Over and Out...

Hello friends,

Sorry for going SOOOOO long without a post. My husband and I have moved houses, started new jobs, and been generally insane. So, here's the summary.

Noelle has over all been doing well. She has had a couple of seizures, but we are still hopeful that her Pheno levels will balance out as her growth spurts slow down. She is still just as happy, playful, sweet and adorable as ever.

However, being back at work has not allowed me the time to take proper care of Noelle. She is still spoiled rotten, mind you, but she is along for long hours during the day, and it's not fair to her and it's not safe at this point. So, after TONS of angst-ing and crying and cuddling, we have decided so find Noelle a more permanent foster home with someone who is in a better position to give her the care she needs.

Tomorrow Noelle will meet her new foster mom, Sally, and start the next chapter of her life. I am so excited for her, and so thankful that she will have the opportunity to continue thriving. I am absolutely wrecked to be losing her, but I am doing everything in my power to remember that it would be selfish to keep her at this point. She will do GREAT with her amazing new foster mom, I'm sure of it!

I'm sorry that this is a short post. Frankly, I'm crying my eyes out and I don't think I can make it through much more. I will post updates as I receive them from Sally- and I hope that will be often.

Thank you as always for caring about Noelle.

Love,

Kayte and Belly

Ooops! It's been busy in our house!

Long time no update!!

Noelle is doing GREAT!! She is up to 27 lbs now, it's amazing how much she's grown and how healthy she is. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she is our little miracle baby.

Noelle's newest 'trick' is going into her crate on her own. I've been bringing one of her treats with me every night and slowly pushing her into the crate and giving her her treat once she's in, and now if she sees me stand next to her crate with a treat she scoots her little butt right in and sits for her treat. Such a good girl!! And so smart! We are still working on 'stay', but she's still a very excitable little puppy so it'll take some more time.

I'm starting a new job tomorrow, and next week Noelle will start coming with me to work (she needs her Kennel Cough vaccine first), which I hope will be a good opportunity for her to meet new people and maybe find her future home! Don't stop sharing her story, though! It's going to be so hard for me to say goodbye, I am so in love with my little Belly, but I am looking forward to seeing her go to a home where she will be spoiled and loved and cared for for the rest of her life.

Love. Her. So. Much.

I've started feeding Noelle twice daily (down from three times now that she's over 4 months). It's only been a couple of days but she's doing well on it. She sure does love her food! She knows that the 'big dogs' get to have their bowls put down first, and she's finally stopped running to their bowls to try to gobble their food before they can. Now, I put down the big girl bowls, and Noelle runs to the spot where I put her bowl and waits patiently for me to put her food down. I'm telling you, this girl is SMART!

Thankfully, there hasn't been another seizure. I am going to have the doc check out her skin tomorrow, she's got a few bald patches that I'm a little concerned about, but it doesn't seem to bother her. I think it's rugburn from her 'peel outs' when she kind of skids around playing with the big girls. Better to check, of course, than to assume!

We are off to bed now (Noelle is already snoring at my side), it's an early day for mama and puppies alike!

Thank you for caring about Noelle, and PLEASE continue sharing her story!!

Our Special Girl...

Good evening!! I haven't had a chance to post since getting my computer up and running again (I've been busy repeatedly digging out "Potty Patches" for the dogs, in snow up to my ass, by the way).

Tonight I'm writing for my sake more than anything else I think .Noelle had another seizure today, her second since being with us. And per the doc's request, I took video of it. I am sharing it here, but do not feel like you have to watch it. It is upsetting. Not because it's graphic, but because Noelle is a tiny baby and she shouldn't have to go through this.

Of course, I called Dr. Birkel immediately to ask why Noelle is seizing again, and I learned that it's because her new Phenobarb level will not be effective for another week. I'd noticed that past couple of days that Noelle's head was looking a little wonky again, so I had actually already called Dr. Birkel this morning to ask if I could increase her Prilosec (yes, the same pill people take for heartburn is what keeps Belly's brain swelling down). So when I called again I felt like a crazy mom worrying obsessively about her kid, but I feel like I'm doing my job as her foster mommy by making sure I'm doing everything right for her. And I am- her Prilosec should be adjusted (and is now) as she's gaining weight.

Noelle is fine now, a little tired, but fine. This is to be expected, though the seizures will become significantly less frequent once she is full grown and her medication levels don't need to be adjusted as often as her weight goes up. So as much as I say "Noelle is just a normal dog who walks funny", and that's true 99% of the time, she is going to need to be in a forever home with someone who is able to cope with her seizing, as it will happen every so often for the rest of her life. She is going to need a home where she is understood and loved for her little quirks. Hell, if I could afford a THIRD dog, I'd 100% keep her myself, but I have to keep reminding myself that it's not in her best interest to be my full time baby.

