Better Late Than Never!

I am really behind. I uploaded all of these pictures (I know I know... my posts are always FULL of pictures) on July 28 with good intentions of writing on the 29th. It is now August 3rd and I am just getting to it.

Is it possible to be behind in life? Sometimes I feel that way. There are a lot of things I want to get done and projects I want to do, and I never get time for them. That is partially my fault I'm sure. When I do have time... I tend to choose a nap over them. Maybe it is part of getting older... the not having time, not the nap thing. If you know me very well at all, you know I have always been a sleeper. My sleep habits are another whole topic on a different day.

Update on Louie:

I received great news on Louie. His skin puncture results came back and it is not cancer, or an autoimmune disease. It came back as a skin infection and inflammation. So for now, we are giving him his antibiotic 3 times a day (which he loves), and he is going back next week for a follow up. Hopefully he is showing improvement. His wound under his right arm is looking better and actually has scabbed over.

Below is a picture of Louie eating the honey that I put on his wound. He immediately falls over backwards trying to reach it and ends up like this. Pretty funny to watch.


Below: I voted!! Not my first time... but I think it is important for everyone to vote. I can complain about things since I voted right???


Below: I bought some rosemary bread at the Ditch Witch farmers market. It smelled so good and looked delicious... until I got it home and took a closer look. The rosemary sticking out of the top looks like spider legs, even like a spider is stuck down in the bread and is trying to get out. That was actually enough to keep me from eating it. I know... I may never tackle this issue I have with spiders.

I was driving home one day and got to thinking about my car. I just love my car. I really do... and not just because it is paid for. (I really love that it is paid for though) It is starting to get a little rough around the edges. It has those little quirks now that you have to tell people about when they are driving it or they think something is wrong. It sometimes won't give me my keys back, the transmission jumps even though it is just fine (long story), the check engine light is always on (reads exhaust and it thinks the transmission is bad (again it isn't), if it rains hard the driver side window leaks, and my windshield wipers are pretty much on crack. The paint on the radio buttons are wearing off and the volume knob is missing. (Tad was pretending to drive my car one day... and we haven't seen the knob since. I don't mind at all. Everyday when I am adjusting the volume I think of the little guy and it makes me smile) You can see where I rest my elbow on the driver side door, and my cup holders are stuck in the out position. The paint on the back of the car is peeling and I have two old college parking stickers on the window. That is typically what comes with a a car that almost has 148,000 miles on it. I wouldn't have it any other way and plan to drive the thing until it is no longer reliable.





Now onto some fun times with Tad!!!

Below: Tad was honking the horn... he loves honking car horns.


Below: Smart man Tad. It is good to not talk on the phone and drive at the same time.
Below: Fun times with Dad!

Below: Fun times with Mom!

Below: Ashley bought this swing for Tad's sister. Tad found it and wanted to swing so bad! He looks like a giant in that thing! It was a pretty funny site!
Below: Ashley found this bargain at a garage sale and Tad LOVES IT!!! He probably made 40 passes through Mom's house the first night he got it. It has a popper in it with popcorn and he would run around going "pop pop pop pop pop". So cute!
Below: Grandma helped Tad put on her shoes. He was so proud!
Below: Uncle Ryan and Tad having some fun in the pool!
Below: I was twirling Tad around in circles in the pool. He thought it was funny.
Below: Tad and Grandma were smiling about something!
Below: Not sure what was going on here.
Below: I know this picture is not real clear... but I think it is cute anyways.
Below: Tad was trying on his sand box toy for a hat.
Below: Climbing up on the couch so he could jump!
Below: Tad loves playing in the water hose. He is soaked from head to toe by the end of it.
Below: He is into jumping off everything these days.
Below: And jumping off the wicker basket onto his Daddy!
Below: Such a sweet ornery little face!
Below: His mouth was full of cucumber.
Below: Tad is tall enough to reach the ice and water dispenser at his house. Apparently it is almost as fun as the water hose...

Until next time.
Ju

Louie/Project Turtle/BD Bash/One Melon Woman

Update on Louie:

Meloxicam - Check - Anti-inflammatory and pain medication
Cephalexin - Check - Antibiotic (3x day)
Chlorhexidine - Check - Solution to clean his wound
Saline Solution - Check - Rinse his wound
Raw Honey - Check - Put on wound

As you all know, back in March Louie was treated for a fungus that was causing him to lose his quills. He went to the OSU Vet Teaching Clinic/Hospital (Best place ever!) and they treated him. The skin scrapings they did were all inconclusive, but the medicine they gave him seemed to be working and he actually started growing a few quills back!!

