10 Minutes To Bundle For 5 Minutes Of Play

 Today is the first snow of 2012, and we took advantage on our (slippery) patio...for about 5 minutes.

What I didn't get pictures of was Brylee going head over her (very small) slide, and us attempting to make snowballs to throw at each other (note:  child does not want snow on her face...) and for Chester to chase.

And she shed her gloves, got upset because her hands were frozen, wanted to go inside, and then begged for a cup of crushed ice to munch on...using her hands...

The Latest On Chester

Poor Mutt. It just never seems to end for him.

We got the bloodwork back on his phenobarbital and potassium bromide levels, and nothing seems to go right for him.

His phenobarbital levels should be around 150, but it is 1800. Therefore, we need to try to get him off of his Phenobarbital ASAP. So, within 2-3 weeks, he should be off of phenobarbital, and hopefully without the side effect of more seizures.

And his potassium bromide levels are normal, however, we have very little room to play with.

For those who aren't 'seizure savvy', Phenobarbital can affect the liver...and Potassium Bromide can affect the kidneys. Both, obviously, are not a good thing to have affected.

I know that so many people are facing much worse in the world, such as poverty, family off to war, or perhaps even missing, but I love this dog. We adopted him and have found so much joy in him. Despite how much he has frustrated me in the last couple of weeks, I do love him, and he's very much a big part of our family.

Please think positive thoughts (or prayers) for him.

Yet More Randoms

Brylee has her 6th tooth breaking through her gums! She now has 4 on the top, and 2 on the bottom. She is also currently munching away on a 1/4 of Eggo that I share with her every morning. And her cereal. She is alternating between the two...on her own...messily...growing up too fast...

She loves crackers, especially Chicken In A Biscuit (her mommy's favorite) and asks for crackers multiple times a day. It has come to that I have to make sure she eats 'real food' first and then is treated to a cracker...or sometimes, an Oreo...

She also loves ice cream. Takes after her T-Ma and Opa. And momma...

I'm not intending for it to become a food post, so let's regroup.

Spring is here! I think I'm going to really enjoy the spring in Maine. While Dallas is already having high 80's, we are slowly warming up, we are just now reaching the 50's...Oh how I love the cooler weather!! The snow is melting very quickly here and the sky is very blue this morning. The trees are starting to look green, though the grass is not as green, it will be...by August perhaps. Just in time for more snow in September. I exaggerate...slightly.


I took Chester to the vet yesterday for follow-up bloodwork for the medication he is on. The entire appointment took 1 1/2 hours, which I didn't mind, of course, because I felt like I was in my element. And I also got a compliment along the way, being 'hired' after successfully catching some urine for further testing...Actually has me thinking about seeing if the vet is really hiring, just part time, so I can get out and have adult interactions during the week...but I'm also torn, because I adore my time with Brylee, and don't feel like the house gets cleaned enough during the week, especially this week since I haven't been feeling all that well. I know I won't get this time back with Brylee when she gets older.

Speaking of adult interaction, last Tuesday, Brylee and I went to a playgroup at the Community Center. It is a weekly thing, where the kids get together, play with (or take away) toys, and the parents get to sit around and talk. I really enjoyed it, and Brylee did, too. Unfortunately, we didn't go back this week because we've been a little under the weather, and didn't want to risk affecting anyone else. Here's to next week!





Not much longer until Cary and Brenda don't have to work on Saturday! I'm very excited about this, but I'm sure I'm not as excited as they are. They have been working 60+ hours a week learning their new jobs, and trying to get through tax season. There is even a Tax Relief Dance in the community after the deadline, which I may have to drag Cary to, just to shake out all of those numbers in his head!

I'm so excited because it is now 2 weeks before my mom and dad will be back up here to help celebrate Easter. The house is somewhat decorated (well, the dining area is at least) and I've been obsessively looking through the Martha Stewart Living magazine that Cary got me that is Easter-based...drooling over the crafts I can't do. But I'm plotting to see what I can do, and how I can de-Martha them just slightly and Jenn-ify them...Just wait for pictures!




More on travel--Cary, Brylee, and I will be going home (to visit) in May! Mom's birthday is then, as is our little niece Helen's...and Gary's...and Steven's...as well as several others...But the visit will be to see my parents and celebrate mom's and Helen's. Gary's we'll celebrate here, as it is easy, because he is here! I'm very excited, and mom is already potentially planning a Game day so that I can see everyone without driving all over the place. I'm sure I'm very much out of practice with the busy roads Dallas has...and we'll have only been gone 3 months!

And....Maine was voted to be the most peaceful state by someone or another. No wonder why I've taken so many naps here!

Anything else going on? I'm sure there's tons, but for now, it's time to clean out the refrigerator, do some laundry, and get just a little cleaning done!

Circus Day Becomes A Nor'easter Day

(Picture taken at 10:15 a.m.)

What was supposed to be a day that celebrated the circus at the library story time became a day of staying indoors and 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at the snow as it fell upon us.

I don't have snow tires on my car yet, because, let's face it...if I get snow tires, it would almost be a waste of putting them on because until today, there was fading evidence of snow around us, the majority of what is left in yards.

But today, good ol' April Fools Day, Mother Nature played the ultimate prank.

And I was looking forward to Circus day at the library to have Brylee wear her Ashes/Petunia/Radio shirt and circus hat to share her unique clown family experience!

