What a week! Last Thursday I woke up and took the dogs out to go to the bathroom, like usual. I looked down at Hephaestus and his left eye was completely swollen shut! (didn't we already have this post about Hermes) He was also covered in what looked like hundreds of little bits all over him. He was itching so bad he was crying about it. SO SAD! My mom, Mai, and I took him straight in to the vet and they had to keep him for the day. He had to get a couple shots of Benadryl and steroids. He's all better now (and I am so happy we have "puppy insurance" because all this was free) but I guess he had an allergic reaction to a bug bite the night before and swelled up like crazy. These aren't the best pics but its hard to get a 3months old puppy to hold still, especially one who is itching like crazy. And you can't really see the welts all over him, but you can kinda get the idea of what he looked like by looking at his eye.

I've also been working on Mai's room quite a bit the last few weeks. I repainted her bed from pink to white(using the paint samples you can get at Home Depot, so it only cost $5!), re-painted you room (that only cost $10), and made this cute little canopy for her bed out of a lamp shade (this only cost .50 for the lamp shade from a yard sale. I already had everything else for it). I'm still working on some other stuff for her room but here it is so far.

And we have also been "babysitting" my brother-in-law's and sister-in-laws dog. Poor Ollie was a little over whelmed when he got here last week but has totally warmed up to the dogs. He keeps hiding under the kitchen stools and Hephaestus cries and cries because he thinks he can't get Ollie when he's under there (he seems to forget that he can fit under there too). Melissa came over today with the kids and Lacey keep saying "where's Wal-E". SO cute!

And a side note, I just reupholstered those kitchen stools and re-stained them.

Hephaestus

We have a new addition to our little family. This is Hephaestus. He is an American Bulldog born April 6, 2011. Of course we had to go with a Greek God for the name. It took us a couple of days to decide but Maibel finally agreed with us. :) 
Hephaestus  was a Greek God whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan. He was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes. Like other mythic smiths but unlike most other gods, Hephaestus was lame, which gave him a grotesque appearance in Greek eyes. He served as the blacksmith of the gods, and he was worshipped in the manufacturing and industrial centers of Greece.

Our New House

I am FINALLY posting pics of our new house. I know its been a little over a month, but you know how it goes.

our stuff packed and ready to go at Kieth and Hariella's

more stuff!!

We had to move to Clif and Rose's for two weeks, so we got to move ALL out stuff twice! Aren't we lucky! (Or should I say aren't our families lucky for getting to move us twice in two weeks)

Our stuff packed and ready in Mom's garage.

Our stuff in OUR new garage

 The laundry room

 living room

 food storage area

 

family room

 kitchen

 our bedroom

Playroom

 Mai's bedroom

 We were able to spend the night in our new house the night before we actually moved in. It was fun to "camp out" inside.

 

Mai and Hermes sleep in the playroom

Brent and I sleep in  the family room (which is connected to the playroom.)

Man's Best Friend Revisited

I know most of you remember this post from last year, but please take to time to read it before reading the following post. Thanks

Dogs are know as mans best friend for a very good reason. Everyone who has had the blessing of a dog in their life, knows why that is true. Most dogs are mans best friend....and then there is Artemis. I call her my baby, Mai calls her the royal dog (because every princess has to have a royal dog to dress up), my nieces and nephews call her Ardo. What ever she is called, she is loved.

Ten years ago (almost exactly), I was struggling in my life, trying to figure out the transition between being a teenager and becoming an adult. My little sister Sarah was struggling with going from a full house of siblings to basically just her and my parents. She really needed a friend and she was able to adopt a dog a friend of hers found. My parents kept her for a "trial period" of two weeks. Well, life being life, she was in heat during that trial period and ended up getting pregnant. Two months later she was really having a hard time delivering the puppies. She was in intense labor all day and finally just kinda gave up and laid there. I remember my dad saying she needed help, so I helped. I pulled out the first puppy, who , unfortunately, had gotten stuck in the birth canal and was dead but was causing the problems. Poor Dixie was so tired she could not deliver the rest of the puppies with out help so I helped her deliver the other ten puppies.

We rocked and cradled all those puppies everyday. I remember more than once coming home to my mom sitting in the rocking chair with 2 or 3 puppies in her arms rocking and singing to them! We ended up being able to give away most of the puppies but we were having a hard time with one in particular because she was so bad! I convinced my oldest sister Rhonda, who I was living with in Logan at the time, that I HAD TO HAVE THIS DOG!! I had always wanted to name my dog Artemis after my favorite Greecien Goddess the Goddess of the Hunt. So Artemis became part of my life. I brought her up to Logan with me and would spend all my time with her. I would take all my breaks at work together so I would have time to come home and take her out. Rhonda took her running everyday and would also come home on the lunch break to let Artemis out. After I lived in Logan, I moved in with my friend Ruth, who had two dogs, and our life revolved around our dogs. We let them sleep with us every night and took them roller blading everyday.

