R.I.P. Chestnut

We had to put our dog Chestnut down on November 5.  I must say it was a very sad day for our family, but especially for me.  She was my dog and now she is gone.

We noticed on the previous Wednesday that she wasn't opening her right eye.  I assumed she had an eye infection or something.  Seth took her to the vet on Thursday and she had a fever and had lost weight.  He got some meds for her.  But, while he was there she started limping on her back right leg.  We were used to her limping on her back left leg because she had a bad hip.  Also, they found skin lesions we hadn't noticed before.

Friday night when Seth took the dogs out before bed she was walking like she couldn't see.  She walked into the Jeep and her bowl.  Totally not like her.

Saturday morning Seth took her back to the vet and an x-ray was done.  She had blasto everywhere.  Blasto is some kind of infection (Seth knows the details not me!).  Since it was everywhere there was no hope.  The vet said we could try to treat her but there was no guarantee of anything.  The humane thing to do was to put her down. 

So, Saturday afternoon Seth and Luke went and dug a hole out on our property.  Then late afternoon the vet came to our house and took her out of her misery.  We then all loaded up as a family and took her to the property and said our last good-byes and buried her.  I still cry thinking of it.  I really thought she would just get old and we would have to put her down but it would be a slow process.  3 days is all we had and it was fast and I didn't expect it to end like that.

Chestnut was crazy!  She was scared of fireworks, storms, balloons, guns (real and toy)!  But, she was our dog.  We got her 1 year after we got Whitefield so they both came before the kids.  We walked or ran everyday till Claire came along.  Then I couldn't do as much.  She loved to play frisbee and chase a tennis ball.  She loved to cuddle between your legs.  She also loved to have her face buried in you somewhere while you loved on her!  She slept on my side of the bed and now it is empty.  She was great with the kids and let them do just about anything to her.

We loved her and still talk about her.  Today we were talking about how she sang with the harmonica and it sounded like she was crying!!!  Luke will remember her and this time but I'm not sure Claire will.  We are even happier that we have Dixie now.  Whitefield seems totally fine and him and Dixie and definitely pals now.

RIP Chestnut!  (April 2004 - November 2011)

Well, life has taken a turn

Bedrest is here.  Do we like?  NOOOOOO!

On Sept. 20th I went to the doc for an ultrasound and was apparently having contractions.  My doctor sent me to the hospital to be monitored.  After being there for 3 hours or so I came home with some meds, Procardia every 6 hours.  Wednesday, the 21st, went fine till evening and the contractions started again.  I called the doctor and we took more meds but they wouldn't stop.  We went back to the hospital and stayed the night.  I finally came home Thursday afternoon and was on bedrest with my meds every 4 hours.  That is where we are today, 2 weeks later.

I can get water, take a shower and throw something in the microwave but that is all.  I can't pick up and hold my kids.  This isn't too big for Luke and Claire as I wasn't holding them much anymore.  But, John, my baby, was always on my hip! (maybe that is why is still isn't walking!!)  I can't get him out of bed. I can't put him down for a nap. I can't give the kids baths.  I can occasionally change a diaper but not really.  I miss my snuggle bug.  The big kids climb on the couch or into bed in the morning and snuggle up but John can't really do that.  The couch and bed are too much fun for him and he hasn't figured out how to get off gracefully.  This leads to some emotional times as one can imagine with a pregnant momma not able to hold her current baby!

But, the Lord is blessing us in incredible ways.  My sister-in-law, Tara, set up a meal calendar so we have meals coming 4 nights a week with leftovers covering the other times.  We also know many homeschooling families with older daughters (ages 12-15) who are coming during the day to watch/play/hold the kids.  They are all lovely and kind and doing great.

Seth is taking the real beating.  He has to get John ready each morning, cook breakfast and manage kitchen stuff at the other meals.  He still has to walk or run the dogs every morning.  Oh, and then he goes to the office for 8+ hours to be a doctor!  He is AMAZING!!!!  I feel helpless and like a bum but he encourages me to keep resting so our little one will be healthy and strong.

I'm also keeping a list of what I'm learning during this bedrest thing.  Maybe I will write a little something once it is over.  We are trying to do a photo journal type thing too of all those who are helping us.  We hope that in early January we can have a HUGE party for everyone who helped us and then show all the pics. 

I am reading to make the time pass.  It really isn't too boring most of the time as the kids are all around and I am on the couch so I can read to them and talk to them and things.  I have read "The Screwtape Letters" and "Little Women".  I'm now onto "Little Men" as I just found out it is a sequel to LW.

In the end, I'm doing well with no more contractions.  Baby Barnabas is healthy and growing every day.  I go to the doc every week for a cervical length ultrasound and a shot.  We manage how we can and are in survival mode.  I have about 9 weeks left and then should be 36 weeks and off bedrest.  I figure 9 weeks isn't much at all in the grand scheme of life or even a pregnancy!  Plus, I want to bring my little one home if the Lord so blesses us!!!

Claire quote and John sounds!

Yesterday the city flushed the fire hydrant in the cul-de-sac in front of our house.  Needless to say Luke and Claire had a blast playing in the water!  So, today they ran around in the rain and jumped in puddles.  Claire calls out "Mom, I'm running in water like yesterday in the hire fydrant"!!  Love Her!

John is all about animal sounds these days.  He loves the cow and lion.  Really, he just wants to growl so he will do it for most animals!!

let the shots begin

I started progesterone shots today.  I will get one a week for the next 12 weeks or so.  This is to hopefully prevent the baby from coming too early.  Each of the kids has gotten earlier with John being 4 weeks early.  We don't want a 6 week early baby!  Luckily, the shot didn't hurt!

the tying of shoes

Last week sometime Luke volunteered to tie Claire's shoes and he was able to do it.  Then on Sunday he tied his own church shoes.  Tonight he tied some friends' shoes.  I think it is official, Luke can tie shoes!  He has a natural gift for tying things up (knots and hooks and stuff) and it sure came in handing with the shoes!!

a new niece

Charlotte Rose Marsh entered the world on September 5th! I am a proud aunt!

tractors

The boys love tractors!  They love to play with them.  They love to watch them.  They love to drive them!  In fact, Luke wants to be a farmer when he grows up so he can drive tractors!  It is amazing how much they take after Seth!  He has always loved tractors too!

John is so fun to watch.  He loves things with wheels, but especially the tractors.  He crawls around pushing them up and down the hall and around the living room and foyer.  Seth and I just love to watch him work and make his tractor noise!  (Luke has never really made car/tractor noises so it is great fun listening to John!)