But instead, we are going to take the opportunity to enjoy the day this way:

(image found here)



(image found here)
And yes, I loved the musical episode. I found the middle number with the cast with their spouse/lover a little far fetched...but I loved the rest! Besides Dr. Bailey, Callie is my favorite character, and I thought she rocked the entire thing (really enjoyed Bailey's and Lexie's singing as well!)

(image found here), but go here to see it live...the eggs may hatch today!!!

This will become this.

And here it is! First time made, and I think it was somewhat a success!

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Need Your Thoughts, Opinions, And Prayers Please

Today I broke down and bought Chester a diaper. It's solid black, so it doesn't really stick out, like I thought it would.

Point being: Chester is on medication for his epilepsy. 2 different kinds, but his seizures are still coming kind of frequently, as in 2 weeks to 1 month.

One of the medications affects his liver and the other affects his kidneys. Not a good thing, considering he is on high dosages of both. The next step is to visit the neurologist, which of course means $$$.

But the medication also constantly makes him pee. And this is not good because we are in a rented house, and there is no backyard. So I can't just let him outside to roam and be free, and where he does go to the bathroom is downstairs, when we spend a great deal of time upstairs.

I wouldn't mind this so much, but the last couple of days, he has wet the floor 4 times. Fortunately, I get it up before any damage, except to my temper and his pride. But the worst part of it all is that this happens only 1 hour after his last trip outside to do his business.

He used to be able to hold for the majority of the day. When I worked, he went outside maybe 5 times in a day, and then when I started staying at home, maybe 6 or 7. Now he pushes to go that much in just the morning...and there is still the whole afternoon, evening, and night to go through!

I try to time it to send him out no earlier than 2 1/2 hours after the last break, but 15 minutes later into starting the timer again, he is scratching at me to go. Or if I go downstairs for anything, such as change the laundry out, he thinks it's a sign to go again. And if I don't let him out? 15 minutes later there may be a puddle on the floor.

This diaper doesn't seem to be the best so far. It's a band that has elastic that wraps around his lower waist, but with the elastic, it also just bunches up. So is it really doing any good? Don't know...but when I took it off to let him go potty this evening (2 hours after his last break), he started peeing...and barely made it outside to finish off.

Ugh. I now know how mom feels when she had to deal with this in the past...all of those animals, too! (not all had issues, but if they did, lucky her got to deal with it...)

But this is Chester; Chestmutt; the big-eared dog that made us laugh so hard just a couple of years ago! I love this dog, but right now, I don't know where to go. I can't have Brylee sitting on the floor in a place that may or may not be clean from me accidentally missing it.

I also cannot help but look into his big brown eyes and cry because I got mad at him; this really isn't his fault. He didn't ask to have uncontrolled seizures. He didn't ask to not have a backyard so he could drive his owner mad wanting to be outside and enjoy the pretty weather...or to pee.

I really just needed to vent. I think our next move is to bite the big one and go see a neurologist, who maybe can help us get this problem solved, once and for all. And maybe it will be better for all of us...especially him...

Maine Angels

Brylee, Chester, and I took advantage of the swirling snow this morning and went outside.

Brylee looked adorable in her snow pants and shoes that her cousin Kim sent her...another big "Thank you!" to her for thinking about us!!


I felt like I was in a snowglobe as I watched Chester chase his ball on the slippery patio and Brylee bend over to grab the snow...only to proceed to eat it.


And she made her first snow angel, only to have Chester stomp all over it a few minutes later chasing his prized ball. Good thing I got some pictures! (good luck deciphering it though!)

New Month, New Life

Happy March everyone!!!

This last weekend was wonderful, sad, scary, and cold…all at the same time!

My parents flew in on Friday with our little one, and I was so happy to see them. Their flight was delayed 1 1/2 hours due to the airplane not being at the gate, then mechanical issues, and then making sure that the weight of the plane and its contents were accurate…

And then on top of that, what usually is a 2 1/2 hour drive from from Boston became 4 hours because our roads were icy and no plows had gone through yet. Poor Cary (the driver) was tired and nervous at the same time!

The rest of the weekend went well, unpacking boxes, celebrating Cary’s birthday, and getting to see the town for the first time. We even managed to go to another town and visit a Christmas store…the best one yet!

And of course, there was time to hunt for a few geocaches as well. Chestmutt and Pootwaddle can now add Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to their states of collected caches!

Sunday was a very sad day, as not only did I have to say goodbye to my parents AGAIN, but they also had to say goodbye to Brylee. That was extremely difficult on me to see, but I also had a killer headache…possibly from all of the emotions I had been experiencing.

More pictures from the weekend:

Today is the strangest day of them all. Cary started work today, leaving me with the little one and the hairy one all day…a first since October. I miss him. I miss my parents. But at least I have some gorgeous scenery to check out…and maybe perhaps we will get out and explore Small Town a little today.

And now for a tour of the house. Please excuse the mess…I wasn’t expecting company.

Guest bedroom:

Brylee’s Room:

Master bedroom:

Hallway with the rooms and stairs

Upstairs area. The living room and kitchen are one big room.

View this morning from the kitchen. I should set up a daily picture from this same spot so we can see the changes throughout the year.

Just a section of our patio. It wraps around, and is HUGE!!!!

View from our living room/Brylee’s play area

Yeah. Cary found this for us. He did good!