My injury

 Last week I was sitting on the tile floor with Lenny.  When I got up, I pulled a groin muscle and let me tell you, the pain is no joke.  For two days I hobbled around.  By day three I was getting better.  Today is day 5 and I'm still not active.  I feel better and things feel like they are improving but I'm use to walking 11,000 steps per day, if not more and this injury has put me at a stand still.  I'm not resistant training or walking right now.  I keep reminding myself that by next week at this time I should be good as new, I hope.  To be my age in post menopause is no joke.  Last night as I was getting into bed at 8:15 which is standard for me I had to laugh at myself.  My ceiling fan was on full blast.  My travel fan was set up right next to my bed so it blows on me all night.  I rub my essential oils over my foot for my plantar fascitis, then I rub my magnesium butter over my both my feet to help me sleep and I always take my medication for my night sweats right before bed.  Last night I put my compression sock on to help with my leg pain and finally I put my eye mask over my face and I'm out.  What a pitiful sight I am.  These days if I have an event in the evening I'm hit with anxiety, worrying if I'll make it home in time to be in bed by 8:30.  Thank goodness for my dear girlfriends who understand all this and are going through the same rituals.  

I remember my mom telling me she loved her 50's.  I'm 52 and I gotta say I am not loving them.  I am truly doing my best with what I have but there are so many changes at 50 something.  My life as a mother has changed dramatically which isn't a bad thing but it takes some getting use to.  My hormones are gone so it effects all things from my mood to my body and feeling like I just don't care about the things I use to.  I keep waiting for it to get better but thus far it hasn't.  I am thankful for the simple things and that is how I focus my energy.   

Life with Lenny

 Lenny is 15 weeks old.  Every week gets a wee bit easier.  He's house broken so that was a huge relief.  He has settled in nicely with Cole and Walker.  Walker and Lenny are really the best of friends.  Lenny understands our schedule and has adjusted well.  His sleeping quarters are with Cole and Walker.  Mike put in a retractable baby gate which separates Lenny from Cole and Walker.  Although Lenny has started to chew through the gate and soon that gate will be no more. Lenny has learned what is good behavior around Cole and Walker and during the night they are use to sleeping as a pack.  For several weeks after we got Lenny I questioned my sanity.  I still kind of do but I do love that puppy and Mike is enamored with him.  We enrolled Lenny in puppy school and take him every Wednesday night.  He has just started to walk on a leash, not great, but it's a start.  Of course as soon as he starts to walk willingly on a leash I injure myself.  More on that in another blog.  Since Mike and I are relatively new at being empty nesters, Lenny has given us a new purpose and something to talk about.  We've become those crazy dog people.  Mike does things with Lenny that he never allowed with any of our other dogs.  He consistently feeds them left overs in the kitchen.  All dogs get to partake in this and they love it.  He's much more patient with this puppy, probably because he's not worried about not only training a puppy but raising two boys.  Ha.  

The Dogs

 I remember a time not so long ago when I swore I'd never have 3 dogs again and yet here I am.  It's another reminder to never say never.  Don't let this picture fool you.  It's rare that Lenny lays on the bed calmly.  Today we have had Lenny for one month.  His potty training has gone well and ever so slowly I've seen a relationship form between Lenny and Walker.  I never could have predicted that.  Next to my mom, Jay is one of Walker's biggest fans so of course he wasn't surprised.  Ha.  Lenny has been so good for Walker and vice versa.  Lenny has made Walker less of a grouch and has helped bring out Walker's playful side.  Walker has been good for Lenny.  He has demonstrated to Lenny what proper dog behavior play is.  Often they will play and sometimes Walker doesn't like it and let's Lenny know.  Lenny backs off, they lick each other and start to play again.  It's been really fun to watch.  Cole remains indifferent to Lenny, much to Mike's surprise.  He does not play with him and simply tolerates him.  Cole is 13 years old after all.  If he could talk he would probably tell us he doesn't appreciate spending his "golden" years with this rambunctious puppy.

Although we have settled in nicely.  Over this past month I have often questioned my sanity.  What was I thinking agreeing to take on a puppy and a third dog right after stepping into empty nest?  I finally had free time to focus on things I wanted to do.  When I voiced this to Mike, he said part of life is taking care of things.  While that might be true, I'm kind of tired of taking care of people and things, including dogs.  Ha!  But I digress.  I know long term this was the right decision and I've joked that this is my  summer of No.  I haven't done much because I've been training a puppy.  

