Josie in Action

New Photos

Not much is happening here except that Josie is growing bigger every day. We thouht we'd post some of the latest photos. As you can see Pogo is warming up to her. I thought she looked cute in the yellow dress so I had to capture it. Finally, she hates tummy time but loves the quilt from Davina.

Remembering Frank

Many of you know our trials with Frank as he got older. We knew from the vet that it was a neurological issue and that the time would come when he would lose the use of his hind legs and bathroom control. Over the last month it had become worse and he was having trouble getting up and down, he was dragging his right foot sometimes, and having numerous "accidents" in the house. Okay, I admit it he was going to the bathroom inside more than outside. We took him to the vet Monday to be put to sleep and the vet did some tests and confirmed that this was the right time given his declining condition. It was a difficult day given that we have only had him for 3 years but we know that he lived a better life with us than he did as a stray dog wandering around Sacramento. Many of you know the story I tell about all the reasons why we should never have gotten him but he was a great dog and we miss him dearly.

He did not really seem to know what was going on when we brought Josie home but whenever he heard her cry he would go to where she was to make sure things were okay. When he saw that we had the situation under control he would leave the room or lay down where we were. We wanted some pictures of them together and he just laid there on the floor and when we propped her up against him he just sighed, looked up, and then put his head down.

I put her next to his head the next day and he just laid there until she started crying. Then he just looked at me as if to say "Do you have this under control?" When I picked Josie up he put his head back down and sighed. We wish that she could have had the chance to play with him.

Ernie seems sad and has become very clingy with both Jay and me.

He was Frank to the end - he peed all over the vet table. We will remember him fondly.

Meeting "Uncle Mike"

"Uncle Mike" came up from Salinas the weekend before last to hang out and meet Josie for the first time. It was nice to see him again since it has been a while since he visited. He and Josie hit it off from the start. This picture was too cute to pass up - I came around the corner and saw them together and had to capture the moment. Hopefully we will see him again soon.

Well finally I am sitting down to give the latest information on Josie. After Jay's mom left we had two weeks to hang out just the three of us. Things went well, some nights were longer than others and some days showers happened later in the day but we figured it out. Josie had her first doctor's appointment and she was 1/2 inch longer and 1.5 pounds heavier. The doctor said she was doing great.

Uncle Dave came out for a few days to visit and he and Josie had a great time together. He was all about holding her until she got too fussy and then he said that it was time for me to take her back.

My mom and dad and David were all for the Pear Fair together. Dad worked most of the day in the Information Booth selling things and giving some information. We don't have much information to give so it really is not an information booth.

It was very windy and cold the morning of the Pear Fair so Josie did not wear the dress. :( Additionally, it is way too big for her. We will take a picture of her in it so we can have pictures of both she and Avari in the dress.

Mom and dad were here for a week and tahnks to them the house is cleaner and our yard does not look so bad any longer.

Mom brought this baby carrier from Guatemala. She got it at the weaving cooperative. It is what all the women use to carry their babies on their backs. As you can see we tried it with Josie and she was not interested. Partly she can't hold herself up enough so we will try again when she is older. We had a riot, at her expense, trying to make it work. Mom and I were hysterical, dad was telling jokes that were less than politically correct, and Jay was speaking in Spanish.

We are now on our own again and so far so good. Josie is beginning to notice things around her and is doing better at night. We have had trips out places, including dinner with friends in a restaurant and afew hours at a training with me. She really is a laid back kid for the most part.

I'll try to be better about keeping this up to date.

Love to all.