We bought our first dog yesterday.

A 14 week old German Shepherd puppy.

My husband has wanted a German Shepherd since before we were married. 

That’s been over 14 1/2 years ago now. 

We needed something happy and hopeful.

A dog is both. 

He helps us look past May, when the chemo treatments end. 

He helps us think about the day that my husband is done with all these doctors and surgeries and make plans for a cancer free future.

We just knew he was our dog. 

From a google search my husband did on Monday, and the pictures of him playing with a kitten that were e-mailed to us later that day. 

A brief talk with the breeder on Tuesday to set up the appointment to meet him on Saturday. 

Thankful for a second call on Friday, before someone else came to meet him Friday afternoon. 

Gave us a chance to put a deposit down, to say aloud and with certainty, he’s going to be our dog. 

A visit with my parents, grandfather and cousins on Friday night and Saturday morning in Southern Illinois. 

Then on to meet our dog and bring him home. 

Oh, how we love him. 

He fits into our family just right. 

Keeping us all more on the go, more unplugged and more together, than we’ve been of late. 

My husband is talking about renaming him. 

The boys and I agree though, that Blue is just right too. 

Today is Day 2. 

So far so good.

Thank you for sharing our happy news. 

We are kicking off 2012 with Hope, and will be busy loving and chasing and training our new dog, Blue. 

Thank you for your continued prayers, as my husband gets hooked up to his third round of chemo on Tuesday. 

Unhooked on Thursday, which is when the nausea usually hits the hardest. 

We’ll keep in touch…and share puppy pictures too. 

Oh, he’s super great and wonderful and pretty as can be, handsome actually, as he’s a boy dog. 

The girls are getting more outnumbered all the time. 

One mom and one girl cat, who is Not Amused. 

One dad, two sons and one boy dog, our newest addition. 

Love,

Janean

P.S. We are so keeping his name…if I get to add any weight to my vote at all…and because I’m trouble enough to try to get you on my side to keep it as is. Happy Sunday! We’ve played all morning with our puppy and he’s sleeping in his kennel with the door open, in time for us to go to church in about 30 minutes. We’re going with a smile, always. But today’s is a little brighter, due to Puppy Love. 

NOTE: I originally posted this on Sunday, January 8, 2012, the day after we brought Blue home, on my husband’s Caring Bridge page. I’m posting it here today to explain where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing instead of Tumblr-ing. I’m A Dog Mom now. A Puppy Mom to be specific. We’re going for walks, playing with his rope toy AND doing the things that need done to take care of my family and household. Still figuring out how to do all that and write too…hoping to figure it out SOON.