Poor Hudson

Where do I start with Hudson. Well, if only it was a bad case of gingivitis. We have been through a roller coaster of a ride with the dog. We should have budgeted more for him. After taking him to the internal medicine doctor we came to the conclusion he had snout cancer. We had to do one more lab test to rural out a fungal infection before starting him on steroids and pain meds. We had prepared ourselves with Hudson having snout cancer and started to prepare for making sure he had a great time with what he had left with us. Well, the fungal test came back positive, so he doesn't have cancer. The vet offered scans, surgery, and all sorts of treatment with only a 60% cure rate. It would only cost us $12,000. When all three kids ask can we have a car, go to college....I will just whip out a picture of the dog and say no.....This is what you get! A picture of the dog that took your money. We decided to turn down the surgery offer and treat him with oral medications. The oral medications are still a bit pricey, but we are going to give it a try for a bit and hope it can help. The good news is that Hudson is now on the Walgreens prescription plan. For a small fee he qualifies for meds at a very reduced rate due to him not having insurance. I now go to the pharmacy for meds for the dog! Wish us luck, Rob is defiantly not ready to let his first born go and I am struggling a tiny bit as well!

They Hatched

Our praying mantis egg hatched today! It said we could get 75-200 nyphys and we got over a 150, but less than 175? If you look closely you can see the tiny little guys on the top of the butterfly habitat. The kids were thrilled to see the transformation and the egg finally do something!

You know it is bad when our kids see a moth or bug flying free in our house and give the statement: Look mom we have a new pet!

New Pets

I really can blame this one on my neighbor Darcy. She wanted to get a praying mantis egg and said she would split shipping with me if I got one. I couldn't resist that offer!  I then ended up getting the praying mantis egg and lady bug larvae. I missed my calling in being an entomologist. The kids are fascinated and I am excited to see if the egg hatches. I am a bit nervous, it states we could get 200 nymphs. Wish me luck!

RIP-Lucky

Oh, my goal is actually see what the average life span of a beta fish really is and not the lifespan they get in our household. While we were having a great time in KC, our fish wasn't having such a good time. He has been acting funny for some time, but we adapted to his normal and made it our own normal for a fish. He wouldn't swim to the bottom of the bowl and if he did it was sideways? So while we were gone, he floated to a better place. We didn't tell the kids, Rob just went and bought a new fish and put him in the tank and on our life went. Mason did get a bit suspicious.

Per Mason one morning discussing his thoughts on Lucky:

He was so different, but I am I don't know how he could be different?

Lucky got fatter. Also, when he got fatter he got a little more reddish on his sides and is moving more? I now keep looking at him every day to see if he is going to keep getting fatter.

I actually think he did all this growing fatter while I was sleeping?
I didn't have the heart to tell Mason that it was a "new" lucky. When we are gone on trips and he is ready to go home he tells me that he can't wait to get home because he misses lucky.

Hudson's Treat

Hudson is back to his normal self minus the stinky breath!

The kids took the time to color this scrap piece of cardboard. When they were all done they announced they had decorated Hudson's treat. I kid you not, no prompting or coaching on our part, they thought of the dog! It doesn't really warm my heart so much, but I know it warms Rob's that the kids thought of the dog. It might be sad that they think cardboard is a dog treat, but in Hudson's world it is! We didn't have the heart to tell them that most dogs don't think cardboard is a treat like their dog! That dog loves to eat cardboard!

Hudson is under the weather

Poor poor Hudson!

Gingivitis in humans is not good and it isn't good in dogs either. Hudson has a server case of it along with some sort of snout infection. We did all the testing to make sure it wasn't cancer. I use the term "we" loosely better say Rob is at the helm of talking care of his first born. He has been drooling and causing rust stained areas on the carpet, sluggish, and looking plain pathetic, just to be clear that is Hudson not Rob. Poor guy isn't eating and I refuse to buy soft dog food because we spent a lot in his treatment. I just add warm water to his kibble and it does the trick! After the amount of money I spent on having him looked over and putting him to sleep to have his teeth cleaned he gets the frugal way to eat food we already have! Good news is he is on the mend, but my pocket book will take some time to recover. We didn't budget this much for the dog! I'll tell the kids someday that part of their inheritance was spent on the dog, but with Rob he just might leave inheritance to the dog?!

