Much Better!

Beasley is doing MUCH MUCH better! He got his "peg leg bandage" off yesterday and the staples out. I know he is so happy to be able to move a little bit better. He has lost so much muscle in the right side of his body, particularly in his chest/shoulder area that we are going to have to work at it for a long time to get him back to normal. It's so encouraging to see him improving though. This morning I had to put baby socks with traction on the bottom on his front two paws so that he could walk a little more steady on the hardwood floor. I'll try to post some pictures of everyone asap. We've had a lot going on around here lately between Beasley's ordeal and the house flooding so I have a lot of catching up to do. Enjoy this day, it is absolutely beautiful here!!

Skittles + Bath Time

Skittles: that is what they called Beasley at the vet yesterday! His checkup went well and they gave him a super duper bandage and used every color they had to wrap him. When they brought him back to me they said they named him Skittles. He is such a good sport. This bandage is on there nice and thick and tight this time so he shouldn't be able to mess with it. It's not there for support by the way, it's just for the nasty drainage from the seroma. Hopefully he won't need it after Monday; bless his heart they have it wrapped all the way down to his toes so he's a little peg legged! It's kinda cute, but I know it has to be really annoying.

Now to Anne Morgan b/c I know you want to see some more pictures of her. She LOVES her bath time and you can tell she loves her daddy too!

It's Just a Dog

I read this poem today at the vet when I went to pick Beasley up. It sums our life up pretty darn well. A lot of people wonder why we go through all of the "trouble" we do, they clearly "just don't understand."

It's Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile....because they "just don't understand."

- Anonymous

Now take a look at that precious boy below and tell me that he's "just a dog"

Home Again Home Again

Beasley is back home. Dr. Welch said surgery went well, he has a thicker plate and a thicker pin in his shoulder now. They took the drain out today from the large seroma (fluid in the soft tissue of his muscle from the bullet) that had developed, it may have been the cause of the plate breaking. He is bandaged for now. We will go back for another check-up on Wednesday. Things are good, well as good as they can be for him right now. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He is such a tough dog but this has to be wearing on him.

Quick Update

Beasley went for a check-up today since he didn't seem to be walking as well the past couple of days. Sure enough, something was wrong...the plate in his leg/shoulder was BROKEN! Poor guy will have surgery again tomorrow. They had to order another plate, this one will be thicker. Once it arrives tomorrow they will do the surgery. Please keep him in your prayers, he sure has been through a lot!

2 Months and Growing!

Anne Morgan weighed in at 11 lb 5 oz this morning and she was 23 1/8 inches long. She's a healthy little girl and she's growing so fast! She had to get 4 shots this morning along with another vaccine that was a liquid. Needless to say we have done a lot of cuddling today, the rainy day makes it even better. She is still sleeping at least 6 hours every night. She has been doing this for about 3 weeks. She will wake up after 6 hours to eat and usually goes back to sleep for a couple more. A few times she has slept 7 1/2-8 hours but that has been just a couple of times.

I am so in love with this little girl, she has changed my life so much. Being a mommy is everything and more that I ever imagined it would be. I love you Anne Morgan!

Here is Anne Morgan with her new friend Lilla Allgood. Her mommy (Becca Goodwin) and I grew up next door to each other and who would have ever guessed that we would have little girls 2 weeks apart!

Anne Morgan wasn't too happy at this point but I wanted to show you her new Auburn outfit!

And can you believe this? Anne Morgan is already enjoying her Bumbo seat!! And she LOVES to watch tv, especially football :) (Hey Anne Morgan...you aren't supposed to be able to do this yet!!!!)

***Beasley update: He is doing OK. Not great, but I have to keep reminding myself that it has only been two weeks. It's just SOO hard to watch him try to walk. I was going to try to wait until next week to take him back for a check up but now I'm going to take him Wednesday. I just want to confirm that everything is still ok. He really doesn't want to put any weight on it and his leg seems to turn outward some. I know he is lacking the muscles that would normally hold his leg in position but I'm a worrywart I guess! I'll let you know how it goes.

We are headed to the doctor tomorrow morning for Anne Morgan's 2 month check-up. Can't wait to see how much she has grown!! War Eagle, last night's game was so much fun!!

