~~ FEVER ~~

 Shortly after Bubbles first birthday, she showed signs of being in heat.  Then, full blown heat.  Since she has been having a bloody discharge, we've insisted she wear doggie diapers while she is in the house.  Let me tell you, she is not a fan.  However, she is such a sweet, loving, obedient dog.  She does it humbly and without complaining.  

During our God time (Bubbles and I), in my back room, while Bubbles was standing facing outside and looking out the window, neighbor dog (a big, black, adorable boxer) suddenly appeared with his nose against the window looking inside, nearly coming face to face with Bubbles.  Oh, I wish I would have had my camera ready for that one!! 

"No, Bubba, Bubbles cannot come out and play."  

My mama said surgery is scheduled for September twelfth.  I don't know what that is, but I hope it's fun.

~Happy Birthday Bubbles~

On Saturday we celebrated Bubbles 1st Birthday.  She was delighted with being treated so special all day.  For supper, we gave her (Gracie's fave) Roy Rogers roast beef.  She was delighted.  

~~ THE VOID OF LOSS ~~

Bubbles will turn one year old on July 22.  I can hardly believe that a year has gone by so fast.  She has distracted me from the horrible heartbreak losing Gracie brought.  She keeps me busy, laughing, and loving.  I couldn't ask for a more perfect follow-up to my beloved Gracie.  

My calculations tell me that Bubbles was likely conceived on the day of our goodbye to Gracie.  It is no wonder I failed so hopelessly in getting a dog to fill the void of her loss, for so many months after losing Gracie.  God had orchestrated the perfect plan, and I was waiting for the ideal dog for me.  I just needed to be led there, so God did that.

I worried at my age, that starting over with a puppy may be too much.  No, actually this puppy was just enough and not at all too much.  

My heart will always ache from Gracie's absence.  But I truly feel I will see her again.  God is good like that.  

Meanwhile,  Bubbles is here - and she is learning to stay at home for short periods of time by herself, mastering car rides without much anxiety, and learning to swim.  She gives a sense of purpose to two senior citizens who loved and lost - and who have now learned to love again.

 

2020~2021~2022~2023

Things are happening here.  Not necessarily for the good.  But things.  

In 2020 I retired and closed my business.  I doubt I need to explain why.  I did manage to write and publish a book though 😜.  THE HOUSE  My first fiction book and I used my pen name, Chambray Blue.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE writing fiction!  Being retired was good, really.  I could delve into doing what I enjoyed (writing) and more importantly, I could be 100% THERE for Gracie, who was showing her age. 

2021 was me, liquidating - selling - re-grouping, etc.  Ten years of All About Hearing.  I would miss my clients a lot!  I wrote another book, a prequel to THE HOUSE, BLINK.  Per my daughter: "I loved this book!  It was even better than THE HOUSE."  Coming from my daughter, I knew it was a good book.  Writing fiction is so much fun.  Towards the end of the year, Gracie was failing.  Each day I prayed to God, and I asked her to let me know when it was time.

2022 brought the most difficult, sad, heartbreaking time in my life.  On May 26 I knew I had to let my girl go.  Saying goodbye to Gracie gutted me.  I felt like a shell of who I had been, if that makes any sense.  My title had been Dog Mom for almost eighteen years.  A title I loved.  A life I loved.  And now, my purpose was gone.  Later that year, God ordered my steps to the exact breeder I had got Gracie from eighteen years earlier.  Enter, Bubbles. Oh, and one more thing.  I wrote another book.  This one was non-fiction and the hardest book I've ever written.  FROM GOD WITH LOVE  

I've left a lot out of the above.  Maybe I should write another book.  HaHa!

It's 2023 and we are being faced with a lot of change and challenges.  Gary's 91-year-old uncle, Vic, lives in the adjoining apartment of what used to be All About Hearing, just off the garage.  For a long time, Vic could take care of himself.  Several weeks ago we had to pick him up from the floor and call 911.  He spent time in the hospital with sepsis and pneumonia before being sent to a nursing home for rehab.  Now, just days after the start of rehab, he is being sent home.  There is a lot of uncertainty as to whether we can provide him with the care he needs at home.  So, a decision may need to be made that will be a hard one.  *sigh*  I can tell, it is taking a toll on Gary and his own health.  This is a huge responsibility.  

