Merry Christmas!!! (The DAY)

Well, today is FINALLY HERE! The BIG DAY! The day that I've waited MONTHS for! We were GIDDY for Sage to wake up; it was unreal. I woke up at 4am. Yes, that is correct: 4am. Thankfully, I can always count on "A Christmas Story" to be on for a full 24 hours on this day. I watched it a few times.

Sage ALWAYS wakes up at anywhere from 6-7, SOMETIMES a little later--except on Christmas, of course. She slept until a little after 8 today, JUST like she did last year. I was vacuuming and everything; she didn't make a sound. I watched the monitor light until I hallucinated that it moved...hahaha. But she FINALLY woke up, and she was VERY overwhelmed. I said, "SAGE, today's the day! SANTA CAME!" And she was thinking he'd STILL be here, I think, because she was like, "No he didn't." She was very pleased, and she's "cooking" as I speak.

TODAY'S THE DAY!
He ate the cake, drank the milk, AND wrote a letter.
WOAH.
Look at all that Santa left.
Some of her kitchen goodies.
She had so much fun opening the gifts.
I love this picture.
This was her first experience with a jack-in-the-box. This picture was taken the moment he came up. Isn't it funny?
CANDY.
And he even brought her a ball, which she loved.

Helping Daddy open his gifts.
We tend to lose our remote quite often. This is kind of a joke, but we're ACTUALLY using it now--it's for real.
I will explain THIS gift below.*
My baby girl.
She's in there somewhere. Hopefully, we'll find her again.
*Ok, so the two things that Travis told me he wanted for Christmas months ago were an $800 camera and a motorcycle. Well it just so turns out that I GOT that camera (for a great deal right after Thanksgiving during the holiday sales) when I was in Kentucky back in November. He was in AL then, and I called and told him that I bought a wooden dollhouse for Sage for $250. What's funny is that she already has a dollhouse, and he was like, "She has one though. Why in the world did you spend that much money?" Because I had already spent a lot of money on her. I was like, "Oh this one is so intricate, and she'll be able to keep it forever." I wrapped it there and actually had him hide "the dollhouse" when I got home. He even asked me a few questions about it during the following weeks like, "So that's a dollhouse in there?" I totally went with it. I can tell some of the best lies when it's for a surprise. ;) So today I had it set back and I told him, "I want Sage to open this last because I want her to have that 'one last thing.'" I had many other things for him as well: clothes, lots of pampered chef goodies, a movie, that remote...and then I said, "Sage, here's one more." She ripped it open and he just gasped. Then he was kind of confused, followed by nervous laughter, followed by ripping the box open because he was so excited. Thank you, I'm accepting my wife of the year award next week. :)

To You and Your's

A MERRY CHRISTMAS from our's! :) The cameras-photo and video-are charged with full tape and memory cards and ready to go. Sage is literally giddy about the next two days. She just put her hands over her face when I told her all that's going to take place. I'll post pics and have stories, I'm sure. Oh, and the vet called today and said that Chanel is doing great and will possibly get to come home in the morning. So, until then: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Boo

Chanel was readmitted back into the vet tonight. She came home on Monday evening and peed, but ever since then, she hasn't gone again. I knew all of the medicine she was on and the trauma she'd gone through would make her lose her appetite, but the fact that she wasn't peeing wasn't good. I actually hate that I waited as long as I did, but I was sure she'd go last night after all of the water and ice she ate/drank. Nope.

They also told us if we smelled ANYTHING to bring her in. I smelled something today, and so did Travis. It wasn't anything we did wrong, but the way it was wrapped....you know what...I just don't know. It was really, really infected though. They said they wouldn't charge us like normal; they just want to get her well. They're going to keep her through the weekend, change the kind of bandage, which will have to be rewrapped by them every 3 days....sigh.......I just don't know. I didn't think this would be a very big deal: she broke her leg, they fixed it, we do what they say, and she heals....I don't know anymore.

Chanelie's Home

Chanel came home from the hospital this evening after being there since Saturday. It was an EXTREMELY long weekend. It's honestly a miracle she's alive. To make a long story short, she got out of her collar at Petsmart and ran out of their open doors. The fact that it was so easy for her to get out of a place that welcomes animals makes them accountable somewhat, in my opinion.

She ran back/forth across the highway before jumping from a 30 foot high bridge down into a ravine. It was a terrible weekend. Thank God for the people that stopped to help Travis--none of them being employees from Petsmart, btw. They all climbed down into the rocks to help carry her out and take her to the hospital. Travis said she had blood all over her face and that her leg was definitely broken. She threw up blood in his truck.

