Foster Updates = Happy Smiles #RescuedDogs #AdoptDontShop

Happy Monday! 

While the Lapdogs recover from the Patriots loss yesterday, and uh-hum, Mama gets to work typing up some reviews, we thought today would be a great day to share a few photo updates from our extended foster families.

Besides, there's nothing quite like the smile I get when I see our foster babies living the good life in their forever homes.  #ThisIsRescue

***Housekeeping Note: Be sure to click the "click here to continue reading this post" on our posts from now on in order to view the entire post***

First up, is an adorable little man who spent time at the Lapdog house in 2012... Booth!

Boo-man and his sister were watching the Pats game yesterday too...

{This Moment} See Beautiful: Happy Old Man

Happy Friday!  It's a beautiful day here in New England (although it's going to be hotter than I'd like... I was really loving the few days of fall-ish weather we just had) and today we are participating in the See Beautiful blog hop hosted by Sugar.  Sugar recently celebrated her 14th birthday, and any dog parent knows just how special that is.

We lost Zeus in April, just one month after his 14th birthday. I am so incredibly thankful he was here and feeling good enough to celebrate, but man do I miss him every. single. day. This morning, Facebook reminded me that it was exactly one year ago today that I thought we were losing my boy. I thought his body was shutting down. It tuned out to be Vestibular Disease of Old Dogs - not something I'd wish upon any dog parent to have to go through, but certainly a huge relief when I was dwelling on the worst case scenario. 

Zeus enjoying his 14th birthday cake!

While it was a process, very scary at times, and required a lot of nursing care on his humans part (I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat), my boy got thru the bout with Vestibular Disease and aspiration pneumonia (which he was susceptible to due to his megaesophagus) like a champ!  Zeus had a truly amazing will to live that I have not seen matched in any dog, or human for that matter.  I am so thankful for the many, many years and memories,  and the unconditional love and pure joy he gave us.... but man, do I miss my Happy Old Man (and my Baby Girl).

Zeus loved nothing more than lounging outside, whether in the dirt or on the back deck... and I know he would have loved to spend time chilling out there his new little sister Penny, just as he did with the rest of his pack. 

 

And, I know Penny would have been infatuated with her big angel brother, just as all of our foster puppies were in years past.  Which leads me right into sharing a few foster updates with you, thanks to these shots I stole borrowed off of their humans' Facebook pages.

First up is Booth... or, my little Boo-Man as I liked to call him.  Just look at that grin... I think he learned it from Zeus. 

Zeus and Booth in 2011

Maverick was such a teeny-tiny tot when he was with us... and he still is!  His human sister shares lots of photos and I have to say, the little mini-munchkin's facial expressions are just too cute for words.

Zeus and teeny Maverick chilling, 2011

And, just because I adore this photo (and happened upon it while looking for the shots above), here's Zeus with Belle, our former foster baby who was adopted by friends of ours.  I miss that big 'ole happy grin of his!

Have a great weekend, and remember to make every moment count!  Fall, my absolute favorite time of year, is quickly approaching and I'm really going to miss Zeus' love of making the leave crumple...

Thankful Thursday: Foster Family Update

It's been a few months since I last posted any foster family updates, so I figured why not use this first Thankful Thursday in November to share some cuteness...  After all, I'm incredibly thankful every time I get updates and see new photos of my babies thriving in their forever homes.  I could be having a terrible day, yet just one photo makes me smile from ear-to-ear!  Let's see if I can make you smile too... 

Two and a half years later, Little Maverick still loves his snuggie, which simply makes my heart melt.  If you knit, crochet, or sew, please keep your local shelters in mind and donate some snuggies.  They are a great way to use up leftovers, and Mavie is proof that not only do they help comfort during transition, but for many, many years to come!  

Rosie got into the Halloween spirit and was as cute as a pumpkin, don't ya think?

Booth recently got to go to work for the day with his Mom.  Doesn't he look so proud?

Harper celebrated Halloween with her little human sister, and showed her how much fun it is to hand out treats.

Speaking of little human siblings, Izzy took pumpkin decorating to a new level when she shared her exciting news with the world... she's going to be a big sister in 2015!

As I said, I just love watching my former foster babies grow, and now I get to watch their families grow as well! 

Monday Mischief: Foster Family Update

Not much mischief here today, just a whole lot of cuteness!  It's time for a foster family update... 

First up is Miss Rosie, enjoying a little stroll on the beach.  She's become a great little beach bum!

Next, we have Dustee showing everyone how he spends the dog days of summer.  No, the shot of he and sister Kaya lying fireside is not recent, but I still had to share.

My little Boo-Man, better known as Booth, is next. He seems to agree with Dustee on how best to spend those hot summer days.

 The always regal looking Izzy is up next.  I simply adore this shot of her on the staircase!

Little Harper rounds out today's update.  Out of all our fosters, I think she was Sophie's favorite.  We're going to have to get the girls together for a play date soon.

I love seeing these photos of my former foster babies - updates are always the best!  I'm happy to say that I played a small part in getting each of these babies into their perfect forever homes where they are all thriving!

