In Memory of my Best Friend: Lisa-Marie

This post is LONG overdue!  At around 3:30 am on December 26, 2012, I said good-bye to my very best friend.  Lisa-Marie was my furry baby, but she was also my faithful, loyal best friend.  Words cannot tell you how much I miss her.  My heart aches everyday.  I want to tell you about her, for those who never had the opportunity to meet her.  She was pretty fantastic!

My Beautiful Girl, Lisa-Marie

Lisa-Marie came into my life in September of 2003. She truly rescued me. Rich and I decided that Elvis, our amazing rat terrier, need a brother or sister.  He had been an only child (besides his rabbit sister, McKenzie) since we got him. So, we had been keeping our eyes...and hearts open to see who would choose us.

Lisa

On a Saturday morning, we decided to go to the SPCA of Wake County. I walked into the room with kennels on each side and began going down the left side.  I got about 2 cages in and dissolved into tears. All of these wonderful babies needing homes absolutely crushed me. Just to know that by not choosing a specific one, I was giving him/her a death sentence.  How is that fair?  Okay...I can't go into all of those feelings right now.  Let me just say before moving on, PLEASE SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET AND DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SENSELESS KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS EVERY MONTH!!!! 

Lee-Bear

Anyway!  I played with a few through the cages and got lots of sloppy kisses.  The only thing we really had in mind was a dog who would remain under about 30lbs...just because Elvis was around 22, full grown. We made it to the end of the left side and started walking up the right.  We came to this kennel with a TON of brown fur snuggled up in the middle....with a tiny speck of black right, smack dab in the middle of the group.  Rich had just asked me what that was when that little black speck lifted her head and let out a huge yawn.  Folks, I fell HARD!  Her ears were full sized lab ears and her head was about the size of my fist.  I loved her. I wanted her. I had to have her. I didn't even know it was a her at the time!  We saw a sign on the cage that let us know they had all recently had surgery (spay/neuter). Rich asked me if I would at least like to hold her first before making a definite decision.  I told him no because i just knew that she would be my forever baby. I was meant to be her mommy...Rich was meant to be her daddy...she had, indeed, chosen us.

I'm going breeze through the adoption process because honestly, it was hell. Let's just put it this way, before it was over, a volunteer offered to hold "Satin", Lisa-Marie's name at the time, while I climbed the fence and put her in my car!  It took us 5 hours to adopt her and once I had her in my arms, I never set her down again. I could tell you SO many Lisa-Marie stories...I have tons of favorites so I am going to share a few.

Daddy making her cool!

Elvis hated his sister!  lol  He was a spoiled brat when she got home....I love that boy with all my heart, though.  Lisa-Marie WORSHIPED her brother.  She followed him around and wanted to just be with him. He finally came around, but her adoration for him was always apparent from the very beginning. Lisa-Marie grew like crazy, got into everything, and stole the hearts of her mom and dad in an instant! I wanted her to be a girly-girl, but she would never me one!  She was tough as nails, while being the biggest baby all at the same time.

Talking to Mama

  
Lisa-Marie slept with us from day 1.  The bed became hers and she would eat any furry critter that tried to think otherwise.  To be such a loving girl, she could also have a mood swing from hell.  Her and Elvis got into a few battles that caused both of them, along with daddy, to be put on antibiotics to prevent infection from teeth wounds.  Never anything serious, thank God! When Elvis had to go through Chemo treatments and had to be at the Vet all day, it was quite a homecoming when he returned. She would sniff him and kiss him all over as we tried to walk in the door. They were a great team, especially at the holidays. Elvis would open the gifts and Lisa-Marie would grab the toy and run!  She LOVED toys.  :)  Balls were her favorite thing in the world! I will never forget the first time she was given a squeaky ball! The way her eyes lit up when we held it in our hand and squeezed it was priceless. 

