Luna's Favorite Things

Jason would of course tell you that Luna's Favorite Thing is Me, but he says the same thing about Koko! Luna does love me, I know. She shows a lot of excitement when I come home...and rarely gets up for Jason...

But Luna has a lot of adorable things she likes.
One of them is:

THE COCA-COLA POLAR BEAR

It's the Coca-Cola Polar Bear because he came with a plastic bottle of Coke attached, but she chewed it off.

She LOVES this bear. I can bury it in the toy bin and when she's ready to play...Jason's her favorite playmate by the way...she will dig in that bin for the Coca-Cola Polar Bear.

Jason speaks like Mr. Hankey and Luna goes crazy!

Here she is ready to pounce!

Another fun thing Luna does with her Favorite Playmate Jason is run away from the hose attachment. Jason puts it on 'SHOWER' and sprays Luna as she runs around the yard and driveway. It's a great way for her to groom her own nails actually.

Luna in ACTION!

There are a few more things Luna loves...she's full of good fun.

She loves to truffle hunt in the snow

And fetch the orange buoy forEVER at Lake Michigan

Sleeping at the end of the bed is HEAVEN

It was even more spectacular when Satchel used to sleep there too

Life is best when we're hiking the Alligator Trail in Glen Arbor, Michigan

While I could never pick a favorite dog among The Pack, I love that they each have their favorite things that make them unique and so adorable and fun.

How did I get so lucky to get 3 One-In-A-Million dogs?

Koko's Favorite Things

One night, about a year and a half ago, My Kokopelli didn't feel well. She had been sick with diarrhea earlier in the day, seemed disoriented, was shivering and looking to me as if she was begging to be healed. Trying to deny anything was seriously wrong, I decided to bring her favorite bed out to the kitchen where she was lying, give her little bits of water, and lay with her. As I snuggled her, she was still shivering. I brought out the heater I get dressed by. Still shivering. I went upstairs to the closet where I keep all of our extra comforters, pillow and blankets. I don't even know where I originally got the black and white checked blanket that seems perfect for camping, but that night it looked perfect to wrap up my Kokies in so I could lay and sleep with her.

Down in the kitchen, Koko's head was bobbing as if she was exhausted. It took some effort to raise it in my direction as I entered her scope of vision. I started to wrap My Sweet Shivering Koko in the black and white checked camping-like blanket. I laid down next to her and whispered about how I loved her and that I would be with her all night if she needed and that I would never leave her and that I would try to think of everything she might need before she needed it... I was worried about my KokoPuff.

Within about 30 minutes, Kokies stopped shivering and she started licking my hand. I've not mentioned it before, but Koko has THEE softest, smoothest tongue ever. To be licked by Koko is a treat, even if her breath isn't the best... But this licking felt even better than usual. Kokies had stopped shivering and she'd heard me tell her just some of the ways I love her. I felt less worried about my KokieMotion.

We slept in the kitchen for a couple of hours. When Koko started snoring, I gave her all the room on her dog bed by going to my own. As it was starting to get light outside, I woke up hearing Koko drinking out of her water bowl. When I saw her in the kitchen, my eyes got damp with the start of tears. Kokies looked good! She looked like she felt good! And she was back on her bed with her cute nose snuggled under her New Favorite Thing: the black and white checked camping-like Blankie. It had become a comforting Blankie overnight.

Now Koko sleeps with her Blankie a little differently. It's more neatly placed on her bed, but it's still there to snuggle up with. Jason says Koko's Favorite Thing is Me, but I think her Blankie, that healed her overnight, is probably at least her Next Favorite Thing.

SUPPLEMENTS

When Satchel was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma (we found a cancerous lump on his right leg) in 2004, we consulted with his oncologist at the Animal Cancer and Imaging Center in Rochester Hills who was also a canine nutritionist. She recommended several supplements to support Satchel's healing and we continue most of them today. We've also been giving some of them to Luna and Koko for years. I'd like to think the nutritional support we provide for our dogs helps them not just live many years, but be supremely healthy during those years.

First, the most important recommendation was to feed Satchel the highest quality food we could afford. For about 6 months, I cooked for Satchel. He was so ill that even organic hamburger, organic brown rice, kidney beans and garlic wasn't appetizing to him. But when he did eat, he enjoyed his protein packed meals! Garlic became one of his favorite flavors. I understand it's not good for dogs in general, but was important to his nutrition during radiation.

