When It Rains, It Pours

I worried about how Bailey would handle Harley's inevitable passing. They are best friends, like brother and sister. They don't want to be separated and she refused to eat the night Harley spent at the ER. 

Yesterday, Cody took Bailey to the vet for vaccines and to have 2 spots tested that have been growing on her left side. Both dogs have these growths and we have been told in the past, "don't worry - these kind are benign." When one of Bailey's growths started bleeding and we noticed Harley cleaning it for her we decided to have it looked at again.

I have begun to notice that Bailey isn't eating much from her bowl at night - and she is my eater!

The vet looked at the spots and again said, oh don't worry about these! She aspirated the two growths and looked under a microscope. When she came back into the room she was at a loss for words...She said 

"It isn't good. She has Mast Cell Tumors".

aka: Bailey has cancer. 

Bailey: Age 7.5

(she will be 8 this fall)

Both spots were the same type of cancer, which means it had metastasized. Metastasis is never good. She will have surgery next week to remove the two cancerous lesions that we can see. I'm sure they will analyze the lesions and grade the cancer for us so we can understand her prognosis a bit better. 

50% will grow back in the same spot. If she remains tumor free for 6mo after the surgery her chances are good. 

The vet thinks she isn't eating due to the high amount of histamine that these tumors release and if she bumps it, it can be very dangerous to her - releasing massive amounts of histamine (like a severe allergic reaction). So we are giving her Benadryl twice a day until her surgery. 

Our hearts hurt right now. It is highly likely we will be loosing both dogs this year. Part of me wants them to be able to go together so that they are together in Heaven and so that Bailey isn't lonely here on Earth without Harley. 

An even bigger part of me wants many more years with her! She's still young and full of energy. God help us - it would be so incredibly hard to lose both dogs!

I have been trying to prepare the girls the best way I can. I tell them they need to love on the dogs because they are getting old and they may die and then go to Heaven. My heart breaks that my girls will have to learn about death at such a young age. 

I'll be a lot of pictures of the girls with our dogs.

We know you don't feel well Bailey - stay strong for us!

We love you Bailey!!!

Our Lucky Charms

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The girls woke up to green pancakes topped with Lucky Charms marshmallows (recipe here) and then had green mac'n cheese for lunch!! They are loving it and laugh while eating saying "this is funny"!

We are so LUCKY!!!

St. Patrick's Day Treats

Friday the girls celebrated St. Patrick's Day at school. I made treat bags for them to take to their friends. Sorry the pictures aren't the best, I was assembling them late in the evening (click image to zoom in). 

Reese and Emma took skittles & rolos:

 "You are my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow"

Scarlett took lucky charms:

"I'm so lucky to have you"

Free Printable Pot of Gold Labels here
Free Printable Lucky Labels here

Our Best Friend, Our Family, Our Dog

Last week when the girls were playing in the sandbox I felt compelled to take some pictures of our dogs, which I haven't done in a while. 

Harley & Bailey

Little did I know the events that would unravel that weekend...

 Sunday afternoon the dogs were resting and I was assembling the teacher appreciation gifts when I heard Harley's feet start scratching against the tile like he was running in his sleep. I go to look and something was very wrong! I yelled for Cody to come help that it seemed like Harley was having a seizure. We both sat by him hoping he would stop quickly and be ok...he didn't and he wasn't. His legs locked out stiff, he was flopping around gasping for air. We tried to look in his mouth but he was so tense we would have been unintentionally bit in the process. 

Then his tongue started turning blue...and I said "Oh my God, he's not breathing!" Cody was ready to take him the the Vet ER but I knew he wouldn't make it if he wasn't breathing already. When he snorted out blood from his nose and started foaming out the mouth we had no other option but for Cody to try to get him to the ER in time. We threw him in the trunk as safely and quickly as possible. He was still locked out stiff and couldn't brace himself in the trunk. He flopped and rolled around with no control.

Cody sped off to the ER and I stayed back and cried! Thank goodness the girls were all napping and didn't witness that! It was scary enough for us as adults. Cody called me 1/2 way through his drive and said Harley was standing up and breathing again. RELIEF. (Rolling around in the car probably knocked his heart back into rhythm.)