Snuggling with her brother - Lisa is on the left

Lisa-Marie was SO in tuned to my emotions. If I cried, she was right there making sure I was okay...all it took was a sniffle to upset her to no end. When my mom, dad, and sister each passed away, Lisa-Marie never left my side. That girl stayed in bed with me for hours, allowing me to cry until my heart couldn't cry anymore...she would press one cheek to one side of my face and place her paw on the other. Wow...I felt a huge tug at my heart as I typed those words. She had a profound impact on my life.

A VERY Happy Mama

When you would ask Lisa-Marie for a kiss, she would thrust her cheek to you for a kiss.  She LOVED to have her mom and dad lay their mouths against her cheek and making kissing noises while smooching her. She would give you a "high-five" with just a simple request. She could also turn the lights off on command. Her FAVE pastime was taking things back in forth to mom and dad. Daddy made a goof one day and gave her his phone and asked her to take it to mom...her brothers (Hendrix & Presley) were wrestling and tripped her. She almost dropped it so in order to get a better grip, she bit down a little too hard and it cracked the screen. She didn't drop the phone though!

Lisa snuggled in bed

Lisa-Marie had SO many nicknames and answered to ALL of them. Our pet sitter gave her the name, "Lee-Lee", Daddy gave her the name, "LeeBear" and "Ebony Princess", Mama called her "Baby Girl". She also answered to, "Bear", "Lee", "Boo-Boo", "Bear-Bear", and just "Lisa". The name Lee-Bear came from the grumbling noise she made when she was loving you.

Loving her Daddy

Lisa-Marie was called the "Miracle Dog" by Clayton Animal Hospital Staff. She developed a pinched nerve in her neck and was completely paralyzed for 3 months. She made a full recovery, thanks to her "Uncle Mike" who stayed with her while mommy and daddy were at work. She also had knee surgery that she amazed everyone after. She started "toeing" that same day and was walking the very next day. Mommy slept on the floor beside her on her twin-sized mattress for 3 months. We did this for the 3 years after she was healed because she wanted to sleep there and have it during the day.  Daddy soon got lonely shortly after she was better, so he went and got another twin mattress to go on the floor...this way we could all sleep together.  Whatever she wanted!

Receiving Treatment at Home During Paralysis

Loving on her Uncle Mike

Lisa's Pedicure courtesy of Uncle Mike

Lisa-Marie loved going for rides BUT she hated the Vet. She had to be carried in by her daddy and he held her the whole time.  Did I mention she was right at 70lbs?  :)  She was a big baby in that she sounded vicious when first meeting her, but if you ignore her for a few, within 5 minutes she was going to be bringing you a ball!  Lisa-Marie loved passionately...and fought passionately.

Pure Heaven

Lisa-Marie did things on HER terms...she could be a stubborn girl!  This included the way she died. It was on her terms. She had been getting a little "clumsy"...mommy noticed and was getting scared...this is how the paralysis started before.  Within a few days, she couldn't walk. She could move her legs, but it was as if she couldn't feel her front feet. We took her to the Vet and Dr. Beam came out to the car. She gave her steroids and we had pain meds so she would be comfy. We knew she couldn't go through 3 months of this again. It hurt her pride so badly last time...and aged her.  We decided that we would give her time to see if the steroids would help before making a decision. This was right before Christmas. Daddy took her to work with him...Uncle Mike went a couple days, Uncle Shea helped half a day, then Mommy went when I got off school for Christmas Break.  It took 2 of us to carry her outside to potty.

