Beware Ye' Service Men

My rule is "Call me before you come over". That way I'm on the look out. Also - PLEASE don't knock or ring a doorbell.

I know that sounds kinda strange and you may think I'm a recluse or just anti-social but we have our reasons! We have a volitile home!

Scenario:

"Knock, Knock"

Romeo - Moluccan Cockatoo starts Screaming like a banshee! It's ear piercing.

Pandora - Sulfur Crest Cockatoo starts barking like a little terrier dog and screaming like a banshee!

Harley - 90 pound American Bulldog with a big scary bark!

Brittney - 45 pound red Cattle dog with a snaggle tooth growl and a big bark!

By the time one of us gets to the door to answer it, it's CHAOS and the poor guy on the other side of the door looks pretty worried.

And if you wake the BABY - my husband can look pretty scary too!

Daddy Pig Pile! Scary hu!?

Stone Fox

Audrey and I finished reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner last night. It was an exciting book.

All up till the finish line. Audrey and I were in shock when after all that had happened, Searchlight's heart burst 100 yards from the finish. Geez - this is an 8 year old I'm reading to, and she understands death quite well, but geez!

We enjoyed the book and the message it had, but I sure wish Searchlight would have surived.

Just like sissy!

Brogan's gotta be a big boy!

Got his own plate, ketchup and spot at the table just like his big sister. This is one happy guy!

Harley

Harley, originally uploaded by Eva D.

Harley is going to the Vet today to be neutered. Poor guy. I told Dusty to have them give him some doggy Valium 'cause he is so attached to Dusty that he cries when he's gone - the WHOLE TIME he's gone.

Separation anxiety big time! Harley is a big love, 85 pound American bulldog.

Old Cougar

2010-10-28 17.20.14, originally uploaded by Eva D.

Power windows & doors. Power seats - kind of amazing for an old '77 cougar.

She's kind of old, but still pretty :)

Audrey's hair

For a long time now (like forever), Audrey's hair has been down to her bottom it's so long. It's a nightmare for her to brush in the morning when she's getting ready for school. It's hard for me to always braid it at night so the tangles are minimized. It's just been tough for everyone - even the poor dogs who seem to ingest long strands of hair and that ... well, that doesn't come out so great!

After much pleading and begging I finally gave in to Audrey's request for a haircut. She looks fantastic! She loves her hair and it's easy for her to take care of. The added bonus is that her brother can't reach out and pull it as easily as he did before.

I am glad I let Audrey get a hair cut - I did save the 8 inches or so of hair that was cut off and it's in her "baby box". A treasure.

MMMMMMMMMMM YUMMMMY

When I reach for the chip bag, Brogan says "MMMMMMMM" as in YUMMMMMY. When he sees string cheese, he says "MMMMMMMMM"! When he sees anything he likes to eat that's his response! He's a great snacking buddy.

One night Dusty put hot sauce on his food and Brogan really really wanted some. It did smell good I said. Dusty gave Brogan a little bite and Brogan got so mad at daddy! How dare he wreck something that smells so good with hot sauce!

When Brogan wants more juice/milk/koolaid in his sippy cup, he asks differently, depending on who he's asking. If he is asking Dad, he just shakes his cup and hands it over. If he's asking Mom - he grips the cup tightly, makes a "grrr" noise (imitating me trying to open a sippy cup) and expects me to know what he wants! I figured it out and thought that was so funny, I couldn't believe it - Brogan sign language.

Picture day 2010

Audrey, 1st grade - Picture day!
My Gorgeous Girl!

Harley in the Box

So we took the kids to Chuck - E - Cheese today to celebrate Brogan's birthday with G-Pa. Dusty took the kitchen trash can out of the house - just in case - Harley was feeling like being a bad boy.

We came home, and Dusty unlocked the door. Then Dusty saw Harley laying down, not jumping around to get out or anything. So Dusty took a closer look. Harley had his head stuck in a box! Dusty lead Harley out of the house, because no one would believe this - I had to see it too! Poor guy had a box stuck on his head.

He's such a lucky dog, because Audrey took the box off after we all had a good laugh... but I swear the poor boy is worn out from the ordeal. He's just been mellow and sleeping most of the afternoon. I think he was so grateful that he could see again!

