Christmas in NY 2014

I know pictures are all over the place! Please remember that I am just going through folders and loading pictures and memories that I have from them. I want to document and write about the memories and good times that we had. Hence the time line is off! I hope to be caught up to current time by Jan 2016! I do have 3 years to try to capture!

We just welcomed our Neapolitan Mastiff into our home! We bought a new crate for her to travel in! That has entered the car once and in less than an hour was strapped to the back of the car trailer taking up space! This little toot is over stressed in car rides and rides the best on top of a pillow sitting on someone's lap!! She cries and shakes! We have stopped at the rest area in Virginia to give both dogs a rest! Sweet Delilah has traveled well. 

Everyone is instantly drawn to Nala and such is Delilah's life once again. Kekoa being an English Mastiff instantly drew the attention of others and so is our Neo! However, Delilah our portugese water dog is the perfect dog in so many ways and wants only to be loved and she gives love.  I have learned that when travelling you should make sure your dogs look the best because many people will comment and talk and pet your babies. So, the next trip we make Delilah will see the groomer! Because when she is groomed she is absolutely adorable and more loveable!

My sister and I! She really loves to wear hats

My girls have made themselves at home in their room crashed out on a pull out couch and I am rocking my footie pj's!

Funny store about the next two images! It is early Christmas morning and my dad knocks on the door and comes in with these packages! he says Good morning Cake (I am called KK sometimes, its from childhood and my initials) I was like good morning dad! He says, "Merry Christmas" and he gives me these packages! My head instantly perks and my heart leaps just a bit. "Merry Christmas, Dad" then he walks over and he gives me these packages!!! WAIT FOR IT!!.....

"Cake, can you wrap these gifts I got for mom?"

ummm, yes dad! Sure! He even had the boxes and wrapping paper! How sweet!! and he had a saying to go on the card! It's corny but sweet also! 

He gave her a coach purse, designer perfume, and chocolate. He said, "something like you will smell good, and you have a purse for your money and something yummy for your tummy." Hey, at least he was thinking!!! 

After everyone opened their gifts we went to Jeff's and checked out their fun presents. Noah got a BB gun!! 

Us dining at Traverse! they have the best breakfast menu!!!

We also through the Christmas place went to this trampoline jump place that at. We particularly loved playing dodge ball! 

While we were there we headed to NYC! and we got on the Today show! 

 

                                                        We took a picture with New Yorks finest!

  Time Square!

Tiffany's!

WE met a celebrity SWATCH from the famous Fabric store MOOD from the popular tv show PROJECT RUNWAY 

Infamous Macy Displays

I cared more about Swatch who runs the floor! He's treated like a king!

Jen needed to buy a shirt from Mood

We decided to dine at another popular spot for lunch, Juniors! The food was great the service was good and the cheesecake was good too! It was a bit pricier but really not bad at all! 

Carlos does not work at the bakery in the city but the line was out the door and down the block! We didn't wait but it was said that they are quite efficient and the lines go quickly. 

Sweetheart treated her grandma to getting a pedicure done and each of the girls for Christmas got gift certificates for their nails so they spent the day together at a local salon.

 

Grandma and her Granddaughters! What a fun time! We love you Grandma!

These girls headed out to the restroom and took the obligatory bathroom selfie!

I just adore and love them!

 

DOG DAYS!

This is my sweet girl Delilah! She came to us from a lady I visit taught in MO. I had no idea she even had a dog and I visited her, for two years.  Long story but we ended up with this sweet beautiful girl who wants nothing but to please and make you happy.  She is so good! She could definitely be a therapy dog that you take into hospitals. All she does is sit on the bed and would love for you to pet her all day long. She does not mind small children either.  I have also used her as a therapy dog to help other dogs who have social anxiety with other dogs. She helped our neighbors dog. He was very aggressive stemmed from fear but because of her nature and she being able to listen so well to me, he did well with her. Our neighbor a few doors down, also has a dog that can not get along with any other dogs.  We started talking and I brought Delilah out and handled her and we slowly worked Miles into being good with her.  Now, he can walk the neighborhood and not have fear aggression and his family has even open their home up to fostering dogs! WOAH! and yes, I am seriously known in our new neighborhood as the dog whisper and a dog trainer! I can train dog obedience and I can train your dog to be social but I can not train dog aggression or fear aggression based. I would love to take classes to learn how to do this. But, it is above my capabilities and I do not want to be held liable for anything that could go wrong! Delilah is a sweetheart and I'm so glad she has entered our lives!

Nala, entered our lives from a church member who breeds neapolitan mastiffs. After losing our dog. I was not ready to take another puppy in. But, 6 months later their was a need for this girl to come into our lives. She was originally bought and the owner returned her and we ended up having her. We got her in December and it had not been but 6 months when we lost Kekoa. But, we took her in and she captured our hearts fully.  She is the smartest dog. She entered our lives in December, about 15 wks old?? not sure! I had her potty trained in 2 days! She's such a good puppy and then around the 4 month mark we noticed we needed to take her into the vet.  I noticed her back was growing with a hump. I noticed that with our other mastiff and our breeder ran him and stretched him out. I think she called it ricketts.  But, It wasn't that. WE were cautioned not to have her go up and down the stairs and for 7 months I had slept on the couch because she was constantly going to the bathroom.  

What brought us to the vet was she began moaning and crying at night as if she was in pain, a good deal of pain. Now, she is a Neapolitan Mastiff. They are known for their extremely high pain tolerance.  I noticed as I rubbed her back and massaged her leg muscles it seemed to bother her but in the end make it better. I also noticed that laying in the sun was like medicine to her. She laid on that hot concrete and let her body soak in the rays! She was also peeing while walking so I instantly sensed we had a bladder infection.  

Brought her to the vet! Yes, she has a bladder infection. She also has a vulva that is out and inverted! I just thought that was what a Neapolitan nether parts should look like. I mean she is wrinkly and everything, thought that was part of her. It's a defect. She will also always fight bladder infections because of how she is built down there. The only thing that would help is re-constructive surgery. UGHHHH! 

But that wasn't the worse news! Her pain and curvature in her back is caused from her not having hip sockets. It causes a lot of pain and surgery is about $1200 per side. The doctor said with surgery she will be pain free but she may have permanent damage to her spine and they basically knock the socket off and it allows it to fit where it should! Our family has been so sad and her vet feels she won't make it to see a year before we have to put her down. We said we would enjoy her while we could without having her in pain because paying for a surgery that will still not change her spine issues, seems counter productive.  She has gone home on a heavy antibiotic to clear the infection, and pain meds to help her deal. 

:: Hindsight many months later, It is Sept 2, and she is doing wonderful! she is happy and still puppy like. We still battle the bladder infections but she is playful and stronger. WE have noticed that her body has seemed to accommodate and she has stopped growing. She has grown but not as quickly as before. She is taller than our Portugese Water dog and weighs more than her too. So, they are both great size medium dogs! To be as big and fierce as she is. She is a chicken and is a dog that needed heavy socialization to new things, people and dogs while she was young. WE had her in puppy classes but because of her legs she was extra sensitive to other dogs jumping on her and we had to stop attending. Now, she is displaying certain acts of fear aggression and barking and skiddish around new people or new things. Where she does bite first ask later. She is extra protective in her back yard and in the living room.  Outside of her fence she is super friendly and she loves small children! She's our little grey elephant who is stubborn and sassy just like the other Solomon women in the house!