Louie has since began to lose more quills and has real flaky sloughing skin. I took him back to the OSU vet on Monday and they did a series of tests on him:

Skin Scrapings (We had done these previously in March)
Skin Biopsies
Blood Work

Poor Louie had quite a day yesterday. They took 3 skin scrapings and 4 biopsies. They put him under to get all of these samples and the blood work.

Here is what I know so far:

Blood Work - Everything came back normal. They said his kidneys and liver all seem to be functioning fine at this point and all the other things they tested that I can't remember all were in the normal range. This is GOOD NEWS!!!

Skin Biopsies - I will know these results towards the end of the week. However they did say that when they biopsied his skin (think - kind of a cookie cutter type of thing) that it did not come normally. This is bad/good news. The good news is that they are optimistic they will find out what is going on... the bad news is it is probably not just a fungus.

While examining him under anesthesia the discovered a wound under his right armpit. It looks like a scratch or sore that is unable to heal because his skin just keeps sloughing off. They tried to sample that area as well, but when they did the cookie cutter motion on the sore it sloughed off a lot more skin.

While the diagnosis is still open; they suspect it could be pemphigus (definition below), a tumor, fungal infection or a deep pyoderma skin infection (definition below).

- Pemphigus - is a rare group of blistering autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes.[

- Deep Pyoderma Skin Infection - means any skin disease that is pyogenic. Causes may be infectious, such as Staphylococcal infections^[1], or possibly autoimmune, such as pyoderma gangrenosum.

Thanks Wiki

So now it is just a waiting game. I will be treating him with all of their recommendations and will wait to hear the results of the skin biopsies. The vet said as hedgehogs get older these kinds of things happen. :(

I am so sad for my Louie. I cried the entire way home from Stillwater. I hate that he could possibly be in pain. I just love that little guy!

So keep him (and me) in your prayers.

Project Turtle Update:

Braxton has been saved!! He is turtle number two of : The Ultimate Recovery of Turtle's Lives Experiment!! Braxton is the biggest turtle yet (Leave me alone.... I know he is just number 2). He was thinking about crossing the road and had just started when I spotted the big guy. Thank goodness because a big ole tractor was coming down the road and they have some HUGE wheels!!

Below: Braxton finally relaxed a bit and came out of his shell.

Below: Braxton next to the official turtle moving stick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!

This past weekend was my friend Kristen's birthday. They always have a huge bash out at her Dad's house in Perkins. It is a BLAST!! Below is a group picture. Happy Birthday Kristin!!

One Watermelon Woman - NO MORE!!

When I first started this watermelon project I said "I just want ONE watermelon to give to my Grandpa Jack! There for awhile I thought I was the One Melon Woman! I had 1 watermelonm, 1 canteloupe, and 1 pumpkin growing. I thought that was all I was going to get too! Well as you can see below, that is no longer the case. I AM SO EXCITED!!

Until Next Time: Save a Turtle!
Ju

3rd Annual Fourth of July Celebration

Ryan and I hosted the 3rd Annual Fourth of July celebration again this year. We enjoy having everyone over and spending time with everyone. It did rain a lot during the day, but that did not seem to dampen anyone's spirits. We still had a few people go swimming (even though the water was like 72 degrees). The kids of course did not seem to mind at all. They all liked to play in all of the mud puddles!

I always think about the Reinschmiedt 4th of July celebrations during this time of year. Every year since I can remember, we would pack up and head to Clinton to my Grandparents (Menno and Hazel Reinschmiedt) house and celebrate the 4th. Grandma's sister and family would come down from Texas, my Dad's brothers would come, and many of Grandpa's siblings and families would come. It was one big ole party!! I miss that tradition, I miss my grandparents, and I miss seeing that side of the family.

