Happy Gotcha Day to Me! Happy New Year to Yeu!... And Playing a Little Catch Up!

On the morning of December 26, 2008, I came here for a two night sleep-over with my Cousin The Luke... And on the day I was supposed to return to my Awesome Foster Home with The Herd, the woman now known as my the Mom made some kind of excuse... that carried over to the next day, and then again with regularity over the course of the next week.

This was not surprising, since [as I've come to understand] the entire sleep-over was a little of a setup. You see, I had been living with The Herd for almost nine months. And in that time, a few things happened:

1. I really fit in with The Herd. I love it there, and they love me. If I hadn't been Number 6, I would still be there. My Aunt Madison and Uncle Tom recognized that, with my shy and quirky personality, I easily got lost in The Herd.
2. I never made it onto the GRRH website, because my Aunt Madison was determined to hand select my Forever Family. She understands me, and she wanted to make sure that she could always maintain contact with her The Bleu!
3. The Luke and I got along from the day we met, because we understood each other. There were no jealousies between us. There was no competition. He wanted to be in charge, and I wanted him to be! Ha.
4. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the Mom committed to me. She made it official with my Aunt Madison, Uncle Tom and GRRH later in the day, January 1, 2009!

Our week long sleep-over was so comfortable... It was like magic, the way we fit together as a Family. And now, here we are today...

One Lucky Mom,
Three Wonderful Years
and
One Very Happy Me!!!

We've had a great day today. I've been playful and feeling well. I have eaten as many treats as I have breakfast and dinner foods. I ate some blackeyed  peas for good luck, I've squeaked my duck and I've made significant progress on my antler!

And now, I'd like to share some of my Christmas photos with you!

This is me with my gift from Aunt Dav!

Aunt Dav gave us this really GReat pillow, and this bag... just for me! 

DuckDuck!!!

Also in the bag... Berry Treats!!! Mmmmmm.....

Also from Aunt Dav...Gingerbread Buddy Biscuits!!![shhh..shhhhh... shhh. I'm not sure I'm telling Reuf about this!]

My Aunt Karen came by Christmas Eve to hug my neck.
She also delivered this sack... straight from Santa!!! 

It says "Have a Jolly Christmas"
and it's monogrammed...!

Yes, Yes... Nice sack!

Now let's open it, Mom!!!

Oh My, Oh My...
That Sweet Sack was chock full of the Fun Toys!!!

I'm such a polite boy...

How many more photos does a the Mom need?

Seriously... These toys need less photo ops, and more attention!

And just when I think the Holiday can't get any better...
I open my gifts from The Herd!
[I think, technically, I am expected to share the Salmon Biscuits with Reufus, but...
shhhhhh....shhhh...shhhhhh!]

That Bleu Dragon is begging for my attention!!!

Yep, Yep. Mine!!!

Now, I know that not many sweet yet manly boys would appreciate three PLUSH bath mats for Christmas, but I love the two rugs that my Uncle Tom gave me to take with me on treatment days, and I was thrilled when Santa delivered these, just like... those!!!

Yay!!!
I guess Santa really does know everything!
We had three spots that were begging for temporary rugs!!!

Toys and Treats and Rugs are wonderful,
and I love each and every one of mine!
What I love most about Christmas
is exactly what I love most about Every Single Day.


I love The Little Things.
I love the Mom.
I love Family.
I love Time.


And yes... I love my Fluffy Tail!!!

It's true that we face and fight the enemy every day, and there's a certain amount of stress in that... for the Mom, I know. We won't let that change the Spirit in Our Home.

I love the Song.
I love the Chatter.
I love the Laughter.
I love the Love.

Though I am faced with adversity,
My Life is Merry!
I'm grateful to each and every one of Yeu...
for The Power of The Paw...
for The Energy that flows through Team Bleu!!!

I'm SO not a needy boy,
If times weren't so critical, I wouldn't impose, but...
Please to keep up the Prayers, Positive and Healing Thoughts!I desparately need this protocol to be successful...
And Your Support... ROCKS!!!

