Busy Busy Girl

Hello blog readers! I am sorry I have not been posting much lately. I have started my education at Douglas J. So...my schedule goes something like this: work, school, sleep. Not much time for blogging or anything else! I will keep you all posted on my venture to be a stylist! It is going to be a long, grueling, 14 months, but it will all pay off in the end!

Happy New Year!

Cheers! Jeff and I wish everyone a year filled with good health, happiness, and success!

Goodbye Addy

Jeff and I have decided to bring Addison back to the breeder tonight. Her heart condition is simply too unpredictable and complicated for us to provide her the care that she needs. This has been the hardest decision, to date, that I have ever had to make.

I never knew that I could love a dog so much, let alone in such a short period of time.

I will miss her loving eyes looking up at me. I will miss her soft whimper crying for me to pick her up. I will miss her warm body snuggling with me. I will miss her following me around. I will miss the car rides with her on my lap. I will miss Jeff softly telling her "no," as she chews on his favorite shoe.

Most of all, I will miss the happiness in my heart that she has brought me.

We will miss her sorely.

Saddest Day of All

Yesterday I took Addison to the vet for her first puppy check up. No more than 5 minutes into the examination, the Dr. furrowed his brows and gave a look of concern when he listened to her chest. My heart immediately sunk and tears welled up in my eyes. The Dr. took her out of the room for a consult with another Dr. in the practice. Both Drs. confirmed that Addy has a serious congenital heart murmur. The vet referred me to an excellent cardiologist.

Last night, Jeff and I took Addy to a veterinary complex that treats only referral cases. The cardiologist had left for the day, but the Dr. on staff confirmed that her heart murmur was indeed serious. She diagnosed her murmur as a "4," on a scale of "6."

Most puppies outgrow this over time, but in Addy's case, she will most likely need medication and there is no telling when or how this condition will affect her quality of life. Medication is very costly, and diagnosing her specific heart condition is very costly as well.

Jeff and I have the hardest decision of both of our lives ahead of us. Do we keep her and accept the costs and heart ache of caring for a dog who will most likely develop serious heart problems? Or do we give her back to the breeder? We both have grown so attached to her and can't imagine accepting another dog into our hearts. Lots of prayers have been whispered and tears have been shed, but no clear answer has surfaced.

As I was sitting with Addy in my lap, patiently waiting for the Dr. to come back into the examination room, I read a quote on the wall that sums up my feelings for her...

"The sunshine in my life does not come from the skies, it comes from the light in my dog's eyes."

Fun for the whole family!

My mother stood in line at Target for two hours in a blizzard to buy
my sister Christina a Nintendo Wii for Christmas! It was a complete hit at our family Christmas party. Even my grandpa took a turn playing golf (pictured left). My dad was the real treat to watch. He won 10 rounds of boxing and broke a sweat!

Announcing...Addison Shepherd Burch!

Cocktail of the Week

San Moritz Martini

ingredients
1 cup crushed ice
3 ounces black currant vodka
1 ounce Champagne
Clear crè de menthe
Pomegranate seeds for garnish

directions
For 1 drink, combine 1 cup crushed ice and 3 ounces black currant vodka in a cocktail shaker; shake vigorously.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Add 1 ounce Champagne and a splash of clear crème de menthe, garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve.