Goodbye Sweet Rudy

Last weekend we lost our beloved friend and companion, Rudy. It is hard in words to sum up feelings, thoughts and the life of someone that was very much a loved part of our family, but I will do my best.

Shortly before getting Rudy, I moved from my condo in downtown Boulder to a small house with a yard in Louisville for the sole purpose of having a dog. Maybe not the best move for a 28 year old bachelor to move from the city to suburbia, but that is how much I wanted a dog and Rudy never made me regret that decision. After being there about two months, I got Rudy as a seven week old puppy and picked her from a litter of her mates. While her brothers and sisters all just snoozed in the sun, Rudy instantly took to me and followed me around, even as I was looking over her siblings and talking to the breeder about which dog was the best. Rudy made my decision easy. From that day on, Rudy was my best bud and literally always at my side.

Having a puppy was a lot harder and more work than I ever thought and Rudy was no different. However unlike most puppies, especially labs, Rudy was never destructive and never chewed anything up. She was also very smart and easily trained. She was house trained, walking off leash, sitting, laying down, etc. within a few weeks. Rudy’s only quirk was peeing. From the time she was a puppy until at least four or five years old, she’d pee almost every time we’d get home from work and was excited, especially when someone would pet her in that state. It is a good thing the house had wood floors!

Rudy was always happiest at my side or hiking or swimming. She literally squealed with excitement when she would hear the word walk or see her collar or leash get picked up and she’d almost knock you down to get out the door first. Rudy also loved to play fetch. I never had to teach her that skill, she was a ball dog from day one. Even into late adulthood, she would continue to play fetch for as long as someone was willing to throw her a ball...or until she literally puked and passed out from exhaustion. She slept with me in my bed, crawled up with me on the couch every night and pretty much for the first year of her life we did everything together. She had an amazing ability to sense emotions and would come to you when you most needed someone to hug or just a friend to lay at your feet and keep you company.

Not too long after that Cari came into my life and Rudy was very jealous. She definitely gave Cari the cold shoulder forawhile. Rudy was too sweet to hold a grudge for long though and quickly took to Cari as her momma.....and then not too long after that, Jake as her brother. Jake had issues with other dogs when he first came to us, but never with Rudy. I think anyone, even a dog like Jake that had clearly been tormented by other people and dogs could sense she was a lover and a threat to nobody.

And so for years, Cari, Jake, Rudy and I were a happy family. We hiked or biked or walked with the dogs every day. We moved to our new house with an acre of fenced yard. Jake was in heaven chasing squirrels and Rudy in heaven with the massive yard for fetch and all the trails, ditches and lakes within a short walk of our house. When Harper came into our lives, Rudy and Jake got a little less attention but never less love. In recent months Harper had just starting taking more of an interest in Rudy. Rudy was always very sweet with Harper but for a baby or just learning to walk toddler, a bit of a “bull in a china shop” around her. Harper got knocked over many a time by Rudy. Harper was just tiny and Rudy was just excited but it wasn’t always a

good match. More recently Harper can hold her own. She sensed when Rudy was behind her near stairs or the door to outside and would stand aside to avoid getting run over. She started to play fetch with Rudy and could throw the ball far enough that Rudy would actually bring it back to her and not to me. She would giggle and squeal with delight when Rudy gave her “kisses”. It breaks my heart that Harper won’t continue to grow up with Rudy as her doggie.

The last year of Rudy’s life has been hard on her and on us. She developed an auto-immune skin condition that resulted in her losing most of her hair and her skin being an almost constant flaky, patchy, pussy mess. Cari gave Rudy baths with special medicated shampoo almost daily and had to vacuum the house just as often. We went through thousands of dollars of tests, misdiagnoses and failed treatments. She was poked, prodded, medicated, sick, tired and just generally not herself for most of that time. Yet through all of it she was always sweet and loving. She never whimpered, whined or complained. Our vet said seeing her name on the schedule always brightened his day. It is most sad that in the last month, it seemed like we had a breakthrough with her condition and found the right combination of medications to treat it. The week before she died she was looking better than she had at any point in the last year. It was such a shock to lose her so suddenly after all that she has been through and had seemed to almost overcome. Maybe her death the treatment of her condition over the last year were related and it is entirely possible they were not . All that matters is we now have lost both our beloved dogs in the course of three months

and our house and lives feel very quiet and almost empty without them.

