Puppies...Puppies...oh, crap...we have PUPPIES!!!

Well, Bella, my sweet, kind-hearted, yet slutty, Corgi has had her puppies! After weeks of waiting and wondering, they are finally here. Not without some difficulty, though...she's been a little "late" in having this litter, and I was getting worried. I called the vet Monday and made an appointment to bring her in Wed. Well, on Wed morning, she still was not acting as if labor and delivery was on the menu for her so I rescheduled for today, Thursday. She woke up this morning whining and clawing at the carpet. When she started panting uncontrollably I figured she was in labor. I called the vet and asked if I should bring her in anyway and she said it wouldn't hurt to check her out. We get to the vet and she says that yes, indeed, she is in labor and suggested I leave her for observation. Since we live an hour away I thought that would be best so if there was a problem, she was there. Well, problems did in fact arise! She started pushing and pushed and pushed without stopping for almost 2 hours. After no puppies made their grand entry the vet did an exam and decided she should have a c-section. We now have 4 very healthy, chubby, and EXPENSIVE puppies. Since Bella is a Corgi and the father is a blue heeler, I've decided to name the breed "Blue Corgers."

Trying to kill 2 birds with one stone, I called and asked if the vet had spayed Bella while she was at it...YIPPIE, she had to spay her. Apparently all the pushing had ruptured poor Bella's uteran horn and a full hysterectomy was the only way to save her from hemoraging. I'm glad the vet decided to do the c-section, cus Bella would have bled to death if she hadn't and now...no more unexpected puppies.

However, for the time being, we now have 2 boy puppies and 2 girl puppies to watch and care for...not to mention listen to all night as they cry!

Here's our new "grandchildren" and Reiny's "nieces and nephews!!!"

Last Ones...I Promise!

 

 

 

 

Ok...last ones...these are just too cute not to share!

More Cute Pictures

 

 

 

 

Every time I look through these pictures, I find more and more that I fall in love with! The first one is of all the grandkids trying to look into the barn to see my lambs. So cute! Charlie is the horse we're pictured with, and he actually smiled in a couple of our pictures! He belongs to Chase, but if I get my way...I'M BUYING HIM!!! So fun!

Family Photos July 4th, 2009

 

 

 

 

I love family photos! This was the first time since Reiny has been born that we've taken the time to get family photos done. I think Reiny looks so cute in these pictures and it makes it so much more special that they were taken right here at my house. We will always remember this 4th of July!

The Ploeger Family Reunion

 

Here's the best picture I could find of my family from the 4th of July Reunion at my place. The little ones didn't want to cooperate for very long (and some of the bigger ones too!).

Potty Time

If only this picture were true...Reiny loves to sit on her potty after she's watched Mommy go, but she has yet to do anything. She mostly uses it as a hat or a place to store toys.

Family Resemblance...

So many people have told me that Reiny looks just like me now. When she was first born, we were all certain Jordan was the daddy, but now I tend to agree that she is starting to look more like her mommy. Of course, there are those moments when she looks at me and makes a face that has "Jordan" written all over it...I present item A for the jury...

I rest my case.

Reflection

Well, I've gone back and forth in my mind on whether or not to post about this, but the more I think about my personal motivation for this blog, the more I realize this event needs to be documented somewhere.

A few weeks ago I was rushing around trying desperately to get my very cranky toddler ready for bed while my husband ran out the door to play in the annual Leadore "Father/Son" basketball game at the school as a favor for a friend. I threw Reiny in the tub and began scrubbing away and then my hand hit something unfamiliar...a bump, a LARGE bump on her chest just to the inside of her right breast. I spun her around and was immediately panic-strucken by the large protruberance coming out of the inside of my tiny little girl's chest. Just then the phone rings and it's my friend Debbie calling to harass me for not coming to the game. I burst into tears and said that I just found a lump on Reiny and I need to talk to Jordan. Debbie ran and got Jordan and he flew home in record time. We said a prayer then Jordan gave her a blessing.

The next day Reiny and I went to the pediatrician. He couldn't tell me what the lump was but felt somewhat comfortable in saying it was just a cyst. Not exactly the news I wanted, but ok...he then referred us to a plastic surgeon. The next week we went to the surgeon and he examined Reiny. I've never seen her hold so still. He gave us a 92% chance it was just a cyst and scheduled her for surgery the following week. First of all...why do doctors give % chances? Here's my percent, doc, 9 out of 10 times, you'll be wrong in your assumptions.

The following week we checked into the hospital bright and early, met with the anestesiologist, and preped Reiny for surgery. I had to sit in a holding room while I watched a male nurse with HUGH earrings and tattoos take my baby from me. Reiny was so loopy at this time she really didn't mind. She just waved and said "buh-bye mom." I burst into tears.

