Princess Briar Rose

I had no idea how hard it was going to be training a puppy! I mean I knew it would be hard but nothing really compares to it until you are actually in the moment of training. We went and picked her out at the farm where we had "won" her in Lilly's school auction a couple weeks ago, and when we got there we had our pick of 4 females. Lilly of course couldn't really tell the difference between any of them, and really nor could I, so I brought my mom along to help me out. Who better to bring than the dog whisperer herself! So after deciding on her, we left with no puppy. I wasn't quite set up at home yet and needed a bit more time.

We must have gone through over 50 names for her. The puppy's mom name is "Princess" and my mom's golden she has is  "Princess Jasmine," Jazz for short. So we thought it was very appropriate to go with Princess Briar Rose, aka Rosie. The name fits her well, she just looks like a Rosie. So Lilly and I went to pick her up April 30th. It was a lot of fun to see her pure joy and excitement when we went to get her. We had a really nice talk on the way over there,again, explaining to her the responsibilities of a dog, helping each other out with her etc. So when we got there and picked Rosie up, of course it was raining..I buckled Lilly in and spread the towel across her. Then we got Rosie situated on Lilly's lap and were off! Let me just tell you that was the longest 15 minute car ride home I have ever had in my life! I just kept saying "hold on to her Lilly. This is a very important job. It's kinda like your first test..." Then I hear from the back seat, "Rosie this is a family. You are part of a family now. And I don't want to lose you(by this point she was crying, almost sobbing while talking to Rosie) So please sit still Rosie cuz this is my first test. I love you Rosie." It was the most adorable thing I have ever heard. She started out just talking then turned into crying. lol I was laughing silently pretty hard up front to myself. And when we were about 3 min from home Lilly pipes up and says with tears in her eyes, "Mom I can't take this any longer. I am gonna fail my first test. How much longer?" My poor baby...so we counted down the minutes and successfully made it home! She looks panicked, but oh so innocent while holding her on her lap.

Fast forward one week since we have had Rosie, well one week and 3 days....OMG What a week! I am soo mentally and emotionally exhausted that it feels like it has been years since we got her. We got her on the 30th of April and May 3 Van got sick. It started with a fever, then turned to diarrhea, follwed by vomitting for 3 days-no love says a mothers love like sitting in a bathtub with your sick baby to bring fevers down when they decide to puke-, and now excruciating gas and stomach cramps. He is still sick today and I am just worn out. Doctor said it's just a bug going around,  so nothing I can really do for him. I pray each night for him to wake up and be well, but so far it hasn't happened. Thank the Lord my mom has been here because I have no idea how I would be training a puppy in its first week with an extremely sick baby at the same time! All Van wants to do is lie around, but not in bed or on the floor, in my arms. You can see how it would be difficult to even go to the bathroom myself let alone take care of a 7 week old puppy. Needless to say it has been a whirl of emotions this week and if he doesn't start feeling better soon........The poor guy has been through so much his first year. He was able to spend 2 full days with her before he got sick though. We had to make a small pen for Rosie to play in, which consisted of baby gates and furniture, so Vance had to get used to some ehem, new boundaries.



                  
Rosie has been pretty good so far. She has had a couple accidents but they were our fault, not hers. She has slept through the night since the first night we brought her home and still continues on that path so keep your fingers crossed. Lilly is doing a good job with her. I have to keep reminding myself that she is only 5. lol Puppy training, traing a 5 yo how to train a puppy, sick baby all make for a week of terror. lol My mom and I were able to put up some green galvanized chicken fencing because Rosie, only a week older, is starting to really want to explore our whole yard and just run all over. She is a pretty good little girl. Lilly has already taught Rosie her first trick. Lilly has a little tikes orange and blue slide in our backyard, the one with jsut two steps. She has taught Rosie to clumb up the steps and actually slide down the slide! It is so funny to see. We have even caught Rosie going up and down the slide on her own, with no reward. lol The key to it all is wearing her out! I never realized how much more I owuld be up and down, moving all over, in and out, with a puppy. I can honestly say now that a puppy is much worse than a baby!! There has been blood, sweat and tears with this one..blood from putting up fence, sweat from 'running' around the block with her, and tears of frustration.  I am praying she turns out to be a wonderful dog for us.

Tonight will be the true test because my mom is going home for what I think may be just a rest, a very well deserved rest..let's pray she will come back! Although if I were her, heaven knows I wouldn't want to come back to this stressful, crazy, out of control home! I am totally over the "puppy" stage and ready for her to be housebroken and grown! lol That must be why God gave us kids to look after and NOT puppies! I never want my kids to grow up, but Rosie, it couldn't come fast enough.

My mom has been such a blessing to me and to our family. I have no idea how I would get through half the things I have gotten through without her. She celebrates 38 years married with my Dad today! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Time to go, I hear my 3rd child crying for me!