so our next door neighbors think it's pretty funny outside, but still!)

Everything seems to cycle in this house and I'm happy that we've come back around to a nice little routine that includes some meaningful snuggle time with Miss O (and Miss Moo!  She doesn't miss out on her snuggle time on the couch either!)

We have 2 fabulous little girls.... : )

Glory Glory Crazy Ori!

Oh my little girl is so full of life and loves to find mischief!  Yesterday evening on our walk she was scared of a bush, complete with her hackles up and all.  Then Molly peed on her head which saved Ori a step because she would have rolled in it!  This evening, she smelled some guys beautiful roses and proceeded to take a big bite out of them!  Oh crazy girl!

Saturday night taking pictures after a beautiful evening!

The weather over here has been absolutely beautiful!  We've been spending some nice time outside and sitting out on the balcony.  Both girls went out this afternoon on the balcony so I joined them while I finished some of my paperwork.  

Over Memorial Day Weekend, Moo hurt what looked like her leg. Of course on a long weekend in the middle of no where.  We thought it was her elbow but after Dr. Haver looked at it, he determined it was her shoulder.  Just over a week later with some nice resting Molly is back up and running at about 90% normal.  She's doing the stairs again and going for longer walks but I'm still trying to keep her from jumping off the furniture!  She's had a nice twinkle in her eye and appears to be feeling pretty good!

There are so many crazy stories that I could share about Ori that happen each and every day.  Nick and I find ourselves laughing at her over so many crazy things.  Her poor dino cuz has now lost both feet and some spines.  Nick cut the feet off last night when we saw she was 1/2 way through both of them.  Knowing dogs that have got into surgery from eating cuz feet, we opted for the cuz to have surgery instead!

Ori loves to drink coffee...she steals my cup when I'm finished in the morning (or sooner if I'm not careful) and licks out the bottom of it.  She's always looking for a new friend on our walks and remembers where people have been in the past, continuing to stop there for many walks after the initial encounter.  She wakes up every morning happy and ready to romp and play, jumping on the bed waking me with a kiss and run move!  We're getting the potty training down.  She goes to the door and we take her out, no questions asked.  She goes right away outside or lays down in the sun and looks up at us to say "what?  it's nice out!"  She still tries to tease Moo but Moo puts her right in her place.  Ori always backs down.

Miss Moo continues to be happy and healthy over here and with her shoulder almost healed she's just about keeping up with Ori! (minus all the extra laps O does!)  She loves her food, loves to sing and loves to be where we're at.  Sometimes she comes into the middle room while I'm sewing and lays down chewing on her kong.  (When Ori isn't in the room trying to save loofa dog from the trash that was emptied weeks ago!)  Molly is even keeled, dependable, and easy going.  Sometimes she craves attention and we're happy to indulge her.  Other times, she prefers to sleep on her own bed and we let her be.  All in all, we're a pretty happy little family : )

Daddy's girl

 Ori is a spunky crazy, do it her way kind of girl.  She's easily distracted, loves to play and run around like a bat outta you know where and loves loves loves life.  She has been doing very well overall with the house training but apparently had a slight relapse earlier in the week.  Monday I think-  she managed to poop twice in the house and pee twice.  Now we keep a good eye on her, but have been getting a little lax because she'd been doing so well.  One pee was right in front of me while I was on the phone...she knew I couldn't do anything!  Since Monday, we've been back to our more consistent schedule and Nick has been dear about taking her out at key points in the evening....so far so good since Monday.  I've been jokingly fussing about Ori and Nick is really quick to stand up for her.  He loves her very very much and it's fun to watch his face both when we're walking and when he and O are playing together.  So yeah,  she's daddy's girl : ) But really she'd be friends with the entire world if they'd let her!

Moo on the other hand has been fabulous herself this week.  The only thing we've been running into is because of her age she has good days and not so good days.  We've had a spell of good days but this morning should couldn't jump up on the bed herself.  It's those little details that I watch for with her... the pains of owning a darling senior dog.   Her coat and skin look good, she continues to be loving and affectionate, and she still doesn't put up with any of O's shenanigans!

This heat takes it's toll on both girls!  Our walks consistent of going to the dumpster and back until after the sun goes down and even then around the apartments last night proved a little taxing for Moo.  I am so grateful for A/C as I don't worry about my girls while I'm gone to work during the day.  I know they're cool and safe and ready to be crazy when we get home : )

Dreamin' Dogs

I don't know if dogs dream or not, but Ori definitely made a case in favor of doggy dreams last night!  We've been working on Ori sleeping on her bed next to our bed instead of in a crate since Friday.  She's doing fabulous actually after our initial hesitation.  So last night she's sleeping on her bed and we hear her start barking.  Is wasn't her usual loud-mouthed variety,  but rather a more muffled, almost 3 Stooges kind of noise!  She was barking in her sleep!  This went on for a minute or so, then a pause and then more barking until she faded back into her snoring pattern.  Nick and I laughed so hard at Miss O and her yappy mouth!  We joked that she was dreaming about the ducks that have been around the apartments.  She so desperately wants to play with (or destuff) them lately!  She's even started tracking the ones in the sky hoping to get them up there!

I've been lobbying for another bed for the girls (ha, cause we don't have enough in this house right?) for a while now and just last night, Nick agreed that another bed makes sense.  We're hoping to move the crates to the middle room where the girls will stay when we're gone and then have 2 beds in the bedroom where they can both sleep at night.  Molly's been sleeping in a crate with the door open for a few days and seems to be doing pretty well with it. (We tried giving her the option to sleep in the bed next to our bed, but she's been fussy and has been choosing the crate over the bed.  I can't keep up with her!)  So now I get to figure out what kind of bed I think the girls will like.  You know how it's going to go though, both girls will want the new bed no matter what.  Ha!  My little kids, how I love you so!

Both girls had a marrow bone to chew on yesterday afternoon.  I haven't given them out in a long time because we've been dealing with Molly's fussy digestive system.  Since the switch to Dr. Harvey's food, Moo's been consistently consistent in a very positive way so we gave it a try.  Ori chewed on the bone for hours!!!  Molly enjoyed hers immensely as well and so far so good with everything else!  Ori chews her bone gated in the kitchen and Molly stays on a towel in the dining room so there aren't any issues.  Later in the evening the girls had fun stealing the bones from each other because obviously the other bone tastes way better than the one she has!

All in all a pretty wonderful weekend for the girls I'd say : )  Here's to a fabulous week of little rain and lots of walks, playing, and naps!

More than a Pretty Face....

...but we're not complaining!  She's a smart cookie and is good at getting what she wants.  After talking with Kristin and Spencer about the trainer they're using with Cincy (!!!) we've realized we need to get on the ball with Miss O.   We've started the training foundation but we need to continue and build upon it! We've changed just a few slight things so far but in 1 day she has already stopped being in our face and jumping up/barking at us when we get home.  She greeted me calmly this evening and boy was it was nice!   Next step, sit and stay so she doesn't bolt out the door when it's opened.  She has so much potential and if I want to get her delta certified I need to make sure she has the pretty manners to match her pretty little face!

She and Molly are so stinkin' cute together, sometimes I can barely stand it!  The 2 of them are laying on the couch together--- adorable!

Cabin Flash backs

As I mentioned in a previous post, there were several moments at the cabin where I felt like I was watching Tink or hearing Tink again. When I took this photo of Molly, I thought of my darling Tink in the photo I posted below.

May '10

Both days were bright and beautifully sunny.  

Of course I couldn't go wrong with either subject....

labor day weekend '06