What Christmas Gives We Cannot Buy

I went out this morning with great intentions.  I was going to surprise someone with a card and pick up a gift for our granddaughter.  Turns out I got the surprise.  Missed out on giving the card to someone and then didn't find what I wanted at Michaels.  I was looking at a bunch of traffic piled on the highway and nobody looked happy in the cars.  Talk about a joy sucking monster starting to grow in my attitude.  All it took was a look in ...

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Bella Being Bella in our Pack – Stuff That Makes Things Fun

This morning around 11:00 a.m., Mark and I were getting ready to go to the art show in Raleigh.  With three doggie children, it can get interesting when we get ready to leave.  I had just called Luke and Rusty to come into our bedroom so they could sack out while we were gone for a couple of hours.  It was ONLY the three of us in the bedroom and I am straightening things up when I hear what sounds like "mouse or rat" rustlings noise coming ...

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Our Bella is Five Months Old!

Our sweet Bella is now five months old!  She is such a precious part of our family that it is hard to imagine that we were doing okay before she joined us.  I weighed her on Saturday and she topped out at 14.6 pounds.  Still has her cute teddy bear face and we are seeing a blondish tint to her facial fur but still our ginger little red head.  She just had her first official junior puppy trim and it looks like we are now seeing the end of ...

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My "Short List For Hospital Emergency Department and Hospital "In-Patient" Survival" 1.  I WILL ALWAYS carry my Healthcare Power of Attorney for my husband with me and a copy of all of his current meds, with dosage amounts and any meds that he is allergic or reactive to and what happens when they are taken. 2.  I WILL make sure that I have a DOCTOR THAT KNOWS HOW TO READ AND DOES READ THE INFORMATION REGARDING MY HUSBAND. 3.  I ...

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When my husband suffered a severe loss of consciousness and what looked to me to be a sudden death type of event, I called 911.  I started rescue efforts and was able to hear air and feel air moving in and out of my husband's lungs.  A Medic 3 and an EMT arrived and I quickly told them about his being treated at Duke Raleigh Hospital about 12 hours before this current event had happened.  They got him in the ambulance and within 20 minutes, I ...

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A Progress Report on Our Sweet Bella

I cannot begin to even figure out a way to tell you how funny, loving and just pure joy this little cutie brings to us each day.  Bella is a wonderful example of  what a puppy owner can expect when he or she puts in the time, love and energy to help their puppy nestle into their family.   I am a firm believer in making sure that the puppy fits the family and the family fits the puppy.   Going to see the puppy that you think you might want ...

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Bella Has Her Cast Off !

On Thursday, September 4th, Bella and I went to Wake Forest Animal Hospital.  Dr. Manning came in and Bella was her usual charming self.  Her cast was removed and her skin and fur looked great.  There were no rubbed or raw places.  I was tickled to see that by having the recommended routine cast changes, Bella's skin had remained in great condition while it was in the cast. Her little leg isn't as strong as her other legs but time and ...

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Bella’s New Veterinarian Service

Sometimes we have to consider when to make a change in pet healthcare providers.   In the area in which we live, we are fortunate to have many quality pet care providers.  That's why, today, I am changing pet care providers for Bella.  As Bella's voice, I like to share positive care given to her and compliment the doctors and staff who are giving Bella that care.  That being said, when the care Bella receives is not satisfactory to me, ...

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Bella’s Fancy Cast Goes “Funky” !

It started Saturday night with a suggestion from the hubby that he thought Bella's cast smelled "funny".   As us Moms are used to doing, I gave it the sniff test.  Old grass stain, a bit of rotting mowed grass, interwoven with the scent of dirt blended together to make an "old" smell was all I got from my quick shot at doing the sniff test.  Sunday came and went and then along came Monday.  It was Mark's birthday.  Amidst the family ...

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The Drug That Taught Me About Depression

Since the death of Robin Williams, there has been a lot of discussion by experts on how drugs can affect our brains.   There are treatment drugs for Parkinson's Disease and while many work well for people, there are some that come with a dark side that can be dangerous to the people taking them for help in controlling their disease.  One woman on the news tonight, another expert in Parkinson's treatment drugs,  made the statement that even ...

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