Becoming Friends...

Avery:  Hey look!  It's Riley Dogg!

Riley:  Hey, it's Avery's hand!  (Lick, lick)

Avery:  I'm going to close my eyes so my eyeballs don't get licked, k?

Riley:  You do what you gotta do, big A.  I'm just going to lick you. 

Riley:  Avery, I gotta say that you taste delicious.

Avery:  Oh, Riley...that tickles!!!

Avery:  I can't see your tongue, but I can hear it!

Riley:  Lick, lick, lick, lick, lick, lick, lick.

Avery:  Is it safe to look?

Riley:  Lick, lick, lick, lick, lick, lick, lick.

Avery:  Are you done yet, Riles?

Riley:  Don't count on it.

Avery:  I just want to touch your ear, Riley Dogg.  So, don't lick me, k?

Riley:  Hi, Dad.  I'm a good girl, right?

Avery:  Riley!

Riley:  Avery, the sooner you learn that my tongue is out of my control, the better.

Avery:  Um, Riley?

Riley:  Must. Not. Lick.

Avery:  I really like you, Riley.

Riley:  I can't hear you, Avery.  I'm just going to sit here like a good girl.

Avery:  Hahaha!  I told you that tickles!

Riley:  I know.  And I told you that I can't help but just lick you over and over again!

Avery:  Can't you just let me touch you without licking me with your smelly tongue?

Riley:  Doubtful, Avery.  And just to make my point, I'm going to get you on your face!

Riley:  My tongue (lick, lick) is out (lick, lick) of control!  (lick, lick)

Avery:  Yikes.

Avery:  Well, okay.  I still like you, Riley.

Riley:  I'm starting to like you, Avery.  You are so very tasty.

Avery:  Oh boy, that's a big one, Riley!

Riley:  Sluuuurrrrrpppp!

Avery:  I love you, Riley Dogg.

Riley:  I love you, too, Avery Baby.  Yummmmmmyyy!

Cake...

This afternoon, I decided I needed some cake. Thank goodness cake mixes were on sale last week so we had a couple of boxes on hand and I could make it fast.

The yellow cake that I am going to top with chocolate fudge frosting is baking away in the oven as we speak, and the smell is absolutely torturing me.

Riley concurs.

This might be my first real craving, where I have to have it, no matter what. And it's weird because I don't usually like cake all that much. I usually would rather have cookies or brownies. But I am going to enjoy every bite of that 9 x 13. Huzz will help me eat it. I promised him he could have a piece.

Riley Update...

Great news, everybody!

Riley's test results came back from her biopsy and it wasn't cancer! The vet doesn't expect her to have any recurring problems.

I am sooooooo relieved!

Thank you for the big P's, if you sent some up. They were definitely heard by Him and felt by me.

I am enjoying my last day of my week off and trying to mentally prepare myself for the next week of work. So, guess what we're doing?

Watching Lost. Yeah!

Riley Update...

Well, Riley had her surgery yesterday and did really well. She has an incision about 4 inches long on the side of her stomach and all her beautiful hair is shaved away around it. No cone on her head, but she's wearing Big Red t-shirts to give another layer of protection.

I just talked to her on Skype and it looks like she's getting a little sore - we all know that feeling. Well, you do if you've ever had surgery.

Here's a video of her that my dad emailed me.

Thank you, Dad, for taking such good care of her!

My Riley...

Most of you know that I have this dog:

Her name is Riley.

I knew what I would name her before I even met her.

And I knew she was mine the second I laid eyes on her, as she trembled in the corner of her breeder's kitchen and her crazy brothers and sister ran around barking and carrying on.

When I picked her up, I did the trick to see if she'd submit to me...You know, because I am so dominant. So, I picked her up and cradled her on her back in my arms, like a baby. And she just laid there, relaxed, and looked up at me with her big, sad, puppy-dog eyes, as if to say, "Please take me from this place and love me."

So, I did. And 20 minutes later, we were in the car and she threw up puppy poo all over my sister. The first thing we did when we got home was take a bath.

I'm worried today, friends. I need big-P's sent up for the healing of my Riley. My mom told me this morning on Chat that she had taken Riley to the vet that day. When I was home at Christmas, I noticed a lump on Riley's belly. It's only about an inch long and is the shape of an egg. I asked my parents if they had noticed it and my dad said he had just a few days before. Mom took her to have it checked out and Dr. B ran some tests on it and thinks it might be a soft tissue sarcoma, which is a type of cancer. Dr. B said that if it was her dog, she'd have it removed right away. Because my parents are going back and forth between Colorado and Maryland this school year, Riley won't be able to have the surgery until the 16th.

Please P that the surgery will go well and the results will be a relief. Please P that Riley can continue to live a healthy, happy life of a dog.

And please P that I will trust in Him to take care of my dog. It kills me that I cannot be there now, or when she has her surgery. If you've ever met Riley, you know how she is: the happiest, most loyal, most ball-obsessed little person of a dog you've ever seen.

I cannot wait to see Riley again - hopefully this summer! We are hoping we'll make it to our big family reunion in Minnesota, and Riley LOVES Minnesota.

Please, if you think of it throughout the next couple of weeks, just send up a little P for Riley. She needs it!

Hi, My Name's Molly...

Hi, my name is Molly. I was adopted in November. I belong to Beth's Grandpa John and Grandma Nancy. I am a Shih Tzu.

Most of the time, you cannot see my eyes. They actually show up better on camera than in real-life. They tell me all the time how cute I am.

Wait one second... I have an itch...

Okay, one last photo, since you can't get enough of me.

I became good friends with Beth's dog, Riley, while I was in Colorado with my mommy and daddy. Riley is really big and has beautiful long, blond hair. For some reason, she likes to chase balls. This is silly behavior. I don't approve, and as you can see from this video, I am not afraid to let Riley know how I feel.

22 Days...

22 Days…

Reasons I can’t wait to go home:

My family – When I get home, I get to spend time with my mama and my sister, soon followed by my daddy. I need some good hugs and they need them from me. Then, right before Christmas, hopefully Bro, sister-in-law, and little niece will make it out. Also, Grandpa John and Grandma Nancy might be coming out to see us, depending on a pending trip of us going to Iowa.

My friends – Angie, Kari, Ali (hopefully) – I need this time with them. The ladies know my heart.

Riley – I miss my dog so much, it hurts.

Church – There’s just something about the church you grew up in that makes you feel at home.
Clean Colorado air. It’s the mountains without the pollution.

Tumble dryers. No more crusty, air dried clothes…at least for 3 ½ weeks.

Milk. Real milk.

Mexican food – we are going for good Tex-Mex for my birthday. Cheese enchiladas, guacamole, and a margarita make this girl happy.

Haircut from Vanessa – haven’t had one since June, so I’m due.

Cuddle with my Hannah Faith.

A good sleep in a nice bed.

I just need home. I never would’ve thought the past five months would’ve been as difficult as they have been. I am so thankful that Christmas is coming and we’ve been planning on this trip from the beginning and are able to do it. I can’t wait to see everyone!

Did you see this?

Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen?

And a little weird?

Click here for the article.

But it makes me think about my dog, Riley:

Riley would definitely nurse tiger cubs.