I got the recipe from Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats:

I also utilized Dr. Pitcairn's recipe for "Healthy Powder" which I still add to Satchel's dry dog food now. Koko likes it too. It's not good for Luna because she has a yeast issue in her ears... Healthy Powder is a combination of Nutritional Yeast, Bone Meal, Lecithin Granules & Kelp. Satchel & Koko get 6T/day.

Now that Satchel is completely cured from cancer, we feed our dogs Newman's Own Dry Dog Food.

And the dogs get A LOT of supplements!

Vitamin E was recommended for Satchel's skin which was being burned from the inside out with radiation, but we keep giving it to him and to Luna. Koko has an oily sebaceous issue, so her skin in oily enough!

Satchel had an additional, completely separate surgery last year which caused a heart arrhythmia and therefore he has to take a prescription 2x/day called Sotalol to regulate his heartbeat. I hate it, but I would hate for Satchel to have a heart attack too...

For his joint issues, Satchel gets 2000mg of Glucosamine Sulfate or Glucosamine with Chondroitin each day.

Luna does too!

Satchel and Koko both eat Duralactin each day. It's for joint inflammation as well and the chewable tablets smell like vanilla frosting. So yummy!

Satchel's only other prescription is for Deramaxx. He's been taking it for about 1 year as an additional anti-inflammatory. He had begun falling down and we just couldn't have that. A little Deramaxx every day and Satchel can stay upright and walk on his own!

Fish oil was recommended for Satchel's brain function. For humans it is also good for heart health, but for Satchel it was suggested for keeping him present and aware as he ages. He gets 1000mg/day.

Last year, a multi-vitamin for 'mature' adults was also recommended for his brain function. Koko gets one too. Remember, Satchel and Koko will be 15 years old in July!

As a fun treat, everybody gets Gummy Fish at some time during the day so each puppy's brain gets supported with Omega-3 fatty acids.

L-Glutamine powder supports Satchel's digestion. We were told that cancer is considered an inflammatory disease, and since Satchel's stomach used to be terribly irritated (he used to be the urpiest dog ever) we added this powder to his diet along with the change in food.

Kirkland brand "Benadryl" also helps with his 'urpiness'. Satchel was diagnosed with "Severe Post Nasal Drip" about 4 years ago and Benadryl helps dry things out a bit so he doesn't have to throw up all the phlegm... I know it sounds icky, but he used to throw up fluid 3x/day. Now it's maybe 3x/month if he drinks a lot of water at one time.

Luna also gets Benadryl due to her outdoor allergies. With 100mg of Benadryl 2x/day, Luna can see out of her eyes and she doesn't sneeze 12,000 times.

I was told Benadryl doesn't affect dogs the same way it does humans, meaning it doesn't make dogs drowsy or jittery. We don't notice any affects like that with Luna or Satchel...just improvements thank goodness.

And just for good measure, Satchel and Luna get acidophilus to help prevent stomach inflammation and to support good digestion. Koko has colitis and while it seems that acidophilus would be a support for her, it irritates her stomach rather than smoothing it out so no acidophilus for her.

They eat their pill supplements in what I call "Puppy Packets." I wrap a few pills in raw crescent roll dough and Satchel eats them most of the time. He goes through periods when he will spit the Puppy Packets out, but he Usually eats his 21 pills/day willingly! Now Luna...she NEVER has a problem! She LOVES her Puppy Packets! And Koko, she'd eat dough all day...

I thank God every day for providing me with the skills and work to provide all of these nutritional supports to my dogs. It is very very very expensive, but why work if not to take care of your family?

Family Photo Shoot

Today was the Family Photo Shoot with Tammy B Photography!

http://www.tammybphotography.com/

It was really fun! Tammy was so nice and loved our dogs. I mean, of course we think our dogs are perfect and adorable and we love love love them, but it's so nice when someone else is kind and shows them love too.

Tammy B took a few hundred photos (!!!!) and we'll see them soon. I thought of ways we should have posed AFTER she left of course, but I'm excited to see the shots she got and I'm sure I'll love them all.

It was really important to me to have a Family Photo with Jason, the dogs and me. We have so many photos of the dogs, and I have several with Jason and the dogs, but because I'm the family photographer (and I'm very very critical of how I look), there are very few pictures in existence of me...and even fewer of me and the dogs, or me and Jason. So I'm really excited to have professional family photos coming of my sweet little family of a Jason and Our Pack.

I'll share what I can soooooon!