In other news: Potty Training! Have you ever tried potty training a special needs puppy in 2+ feet of snow covered in ice? It's not easy!! Noelle is still having accidents, though she is learning. She's started going to the back door to let me know she has to go out, but by the time I get boots and a jacket on she can't hold it anymore. She tries!! She's making an effort!

I got her a new jacket to help her stay warm on our walks.

I can't help myself. Don't make fun. 

Noelle is now sleepin' it off leaning against me. She's such a floppy mushy little puppy. I really hope there is someone special out there who will love Noelle as much as I do, and who will recognize that although she takes a little extra effort, she is SO worth it and SO deserving of all the love you have to give. She gives it back 100 fold. 

Please continue sharing Noelle's story, and thank you as always for caring about our girl.

My Computer is Back! And Noelle is STILL looking for her forever home!!

Hooray, I can get back to normal updates!!

So, last night Noelle came with me to my friend Aurora's house, where she met a big dog named Riley and a kitten named Kano... shennanigans ensued.

Noelle is a sweet dog. A little slow. Doesn't really care if another animal doesn't like her, but loves to play with animals that do like her. Poor Riley was such a good sport, but Noelle was too much puppy for her- climbing on her head and barking at her tail. Kitten Kano was not at all interested in having a new dog in the house, and Noelle got a little scratched up. The good news- Noelle didn't react at all to the kitten's attack! She was startled for a moment, then walked away calmly. What a good girl!!

Here she is chewing on Riley's rawhide. Thanks for sharing, Ri!!

Noelle also got a stylin' new jacket yesterday. I know I'm ridiculous for dressing her up, but can you blame me? She's adorable!

I am stumped as to why no one, not one person, has filled out an application to adopt Noelle. 

Please continue to share her story!! 

More blog to come once I finish all the other stuff I've been missing on my computer.

I can't believe Noelle hasn't been adopted yet!!

I'm going to make this short and sweet since I am still writing from my Blackberry.

No one has applied to adopt Noelle! People have shown interest, but there's been zero follow through. I feel like it may be because the word "hydrocephalus" is scary, and the little green heart next to her Petfinder profile to show that she is special needs are scary to people. So I want to clarify Noelle's condition.

1. Noelle has NO IDEA she is considered special needs. She is a spunky, playful, smart, active puppy. As I am writing this, she is running circles around the house and jumping all over our Chewy. Noelle knows her name, her nicknames, sit, "no", and understands body language. She's smarter than our "normal" dogs.

2. Noelle is on medication. She is on Phenobarbitol for seizure prevention and Prilosec OTC to keep the swelling in her head down. She will need t have blood work periodically to be sure the Phenobarb is doing its job. s all. Easy and affordable- no need to be scared!

3. Noelle is the absolute sweetest puppy on the planet, and the toughest as well. She is SO deserving of a forever home where she will be loved and adored unconditionally.

Please help us find Noelle her Happily Ever After. She is dangerously close to becomming my first foster-failure, and that Wouldn't be best for her.

Blackberry is acting up, so off I go. But please please share Noelle's story everywhere.

Thank you for caring about my sweet little foster baby!

Noelle is a big girl!!

Hello, folks! Again, I am writing this from my blackberry, so please excuse typos or weird formatting.

So, today Noelle went to the vet to follow up from her spay and to get blood drawn for her phenobarbitol levels. She was such a good little patient! She has gained FIVE pounds, too! Our little baby is getting big!

Noelle hasn't had any more seizures, thankfully, and as she is growing she will need her phenobarb levels adjusted to prevent seizures in the future. Unfortunately, odds are every now and then she will seize, but with medication the frequency should be less than like 3 times a year. We are really lucky that that's the extent of her disability. The rest of her "stuff" is just quirky and kind of cute. Her wonky eye, her silly walk, and her slightly compromised depth perception just add to her special personality!

I absolutely can not believe Noelle hasn't been scooped up into a forever home yet! Please, PLEASE share this blog and her Petfinder page http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18362084 and help us find Noelle her Happliy Ever After!! As much as we love her, and as much as I'd love her to be a foster failure, nothing will make me happier than seeing her start her life in a stable forever environment. She so deserves it.

Aaaaaand... here are some Noelle pics from the past few days! Share share share, and as always, thank you for caring about Noelle!!

Noelle- Then and Now (videos)

So, I am always aware of how much progress Noelle has made, and I am amazed by her strength. She is such a tough cookie. Last night was tough, but as always, Noelle pulled through.

Here is a short video clip of Noelle on her way to the ICU the first day we had her. The twitching in her lip is because she is having non-stop seizures, and you can see she is really out of It.

And here is a video clip from earlier tonight of Noelle about to jump in my lap.

She is amazing, we are so lucky to be able to spend this time with her until her perfect forever family finds her. 

Thank you for caring about our miracle pup.