Copacabana Update

Well, Miss Copa shook up our family in June, and continues to impact our family dynamic. Some good days, some bad days.

Here's a list of things she has eaten:
Pillows
Blankets
Barbies
Dolls
Metal Down Spouts
Irrigation System Control Panel
Her kennel
Her leash
Kleenex
Garbage
Our gas grill
Homework
Baseball bats- SEVERAL
Baseball bases- 2 sets of them
My boots
Baseballs
Our deck (we will have to replace boards everywhere)
Our flower pots
Outdoor rug (shredded it to pieces)
The mail
Slippers (2 pairs)
Our Christmas tree
Ornaments
Elf on the shelf (several times)
Her entire bed - she literally ate it (initial evidence below, other evidence is in her stomach)

Every time I would find her alone, she would literally look at me, turn her head and attempt to apologize with sweet eyes, and then just SPRINT like a crazy dog with whatever she had in her mouth. We have chased that dog so many times that I couldn't attempt to count.

She also ran away from us so many times outside that she can no longer be outside without a leash. However, she is starting to earn some freedom in the morning. She usually needs to go the bathroom, and then she wants to eat so she wants to come back inside. She has not earned any more freedom than that at the time.

HOWEVER, I will say that we have seen progress, and there are some endearing things I do love about her.

She is a beautiful dog.
She is gentle and has NEVER EVER EVER snapped or bit or gotten rough with the kids or us.
She knows how to sit.
If I say "Go get dad" - she will sprint to Joe.
If we say "Go get your bone" - she will look all over the house for the bone until she finds it and then will bring it to us.
She will go sit or stand by the door when she has to go potty.
She has, on occasion, just laid down with us in bed.
She will sit for Saylor and let Saylor climb all over her.
She is not a barker. Remsy was a huge barker- I don't appreciate barking so this makes me happy.
She does not eat diapers or underwear or boxers (Remsy liked to do this). Could not be happier about this.
The kids all just adore Copa. Evidence of this:

Overall, I can tell that Copa is going to be an amazing dog, just like Remsy was. She has shown so much progress in the last month. I think next year at this time we will have a whole new dog on our hands. Until then, I just try to be patient!

Meet Copacabana!

Well, this post is LONG overdue but between summer vacations, summer birthdays, etc, it seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle.

Enter Copacabana Coppola.
Born: April 25, 2014
Came into our lives: June 19, 2014

We lost Remsy more than a year ago. The idea of another dog overwhelmed me. We are so busy and on the go so much that I was VERY reluctant to add to the chaos that already consumes us. But, my husband is nothing if not persistent. He loves dogs. The kids love dogs. I missed Remsy. But, that's the thing- I missed REMSY. I'm not really sure I could say I missed having a DOG. Remsy was special, she was our first "baby", we had time for her. A new dog was a whole other story for me.

After much time and persistence, I finally told Joe that we could get a dog but I really didn't want in on the planning or timing. It stressed me out. So, coincidentally, on the night of Joey's birthday party, June 19th, when I was overwhelmed with 15 guests....he walked in the door with a brand new puppy. I have to say that I might have cried a little. It might have been tears of joy or tears of fear....but either way, my heart kind of burst open. Maybe we needed a dog afterall.

Here are some photos. She looks cute. But, she's a wild one with an angel's face, that's for sure.She's giving us a run for our money. She's sneaky and curious. She is naughty as all get out. She has been threatened with adoption more than once. She has dug holes in the backyard, dug up multiple plants, already been on antibiotics twice (cha ching), and is FAST. It has been our family of 5 vs. 1 puppy multiple times - she's got moves. They say that dogs take on the personalities of their owners. I don't think that's a compliment for my family. She knows we're crazy and chaotic and she's totally calling us on it.

I guess we'll keep her though. With this face, how can we not????

Meet Remsy!

Yesterday, Joey had the greatest quote. He was playing with Remsy, and said to me, "Mom, did you get Remsy because all you had was people????"Yes, Joey....I looked all around my little world and I thought to myself, "All I have is people, there MUST be something more to life, but what is it?????" And, then my husband drove me to a farm and took me to a box of black lab puppies. Seriously, like I could say no to that????? We picked her out, named her Remsy after my maiden name (Remsburg) and today, she's seven human years old, 49 dog years. We actually share the same birthday.

