Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Answering the painful questions



For those of you hurting and wanting to know WHY jack-jack is no longer with us below is a web address (copy & paste into browser) about Adrenal Failure in dogs. It states dogs can have it for a long time with little or no signs then have an 'episode' that can be fatal. The vet mentioned this could be the cause but was not positive. This fits the bill for our little monkey more so than if he were poisoned. He just wouldn't eat anything foreign. He was SO picky he wouldn't even eat chicken if he didn't like the sauce!

Last summer jack had an absessed tooth which grew into an infection in his cheek, he had to have a few teeth removed and the absess cleaned out. It was a minor situation but i'm wondering if his blood was tainted from the infection thus maybe setting off this adrenal failure? Knowing or not knowing won't bring our little man back but it gives us some piece of mind.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5669913_adrenal-failure-dogs.html




Another disease that we found that seems to fit the symptoms, although the vet didn't mention it is •Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis (HGE). copy & paste the link into your browser then click on the "common disease" tab and it will take you to a list, then click on HGE.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseaseh/a/HGEindogs.htm


RIP little Monkey, we love and miss you SO SO much!











Sunday, February 20, 2011

Heavy Heart...


It is with a very heavy heart that I write this post today. Our little "furry child" jack-jack passed suddenly today. We aren't sure exactly what happened. The vet thought maybe he ate something poisonous but we really doubt that could be it. He is the pickiest little eater ever. He wouldn't eat table scraps unless they were chicken or beef... they said he could maybe had adrenal failure but we aren't sure why? He was fine yesterday but got sick, puking/diahrea in the middle of the night. It isn't totally abonormal for him to puke. He was much like a cat in that he would puke from time to time. I didn't think much of it as the puke didn't look bad or abnormal. I figured it would pass through him. He rested and when B checked on him at 7am ( he usually sleeps in our bed but we put him in the mudroom b/c of the mess) he seemed "better". He greeted Brandon and he held him for a bit and he had even been drinking water, which i felt was a great sign. I went to check on him at 9ish ( i had slept in since i was up with him in the middle of the night) and when i picked him up there was blood in his bed ( from his stool) and he was listless. I wasn't even sure if he was alive, I brought him to Brandon in the shower and then we rushed him to the vet but they couldn't save him. They tried everything but the poor little guy was just too little to fight.

He was 3.3lbs. 4 1/2 years old and our baby. We are both at a total loss and grieving. Cash keeps asking "where'd monkey go" and he says " don't cry mommy". Billie-girl our springer is moping around as well. She keeps looking for him.

For those of you lucky enough to have known Jack-Jack you know he was 1,000% loved and spoiled and lived more life in his short 4 1/2 years than most pups live in 12. He was never left at home (except for extreme hot/cold weather days when he'd need to stay in the car) and from day 1 he even went to the office with me EVERY day when I was in Real Estate. My boss even INSISTED he be allowed to come in with me when we switched offices from Cbbain to Windermere. (Thank you Maria!) Jack was a wonderful little guy and he will be missed each and every day. I'm so sad he won't get to meet our little girl, he loved Cash when he was a newborn, snuggling up with him in the lamb chair.

I hope you all give your pets a few extra hugs today for us.

With Love
Gretchen, Brandon, Cash and Billie-dog

Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Name Game...

So of course, as it was with Cash James, we had a boy name we both agreed upon. (And we're keeping it hush hush in case there is a NEXT TIME). Boy names are easy. At least in our family we feel they are. Girl names on the other hand are harder. Maybe because you want them to be cute & girly when they are little but then professional (you know, in case she becomes a lawyer) when they are older. Probably how STIFF & PROPER names came into play back in the day. Even the most grown up girl name has a cute 'n sweet nick-name hiding in there. Case in point my grandma MILDRED... can you imagine calling a tiny baby girl Mildred. Thus comes into play MILLIE. So super sweet you can almost see the pig-tails and smell the lolipops! Although my grandma is still that sweet so she still goes by Millie. =)

Anyhow, I digress... our number one name, which we have told some, mostly to mixed review just seems sweet. It ends in an "IE" and thus I worry she will never be taken seriously as an adult. Granted you can drop off the "IE", which would be a somewhat odd "given" name but could give her some street cred lol

As for her middle name i'm all about "family" middle names. So we are leaning towards RAE (maternal grandfather & uncle) or MAY (paternal great aunt). They both fit nicely with our choice, assuming we stick with the name most people don't love.

