What's Been Going On?

Hello all! I know it's been awhile since I've written, but I've been around. Things have been crazy at our house lately. At work, another teacher left, so I've been working in the 2/3yr old room. Boy, is it a riot! Let's just say I come home VERY tired every night. Also in this room, I've been working 35-40hrs the past couple weeks. Before that I was only working about 20 or less, so it's definitely been a change. EW has had to pick up the slack. He's had to make quite a few meals and do other various chores when I'm too tired to even move. With all that being said, we have had quite a few happy occasions in the family as of late. EW's mom had a birthday this past Sat. and the whole family got together to celebrate. On of these family members is newest addition to the family. EW's brother and sister-in-law had their baby boy--Benson Richard, on March. 14th at 8:58pm. He is very handsome, as it runs in the family :) Also, I broke down and finally went to the Dr. 2 Saturday's ago. I have been sick on and off since January, and I just couldn't seem to shake the colds, sinus infections, bronchitis, etc. I finally went when I woke up with such a swollen neck I couldn't even touch it, and had a fever. The doc did not like how I sounded and thought another week and I would have ended up in the hospital. Thank goodness I went when I did! After 4 prescriptions, and bed rest, I am finally feeling better! Pictures of the Little one's:

Proud Uncle Eric and Benny

Uncle Doug's girlfriend, Bobbi, and McKenna

Benson Richard

On to the other love of my life, Bandit. We have had a few happy moments in the past couple weeks. One is that she can FINALLY go outside. We are trying to understand that we are supposed to go potty in the grass, and not have to go on the deck. Also, Bandy is teething. I have gone through 2 cell-chargers in the past week and a half. Oops, my fault. I am learning to keep lots of bones handy and put everything away. I also was able to give Bandit her first bath, and I'm happy to report everything went great! I only got a little wet, and she did get clean :)

This coming weekend, she will make her first road-trip home since we brought her into our family. We're going home to see my family, and Gramma and Granpa N. are very happy to see how much their girl has grown since they saw her last. Aunt Binky might be a different story, since our family cat has never met a dog. I sure hope Friday comes fast! I really need to get away from this place, and nothing is better than family.

She loves the sun.

Father and daughter. They sure do look alike. ha. Bandit loves Uncle Kevin "Mom, can I come in now...Please!"

Have a good rest of the week!

-Brina

6 Months

Six months...wow. EW and I have been married for 1/2 of a year. I guess it isn't much really, but I think it's a big deal! We have lived together for 6 whole months, without killing/injuring each other. That was one of my worries. We had a long distance relationship the whole time we were together (except while at school) and I didn't know how we would transition. However, ever thing has been great. Of course there have been a few downs, but everything has worked out.
A lot has happened in the past 6 months, more than I could sometimes deal with, but EW has been there helping me through it all. I've left the only place I called home, my family and friends, and changed towns, jobs, lifestyles, etc. Sometimes it felt as if my world was crashing all around me, but EW has been there every time I felt like quitting life, telling me that it would all be ok. Since getting a job, things have been better. I still don't know many people, but I'm hoping that it will come with time.
We have also added to our family in the past 6 months. I can't imagine life without my Bandit Blu. It's great to have someone to come home to at night, that loves you unconditionally. It really helps me after a hard day at work! We just went back today for her 2nd vet appointment. Our girl has gained 2lbs. in the past 2 weeks, making her 10lbs. I hope she stays under 20, but we will see. The vet still wants us to keep her from the grass other dogs have been, but we can go out just for a minute or two to go potty. As soon as our shots are done, Bandit will have her spay surgery, and her hernia fixed. Other than that, the vet says she looks great. After being a good girl we walked around PetSmart, and she got to pick out a couple new toys.
Ok, now for a walk down memory lane...

One of our first dates. A dance at EIU--Jan. 2006

Our Wedding. Sept. 4, 2010
I can't believe it was 6 months ago...

It seems like yesterday...

Honeymoon. Nov. 2010

Our baby girl and her favorite toy.

Brina*

Baby, It's cold outside!

It's been another week of Bandit learning to be part of our family, and EW and I adjusting to her presence. We have started to get into a routine. Yesterday, I had to get up at 6, which is so not me, but Bandit had to be fed. By 7:45, I was getting really hungry, and since I got up with the pup, he needed to make me breakfast. There was only one thing that I could do. Send in the reinforcements! Bandit gave her dad a wake-up call. However, I think it backfired a bit, but EW did end up getting me dunkin donuts!
I had started to get tired of the whole trying to potty train in the house. I've seen those fake grass potty things on tv, and since we can't take Bandit out for another week, I thought we could put the fake grass thing on the deck. It has only been two days, but we are making a little progress!
Bandit it just a little girl, so she gets really cold. EW didn't want me to do it, but it was necessary to get her a little sweater. Of course, I wanted a pink one, but EW won with a green and blue one. She's not that excited about it, but she tolerates it.
Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

They look awful comfy don't they? We have started crate training...
Bandit's new sweater!

She's getting used to it :)

Have a good week!

Brina*

Bandit Blu Witkowski

If you haven't noticed my FB, then you haven't seen a picture of our new addition, Bandit Blu Witkowski. We got her February 13th, and instantly fell in love. I have been really busy cleaning up after her, so I haven't had time to take many pictures, but I have a few. As you will see Bandit has the colors of her father (Boston Terrier) and a body like her momma (Puggle). EW came up with Bandit when he first held her. I got to pick her middle name, which I wanted it to flow, and I think Bandit Blu fits her pretty well!
In the past week, we have bonded with our little one, and have started to train her. She is super smart, if I must say so myself. She learned sit in 1 night! The potty training however, is a bit harder. We have yet been able to take her outside to do her business, because when we got her, she had had no shots. This past Saturday she got her first round, but the Vet said we needed to wait till her second round to be same that she doesn't catch anything. So this means we have had to deal with everything indoors. This is not easy, but for the next two weeks, we will just have to deal.
Her personality really helps us not get too mad at her. She is just a ball of love. Bandit loves to lay next to you, and just be close to you. We had her confined to the kitchen for the first few days, but she whined all the time. She hated being away from us. We caved and let her in the living room, except when we decide she needs to go potty, we put her in the kitchen.
At our first visit at the vet we learned some good and bad things. Bandit has an umbilical hernia (which we actually knew about before we brought her home) and that it will need to be surgically fixed. I had researched the hernia before the vet appointment, and I pretty much thought that it would be the case, but at least it can be fixed! Also, later that afternoon, we found out our little muffin had roundworms :( Thankfully, she had already been given the de-wormer that morning, so she just had to pass them. EW got to clean up that mess, since I was at the store. I'm really glad I wasn't around for that one! The good news is that she is in very good shape, and a whole 8lbs! I asked the vet how big she thought Bandit might get, and she thought that Bandit wouldn't get too much bigger, probably around 15-20lbs. She's such a love-bug, and has shown no aggression or anything like that.
This past week has had it's ups and downs, but I now can't imagine coming home and not seeing her little face greeting me.

We just picked up our little Bundle!

Proud Papa

Am I staying here?

Ok Mom, enough with the pictures!

We are waiting for March 5 to come, and hoping that we get the go-ahead from the Vet to go outside for the first time. We are ready for Spring! Bandit is excited for Easter to come since we will be traveling to my family's house. Gramma and Granpa call all the time how she is doing and can't wait to see her again, and see what a big, smart girl she is. Aunt Binky isn't too thrilled, but I'm sure we will get her to come around. ha.

More to come!

-Brina