Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009

What a year! As I reflect back on the year all I can think is 2009 was a roller coaster ride. So many highs and so many lows. It was a year of trails and growth. So here are a few highlights (in no particular order):
  • Married my best friend...:)
  • Was blessed enough to go to Allaso Ranch three times this year to serve and each time God moved something in me. At the father/son retreat He revealed himself to me in a way I never imagined and oh how I wish I could stay in that moment. It was so amazing that I can't even describe it. It was a gift so unexpected and such a sweet reminder that He is here watching over us.
  • God used Mia to teach me so many things but most of all to remind me we are only here for a little while, so we need to make the most of our time.
  • Spent time with family and friends.
  • Reconnected with some "old" friends and made some new ones.
  • Bought a house on the lake and just started on the renovations.
All in all I think I am going to remember 2009 as the year the Lord revealed himself to me in a whole new way.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Spoiled?

Mia is taking spoiled to a 'hole 'nutha level (as my pastor would say). On Monday she refused to eat so Terry came over and held her food bowl for her. She is learning how to get more attention, if that's possible. She is definitely using her sickness to her advantage and we let her get away with just about anything.

Monday, December 28, 2009

White Christmas

Christmas Eve
During the Christmas Eve service at church it started to snow. We were singing songs by candle light and they showed a live feed from outside. The live feed showed the three crosses on the lake and all the pretty snow falling. When we walked out of service everybody was stopping by the windows to look at the fresh snow. It was awesome.

When we got home we let the "kids" out to play. We knew Mia would have a blast but we thought Maddox would want nothing to do with the snow. We were wrong. Mia and Maddox had a blast running in the snow.


Mia playing in the snow on Christmas Eve


"Dad, I love the snow!!"


Maddox looking good in his scarf. This was after he ran around like a mad man in the snow.

Christmas Day
A White Christmas. I can't believe we had a white Christmas in the DFW area. We spent the morning out in the snow and enjoyed watching the pups run around. I'm so glad Mia got to enjoy some more time out in the snow. She was born in Michigan so she loves this type of weather...


The backyard.


Maddox staying still long enough for me to take a picture.


The backyard again. This is the view from the deck.


Cooper loved the snow. He refused to come inside.


The back of the house and most of the backyard.


Mia waiting for me at the back gate.


Mia having a blast in the snow.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Our Christmas Card

Yes it's true



Bob and I got married on the 16th of this month. We did it locally and spent the day/night at the Gaylord. We had originally planned on eloping in Lake Tahoe in September but everything with Mia happened and those plans were cancelled. There were other dates that we had to change due to circumstances beyond our control. But none of that stuff matters now. We are enjoying "married life" and we are looking foward to the rest of our lives.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: "Pets Only"



So I only had several thousand pictures to chose from but this is one of my favorites of my little girl. At first it was a little hard to go through the pictures in light of the recent news but I'm glad I did. I think I have more pictures of her than some parents have of their kids.

I finally settled on this picture because the focus is on her face and it best depicts her. She loves to swim. Once she gets in the water she will only get out on her terms. Even when we had our family pictures taken she ended up in the water.

Join in the “Pets Only” fun over at I ♥ Faces this week!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Mia Update


(photo taken by Elizabeth Fowler)

This is a post I do not want to write but I know I need to.

12/6/09 - Mia was sick. She kept throwing up and not wanting to eat. Didn't know if it was from eating too much grass or the chemo or if her cancer had returned. But it was enough to worry me. By Tuesday she was fine so tried not to think about it.

12/10/09 - Mia had her ultrasound done. I didn't go, I couldn't. Bob told me the technician said everything looked good and there was a small mass on her liver but that could be from her surgery. They took a sample to be tested and they would call with the results the next morning.

12/11/09 - Bob spent most of the day trying to get the results. Mia's regular vet said the sample that they took wasn't a good one but from what they could test the cells were not cancerous. Such a relief.

Last afternoon Mia's oncologist called Bob and told him the results were not good. With the type of cancer Mia has the mass in her liver is most likely cancer and she sees no point in continuing with the chemo. She gave Mia a 1-4 month life expectancy. Not what we expected to hear.

12/13/09 - So we have spent the last couple of days trying to process all of this all over again. I feel like I did three months ago when we were first given the diagnosis. It is so hard to process because if you see her she looks and acts fine. She is still sassy and full of spunk. So, I'm extremely sad but also extremely grateful. Her original diagnosis was 19 days to two months and here we are three months later....

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Little Man Cade

I can't believe how big "our" little man is getting. He is such a fun little guy and we are so grateful that his parents trust us with him (and his older siblings).


Hanging out in Bob's truck.


Playing football.


What does my hat say?


Bob flip me upside down.


No more pictures.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Allaso at Night


The view from the deck last night.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Just One Shot

This weekend I only took one shot of the mommas. I just love this picture and after I saw the preview I put the camera away.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Hammock Time

Terry was laying in the hammock the other day and Mia decided she needed some snuggle time. So with a little help from me, Mia enjoyed some hammock time with her Terry.


I just love Mia's smile!


Yup, she came pretty much do whatever she wants.

Background Leaves



I noticed this area that Terry is sitting in and thought it would a great spot for some pictures. I had her sit and managed to get this one shot before Mad Maddox came and tackled her. The lighting was off but I think this area has some potential.


Yes, he is still wearing his cape from his costume. It makes him feel brave.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Canasta

Last month I was able to head out to El Paso to surprise my grandmother for her birthday. My favorite thing to do with my grandma is play canasta. It's a fun card game and things can get a little competitive when we play. The first night I was there my dad, grandma, Terry, Patsy, and Joey played into the late hours of the night. I must say it was a little odd not have Peter playing with us but since he is at the Naval Academy I guess he's got a good reason.

This card game is more than a game. It's been a bonding tool between a grandmother and a few of her grandkids. I can remember my times as a little girl going over to grandma and grandpa's house once a week to play cards. It's a game that bonds us to her now and forever.


Terry.


My grandma.


My dad.

(I took these pictures before we started to play. I really need to get a shot of us grandkids playing with grandma.)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Trick or Treat


Batman (aka Mia)


Robin (aka Maddox)


Batman with her sidekick Robin.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

How's Mia Doing?

Mia has been doing great! If you see her in person you would never know she is sick. The only sign of her illness are the shaved parts on her legs. She has just been herself and that is just priceless.


Mia playing in the backyard.


Trying to pick up her basketball.


Attending Cole's football games.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Family Photo

Last night my friend Elizabeth took some amazing pictures of Bob and I with the pups. Check it out out http://fowlerfive.blogspot.com/2009/09/bob-and-marty.html.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Spider





I took these pictures the other day. Not a small feat with no flash and lots of shaking. Shaking was due to the fear of that thing jumping on me. I was balancing on a chair and only a foot away from its web. I'm not sure what kind of spider it is but it sure is ugly.

(You can click on the pictures to get a better view.)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The past week

9/10/09 - Mia and Maddox were running around chasing squirrels and acting like themselves.

9/11/09 - Friday morning I was laying with Mia and she was not acting like herself. Not responding to her name and not wanting to eat. As I was laying with her she started to moan and that scared me enough to call Bob so he could take her to the vet. When Bob got her to the vet she was in pretty bad shape. Basically it was do emergency surgery or she could die. So Mia had surgery. I was able to make it to the vets office to see her before her surgery. It was awful leaving her there not knowing if she was going to make it.

I left my car at the vets and we decided to go get a drink (Starbucks). Bob said he didn't want to go to our Starbucks because he didn't want them to see so distraught. I told him if he went to ours its far enough away for me to gain my composure and I could order our drinks. So we got to our Starbucks and I went in and order our drinks. I was able to ordered our drinks but once they asked me where Bob was at I lost it. So I told them what was going on and they were so sweet to me. They bought our drinks and told me that they would pray for her.

After Starbucks we drove around for a little bit and then ended up waiting at the house. After and hour had passed I asked Bob if he could call to get an update. Right as he was about to call his phone rang and Mia had made it out of surgery. She had a tumor on her spleen that caused her spleen to rupture. They said we could come see her at 2.

When we saw her she looked so good. She was responsive and was starting to show some attitude. The vet was guarded and said he would feel better once Monday came and she was doing good. They sent her tumor off for testing.

Bob and Terry transferred Mia from the vets office to an overnight doggie hospital so they could keep an eye on her. I was watching Caden and Kristen and got lots of Caden hugs which is just what I needed after the events of this day!

After Daryl got home Bob and I headed to the doggie hospital to see the girl. She was doing great. Standing up and demanding lots of love. We were also able to take her for a potty break. After seeing her I felt so reassured and couldn't wait to pick her up the following morning. I was so grateful on so many different levels.

9/12/09 - At 9:00am Bob and I went to pick up Mia from the overnight doggie hospital. I drove and Bob stayed in the back with the girl. Throughout the day she regained her appetite and she was acting more and more like herself. We loved on her and we were so grateful she was with us.


Mia just home from the doggie hospital.