She ripped the ligaments in that leg, and right now it's crucial that she moves as little as possible. Her liver is also bruised, her back was twisted, and she has stitches in her back leg. All of those things will heal, they said, but they did surgery on the break by adding a pin. She has to remain in our half bathroom for 2 weeks moving only to use the bathroom outside. She has a full cast covering her entire leg and foot, which is really pitiful to see her try and walk. She is glad to be home though, and we're glad she's here. Now just PRAY petsmart pays!!!

In other news, Sage is really excited about Christmas. She's ready to make a pink birthday cake for Jesus. And even though she's refused to speak with him, she is sure Santa knows what she wanted. We shall see. :) Below are just some random pics taken today that I thought were fun.


Milk Mustache
Look at that pitiful girl.
And then there's him.
He's alright for a white dog.

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like...

the annual Dean & Company Christmas special. I have the privilege of sharing them with you from my favorite morning radio show, Rick and Bubba. It is priceless.

In Mourning

He always thinks Chanel is just right outside, and he can't stand the thought of not being out there too.

The one I like

I'm not sure if I want to go into detail of this whole story or not. Chanel is hurt. Really hurt. It's a horrendous story that pushed me over the edge on Saturday. And the girl that laughed about it was what made me explode and cuss her out. (Sidenote: She apologized because she had no idea, and I am not mad at anyone.)

I have never claimed to be "dog lover of the year," but I do love them, and I'd never EVER wish them harm. The dogs are a part of our family now and aside from driving me nuts at times (daily), they are sweet--especially Chanel. She is my favorite. Anyway, I don't equate dogs with humans, but I believe God loves animals because He made them for our enjoyment. Anyway, we need a miracle. We need a corporation, Petsmart, which I believe bears responsibility in this to come through for us financially. I didn't want to have Chanel put to sleep because she's not even 2 years old. I just couldn't do it.

We're not through this yet, and so far we're looking at over 2 grand. It's not what I needed or wanted, but I've called Petsmart and when our bill is through, they are going to fax it to corporate office. Please PLEASE pray that they pay for it. I don't need another bill. And pray, of course, that Chanel is all right and better than ever. We love her. Sage always introduces herself as "Chanel." Oh, and pray for Mayer. He's so depressed without her. It's sad.

On a positive note

I've lost 10 pounds.
And Christmas is one week from tomorrow.
That makes me happy.

Rudolph

Sage knows Rudolph completely, but this time she kept going back to the beginning. It was like the song would never end. She obviously wanted no help from me though.

Santa Claus is Coming

After having my camera for two years now, we finally realized that it does indeed record videos...haha. So very appropriately for Christmas, here is the BEST version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" that you will EVER hear. Ignore the crackle of her Popsicle wrapper, but notice how she says "nonni (my mom) or right" instead of "naughty or nice."

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I have really long hair, and it can get messy looking fairly quickly. SO, if I'm going somewhere and Travis hugs me, a lot of times I say, "Please don't mess up my hair." Apparently, I say that more than I realize.

Last night, Sage was putting up a fight to go to sleep, and Travis went in her room one more time. When he came back he was laughing. He said, "She is JUST like you." He had gone in to give her a kiss on the forehead, and when he did, she said, "OHHH!!! You messed up my HAIRCUT!"

Holidays through Pictures

We just got back from Kentucky yesterday afternoon, and I have a LOT of highlights from our trip. Because I can't come back for Christmas, we have to do Thanksgiving and Christmas in two weeks. We had a great time though, and it's always bittersweet to come and go. Enjoy the album. :)

First trip to Build-A-Bear because she loooovvvvees Rudolph...well Clarice is her favorite. She's giving her a bath!
What I THOUGHT would be a tradition, making gingerbread houses, but...not so much. THAT is my work below there. I'll be making wedding cakes soon.
But it was worth it. Look at that face.
Thanksgiving!
Silly girl.
Sweet bebe girl
Cooking wears you out...or so I heard. :) I just love this picture.
This is the first year that she didn't pull my mom's tree over.
Opening presents.
She loves candy canes.
Mom's necklace that Chrissie made. She loved it.
I love the light of the Christmas tree.
Haha. Taken by my artsy husband. I don't know what that face is.

She gave papa a tin of popcorn, which she was more than happy to help eat.
A cash register! Now she can "pay for it."
Christmas is going to be so fun this year.