Poor DC

She isn't lacking for love, that is for sure. I am not sure if I understand her anymore? She could run from the kids, but I don't know if she is that desperate or just too exhausted. She is old, but she lets Ellery carry her around and pet her. I found DC in Ellery's room the other day cuddling with her. Bryson isn't so sweet, he pulls her hair and tail. I did hear Ellery telling Bryson the other day to be nice because she will bite you if you aren't. I think Ellery is talking from experience, every time I see her with DC, DC is surprising loving and nice. I think the claws or the teeth might come out when I am not around to monitor the "extra" love!
Mason isn't that fond of her, but when everyone else gives her attention he joins in as well!

Pooley's Kitty Cats

Oh I am one lucky mom! We resisted these sweet little creatures! I won't make you read to the end to find out that we DID NOT come home with a new kitty cat. I do know seeds were planted and sweet kittens are wanted. Not by one, but all three kids. I think I am screwed because Rob is a cat person. Yikes! I do have to admit they were sweet and I would think about getting a kitten, but not while we have DC. She is a great cat to us, but not so friendly to other animals. We spent a good 20-30 min holding and playing with the kittens. I tempted them with pony rides and face painting and they were willing to hold kittens instead. We did go do the pony ride, but once we were done we went straight back to the kittens. Once we got away from them we had a good time, but I could have brought them to hold kittens and left the pumpkin patch and my kids would have thought it was the greatest trip to the patch! Maybe I will let them open a box some year with a kitten inside?!

Happy 9th Birthday Hudson

Hudson was thrilled with his birthday celebration this year!!! We let the kids wish it to him this year!

Hudson

This post is for my dear husband and his crazy love for the dog. Hudson is still a part of our family. Every since Rob read and trained Hudson from the Dog Whisper books he is tolerable. The kids love him and even Bryson is forming a bond with him. Rob has mentioned that Hudson needs a buddy, meaning another dog, but I don't think that is a good idea. Aunt Laurie had that same idea, and Uncle Tom caved and they now have two dogs. I am scared Rob might be getting new ideas, but I think showing some extra love towards Hudson might buy me some more time!

Love the Kitty

One would think DC would bolt the other way when she sees Ellery approaching. I think DC secretly dreams of her life prior to dogs and kids. She is a good cat, she has her claws and tolerates this? I guess any attention she can get these days she'll take, poor thing is just desperate.

Tadpoles

When Papaw came to visit a few weeks ago he brought us 30 tadpoles. I used to catch tadpoles when I was growing up and thought it would be fun for the kids to watch them grow legs and turn into frogs. We gave a few away to some friends, but we still had a lot of tadpoles we were caring for. Mason and Ellery really enjoyed them and I have to admit the pretty glass bowl full of tadpoles was our table center piece. I am sad to report that all the tadpoles have passed away. We didn't have any floaters until they started getting legs and then they just didn't make it. We will have to try again next year, but the kids enjoyed it while it lasted.

Dog Toy=Kid Toy

I knew this pretty little dog toy either belonged to my mom or Aunt Laurie and Uncle Tom. I noticed this toy showing up in the month of Feb. We had been home to see Nana and up to Sioux Falls so I wasn't sure what dog was missing this gem. We headed up to SD last month and brought Mr. Homeless dog toy with us. My kids were thrilled to get to bring it. I would take the toy away, but it always ended up back in their hands and it was becoming an all time favorite toy for them to play with. I am happy to report that Carson, the dog, is now happy to have his toy back, my kids are a bit disappointed they had to leave him behind.