Talk about your funny stories, we're still laughing - but we are still sorry for poor Harley. What were dad's words "You didn't get into any trouble did ya?"!!

Well we don't have a picture of that, but we do have a pretty cool picture of Harley's "talents" - his LIPS... (my friend at work asked me what he did, and I said he let the baby stretch his lips over his head). That's his great talent!

Sweet Harley and his talented lips!

My favorite guys

Hey that should be me?

Look at that precious sleeping baby without a care in the world. All is as it should be. Dad is the most wonderful guy ever - and Brogan is feeling loved and safe (always). My guys, so sweet.

And... yes, Dusty is built - huge arms and strong everywhere. My husband, my love. My husband and son have matching muscles - hey can you see how huge and strong Brogan's legs are? He's a very muscular kid! Just like his dad. Oh and BTW - he has Down Syndrome.

Sneaky hu?

Brogan eats really well, and most of my friends know this. He has a great appetite. When he gets full though, he likes to throw the rest of his food off of his high chair tray.

We always tell him "NO", and try to take away the food before he has a chance to throw it all - which is quite a race!

Last night our son looked me in the eye...

He took a noodle (Swedish meatballs), and he...

HE had the audacity to look me in the eye and...

take the noodle under his high chair tray, put it through his legs and drop it onto the floor.

What a SNEAK!!! Somebody tell me that this kid is not a Mr. Smarty pants? Well instead of getting mad - I just calmly told dad (and Sissy) that our boy is a super sneaker now!

Funny boy - he's been down with allergies for a week and a half, but he is feeling better (maybe I am too, yikes). He ate like a champ today trying to make up for all those lost carbs and calories.

Solid our boy is, and very strong. We sure are proud of him but that doesn't make our worries any less.

Someone asked me wow how do you work with your son now that you know he has Down Syndrome? I told that person that Dusty and I treat Brogan like a regular kid. We talk to him, we play with him, we interest him in books and toys. Why would we treat him any different?

Years ago, our precious son would have had a life span of about 9 years. That's when they took your Down Syndrome baby and put them in homes ... homes? (Insane Asylums) - for lack of a better place, and those poor kids were left to fend for themselves with poor nutrition and health care.

I am so happy that modern medicine and health care, and knowledge ( acceptance ) of our beautiful kids has advanced so that my boy can have a long and healthy life. I cried my heart out thinking that he was going to die by the time he was 7 years old when they told me he had Down Syndrome, but I know more now and statistically he will live a long and healthy life. That I am so happy for because someone as awesome as Brogan should be with us for a long time to teach and love us all as we are.

Outside!

Outside is GREAT DAD!

Brogan is so funny - he's been walking for quite some time, but whenever we take him out of the living room - even down the hallway - he refuses to walk.

He decided that walking outside was really really cool, especially because Brittney the dog was out there.

Big Boy Bath

Big enough for his first bath in the BIG TUB!!

The sweetest little boy, my boy. After enjoying his spaghetti & meatballs, Brogan really enjoyed his big boy bath and the boats in the bathtub.

Brogan the super cool boy!

It took so long to log on to Blogger I almost forgot what I was going to rant/rave about...

Or not...

Brogan went from our precious baby to a ruffian "BOY" in one hair cut, I swear. I guess it's all about perceptions. As much as we saw Brogan as our baby, it seemed that right after he got his super cool crew cut, we started seeing him as the ruffian boy that he really is.

Well Audrey would have told us that a few months ago when her brother started walking and pulling her hair.

Wow. What a difference a simple haircut makes. Geez - ladies - we all know that's a fact too. So here's to our sweet son, who says "Hi, Mommomma, Dad Dad". Brogan you are super cool!

His skin, normally so clear and perfectly olive is a little inflamed by the spaghetti sauce in his dinner tonight. Yikes - but then I pamper him with "Aquaphor".. Dusty loves to say what's the aqua for??? I am always looking for the Aquaphor, it's great stuff. It is awesome for helping sooth any kind of rash.

Audrey - PLEASE EAT!!!

The nightly battle is getting Audrey to eat her dinner...

Dusty knows how much she likes Teriyaki so made beef Teriyaki just for her.

"It won't kill you"

Brogan's new 'Do

Ok, well the gorgeous baby curls had to go... :( Lots easier to comb out now!

