waiting for 5 years and 9 months ....

We waited a really long time for our son.  And not just the traditional 9 months of pregnancy.  More like 5 years and 9 months .....

Our first miscarriage was in the summer of 2006 and we were devastated.  The subsequent miscarriages after that weren't any easier to cope with.  Neither were the appointments with doctors and specialists who never could give us a solid explanation for any of our losses.  So you can imagine our delight at becoming pregnant, again, in January.  And each week there was a good ultrasound appointment.  And each week the baby got bigger.  And then one week we check on the baby and he is DANCING in my tummy like that crazy Irish guy from Riverdance!  Which makes us think, "Maybe this time will be different!  We've never seen anything like this on an ultrasound before!"

Sure enough - this time was different and Nolan was the DANCING-EST baby I could ever imagine for his entire pregnancy!  He wiggled and moved and shoved and pushed and danced right up to the 39th week and then made his grand debut.

So welcome to the world Nolan Wilton Goetz.  We've been waiting 5 years and 9 months to meet you and bring you home!

An open letter to Baby-Goetz

Dear, sweet, darling Baby-Goetz,

              You are heavy.

              I am tired.

              Get out.

Love,

Your devoted Mother

Republican Dogs

We've joked about it before ... but we have Republican Dogs.  For the past 8 years they have waged a campaign of "Shock and Awe" on the backyard that has yielded numerous victories.  While patrolling the West, North and Eastern borders of their territory they have successfully neutralized insurgents ranging from your standard squirrel, to the occasional mole and even the unsightly possum. 

Their methods are effective and efficient.  Squirrels are particularly easy to detect; Brodi chases them down the fence line while Bailey circles around in front of them and them jumps against the fence hard enough to knock them into the yard.  The moles and possums were caught under cover of darkness so I cannot report on those battles.  However I suspect the attacks were swift and methodical as these unfortunate insurgents are left intact.  O_o

Please note that Mark and I have indoctrinated the dogs concerning any particular political persuasion.  They were adopted, as individuals, during their adolescence, and each seems to have arrived at our home with their political tendencies already established - just like Brodi showed up fearing laundry baskets and Bailey was carrying around a few extra pounds that she never quite shed.  Clearly they have found kindred spirits in each other and that has amplified any passion they had already.

Last night we suffered a friendly-fire accident.  It was horrible - you never think it will happen to your own troops, but it does.  I'm still not speaking to Bailey and have contemplated pulling her off of the front lines for a while.  A day or two in the garage might do her some good.  NATO has been unable to confirm why a front-yard-bunny ventured under the fence into dog territory, however you can imagine the horror for all involved.  Mr. Goetz reports he will inspect and repair the fence, making any necessary arrangements to keep this incident to a one-time event.  For Bailey's sake I hope he is successful.