The circle of life goes on and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next little Miss Lastick in a matter of weeks. Harper is excited to be a big sister and Cari and I are excited to have a baby again. All will be well in the Lastick family and we will never forget Rudy and Jake who will always be in our minds, hearts and souls.....until we meet again on the Rainbow Bridge.

Written by Tom on October 12, 2011--what would have been Rudy's 9th Birthday. Happy Birthday sweet girl. We miss you more than words can say...

Almost THREE!

It's hard to believe, but in just one week Harper will be three years old! We're gearing up for a birthday party this weekend--complete with a princess bouncy house, Cinderella cake & pink balloons--all at her request. She is very much into girly things, dresses, dress up shoes, and gloves. Anytime we see anyone wearing gloves, "Why do they have gloves on?" It has become her new obsession. That andshoes... she doubled around behind a woman wearing stiletto heels the other day, looked up at her and said, "Can I wear your pretty glass slippers?" Oh my! It's cute, but I'm secretly hoping it's a phase...

To get ready for her birthday, she wanted to get her hair cut and nails painted. We went to Lollilocks today--a kid salon--and did just that. I'm not quite sure if she was terrified or mesmerized, but she barely moved or spoke the entire time. Afterwards, she

was pretty excited with her new do, nails & toes. She's super excited for her big day this Sunday and can't wait to celebrate with a few of her little friends.

A few recent milestones: she now pees and poops on the potty every time (except at bedtime), she can ride her tricycle all on her own, she can put

her puzzles together all by herself and she swims laps with her float around her waist all by herself. She says she is a big girl because she can do all of these things and she is right! When she helps out or does something really good, she earns quarters or change for her piggy bank. We counted today and she has almost $25! She said she wants to buy princess gloves with it--go figure!

She's speaking in full conversation now and can write the letters H and A and recognizes a few others out of order. She can spell her name and sing dozens of songs. She LOVES to dance and will give up ice cream just so she can have her hands free to dance up a storm!

We're having a blast and enjoying every second we have with her. She is such a Joie! (:

Goodbye Sweet Jake

We had to say goodbye to our sweet dog, Jake today. We got him from the Boulder Humane Society a little over 7 years ago and they said he was "between 2-4 years old" and was "a great dog"... we knew nothing about the breed, but he was so darn sweet and pathetically thin when we met him... we left that day because we didn't find the "lab mix" we wanted, but as soon as I walked out the door I was in tears. "What's wrong with that spotted one? Who am I to want the right breed? We're taking him!" We were totally unprepared and had no idea how energetic & mischievous a German Shorthaired Pointer could be! He most definitely gave us a run for our money for the first few months--he was super sweet with us but was obviously abused, neglected and timid around loud noises & voices. We were pretty sure he had never been inside a house before--he was probably tied outside. He spooked at the TV, jumped up on tables & counters and marked his territory throughout the whole house. He was nearly impossible to walk on leash, he practically choked himself pulling so hard and ripped his face apart when we tried a "gentle leader". Off leash, he bolted. We lost him overnight on a camping trip in the mountains and were so lucky a nice family found him on the side of the road (10 miles aw

ay!!!) and kept him overnight till we could get in touch with them the next morning. He was also aggressive with other dogs and we witnessed a handful of dramatic dog fights between him and other dogs on walks, hikes, dog training class, etc. We were booted from General Obedience class and put in the "Grumpy Growlers" class instead--what a nightmare! Muzzled dogs trying to figure out how to get along with each other. He was so destructive, especially when he was left alone, and tore up plumbing, heating, sprinkler systems, decks, furniture, bedding, flooring, couches, cabinets... you name it, he went at it with a vengeance. He barked and barked and barked when we went to work and the neighbors finally had enough and called animal control... We were sure we were not the right people for him, but were told if we turned him back in he would be put down. His one redeeming quality at the time was his sweet nature with us and kids. He was amazing... as hyper as he was he would always stop to be pet and literally purr like a cat. The years went on and Jake's aggressiveness all but disappeared, he gained weight, was healthy, happy and trusting. He was still mischievous and kept us on our toes, but he settled into our home and was loved and very well cared for. We learned