9/15/09 - Mia had Terry, Bob, and I laughing on this night. Bob was trying to give her kisses and she kept moving her head away every time he moved in. She also started to avoid my camera. We were all in agreement. The Mammas was back!!


Mia and Terry on Tuesday night.

9/16/09 - The vet called with Mia's biopsy results. She has cancer. In fact she has the worst cancer dogs can get. In shock we took her back to the vets office for x-rays and to get some more info on her condition. The news was awful to hear. She could have anywhere from 19-65 days with no chemo or 3-6 months with chemo according to her books. We got a recommendation to a oncologist and tried to get an appointment for the next day. We weren't able to (they told Bob it would take ten days before we could get her in) so Bob called the vet and asked if she could help us. What a long night this was. I was pretty much out on the chemo. I didn't want my girl to suffer and more than she had to. Lots of crying and lots of praying. All I knew was her quality of live was more important than quantity.

9/17/09 - The vet called Bob and told him Mia has an appointment at 3:30 with the oncologist. The appointment went well. They answered all of our questions. We also told the oncologist the hardest part was she looks so great and acts like nothing is wrong. She explained that this is how she will be until the end.

Recent studies on this type of cancer show without treatment pups live an average of 2-3 months and with chemo 6-9 months. She told us these were averages and even with chemo she could still die within a short period. Chemo is not a guarantee. Chemo on pups isn't as harsh as it is on humans. The main side effects are nausea and diarrhea and they would give us drugs to counteract these effects. We also explained we would rather have quality vs quantity and she agreed with us. She said in the rare event that a pup has a bad reaction to the chemo they stop the treatment because they would rather have quality time.

After talking with the oncologist we talked to one of the nurses and she explained the chemo process to us. Somebody would cuddle with Mia during her treatment and another nurse was administer the drugs. She let us see the treatment area and answered any questions we could think of. Both of were starting to think chemo might be an option for Mia.

We left the office and talked it over. Even though there is no guarantee we felt this is something we should do.

9-18-09 - Mia had her first chemo treatment. As long as she keeps acting like herself we will do this for her. She will have a chemo every 3 weeks for a max of 5 treatments.

9-19-09 - The girl is doing great! Bob and I on the other hand are still processing all of this. There has been lots of tears and prayers over the past week. We have also been so blessed by all of our friends. Thanks for sending us messages! (Now that I can talk/write without crying as much I will be getting back to all of you.) I feel like we are in the grieving process even though she is still here with us. She has been getting lots of love from myself, Bob, Terry, my dad, and lots of other people.

So if we only have a day, a month, 6-9 months or longer we are going to make sure her last days are full of love. We are so grateful for the time we have had and the time we will have. As one of my friends told me "Horribly sad but we know where she is going. No more sickness and there couldn't be a better master then the Master!!!" So true! I wonder if Mia will sass Him like she sasses us?

So if you see tears come to our eyes please be gentle. I know to some people she might just be a dog but to us she is our little girl whom we love very much.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Allaso Ranch



How do you describe a place that changed your life? I can't put into words the closeness I felt with God during an amazing two weeks. I can't describe the emotions that came flooding out as I stood on the deck with the kids who just accepted Christ on the anniversary of my Grandfather's heaven birthday.

I have sat in front of my computer every night since I got back from camp trying to find the right words. There are no words for the experience but I am forever changed by it.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Goodbye DFW, Hello Allaso Ranch

Early tomorrow morning I will be heading out to Allaso Ranch. I can't wait. Please be in prayer for the staff, volunteers and all of the children that will be attending. See you in a week!

I just had to include two more pictures of Kevin.


Where did the water go?


Right between the eyes.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Monday, July 13, 2009

Water Fun II



Just had to add one more picture. Next week I'll be the photographer at Allaso Ranch and trying to get a shot of this little guy gave me some much needed practice.

Water Fun

Sprinkler Fun
Kevin and Charlene enjoyed several nights of playing in the sprinklers. On one of those nights Lea and I joined them for some sprinkler fun. No pictures of Lea and I since Bob doesn't know how to work the new camera. (The sprinkler pictures aren't the best since I was trying to figure out the settings I should use.)


Kevin


Kevin and Charlene

Fountain Fun
Lea and I took the kiddos to The Shops at Highland Village and let Charlene and Kevin run wild. Kevin took to the water very fast and Charlene took her time getting wet.


Kevin and Charlene.


Kevin


Charlene

Pool Fun
The kids had a blast in the little pool but once they were introduced to swimming in the lake it just wouldn't do.


Charlene, James, and Kevin


James