Update on Blood Type

I got my genotype results back and I am genotypically O positive but I still test O Negative...... which amounts to I have a weak Big D for all those medical people who understand and for the rest of us it means I am missing some pieces of my D antigen? which is okay. SO the doctors all decided to treat me as O negative for this pregnancy and any others I may have in case the baby has a different blood type so I don't reject it. Shots in the rear here we come! In the event I ever need a transfusion the genetics people in Wisconsin are still running tests to see how weak my D antigen really is and to see if I should be getting O negative blood but it takes forever for the results to come back. Never a dull moment.

Aside from all that mess the baby is doing well. The first trimester screening all came back negative and they said I didn't need an amnio so that is good news. We went to the doctor again and saw the baby wiggling and squirming all over and it looked like it was punching. Good thing I don't feel anything yet! It is getting bigger too. I am very grateful that my doctors are having me come every two weeks, mostly for our sanity after last year, but it is so nice to see the baby and hear the heartbeat so often and just make sure everything is going smoothly.

Now for this weekend Tom & Jerry have a trial in Westfield Massachusetts so we are packing it up and leaving Friday for some nice outlet shopping etc. Jerry is going to get a go at trialing but just a couple of easy obstacles because I couldn't possible run him in an entire course. He is still reckless and not ready for trialing but I want to put him in the atmosphere since I am not going to be trialing all winter. Paul is staying home to stain some doors and get the house ready for the baby. It should be a nice weekend hopefully not too hot and even my mom is coming! Must be that shopping that lured her in!

A New Sibling for Tom & Jerry

Paul and I are proud to announce that we are pregnant and so far everything looks "normal" whatever that is. HA I tricked you. I bet you thought we were getting another puppy!

What a completely different experience this time from our sad loss with a molar pregnancy just one year ago. We are starting to get excited as we had some testing done and everything is as good as it gets so far. Still nervous and scared - not about raising a baby but with everything that can happen between now and its birth. It has been extremely hard to be happy or excited during the past twelve weeks but each doctor's visit brings a clearer picture and a smile or two to our faces. Seeing the baby bounce around, flail its limbs, hear the strong heartbeat and actually look like it is sucking its thumb were truly amazing. Thank you to our close family for not saying anything until now. We really appreciate it.

Here is a good look at Baby Quinn- look closely and you can see its little hand near its mouth and some ribs.

The baby is due on January 18th. We figured we could add one more birthday to the MANY that occur in our family between December and January! Tom & Jerry are very excited about the baby. Tom sees it as something that will throw a ball or anything else to him and Jerry thinks it will make a good snack....... Hmmm we will have to work on that one!

The only strange thing about this pregnancy is that my blood type mysteriously changed from O+ to O- (which really didn't happen but the test says it did) so I had to get a genotype test which will straighten things out so I will not need special shots for RH- blood. We await those results but they will have no effect on the baby whatever the results are. They are just to set the record straight so I don't go wasting O- blood and of course save my behind (yes that is where the shots go if I am O- to protect the baby! I will not need shots if I am O+) Thanks Uncle Terry for explaining and helping with that.

I am gettting promoted to the 4TH GRADE!

Hehe- after being left back in third for four years straight I get the chance to go to fourth grade. The nicest thing is that I am looping up with my entire class so in September we get to carry on where we left off. I have always wanted to do it and my class is really great so this should be a fun year even though there is so much prep for three state tests. I am not too worried since I taught fourth for three years when I started at PS 182. I did take some of the new books home that they use though to prepare myself. I will keep you posted on our progress.

Contact Agility Trial

Smartie approaching the jump
Smartie clearing a jump!
Our friends Donna and Henry

This trial was held in Carmel in Putnam Park and is only about 20 minutes from my house so I love going to this trial just for that reason. This trial was not too rewarding in the Q category. I had to run in Advanced Standard and Advanced Jumpers and the courses were very different from Starters. Tom embarrassed me royally as we sat in the ring waiting for our turn to run in the pairs event. As Hailey started to run her side Tom squatted and peed right in the ring. I had forgotten to ask him to urinate before entering the ring which I do every time so he took it upon himself to pee before he went. We were able to run but we NQed for eliminating in the ring. Hailey had run great with only one bar dropped. We would have come in second and Q'ed. Oh well there is always Blackthorne Lauren!

Saratoga Springs Trial

Tom & Nemo Pairs Partners

(our first pairs Q's!)

What a great event run by Y Agility by Donna and Brian Young. We all love their trials. The big highlights were Nemo and Tom got a pairs Q together. Tom got his Standard Q even after the timer didn't start and we flawlessly ran the first five obstacles. The judge was great though because she made us rerun the whole thing for time but wasn't counting the first five obstacles as we reran it since we had no mistakes the first time. Lucky us because Tom dropped two bars! He then went on without error to complete the course and get a Q. Smartie, Hailey and Sailor all picked up ribbons and Q's and the weekend was really nice. We stayed at a Residence Inn ( I slept on a cot in the kitchen!) and ate at some great restaurants each night. (plates of cotton candy larger than my eyes could handle!) Definitely worth a revisit next year. The greatest thing for us too was everyone won something in the raffle. We won a wooden jump!

ALSO BIG NEWS--- Tom got his A.D. at this trial. This is his Agility Dog Title. He has completed 3 Q's in Standard and at least one Q in Jumpers, Gamblers, Snooker and Pairs. He has officially moved up to Advanced Level in Standard and Jumpers. You can move up in Jumpers, Gamblers, Snooker and Pairs with only one Q as long as you have 3 in Standard but we will work for three Q's in each event to get us ready for the higher level.

I can't believe I do not have a picture of him and his rainbow ribbon. I will have to post one later.

Nemo & Ella's Luau Birthday party

Nemo & Ella celebrated their birthday this past weekend with a luau theme. Everyone including dogs came dressed for the occasion. Tom & Jerry had a fun time playing with all the other dogs and Tom got the ultimate party favor- a tennis ball that squeaks- no more multi tasking of dribbling the tennis ball down the path and squeaking a toy at the same time when he can now run and squeak with one toy. However he needs to lay off the tennis balls. I found out they are like sandpaper on teeth after a while and Tom has worn down a few of his teeth to the point they will need to be pulled if he continues! Enjoy the pics!

PCOTC trial at FDR Park

This weekend Tom, Smartie and the crew participated in our club's annual trial. My dad ran Tom on Friday when I had to work and boy was I glad- it was a monsoon here in NY. When I came home from work to pick up Tom at the trial I almost didn't recognize him. He was soaked to the bone and shaking even though all the dogs were under our massive tent structure and safe from wind and rain. I will try to post a picture of our "compound" during Saratoga's trial. My dad's rain gear practically self destructed and everyone seemed to be walking their dogs on course because of the mud and rain to avoid injury. Tom got his frist AKC Qualification during the monsoon with my dad! Saturday Tom was fabulous 3 for 3. Three first place Qualifications. On Sunday he got another Q for me for Mother's Day. His trial behavior is imprvoing! My dad ran Smartie well but she was plagued with a drop bar every run so no "Qs." Everyone had a good time. Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day. My dogs bought me a Dogwalk for Mother's Day. I will have to post a picture of that too.