Welcome, Baby Rain!

This all started over a month ago when a co-worker of Scott's told him that there was a Great Dane in the animal shelter near us. We know that can be a common occurrence as people don't realize how big and clumsy these adorable little puppies will become. Or how much they will need to eat! We still had a crate that belonged to the shelter from bringing Theo home so we figured that we'd just go "check it out" when we returned the crate. Both of us hated the thought of a gentle giant like Justus being in a shelter...

So we drove down there only to find out that she had already been adopted. While we were happy for her, we were both slightly disappointed as we had started to like the idea of having a second Dane.

So I decided to keep my eye out and watch a few different websites just in case anything came up. Within a week or so, we found this little beauty who was the last one left from the litter of 7 and needed a home.

The kids were ecstatic and so were we! Scott has said that he will always have to own a Great Dane after having Justus.

Rain came home with us yesterday and after greeting all of the kids she climbed into Justus' bed and fell asleep curled up in the middle. Justus just stood there and stared at her like "Now what?" and laid down on the kitchen floor. We promptly ran back out to grab a second bed. 

She still likes to try and cuddle with him, but he isn't so sure. When she starts barking to play- he runs away! Today he jumped up on the couch to try and get away from her!

Theo is also unsure, usually watching from a table or somewhere else out of reach. They've had a few scuffles today. They may be the same height, but Rain already weighs 3x his weight at 15.5 lbs!

She's adored by all.

We'll keep giving Justus and Theo extra attention and treats until they adjust. Can't wait to see what adventures they have as she gets bigger! 

I’ve made a friend…

He only pays attention to me when Scott isn’t here.

 

He likes to snuggle up to my neck, and nibble on my ear…

 

:)

 

Now if only we could get Toad to love us when Scott is around!

I think, that he thinks, Scott is his Mom…

If any of us go near him while Scott has him, he squeaks at us and tries to bite.

Ella will go poke him and then run away saying, “Code, bite me! Bite me!”

Jeddy wants him anyways, and says, “I just don’t care if he bites me. I just put him on my head!”

 

I, on the other hand… prefer not to be bitten.

Keona’s Offertory and My Not-So-Sweet Little Bird

Keona’s first offertory.

(Sorry for the really shaky part- I was trying to pass the offertory plate! :)

 

I’m so proud of her! When she told me that she had butterflies in her stomach, I told her that I could completely relate… That's how I feel every time I think about the workshop that I’m doing at the Ladies’ Retreat in a few weeks! Ahhhh!

 

In other news, my sweet cuddly little bird, has turned into a psychotic, biting, little monster! The other day, I went up to the cage and said, “Hi Toad,” and made some kissy sounds. (which apparently they are supposed to like) Well, he put his wings up, and ran at me full speed, while squawking, and bit the side of the cage where my face was as hard as he could! At first, he would just nibble on us a bit when we were holding him- but he tried to take a chunk of flesh out of my hand the other day! Ugh… I’m really hoping this passes, and is just a baby bird thing. Scott claimed that the bird just didn’t like me. I argued with him, but yesterday, Scott took him out without getting bit once! When he stepped up onto my finger from Scott’s- he immediately eyed the soft skin between my thumb and fore finger. (Which is what he did before biting it earlier) I yelled for Scott to take him back. He laughed at me and took the bird back, which then sat contently on his finger for several more minutes. The irony…

 

The cats, are not so impressed with the bird. They don’t try to get it or anything. They’re just sort of snubbing us. Miss. Vicki leaves the room when we’re holding the bird, and Flare just pretends not to hear us all the time now

I’m going to go and talk to my bird now. Hopefully he doesn’t try to attack me through the bars again…

Fur Babies

The very next day after Scott and I got back from our honeymoon, we went on a trip to a pet store. And yes, it was actually "a trip" considering neither of us drove, and it was a bus, a subway, and another bus away... We went there with the intention of buying a single, female kitten. Scott scooped her up out of the cage, and she was his.

Instantly.

While he was loving on her, I saw this sweet little silver and black kitty, with a little white belly, and tiny white paws, all alone in the cage. He was mewing at me.

"The last one left of this litter."

I remember asking the lady if I could "just hold him for a minute." I cuddled him, and rubbed his belly, he purred and nibbled on my hands. I think we both knew at this point, that he wasn't going back into that lonely little cage. And so it began...

They would each have a lap to sleep on every night, and someone to rub their bellies. What we didn't know, was that the friendly pet store lady, had lied about their age- and that a few months later, we would have 5 little kittens, and a new baby. Our parents were sure that the kittens would smother Keona in her crib at night. Nope, they were content to snuggle at her feet. One by one, we found homes for the little ones. I cried each time one left. Except for Tigger. My sister picked the little demon-possessed one. We got our cats fixed, and now, almost 10 years later, they are the fat, lazy cats that cartoons are made of.

(Funny, they don't look quite so cute to me anymore... oops... did I say that outloud?...)

Miss. Vicki - given that name because the first thing she ate once home, was Miss Vicki's chips...

What can I say?

You are bipolar.

We're sure of it.

We know where Tigger gets it from....

Flare- for a marking he had as a kitten.

Oh, if we had only known how much you were going to cost us, Flare. Who knew that on New Years Eve, an emergency vet clinic could triple their prices?? And that cats could have to get repeated operations...and go on special diets... ugh.

You are the best cat ever though, I must admit. You have saved us from fire (literally) called us when Tigger was locked outside, and you growl at the mailman when Scott isn't home.

I love you, my furbaby.