Brent and I got married just after Artemis turned 1 and I think he was a little worried about his crazy wife who was obsessed with her dog. :) But he too soon realized why I loved her so much. A few months later, we moved to Arizona for a few months and Artemis keep me company during that lonely time. She was always there to love me and comfort me. I seriously don't know how I would have gotten through these past ten years with out her. I know a lot of people thought I had lost it because I felt like she was my child. But it was because she loved me that much!

After my divorce, I was a brand new mom and living with my parents. They were so understanding and knew that I could not live with out my Artemis, so they let her become a part of our family life there. She let Maibel crawl all over her and pull her tail. She was so patient with us all. When my dad got sick, she was there to listen to me cry. She would sleep next to my dads chair all day by the fire. I hope she was a comfort to him in his final days on this earth. Then I had to move out and leave my Artemis. It was SO HARD!! I had never lived away from home with out her. Luckily I was close and was able to see her daily and have her come stay with me. When my dad passed away, I found comfort that my mom wasn't alone in the house because Artemis was there. My mom was able to take Artemis everyday on walks and she was able to be loved by Artemis how I was loved by Artemis. All the grandkids have come to love her too. She watches over them and lets them love on her. When Brent and I got remarried he was able to be a part of her life again and she loves him as is he has never been away.

Last week my mom and I took Artemis to the vet because she just hasn't been doing good. We found out she has a brain tumor and will not live more than a few weeks. I have literally been just sick these past few days. I have had a hard time eating, sleeping, or even functioning knowing that she would not be with us much longer. The love that she has given to those in her life is incomprehensible. The love she has given me is even more than that. I do not know how I would have gotten through some of the times in my life with out her. She has been an angel sent straight to me to help me along. I was there when she took her first breath in this life and I hope I will be there when she takes her last. I know my life will have to go on without her but I can't lie, it will be hard. I am just so grateful I was able to have her in my life for ten years. She is such a great example of love and forgiveness. My mom keeps reminding me of a song we used to sing in joyschool when we were little. I can't remember the exact words but it is about all the things animals do for us- Cows give us milk, chickens give us eggs, and dogs give us love. Artemis has fulfilled her job of giving us all love!

Mans Best Friend Part 2

One week ago today, my Artemis past away. I was indeed able to hold her in my arms as she took her last breath on this earth.

I don't know what it is about today, but I just keep thinking about my family. My patient Dad, my crazy mom, my always-have-it-all-together oldest sister, my athletic older brother, my peace maker older sister, my sensitive but protective little brother, and my out going little sister.
I had a dream the other night. We are all sitting around a table, having family counsel. (we used to call it family fight night when we were little. LOL, we really thought we were funny.) It was my mom and dad, all my siblings and all our spouses. My Dad was at the head of the table telling us all how much he loved us and that we all needed to make sure that we were working on getting back to him. He than took each couple aside separately and gave us advice on how to make our families stronger.
I am so grateful that our Father In Heaven has given us a plan to be together forever. All we have to do is the best we can, and we will be together. Sometimes our best really is close to perfect, but most of the time, its no where close. That is what Christ gave us. He already made the difference up between being perfect and what we really are, so that we ALL have the chance to be together forever.
These are my thoughts today as I work on getting ready to move. I am also thinking about Brent's side of the family and how we are going to be together again soon! Kieth and Hariella get home next week!! I can't believe its already been 18 months. I truly do love ALL my family. My siblings, my in-laws, my aunts and uncles, cousins,  friends, etc...  I love you all!!

I know its been forever since I have posted but here I am!

Maibel has out grown her last bike and has needed a new one for quite a while. So the last couple weeks she has been selling some of her old toys on ksl.com to earn money for a new one. She finally saved up enough and we were able to go get it on Saturday. Its really cute and I am so proud of her for earning the money and saving it!

It's also been her Spring soccer season. She's been playing in Spanish Fork so we are able to watch Cesia's games at the same time. Her team name is "The Fireflies." Her coach commented to me what a good boot she has. I told him that comes from my side of the family. She also loves to play goalie. I think that one comes from Brent's side of the family.

Last week she had a Nursery Rhyme Picnic at school and she got to dress up as a Nursery Rhyme and than repeat it for the class. She was Little Bo Peep.

And its FINALLY Spring here in Utah! It snowed last week but today is suppose to be 75.

 Last Wednesday we were able to go up to Salt Lake and see Rose get her citizenship. What a blessing!! I am so proud of her. It took a lot of time, money, and patience but she finally did it! Its been something she has wanted for a long time.

And I HAD to share this note I received from Maibel. Why is she SO cute? (It says- I'm trying my best. P.S. I'm Having a good day. P.S. I love you with all my heart.)