Pap's birthday and more Bug and Luke pictures

Pap celebrated his birthday with the family on Sunday.  I actually got him to wear the new birthday hat. 

Pap asked for apple pie thinking I could not put  candles on it- HAHAHA- candles go anywhere.  Bug says he wants a pie for his family birthday.  It might be a new tradition in our family. 

Bug was having some fun with silly faces.

Bug was pretty exhausted after Pap's birthday.  He fell asleep on the loveseat in 2 seconds.

Luke was completely exhausted after our 10 minute walk on Friday.  It was 100 F outside.  Luke needed the fan and AC on him to cool down

Silly boys

Luke happy with a slipper (it was going in the trash), Bug happy with Luke.

This week is Independance day week- unfortunately the holiday is on wednesday, so we only get 1 day off this week, but it will be nice to sleep later on Wednesday.  Maybe Luke will be tired enough to sleep until 8 am.  We have the neighborhood parade at 10 am, but we are only watching this year.  It is too hard to control Luke around other people and I have done nothing to decorate his bike or scooter.  Bug says he just wants to watch the parade. 

We are in drought, so it will be interesting to see how many of my neighbors set off fireworks this year.

Love and hugs,

Deb

update but no pictures

So, things have been stressful around here this week and I have avoided writing about it all until I knew where it was going.
So first to be clear- the dog was going to be called Douggie (spelled Duge) but Bug has changed it back to Luke.  So the dog has been Luke since Sunday. But we call him Lukie (or Luke E).

Sunday, Luke jumped up on Bug and mouthed his face- this involved putting his teeth on Bug's cheek just below his eye.  Needless to say I was freaked out.  I called the rescue group and then called a trainner. The trainner could not come out until today.

I have been on guard this week and had pretty much come to the conclusion that Luke was leaving this house.  I agreed to give it until the meeting with the trainner before I made a final decision.  But I did call the rescue group this morning and let them know my thoughts.

The trainner came over this evening and spent 90 minutes with us.  I asked him point blank, about half way thru the time, if he thought that Luke was a good a dog for our family.  He was completely honest and said yes, Luke is a good dog, we do have about 2 months of work and it will be about a year before Luke sees Bug as being higher on the family totem pole, but Luke is a going to be just fine in our family.   A huge relief was lifted aff my shoulders.

In the rest of the time, the trainner showed us about 3 items and worked with us and Luke on those- that is our homework this coming week.  Luke is already responding to the training.

I called the rescue group and let them know that it is offical, we want to adopt Luke. 

We will be working hard with training but Bug is super happy to have his dog.

In other news - it is hotter than hades here.  today it was 103F according to the temperature gauge in my car.  Tomorrow is expected to be the same.  YUCK.  It is not fun being outside and Luke does not get that I melt in this type of heat.

so that is it for tonight, pictures coming thru the weekend.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Day 2 with Duge (Douggie) AKA Luke

Duge (Douggie), as Bug is calling him today is settling in.  We did go grocery shopping for an hour today and he had a minor panic attack/happy attack when we got.  This led to the conclusion, after taking with the pet adoption folks that we need immediate training for the dog and us.  It took me most of the day to calm down from the panic/happy attack.  But with Pap's help, things are calming down.  I forget that Pap had a champion cocker spaniel and knows training techniques.  I am also talking to some trainers that friends recommended.  We need in home help.

We also found out that Duge definitely took car rides on a regular basis, as soon as the door to the garage and the car we opened, he was in the driver's seat.  He was not going to get out.  I had to pull him out by the collar. 

after he decided that the front seat was a nap place.

Pap is going to come watch Duge tomorrow while we are at church- being gone for 3 hours will not be good for Duge.  Heck, I took shower today and Duge was right outside the door the entire time. 

Bug is very happy with Duge, although Duge is still getting used to the yard, smells and neighborhood.  So when we go out into the backyard, Duge will not play with him, because he has to check out everything.

It brings back lots of memories from when Bug came home.  Duge is learning the word NO, just like Bug did. 

