Life Changing Puppy Love

 
It all began with a phone call.  My sister-in-law Liza said, "Lola's mom and dad had puppies again!"  My heart leaped out of my chest, I squealed, and the 2 month planning process began.  We love their dog Lola and prayed for one of our own.  Liza changed our life.

We kept it a secret from the kids.  Russ flew to visit family in Utah and picked her up.  Everyone at the airport thought he was carrying around a stuffed animal until she moved!  Even the flight attendants were taking pictures of her.

The first night was horrible.  She slept in her kennel in our bathroom, and she cried and wailed and barked ALL NIGHT LONG.  Almost every hour.  No sleep.  And I was trying to keep her quiet because I wanted to surprise the kids the next day after school!  Thank goodness the next night was perfect.  No more kennel at night for her until she likes it.

Ava and I played with her and let her sleep on us for 5 hours straight the first day!  Ava didn't even eat breakfast or lunch because she was just too happy.
 She couldn't stop to eat. I forced her to eat at 2 pm.   She can't part with her.  She cried when I made her put the puppy in the kennel while I showered.  Got nothing done that day!  Supervising this puppy is a full time job.

Mom and Dad came over to see the kids come home from school and freak out.  Mom even brought dinner like she would for the mother of a newborn.  And boy did I need it with no sleep and no desire to cook!  I was mentally not available for regular duties.

The kids did not disappoint.  They love her more than I could even have imagined.  They hate going to school because they miss her.
 This puppy is SO sweet, so patient, so soft, so tiny, so playful, so much work, so loving, so cuddly, so life changing.  I still can't believe it but it's also so very real. 

I'm still freaking out.