One of the last pics of my girl - at work with Daddy

Christmas Day, we decided that we weren't going to anyone's house even if that meant having Christmas with just out little family...Rich, the dogs, and me. That was the best decision we ever made. I was extremely emotional that day. I guess my gut knew what was coming. The days leading up to this, Lisa wasn't in pain. She was eating fine...get PLENTY of chews, and eating all the treats we would give her...even barking for us to give her one!  On Christmas Day, she wouldn't eat.  Each time she would drink, she would spit it up. Mommy and daddy started giving her ice chips a few at a time because steroids make you thirsty. She rested comfortably but wanted someone lying with her at all times.  I alternated between laying with her, kissing her head and her pushing back against my mouth to make the kissing noises and crying in the other room. She was so in tune to my emotions that I couldn't cry around her because she got upset. We would flip her over every hour so she wouldn't get sore (we had been doing this all along as well as the last time she went through this) and placing pillows between her front and back legs so she would be comfy. The last time we flipped her, it was around 3am. She had her head on the pillow and a pillow between each of her legs. She was nose to nose with her daddy and her brothers were at her head and feet. At around 4am, Rich told me something was wrong with Lisa. I asked what he meant. He informed me that he thought she had passed. I immediately got down on the floor beside her side of the bed and placed my head on her chest.  Our baby was gone. Her head still on the pillow, pillows still between her legs, and her brothers still lying in their respective spots beside her. She didn't make a sound...I could literally hear a little squeak from her and be jolted out of a deep sleep...that's just how I was with her.  My baby girl knew her Mama and Daddy had a hard decision to make and that was her last gift to us...she died in her sleep, with the people she loved...and loved her nearby. That is the only comfort I have in losing my baby. 

Mommy with her Labs

Lisa-Marie was so much more than "just a dog." It pisses me off to NO end to hear people say that.  I feel sorry for them because that means they have never known unconditional love...they have never been rescued by a furry critter...they have never known a love that could surpass any love felt by any man or woman...they have never experienced the sheer adoration that a loyal canine gives to his/her "Forever Person."  I can only pray that every single person in the world can experience this at least once in hi/her life.

Sitting up eating - Healing from paralysis

I have a huge hole in my heart...one that I don't ever think will be filled again. A part of me is with my baby and I will get that back one day when we meet again. Until then, Lisa-Marie, I will never, ever forget you...I will never ever forget the gratitude I feel in my heart right this very second for you having come into my life. I can only hope and pray that you got as much from me as I did from you.  If you did, your life was complete. I Love You, Lee.

My Very Best Friend

Oh My Stars! Bento :)

So, Rich's Monday Bento ended up lasting him through Tuesday because he has been SO busy at work!  I just finished making his Bento for Wednesday (tomorrow) and I like it!  Here is Monday/Tuesday's Bento, Oh My Stars!!

Beginning at Top, Left then proceeding clockwise:  Star and heart-shaped watermelon bites with a cute, sword pick, Vanilla Yogurt with a star-shaped dollop of my homemade "Kitchen Sink" jam (several diff fruits), Crinkle cut cucumbers and carrots (more about these is a minute) with a star/music pick, and finally a star-shaped boiled egg that I wrote on with edible markers.

 

About the crinkle-cut veggies...This past Saturday my family had a picnic get together.  One of the things I brought was a big bowl of fresh veggies with ranch for dipping.  I cut the veggies using my Pampered Chef crinkle cutter which made little wave-like patterns in the veggies.  I want you to know that the kids were all amazed by the veggies and 3/4 of them were eaten by the kids!  Some had only veggies on their plates instead of hot dogs and chips!!  Goes to show that we eat w/ our eyes FIRST!

How did you start off your work week?  What did you have for lunch??  How do you get your kids to try new things without a fight?

Father's Day...on the Cheap!

Father's Day is coming up on June 17th..any idea what you're gonna get your dad...or your baby's daddy??  If your dad is like mine was, he has everything!  Unfortunately, I will miss my daddy like crazy like I do everyday, but my Furrybabies always get their dad something.  Here are some FRUGAL Father's Day ideas:

Make a Daddy Caddy: use a recycled coffee can to make a decorative tool caddy for Dad to store things like nuts and bolts for DIY projects.

 Photos for His Desk: give Dad something that he can show off on his desk at his office at work. This cute photo cube is one idea, but use your creativity!

Other Homemade Ideas: a personalized blanket, a cool scrapbook or a duct tape wallet may be the way to go this Father's Day.

A Freshly-Detailed Car

Here are a few sites for Craft Ideas for the Kids!

Family Crafts

Family Fun

Martha Stewart

Father's Day Freebies

TCBY: head to your local TCBY location to pick up a free frozen yogurt on Father's Day! 