Love and hugs,
Deb

Our next adventure- A Dog

Yesterday, we drove to  meet our potential new dog.  He is friendly dog, about 18 months old.  He is a little excited when he first meets people and he does try to give face kisses, but he plays great with Bug.  He also settled down after about 10 minutes and Bug was in heaven.

We had a 2 hour drive home and I was not sure how Luke was going to do in the car, but he and Bug had a great time getting to know each other in backseat.  Even when we stopped for McDonald's (drive thru), Luke ate his rawhide treat and left our food alone.  Of course, he really wanted my fries that I did not eat, but a stem OFF and an elbow blocking his ability to get to the front seat ended that idea.

Bug was waiting for Luke to laid his head on him and finally, Luke relaxed enough to lie down.

Happy boys.

When we got home, Luke was happy to lay close to my feet while I read to Bug. When we went to Bug, Luke stayed on the floor next to Bug.  He did get up 2 times in the night. the first time was not so bad, the second was at 5:45 am and it turns out he heard the 5 dogs behind coming out, so when I let him out to do his business, he headed straight for the back fence and starting barking.  So he lost the option of being outside. 

He did really good while I worked today, he moved around my office, mostly trying to find a cool place to lie down. This was about 10 am in the morning.  right after this, I took him for a 40 minute walk.

He came home and slept most of the afternoon.  We found out that the air vent in my office was not open.  Once I opened it, Luke never moved unless I moved.

Tonight we brushed his coat, I think we cold fur another dog with the amount of excess fur we brushed out of Luke.  Luke is going to need brushing every other day for a while to get all the excess hair off of him.

Bug is very happy to have a dog.  We are going with Luke right now until we make a final decision if we are going to keep Luke.  We have a week to decide. So far, there is no reason not keep him, he is a good dog.

Love and Hugs,

Deb

Some final thoughts on the trip

Our trip was great, but there were a few things that could have been better, but it was great overall.

Great:
1. Seeing Popi, Momi Mireya, Susi, Karla, Nigua, David, Joel, Josue, Josslin and other friends
2. Meeting our Compassion kids
3. Seeing Guatemala- new things for us
4. Zip Line!!!
5. Riding Mules/Burra
6. Swimming
7. Carlos (business center), Hugo, Luis, and Marcicio at La Vista
8. Nancy Hoffman's help in organizing activities- she is the best.

Could have been better/never to be repeated:
1. The Barcelo- it is definitely not the same.  Only 3 people we knew all working at La Vista, and a new friend at the Business center. 
2. The wait staff at La Vista- other than our 5 friends from previous visits, the wait staff could have cared less about actually providing service.  I did actual let the manager know: we had one day the waiter never came to check on us at breakfast, we just left our money (Mam's soda) on the table and left. On the last night, we watched a waiter fill a water glass on a table where the customer had left 30 minutes before.  The staff seem more interested in talking to each other and hiding behind the wall- sounds like most restaurants here in the US
3. getting sick on vacation- Mam was overheated and dehydrated most of the trip, this put a damper on her activities. Bug contracted lice (YUCK!!!) while on the trip and then we had the excitement (NOT) of a chemical burn in his eyes from the last medicine we got.  The visit from the hotel doctor was unwelcome drama to end our trip.  Thankfully everyone has mad a full recovery.

Totally Awesome:
1. Zip lining in Antigua
2. the Relief Map in Zona 1
3. The playground/rides near the Relief map
4. The party for Bug on Sunday (welcome home party)
5. Being with La Familia and just spending time with them


I am already thinking about our next trip- perhaps a month in Guatemala.  I could work for 2 weeks- I just need Internet access and a phone and my company has a Guatemala office (I wonder if I sit at desk there) and then Bug could take Spanish lessons and we could travel for the last 2 weeks or 1 week at the beginning and then 1 week at the end.  That would be so cool. 