Brogan's busy day

I can always tell when Brogan has had a busy day when I walk in the door after work. He likes to throw all of his toys over the back of the couch... that's where the entry way is. He's a stinker! We tell him "no! Don't throw your toys", but he just thinks it's great fun.

We have a new puppy that thinks it's great fun too! Luckily, Harley hasn't destroyed more than a handful of Brogan's toys. He did chew the wheel off of the little monster truck Brogan got for Christmas - 'Donkey Kong' - AND this really upset Audrey!

So here are a few shots of our busy guy AFTER he's emptied his toy box.

We've started NOT giving his toys back after he throws them. They are mommy and daddy's toy now and we put them into a box. Audrey actually is the one who takes those toys and puts them back in his toy box. She's an awesome big sister.

Popcicle Boy

Adventures in Bus Riding... Rural

So - we had my blazer towed to the shop...

(they won't work on it)

We had my blazer towed home...

MSD Ignition system needs to be replaced. Think ordering online and waiting for it to ship? Waiting for payday to order... may be 2 weeks until it is fixed.

Eva riding the bus.. first day - ok. Second day, missed the bus, got on the wrong bus, got off that bus and walked to a bus stop. Got on the bus that stopped there, it was the wrong bus too. Waited for 30 minutes in pouring rain - ok - hood on, rain jacket zipped up. Now know the true meaning of a rain jacket.

During lunch I walked over to Kohl's and bought myself a proper rain/wind/warm jacket. I LOVE this coat. It was very sweet of the Kohl's employees too to take all the tags off for me when I said I wanted to wear it!

Ordeals abound. Monday - Martin Luther King Jr day - I admired the man, have no problem with him UNTIL holiday schedule for the bus. I waited an extra 45 minutes for the bus - so an hour altogether, but in the cold wind, rain and cars going by that swept dirt into my eyes.

One of my friends from work drove past, then had to come back some time later and mentioned they saw me still waiting!

I'm tired, worn out and really want my car fixed. It will be a few tiresome and difficult weeks until we get the blazer back on the road and I just hope my energy and optimism can hold out that long.

I DO KNOW - when I come home, and snuggle/hug love my kids and get them all tucked in and safe, and when Dusty and I can finally go to bed and hold each other while falling into delirious sleep - that it is all worth the hard times. We - together, Dusty and I, take care of this family and of each other, with love. Being married to your best friend is the greatest gift I have ever been given.

Brittney and Harley

Talk about a HUGE contrast, yeah?

Brittney and Harley: Brittney is about half Harley's size. Brittney is about 200% more experienced and more dominant. Harley is so happy with his new doggie friend, he'll do anything she says.

She's had a few occasions to get grumpy at him. He is a puppy after all! But these two dogs are getting on wonderfully. Brittney is showing Harley the ropes, the yard, the pecking order. She would never hurt him. Glad to see and know that Harley would never dream of hurting her either. He is a gentle pup... and a puppy he is for all his size, he's still clumsy and growing into himself yet.

Our family (Dusty, me, Audrey and Brogan) are so happy to have this guy in our lives. He is just great! We are very lucky to have been given the opportunity to adopt him and we will be forever grateful to his previous owners!

Covered

Looks like the kids got Harley covered on both ends!

Harley - Wants to PLAY!!

Oh YES YES YES - Can we Play??? HU? HU?

Sweet Boy - Needs a Haircut??

Sweetest boy in the WORLD. I love my son!

Long Doggin' It

Don't worry - Brogan and Harley play back and forth with this ball! Harley loves it and Brogan loves throwing it!!!

100 % Devotion

Who LOVES Who MORE? What a pair!!

Vacation time fun

The kids are having a blast getting to know Harley our new puppy!

I've been busy doing mountains of laundry and cleaning house - picking up anything the puppy could possibly find fun to play with that isn't his.

Today, I'm making bean soup w/the leftover Ham from Christmas (we froze the bone and meat for soup). I'll bake some potatoes and make cornbread for a nice homey meal. Reminds me of my childhood.

Hope everyone has had a happy and safe New Year celebration. I was the only one that made it to midnight and that's only because I was playing games online!

So Audrey and I are getting ready to go back to school/work on Jan 4th. Vacation is over till next time!