Trey's Newborn Pictures

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Lola's Update

Dear Friends and Family:

Many of you have been so kind and concerned about our precious pug, Lola.  Thank you.  I know you all have many things going on in your own lives and we appreciate all of you taking time to "worry" and "pray" for Lola. I am trying to remind myself, "She is just a dog". But then I think, "But she's MY DOG, and my constant companion and its "OK" to be this upset.  

We just returned from our Doctor Visit.  While my sweet and loving husband, always the optimist( which is one of the traits I love most about him), is trying to make me feel better, today I want to grieve and tomorrow I will look at the "silver lining".  

On the "up side" Lola does not have a brain tumor and should lead a relatively long life.  On the "down side" she has been diagnosed with SARDS:  Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration.

  In a nutshell, the dog, predominantly females, suddenly falls completely blind.   We do not know a cause and there is NO treatment or cure.  I think if I had a few weeks or even months to slowly see her lose her eyesight  it would be more tolerable but the sudden severity, like a lightswitch, I went to sleep and the next morning my sweet baby pug was blind, is really hard to handle.  The good news is that she is in no pain.  Although, very very confused and scared as we humans would be if we suddenly lost our sight. We love our Lola and we will learn how to "teach" her the ropes of being blind and how to find her way around without being scared.  We will do all we can to take away her confusion and make her feel confident about resuming her "Old Ways" ex: getting around the house, up and down the stairs, finding her food and water, playing with other dogs, walking on a leash.  All this in time, we will help her to do.  

Having Trey, my C-Section complications, and the blindness of my dog all in 5 weeks has been trying.  However, the one reason I know without a doubt that I"m a Christian is because I find strength in knowing that God gives me only what He knows I can handle. Believing that, challenges and invokes me to take this development and do the best I can. This knowledge, faith and trust in God empowers me to rise above and meet this issue with grace and submission.

Love to all,

Allison

Pug Prayers

Yesterday was a sad day. Where do I begin? Since we came home with Trey, Lola has been an absolute angel. Friends and Family who know the "real" Miss Lola Piccola Patawone Boo Boo Jr. Casey, were shocked to see how submissive and subdued she had become. She just wanted to stay by me. She wouldn't even play outside with her cousins, Phoebe and Penny. She wouldn't take walks with her PaPa and she didn't even want to chase the airplanes, birds or squirrels. We all just chalked it up to her being a little depressed with all the change a new baby brings. Especially since Lola has been our number one baby for the past five years.

However, we found out some news yesterday that makes all of the above make sense. It started out with Lola falling down our stairs, from the top. At first I thought she just missed a step or slipped. Then she couldn't see or smell her treat when I put it right in front of her face. Couldn't find her food/water bowl.....Michael and I put it together and started thinking she couldn't see. At first we were like, "No way" but then we started putting our hands in front of her, to the side and she never stirred. Talk about a breakdown, I lost it. Our Vet kindly took us even though it was 5:30 and they closed at 6. I stayed home with Trey while Michael took our sweet baby to the Vet. After 1 hour they came home. Michael opened the back door, and Lola just stood there not even seeing that door had been open and I saw Michael's face. And I knew it was bad. I don't think he really wanted to tell me, I've had so much on my plate with Trey, the C Section ordeal etc..but he did. Lola did not respond to any of the visual test/stimuli in either of her eyes. Our vet is not an eye specialist, so we go to the Doggie Opthamologist on Monday.
My heart is so upset for my Baby Lola. Please pray for her and eyesight. That it is something treatable. Since they got home it has only gotten worse. She bumps into chairs, walls, etc and just looks so confused and scared. She won't really walk anywhere unless she can our voices and we guide her. She just stands there, with this scared, uncertain blank stare in her eyes. Her eyes are very dilated, wide, and glassy and have turned a bluish color. As many of you know, Lola is my buddy, my baby and has always been my "sidekick" for 365 days for the past 5 years. She is my watchdog pug, my napping partner, my walking buddy,...my shadow...just always there.
Please pray for Lola. Pray specifically that we go on Monday and the Dr. has some "reasonable" explaination for something that seems so "unreasonable". It just feels like this has "popped" up out of no where...so incrediblly unexpected. And these past few weeks, I thought she was just depressed...
Thank you for your prayers.
Lola's Mommy

Easter 2009

This is how our Easter morning started....lots of rain. Michael can't stand the water that piles up in front of our house so here he is cleaning it up...I think tennis shoes might have been the wiser choice!!!!! Michael loves his yard and keeps it in great condition!!!!