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

This is a special night for me, because at the stroke of midnight three years ago... The Mom whispered the sweetest word in my ear, as she called me 'son'! Of course, my reaction was pretty chill...!
Gosh, I really lost myself reminiscing. Those days just before and after my official adoption were SO fun, as the Luke and I really forged our Wright Brotherhood.

Those were great times!
And these are great, too!
Time is precious, and the Present is a Gift!


Now to Celebrate,
let's break out the antlers!!!
Please?

The Reuf chimes in, too. He says... 'Either let's go outside and rip and romp, rile up the neighbors and eat things we shouldn't... or GIMME MY ANTLER... or... ELSE!'

I'm not sure what Reufus means by 'else', but it probably means he'll just plop his BIG butt in the Mom's lap. He's BIG on proximity, and if you can slide a gnat's hair between him and the Mom... he's likely to dig his heels in and drive himself in further. Just saying.

Now... Antler, please!

Ahhhhh... Yessss!

And the only way I can enjoy mine...
is to occupy Reuf with his!

ngaw ngaw ngaw

Today has been a wonderful day, spent with my the Mom, and yes... Reufus.

Many of you know that I slipped out of remission last Friday, December 23rd. That was a pretty tough way to kick off our holidays, but it made us even more determined to enjoy our special days!!! Photos to come soon!!!

I'm committed to fighting the evil disease, but my Arsenal is growing light. The Mom is Commander-in-Chief of The Bleu Army, and each of our moves is carefully weighed and measured, and given great consideration. 

I started a new protocol on Thursday. I'll go in for a checkup and bloodwork next and the following Thursdays. My continuation of this protocol will depend on stability, regression or remission (please!!!) of the horrific disease... and that will be evaluated in three weeks.

Every day is a Treasure!!!
I'm blessed with Today... and Tomorrow!!!
I sure hate to lean on Yeu,
but times and circumstances are at the critical point...
Please to help me?
Please to join Team Bleu!

Tis the Season...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas is a fun time for a Sweet Boy who has been good all year and is never, no never ever naughty! *There is a difference, though it may be subtle..., between ornery and naughty. Just saying!

The explosion of boxes and containers and figures that come out of "The Christmas Closet" leave me a little unsettled... but I do enjoy checking out the ornaments as they are unpacked. And I like to watch them placed on the tree. [Pardon the messiness of the process!]

We normally decorate two trees...

The Eclectic and Collectible Tree. Located in our formal dining room, we decorate this tree with the Mom's collection of ornaments that go back to when she was a young pup, living with her the mama and daddy.

These ornaments include gifts from her friends through the years, as well as many given to the Mom's Mom by her friends and students. Some are expensive, and some are even more valuable... hand made! Each has a story, a memory. Each is a treasure.

This tree also displays the Mom's extensive collection of Krinkle Ornaments by artist, Patience Brewster. This passion began with Reindeer Dog (photo below does not do it justice), and has grown to be quite a large and whimsical collection.

Other fun ornaments on this tree reflect things the Mom loves, like farm animals and kitsch.

The Golden Tree. This is a tree that we decorate in our family room. Due to space limitations, it has to be small, but it's loaded! This tree is inspired by the Mom's first Golden... Comet [Check out her blog... Goldens Rule!]... but it is all about the Mom's love for ALL all of her fur children!

There are many Comet-the-Reindeer ornaments and many stars. There are many Golden ornaments, including a great many that honor The Luke, The Me, The Wright Brothers... And I'm guessing that Reuf might be honored on there, too!

Among our Treasures is the M.D. Anderson bone ornament (above) was designed by a child with cancer and given to the Luke and the me by our Aunt Dav, just days before his diagnosis last year.

 We.

This year... We decided to celebrate and decorate The Golden Tree only. And by 'We', I mean... the Mom and I! 

The Reuf has no knowledge of the customs, traditions or manners of Christmas... tree or otherwise. He watched the decoration and lighting of the tree from his 'room'. He was allowed to sniff and walk to the back of it once... and then we quickly blocked his access. 

For several days, We left some low value ornaments on the coffee table as a test... and he passed. Clearly, our little Reufus is growing up! We don't think We need the gate, but our motto is "Never intentionally set the Reufus up to fail."!