Fantastic Fridays

We love Friday's around here, who doesn't though?! Two weeks ago Anne Morgan went to her first football game. We took her to the Auburn High School game. To those of you from Montgomery, you've never seen anything like this! It was awesome!!! We didn't get there until about 7:15 (it started at 7) and there was a line! I don't mean just a few people, I mean by the time we parked and got over there, we had to wait about 20 minutes to get in the gate. It was packed and everyone was having such a good time. We felt like we were on an episode of Friday Night Lights. There was not a seat to be had for us, which was fine really since we had the stroller. We will definitely be back for more games. I guess this marked the beginning of our new life on Friday nights and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Daddy was even wearing Auburn High colors!

Can you find Trey in the crowd? He has his hands full with popcorn, cokes and hot dogs!

Trey was so excited to see the new kid on the team, he's HUGE! #44, maybe he will be playing for the other Auburn Tigers soon (this picture in no way shows how much bigger than the others he really is)

Last week we went downtown for the block party. We missed the pep rally but had fun with the band, hanging out with friends and eating at Mellow Mushroom. Tonight we are going to see some friends at their bus. I can't wait to meet Lilla and see the babies together. Here's to another fantastic Friday!

****Beasley is doing OK. He has a looong way to go. It is really sad to watch him try to walk, especially on the hardwood floor. At his checkup this week they said his range of motion was good but the muscles in his chest and under his arm were torn so badly it is going to take a while to heal and build the muscles back up. It looks like he will be starting physical therapy soon.

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day! We are enjoying a very relaxing day at home. We are usually at the lake or the beach for Labor Day but since Beasley is hurt we decided to stay home. It has actually been really nice. I hope all of you have a good week. Beasley goes back to the vet for a check up on Wednesday, I'll let you know how it goes.

War Eagle! Anne Morgan had a great 1st gameday. Grammy and Pop came over for the afternoon and stayed the night with us so that Trey and I could go to the game. Look at the precious outfit Grammy made! There is plenty of growing room so it will be worn all season long! Can't you tell she's so excited to be an Auburn Tiger?!!

I love you too Aunt B!

Visit with Great and Bringing Beasley Home

Today Anne Morgan and I went to visit Great (my grandmother). We had such a nice time with her and I know that she really enjoyed our company too. Anne Morgan is her 7th great grandchild.

Anne Morgan really liked the music box (I guess that's what you call it, it was really just a ceramic sculpture that played music). I know it doesn't really look like it in this picture but she REALLY loved it, it calmed her down so much and she would turn to it whenever Great turned it on.

BEASLEY IS HOME!!!!! Thank you so much for all of your care and concern. He is doing amazingly well, I can't believe how mobile he is. We are definitely going to have to take it easy, he has to be in a crate for 6-8 weeks, but I'm just so happy with how well he is already doing!

I hope you are all having as good of a night as we are. Not only do we have Beasley home with us but we have football to watch!!! My favorite! Now, if Saturday could hurry up and get here....WAR EAGLE!

Sleeping Beauty

I have to brag on my little girl. I've been meaning to write since last week that she has been sleeping for six hours at night now. Well, last night she slept for seven and a half!! I got up to feed her at 4:30 and she went back to sleep around 5:20. I just woke her up about forty five minutes ago, that is another four hours! Can I tell you how rested I feel today?! It's great! Now, I know it may just be a one time thing but then again maybe not. Regardless, it was great.

What's the difference this past week? Well, now I know some of you will think I'm crazy b/c of what all the experts say, but I let her sleep on her tummy now. It was an instant improvement in her sleep. I was always too scared to let her sleep on her back so I always had her on her side and then at naps on her tummy. I didn't want her to get too used to any one thing in particular. Last Monday, she was six weeks old, I decided to try letting her sleep at night on her tummy and it was the first six consecutive hours she (and I) slept. (I know this may be more boring information than you care to read, I wanted to have it for my records though)

Well we're off to go on a walk now, it feels INCREDIBLE outside. I wish there was some way to capture what it feels like and share it with all of you. I know there have been a lot of posts the past couple of days, better than none though, right?!! Have a great day, I hope this weather continues...especially for football! WAR EAGLE!

**Beasley should get to come home tomorrow. We can't wait. Then maybe his sister Mollie will start eating again.

On the Road to Recovery

Beasley is out of surgery. They said it went really well, we are so fortunate the bone was broken in the middle as opposed to the ends at a joint. This gave them plenty of bone to work with for the plate to hold it together. He is in recovery now and hopefully we will get to bring him home Thursday. Thank you for all of your cares and concern. We love you Boo!

Mollie misses you so much!! We all do!