A Small Adventure On A Wednesday

One of the ways Luna shares her wonderfulness is to volunteer at day cares, preschools, nursing homes and hospitals. She is a Registered Therapy Dog through Dr. Paws of Michigan/Therapy Dogs, Inc.
http://www.drpaws.org/
Our favorite place to visit is a Preschool and Day Care in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Luna comes and the kids get to see her 'show'. She shows all of her tricks and how she visits people in hospitals - Luna is known as the most graceful jumper. She can jump onto a tiny spot in a person's hospital bed amidst their tubes and injuries without disturbing a thing.

Luna's 'show' consists of her several 'tricks':
Hand Commands for Sit, Lay Down, Stay and Come
Give Me a Kiss
Leap Up
Catch a Treat From Far Away
Hide & Seek (her personal favorite)
and Take A Bow when the show is over

We usually stay about an hour and the kids like to pet her and give her treats and they all want to Hide so she will Seek them out and find them. It's fun for Everyone!


Luna keeping things confidential

How did the world ever have true happiness before Luna?

GROOMING & ALLERGIES

We've found our way back to our routine, and that means everyone needs some grooming! Each puppy has his and her own hate for grooming...

Koko endured some hair brushing.
This is hair from her back 2 feet ONLY!

Koko simply endures brushing and nail filing. Have you used the Dremel tool for filing your dogs' nails? It is AWESOME! I've tried 2 other filing tools, but they just weren't strong enough. We use the Dremel.
http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Tools/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?pid=400+Series+XPR

Luna is worn out by the Dremel and some tooth brushing.

With Spring comes some allergies for the puppies. Koko doesn't seem affected actually, but Luna and Satchel have some allergy reactions.
Luna's eyes get weepy and poor Satchie's nose just drips and drips...

Raising Satchel's head

Today brought some sinus pain and pressure and Satchie seemed comforted by the two-tier system of the driveway and sidewalk...
See the puddle of drip?

Another great product for our dogs is The Furminator. Thee. Best. Dog. Brush. EVER.
http://www.furminator.com/

Everyone gets ear cleaning and tooth brushing and hair brushing and nail filing...approximately once per week...and they all get massages each night. It may be only 5 or 10 minutes, but they seem to not mind the massages as much as the nail filing...!

Not every dog needs this much grooming, but ours do, and I tell them it's just one way I show them I love them. I can tell they're rolling their eyes in doggy attitude.

DAY 10: WE'RE HOME!

THURSDAY, JUNE 11th
Isn't this what happens to everyone when she or he arrives home?
So much laundry!!!!
No complaints here. Just an observation of OY, that's a lot of laundry!







It was an easy drive even through the rain because 95% of the entire trip was 2 lane highways, but I missed one toll (!), and it seemed to take FOREVER because we just wanted to be home!

After hugging everyone 57 times, I had to unload the borrowed car and get to cleaning. I'm usually an immediate unpacker and putter awayer, but I needed to attend to the MKX first.
Vacuuming, and Armor All wiping and Windex on the windows. We think it's looking pretty good!




Luna and Koko hung out outside with me for support:


I think Koko might have missed her Luna a little bit....








Satchel told me he missed me:
He said, "You're Back!?!?
Where were you?!
Oh my gosh! You're back!?!?
Where were you?
Scratch me here!
You're back!
Take me with you next time!
You're here again!
Let me lean on you!"



Koko had a little bit to say too:
"Where were you Little Missy?!
You were away from me for WAY too long. Let me nibble your nose as punishment for you and happiness for me. Come here."







Luna and I are really tired. Of course she had to throw up last night...we were up 4-5:30am. She's fine now, but no more bones of any kind for Luna. Even though she really really likes them. She can't have rawhide and she can't have real bone either. She throws it up... And of course the 2 sq ft of rug in the Kabin is where she had to throw up. Why is that?

Some of the other things I noticed:
1. Gas prices almost everywhere else (we were in 7 other states) were $2.50/gallon
2. Michigan's driving manners and speeds are distinct. Maybe it's the fact that the 2 lanes turned into 3 once I crossed into Michigan. It seemed like there were more cars immediately, and they passed on the right and were all speeding! I know it's a generalization, but it seemed like it was POOF!
3. In all the states we were in, we saw Colorado plates. Of course we saw plates of the state we were in, but we saw mostly Colorado plates. We saw no other Michigan plates, a couple of Massachusetts, and one Florida.