how to manage his energy and separation anxiety. Before work Tom would bike Jake for 5+ miles to wear him out. We then had to close him in our small bedroom so he didn't bark all day & destroy our house and yard. Some days, I was lucky enough to take him to work with me. He was SO loved... day one in the office he leapt up onto the office manager's desk to look down on her and say hello. She was smitten from that moment on... such a ham! He would curl up quietly in my office recliner while I worked away... when troubled kids came in he would lay at their feet and let them pat him for hours. He calmed a tantruming kid down on more than one occasion. He was my work buddy... both at Ariel and CTRC. Once we figured out that a chest harness worked wonders on walks, he also became my running buddy--finally I could set the pace instead of him running me! We trained for running races & triathlons together... he motivated me to get up and out the door. My little spotted trainer. (:

When we moved into our new house Jake was in heaven... an acre of fenced in yard to sprint around...and oodles of squirrels to chase. He quickly became a "Squirrel Killer"... he would sit in the grass, still and not moving for HOURS... slowly creeping up to the unsuspecting critter while he ate from the neighbor's bird feeder... then, when they started to creep back over the fence into our yard, Jake would be hiding in the grass and pounce. It was pretty amazing to watch, mostly misses, but every now and then he'd get one. ): I have never seen a dog stalk the way he did--it was catlike.

Jake was notorious for sneaking food... mostly bananas.

Something about bananas... he was a monkey dog!!!

When Harper was born Jake's attention was given mostly to the new baby but he never complained. He was just happy to have me home full time and would nap on the couch while we played. When Harper was 2 weeks old, we put her in her own room for the first time and I found Jake curled up in "his" recliner in her room, keeping her company. He was so sweet with her from day one... gentle, understanding and ever so tolerant.

We are beyond devastated to have lost Jake today. He was in pain, unable to use his back legs and not recovering so we knew it was time. We did everything we could and when our vet said "it's time", we reluctantly agreed. Harper said, "I miss my friend Jake." today and it broke my heart. Looking at "his" couch weighs heavy on my heart but I know, in time, we will be able to remember all of his funny quirks and laugh at all the silly things he did over the years. Rudy seems a bit lost, but I think she's secretly happy to be the sole dog of the family once again... she's a Lab, with the "it's all about ME!!!" attitude, so I think she'll be just fine.

Thanks for teaching us so much, Jake... about patience, tolerance, love and nurturing. You prepared us well for parenting and were a great first dog for Harper. We will bury you under your favorite squirrel tree and can only hope you are as fast as ever in "doggie heaven".

Love you buddy. You are missed.

Potty Training 101

Well...we've been "working" on potty training for almost a year now, and have pretty much just tried to introduce it but let Harper make the ultimate decision to actually make it happen... and she did! She's worn big girl undies every day for almost 2 weeks now, and zero accidents. We don't even have to ask her to go potty, she just decides when she needs to go, does her thing and then gets a jelly bean. Us reminding her usually turns into "NO!" and a power struggle, so we just sitback and wait for her to tell us. Last Thursday, she did her first deliberate poop on the potty (we had 2 previous over the past few months, but it was accidental when she was going pee). This time she said, "I need to poop onthe potty!", got a book and there she sat until it was all out. So, minus nap and bed, she's in big girl undies!!! WOO HOOO!!!! She even does a "poopie dance" when she goes on the potty--even her pediatrician joined in and did the dance with her last week. Pretty exciting! We went to Benihana ("fire restaurant") with Harper's little friend Lily and her family to celebrate the girls' potty training success! They were true to form and even left the exciting cooking event to go pee pee on the potty. It was a blast, they were both in awe and ate like champs. They are growing up so fast!

Harper's ears cleared up, so she's all good there. She was having some pain when urinating and the doc suspected it was bubble bath--it bubbles up into the urinary tract and then burns when they pee. Who knew?! He said throw it out, never use it again, and he hopes it will one day be taken off the shelves b/c it causes UTI's and various other problems. How terrible! So, now we are using our newly renovated bathroom/bathtub for warm, bubble-free baths.

