All dogs go to heaven... and some through hell

Will it ever end for Fritz? Being given away twice, losing two wives, attacked by a bobcat, and now this? Thursday night he was bitten by a snake, and though the vet assured us it wasn't a rattlesnake, it was poisonous and he is at present fighting for his life. Perhaps it will end for Fritz. Very disturbed at the whole situation. How am I to let the kids play outside with venomous snakes on the loose? And especially with a dog that is really not a fighter in the first place, not to mention recently wounded. If he makes it to begin with. Not that I am being callous about his survival; I am just trying to be realistic as he is taking shallow breaths and lethargy is setting in. So I will leave off with a prayer in my heart for a little dog who has been a wonderful friend for our family.


Side note: These are copperheads, another venomous snake native to our area. May or may not have been Fritzy Boy's foe, but we tend to think so. Also, the vet said it was a baby snake that bit him. How reassuring is that?

I'm quite certain you missed me

Perhaps I should give this up. However, now that I have a computer, albeit at Jason's office, it is permanent so I have no excuse for another hiatus. I unfortunately have no news to report. Homeschooling is going about like I thought, or just a bit worse. I have yet to settle on an approach in our efforts, but am very interested in the Montessori and unschooling methods. Montessori schools discourage the computer though, and as that is Reno's favorite part of the day, we will not likely be die-hard. But then was I ever? About anything, besides perhaps dessert? And another thing. I am about done with winter. Thats all. Nothing grand.

Do not eat the stew. You have been warned.

Yes, I have enjoyed my hiatus. I have had to choose between sleep and blogging, and have really enjoyed getting to bed at about 9:30 the past few weeks. All is well with us. We had a rat in the house. A real one. I bought, baited, and set the trap myself. I then twenty minutes later placed the still twitching creature into a freezer bag and put it in the freezer--my kids were already asleep and I had also promised Jacob he could see it. It still resides there, causing my stomach to turn over every time I open the freezer, which is quite often since I have given up cooking in favor of taking it easy. One can never have enough Bagel Bites, I say. Besides Rat, we are anticipating a great Christmas. We wish yours Merry as well, since I can assume I will neglect this little chore for some time more.

A due date is a wonderful thing

I went to the doctor this week and the idea of being pregnant was solidified by the ultrasound, not only giving me a due date but a picture of the little creature. I say creature as at this age, they are really quite grotesque in the black and white grainy shots transmitted through the blue jelly and layers that separate us. Really quite haunting, but what a mover. Constantly wiggling-and I really had no idea that they moved much yet. Regardless, I am due on May 12th, with a promise of induction a week to ten days early. So this pregnancy is valid now. To me anyway.
We are trying to leave for Phoenix on Saturday, however, if we do that our children will not be able to go trick or treating. See, in a small Texas town, when Halloween is on Friday, they move it to Saturday so that everyone can still go see the Friday night lights. So, if we leave we will miss it. We are in a bit of a conundrum. But that will solve itself in time and the children will not go without, that is a promise.

Between Tink and Tumbling, we are kept busy

So Ava started Tumbling today, after two weeks of hype and missed classes. She enjoyed it immenseley. Especially the marshmallow rewards and sucker at the end. The teachers told me she did wonderful. Well who wouldn't when there is candy involved? Regardless, she did have fun and came away from class very excited.

Another interesting development is Tink. A little brown, tick indfested chihuahua we adopted from the Seymour pound two days ago, whose collar says Tinker. She is cute, however already corrupted by Fritz. See Fritz leaves our house for Ryann's as soon as my tires clear the drivaway. I have to go get him or call him home when I return from wherever I have gone. Well Tink now leaves too. Although, not as hardy, twice she has given up on the journey to Ryann's and ended up at the neighbor's. Either that or she doesn't like us. Time will reveal her true nature. Or the bobcat will get her. We shall see.

I am pregnant...again

I will try to muster some enthusiasm and pep as I redo the announcement of this pregnancy. I am pregnant with my fourth child; the child that ushers in a new time of my life. I struggled with the decision to have another for months, as many of you knew, and I finally relented at the insistence of my Heavenly Father-who else, right? But even now I am reticent about sharing my true self. Simply because I would hate for Rory or Levi to think themselves unwanted, which is not the case...and yet. No, I do want more. I just wanted my happy little family too. Now I feel like four has opened the floodgate for five, seven, even ten. Why not, I have the time. So, the resignation to be the mom of many has been a slow one. But I am there.
So to keep you in the loop. I am ill. Some days, very. Morning sickness constantly. There is also the fact that I cannot sleep and walk around exhausted. But other than that, all is well. All is well.

You didn't miss much

I am back from a blogging hiatus--you missed nothing. Reno and Effie are in pre-school and gymnastics, Effie is in ballet, and Ava is fine. Although to not leave her out entirely, she did throw up last night. All is well today though. I am still battling morning sickness, but I think that it is on its way out. Really, in all this time I have not a thing to report. I am going to spend the majority of next week in Dallas with Jason, and perhaps while I am there something of interest will come to me and therefore you.