The doctor came and talked to us and said that the surgery should take about 10 min and then Reiny would need to wake up from anesthesa so we would probably see her in about 30 min. In the waiting room I watched the clock tick past 30 min, 45 min, 1 hour, 1 hour 15 min. I'm panicing again...for good reason! Finally the doctor comes and gets us. He takes us into this little room and expains that first, it was not a cyst, second it was very deep in her chest, and third, he felt the need to send it to a pathologist. Panic, fear, every horrible thought just streamed through my brain. A few minutes later we went and got Reiny. She was happy to see us and excited to show me her popcicle. We took her home and she was herself again. I was amazed that she had no lasting effects from the surgery. However, now was the tough part...the waiting!

We called our families and gave them the news. My family decided to fast that next Sunday that the results would be negative for, dare I say it...CANCER! We left that weekend and went to SLC, UT for my triathlon. That Sunday afternoon we got a call from the surgeon. Holding my breath...I listened to Jordan's side of the conversation. Hope and relief spread across his face. Reiny was fine. The pathology report showed that she had had a blood vessel burst deep in her chest and her body started to encase it in fibrous tissue. Totally benign...peace again!

That next week we took her to have the stitches removed. The doctor told me then that he had been a lot more concerned than he let on to us the week before. He even said he was almost certain the report would show some form of cancer cells. Yet again...WRONG DOC!!! I can't complain. This surgeon did a great job with Reiny and she has just the smallest scar. I've been rubbing vitamin E on it every day and I think it's starting to fade already.

Thank you to everyone who fasted and prayed on Reiny's behalf. I don't even want to imagine my life without her in it. I'm so grateful for my little girl and for my Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers.

WE HAVE THE INTERNET!!!

HELLO 21ST CENTURY!!! The Two Dot Crew now has satellite internet!!! Although, I'm already thinking of upgrading to a faster speed...I know, "beggars can't be choosers." I'm so excited!!! Life's simple pleasures...having internet in my home...ahhh, bliss!

What We've Been Up To...

Well it's been a while since I've posted. I'm so looking forward to getting our new satellite internet this week!!! YEAH for high-speed! Here's a little bit of what we've been up to...our great friends from Utah came up to visit...the Farnsworths. Their little cutie Harrison is not quite a year younger than Reiny, but I think they're just about the same size. We always love when they come to visit cus Dan's up for anything and Patrice is the most fun person to talk to that I know! It was also nice to introduce our little ones. Harrison's pictures don't even do him justice...and I know you've heard this a MILLION times, Patrice, but his eyes are gorgeous!!! I so hope that if he and Reiny actually do get married that all their kids get his beautiful blues.


Here they are bathing together...blackmail for later!

I was also in the Salem Spring Triathlon with my sister and sister-in-law. Catherine swam like I'd never imagined any woman could, then I biked my little heart out for 13 miles, watching toddlers pass me on tricycles, and then Lauren ran the 3 miles to finish us off! We finished...and let's just leave it at that...



Reiny and I just got back from visiting my Mom and Sister in SLC, UT for a "girl's week." We shopped our little hearts out, decorated everything in sight, and swam with all the little girls. Reiny always loves to visit Grandma. I had a great time watching her with Kate, her cousin. Reiny was so funny with her. As soon as Kate would walk in the room, Reiny would grab all the toys around her and scream "NO, MINE!!!" She's rather vocal these days. We've had a good time making her say every word we can think of...she does pretty well for only being 18 mths old. Here's some pictures of Reiny swimming and climbing the rock wall.




Lastly, this weekend Chase's fiance and future in-laws came up to visit the ranch. They're such sweet, kind-hearted people and if Megan is anything like her mother I know she and Chase will be very happy together. Saturday we went over to Hamilton, MT to visit April and Brian. While there we went to take a look at Skalkaho Falls after all this amazing rain we've been having this year. We've had about 3 weeks of straight rain. Today was sunny, but looking out the window now...here comes the rain! I'm so grateful for this wet spring...it tends to calm the irrigators down and Reiny and I actually get to see Jordan a little more. Here we are at the falls...look at them raging!!! Reiny wanted to swim again in the "wa-wa."



These last pictures are just cute ones of Reiny. I'm so blessed to have this adorable little girl. She is saying so much these days. She actually brought Jordan a toy yesturday and said "Dad...turn on." I was floored! She will also tattle on people like, "Dad burp" or "Dad toot." It's quite helpful and also annoying. She has also started telling us when she's pooped. Not so helpful in church when she's screaming "Mom Dad POOP." Jordan says it's time to break out the baby potty, but I'm not really convinced she's ready for any formal potty training. We'll give it a go, but I'm not holding my breath. Here's my little toad...