Miss Bella

Are you ready for the whole story?
Here it goes .....

On Halloween night I was here alone passing out candy...and I'm usually okay being alone but for some reason it just got to me.  I brought a chair out on the porch to pass out the candy so I could visit with the kids a little easier  .....and during the slow times I was on Facebook (using my iPad).

One of my friends had posted a darling picture of her dog in a Halloween costume and it started the water works.  It made me think of my Fluffy and Sissy and I couldn't shake the sadness.  So, I turned off my lights ... got my laptop and spent the next few hours looking at dogs online.

I found a cool website that allowed to you enter what you wanted in a dog and then it would make suggestions.  The King Charles Cavalier Spaniel was the 1# choice for our house.  Cocker Spaniel was another ...along with a Bichon Frise.

I kept looking ...because I wasn't a fan of having dog hair in the house ....and preferred a non shedding dog (we have horrible allergies ... Brooke & I and Dave is allergic to cats).

I then put the puppy search on the back burner ... decided now was not the time for a new pet.
Until .... I was looking out the front door and saw my neighbor with a dog that look like a Bichon Frise (that's what Fluffy and Sissy were) except it was half white and half black.  It was so stinkin cute I had to go over and pet it ...and then I had to ask "what kind of dog is it" and she said it's a mix breed ...a Bichon and something.  It was one of her friends and she was dog sitting it.

That's it ...the trigger that started it all ....I couldn't get to my house fast enough ....I wanted to Google King Charles Cavalier Spaniel mix breed.  As soon as I did the Cavachon came up.  They are half King Charles Cavalier and half Bichon Frise and I spent the next three hours looking for a Cavachon to adopt on Pet Finder.  And I found a few but they were not going to be a good match for our home.

I then decided to google Cavachon in the state of Kansas ... or a Breeder in Iowa (not that far from here).  I never found a breeder in either state but I found some in  ..... Washington, Tennessee, Ohio and a few other.   I choose Tennessee because it's my home and I just felt at ease.

Some of my friends were concerned about:

1. I was buying a puppy I had never met.
2. How did I know I could trust the breeder?
3. She's too little to fly on a plane.

So, my answers were:

1. I too have an online business and I sell to people that don't know me ...but they trust me.
2. I spoke with the breeder and it just felt right.  Also ..how could I resist Bella ...she is sooo beautiful!
3. I'd rather take a chance of her flying ...than buy another dog that would result in me being told she'll never live past three or four years old.  When you go through an experience like that ...it forces you to look at other options.  I felt this time I had to do a better at finding a good breeder.   Now after saying all that it makes me sound like I wish I had never had Fluffy & Sissy ....and that's not the case.  I loved them with all of my heart. I just want to have a healthy dog for once in my life!!  If it doesn't work out ...then at least I can say I did everything I could.

After I talked to the breeder I told her to pray for me ...it was my 20th anniversary and this puppy was what I wanted....but I had to convince my husband.

That was the hardest because I told everyone I was never having another dog...and I meant it.   So, it's natural that Dave would want to protect me and say NO.  But .... when it was time to go to the Jewelry store to pick out a new ring ...I said no .... I wanted the puppy.

As you can see I won .... he gave in :)

After we paid for Bella I was a little worried about the potty training and all the work.  But I think God knows this year almost did me in and it was time for some good things to happen.

Bella has slept through the night every night and she goes potty every time I take her outside.  She has been the best experience I've ever had with a new pet and I love her soooo much!  She's just what the doctor ordered!!!

Stay tuned ...
p.s. I hope you all like animals .... this blog may turn into a blog about Miss Bella.

Miss Autumn Bella

It's officially been 24 hours and I'm in love!!! She's such a good puppy!

And I really want to share the "whole story" with you ...but I'm tired to type.   I'll try to post more pictures tomorrow...in the meantime if you want to check out all of her pictures you can find her at www.facebook.com/autumnbella ....she'd love to have you as a friend.

Good night!
p.s. thanks for all the emails .... I agree I think she is just what the doctor ordered!!

She's here!

More details tomorrow!

- Post by Angie Kennedy Juda using BlogPress from my iPhone

More puppy stuff :)

It's no secret I'm a little OCD at times ...but I'll warn you I'm going overboard.  Still can't sleep.  Had to transfer my body to the sofa last night so my hubby could get some sleep ..... I  read a few chapters of my book to redirect my thoughts from puppy back to sleep.

 I keep thinking about her name .... how she'll do on the plane ... will she like us ... how can I keep her from getting other dog germs ....  and will she miss her brothers and sisters a lot.  In other words I'm a worry wort!!!


We still can't decide a name ....I really like Bella ...but Dave says no.  Chase wants to name her Jigglypuff (one of our favorite pokemon characters from way back).  Dave wants to name her Muffin so he can call her Pumpkin Muffin (one of Brooke's favorite food items).   And Brooke likes Lily & Lady.

Hopefully when we see her darling face a name will jump out at us.  I'd even be happy calling her "Darling" ....but can you see my husband outside yelling "come on darling"?

