Poor Little Gretzky

If you have not had the opportunity to meet Gretzky our puppy let me paint a picture for you. She came to us unexpectedly, but Neal and I instantly fell in love with this sweet little girl.  She was snugly, soft and so little, it would be impossible not to keep her!  I mean look at this face!

Gretzky was a puppy that my brother got for free, and she was going to be a test to see if he could afford to have a dog.  She came to us as Ellie, and it was supposed to just be for 3 days while my brothers went hunting.  In those 3 days it became clear that Ellie needed to go to the VET!  She had worms terribly, an ear infection, and needed her first round of vaccinations.  A $200+ vet bill later, she became Gretzky, knowing that my dear, college student, brother would not be able to afford the upcoming return visits to the vet, to check on the worms and ear infection.  Gretzky had found a new home over Thanksgiving weekend.  She has continued to be sweet and snugly, but is also VERY friendly, she is excited to see ANYONE who will pet her and is very trusting of others.  I feel that she has been well socialized.

It is now time for Gretzky to be spayed, she is growing up so fast!  I take her to the Spay & Neuter Clinic not far from our home, anticipating she would freak out as soon as we walked in the doors.  But Gretzky proved me wrong, she was calm and patient, and her friendly and trusting demeanor continued even while surrounded by other dogs and cats FREAKING out!  Gretzky greeted the VetTech as she would anyone, "oh, hello, you are going to pet me? Yes I will follow you, as you lead me into the unknown."  I start to wonder, "Maybe we socialized her TOO well?"  She ignored the cues from her fellow Canines and Felines, and just did as commanded. The time came to go pick her up, and I kind of thought she would not care to see me, as she seems to be content with anyone who gives her attention.  This was not the case, that sad, little, coned face was very happy to see me, even through the drugs you could tell she was relieved.  We got home and for the next few hours she needed to be constantly touching Neal or I, she would whimper in pain, and give these sighs that sounded something like, "this is the worst."  Poor little Gretzky!

She will be back to her cheerful self in no time!

April 28, 2014 a very positive day

The day started like any other Monday.  We had been out of town the weekend before for the beautiful wedding of Alex & Jordan Hills in Omaha, NE.  The ceremony was beautiful and the reception over course had an open bar.  I partook in the standard wedding reception festivities, drinking and dancing.  I was certainly not sober by the end of the evening, but I didn't think I was super drunk.  At least not so drunk to warrant the horrendous "hangover" I was experiencing.  So I blamed it on the keg beer, I don't usually drink keg beer.  Neal and I then ventured a couple hours east to Des Moines, IA to visit Ryan, Lisa and Emily Linder.  We had yet to met little Emily and there was a Chicago Blackhawks playoff game, so perfect day for a visit.  We decided to get BBQ for lunch, sounds fantastic for my "hangover." Normally when I am hungover I am a bottomless pit, I can eat and eat and eat, today I struggled with my sandwich after an appetizer.  Once again, I blamed the "hangover,"  I kept thinking, "MAN, I must have been drunker than I thought!" Now it is Monday, I don't finish my coffee on the way to work and I am experiencing mild indigestion.  Yet again my thoughts go to the weekend festivities, "I must have been super drunk, a two day hangover?" But still pregnancy has not entered into the pool of explanations, until about 3:30 PM.  I had a wave of nausea, followed by some light-headedness and a cramp.  The location of the cramp is what got the wheels spinning.  I wanted to take a pregnancy test right then, but I was at work, and after work I had a KCCDC dinner, that I was hosting.  The pregnancy test was going to have to wait, but now that I think I am pregnant I can't drink at dinner!  I experience slight panic as I start going over excuses to not drink at a dinner that I am hosting. Dinner was nice but I was getting antsy to get to CVS and go home.  Finally, dinner is done, I swing by CVS grab some pregnancy tests, and I am on my way.

I walk in the back door, and Neal greets me asking how dinner was and my day in general.  I buzz past him straight to the bathroom, this is not unusual to Neal I often breeze past him when I have to go to the restroom.  I sat in the bathroom staring at the test, this may be the first time I have ever taken a test and HOPED that it would be positive.  The anticipation is consuming, the digital test has a hour glass that keeps blinking, and I am just willing it to say "pregnant."  And then, it does!  "What in the world?!?!  I have to tell Neal.  How do I tell Neal?  I have never had this happen before!  Am I ecstatic or terrified or both? probably both."  Millions of thoughts go through my head, but I try to keep it together, as I walk across the house to inform Neal.  He hears me leave the bathroom and he says something like, "So tell me about the dinner."  My response is, "it was okay, but you want to know what I discovered?" "What?" and I hand him the positive pregnancy test!  I instantly start crying when I see how excited my Husband is, his awe-inspired and admiring gaze at the positive test was heart wrenching! We spent some time in shock, in love and terrified, but mostly in love.  We are now preparing to embark on an the amazing journey to parenthood, the best Monday ever!

April 28, 2014 the first time I took a pregnancy test, and it was positive!  Leading up to this day I had been trying to imagine how I would feel, respond, react and how would Neal feel, respond and react.  Well of course like most things my imagination could not come close to reality.