How's it going with Lenny

 We have had Lenny for three weeks now and each week gets a little better, as far as Lenny settling in and knowing this is his home.  Walker has warmed to him, just a bit.  He plays with him but on Walker's terms and will also let Lenny know when he's not in the mood.  Cole wants nothing to do with him.  Mike seems convinced that will change but I'm not holding my breath.  The truth is Walker is a wee bit younger and still wants to play and Cole is well, really old.  I hesitate to put this in writing but Lenny is 99% house broken.  Hallejah!  I believe it took Copper a good month but Lenny has two other dogs he's watching so he caught on quickly.  He is completely crate trained.  Another big deal.  I anxiously await the day when I can let Lenny go outside by himself and he'll know the boundries.  I have spent the last 3 weeks outside constantly with him for potty breaks.  I put him on a leash when we go outside since he finds it amusing to run from me.  Mike hasn't been home much due to work so I've trained Lenny and done a pretty good job at it.  

Cousin weekend

 Me, Amber and Kim got together this weekend.  Sadly Cora couldn't come because of work.  We missed her.  The three of us went to Washington (IL) for lunch and did some shopping.  The girls spent the night at my house.  Mike went to Texas for the weekend to visit the Ausili's.  Here it is Monday morning and it's back to reality.  

Happy 250 Birthday, America

Happy 4th of July!  We celebrated once again at Erin and Neal's house for the annual 4th of July Shrimp boil!  Interestingly enough, this was also the 10 year anniversary from when I broke my ankle at the shrimp boil in 2016.  Our shrimp boils look different only because none of us have little kids anymore.  But the nice thing is a few of our older kids join us.  Jay, Aaron and Reece seem to be yearly staples.  I love this picture of the boys with their girlfriends in the pool.  Jay, Aaron and Reece have been friends since 1st grade.  Hannah encouraged me to bring Lenny to the party so I did. I was glad I did.  I set up his playpen and once he settled in, it was great.  He enjoyed all the people petting him.  

Erin is such a dear friend to me.  I look like an absolute mess in this picture.  By this point I was super hot and it had rained so I look a bit like a drowned rat.  But I digress.  It was another great shrimp boil and I'm so thankful to Erin and Neal for hosting it every year!  

*Nick and Rylan went with friends up to Wisconsin!

 

Lenny, Luke & Hawaii

When I realized I hadn't blogged since May 17 I actually thought about just dumping my blog but then I remembered how much I enjoy looking through them each year, as my blog is a great way to document the events in my life.  So here goes.  First, on June 29 we picked up 8 week old, Lenny.  Mike really wanted another puppy.  He actually wanted two puppies but I told him that was a hard No.  I said I would NEVER have 3 dogs again and yet here we are.  Our beloved Cole is just getting to be an old man so we decided we'd go ahead and get Lenny.  Lenny is the sweetest puppy but Cole and Walker are not amused by him.  It's been a lot of work but nothing I wasn't prepared for.  Mike and I pretty much decided to shut out summer down and devote the rest of the summer to training Lenny and getting Cole and Walker comfortable with him.  I am confident that by September things will look much better.  God willing Lenny will see Mike and I into our retirement and he will be our last puppy so I am loving on him big time.  

Vizsla's are truly the cutest puppies.  They want so much to please you and thankfully they are smart breeds.  

In other big news, Luke made a confession of faith to join his grandparents church two weeks ago.  Glenn and Sharon are wonderful people and they are bursting with pride to have their youngest grandson join their church.  Kim, Craig and Lauren go to Song and Sword with my family.  I love that Luke made this choice.  He has such a heart for Jesus.  

And finally, our trip to Hawaii.  The best part was seeing Mike bond with the girls and really get to know them, especially Hannah.  In this picture we had just finished an ATV ride with our 4 kids.  Hannah got the muddiest and Mike thought it was hysterical.  

One moring, Mike and the kids got up and drove to the Napali Coast where they hiked.  The views were beautiful! 

A picture of the 8 of us.  This picture is classic!  Everyone is cracking up and having a good time! What a blessing family is!