Life......

Sunday is Jordan's 19th Birthday and Caleb's 21st birthday. It doesn't seem possible. Jordan was home last weekend so we celebrated early with Craig's family. Nothing makes me happier than celebrating my kids!

And for my Zo-Zo followers. It was a scary week with my Zo-Zo. Even the vet didn't think that Zoe was going to pull through. I have never seen her so sick. And we still don't know what really caused it. He liver enzymes were off the charts and the vet thinks she contracted some type of bacteria that affected her liver. She spent last Wednesday all day at the vet hooked up to IV's getting fluids and meds. She had not been able to eat for 11 days prior to that, what little she did try to eat never stayed down. When I picked Zoe up that day the vet told me that if Zoe didn't respond to this treatment that she was going to have to go to a specialist to have biopsies of her liver and scans etc. I broke down right there in front of the vet. I knew that we couldn't continue to put Zoe through anymore and I was preparing to say goodbye. I took her home just heartbroken.

We couldn't believe the turn around Zoe did in 24 hours. She was eating and keeping it down, also able to keep her meds down. I think that was what has turned her around.... just being able to keep her antibiotics down. Each day she has gained strength and her sweet happy personality is back... my Zo-Zo is back! She went back to the vet today to check her liver enzymes. They are still very high according to the normal ranges but they have dropped to half of what they were a week ago. That is good news. The next hurdle is that we are hoping her liver enzymes stay down after she finishes the antibiotics. For now things are looking good! I am loving on Zoe every moment I can.

Following are a few of the many faces of Fiona.....

This is her..... I may only be 10 pounds but I rule this place face.

This is her adorable pout.... What do you mean you won't throw the toy for me anymore face.

This is her..... Oh come on, you know you can't resist me face.

My Little Road Trip

Fall has arrived in all it's glory. I find myself being a hazard on the road. I try so hard to drink in every bit of it's beauty that I don't keep my eyes on the road like I should when I'm driving. Yesterday I drove to kalamazoo for some shopping and took the long scenic drive home. I didn't have my camera with me so today I hit the road again... camera in tow.

I just let the roads lead me......

I stopped along the roads whenever something caught my eye, stopped at a few city parks, the Paw-Paw river, a few U-pick fruit farms, a cider mill, the Chocolate Garden, even stopped at the rest area on I-94 just because it was so beautiful. I bought caramel apples, apple cider, and chocolate truffles. What a beautiful day!!!!!

And now a Zoe update.... Still not doing well. Today is day 8 that she hasn't eaten any food. She's losing a lot of weight. A few days ago she did eat about 2 tablespoons of food and I was hopeful that she would start to eat. The food didn't stay down and she still will not eat at all. I sit on the floor with her begging her to eat. I try to hand feed her, I bribe her with chicken, sausage, canned food, bologna, you name it. We had her to the vet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday last week. She's had abdominal x-rays and blood work. He liver enzymes are 3 times the normal values. Dr. says it could be from a virus or bacteria. Zoe is such a scavenger when it comes to food that we are concerned that she ate something that has either poisoned her or given her a bowel obstruction. X-rays didn't show an obstruction but the vet can't be sure. I don't know how she's walking around not eating that long. She does drink water and lots of it. She still wags her tail when we talk to her. She'll be going back to the vet again Monday. We'll keep you posted.

Zo-Zo

Zoe's not feeling good at all this week. We've had her to the vet twice this week already. She did eat a tad bit of food tonight, the first she's eaten in 4 days. Just hoping she can keep it down and eats a little more tomorrow too. I hate seeing her sick. To know Zoe is to love Zoe. She's just perfect in every way. Hope my Zo-Zo feels better real soon.

Fantastic Fall.....

I love fall. I know I've said it before but I'll say it again.... I love fall! Two of my favorite fall activities were this weekend. The annual soup supper at the cottage and the Chapel Hill Arts and Crafts show.

We made a girls day of it. Jordan, Bailey and Dawn joined me at the Chapel Hill Show. Dawn and Bailey had never been before. I like taking people who have never been before. Bailey and I both said we wished we could have bought something at each booth. This show is amazing and huge. Here's Bailey modeling a cupcake hat.

I bought this harness and leash for Fiona.

Then we headed to the cottage for the annual soup supper. No, we didn't have frog soup. But there was some frog catching going on later in the day.

The weather was cool.... perfect.

My three favorite (OK, my four favorite).

And we got to enjoy Jordan home this weekend too.

Beautiful Weekend

Jordan was home for the weekend which always makes it a beautiful weekend. Jordan had a tough week at college so it was good to have her home and watch her relaxing and enjoying herself. She had two major exams (chemistry and biology), her first exams since starting school. We've discovered that Jordan has a bad case of test anxiety. Jordan always had a tendency to be hard on herself and get stressed during final exam week in high school but I never imagined that this would follow her to college on a much bigger scale. We are working on helping her learn some coping skills. She can't keep this up for the next 6 years! And by the way.... she got an 88% on her chemistry exam and a 98% on her biology exam.

Friday night we went to the Hartford Football game. Jordan said it was really strange going to her first football game as a spectator instead of being in the band. She had a great time seeing her high school buddies and talking to her teachers. Saturday Jordan went with me to the church golf outing. She didn't complain too much when I dragged her out of bed at 6:30.

This morning we had a surprise birthday party for my Aunt Lyn. We all met at the Bistro and surprised her. It was so elegant and beautiful. In this photo is my Uncle Dallas, Aunt Lyn and my Mom.

The Bistro is right on the bluff in St. Joe so we snapped a few photos on the way out. I absolutely LOVE this photo of my Dad and I.

Another good one of Mom and I.

My Momma and My Daddy :-)

This afternoon we enjoyed a great afternoon of working in the yard and got a lot done! Our neighbors have a boxer named Lila. She's the best dog. My crazy threesome like the race back and forth along the fence trying to get Lila to play.

And I just had to share this photo. Zoe and Fiona are completely tuckered out tonight from being outside most all day. They are so darn CUTE!!!!!

Happy Birthday Boo Boo

Today is Seadra Boo Boo's birthday! Happy 11th to my beautiful bug eyed beauty. I call Seadra my special needs child. She's neurotic and sensitive. No one will ever love her as much as I do. Seadra and I... we need each other.

Change of Season

I was feeling very ambitious yesterday and spent most of the day cleaning and organizing. I was so pleased with myself that I decided to reward myself by setting out all my fall decorations. What fun! I was still in the mood this morning so I decided to give my blog a new fall look as well. I'm not one that likes scary fall/halloween decorations. The witch you see on my header is the only witch I own. I don't think she's scary, I think she's so ugly that she's cute. She has lighted fiber optics in her hair and in the pumpkin but the lights stopped working a few years ago. She's just too cute for me to dispose of her.

This adorable ceramic ghost grouping is close to 30 years old. I made them back when I was in high school.

This is the grouping on the kitchen table.

I hope your house is full of things that make you smile and I hope that you are enjoying a lot of caramel apples!