They took Harley straight back for testing and monitoring. They said odds are it wasn't a seizure since he didn't pee everywhere during the ordeal. Plus oxygen loss is not typical of a seizure. They thought the blood was from him biting his tongue during the collapse. 

His bloodwork was normal, chest x-rays normal for age, but his ECG was not. He was showing signs of an arrhythmia and they wanted to start him on medication and watch him overnight to make sure he reacted to it ok. The next morning he got a cardiac sono which showed internal dilation. 

Diagnosis: Boxer Cardiomyopathy

Prognosis: 6 months- year (at best)

Risk: Sudden Cardiac Death

Preventative: he is on an anti-arrhythmic and will start a 2nd one tomorrow. This just buys us all some time (we hope). The medication is cheap and we are willing to try to get the most time we can with him.

Monday afternoon I told the girls we need to tell Harley how much we love him and play with him because he is getting old. Reese proceeds to say "Harley is my favorite"! 

Harley Age: 10.5 years

Stay strong for us Harley - we love you very much!

Teacher Appreciation

It's teacher appreciation week and between all 3 girls there are TEN teachers. I love the dollar bins at Target and right now they have these cute little locker boxes in neon colors. I grabbed 10 trying to get each teacher's favorite color, a package of neon Easter grass and a Target Fastpack of 10 giftcards that they just scan and activate to all the same amount (found on an end cap by the batteries near the toys). 

I made labels that say "I'm right on Target with you as my teacher!" and used double sided tape to adhere them to the lids. 

This was not the most economical option but we were pressed for time and ideas and who doesn't like to shop at Target?! 

What Have The Girls Been Up To?

Reese

Reese's 4yr Old Stats (on 2/13)

Weight: 34.1lbs (44%)

Height: 40.8in (72%)

She gained 4lbs and 2in over the past year. Poor thing had to get FOUR shots at this check up but loved going to Orange Leaf for frozen yogurt afterward!

Reese looked at my wedding ring the other day and said "Mommy, I want to be married to Daddy. I love him too." It was so sweet!! She has Daddy wrapped around her finger! 

She loves riding her bike down our big street when we go for walks. She goes so fast I have to run to keep up! 

Every weekend her and Emma have a slumber party on the floor or Emma's room. Which is kinda silly since Reese has a trundle bed (but they just won't fall asleep in there). 

She still has yet to have a haircut but we are finally getting close to needing one ;)

Emma

Emma is now potty trained! Both ways in fact and it was SUPER easy for her (and us). She still wears a diaper for sleep but wears panties all day, to school, and out and about! The first day we sent her in panties to school I packed her back pack with 4 backup panties/outfits. I was so PROUD when I picked her up and not a single accident!

Emma loves wearing tutus and pettiskirts! I can't keep her out of them! She sleeps in them, puts them on her dresser for school the next day and wears them all weekend long! I now buy dresses that have that built in skirt flare so she will wear her clothes! The Easter Bunny is even bringing a cute little tutu swim suit this year (he told me!)

She LOVES cereal (any kind) with milk!

Scarlett

Scarlett is walking everywhere and trying to run! She was officially walking at 13mo. She LOVES playing catch and says "ball". 

She also says "hi", "bye", "please", "thank you", "uh oh", "Harley" & "Bailey".

I stopped breastfeeding her at 13mo and am so proud for how long both of us made it! She now gets cold whole milk (from a cup during the day and a bottle at bedtime). We are trying to get rid of this last bottle but since she won't take a paci it has been tough. Once these last 2 incisors are done cutting we will drop the bottle. 

She has also started chewing a daily probiotic like her sisters. I think she is hitting a growth spurt because she eats ALL THE TIME! She will eat more than her sisters do!

Spring Is In The Air

Blowing Dandelions

Reese's 1st time in her birthday sandbox

"Emma, are you having fun?"

"Yes!"

In all seriousness...I love those eyes & lips!

"Cheese"

Harley & Bailey