Mischievous Babies

There's really not a whole lot of mischief going on around here today.  Well, unless you count last week's sleepless nights incident. Lola developed a UTI which resulted in a trip to the Emergency Vet for antibiotics and a couple of exhausted humans after those sleepless nights. She's doing much better now, thankfully, and the humans spent part of the weekend catching up on zzz's.

There's a little human mischief going on with trying to get all of our holiday preparations and shopping completed.  I'm sure we're not the only ones with long To-Do lists however, so instead of dwelling on that today, let's all smile!  I have a few foster baby updates to share and nothing puts a smile on our faces like cute, mischievous pooches, right?

First up is the tiny tot, Maverick.  He just got a new blankie and is all set for another New England winter...

Little Rosie is always getting into something!  Her Mama managed to snap this super cute pic of she and big sister Rascal snuggling in their chair.  Yes, I said their chair.  Don't you just love the cover? 

Not that I can't help but smile every single time I see photos of any of my foster babies, but there's something extra special about Booth, aka my little Boo.  Add in an adorable football costume and my face hurts from grinning ear to ear!

The beautiful Addie just celebrated her 2nd birthday.  She's such a big girl now!

And of course, there's Miss Belle.  If you read our blog regularly, you see her a lot ... since we get to see her all summer long at the race track!  She's truly a special little lady and holds a big piece of our hearts!

There's nothing better than getting a photo or update from my foster babies adoptive families!  I'm really enjoying their Christmas cards as they start to arrive.  We were not able to foster any babies this past year, but I hope we'll get back to providing a loving, temporary home to some special little tykes in 2014.

Monday Mischief & Foster Updates

Happy Monday, Happy March, Happy Days-Getting-Longer week!  With the humans back to the daily grind, there won't be a heck of a lot of mischief going on at home today.. or will there be?  Have you ever wondered just what our crazy furkids do when we're not at home?  hmmm...

Here's what the did yesterday...  

Lola wanted eggs for breakfast and begged her Daddy to share.

Tut just wanted to stretch out and chill.  I call this his "Got Paw?" pose.

Zeus was on the job as Chief Bird Watcher.

Sophie thought the NASCAR race was about as exciting as watching paint dry.

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of our former foster baby Maverick's "gotcha day."  His family met us at Sturbridge Village and instantly fell in love with the little tyke -- but who wouldn't?  Mavie's sister said he started his day off with stealing a sock and hogging the blanket... his typical mischief!

This seems like a good time for a few other foster updates, doesn't it?

Here is Booth's easy-like-Sunday "recharging for mischief making" pose...

Izzy seems to be enjoying that crazy white stuff that just will not stop falling...

Harper was caught enjoying a long winter's nap with her cousin...

 

Don't they all look so cozy and well loved?  Photo updates like these always make me smile so much... knowing we helped them all find their perfect forever homes is the best feeling in the world!

Crossed Paws, Please?

I had planned to post a review today, but my mind is just not there.  Instead I'm asking if you all would please send good vibes and cross your paws for us today.

Lola had a "not-like-the-others" lump checked out during her annual vet visit in September.  It wasn't a typical "fatty lump" like most dogs get (Zeus is covered with them and Lola has had some before), however when the vet did a needle biopsy, she didn't see any cancerous cells under the microscope.... so we opted to watch it.  Well, it started to grow and she also started getting other lumps around it, in her chest, etc.  On Tuesday night, we headed off to see our wonderful vet to have them checked out again...

I'd been so concerned with the growing lump and the tiny ones around it, I hadn't totally noticed that those tiny ones were popping up all over, including her back legs as well.  Our vet was baffled (again, they do not appear to be those usual "fatty lumps"), as was the other vet on staff.  We opted to do more needle biopsies, but instead of our vet taking a look, she sent them right out to the lab for a pathologist to look at them.  Unfortunately, he was just as baffled and couldn't make heads or tails out of the slides.  

Which leads us to today... Lola is having a multiple site biopsy and her Mama is having a bit of a freak out over having to put her old girl under for this.  I'll feel better later this afternoon when they call to tell me the surgery went well...sigh.  Would you please cross those paws and send good vibes our way?

Lola sensed how much her Mama was freaking out this morning and gave me lots of kisses. I know she wouldn't want me to spend all day worrying, so I'll leave you all with something that makes her happy, updates on her foster babies!

Belle and her kitty siblings have headed South to New Mexico for the winter.  Look at how big she's gotten!  I absolutely adore this picture...

Harper is looking as beautiful as ever.  We're hoping to schedule a play date with her family sometime soon.

Booth is as stinking adorable as ever... I love those squinty little eyes and that face!  The first shot below is actually of him heading off to daycare this morning... looks like his Mama woke him up too early, ha ha!

I know I just posted a couple new shots of Lampchop from our visit this past weekend, but I can't resist sharing these two shots from her Mom.  In the first one, she's cuddling her froggy that I bought for her... have you seen anything cuter?!?!  I really miss that two-toned nose of hers!

Gone to the Dogs

Wordless Wednesday has gone to the dogs... with appearances by a few former foster babies!

Foster Belle snoozing at the race track

Foster Izzy is all smiles for the camera

Foster Booth taking a break from playtime

Beautiful foster Addison striking a pose

One of our NELCAR family member's new Dobie pup