MYSTERY SOLVED

Remember the story of the missing pups? Well HERE is the link to the whole story. Anyways, I have an update...

I had a missed call last night from a number I didn't recognize. I had a voicemail and it was a woman asking if I was missing a dog named Raider. My stomach dropped. Was he alive? Would we once again have 2 dogs? How would that work, with Domer being so spoiled? Would they fight? My mind immediately went to us getting him back. I called her back and she then asked me if I was actually missing two dogs. I was shocked. They were still together after all this time? Would we be able to handle 3 dogs and a baby on the way? How would that work with them being mainly outside dogs and Domer being a spoiled inside dog? How bad of shape would they be in, seeing as how they had been missing since what...September? Then she said the word I wish I could unhear. Bodies. That thought hadn't crossed my mind and I don't know why. She had said she found them by train tracks so that probably should have been the first thing I thought but, call me an optimist, it wasn't. She asked if I wanted the collars because they kept them. Tags still in tact. She said the bodies are still out there not far from each other. I can't go see. Especially if they have been out there since they have been missing. I don't want to see them like that at all. But do we just leave the bodies? I don't know what I should do. I immediately got off the phone and started bawling hysterically. I don't know what is better, not knowing, or knowing this. I almost wish I didn't know because at least there was that chance and that hope they someone had taken them in and was taking care of them and loving them. I guess we have "closure" but it doesn't exactly feel like that because it's so sad and awful. I don't want to even think about how it happened. Did they get hit at the same time or was it one then the other? How bad of shape must their bodies be in? Ugh I can't think about that...

Anyways, mystery of the missing pups sadly solved.

UPDATE:

We had a couple of people offer to go get the bodies for us. (Thanks Jessie & Teague and Jesse & Tiffane!) And we let one friend because he could take them and bury them on his mom's property. At first I didn't know about any of that. I just couldn't think about it and hated to worry about it. But Michael made a very good point. He said, "If he [Jesse] goes and gets them, you'll have the comfort of knowing they were taken care of." This made a lot of sense. I think if I didn't have him go do that, I would always wonder where their bodies were and by wondering that I wonder the worst of how they looked. So I'm glad that now I know they were cared for and they are taken care of. We owe them big time for doing that for us. Neither Michael or I would have been able to handle it I think.

The Story of Our Missing Pups

I finally got up the courage to write about what happened with our puppies so here it is...

We had been struggling with our pups all summer getting out but couldn't afford to make the necessary fixes to our fence. So we started to lock them in and only let them out a couple of times to go potty. Well they didn't like that very much and they started to go potty inside. Even though they knew it was wrong and they were getting potty breaks enough times a day. I don't know what it was but they were being brats. Finally we decided enough is enough and we broke down and bought the supplies to build a built in kennel. Michael spent all weekend building that kennel. The next day they broke it and got loose. The dog catcher brought them back to us. Michael fixed the kennel where it had been broken and we tried again. The next day they found a way to dig under the gate and got loose. This time we weren't so lucky. They were last seen on 1100 S. heading towards the freeway. They had tags on and someone ALWAYS calls so I guess that's what we banked on. But Michael called in from work and we spent any spare time we had, looking for the dogs. We couldn't believe that this time no one called. We got the word out. It was on facebook, I put an ad on KSL, and on the bulletins at nearby vets and animal shelters. I even called as far as Ogden to see if they had been picked up and dropped off or something like that. The dog catcher believes someone picked them up and kept them. And we chose to believe that too. We didn't want to believe that they had gotten killed. Though we did have people check the sides of the roads for us. I wouldn't have been able to handle it if I found their bodies. Writing this is so hard. I am still so devastated. How could someone just pick them up and not call the phone number on their tags? Couldn't they tell that they would have been deeply missed?! I think the hardest part is the unknown. Are they still together? Are they being taken care of? Are they happy? Are they even still alive? A part of me feels extremely guilty. Like, I had to have been the worst owner ever for them to want to get out so badly. I didn't give them near enough attention. And though I loved them like part of the family, they must not have felt that love. I know that's probably not the case and most dogs are just naturally curious and that is why they got out, but it's impossible to keep those thoughts out of your mind. The first few days without them were tough. I swore to myself and to Michael that I never wanted another dog. Ever. I couldn't bear the heartache we have been through losing 3 dogs in a year. I checked KSL every day hoping someone responded to my ad or someone else posted a "found" ad. Never any luck. We had a few false alarm calls. About 3 of them, so I knew the word was out and if people saw even one black lab, we got a call hoping that at least one of them could come home to us. Never such luck. A couple weeks went by and Michael's parents moved out into their own place so now I was really ALONE at night while Michael was at work. I realized the heartache of not having a companion at night was constant and I was ready to talk about getting a new puppy. So, I brought it up with Michael and he agreed. He wanted me to have a companion at night too. I thought about a rescue, a small lap dog, a girl for a change...then Michael mentioned he wanted a Great Dane someday. He had one in High School and we just loved her but had to give her to a loving home when the house we were renting didn't allow pets. So I told him we could save up (they're expensive) and maybe get one for Christmas. I was still checking KSL nearly every day and I started checking at dogs for sale. I found an ad for Great Danes at a great price but they were in Cedar City. Oh well, we felt ready. So exactly one month after Raider and Yankee went missing, we took an all day trip down to Cedar City to pick out a new puppy and take him home with us. Of course I am a worry-wart so I worried it was too soon. I worried this meant we had given up on Raider and Yankee and that we were over it. We're not. We still aren't. I still have a hard time talking about it when people ask. In fact, I'm getting emotional now just writing about it. But having this new puppy really helps. He is the sweetest thing. He is a cuddler and a follower. He likes to be on your lap and by your side almost all times. I say almost because now he has gotten pretty comfortable that if we are in the living room watching TV but he wants to lay on the bed, he will. He loves the bed and he loves to sleep with us. He is already potty trained and doesn't jump, lick or chew on things (except Michael's socks on occasion hehe) We just love him. I miss Raider and Yankee and think about them all the time. I wish I knew where they were. I wish they were home. Now that we just have the one, we are going to spoil him and smother him with love. Meet Domer.

