It was really weird. I had been hyper emotional since returning from our Jamaican honeymoon before Christmas. Over the break, I had attacked the leaves in the backyard (literally attacked the leaves), had a couple of emotional breakdowns with no real explanation, felt a little fevered, and vomited after eating Chinese food. Something just wasn't right...
Let me back up to the whole "puppy" part of the story. When Landon and I got married in October, I had a dog dish, dog collar, and dog bandana delivered to his room as a wedding present. Of course, it was accompanied by a note promising him that he could pick out a puppy as a wedding present. In the typical style of my UT loving husband, he set out to find a puppy in the bloodline of Smokey VI (Tennessee's 4-legged mascot). And so Landon found Jerry up in Goose Creek, about 30 minutes from our house. Jerry had Smokey's brother, and was ready to sire some pups. Landon immediately signed us up for one from the litter, due around the first of the year.
Unfortunately, that litter ended in miscarriage and we would not be getting a pup.
After Christmas, we again set out on our quest to find the perfect puppy. This time, our quest began at the local animal shelters. And that is where we met the dog that came to be known as our "Stokely", one of the most beautiful dogs that either of us had ever seen.
On January 2nd, we spotted her at the pound. It took us 45 minutes to adopt her, load her in the car, and head home. She was gorgeous... and a bit skiddish. We assumed that we would have plenty of time to integrate her into our household. Did I mention that as I left the pound, I was saying that I didn't feel very good? Flulike, but not really fevered...
On January 3rd, my friends Betsy & JT went into labor with Baby Bella. At some point that morning, while at their house letting their dog out and doing a few last minute chores, I sat down on their bed and thought, "I could curl up here and go to sleep. Why am I so tired?" I was questioning whether I should go back to the hospital to try to see their new baby when I looked up, saw the stack of pregnancy books, and --- imagine a series of sirens going off in my head. I picked one up. Turned to the front page, where there was a list of 10 early symptoms of pregnancy. I could agree that I was feeling about 7 of them.
I didn't say anything to anyone. I went to the hospital, saw Bella, teared up heading back to the elevator, cried during Desperate Housewives (no I do NOT normally do that), and then went to bed. And the next morning, as Landon got up to take our new dog our for a run, I snuck to the bathroom to do the pee test. And as I was doing it, I realized that I was going to be REALLY sad if the test was negative.
Let me back up to the whole "puppy" part of the story. When Landon and I got married in October, I had a dog dish, dog collar, and dog bandana delivered to his room as a wedding present. Of course, it was accompanied by a note promising him that he could pick out a puppy as a wedding present. In the typical style of my UT loving husband, he set out to find a puppy in the bloodline of Smokey VI (Tennessee's 4-legged mascot). And so Landon found Jerry up in Goose Creek, about 30 minutes from our house. Jerry had Smokey's brother, and was ready to sire some pups. Landon immediately signed us up for one from the litter, due around the first of the year.
Unfortunately, that litter ended in miscarriage and we would not be getting a pup.
After Christmas, we again set out on our quest to find the perfect puppy. This time, our quest began at the local animal shelters. And that is where we met the dog that came to be known as our "Stokely", one of the most beautiful dogs that either of us had ever seen.
On January 2nd, we spotted her at the pound. It took us 45 minutes to adopt her, load her in the car, and head home. She was gorgeous... and a bit skiddish. We assumed that we would have plenty of time to integrate her into our household. Did I mention that as I left the pound, I was saying that I didn't feel very good? Flulike, but not really fevered...
On January 3rd, my friends Betsy & JT went into labor with Baby Bella. At some point that morning, while at their house letting their dog out and doing a few last minute chores, I sat down on their bed and thought, "I could curl up here and go to sleep. Why am I so tired?" I was questioning whether I should go back to the hospital to try to see their new baby when I looked up, saw the stack of pregnancy books, and --- imagine a series of sirens going off in my head. I picked one up. Turned to the front page, where there was a list of 10 early symptoms of pregnancy. I could agree that I was feeling about 7 of them.
I didn't say anything to anyone. I went to the hospital, saw Bella, teared up heading back to the elevator, cried during Desperate Housewives (no I do NOT normally do that), and then went to bed. And the next morning, as Landon got up to take our new dog our for a run, I snuck to the bathroom to do the pee test. And as I was doing it, I realized that I was going to be REALLY sad if the test was negative.
The conversation that followed:
Me: Landon
Landon: Yes
Me: You still here
Landon: Carrie, I just answered you
Me: Don't leave, stay right there
In Landon's description, the look on my face when I slid into the foyer gave it away.
Needless to say, we were ecstatic, and felt immediately blessed by how quickly we received this blessing.
Now, back to the puppy part of the story. Stokely wasn't so easy. He had been abused, was irrationally terrified of people in orange (as in crossing guards... who look a lot like hunters), and was a little scared of almost everyone.
Fast forward 5 months - the baby's due date was quickly approaching, but Stokely's behavior was remaining disturbing. We decided that we simply could not keep Stokely as our family pet.
However, ole Stokely will always hold a special place in our hearts...
Stokely with JT & Betsy's Sully
On a crisp February day in Charleston
It only looks cruel... letting her run alongside the beach cruiser was the only way that we could give her the speed that she needed. She loved these runs!
What a great story - I love it! Pretty you'll be inducted into the birth-story swapping society!! Now that's a fun afternoon... a bunch of women sitting around sharing their stories of giving birth! Praying for you and for Landon. You'll have your baby in your arms soon!
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