What an Emotional Roller-Coaster...

The most amazing thing happened on Wednesday.

The day just seemed to drag on milli-second by milli-second... I was constantly trying to find things to do to keep my mind occupied. Usually when I'm busy all day long, it's 6:00 and Joe's home. Not Wednesday.

Around 11-ish... I got a phone call, and I kid you not, this is what she said:

"Hi, I'm calling about your ad on craigslist," (I have several), "There's a new ad on here today. Have you read it?"

Hmmmmmmm.....

Sooo, a few different things ran through my head, but I was nice and asked her which ad she was talking about. She told me the one about the mini-schnauzer, and said there was a new ad about a male mini-schnauzer that was found in Benton City. Right then I KNEW it was him. So I got on our incredibly slow computer and found it. It mentioned seeing our Beagle and Louis together, blah blah blah. Of course, there was no phone number. So I sent her an email describing Louis and about 3.5 hours later she called me. She had to tell me her life story before she remembered that she had my dog.

Apparently, she was the person who had called he and Lady in, on the 13th. Nobody could catch them, Lady came back and Louis didn't. Well, 11 days after the first sighting, she saw him again. This time, his back bone and hips were sticking out, his hair was completely matted (as it was time for a grooming when he disappeared), he had burrs and stickers under his armpits and in his beard. There were so many burrs under his legs, that he could barely walk. She said when they tried to pick him up, he cried because he was so famished it physically hurt to touch his skin. He actually bit the lady's fiance because he was so frightened...

Anyway, they took him in and got him groomed, put an ad in the Tri-City Herald, and just waited. After no luck from the paper, she decided to post on craigslist.

We were SO excited! She even brought him over (new bed, toys, bones, and dog food included). He wasn't too sure at first, but after I said his name a couple times, I know he remembered. He is just as happy as can be and won't leave my sight (bathroom included).

This couldn't have come at a better time. Louis has filled our home with such joy... he has quite the personality and makes us laugh constantly. It's really helping us, Joe mostly, cope with the loss of Danner. We feel so blessed!

Danner

So this is NOT a happy post... consider yourselves forewarned.

I just don't understand life. Why do things happen the way they do? I know there's a reason for everything, but why does it all dump on "you" at the same time?

Last week in RS, the lesson was on prayer. A lady was talking about how her family had had a really crappy day, but earlier in the week had decided to make a goal of only "Thank yous" during prayer. So, as they sat down to pray as a family, her husband started out, "Heavenly Father...................." She said it was silent for a while. He finally said, "Thank you that this day is over."

I couldn't agree more.

So, yesterday was 3 weeks that little Louis disappeared. It's sort of sinking in now. I try not to be sad about it, but sometimes... just can't help it. I'm convinced that he is in a good home, and is happy with his new hermit owner.

Today, Joe took the day off. We did a bunch of work in the yard and had a great morning! We came in for lunch, and then the kids went down for naps... We bought some fruit and vegetable plants and thought we'd take the opportunity to get them in the ground, since the kids were sleeping. Well, my mom had given us some railroad ties for our yard, and they were laying on the dirt where our garden is, so Joe needed to move them before we could get started. He moved the majority- we planted- and then he started moving the rest. As I was walking away from the garden, I heard a yelp. Danner got too close. I won't go into details.... but we lost our pup. It was the most awful day ever. We have all just been a wreck. It wasn't pretty and Joe is so upset... I just can't understand. Why me? Why us? Is it worth it to have pets? At this point, I'm thinking no.

So I'm sitting here, wondering what can I learn from this? What good could come out of this? Less dog food? Less barking? Is it really worth it? It's so surreal... like it never happened. Just doesn't seem possible, ya know? First Louis.. then Danner? Is Heavenly Father trying to tell us something about the number of pets we "should" have? I know it probably doesn't work that way, but still...

So, at the end of my day, I'm thinking about what I will pray about tonight. I can think of nothing to be thankful for... that we got the garden planted? Seems so unimportant. That Joe got to stay home from work? Now I'm wishing he would have gone.

My children were sleeping. Inside. Now there's something to be thankful for. My children are alive. My husband is alive. I am alive. We loved Danner very much and we will always miss him.

Two Moms, Two Dads

This morning, as I was doing Haylie's hair, she all of a sudden told me that she was going to have two moms, and two dads. I thought about it for a second, thinking of how to explain to her WHY she would never have another set of biological parents.