We forgot to tell you about our Mascot!
We found this "Joe" in Rock Island, Illinois and thought he would be a fun addition to our collection of Legos so we picked him up and took him along on our adventures. He is now relaxing at the massage room window and surveying his new environment.




There are always adventures with dogs at Casa Curtin-Hess, so look for more reports, but this Adventure is complete.
Thanks for coming along,
Leanne and Luna

DAY 9: Easy Breezy

Nothing exciting to report for the day. Just a day of driving and hanging out with Luna. It does seem like we've been stopping more lately...Luna has been fidgety and locking up the seatbelt. We feel dirty and damp, but we keep going and we still really really like each other.

I've listened to more audiobooks and enjoyed them all.
I finished "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and was easily touched by the sweetness and sadness.
An unusual choice for me, a fiction novel, "Grace," by Richard Paul Evans about an abused teenager who runs away, was such a quick listen. I was sad when it was over. Maybe I'll listen to more of his books...
I loved Bill O'Reilly's "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity." He read it and is a great reader and really good story teller.
The last book I borrowed for the trip is a biography of Albert Einstein and I'm enjoying it. I won't finish it on this trip, but will get thru about half. It's LONG! We're on disc 2 and I already know more about physics and Albert Einstein than ever before.

Well, a little bit of trivia on the trip: I've eaten out 4 times the entire adventure. The first was at the Surprise Party and the 2nd was the next night when we all went out to Maxwell's for pizza.

The 3rd came on our stressful day when I needed some comfort food.
A little internet search, a quick phone call and some MapQuest mapping got us to the Dynasty Cafe. They didn't have Boon Kai of Walled Lake quality Almond Chicken, but it was comforting enough and the vegetable friend rice had huge chunks of brightly colored veggies so we'll call the take-outing a success.




The 4th eating out experience came today:

Can't go wrong with a 99¢ Double Cheeseburger without the cheese and a large french fry with salt and pepper!
We'll see how Luna's stomach manages the tastes tonight...







Our Rock Island, Illinois KOA is drier this time and we're hopeful that we'll sleep through the train horns...? We're so excited to be home tomorrow that we probably won't sleep well at all tonight. It'll probably take us around 9 hours to get home if we stop like we did today. We've been waking up in the 7am range and our morning routine takes us about 2 hours so we should be ok through Chicago and get home in time to break Jason's ribs with the tightness of our hugs and overwhelm Satchel and Koko who think we left forever...

Luna and I thought you might like to know what it's like to set up the bed for sleeping so here's our slide show:

We enter the Kabin with our Sanitization Team of Clorox & Lysol

Surfaces we know we will touch are sprayed and wiped down

The fitted sheet is then put on the mattress


Next the pillow configuration is approved in order to support the knees and shoulder when lying on my side


Comforters are needed for cush and warmth. Only one is shown here. The Favorite: Jason's from when he left for college in 1988


With another sheet to 'protect' (as if that's even possible) the bedding from Luna hair, the bed making ritual is complete when the actual Luna arrives at the end of the bed!

We've improved with how much we bring into the Kabin each night, but there's still a lot. Some might call it ridiculous. We call it Our Essentials.

There will be a lot of laundry tomorrow so we'd better get ourselves ready for a good, or at least good-ish, night's sleep...that's a long process too...walk all the way to the showers, shower and brush teeth, walk all the way back, lotion, jammies, DVD choice, check e-mail, go out with Luna one more time, probably walk all the way to the bathrooms one more time, walk all the way back, wipe off Luna's feet, have her cuddle up, pack up what I can for the night, watch some L&O...you know easy stuff! No complaints here. Just things that take some time.

We'll have the Reunification Process tomorrow and hopefully have sweet pictures of what a good life we have at home.

DAY 8: No Heavy Breathing!

Realized today that Luna and I have been walking walking walking, not napping, and staying up really late all while NOT breathing heavily from the higher altitude. We feel very fit.

Today has been a much much much better day and we give a lot of credit to ourselves as well as to the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming. We couldn't go back to the icky place.
Little America was so cute and so relaxing we really didn't want to pack up...we wanted to just stay...but we also want to get back to Our Pack. While we stayed up late last night, we slept in 2 hours later than usual! We've been getting up around 7am Michigan time every day. We woke up 7am WYOMING time today - that's 9am! It was a great sleep. Here's why maybe:



I know I'm not the best videographer. I was SO SO tired, but you get the idea.