But GOD provides!  He knows just what we need, when we need it.  And what we need right now are slobbery kisses,  soft snuggles, and a wagging stub-of-a-tail when we walk in the door.   

God knew.

We needed Bubbles.

NO TROUBLE

 I had no choice but to change the name of this blog...  

You see, Bubble Trouble was created before the arrival of Bubbles.  Me, assuming puppy equals trouble.  

This dog has been nothing but sweetness and blessings.  She potty-trained easily within a week of being with us.  At eight weeks of age, I think that is phenomenal!

Yay, Bubbles!

I will admit, there was an adjustment period while we studied our little fur-ball of joy and decided what her needs would be, how she was adapting, what was the best course of action for her timidness and fears, etc.  But having a puppy in the house was not at all how I imagined it would be.  She's really not much trouble at all.

Bubbles Graduation Day

Well, it happened.  Bubbles graduated from a 6-week class obedience training.  

We *somewhat* accomplished our goals of socializing her with other dogs, becoming less afraid of her surrounding, and basic command skills.

She loves to 'sit'.  It's her favorite command.  And she really loves when a treat follows the command.  Haha!

Bubbles is a good girl!  And, she loves me to tell her that, too.  I say it often.  Bubbles was heaven-sent.

 

~~~IF I ONLY HAD THE NERVE ~~~

I love looking back on my blogs and reading about all the adventures we went on in the past.  Our biggest adventure these days is walking Bubbles around the back yard.  We are trying to fix her fears by short trips to stores and pet stores where she is forced to be around noise, people, and other dogs.  

*sigh*

On Monday she will graduate from a five-week puppy training class which has helped her a lot in socialization.  She now sees the other dogs there as her friends and it's cute how they touch noses when they are around one another.  But outside of class, her fears return.  

On Monday, during class, she was distracted by a man trimming a tree in the lot next door.  It didn't go well that day.  

"I was ascared!"

 Still, we keep trying.

ANGEL

 Next week Bubbles goes in for her very first grooming session.  From my understanding, they only bath them and cut around the face and trim up essential areas on the first visit.  Puppies are unpredictable, so I get it.  We took her to the groomer for a nail trim on Saturday - mainly to get her acquainted more.  She was good.  

I love her fluffy look, but I know she needs a trim.  We shall see what happens.  I've been trying to brush this shaggy coat every chance I get to keep her from getting matted, and we do butt baths weekly.  I'm hoping this helps prepare her and that it makes her easier to groom.  

Honestly, she is heaven sent.  An almost perfect angel.  

Anxiety

 On Monday I loaded Bubbles into her crate and took her to my daughters for a visit with her, the granddaughters, and their dog, Ellie.  She was nervous, to say the least.  We left her there while we did some brief shopping.  My main objective was to get her more socialized, and since she loves them a lot - what better way!

She stayed anxious up until about five minutes before we returned to pick her up - then she started warming up to the idea of being there with them.  

Yesterday I forced her into her crate again and took her two minutes down the road to pick up papers for her training class that will begin on the 23rd of this month.  When we got there, I walked (more like forced) her inside on her leash.  Once inside, she began timidly smelling all the doggie merchandise and her fears eased a bit.  When we got back in the car, she was not happy with being put back inside the crate, however, she settled down and was fine.  I drove around the neighborhood for about ten minutes, trying to get her used to this.  

I believe baby steps into socialization with her will help her be more at ease.  She's a work in progress. 

NOT MUCH TROUBLE AT ALL

 I'm thinking of renaming my blog.  I thought for sure Bubble Trouble would be perfect, but I wasn't expecting that this puppy would be so perfectly good.

Bubbles is well-behaved and does all she can to stay out of trouble.  She can't help it that she has anxiety and fears.  

I enrolled her for a training class that will begin later this month.  It will be good to get her out there around other people and dogs.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 It is only a new set of numbers.  Twenty-twenty-three.  2023. Two-thousand and twenty-three.  No matter what way you say it, the calendar is telling us we are beginning a new year.  

Last year was hard for so many.  The year before was not easy.  It all started with 2020 - and we all know how that one threw us for a loop.  So, I am not expecting much but I'm hoping for more.  

Bubbles was heaven-sent.  I have never been more sure of anything in my life.  She has taken my focus off the emptiness Gracie's absence has left, and brought the the focus on her care and sweetness.  She is a cuddly lamb, and such a good baby.  

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays.