Bless her sweet heart... Miley had a long day yesterday. She was in a new place when she woke up... (Chez Gamble) then had to be in her crate for a few hours while we were at work...(I get off at 12, thank goodness) then she went to our family vet, Dr. Okin, at Valleydale Animal Clinic. GREAT place. Everyone loved her and thought she was the cutest girl, of course. She is currently 8.25 lbs and they expect her to be about 50-60 lbs full grown. Poor baby, she has an upper respiratory infection (resp infxn), which isn't serious now, but must be treated aggressively so it doesn't become something worse. She also has a little bulge by her spaying incision that we're watching...he gave her a shot to help it go down, but might end up having to go back in to fix it. The Dr. did not seem concerned by it... kinda like her resp infxn, just want to get it taken care of now so it's not a big problem later. I had to bring in a poop sample so they could check it for parasites, etc...(could make her sick or even us!) and her poop scan was clear! YAY! Miley ended up getting 4 shots, one of which was directly in her throat! :( It was to help her resp infxn and will run into her lungs. We have an appointment again today at 3pm for another one. Apparently it's not a fun one, b/c they made me go out to start the car and turn on the AC so I wouldn't hear her cry when they put her on her back and gave her the shot. :( I didn't like leaving her, but am glad I didn't hear my ''baby" be upset. Here's a pic of our sweet girl sleeping in the car on the way to the vet... 
Last night was much better than the first. We are crate training, so I got online to research some suggestions-particularly for bedtime. 4 websites in a row suggested putting the crate in the bedroom so they will feel like they are "sleeping with the pack." Well, that's not the case...b/c they really just feel like they can see and hear the pack, but are tortured b/c they cannot be with them (us). While at the vet yesterday, I spoke to Ashley, one of the vet techs and practically a dog guru, a lot of questions I had about raising a puppy and how to do the best job possible. She suggested we move the crate to the laundry room, where she'd be close to the door and far from us when she's trying to go to bed and we're still awake. That way, she can't hear us as well and we can't hear her cries for rescue. Eventually, she'll learn to love her crate as her home and it won't be a problem...but, for now, it's nice not to hear the crying when we put her in there for bedtime, b/c it breaks my heart to hear it and I cannot give her positive reinforcement to the whining/crying in her crate. It seemed to work really well last night. Miley cried for a little bit, but eventually sacked out. This morning, she even went in the crate for a few seconds on her own, which shows me that she's learning it's not a bad place... it's her room and safest place. *Other than my arms, of course. :)
Miley is just the sweetest, cutest girl. She's found her reflection a few times in the mirror in the dining room... when you take her outside, she prances around with joy... and I can tell she adores Josh and me already, which makes my heart so happy. I have to admit, I was a little anxious about getting a dog, (me? Taylor? anxious about change? never... haha) but I am so glad we did it. She's such a little blessing to us already, bringing us joy, happiness, and teaching us more responsibility. It's funny how having a puppy around makes you want to clean your house so they don't eat stuff off the floor, etc. Definitely will be a good thing for me so I'll clean more often haha. Aunt Paige (who helped name her) came over to play for a little bit yesterday, as well as her friend, Anna. Miley was very glad to have visitors!
Like I said in the 1st Miley Jean Gamble post, she is a Retriever Mix...but the question is, a mix with what? Josh and I have been thinking maybe German Shepherd or Rottweiler... and the Vet didn't have a solid guess, but thought both of those were great possibilities. She definitely has features of both... I found this picture of a Rottweiler-Retriever mix yesterday and it really makes me think more Rottweiler. It doesn't really make a difference to me either way, I'm just curious. I love her no matter what breed she is and I guess we'll just have to wait until she grows up to get a better idea.... or we could fork up a bunch of $$$ and get genetic testing... but I think we'll just wait and see... haha.
Maybe?
o much fun to have around. When she gets really playful, she can make me laugh so hard that I cannot breathe. It's wonderful. haha. She is developing such a little personality. The other night, she found her tail and spun around in circles chasing it! (see pics) We are also very impressed with how smart she seems to be. Miley is really learning her manners. She's learned to sit at the door to wait for an invitation inside.... sit to wait on her potty treat.... sits to wait for her food.
.. all without being told to anymore! I also think it's so neat to see how breeds of dogs have such innate behaviors. A retriever mix, she has started retrieving the tennis ball on her own! It's very cool :)
She seems to be coughing more, but Josh and I think it's a good sign that the meds (which she fortunately loves to take!) are working, b/c they are "productive" coughs. She also has another bulge (herniated spot) by her spay incision that we're watching. Dr. Okin said to check back with him about it in a week to let him check it out again. I think he will ultimately end up going back in to clean up the shabby job the Humane Society "vets" did on our poor puppy's spaying. We also get to give Miley her first bath on Thursday b/c the 10 days of waiting after her spaying will be over. That should be interesting. Ha ha. I'm just so ready to get her well and for her to finish her initial shots so we can take her to see other doggy friends and on walks outside of our yard! I can't wait :)
My cousin, Laura, brought over some of her dog Macy's old puppy toys last week and we are so grateful! So far, Miley's faves are a ball (in bkground of pic), one of the ropes, and this AKC duck toy that Macy broke the squeaker inside. Miley will shake that duck like crazy! Claire and Brian also brought Miley some tennis balls and bones. She is all about retrieving the tennis balls!
She also sleeps in crazy positions and squirms around in her sleep like a kid! Miley will sleep with me, but her favorite is to snuggle up with Josh in his "spoon spot." This Sunday, we blew up the aerobed in the living room for some family snuggle/relax time and Miley was a big fan because she's actually allowed on the aerobed! Most mornings, Josh will get up early to take her out and then they will nap together in the living room on the floor. 
I have been really proud of Josh and the way that he has risen to this new responsibility. This morning when I was about to head out the door for work, I overheard him tucking her into her crate and telling her "Bye Miley, I love you." It was one of the SWEETEST things I've ever heard and makes me excited for when we have our real babies one day. I know the love he has for Miley cannot compare to the love he will have for our babies. He is going to be a fantastic and loving father one day.... in the distant future ; ) haha. For now, I will continue to enjoy watching him with our puppy daughter!
She fell asleep in my lap while I was typing this... with her head on the desk... PRECIOUS! 
It seemed like a quick trip, but we had a great time visiting, shopping, and eating at great restaurants with them in Asheville. Asheville is a beautiful city, and I look forward to going back again to see more of what it has to offer. Even though we had a great trip and enjoyed our visit, Josh and I were so glad to get home to sleep in our own bed tonight! 
Some exciting things to which to look forward..... less than a week until Eden, Josh, Buck, and baby Wyatt are in Birmingham for a little bit while they look for a place in Montgomery!..... less than 2 weeks until my sweet sister Grace who has been serving at Beach Project in Ft. Walton Beach, FL this summer will be home briefly... and finally, I have mixed emotions about it, but less than 2 weeks until my last day of work at NMFN.... I'm sad to leave, but happy to leave.... I'll miss all of the great people there... and I really do enjoy the work I've been doing.....on the other hand, I'm excited about the new change of pace and seeing where God leads me on this new path... Should be exciting :) Hope everyone had a fun, safe weekend! I'm off to finish Army Wives!
Buck Goulet and Wyatt Timothy Keever
e world this morning. After a night of labor, he was ultimately delivered by c-section. It was an extra-exciting morning for Anna and Brooks because they chose not to find out the baby's sex until the birth! What self-control! haha.
t to visit and have a drink at a local Irish Pub. Josh and I spent Thursday night at the bride and groom's condo and then Friday, while I was doing bridemaid duties and events, Josh moved us over to our reservation at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North. (Yay for a king size bed!) It was a fun weekend full of visiting with friends that we haven't gotten to see in a while. 
I adore b/c I'm very sentimental. She carried a family bible, wore a gorgeous family lace veil, and carried eric's family handkerchief. With small lace accents at the top, her dress went with the veil beautifully.
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