Goodbye Odie

Saturday I had to have my beloved dog put to sleep. Actually, my wonderful husband took him to have it done. I just couldn't handle going there and seeing it done.

Odie developed Cushing's Disease, an adrenal gland problem which results in excess cortizone being produced in his body. Too much cortizone = eating and drinking all the time.

Odie was doing both. I can't count the number of times he peed in the floor...or the couch recently. He was drinking all the time. I had to take him out at least every 2 hours during the day. He was also eating everything in sight..including the trash.

The treatment for Cushings is expensive and time consuming....2 things I don't have.

I think Odie was about 14. He "came to me" in 1994 as a stray. I eventually met his first owners who had gotten him at the pound.

Odie was a great dog. A great companion. A great guard dog.

Before I got married and had kids, Odie was my life! He went everywhere with me and I did everything for him.

But, having kids changes things drastically. When I brought Ral home from the hospital I walked in to spend some time with Odie first. I remember thinking, "Poor dog....I just don't feel about you the way I used to."

Odie still had a good life though. He stayed inside almost all the time and was fed every day.

He started getting bad around the time Will was born. We thought the peeing in the floor was him being upset over a new baby.

Poor dog. I really miss him. I fed him like crazy the last few days. Right before Mike took him on Saturday he enjoyed a whole bag of Hershey's kisses. Odie always had a sweet tooth. Over the years he stole and ate 1 1/2 bags of Robin Eggs and a pound of M & M's. They say chocolate is bad for dogs. For Odie..it was a treat!

Do dogs go to heaven? I don't know. Mike said that if I wanted to think that to make myself feel better, I could.

My mama says pets are in heaven. She has a whole herd of cats up there if they do.

You were a good dog, Odie.
Goodbye, my friend.

SNOT

Ral has been sick for a week and a half. He's been to the doctor 2x. No ear infection, throat was fine, etc. We finally decided it is a sinus infection and started him on an antibiotic on Saturday.

He was nice and gave his little brother the same thing I think. I took BOTH boys to the doctor last Thursday. Throat and ears were fine.

I have seen enough snot the last week to last me the rest of my life. I've sucked enough snot out with the little blue suction thing too. Will sneezes and its everywhere. Ral just constantly wipes his nose and it ends up all over his face, chest, hands, wrists, and forearms.

Mucous be gone!!

Im sorry

Raleigh was running around the kitchen on Saturday and eventually running into me at full force.

Not fun.

I finally sent him out and closed the gate. He started crying and went to daddy to whine a little. Mike told him, "You need to tell mom you're sorry next time you get a chance."

Ral looks at me and says, "I sorry mama next time I get a chance."

:-)

Mom so......

Yesterday I took a nap with Ral. While he was trying to go to sleep he looked over at me and said, "Mom so pretty...and warm." He then began to rub my arm and said, "And hairy!"

Nothing like the honesty of a child!

Time Out

Yesterday Raleigh put his horse in the corner and told him to stay with his family.

He fell down.

Ral gets him and takes him to the office and says, "Now you get time out, you bad horse!" (Remember that Ral does not say the S sound, so you figure out how that really sounded...about as good as when he says "I want ride my horse.")

I asked him about what happened. He told me the horse had time out. I asked him for how long and he said told me for 2 minutes. I said, "Good, that's how long you get time out. 2 minutes."

He thought about that for a minute and revised his answer with, "He just got time out for a lotta lotta minutes!"

Guess the horse was really bad....or Ral thinks that 2 minutes is an eternity to him.

Hide and Go Seek

I just don't think Ral has gotten the real point of Hide and Go Seek. He calls it, "Hide n heek". Last week Ral wanted to play "Hide n heek" in the van while I was driving. He covered his eyes and counted to 10...sometimes 1....10, and found me every time! I guess he just doesn't "get" that I should have somewhere to hide in order for the game to be fun. I should be glad he found me. I'd be worried if we played Hide and Go Seek in the van and he didn't find me.

When it's Ral's turn to hide he goes to his hiding spot and says, "Let play Hide N Heek mom. You count." I always play like I can't find him at first :-)

Thespian

This morning Raleigh looks at us and says, "Can someone get me to a hospital? I have a headache." Immediately after he collapses on the floor.

I think my good friend Sarah at WHS has her next star in about 12 years!

Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day. Mike and the boys got me exactly what I wanted...a beautiful figurine by Willow Tree. He picked out the "Mother and Son" one, which fits perfectly.

Last night we went to MIL's house for dinner. I made lasagna, she made salad, and I bought a cake. Lois remarked a few times that this was the best mother's day treat. All through the meal Ral would look at me and say, "This is the best Mother's Day Mama!"

Im glad he was impressed too :-)

Later we had a Mother's Day cookie cake. We lit a few candles, sang a song, and had Ral blow out the candles. He really enjoyed the cake...as always. I started talking to him about his birthday and what kind of cake he would like. He at first thought Spongebob would be good, but then decided on Thomas. Then, he changed his mind. He looks at me and says, "I just want a Mother's Day Cookie cake."
I wonder if we can get one of those in July?

Finally, we were about ready to leave. Ral was going to spend the night at ME's house. He really wanted to take a bath because he found his squirt fish and he was ready to swim. Lois told him it would be a few minutes because they had to say goodby to mama and daddy first.

He comes over to give me a hug. I get him to tell me. "I love you mama. You are the best mama in the whole world." He then looks at me and says, "Just go home now."
He knew that when he got rid of us, he would get his bath.

He came to the door as we were leaving. I got another kiss and another "Just leave now mama."

Ahhh....nothing like kind parting words on Mother's Day !! :-)

I wish...I wish

On the way to visit my mom over spring break we stopped in Raleigh at a place that had a fountain. Ral loved it just because it was water and it was spraying all over. We explained to him about throwing a penny in and making a wish. Of course he said, "I wanna do that!" So, we give him a penny and he throws it in. He pauses for a moment and says, "I wish...I wish for ice cream!!"

I'm glad he wishes for things that I can give him! Or..that his ME can give him!

Do they look alike? 

Looking alike

Do you think my kids look alike? If I had 1.00 for every time someone has said this to me recently, I'd have enough money to fill the minivan with gas.

My pediatrician told me yesterday. People in the nursery tell me. Girls in my Sunday School class tell me.

There are times that I remember Ral looking very much the way that Will does now. I don't see the resemblence to the way they are now though.

Ok, to anyone who reads my blog...and there are times I wonder if anyone except a few people read my blog (Hey Mike, Aunt Evleyn, and Mr. Harrison!!), please leave a comment and tell me what you think. Do my boys look alike?

My sweet baby! 

Sleeping through the night

Ok, I know Im going to jinx myself, but Will is sleeping through the night. Its been a regular thing for several weeks now, so I guess its "official." Its quite amazing. Even on days where he has been crying most of the day..even up until bedtime, he still sleeps through the night. Most nights its 6 hours. Days like today it was 8 1/2.

Incredible.

There are times I question whether Raleigh is sleeping through the night YET! :-)

Thomas

Ral loves Thomas. LOVES him! We've watched so many episodes of Thomas we almost considered naming our 2nd son Thomas. Ral has always pronounced his name Tah-eee. Tonight for the first time he said the name correctly. My little boy is growing up!