The Walters: my first baby and a photo dump

A LOT has happened around here since my last {oh-em-gee did i really put those pics of me up?!} post.
i had a birthday.
thirty-TWO.
we are getting old. when did this happen? i was just sixteen like yesterday.
on my actual birthday, girls from the hood got together for some social time and drinks.
there were 12 of us.
i'm so blessed to have found such a lovely and welcoming hood.

this is jennifer. she's my neighbor. she's my favorite.

the following night :: we returned to the same restaurant.
only this time we had the husbands in tow.
and we indulged in some of the BEST food i've ever put in my mouth.
right here in downtown avon. ohio.
adam and i are looking forward to the next excuse to visit :: it was THAT good.

the following week {last week} was a rough one.
but, as always, we survived.
here's a break down....
adam leaves for boston monday morning.
our first born. my baby girl. my LIFE for 5.5 years.
had to have surgery to repair a torn ACL.
tuesday morning :: the boys. sissy. and i load up in the tahoe.
i leave the boys in the car. lock the doors. take ki'ya inside.
thinking this whole drop off thing would be just that :: a quick drop off.

notsomuch.

of course, i have to talk to the vet :: DUH. my baby girl is having surgery. MAJOR surgery.
lady takes ki'ya.
i go get the littles.
we walk back into the room to have a quick talk to the vet.
30 minutes later :: we have seen the vet. the assistant. and another lady. and my child is SCREAMING the whole entire time {no clue. only guess :: he thought we were at his doctors?!}.
it was a wonderful experience.
so much so that i immediately texted our sitter to ask if she could come watch the boys on the day i had to go pick up my baby.
i did NOT want to experience that fiasco again.
plus, i knew the vet would probably want to talk to me about my baby.
and not over a screaming kid.....again.

my poor baby. this picture just doesn't do it justice.

my time. my energy. my attention goes to the boys.
pretty much has since they arrived on seen 21 months ago.
before that :: my time. my energy. my attention went to ki'ya.
it's funny though.
i heard from SO many people how ki'ya would go from being our everything to nothing just.like.that as soon as the boys arrived.
that she would become an outside dog.
that she would become a step child.
and i have to say, although she doesn't get ALL the attention, like she used too.
she still is our baby.
she never got pushed to the side. or put outside. or became a step child.
less attention, maybe.
ignored, never.

this is the second day home {3 days post op}.

with all this said :: the day finally came to pick her up.
i was by myself.
no screaming kids.
just me. in a quiet room. waiting for my baby.
and for the first time. i had a chance to really think about the situation.
and my heart sank.
my baby just had MAJOR surgery, yes.
but the real pain in my heart was knowing she was left for 2 days/nights in this scary vet's place.
in all of her seven years of life.
we left her in a scary boarding place only ONCE.
and i vowed to NEVER do that again.
and here i am. hands full with two 21 month old babes. daddy is out of town. i'm overwhelmed {imagine that} with the mere thought of having to care for ki'ya post surgery.
so i said it was okay to leave her an extra night :: just because.

and to top it off.
the first thing the vet asked me was if ki'ya was normally an anxious/high strung dog?!
uhm :: no, why?!
she cried all night long until we gave her something to sedate her.
that was it.
right then and there i knew i was a horrible mommy to my baby girl.
she was a nervous freaking WRECK.
that's why she was crying.

oh geesh.

i'm glad to report. she's seven days post op. and things are looking better.
she is receiving more love and attention than she has gotten in a long time.
i am back to spending my free time on the floor.
right.next.to.her.
she still has a long road of recovery ahead of her.
but she's a trooper and will make it through this.
the boys have been really good with her too.
they know sissy has a boo boo on her leg and they have to be really careful around her.

if nothing else :: this whole experience has brought me back to the place before kids.

before all the crying and fast pace life of keeping up with two toddlers.
and reminded me of the love that i have for my first baby.
a good reminder, if you will, to slow down. and love on your furry babies too.
the ones who love you unconditionally.
who never hit you out of frustration.
who never have melt downs.
and throw fits.
who never want anything more than to love and be loved by you.
here's to 8 more weeks of recovery, baby girl.

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and now to the photo dump....