Today was a sleepy and easy day. It was cloudy, a little bit rainy, but still super bright so I needed sunglasses for the 400 or so mile drive. My head is a little tired of their pressure actually! We've noticed our water bottles, 2-liters of Diet Mountain Dew and my lotion also notice pressure changes as we've driven to and from higher elevation. The lotion SPIT out fast when I opened it this morning! It was windy today too which really lowers my gas mileage, dangit! A sign in the Registration Office of our Doniphan, NE KOA says, "One day the wind stopped blowing in Nebraska and everyone fell over!"

And by the way, did you know that Nebraska is "The Home of Arbor Day"? I did not, but I do now.

While my wrists hurt a little from driving and sleeping I'm not sure how, Luna's having seat issues. She is tangling herself and locking the seatbelt frequently. We stopped at a Rest Area somewhere to free her and have a potty break. When I got back from the bathroom she was waiting for me in the front seat. She hasn't done that the entire trip...until today. While our routine is the same; she knows I'm coming back; we don't like to be apart...

After praying about yesterday's dramas and beginning the audiobook, "Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity" by Bill O'Reilly, my mood has shifted to the good it usually is. I remembered that any challenge presented to me has been approved by God for my benefit. He has given me free will to address the challenges as I choose. If everything is always perfect, I wouldn't be able to choose to glorify God when I face a challenge. My behavior within the dog drama of yesterday hopefully glorifies God as that was my choice and goal. My attitude throughout today of appreciation and thankfulness hopefully continues that, and I believe my reward is peace and the Perfect Dog in Luna. Thank you God. For everything. We credit You for the much much much better day today.

DAY 7: ROUGH DAY

It started off fine.
Got gas.
I found the name of the gas station funny.

We needed to have a little walk and there was a cute little neighborhood across the street. That's where things went all terribly wrong.

We were circled by 2 large, barking dogs that wanted to attack Luna. You try to mess with my Luna you get a foot to the body, to the head and to the butt. You yelp and run away and your owner calls the police because I've hurt your dogs.

Another neighbor also calls the police to report the mean lady's dogs' behavior and the police come. Drama. Drama. Drama. Maybe I'll tell more of the story another day, but today, I'm tired and upset, but physically fine.



Luna seems fine. I'm working on being fine, and she likes the cooler.





She is just the best.













I was already really upset because my dear friend, whose car I've borrowed, got a flat tire in my car and had her own dramas dealing with my automobile weaknesses. Jason had to deal with it all too.

I'm trying not to lose my marbles about the entire day.
I'm staying at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming because I couldn't go back to the icky place in Wellington, Colorado. It's late. I can't go to sleep yet, but Luna's happy to be lying down and relaxing. She's so great.

Positives:
Here are some of the views we got to see today...

Leaving Park City


The Green of the Park City Area


Leaving Utah

DAY 6: THE HANGING OUT DAY!

We're sleepy, but we're ready to have another great day!

There wasn't a set plan, but we knew we all wanted to be together. Some people were leaving today, many leaving tomorrow.


HERE'S THE REASON FOR COMING!



Two of my dearest friends in the world:
You see me; Ori's in the middle, and Matt.
I'd do anything for these two boys!











We all spent time with kids encouraging sharing, though hoarding was the theme of the kid area. I got to read one of my absolute favorite books ever: The Mitten by Jan Brett.





We went for a walk in downtown Park City. Luna had her very first restaurant experience! She was AWESOME! The group chose "The No Name Saloon of Debauchery." We decided we need to incorporate the word 'debauchery' into each day if possible. It's so fun!

Luna was just fantastic! Even though the people at the bar were totally rude and stupid saying things like, "Where's the kitty?!? Where's the kitty?! Go get the kitty!" and coming over to pet her without asking, she didn't drool nor did she eat anything off the floor! She's perfect.

MAXWELL'S PIZZA
And she was equally as awesome when we went to Ori's friend's restaurant for New York Style pizza. This picture does not show you how HUMUNGOUS the pieces were. I love doughy pizza and this was thin crust...still really good! No complaints! I also ate my first batch of french fries for the trip. I added salt and pepper and loved them. It was a good meal.

We had to say our goodbyes to Ori and his family. It was so great to have had them near for 2 whole days. What a wonderful adventure. What a wonderful event to have been a part of.

Oh my gosh, Luna and I are so tired, but we're not falling asleep easily. We need to get up early and get going, but we can barely believe this adventure is on the downhill portion. Heading for home tomorrow!