10 Months 3 Weeks 3 Days

We're slowing getting over the initial shock of losing Brinkley. I still get sad thinking about him, and really, really miss him a lot, but I haven't cried in a few days now.

I went to Tullahoma yesterday to visit my mom and aunt. While down there, my mom gave me a memorial plaque for Brinkley's grave. I just have to wait for a time when Wanda's home so I can go over there.

I don't think I ever posted the stats from Christopher's weight check on Halloween: he has gained 1 lb 6 oz in 6 weeks and is now 18 lbs 3 oz!!! YAY! Dr. Tammy is VERY pleased, as is Mom and Dad! All we had to do was increase his solids, so nothing else needs to be done at this time. While there, he also got the 1st of 2 flu shots. He goes back on Dec. 4 (1 month later) for the 2nd shot. He has his 12 month appointment on December 21 where he'll get MORE shots. Poor baby!

I can't believe it's November already! Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner...in addition to Christopher's FIRST birthday! This year has gone by SO fast! I was originally thinking of traveling to Pennsylvania with my dad and step-mother to visit relatives over Thanksgiving, but have decided against it since that's a really long trip (approx. 10 hours) for Christopher to endure. I think we'll wait until the next one, which will probably be in the Spring. Hopefully, he can handle a trip that long at that age (15-18 mos). I just hope my grandfather will still be around then. He's over 90 years old, so can't be sure he'll still be with us tomorrow, much less 6 months from now.

Since we won't be going to PA, we'll probably do our usual of going to Shad's grandparents' in West Tennessee. That's only a 3 hour drive and Christopher can handle that much better. I don't know what to expect over there, though, either since Shad's grandfather is now in a nursing home. None of the relatives seem to think he'll recouperate and come home. Last I heard, though, he's slowly starting to walk again.

Shad once again reminded me over the weekend that we'll be staying home for Christmas starting this year. All of our relatives are invited to spend the day with us, though. That was the agreement we made when we got married: we'd travel to see relatives until we had a baby, then we'd stay home. He had to travel a lot as a child and absolutely hated it. I, on the otherhand, hardly ever left home for the holidays, so don't mind it at all. I understand him not liking it since he would get up Christmas morning and be gone for several days. He didn't get to play with his new toys as a kid. However, our relatives are only 1-3 hours away, so not THAT far. Christopher would have plenty of opportunites to play with his toys on Christmas Day! I told my mom yesterday about that arrangement and she's not too happy. It's getting harder for her to make the drive and it's only going to get worse as the years go by. I'm afraid Shad's not going to get his way every year. I guess that's something we'll have to deal with as we cross those bridges.

As for shopping for Christopher and his birthday and Christmas...I've started a Wish List on Wal-Mart's website (https://www.walmart.com/giftregistry/gr_detail.do?registry_id=26772916384). It's mostly toys since we're loaded down with 12 month+ clothing and don't need anymore. I've been given stuff all the way up to 5 and 6T!!!!! Most everything, though, is 12-24 months. I'm looking at getting Christopher some kind of ride & push toy. He recently started walking with a little rolling push toy at church, so I think he's ready for one of those at home. Other than that, I have no idea what Shad and I will get him. For my first Christmas, my mom and dad gave me a Fisher Price Christmas. I got the set of Little People (the old version!): the house, vehicle, camper trailer, airplane, merry-go-round record player and barn, along with all the people, animals, etc. My mom still has that set at her house for grandchildren/great-grandchildren to play with.

I'm so glad the elections are over with! I got so sick of hearing all the negative tv ads and getting tons of junk mail, phone calls and traveling campaigners! Shad and I took advantage of early voting last week. I learned a long time ago to do that! It made it that much nicer that we didn't have to fight the HUGE crowds and the bad weather! We're both big conservative Republicans and are very pleased with our state's results! Nationally, though, is a little different. Only time will tell. I keep hearing all the Breaking News on tv today... there's so much going on post-elections! I think Bush has given 2 press conferences just this afternoon alone!

Christopher's napping right now and should be waking any minute. I still need to eat some lunch so I can focus on him when he eats his. I think I'll have leftover Hamburger Helper (Jumbalaya) and some green beans. Yummy!

10 Months 1 Week 6 Days - Goodbye Brinkley!

We lost our beloved baby, Brinkley, today. He was next door at John and Wanda's house (his 2nd home) when he jumped the fence to chase another dog and got hit by a truck. He was dragged underneath the front wheel, but got up and ran into my neighbor's yard. The driver must've seen Brinkley run off, so drove on and didn't bother to tell anyone that they'd hit the dog. There really wasn't much injury on the outside, so it had to have been internal injuries that killed him. I'm thinking a collapsed lung since he went so quickly. I guess the good in this is that he didn't suffer long. I just wish that I could've been there to tell him goodbye. I was inside my house, so didn't see it happen. Wanda knocked at my door and I just thought that she was bringing Brinkley home since that's what she does when she has to leave her house. I remember her telling me, me screaming, "NO!" and running over to where he was laying. In spite of being so upset, I was angry at him for running into the street. I tried and tried to teach him to stay out of the road, but when he's chasing after something, he doesn't care. I just wish he could've learned without actually being hit.

Since we don't own our house and because he was as much John and Wanda's dog, we buried him next door. I guess we could've had him cremated, but that would've cost money. Plus, I don't think I could've handled seeing his ashes everyday like that. I can't see how in the world people have their pets STUFFED! I just couldn't handle that!

Shad got Brinkley for my birthday right after we were married. Brinkley was 10 weeks old then and would've been 6 years old this December. I was looking forward to Christopher growing up with Brinkley. Several people have already told us that an easy way to get over Brinkley is to get another dog. I just don't think I could do that right now. I really want another Jack Russell someday (one that DOESN'T jump the fence!), but until Christopher's older, that's probably not the best breed. We'll see later on down the road. I just can't imagine everyday life without our baby Brinkley!

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