our girl blu

our girl blu has been with me for more than 15 years now.  it's been a challenge, to say the least, to have had the responsibility of a dog since i was 21 years old and still in college.  after college, i was flitting about. . .searching for myself in various locales.  finding apartments to rent that allowed large dogs was never an easy task, and i often found myself living in situations that weren't my first choice. . .for the love of my canine companion.  like my first apartment in KC after college. . .living in an apartment "community" in the suburbs where dogs (under 25 pounds) were allowed.  each time i took her outside, i panicked that i'd be busted for having a 65 pound dog.  but i wasn't. 

it also wasn't easy being a spontaneous young purveyor of travel and adventure while having a dog that needed my daily attention and restricted spur of the moment overnight trips.  it was especially difficult not having family around to help out when i needed an dog sitter or just someone to let the poor girl out when i was working 12 hour days trying to forge ahead in my career and make ends meet.  (shout out to my mom, for helping out when she could.)

but somehow, she and i managed.  it wasn't an easy road.  there were times when vet bills and prescriptions took priority over me getting new shoes or even dinner.  there were times when i returned from a long day of work to find the last few pieces of bread i was planning on making into a PB&J for dinner were nowhere to be found. . .stolen off the counter with only a shredded plastic bag to be found later, tucked beneath the couch. 

 but there were also times when i was alone in a new city. . .not knowing anyone. . .and blu was there to snuggle up on the couch and watch TV with me.  or all the times we went for walks, runs or hikes or explored new rivers or lakes together. . .just the two of us.  there were endless sunny days, playing frisbee in the park for hours. . .and several not so sunny days in Portland tromping through the mud and muck.  and of course there were all those nights, sleeping alone in new apartments in unfamiliar places when i felt safe knowing she was by my side and would at least sound tough should any intruders come around. 

when i met my husband, he was not a dog person.  he said he was, but all i had to do was introduce him to blu to know he was not.  oh, he was nice to her of course, but in that non-dog person kind of way when they just pat them on the head instead of getting in there for a good face licking or romp on the floor.  after touching her, he promptly went to wash his hands.  i was concerned we might have a problem.  but this all changed quickly.  i had to leave town for a few days and adam offered to watch blu. . .the true test.  i returned to a completely different scene. . .adam and blu spooning on the couch.  it hadn't taken him long to fall for those sweet brown eyes.  and now he's more of a sucker for the chocolates than i am! 

sweet, sweet blu. . .who ended up with me through destiny.  it still amazes me that she still chugs on.  but boy am i grateful! 

ol blu isn't getting around as well these days.  there are no more hikes or frisbee in the park.  we seldom go for walks and never further than just down the block.  she no longer jumps up on the bed looking for extra comfy spot to nap.  in fact the last few months have been a struggle.  she has a really tough time getting those back legs up under her enough to get up.  she's never liked being alone, so we frequently hear a signal bark when she's accidentally been left alone, ordering "please come get me".  to which we respond with a little lift around the waist and a little help getting steady until she can walk away unassisted.  i know it is not long until we must make the decision that her time has come.  and it is with that sad realization that i post in honor of my girl blu today. 

she's never been into getting her picture taken.  often when you try to snap a shot of her, she'll quickly look away from the camera in disgust.  but here are some of my favorite photos of her over the years.

cravings

well it's about time for an update.  last week was filled with appointments.  first we had the 12-week visit with our OB/GYN.  everything looked good there.  then we had the NT scan with the perinatal specialist.  not everyone goes through this line of testing, but my OB likes to send people like me there as a precaution since i'm of "advanced maternal age" and all.  (just love to say that because i find it so comical.) 

that was a pretty fun visit actually.  they use a super advanced 3D ultrasound and you get to see alot more detail than at the regular OB.  we saw just about every little bit and bauble of that baby. . .including arms, legs, hands, feet. . .even eyes and a nose.  from the initial reading, everything looked A-OK.  the baby's heartbeat is a solid 146 bpm.  we received a follow up phone call with the rest of the results from the lab today and those came back normal too.  so we feel relieved about that.  here's what she looks like (as of last thursday). . .she's laying on her back, head on the left and body to the right.  she's only about 3 inches long, but as you can see, she's pretty much already got all of her basic parts.  (and i keep referring to her as a she because the dr's initial guess is a girl!)

i continue to fight nausea, but it has definitely gotten better.  although i typically throw up a few times a day still, as my sister pointed out, it's acute and not pervasive.  uhhh. . .yea, what she said.  and i'm definitely having an easier time eating and have expanded my menu a little more beyond apple sauce, crackers and mashed potatoes.  sometimes food even tastes good again and i'm having little cravings here and there.  like tonight!  i pulled a craving right out of the archives. . .one of my favorite meals from my youth. . .good ol' Kraft macaroni and cheese with tater tots and fish sticks.  unfortunately, my husband wasn't as thrilled about my "home cooked" meal and high tailed right out of here to grab something else on the way to a meeting.  i didn't take it personally. . .too much.

daisy was thinking my dinner looked (and smelled) pretty good.  here is her "i'm not begging, but don't i look cute enough to give a bite" look.

for dessert. . .i'm thinking i'll have my new favorite treat. . .dove miniature ice cream bars.  if you haven't tried these, i highly recommend you do.  but be careful.  they are very addicting.  ask my husband who sneaks away to hide and eat several at a time without me knowing.  i wised up this last time and got two boxes: one for me and one for him.  that way he can't eat them all and leave me high and dry!

so that's the news for now. 

A is for Awesome

The letter A has been a staple in my life.  Not to brag, but all my life, my report cards were filled with lots of As.  Later in life, I would learn that may have been in part to my slightly Type A personality.  How could I have known back in my formative years that I would eventually meet and marry a man with a name beginning with A. . .for Adam.  Whom I affectionately refer to on occasion as A-bomb.  Because of course. . .he's the bomb.  And then today, the final A was put into place.  My doctor informed me my blood type is A+.  You might read that as A positive. . .but I like to look at it as A plus. . .as in perfect.  I have perfect blood!  I knew it!!  Ha ha. . .I kid.  But really, the reason for the doctor's appointment was my 12-week check up and ultrasound for the little Appleseed growing in my abdomen who is now more the size of a lime.  And apparently, that little nugget is progressing just great.  We watched it bounce and flip and cross it's little legs.  Awesome!