More about puppies...

We had just made our decision regarding Stokely - and we were feeling pretty confident. That is when our old friend Jerry called Landon. The dog that miscarried in December was pregnant again, and Jerry wanted to let Landon know that the pups would be born in late April.

The conversation went something like this.

Carrie: We can't get a dog!

Landon: But they are in Smokey's blood line. We may never have an opportunity like this again.

Carrie: We are about 5 months pregnant. That's crazy.

Landon: PUPPIES!

Carrie: No way, no puppies.

So we debated and went back and forth until the puppies were about 4 weeks old. We drove up to see Jerry, and to discuss the puppies, and to tell Jerry that we were going to help him get them off his hands (Landon planned to post on the UT fan walls about the dogs)... but we wouldn't be taking a dog.

I think that this one is Pearl

Jerry, holding one of the puppies

Keep in mind that this isn't your typical breeder. Jerry is a hunter, and he loves blue tick coon hounds. In fact, he was president of the state club (Landon could give you the official name), had blood lines for all of his animals, etc. He wasn't someone who breeds these dogs just to make money.

When we got to Jerry's, we were really sad to see that he was having a bad day. That day, Jerry's wife had been diagnosed with esophagaus cancer, and he himself had spent all day at the VA having tests run. He was feeling understandably nostalgic, and commented that this was probably his last litter and he felt good knowing that people who appreciated them would have one.

My thought: We'll take 3 of your puppies, Jerry!

So Landon and I leave, continuing to debate whether we'd take a puppy. While driving to Ky the next week, I came up with the name Pearl. We brought her home on the first day of July.

Our puppy, Pearl.

Yes, we realize that this will be a little like having twins this fall. I've always heard that having a newborn feels something like having your head held under water. I figure, if it feels like my head is being held under water, it won't matter if there is one hand on my shoulder or two hands on my shoulder.

We'll see how this works out.