A good friend of mine told me that at the end of the day we need to be happy with our choice. Everyone else will just have to DEAL! I'm just trying to keep my yap shut so people stop "opinionating" on our almost 99% choice. I'm sure once they meet her, in all her sweet & precious glory they will see how perfect our choice is.

So if you have an IDEA feel free to throw it our way, but if you have a negative opion just remember one of hte golden rules:

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL! =)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Pretty in Pink at 18 weeks!

For some reason when I woke up this A.M. I just KNEW I had to wear pink. So much so that I ended up doing a load of laundry as I only have 2 pink maternity shirts and both were dirty.



I was anxious and nervous all morning. We went to lunch with Rhonda at a yummy burger joint in Snohomish Station then headed to the Everett Clinic for our ultra sound.

Turns out the pink shirt was a sign...


IT'S A GIRL!!!








I was, and am still SHOCKED! I think I felt it was a girl deep down inside but have always thought i'd be the mama of dirty little ruff n tuff boys. So it's going to take me a little while to 'come around'. Don't get me wrong, i'm very happy and looking forward to shopping. =)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Happy 2nd Birthday to my little Luv Bug!!




Happy 2nd Birthday to our little man Cash James! We have a fun filled day planned. It is bright and sunny out and Meme is visiting from Texas so it's going to be a wonderful day! Cash woke to a few presents, one from Great Grandma & Grandpa Hansaker and one from Mama & Daddy. Later today we will go and get cupcakes and balloons and make a stop at the toy store! When Dada gets home we will open the rest of his gifts but wanted to give him a little teaser this AM. I will post a re-cap later! (despite the lack of smiling I assure you he was very excited! He just hates cameras. Typical boy.)













**Check back tomorrow, we have our ultra sound at 1pm to find out what flavor sweet pea is!! =)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Happy February!

We've been enjoying the sunshine these past few days! Despite the winter chill that comes with a clear sunny day... lots of layers are in order but the fresh air is doing us all some good! =)

Yesterday Cash and I went to Papa's house so he could ride his trike outside. We finally got him a helmet and he was eager to hit the pavement. He and Papa rode to great grandmas and back then did a few laps on the lane. About a mile and a half... not bad! He didn't crash at all and I had to run to keep up with him. He kept saying "I"m FAST!" LOL He also fell FAST asleep once we left Papa's. Of course he refused to take his helmet off...











Tomorrow I will be 17 weeks pregnant with my little sweet pea and despite a hernia i'm feeling pretty good! I have a check up today and then the countdown is on for the BIG appt where we get to find out the flavor. I'm leaning towards boy but not "sure".... the appt is a week from Friday, the day after Cash's 2nd birthday, plus Meme Rhonda will be up from Texas for the week so it will be a fun time for all of us!




And speaking of Cash's 2nd birthday I dont know how he's grown up so fast... I'm so proud of my little man. He is so smart and so much fun. I'm pretty sure if i wasn't expecting another little luv bug i would be a blubbering mess right about now. I've accepted he's a littly boy and we are enjoying each day with him. Everything is an adventure. He's so much fun! We have decided to not have a birthday party for him this year. We'll celebrate his birthday with a cupcake, balloon and maybe even stop in for a surprise at the toy store in downtown Snohomish. He had a very small party last year and he was overwhelmed. We figured until he's old enough to care and enjoy a party we may as well just keep it all about the family. Rest assured he will be spoiled and feel special. That is what really matters! =)

The bathroom is ALMOST complete, Brandon is just finishing up the tile backsplash. I'm really happy how it has turned out. We budgeted really well and made small inexpensive changes that made a big impact! The before pic isn't great, it was taken at the inspection. But it shows how tiny & rediculous the vanity was. My fav part of my new bathroom, other than my fab shower curtain you can't see are the antique ball jars I got from my g'ma Millie. They were the inspiration for the paint!






Oh, on another note, Billie decided to "become a women" yesterday. I've never dealt with a dog in heat. SO glad I have hardwood floors! Needless to say she's going to the vet tomorrow.... =)




We are off to hit the trail, it is another gloriously sunny day ( brrrrr...)

Happy February!!!!!


Precious

Precious
Photos by Ann Elrod - ChickWithACamera.blogspot.com


The Jackson Family, December 2008