So, I said, "You know Haylie, you will only have one mom and one dad, forever. I will only have 1 Haylie and you will only have 1 Mommy because you were in my tummy. You were never in a different tummy."

Her response: "Mom. I'm not in your tummy. I'm in the bathroom."

Me: "Oh."

Breakfast of Champions!

This morning, I told Haylie I was going to make some breakfast, and she informed me that she wanted white chicken, tomatoes, and grease.

(Aka chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy.)

The Carpet Cleaner Guy...

A few minutes ago, a carpet cleaner salesman came to the door. After looking in our house and realizing that we have all hard floors, he politely excused himself. BUT... not without enduring the wrath of Haylie. This is how their conversation went:

Haylie: Hey, you, you, you know what? I have a baby tiger cub and a baby lion cub in my papack and they have soft heads and the tiger has a soft head and the lion has a soft head and they eated my breakfast and I petted them and they were so soft and then they went to sleep in my papack. And then I want to go check the mail.

Guy: (Thumbs up) I'm with ya. Have a nice day.

(*SIGH*)

Come on Cass...

So this is really ridiculous, and based on your level of animal lover-ness... you might think so too. I have let the loss of my puppy take control over my emotions, and so have neglected my blog. Sorry.
Louis, my puppy, disappeared April 13th. Joe lets the dogs out around 5 a.m. before he leaves for work. When I got up that morning, around 7:30, he was already gone. There was a small spot in one corner of the yard, where he could fit his little body under the fence. I didn't worry much... he'd gotten out before, (more than once) and always came back. He and Lady (our Beagle), get out occasionally, run around and do their "thing," and then come home after a few hours of freedom. That evening, Louis was still gone, and I knew something wasn't right. The next day, after he was still gone, I called City Hall. They said that someone had called Animal Control and reported both dogs but when the officer got there, only Lady was there, and she couldn't catch her anyway... Louis, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. Just doesn't make sense....
We've been told by a few people around the area, that Mini-Schnauzers are popular around here, so we have a suspicion that someone saw him, and thought, 'Sweet! Free pure-bred dog!'
We have posted on craigslist and womf.com. We've put up signs all around town. We've knocked on numerous doors asking for information. We've driven our hearts out, windows down, for hours at a time, calling his name. We're at a loss. I feel guilty for not looking... but I don't know where to look.
I really got attached to this one. I feel like I really really needed him. BUT, if someone else needed him more than me, I guess I can let go.
I hope some little old hermit lady, with no Internet access and no way to see our signs, took him in and is spoiling him rotten.
Like I said - This is ridiculous.

~2~

So I've been kind of out of the blogging mode lately, and today the guilt smacked me on the back. My Connor turned *2* on the 30th! How crazy is that? Seems like just yesterday... yadda yadda... But really. Where does time go? It's so fun (and sometimes NOT so fun) to see their personalities develop.
Connor absolutely LOVES tractors. More than anything else in the world. Literally. There's nothing he would rather do than ride in the tractor with Papa (my dad). In fact, the second thing out of his mouth in the morning is, "Ki (can I) ride da tractor?" (the first being, "Where's Dad?"), "Isit (all one word) a green one?" and finally, "Papa has two tractors?" Every morning. In that exact order. I guess I know where I stand, right!? ;) Other likes are: trucks, circle bikes (motorcycles), airplanes, basically anything that makes noise, has wheels, or both! Pretty typical I guess. He also really, REALLY likes food. This kid can clean a plate quicker than you can blink. And still, SO skinny. I don't know where it goes! (Well I do know, but you'd think at least a little bit would stick to his skinny little ribs!)

Anyway, I just don't know what I'd do without him. Although the noise he creates could burst an eardrum and sometimes he makes me want to pull my hair out, he brings so much joy into this home. I love my little Haylie so much, and having a girl has been so fun! But, there's something about having a boy that I just love. The bond between us is indescribable. I love him, but Heaven help me should I ever have another boy.

(Don't laugh.) Connor at 4 months :) Playin' with DaddyStriking a pose ;)His FAVORITE! Ridin 'with Papa. :) Playin' in the dirt!

And here's my little man blowin' out the candle on his 2nd birthday! Maybe it's time for another baby.... ;) Didn't I tell ya he was skinny?
The "big" present from Papa. His very own radio flyer wagon. We've only had it for a little over a week and that thing has been everywhere!He got this John Deere tractor from Grammy Jackie. Poor kid wants to ride a tractor so bad...
Happy Birthday Bud! :)