Free Personalized Cards: send dad a free Father's Day photo card from Cardstore.com. Just enter in coupon code LUVDAD2 at checkout after you've selected you card. Offer is good through June 8th and shipping is also free. 

Make Your Own Free Cards: print your own cards for free from one of these 20 great sites. 

Vistaprint Freebies: find free customizable gifts, like business cards, mugs, t-shirts and more over at Vistaprint.

Parents/Babysitters: Dreading Summer Boredom?

While I am definitely not dreading summer myself (I'm a teacher), I can see where going from having your kids come 4om each to having them from sun-up til sun-down can be scary!  lol  When your on a budget, what in world can you do to entertain the munckins?  I ran across from frugal, cute activities where you never have to leave the house...all FREE!!

Summer Activities for Kids
by Beth Hering
Activities to keep your kids occupied this summer

1. Create a safari.

Pretend your house is a jungle (not much imagination needed
for some of us). Hide stuffed or plastic animals in various
rooms. Send your child on an expedition to find the creatures
and bring them to a designated point.

2. Host a car show.

Have your child group together similar toy vehicles in
separate rooms, such as trucks in the living room, cars in the
dining room, and rescue vehicles in the kitchen. Tell the
child to arrange the cars in a design, such as in rows or in a
circle. Give the young showman a baby wipe to polish the
vehicles for the show. When all the vehicles are looking their
best, the child can escort you into each room for viewing.
Award a small piece of ribbon to the best in each category.

3. Do inventory.

Children like to keep track of their items. Write down a list
of categories, such as action figures, trading cards, and
board games. Have the child count the number of items he owns
in each group. Write that number next to the appropriate
category.

4. Set up an obstacle course.

Use blocks, toy kitchen items, or just about anything else to
create an obstacle course for Hot Wheels and other toy
vehicles. The child can drive a vehicle through the course
while you count or hold a stopwatch. Wild driving won't work;
a five-second penalty gets added to the score for each item
knocked down. Record the result. Repeat with vehicles of
different shapes and sizes. Compare the times at the end and
talk about which vehicles were the easiest or hardest to
maneuver and why.

5. Organize a parade.

Invent a holiday, such as "Mommy Appreciation Day" or "Only 30
More Days until School Starts." Hold a parade to celebrate.
Line up toy vehicles from smallest to largest, letting the
line run from room to room if necessary. Make banners for some
cars. Decorate others with bows and ribbons. Action figures
and plastic animals can join as riders. Stuffed animals can
line the route as spectators. Choose a grand marshal and build
a platform of blocks where he can stand.

6. Host Halloween in July.

Create a costume contest among dolls and stuffed animals by
dressing them up in hats, clothing, scrap material, and
decorated paper bags.

7. Set up a bookstore.

Want to sneak in some reading? Set up a "bookstore" where you
are the customer and your child is the seller. Describe the
type of book you would like to buy and have her recommend one.
Read it aloud to see if it is what you want. Pay for the
purchase with pretend money, or return the book to the shelf
and find another title.

8. Play mailman.

Slip in a bit of writing practice, too. Talk about what sorts
of things come in the mail: advertisements, cards, letters,
bills, invitations, etc. Make some of each. Be sure each piece
contains an address, a return address, and a sticker "stamp."
The young postal worker then puts the mail in a bag or in the
back of a toy truck and delivers it to the appropriate
recipient, such as a sibling, puppet, or pet.

9. Design the world's worst picnic.

Spread out a blanket as the site of an imaginary picnic filled
with the worst guests and food in the world. Drive toy cars
one at a time to park on the blanket, announcing each time who
the guest is and what he brought. Maybe it's Cruella De Vil
bringing rotten puppy chow or Captain Hook carrying slug soup.
Continue taking turns driving vehicles to the picnic until the
blanket is covered. Each vehicle must contain a different
driver and dish.

10. Swap with a friend.

If all else fails, arrange a week-long swap of a few books,
puzzles, or board games with another adventure-seeking family.
A toy doesn't have to be new, just "new-to-you" to be
exciting!