We Won Special Recognition in Costume Contest

Here's what the HR Director said about our costumes in giving us a special recognition award:
The entire 14th Floor 1310 Prairie – An amazing transformation from a bunch of stiff shirted, button down collared, green visor wearing accountant types to Hippie Hollow! It was so realistic that we ordered random drug screens.

Here's some more photos proving his point:

Woodstock Revisited

Everyone on our floor took part in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock for this year's Halloween theme. Check us out!

Winning Bids on DRoH Silent Auction

Here's the only photo I got of all 3 dogs in their costumes. Well, it at least gives you an idea of how cute they looked...



I bid on 3 of the items in the Silent Auction at the Halloweiner, but only won 2 of them. One was a pair of earrings shaped like little gold doxies, and this double decker stroller was the other.



As you can see, GG immediately laid claim to it.





I've been taking her out to the back yard in it with us for reading time. Keeps her from running behind the bushes where it's nearly impossible to catch her to get back inside. She fails to come to the door when I call, like the dogs do. She and Monte both like to sleep in it as well.

Actually, I bid on this so that I could take Trip places in it without having to worry about him biting someone. I'm glad I won it because I won't have to carry him all the time. He's getting better in social situations, but still is quite insecure and his fear-based aggression, even without actual biting, scares folks. I can keep PB & Tater on the double leash while wheeling Trip around in those places where dogs are welcomed.

Judy's Photos

See photos from Happy Halloweiner 2009
These photos were sent to me by the nice woman who makes all the harnesses for my dogs. You'll see her in the football referee uniform and all of her dogs were dressed up like mascots and cheerleaders from University teams.

Happy Halloweiner

I took all 3 dogs to the Dachshund Rescue of Houston's Happy Halloweiner fundraiser today. Trip only tried to start about 4 fights - and never actually got into one. I was holding him most of the time, but he did begin to play nicely with a few of the dogs. Porch Boy was sniffing butts to his heart's delight, as was Tater.

There were about 50 dogs there - mostly doxies - and almost all in costume. I didn't take my camera because I knew it would be too hard to take photos and keep up with 3 dogs. But I'm sure that photos will be posted to the DRoH website soon.

For now, enjoy these 2 videos I took of my brood after we got back home.






I was surprised, but Porch Boy and Trip won one of the 5 best costume prizes. The prize was the little squeak toy in the 2nd video and a $20 gift card to PetSmart. I think they won just because they are so cute, not because the costumes were all that good.

Photos of Gina in St Luke's

When I got to the hospital after work today, Gina actually felt well enough to walk around. So we took a stroll down to the lobby where she did a little window shopping.



This was a nice change of pace for her since she's had to stay in her room to be near the potty for the past 4 days.



Fortunately, she does have a very nice view from her big window.



Here's how my baby has looked most of the week she's been in the hospital.



But yesterday she started feeling much better. Partly because she actually got some semi-solid food to eat, but mostly because of the thoughtfulness of family & friends.



Let's see why she's all smiles now, shall we?

Well, yesterday she got these beautiful flowers from her school.



and these from Shari & Andy



And today Lori, Mark & Caylie sent her this living flower pot (most are buds but you can see how pretty it will be when it blooms) which we can replant outside in the back yard once she gets discharged.



Denise & JD sent her this cute card today, too.

Gina in St. Luke's Hospital

A few hours after Kaden and his crew left our house last Sunday, Gina got sick. At first I thought it was H1N1 because it hit her so hard, so quickly. And she felt very hot to me, so I figured she had a fever. I alerted everyone who had been over here, but it turned out she had no fever and it was not the flu after all.

Within 24 hours Gina had to go to the bathroom over 20 times. I was afraid she might be getting dehydrated and so we called our family medical expert, Lori, to ask if we should go to the urgent care center. She said to go. We did, and she was admitted from there to St Luke's Hospital where she remains. Still unsure when she will be released.

Tests on her fecal samples turned up negative for virus, bacteria, and parasites as causes of her sudden onset of diarrhea. She also had a CAT scan of her colon which was negative for indicators of colitis. The X-ray showed a liver lesion, so another CT scan of her liver has been ordered. Not sure if it will actually be performed this weekend, but the GI doc said that she could have it done as an outpatient so there still may be hope for her to be discharged before I go to Galveston next week for the Texas Association of County Auditors annual conference.

The whole time she has been on a Jell-O and clear liquid only diet until today. She got soup and Carnation Breakfast in a can. She's lost over 5 pounds this week. The most disturbing thing to me, although it seemed of very little consequence to her attending physician, was the increase in her INR level. Finally got that under control and today she's only been to the potty 3 times.

My family has been incredibly supportive, as they were last year when she was in St. Luke's from the pulmonary embolism. I googled "liver lesion" and found that they often are determined to be hepatic adenoma or hemangioma, which is an uncommon benign liver tumor associated with the use of hormonal contraception with a high estrogen content. Once again, it seems that Gina's being put on YAZ has caused a problem for her. First the pulmonary embolism. Now this.

Alena & Kaden's Latest Visit

Jonathan was sick and couldn't come over today. I didn't think I'd have time to finish the photos, but I did! Here's Alena, Ocean and Bobby.



And here's the baby checking out his Great Grandma's jewelry.



And GG successfully getting it out of his very strong grip!



As you could tell in the videos, my dogs really loved Kaden. They gave him as many kisses as the rest of us did!



Ocean kept him safe from the dogs.



Alena had failed to set her DVR for the special one-hour "The Office" episode. So they all watched it while Mom & I played Upwords. Those are Katy's legs.



Here's the rest of Katie (decided to use both of my spellings - hopefully got at least one right!)



Not the most flattering shot - Katy/Katie looks like she needs to be in Gina's special needs class :-)



Alena and Bobby do too! Or maybe Alena is just imitating the dogs. She does seem to be ready to give the rosemary bush a good watering :--)

Here's all of them checking out my new garden. That's watermelon growing in the front there.

Kaden Videos

Alena & her brothers came over today, along with Kaden & Katie. Or is that Katy? Sorry if I misspelled your name. I'm posting the videos tonight and the photos will be coming soon. Enjoy!

Lake Livingston Getaway Weekend