But low and behold a few hours later...the weather was beautiful!!! This is the orange tree that Michael and Don planted over the weekend. Michael has been wanting an orange tree for quite a while! The oranges are yummy!!!




Mommy and Trey before our company arrives!! Resting up!
Yup! Still Resting!
Kristin and I posin' for the camera!
My "Grami" and Trey's Great Grandmother "GG"....
Grama and Phoebe .......
PaPa and Me!!!!
Relaxing!!!!
I will be so sad when Ryan and Kristin leave. Their brand new home is almost complete in Galveston and is going to look fabulous!!!!! I know they are ready to leave South Blvd. and return to Tuna Ave......
They just returned from a fancy brunch at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston with some of their friends! Love that dress!!!
Taking a nap! Tired from all the action

Checking everybody out!
Loves this seat and likes to stare at the animals!

Aunt Ashley, PaPa and Trey....he has a funny look on his face! I think he is checkin' PaPa out!

So Sweet! Trey loves his Aunt Ashley and all the silly faces she can make!

"Please, please...no pictures... make the paparazzi stop....I need a break"!!!!
Daddy and Trey by the Orange Tree, planted on Trey's very First Easter...





Miss Lola gettin' some lovin' from Ashley!

Grama, Me, Ashley and Grami!
Mom, Me and Ashley

Me and My Sista!!!!
Lola is not sure what to think about my Bunny!!!!

Trey's First 2 Weeks!

Micahel and I are two weeks and counting as "Mommy and Daddy" and I must say so far so good!  Michael has become an expert at swaddling and we both love the techniques from The Happiest Baby on the Block! Boy does Trey like to swing and suck!! He has been such a sweet baby, sleeping from about 11:30pm to 3:30am ....I wake him up to eat.  Hopefully this pattern will continue but you never know.  We are still trying to figure out who he looks like...he doesn't look like Michael or myself as babies but our parents think he resembles the Grandfathers on both  sides...I"m hoping to see some baby pictures of them soon!  We had our photographer come to the house last week for his "Newborn PhotoShoot" and as Michael says, " I don't think he wants to be a male model when he grows up"!!!! Poor Baby cried the entire time....he certainly did not like all the positions and "costume changing"I'm hoping we at least get some good photos in there somewhere! Stay tuned for the pictures!!!!   During the  time that Jen, the photographer, was here...www.photojenicinc.com, I learned a valuable lesson...THANK GOODNESS FOR SLIPCOVERED FURNITURE.  We had his diaper off for some pictures and while I had him on our couch he pooped everywhere...Oxi Baby and Dreft took it right out, thanks to YaYa for cleaning that up!  Many thanks to my Mom, Grama, and Michael's Mom, YaYa for helping me recover. I don't know how I would have gotten this far without you.  

The picture collage above was made by PopPop and I can't thank him enough.  It will look amazing on our wall. What a great keepsake!
Daddy and Trey making a call!
I love his lips and tongue!! So much "sugar" I just can't get enough! I do think he has my lips and coloring!
Worn out and tired::: its a busy day when all you do is eat, poop/pee, sleep and repeat!!!
My two favorite boys!!!


Welcome to the World!!!!
Trey's favorite blanket....made by my Mom's dear friend, Nancy. 

My Grami, and Trey's Great Grami! What a special visit that was!  We can't wait to see you at Easter!

Hmm...whats he thinking about??? MILK!!!!!