There are so many memories that I think I could write a book about them all. I can't remember ever not going to Clinton on the 4th. Grandpa Menno always made sure there were plenty of firecrackers. He LOVED to pop them. He always had them all laid out on his work bench ready for all of us kids when we got there. He even managed to have pop bottle rockets most years. The adults would be one of two places. Sitting inside the shed playing cards, or under the big tree in the back yard watching all the action. Every year (It did not matter how old we were) someone would always throw smoke bombs or light black cats under the adults chairs, or we would throw smoke bombs into the shed. We always got a lecture from Grandpa or Grandma after that... but I think they secretly thought it was funny. There are many memories I should probably not tell you (pop bottle rocket wars, roman candle fights, fires... etc.) but I can guarantee you each year we had a blast.

One of the best times of the day was in the evening when it started to get dark. Everyone would bring their lawn chairs and blankets to the driveway and the night time fireworks show would begin. The kids would start out with sparklers, and as it continued to get darker we would move onto the bigger fireworks. I think Kevin likes fireworks as much as Grandpa Menno did. He always put on quite the night time show.

There are so many more memories of this wonderful family tradition. While Ryan and I have started our new 4th of July tradition, it was inspired by my grandparents. Although it will never be the same caliber as their celebration, it serves a purpose. It gets our families together... AND it brings back all of those wonderful memories in Clinton on the Reinschmiedt farm.

Below are some pictures of our 4th of July Celebration:

Below: Tad thought Alyssa's shoes were so cool that he had Grandpa Dale help him put them on!

Below: Tad and Grayson were watching Cebu (Veggie Tales) on my phone.
Below: I think Tad thought Aunt Julie's lap was crowded. LOL
Below: The rain and VERY cold pool water did not stop Ryan and Jake from taking a swim. The water was 72 degrees. Crazy guys!

Below: Tad did not think the water was to cold... or maybe he did and that is why he got in with all of his clothes on (2 different times). He sure had a good time with Uncle Jake.
Below: Alyssa was being very brave and jumping into Uncle Ryan!
Below: Grandma, Mom, Bryan and Grandpa were staying out of the rain and watching people swim.
Below: Keiffer said he wasn't cold as long as he didn't move!
Below: Alyssa was learning one of the Hermanski family games.
Below: Thank you so much Aunt Christy for all of your help in the kitchen. Your cobbler was YUMMY!!!
Below: Ryan grilled squash and stuffed peppers along with the beef. He is such a good cook!
Below: It was a big party... but Grayson still decided to take a nap.
Below: I think Greg was threatening to roll Kirk into the pool in this picture. :)
Below: Greg and Mom hanging out.
Below: G-baby woke up from his nap and snuggled up with Angie.
Below: The inflatable cooler seemed to be a lot of fun for the kiddos.
Below: Those are the best watermelons and cantaloupes they have seen!
Below: Aunt Christy, Keiffer, Mike and Donna Thralls having dinner. Ryan and I were so happy that Mike and Donna and Mike's dad Rex were able to come and we hope they can come next year.
Below: Rudi loved having everyone outside with her. She also loves drinking rain water. My sweet kitty...
Below: Alyssa and Tad were having a serious conversation.
Below: Round two for Tad being in the water with all of his clothes on. He loved being pulled around the pool by his daddy.
Below: Ryan and Tad hanging out in the pool.
Below: I just love the face Kelly is making at Alyssa. Notice the popsicle addict in the background.
Below: Rex and Angie were teaching the Hermanski clan how to play Rook.
Below: Kelly and Erica brought some fireworks. They were technically illegal in town on that day since Garber celebrated the 4th of July on the 3rd. We were rebels and did it anyways.
Below: The Davis family were so nice and shared some fireworks with Tad. He LOVED them!
Below: Ryan and I took a break from the fireworks to cheese it up for the camera.
Below: This picture of Kelly makes me laugh every time I look at it! I think he used to be a competitive roman candle war player.
Below: Alyssa, Tad and I watching the fireworks.
Below: A family picture! Tad was so tired... but still a great picture.
Below: The night time fireworks started.
Below: Ryan and Alyssa were dancing with their sparklers.
Below: I think Alyssa might have messed her britches in this picture. She took off running towards a lit fountain and right before she got there it ignited. Watching her screaming with her arms flailing, scared to death was like a scene from a movie. I have to say it was HILARIOUS! I still giggle about it now when I think about it. We are so happy she is okay... and she now knows she can't take off running towards lit fireworks. Such a sweet girl.
On a different note, Project Turtle is still underway... I just haven't seen any turtles! Which is a good thing. I'll keep you updated.

Until next time...Save a Turtle! The Ultimate Recovery of Turtles Lives Experiment.