Naps/bedtime had become a frustrating battle with lots of screaming and tears. Eventually, we had to just let her cry it out, and since then, it's been pleasant again. Pphew. So now, books, songs and bed. She babbles in her crib for a while (usually a recap of the day) and then passes out eventually... No rocking to sleep, battling, etc. BUT she is two, so there are daily struggles over just about everything... getting dressed, getting in the car, cleaning up... we're finding more and more creative ways to keep her focused and interested in being good. She got a piggy bank yesterday and if she helps with little chores here and there, she gets to put some change in it. This seems to be a big deal, let's hope it continues to be for a LONG time!

Baby news--we're 11 1/2 weeks and have our 2nd appointment on Thursday. I've been super tired and nauseous, but I have tojust keep plugging along. I think it's worse than when I was pregnant w/ Harper but hard to tell b/c I wasn't chasing a 2 year old around back then! So... maybe it's a boy this time...??? Any bets...???

We're expecting!

Well... it's official, Baby #2 (aka Poppyseed) is due December 2nd! Harper is so excited and keeps patting my belly saying, "Hi baby baby!" and asking when it's going to come out. Not only that, but when we visit friends with babies, she plays with their hands, feet and tickles their chins. She then says, "Mommy you hold the baby." whereas before, if I held another baby, she would scream, "NO MOMMY!!! PUT IT DOWN! HOLD ME!" There are 2 babies at her daycare now, so I think the exposure has helped.

Harper has been absolutely amazing lately! She has her occasional meltdowns, but it's almost as if she grew up overnight. We've been having so much fun as a family... going to fairs, parks, restaurants, the Zoo, pool, play places, etc. She's off and on for naps, but we're not convinced she's done with them yet so we still try every day. Some days she just babbles happily in her crib, others she sleeps for a couple of hours.

Her new favorite questions are "What happened?" and "What did you say?", usually both out of context, leaving no real way to answer either question. But she's persistent, not giving up till she gets an answer she understands and accepts. She's just too smart... (;

We're heading into Mother's Day weekend. Alice and her family are coming for a couple of days so we'll meet them in Denver for dinner and Marge & Crow will be here for a night or two as well.

I finish up work next week (I'm ready for a break!) then 3 weeks off... then I'll go back and teach 1 day a week for 10 weeks this summer. One day sounds a lot better than three right now. I'm feeling queasy most days and so so so tired. I'm in bed around 8:30/9 and just absolutely exhausted by the end of the day. Tom has been picking up a lot of the slack by putting Harper to bed most nights and bringing her to daycare in the morning so I can rest before going to work. That has helped so much, not sure what I'd do w/ out him!

You are My Sunshine!

Harper is anxiously awaiting Memere's visit tomorrow and wanted to sing her favorite song to get ready! (:

"You are my sunshine!"

A little of this...

A little of that... we're just going about life, having fun and enjoying new adventures! Harper just turned 2 1/2, but sometimes I think she is going on 4... she has begun to ask the question "

why" all the time! Sometimes she accepts your explanation of things, sometimes she follows up with another "why", but we think she's learning a lot by asking. I can tolerate about 50 why's before I cave and say that's enough for now.She is big into dress up shoes, purses, nail polish

and dressed (Oh-oh!!!!)... looks like I've got a

princess on my hands! She loves to help me bake, cook, clean and do laundry. She will actually ask to help with laundry ("londee") on non-laundry days! Such a nice little helper! We take her everywhere... she loves the grocery store and will ride the horse after if she is good (which is every time!) and says she is riding

Lakota! Too cute!

Harper's pretty nails.

If the answer is no for something, she responds, "But I NEED to!" Oh my... she's clever. She is counting to 10, but will sometimes count 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1. She loves to paint and will do it for hours a day if we let her. Now that the weather is warming up we'll be taking loads of trips to the Zoo, parks and hiking trails.

Harper just started her first swim lessons without us in the water with her. There is 1 instructor and 4 kids. They all stand on a platform in the water and one at a time they work on kicking, paddling, back floats and jumping in the water. She's getting really good at it and is very comfortable with the instructor. Tom or I watch from the edge of the pool... at first we were nervous, thinking she was not advanced enough but she is learning so quickly!

She is at Jackie's daycare two days a week and loves it! I went back to work at CTRC a few weeks ago filling in teaching this session. I am loving it and enjoying the break from "house stuff". It's definitely a change, but Tom has been really supportive and has picked up the slack at home and with Harper.