Dad report and Vogue, Stinky, Vogue

Been a while since I posted. Really not much going on around here though. I am HAPPY to report that Dad is doing so much better. He is in a care facility now and just sounds like he is coming along. That is such a relief. Keep the prayers coming for him still and we sure appreciate all you folks that have shown concern and prayers.

Saturday,, "Stinky" (Ch. Akadia Totally Intoxicating), got a bath to freshen her up and I decided to get some new photos of her. My friend Kristin Sittner was staying at my house for an agility trial so I asked for her help. The photos turned out great and I even got a movement shot, of which I have been wanting for some time. "Stinky" is my special for this year, co-owned by Ava Jane Pickering Ph.D, and we are particularly excited about the possibilities. The month of April brings on a lot of shows for us,, along with flying to the National. It should be fun.

I'm back, a few updates and picts

I thought I better check in and let you y'all know that I am still kickin.

I have been in Portland Oregon at the Rose City classic dog shows. Very fun time,, great to see the people and incredible dogs. We had some nice placements and Shortcake won the bred by class 3 of the 4 days. She is on the edge of winning, not quite in full coat from her major coat blow, so it won't be long. She showed like her usual self,, baiting all the time till the judge looks.. Darn little girl has this habit of not being patient. She gives me just so much time and if she doesn't get fed by her wishes then she literally will start scanning the crowd for handouts. Little stinker!. She did move out very nicely and actually seemed to have a lot of get-up-and-go.

Unfortunately, Friday my dad took a turn for the worse and was put back into ICU in critical condition. His kidneys were failing and he was having internal bleeding. They ended up transferring him to another hospital and he is doing better now. A colonoscopy revealed not much but they took a biopsy to check out. Keep him in your prayers.

I got real sick in Portland on Sunday night. Monday showing was interesting as I wasn't sure from moment to moment if I might need to leave for a bit. I made it though pretty good.

We got home last night at about 8:30 and I worked today. Been trying to catch up on things this afternoon while still fighting some sickness and a bit of a sore throat.

Jewelee and Price's puppies are 6 wks now and got their first shot today with some worming as well. I really like 4 of the 5 for show puppies potentials. The tiny girl will go to my brother as a spoiled addition to his house.

Bell and Brock puppies have their eyes open now and are about the prettiest 3 wk olds I have had. They are so red and the heads on them are so lean and smooth. I expect this litter will be smashing. I will get new photos soon. Meantime, these are the pictures of the Jewelee/Price babies last week.

Its gotta get better

oh,, I guess I am having one of those days.
I talked to dad this morning. He just isn't doing any better. He sounds so down and not himself. Is it weird for me to say I miss my dad? I do.. I know he is still alive and trying to get better but I miss him. I miss the weekly calls, the sharing of photos, being able to just talk about this or that and knowing that he was there.
Since he has been in the hospital, he hasn't had a computer and he is very weak so talking on the phone is hard. He has a hard time holding the phone to talk.
I guess I am just having one of those days of reflection where I am realizing what dad means to me. I came across one of his emails in my inbox the other day when I was cleaning out my email. I couldn't bring myself to erase it. One of dad's great joys was sending jokes and his photos he had taken. I miss that so much
I just need a good cry. I will be better soon.. I pray that dad will be too.
thanks for listening to my woes,, friends.

Update on Dad

Talked to Dad last night. It was a hard conversation since Dad was having a bad night. He is still having very hard days. I wish there was more I could do for him. Having him in Kentucky and myself in Idaho is difficult. I know he is getting bored in the hospital (about a month now) and perhaps a bit depressed. I sure love my dad and wish I could be there with him.

Picture above is him on Christmas day with Betty, his love.

Please still keep him in your prayers. There is a hard road ahead for Dad,, I think he can do it.

thanks friends.

The weight of the world

I think everyone that has lived has had moments in life when you feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
For me,, it comes when I am confronted with sickness and death. The sadness I feel is one that makes me ache in my soul. I feel it internally and harbor it there. I've had times when I literally felt that my heart hurt,, just from the sadness. Nothing seems to help till I can go through my mourning and slowly process it. Probley the moments I remember most for feeling that way have been when I have lost something dear to me and when I see injustice occur. The longest I have ever felt this way has been with Bo going missing out of my yard,, almost 2 yrs ago. I still mourn that situation badly and think of it daily.
With all that has happened with Dad lately,, I have been feeling a lot of that weight. At first,, it was almost panic that hit me that I could lose dad. "Not now" I kept thinking. "I just can't lose him now". After the initial shock of what was happening subsided and the process of leaving to be with him got underway, some really amazing and miraculous things started happening. It was on my journey home yesterday that I realized how this incredibly sad time for me has made me stronger and more aware then ever.
Firstly, I found that my network of friends rushed to my side. Each one providing such good support and contributing in their own special way. Tricia said words of comfort to me that I swear God placed on her lips Himself,, knowing that was what I needed to hear.
Debbie stepped in and made a road trip for me to retrieve 2 returned dogs and then came out to my house daily to exercise my house dogs.
Tammy rushed right in,, no questions asked, and took my "in labor" bitch and whelped the litter and kept momma and babies for me while I was gone.
Then,, there was the prayer chain of friends offering special prayers and blessings. We joked to Dad that he had every denomination out there praying for him.
My email was full of comforting words and acknowledgements.
Secondly,, in this time when we are at our worst financially (we've had to close our business due to the economy) and I didn't know where a spare penny would come from,, I was able to sell one of the adult dogs I had available to a wonderful home where he will be adored. This provided a great deal of the money needed to go see dad.
And lastly,, a spirit of comfort from God. For once in my life, I am at more peace with the future then I have been in some time. I know that His will is to be done regardless of our intervention and I am ok with that. Dad was ok with that and even in the time of great sadness, facing his own death,, he was given comfort as well. We took the time in slowly and made each moment count. Remembering the past and looking to the future, as it is to be.
I came home last night and just sat in amazement of what I viewed as the weight of the world on me,, not being "me" at all.
The good Lord has provided for me time and time again and here is, perhaps, one of the most special times of all. He placed people, friends and family in all the right spots of my situation to help with what was happening. Like a well orchestrated baseball team. Each playing there base and catching the ball every time it was hit to them.
To say I feel humbled,, would be appropriate.

Dad woke up from his bypass surgery. That was a huge relief and big concern. Now,, a tough road ahead. The surgery showed severe damage from previous heart attacks (that Dad thought was indigestion) and even with the new arteries,, his heart is only able to work at 10 percent capacity.
Dad has had a hard life. Polio as a kid of 7,, Muscular dystrophy, post polio syndrome, and now the heart problem. He has spent most of his life in full leg braces and for the last 10 years, in a wheel chair. I don't tell you this for sympathy, but to show what a fighter my dad is. They told him he would never walk. He played football and basketball,, for a while, till his legs broke. Several surgeries to his knees later,and they told him he would be in a wheelchair most of his life.. didn't happen till 10 yrs ago. All the while remaining positive and loving life. I NEVER heard my dad complain,, even when I knew he was in great pain. So if ever a person could pull through,, dad will.
Keep the prayers coming and I promise to be more positive in my next post.
God Bless you all and THANK YOU!

Update on dad

Update on my dad..
He will undergo bypass surgery on Wednesday morning.
Kind of the only option. The doctors told him that if he didn't that he would only have about a month to live. Surgery is risky,, but dad has a fighting spirit.
Keep him in your prayers.
I'll be back from Kentucky on Thursday