Angel's diagnosis

Angel has HSP. I'd never heard of it before, and it sounds like she'll get better.... I'm so very glad. Thanks for the good thoughts :) She's gone a day or so now without experiencing pain, so that's a great thing :)

the dog show

No news to report for us... Chance was 2nd of 3 in his class (Barbara Tannahill's dog Joseph, I think his name was) was ahead of Chance and I. Leelo behind. Unfortunately this is the only picture of Chance and I in the ring that came out ok... Chance looked crazy in the others... Oh well :) We'll try again ;-)


Barbara Tannahill with her bitch Eboni, and Jennifer with Skye behind her...

How funny that THIS worked out! Joanie managed to get a picture of both Sedona AND Bella in the same shot!
Not a great picture of her movement, but she's "on the go" here :)

Standing and waiting... :)
The Open Bitch class, except Bella, who is in front of Diva (1st dog in this picture). Duane Forbes & Diva, Harry & Wham, Renay & Crush, Brenda Rojas and her dog, whose name I always manage to forget :( And then us.
Sedona was last in line in her class and that's just where she stayed... According to Joanie, the judge didn't even look at her. Frustrating... very frustrating. Bella got just as few looks from this judge too... not sure how I feel about him. I believe I've shown under him ... when I was showing Kota... but he just seemed ..... oh I dunno.. He just didnt' seem like he wanted to be there. Very curt with us, hardly paid any attention. Would start something else before the last dog was finished with the 1st thing... :( Mental note. :( If you're curious, I'll give you the judges name ;-)

Work tomorrow and Sunday, and then dog show at 8am Monday morning.... Oh dear God how I long to have normal hours again!!!!! Hopefully there will be solid news to announce soon enough, in regards to that :)

**EDIT**
It dawned on me that I didn't list the winners.... DUMB!

WB : Arylan's Double Whammy
WD/BOW/BOB : Cheysuli's High Hopes

off to the show...

on 3 hours of sleep and one very unsatisfying cup of coffee (no creamer! :( ), but I'm dressed, the car is packed and we're going.... dogs aren't bathed or groomed, but it was only a couple of weeks ago they were washed and they aren't gross ;-) I'll wet them both down and poof them up when I get there (I hope). Wish us luck... and yes, we'll be getting baths today after the show for Monday's show :)

Angel update

I got a call yesterday afternoon from my step mom telling me that they'd admitted my 8 year old niece, Angel, to the hospital in Charlottesville (45 minutes from home). They still were unsure of what the issue was, but now she was experiencing some muscle issues in one of her thighs and was exhibiting a rash on her legs. They so far, last i heard, suspect something Rheumatoid, but they're not sure if it's JRA or Rheumatic Fever. I need to get in touch with my sister, Brandi (Angel's mom) to see how she's doing today... darned work schedule and time difference causes problems!
So please keep good thoughts coming for Angel... poor little thing... I can't imagine seeing my 8 year old kid wincing in pain :(

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sitting here, chatting with my sister when she tells me that our 8 year old niece Angel is in a hospital in Charlottesville this afternoon. Earlier this week she was complaining that her leg hurt towards the end of her school day. By the time she got home she couldn't walk on it. They took her to the hospital who had her see a specialist. That specialist thought Angel had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was taken in to the hospital again today because she said her wrists were hurting now too...

I read this site , which I thought was pretty good... Given that I know nothing about the subject, I thought it explained it pretty well... Now I sit and wait to find out what the doctors in Charlottesville have to say about Angel... Poor little thing.

Ricky to the rescue

I was freaking out slightly when I saw the ringtimes for the Scottsdale shows.... Friday is ok at 11am, but monday is 8am! This after getting off at Midnight.
So thankfully, I have Ricky. :) Ricky works on my team from 12p-10p and has agreed to switch shifts with me for that day so I can get some sleep before my Monday morning ring time.....

Yippee for Ricky! :)

BOOOOOO for 8am ring times! why can't they put danes and mastiffs and boxers and weims and other such short coated no grooming required breeds at the top of the day??? *sigh*

A birthday visit to the park

After taking the dogs to petsmart, I stopped by a new park in Queen Creek, called Desert Mountain Park
The dogs really seemed to enjoy themselves :)
The terrible threesome sat still for a group shot!!
Kota wandering the park
Chance is KING OF THE MOUNTAIN!
perched on a rock... happy 1st birthday baby puppy!!
Always take time to sniff the roses (or whatever else wafts by)
Awww factor
Just layin' in the shade
the two youngin's sniffin' in the sand
Sedona standing in the sand
Sedona showing that she is AGILE!
The boys "hanging" together
Eyes always closed.... it's a Kota thing :(
Sis enjoying the shade
She wanted to be queen of the mountain!
And we can't leave Kota out!
It was a great afternoon at the park :) Overall it's been a great birthday for Chancey, and Sedona and Dakota appreciate their brother having a birthday in another month other than JUNE ;-)

a visit with Joanie & Eli & Ace

And the kids too, of course :)

My friend Joanie fell in love with my kids.... so she went out in search of a Cardigan puppy. :) She recently got "Paradiddle's Any Given Sunday" who she calls Eli. (a superbowl bet won this puppy his name). Eli is as cute as a 4 month old Cardi boy can be :)

"hey, you look like me!!"

