Salem has a new bestie

Salem and Hope have in just a short amount of time become bestie's. For as much trouble he gets himself in he sure is a sweet little dog. I love them to pieces.

How cute is this little face. Just a precious as ever.

Salem… my love

How could you not love this face. He may love to tear up every paper product he can find including and not limited to newspaper, napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, wipes and any piece of paper he can find but how could no not fall in love with him?

Happiness

I love coming home after a along day at work to his guy.

 

After Indy died I didn’t think I would be able to find another dog that would truly be a companion.  Salem will never take Indy’s place but he sure does bring me happiness.  I love having him around even with all of his quirkiness.

 

 

Every evening Salem does this.  Without fail around 7:00 he just starts barking at me.  For just a couple of minutes and then he jumps up next to me and it’s over.  I want to think that he is telling me about his day with a little animation.

I think I love him more everyday. 

Burrrrr it’s cold out there.

We had Thomas and Noelle’s last soccer games and that morning was unbelievably cold outside.  Salem even had to put his “tech vest” on.  

Once again Thomas is the only one that can calm Karly down.  She just loves her big brother. It’s really nice to see their loving relationship.  I hope it stays that way throughout the years. 

Salem wasn’t happy with his vest until he was outside…

Noelle played in her last soccer game of the year. 

She scored her very first goal.  It may have been for the other team but it was still a goal in her mind. YAY Noelle!

Thomas also played in his last soccer game.  No goal for him but he was a great goalie.

He may not have scored a goal but he improved his game and his confidence this year.  He played goalie 1/2 the game during each game and only gave up one goal.  I was a proud Auntie.  

Brothers

Ollie came to spend a few days with Salem.  Salem was very happy to have his brother here to visit.

Karly’s First Pony and Fun at Grandpa’s

A couple of weeks ago we went to church bright and early Sunday morning before heading to Grandpa’s house for a dry run to prepare for football season.

Karly had her first pony.  Her hair is so fine and blonde that it’s hard to tell but there really was a pony….

Once we changed out of our church clothes and into our “Sunday Pants” the pony was gone to.

 

 

Karly loves Salem!

 

 

 

We watched a baseball game and then played a little hotbox with the kids while dinner was finishing up on the BBQ. The kids love playing ball with Grandpa in the backyard.  Salem loves playing ball too…

And it wouldn’t be Sunday at Grandpa’s without ice cream.

 

And Noelle wouldn’t be Noelle if she didn’t lick the bowl (just like her Auntie and she was kid).

 

 

 

 

 

Salem was wore out by the time we got home.

 

 

It' was the perfect run through and I think we’re ready for football season.

Two Sad Good-Byes and Two New Family Members

Noelle has had horrible eczema and allergies since she was baby. She can go weeks with no signs of the eczema and then all of the sudden she will have it all over her body.  Kelly has taken her the Pediatrician several times and she has been given medication for when she does have a breakout however it doesn’t always work right away.  We’ve tried different lotions, soaps, shampoos just about everything you can think of. Then about six months ago she had a horrible breakout so Kelly took her to the Pediatrician again to see if there was anything else they could prescribe or suggestions that Kelly could do for her. There was a suggestion that the family dog, Pismo, could be part of the problem. If that really was the case that was a huge problem because every household in our family has a dog. At this point Kelly was desperate so she and Dave really needed to consider finding a new home for Pismo. They had tried everything else she could think of and nothing was working.  Noelle was scratching herself up to the point that she was bleeding so something had to give.  After a lot thought and prayer Kelly and Dave decided that they needed to find a new home for Pismo in hopes that Noelle would start feeling better.  They found a great home for Pismo with a family that loves her.  The day after Pismo went to her new home Kelly had the housekeepers come in a do a deep cleaning and overnight Noelle started getting better.  Every night for months Noelle would start out in her own bed and then end up in Kelly’s room because she would wake up in the night scratching until she was so miserable that she couldn’t sleep.  However, after Pismo was gone and all of her hair and dander was gone Noelle slept through the night in her own bed.  That was a HUGE accomplishment. Kelly and Dave knew at that time that they had made the right decision for their family. 

I wasn’t as ready to make the same decision.  Living alone is hard and can be lonely. Buttons had become part of my family and I couldn’t imagine having to get rid of her.  About 3 weeks ago it became clear that since Noelle spends so much time here that I needed to do the same thing.  It wasn’t an easy decision to make but it was the right one. I used a rescue agency to help find her a good home and last Sunday I received a message that they had found the perfect home for her.  I took her on Wednesday to meet her new family.  It was really difficult for me to do but I also know that it was the right thing to do.  I have received an email everyday since then with a picture and a story of her day.  The family that she is with lost their Boston Terrier in January and have been waiting to find what they said was the perfect dog and they have fell in love with Buttons.  I feel really good about how things have turned out and that Buttons is with a loving family that will take good care of her!

With all that being said Thomas and Noelle have really wanted a dog and have asked over and over about getting a new one.  My Mom and Chris had recently got a new Shih Tzu, Poochy, and Noelle had been around him several times and too all of our surprise she was fine.  She never broke out after being around the the dog.  Kelly did some research and found that Shih Tzu’s are good with kids and whatever it was that Noelle had a problem with with Pismo and Buttons was obviously less likely with a Shih Tzu.  They also have one at her day care and she hasn’t had any problems with that dog.

One day while she and Dave were out shopping at Lowes there was a lady with two Shih Tzu puppies in her cart.  After sometime thinking about it they took the kids to the lady’s house and see how she would do.  Noelle didn’t have any problems so Kelly decided it was the right thing to do.  So, now we have two members of the family.

Noelle with Ollie (he will stay at Kelly’s house and come to mine on the weeks that she works.)

Karly with Salem (He will stay at my house. And yes he was named after my favorite show Days of Our Lives…. I know ridiculous but it fits him perfectly. )

 

They are good dogs and the kids love them.  Noelle can’t seem to get enough of them and carries them around just like this all the time.  The best part….. no allergy or eczema problems.

Another example of how things happen for a reason.  Pismo is doing great at her new home and the family really needed a good family dog for their son.  Buttons is with a great family that had lost their dog and is in love with her already.  Lastly, Thomas, Noelle and Karly have two perfect dogs that make the family complete without making anyone sick!!!!