I think I may be leaning toward Lily.... but when I was growing up we had a goat named Pickle Lily and her baby we named Little Lily.  

See ya!
p.s. I almost forgot the most important thing .... or maybe I already said this ... as soon as we name her ....I'm creating her Facebook page.  If you're not a fan of Facebook I'll still post pictures here but her Facebook page is going to have it all ... milestones and everything.  (I already warned you I was going overboard...I thought about her own blog ...but Facebook is really easy.)

Puppy Countdown

Countdown has ended!

Worthless warning :)

Just a little heads up ...I'm totally having an OCD thing with the new puppy.  I had a hard time sleeping last night ... for the 2nd night in a row..  I'm just to excited!! 

So....I'm warning everyone ....I may be a bit scattered next week.  I have multiple doctors appts, Stamp Club ... 2 times, appt with Apple to learn how to move things from one computer to another (video files are not as simple as copy and paste .... or least not for me), father in law is having knee replacement surgery and we get our puppy.  Just typing it frightens me :O

I'm kidding but it does scare me just a tad considering I'm usually wiped out my 4pm.
So ...this weekend I'm going to clean my office and our house and get ready so I can spend a bunch of time holding our darling puppy.

Brooke is starting to sound like me .... she said last night ...what happens if the dog has an accident in the airplane.  And .... maybe we should bring a couple blankets with us.  How darling.....I'd already planned to bring blankets.  I wish I could get Dave to drive so I could hold the puppy ...but he'll be out of town (as usual)....that means Brooke will get to hold her all the way home.  Dang it!!  I had to remind her last night that this dog/puppy is mine .... I'll share .....but she's mine.  Why?  because when she goes to college or when she moves out ....she can't take my dog too!!  We both laughed :)

We've been tossing names around .... and right now we've narrowed it down to Bella or Lady.  I think ...it's going to be Autumn Bella and we'll call her Bella.  But we also may change her name the minute we see her.

See ya!

New Puppy

Stay tuned for more news on our new puppy!!

Diet

I mentioned this morning that I had two positive things to share. The first one is I started a diet ...I know here we go again! But after having my surgery I've gained weight and although I haven't gained a ton ...my shape has changed and NOTHING fits!!!

So, it's been a little over a week and I've lost 2 pounds ...with the diet I'm following I should lose 1 to 2 pounds a week and I weigh myself every Monday (terrible day I know but oh well ...that's the day I started).

I've kept a food journal since I started my Thyroid meds and once I started writing everything down .... it was clear I was not making good food choices. 

Once I shed a few more pounds and see if this diet is going to stick I'll share what I'm doing.

Wish me luck!!

Disappearing act

Sorry I've been gone for a while!  Some days I think everyone wants me to write and some days I think you must think I'm looney and wondering why I'm writing.
And ....when I get sad or depressed I hide or pull a disappearing act.

I constantly tell my children that if they can't say something nice ...don't say anything at all.  People have always felt the need to correct me or change me and I just want to tell people to please lighten up.  We should have fun ...we should laugh and we're going to make a lot of mistakes.  But we're human ...we're supposed to!!  It's all a part living our live to the fullest. 

This year I've met some of the nicest people in my life ....I've also met some of the most negative.  And when you don't feel well ...the negative tends to weigh very heavy on your heart.  If those negative people really knew me ...they'd already know I beat myself up enough as it is.  I'm opinionated and have high standards and even I fail myself ...often!!  But it doesn't stop me..... it just sets me back a tad.

Sorry for the downer post but I wanted to let you know why I was hiding!!

Now for the health update .... I have some good news and some not so good news.
My foot .... is finally pain free.  I can walk without any pain.  This summer I thought I was going to die the pain was so bad.  I've been going twice a week to my Chiropractor and I'm happy to report it's no longer hurting.  She said I'll always have the spur but I can live pain free as long as I do my homework.  (I love her!!)   

My thyroid medication was increased by four times and I have more energy.  More like the old Angie ....except it doesn't last as long.  4pm is usually when my energy departs for the day :)

So, now for the bad news .... my right side is still hurting me non stop.  My right thumb is still numb.  My neck is no longer hurting ...but my shoulder, back and arm hurt something awful!! I ask my doctor on Monday was I ever going to feel my thumb again and she said "yes" but I'll admit I'm getting worried.  All the Quilts I was going to make for Christmas ...again has been put on hold.  I'm not sure why ...but God must have other plans for me.

Last but not least.... My eyesight is still blurry.  I went back to the doc a few weeks ago and one of them said that even their main doctor took 8 months for his eyes to blend.  I wanted to say "why didn't you say that to me sooner" but I kept my mouth shut.  I have to say I'm worried that I may never be able to look at a computer screen again without this blurriness.  But I continue to pray it will get better. 

So....that's it ... now you see why I haven't posted much lately.  I just want so badly to share good news instead of all the concerns I still have.

Thanks for all the emails asking me where I'd gone and if I was okay ....I'm sorry I worried some of you. 

On a lighter note ... I have two positive things I will share soon :)

Have a great day!!