Eli looking out over the pool

Eli relaxing in the shade

Eli between Sedona and Chance

Relaxing

Kota, laying by the pool

Chance being fed a tortilla chip by Jake

Sedona waiting for Jake to feed her too!

The look a likes laying near the pool

He'll be eligible to show in April for the Lost Dutchman shows :) I think she'll have fun with this silly kid! :)

Happy 1st Birthday Chancey

You all know the "story of Chance" but I am gonna share it again because it's his 1st birthday, and well.... I hafta ;-)

Chris had had a litter of puppies in February while I was at my dad's house (2007). She sent me pictures of the litter which invoked many oohs and aahs. She's include me on the pictures just because I asked to see them... I wasn't interested in a puppy. Shoot, Sedona had JUST finished being house trained (she seemed to take FOREVER and wasn't consistent until after the Southern CA specialty, at which time she (kindly) came into season) and I was just not looking for another dog.

"The owner I had set up for the blue boy fell through.... are you interested?" I was asked. "No, no no... he's just really cute is all.. I really don't want another puppy", was my come back.

Another week passed, and the question was posed again, and again I said no. I was sticking to my guns dang it! I did NOT want another puppy! I did not NEED another puppy! Life was good with 2 dogs.

More pictures came and again, the question, "are you sure?". I finally caved. "Send him to Nationals and let me see", "If Kota doesn't have issues with him", "and if it doesn't work out, he can just go back to Spokane with Mandy, from Nationals". It was all worked out. But by then, I was sold. I had the puppy named already.

I had seen this beautiful blue merle Aussie at dog shows in Northern CA and Oregon... and then later on Westminster and Crufts too.... CH Caitland Isle Take A ChanceI thought he was just such a presence in the ring and was just striking with his deep tan points... When I saw this little tan pointed puppy, I knew he had to be "Chance" tho we could only hope to have a quarter of the success his name sake had in the rings!

He's just getting started in the show ring... give him another year and i'll bet we'll be looking at a totally different dog! He's intelligent, and funny, and clown like and yet such an old soul. I sit and look at him and wonder what life would have been like without Chance.

Thankfully I don't have to wonder, since he is happy to be the lowest totem on the pole here :) I have so much hope for his future, and while he currently holds no points towards his CH, I know he will be a CH down the road.

Happy 1st birthday baby boy... my Chancey Pantsy Fantsy dog.

our next show....

FRIDAY 2/29 : #14 at 11 a.m.
MONDAY 3/3 : #18 at 8 a.m. (after 8 Saints) (and after getting off of work at midnight... *sigh*)

a question of numbers.....

Of those of you who have had 3 or more dogs, I'm curious if you can help me....

Play dynamics with three versus four..... How does that work?

Kota seems to be left out of play quite a bit, so therefore getting frustrated and taking it out on Chance (taking the sucker punches) while he's getting his butt kicked by Sedona. I'm wondering if there were a fourth dog in the picture, the "play pairs" would even out and there would be no "pick on Chance" thing....

What do you guys think?

God speed, little kitty....

A friend of mine lost one of her kitties yesterday....

Callie wasn't even a year old, but had gone through so much in her little life. Her untimely passing came as a surprise to her family, but they're happy she's in a better place now.

The skies opened up here yesterday... and cried for the loss of Callie-kitty... She'll be laid to rest today with her family.... in a shady spot near a tree.

The Rainbow bridge gets another good one... far too soon for those left behind.

Rest in Peace sweet Callie kitty....

The last full day in VA

My brother Paul, his wife Tina, and the kids (Autumn, Dakota and Paige) came over on Friday.

Paul and Tina

me and Paul

Dakota and Autumn in the tree outside (they are 8)

the most beautiful picture of Autumn...

Dakota being a typical boy, having fun in the tree

He looks so much like my brother did at that age!

3 year old Paige looking like a little angel (don't let her fool you! ;-) )

Autumn and I (she's the only one of my nieces and nephews who remembered me without being reminded as to who I was!)

Dakota

Dakota and I (isn't he handsome?)

Dakota, Autumn and I

The kids being silly outside

Sharla and I

Dakota and his dad goofing around

Autumn is singing while sharing the headset with her dad

Dad & Ma (Kim)

My papa and I

Brandi and her friend Gene

My chariot out of Charlottesville, VA

It was a great trip... I got to see all of my family and spend quite a bit of time just hanging out at the house with Dad. He doesn't get around all that much any more, so I was more than content just hanging out at home with him. We didn't sit and have intellectual conversations.... just spending time in the same room was more than ok with both of us. I am his youngest biological child, and the only one he has a relationship with. I hated to leave him, and I know he would have loved to have had me stay longer, but life calls and responsibilities don't take care of themselves. I told him I'll try to return in the spring. Hopefully putting that carrot out there will give him another thing to look forward to. While I was sad to leave everyone, I am oh so happy to be home :)