More of our daily life...

I have come to find that my blog has become more of a chore rather than the memory "book" I had originally intended it to be.  After some thought, I have am making it a goal to blog more often, hopefully every other day or so, and try to focus more on our daily life.  I often read back to on my old blog and reminisce about the years past and I love doing that.  However, I find my more current posts are far and few between and they are mainly overviews of what we have been up rather than the simple, often forgotten daily memories that I cherish.  Especially with life being as busy as it is now, these little moments will be a distant memory that I will surely file away and forget about by next month.  

So with that said, and in hopes that my computer chooses to co-operate, you will now get a glimpse into my crazy household of 5 rowdy children and 3 very different adults as we all try to co-exist in harmony. 
And yes...I did say 5 kids because I count the 4 dogs as part of this family and the 3 adults include me, my husband and my uncle. 

If your new this blog you my not know us, or even if you have followed for a while, being I don't share much lately you still my not know us.  Let me introduce us all.

Me and Jason

• We will be married 11 years on Valentine's Day.  
• We are both Leo's...but I think he is more of a Virgo because he is later in the calendar and he doesn't tend to be as boisterous or bossy as I am :) 
• We share the love of animals, particularly dogs.
• I always wanted 6 kids, he wanted 2....we both now want 4.  
• I am an only child, he has one sister. 
• He has lived in the same city his whole life and I have lived in 5.
• We love the simple life, we are laid back, and I happen to think we are pretty cool! LOL!
• Our dream home would be a colonial home, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a library/study, with 2 living rooms and huge mud room, and a formal dining room.  We also want 1-2 acres, with a garage and pole barn. Perhaps a few farm animals and a huge dog kennel.
• We are active volunteers with a local Dog Rescue called Misfit Angels.  
• I always have a bad habit of taking on more than I should.
• I am a Human Resource Director for a nationwide staffing agency.  But I went to school for and worked as a respiratory therapist for 8 years before making the career change. 
• Jason is a customer service rep for a nationwide industrial supply company.  Despite a 2 year break where is worked for 2 other companies short term, it is his first and only employer.
• and I like to think we have an amazing and pretty strong marriage.  Despite our differences...we make it work.  

Olena

• She will be 9 in January
• She is still very small for her age, but she is solid.  She wears a size 7
• She loves have short hair, and though I would love a girly girly girl, she is about as tomboy as they get.
• She is extremely well mannered and I LOVE that about her
• She is very sensative to the moon phases, I have gone as far as to document her behavior and it is always right on que, she gets goofy and her sensory episodes become much more frequent. 
• She manages to amaze me everyday.  
• I swear some days she is an adult in a little persons body, some of the stuff she says and observes completely blows me away.  
• She is very practical 
• She loves christmas and LOVE christmas music.  
• She often sings in the shower. 
• Her showers typically last 1 hour.  Nuts? YES? but it helps with her sensory issues and it really brings her back to her center so we just let her do it.  
• She has amazing athletic skills, it has to be the Ukrainian genes
• She knows she is adopted, we talk about it often but it doesn't phase her at all, to her it is completely normal.  She likes to tell people where she was born, and she knows she was brought into this family "differently" than her cousins and friends but she is fine with that.  
• She is completely confident in herself and who she is. 
• She has an obsession with cars.  she can name pretty much any car - make, model and year.  She is particularly fond of Cameros, Corvettes and Cadillacs  

Uncle K

No pictures available...besides he would kill me if I did post one anyway.

He is my mom's twin, sadly suffers Type 1 diabeties which is the reason he choses to stay with us.

He is a big help, but also a big challenge, but we are all figuring it out together. 

Luther

 the old man of the family.  Nicknames are Bubba, BubbaRoo, Rooster and Old Man

He is 13 years old.

Sharpei/Pit bull mix

the first dog Jason and I had as a couple.

He was the cutest puppy in the whole world...and that is no joke.  He has so many wrinkles and was the fattest little butterball in town.

I love all my dogs, but he is my favorite!

He has an great personality.  Loves ladies, snacks and sleeping in the sunlight.

Hates cold weather.

Laney

She sadly is no longer with us.  We had her put down on 10/23.

It was a very sad but beautiful day.  She is Luther's sister. 

Nicknames: LeeLee and Baby girl

at 12 years old and she was the smallest, bossiest/crankiest one of the pack, and the only female.

She become concerned on Friday that she wasn't able to bark properly and her voice sounded different, we took her to vet on Sunday they said she had a mass on her throat, by that following Wednesday and several appointments later it was determined that she had a huge mass that was covering over 80% of her airway.  She could barely breath by that point, and surgery was not an option so we chose to have her euthanized here at home surrounded by the whole family.  It was hard, but it was the best choice and it was a very beautiful experience doing it here and appreciating her life and death.

Gus

He is about 6 years old.

Pit Bull Mix

Came home one day and him and Brody were sitting in front of our house.  Both had collars but no tags.  Despite our efforts and signs, no one ever claimed them so we kept them.

He is the goofy one of the pack.  Always wants to be pet and loved.  He falls at everyones feet and rolls over the second they approach him. 

He is Olena's favorite.  They love to play agility and frisbee together. 

He is very fast, very strong and an amazing leaper!

He is the most needy one of the pack too, and hates to be alone.

Brody

He is our big boy.  About 90lbs. and we thought he would be a runt.

He is very tall too, and strong.

He is the protector, the lover, and the mentor of the pack.

He loves the puppy, he loves to take new dogs under his wing.  He "tends" to the others needs.

He has a very kind heart but is very cautious of new people. He is the snuggler of the family and loves to sleep with me or should I say on me, until Jason gets home from work.

I would love to make him a therapy dog once I have the time to take him to classes and get him certified.

He was the puppy from hell.  Chewed everything...I mean everything.  Impossible to house train and did not listen to anything.  He is now the best behaved and most obedient of the pack. 

Putter

13 years old too. Got her the same time we got Luther.

She is very mild manner and a loner.  She hates to be held, but loves to be pet.

She does not take no trouble from the dogs and she can handle her own.  She is one tough old lady.

She is fat and furry!

I think she has the most amazing green eyes, but Jason teases her and says she looks like a gecko.

She loves chicken and will sit and paw at your arm, very gently with just enough claw to poke you...while you eat until... you share.  it is very annoying.  :) 

Last but not least, our Foster Midas.

Shepperd mix.  About 10 months old.

Very playful, very protective, loves nap time on the bed with me, and he is a big trouble maker.

But we love him!

Well with all that being said...Welcome to the family!