as of late...

It's been forever since I have posted!

Truth is, I haven't had anything to post about really..

I've been staying busy but my camera got broken so I haven't taken any pictures of anything!

All I have are pictures of my phone when I remember to take pictures which is hardly ever!

So, here's what we've been up to as of late...

I washed their blankie and they are pretty much
ALWAYS laying on it now

I made this for my front door

We went to Wendover and while
we were gone the pups jumped
on the sliding glass door and the
glass shattered! Luckily our friend
Codey helped us patch it up for now.

Jamie got new glasses which she pulls
off really well!

Michael and our nephew had a cake eating
contest and our nephew won!
He was so funny with his mouth full of cake
laughing at Michael pointing and saying,
"ha ha you lose!"

Here it is again. I have been playing
around with some photo apps on my
phone. Which you'll see a lot of when I
show you the photos from my Feb
photo a day thing. Stay tuned.

Yup that's about it!

Hopefully I get a new camera soon or get mine fixed so I have more to post about!



Worst Week Ever

Last week was probably the worst week of my life.

A trip to the hospital, a family member going through something incredibly diffifult and sick puppies, made up my week.

And to top the week off, we lost one of the puppies.

The other two seemed to get a little bug where they didn't want to eat but they got over it in a day or two so when the third got it, we figured he would also just get over it.

But he got really really bad. Wouldn't eat. Wouldn't drink. Wouldn't even move.

Friday night we gave him a bath and let him sleep in our bathroom.

Saturday morning was the worst morning.

I actually miss his 6:00 a.m barking.

RIP Oakland (right)



Time to catch up!

I realize it's been a while since my last post!

Truth is, I haven't had a single thing to blog about!

I did get a new phone as you probably know so I will just update with a few new pics!

Taking a break from Peach Days, this is how
he eats a casodilla

I got some great feather earrings @ Peach Days!

Greatest nephew ever!

My phone takes panoramic pics.
This is the Gleed family celebrating my
Grandpa's b-day BBQ style!

We got a new gate for the puppy room!
It's great because it's too tall for them to
jump and it opens like a gate so I don't
have to climb over it! Love it!

Michael's grandpa found this great puppy
costume. He put it right on and had a great
time pretending he was a real puppy!
His name..."Doggie"

TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS!
(This was last weekend when they beat the Jets)

Kate got me this sweet Mt. Dew shirt for
my birthday!
Love it! Love her!

My phone has a camera on front and back and
he thought it was great he could push the button
and see himself!

BC Temple

Baby Laura with mashed potatoes all over
herself!

This is how Michael watches football...
especially when it's intense.

Found this pic of my grandparen't @ their
house and I thought it was sooo cute!



Picture Update

Just for fun here are a few pictures I have taken lately!

Nights @ the track w/ my sistas

Me being a real-life
ninja turtle in FYE

Went to a murder mystery dinner.
My character was a gypsy/fortune teller.

A few of just me

New jewelry

New headphones which I LOVE



Major sunburn

New glasses!

Newest addition to my collection...
Thank You Swap Meet!

Now I have a place to put all of my
picture CDs.
Again, Thank You Swap Meet!

New Raiders Earrings!
Can't WAIT to wear these to work!
hehe
Once again, Thanks Swap Meet!

Added my bouquet to an empty
corner.
What do ya think?!

Now for some puppy pics!

YANKEE

RAIDER.
This is seriously all he does.
Oh and EAT.

OAKLAND