The Stocking.

When he and I had our first sleep-over on December 26, 2008, The Luke had the most beautiful stocking ever! And in 2009, the Mom happened on the same stocking design and bought it for me. This is mine!

This is Reuf's first Christmas... in our family. And the Mom searched high and low for a stocking, befitting his ALL BOY personality, and she finally found it!

Check out the custom made stocking for Lil Reuf... by PIXELCHIC Designs on Etsy!!!

The Mom is thrilled with it! The Reuf is curious about it. And I am not surprised that it faces a different direction from mine! If the stocking fits.. Haha.

The Golden Tree, tonight... room lights off.

[This year, the tree is located in the NW corner of this room. We normally put it up in the SW corner, but since Reuf's arrival here on April 16th... the SW corner has been his, for his room! We decided it would be best to relocate the tree and move display shelves, rather than disrupt the security of Reuf's 'bedroom'!

The Golden Tree, tonight... room lights on.

We are going to finish up our decorations this weekend! Reufus is enjoying the season and has reallyl surprised us with his recent good behavior! The Mom thinks that the all of the training is working... I think it's because he just remembered that Santa has made and is checking his list, not just once... but twice!

Christmas is a Special Time.

It is Joy and Generosity and Fun...
It is Innocence,
a Time to Reunite with Your Inner Pup.

And it's a Time to Remember...
The Reason for The Season!

The emotions of loss seem to mount this time of year... but our the Mom does her best to overshadow her sadnesses with Songs and Specialness and Joy in our home.

Last Christmas, we quietly embraced what we knew were the last days of Our The Luke. I think you can imagine how she feels this year, but...

I'm feeling great, and that gives her great reason to raise her hands to the sky...

Time is the Greatest Gift!

Reflections on A Week of Loss: My The Cousin Dakota Crossed The Bridge

On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30, 2011...
Our Sweet Cousin The Dakota

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
after a short and mostly pain-free battle with Cancer.

A Lover of All Things Bandana...
Model Extraordinaire,
Daddy's Boy

and

Walker of Self...

Dakota is a sweet and sensitive member of The Whitson Herd... from whence I come. I always thought he resembled our the Luke. They share physical, intellectual and emotional traits... and are both stunningly handsome!

Here we are together on Thanksgiving Day, left to right: The Me, My the Uncle Tom aka Dakota's Daddy and Cousin Dakota.

Sweet Boy was never without his neckware...
And in memory of "Kota Bear," the rest of The Herd and Atlas are wearing bandanas.

Reufus and I are, too.

We think of Dakota everyday.

His Family misses his subtle, comforting presence.
His place in The Herd was very Special,
 and we're working on a proper Memorial...coming soon.

Until then,
We're sure Sweet Dakota is learning the ropes from Our The Luke 

Friday Night Wrights: Golden Friday Edition

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Golden Friday!!!

It's Antler Night here at the Wrights', but I'd like to take a break to tell you a little bit about Our Thanksgiving Day.

It was nice and quiet and frankly... mostly pretty lazy. We snuggled and cuddled in the big bed in the morning, watched the Thanksgiving Parade [Houston version], ate a nice family lunch, shuffled around [even outside] in our jammies and slippers... and took a nice long family nap in the afternoon!!!

At around 4pm, Reuf and I were served an early dinner.
For me: Wysong, White Rice, Green Beans and A Scoop of Pumpkin

For Reufus: Innova, Green Beans and A Scoop of Pumpkin

Reufus is thankful for foods!
He LOVES to eat!!!

And he also loves to GO OUTSIDE!
NOW, PLEASE!

Of course, Reufus doesn't know how to tell time yet, so he had no clue, but... I knew we were about to board the trolley! And we did!!!

Yep. No Thanksgiving Day is complete without wearing my Aggie bandanna! Because of the Mom's prior career (as a student, gathering degrees but not so much $), we have allegiance to both The University of Texas and Texas A&M. We pull for them both, but when they play each other...

Gig Em, Ags! 

Now back to the trolley...
Here's my view to the front

The View from Reuf's seat...