I grew up on a farm. With farm dogs. The dogs that come and go as they please. That don't poop in your front yard. That you get neutered and shots when they are puppies, but really never find their way back to the vet again. That don't eat prescription-ordered dog food. That don't have to be on a leash with a collar at all times. That don't require two feedings a day- you just fill their bowl at the beginning of the week and monitor it. That don't need walked (because they walk on the farm all day long!). That don't puke. On your carpet. That don't sit on your lap and watch "American Idol" with you. That don't sit at your feet at supper time. Or lick the dishwasher. I love those dogs. They say hi in the morning, they greet you when you get off the school bus, and if you're lucky, you'll see them again the next day. Below are two pictures of me with two of our farm dogs (spare me the comments on my jean shorts- they were HOT in high school).

Enter the Coppola family - and their beloved dog, Cassie. Cassie was a sheltie. A barking, yappy sheltie with lots of hair. I remember the day I met Cassie well. I walked through the front door with Joe, and there she was (picture a glowing halo above her head with Hallelujia chorus playing in background). I saw how his family treated Cassie- holding conversations with her like she was one of them, letting her lick the dishwasher, playing with her, scheduling dogsitters for her....and I remember calling my mom and saying, "Mom, about Joe's parents- they have a dog- and they treat her like she's one of their kids....yeah, they are one of THOSE dog owners....I don't know about them....and, don't tell dad. You know how he gets about animals and treating them like humans and all that." Cassie and I became quite attached to one another - I think she loved me so much because I was with Joe -- and because I fed her underneath the supper table.

Fast forward to present day. We picked up our black lab puppy and it's been love ever since. Kind of. She's a great dog. For the most part. She listens. She heels. She sits. She shakes. She rolls over. She's a watch dog and barks whenever there is an intruder. Or just a friend, a mailman, a neighbor. She's the right mix between lazy and active. And, when I cry, which has been a lot this year, she comes up to the bed, and puts her head next to me. She just knows. And, well, sometimes you need a friend like that- the friend who won't say a word but just sits with you.

She hunts and LOVES the water!

Before we had Joey, I prayed she'd love the new baby, and not be jealous or psychotic. This picture below is of Joey when he was 4 days old. This is what Remsy did- sat right under his swing for hours, and constantly checked on him. It was love at first sight for the two of them.
Maddox loves her just as much- and Remsy welcomed our second with open paws.
Hands down, the best part about her- she lets the kids do anything to her- take balls out of her mouth, put their hands in her mouth, 'ride' her, hug her, tackle her, attack her - anything! And, if our kids aren't home with us, Remsy is neurotic- she wants everyone here under one roof. She's very protective of the kids, too- if someone comes to our house and wrestles or plays with them, Remsy goes nuts at them.

Remsy was instrumental in getting Maize into our family- Maize is Joe's parents new black lab that they got after Cassie went to Dog Heaven. Maize and Remsy are great friends.


All I know is this, I'm sure glad I never turned into one of those people who treat their dogs like humans, you know? The ones who dress up their dogs. And, put them on Christmas cards. And, include them in family photos. And, stress when someone new is dog-sitting. And, who has called the vet in a panic because she's not walking normal. And signs their dog's name on cards. And, who cried her little heart out at "Marley and Me."

Make no mistake, my husband is her master. Joe is a dog-lover through and through. And, slowly, he's turned me into one. Heck, even my dad has made progress. One time, they had to dog-sit and all I know is this: Remsy ended up on the bed with mom, and dad ended up on the couch.

We love you, Remsy. Even when you insanely shed on new furniture. Puke on the carpet. Have incredibly large poops. Itch uncontrollably. Hack and cough loudly. Get allergic reactions. Eat my underwear. Beg at the supper table. Give me puppy-dog eyes for treats. Cost me hundreds of dollars in vet bills. Oh, and the prescription dog food you require is also nice- thank you for that. Circle our bed in the morning until we get up. Do this annoying nose/sniffing/breathing thing. Insist on drinking water out of our shower, and not a bowl like normal dogs. Stand at the sliding door until we come outside with you. Lick yourself crazy. Oh- and a big thank you for time you rolled around in dead fish and we had to give you 19 baths with clothespins on our noses. Yep, we love you despite it all! As Joey said last night to me, "I love Remsy so much, mom - don't you?"

The answer last night was "yes." The answer this morning, when I saw a wet spot on our carpet was, "Probably....maybe....let me think on that."