Taz

While we were visiting Grandma Ellen we were able to spend some time with Rob's old cat Taz. One might be asking why this cat isn't living with us and why Ellen has it. The only ultimatum I have given Rob is "the cat or me". I refused to live in the same house as this cat after we got married due to legitimate reasons. To be honest I asked my brother to be a hit man and get rid of this cat during the weekend of our wedding. Since he didn't fulfill the job Ellen took the cat in, but if anyone knows someone who knows someone who can "take care" of Taz please let me know. The cat might look nice and cuddly, but rest assured looks can be deceiving. People have thrown grape fruits at the cat, ended up on antibiotics because he scratched them so deeply, and with scars from bite marks, etc. The list goes on and on. When we arrived at Grandma Ellen's Taz didn't take to his usual tactics to run and hide and attack for no reason at any given moment. Instead he buttered up my kids pretending to be nice and lured them in and once he had them fooled......he hissed and attacked. Our sensitive Mason lost control of his emotions for a bit while Ellery looked horrified and ran for her life. No one was hurt, but if Taz blocked the walkway my kids would find alternate routes over or around furniture and squeeze through small spaces just to avoid the cat (he ended up getting locked up in a room). This just proves I made a good sound decision by not bringing this cat into our home.

Metamorphosis

I forgot to take a picture of the caterpillar we caught from our dill plant. He was the size of a rice grain when we brought him in and put him on display as our new pet. We were fascinated on how fast he grew and how much he ate. We had to clean out his glass castle everyday and give him fresh dill because he would eat it up. Mason enjoyed watching him and during nap time one day he turned into his chrysalis. Then this past Sunday when we got home from church we had a beautiful butterfly waiting for us. It was truly miraculous watching metamorphosis right before out eyes.

Happy Birthday Hudson

Hudson is 7 years old today. I have threatened him many of times that I was going to take him to the pound and I can proudly say I haven't done that in so long that I can't remember the last time I told him. It makes me laugh to think we used to get him a doggie b-day cake and throw him a party and invite his dog friends over to play. What a hoot! I treat him like a dog now, but Rob still treats him like a child. I am very thankful that Rob brought the dog whispering ways into our home, that is why I don't threaten to take him to the pound anymore. I am sad to report that I never got him his bone a year ago, but this year we told Mason that it was Hudson's birthday and Mason instantly requested to get to eat some of his cake. I think he was disappointed to learn that we got Hudson a bone rather than a cake, but forgot the disappointment when we let him give the dog a bone.
http://chaplinclan.blogspot.com/2008/08/happy-birthday-hudson.html

Turtle Dove

Our newest member of the family showed up while we were vacationing on the beach. We got home late Sat. night and I was out watering my flowers on the deck when I was scared to death when a bird fluttered away. I got to looking closer and noticed she was sitting on her nest that she made in my herb garden hanging off the deck. Those babies are going to smell just like basil when they hatch and look so pretty garnished with parsley.

Camp Bow Wow

While we were gone Hudson went to Camp Bow Wow. It is a kennel that allows the dogs to go to doggie day care during the day. Hudson had to go for an afternoon to "try out" and I was sure he would come back with a less than average score, but he shocked me and got 4 out of 5 "tail wags". His passing grade allowed him to stay while we went to the beach. They even had a link you could go and visit so you could view your dog at camp bow wow and watch him play with others. Our internet at the beach house was a bit sluggish so we only viewed him once, but he seemed happy. He did come home tired as can be so that is a plus.

Beach Finds

Along with finding the star fish this year we also found and caught other beach life.
We are thinking the Discovery Channel might contact us for a spin off from Deadliest Catch to Amazing Beach Catches with a 3 year old host. I was able to catch itty bitty crabs and I was shocked when Mason asked to hold them. Ellery shook her head no to the idea.

We also found a ray caught in a tidal pool. I was able to catch him in a bucket and put him back in the ocean. Before we caught him we all put two finders in the tidal pool as he swam by and petted him, including Mason.

Nature at its best

The miracle of life amazing me. We came home from our trip and found the robin's nest eggs hatched. We had two little birdies right outside our window and we have watched her feed them worms multiple times. Mason loves it and Ellery watches intently as well.