And here's a view from the driver's seat!

Where O Where did we go???
Casa De Whitson!!!
Thanksgiving with Family...
My Cousins... The Herd from Whence I came!!!

This is me, the adorable Cousin Dakota (who has always looked SO much like Our The Luke) and My Awesome Uncle Tom!!! You may recognize him as Mister T, of Day Spa fame! He's our rock, and the rock of many! That's just who he is!

My the mom photographer was a bit on the fritz. It was late in the afternoon, just a little too early for the flash and too late not to use it. All of the photos turned out blurry... I apologize!

Here is me scooting across the deck!

My Cousin The Buddy!!!

Cousin Dylan!!!

The Me... And Cousin Cane sitting to the right!

Little Reufus rarely slowed his speed below 50mph, so he's mostly a blurrrrrrrrr!

Golden Fun! Clockwise: Uncle Tom, The Me, Cousin Dakota, Cousin Cane (back turned), Cousin Dylan (back turned, tail high) and Little Reufus!

It was SO wonderful to spend time and share the loving with My Aunt Madison! I will never forget that when I was surrendered to GRRH, she slept on the floor of the bathroom with me several nights, until I finally stopped trembling. Just when love failed me, she showered me with hers. My eyes light up when I see My Aunt Madison... and I wish the photographer could capture that excitement!

Cousin Becca, Master Chef.... with Uncle Tom assisting... and Aunt Madison taste testing... prepared an exquisite meal!!! There was tasty turkey, dressing, stuffing, fresh mashed sweet potatos, Becca's famous spinach casserole (the Mom's request and favorite!), fresh cranberry sauce... and the lazy mom's restaurant bought pies (pumpkin and chocolate which weren't so good).

It was a wonderful evening. All was quiet in the trolley on the way home, because we were full and happy and tired!!! And though the Mom and I got up at 345am to do small businesses, we returned to bed and WE ALL slept in until 8am!!!

The Mom did a little Black Friday stuff today... nothing too dramatic, and mostly she just spent time with My The Aunt Dav and her the Mom.

Meanwhile, Reuf and I had a restful Golden Friday... taking a short nap and resting up for tonight! We also slipped outside for some traditional FrEYEday photos!

FrEYEday SkEYEday!

These are late afternoon photos, and our weather is in transition. A cold front is due in around 6am in the morning. We're due for thunderstorms and then some weather to follow that's supposed to feel like late fall / winter!!!

And from Me and Mine: Bring On the Cooler Temperatures!!! 

Earlier I mentioned Reufus and his green beans. The Mom put him on a little of a diet. He protested on grounds of not liking vegetables... but every time he's outside, he chows down on the mixed (unknown, unidentifiable and perhaps dangerous) veggies.

Once all of that was pointed out to him, Reuf began to acquire an appreciation for the green beans. He's still a bit CHUB, but his waistline is narrowing a bit. Just saying.

My issue is the opposite!
The Mom is trying to put the poundage on me!!!

I hate the reason for it!
But I love the challenge of adding on weight!!!

Hello, Fattening Foods!

If you're not dairy or so rich you'll make me sick...
YUMMMMM!!!

Antlers, I'm sure, have very few calories..
but still... I crave them!!!

Here I am begging for one.

 I know where they are!

I know you know I know where they are!!!

Please to just dole them out!

I admit it. I'm an Antler Addict.

I'm pacified slightly by a whole antler,
but I dream of having another split one!!!
Life is so wonderful for me right now, that I hate to be gluttonous...
but I drool over the thought of another split antler!!!

Little Reuf is an avid chewer, so the whole ones are perfect for him. It IS a little difficult to keep him from stealing a split antler from me. Given the choice, he will always pick MINE!

Life is Great! And this has been a Wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. I've been making a list of things I'm grateful for... and while it's too long to post today, I want to share it soon! For now, I must tell you...
I'm thankful for Yeu, My Friends. Thank Yeu for allowing me to share my life here in this blog. Thank Yeu for your Support... your care, concern and comments!!!

Thank Yeu for bolstering The Love Protocol! Thank Yeu for being a part of Team Bleu!!!