Bug is dealing with the sadness of being home.  He misses the things we did he says, but I think really it is that he misses la Familia and the entire day with me.  It is normal and I continue to help him work thru his emotions and I help him give names to his emotions.  He has been struggling this week- being exhausted and filled with lots of big emotions is hard on everyone.

So that is all on this trip for the time being.  I still have to get Amiga and Mam's pictures- I am sure I will add more then.

Love and hugs,
Deb

The trip home

Sunday was our travel day- back to reality, and back to home

before we left, Bug and Amiga had to get some hacky sack soccer playing done.  The staff kept smiling at Amiga playing in her bare feet.  I am not even sure Amiga knew they were watching her.

We were on the same flight into Houston and we had about 2 hours (after the drama of immigration) for dinner.  So of course, we choose McDonald's- salad for Mam, wrap for me and a happy meal for Bug.  Amiga choose another restaurant.  Mam and I were happy be able to eat lettuce again.  Amiga is setting up her phone for a game for her and Bug to play.  Bug likes playing games on phones- too bad his momma does not have games on her phone.

Helping to clean up

On the plane home with Baxter the bear.  This is at 8:30 in the evening.  Definitely a long travel day.

Sleeping Bug- this is about 30 minutes later and Bug was mad at me so he feel asleep by the window.  I ended up settling his head on my lap so he was more comfortable.

When we got to our home airport it took a good 15 minutes of shaking Bug and calling to him to get him to wake up, he was a tired Bug.

Monday, Bug slept until 11 am. I was up at 6 and 7 am trying to call his scout leaders to let them know he was not going to scout camp on Monday.  Bug stayed in his jammies until 4 pm on Monday.  I had to get dressed in order to go grocery shopping.

It has been a rough week since we got back, exhaustion for both of us and some sleep issues. More on that in the next post.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Day 8- playing in the pool and Chuck E Cheese

Saturday, Amiga headed out to Tikal for some time in the jungle and we headed to the pool to play.  Mireya got in the water!!! She and Bug played the shallow end while the rest of us were out in the deeper area.

We ended up with some local kids playing with us

Lunch was at Pizza hut, where Bug discovered that Nigua's phone had Angry Birds on it. 

A KFC delivery motorcycle for Amiga.

We played at Chuck E Cheese for a few hours- hot hours and then came back to the hotel for good byes.  Bug received a new toy (Pap thinks it is so cool).

Bug and la Familia (minus Karla who had an exam)

Chuck E Cheese, Nigua and Bug.

Tomorrow I will post the trip home and some final thoughts.

Day 7- The zoo with our Compassion kids

Friday was one of the biggest days in our trip- we finally got to meet our Compassion kids.  All of them, we started sponsoring after our last trip. These are our kids.

B, his mom and his Compassion center staff member

Y, and her father

I, her mother.  Y and I attend the same Compassion project.

J, his brother, mother and little sister.

Amiga and B as we rested during our walk around the zoo.  There were about a billion kids at the zoo.  When a school goes to the zoo, the entire school goes, not just one grade.  Apparently there were only 2 schools at the zoo, but it sure felt like all the schools in Guatemala City were at the zoo.

Bug's hand in the same size as Nigua's.

J, showing us his skills with the top.

Israel, the translator and Mam, before lunch.

La Familia, Mam and the Compassion project person for Little J

Bug enjoying flan

I and her mom after lunch.  They got on a bus at 3 am to come visit with us.

Y and her father.  It was great that Y and I had each other to talk with on the bus.  They both walked around the school holding my hands.  Sweet girls

B, being a teenager.  he has about 2 more years before he ages out of the program due to graduating from school.  He is a wonderful young man.

Todos la familia- all in our OLG shirts (Bug's school).  I forgot to get Amiga one.  I will have to order one for her as soon as school starts.

Picture for out local community newspaper

Bug and Amiga playing on the couch while we waited for pizza to be delivered.  Yes, we ordered pizza at the hotel.  We just needed a simple night. Amiga joined us in our room for dinner and games.

after she and Bug played 'thumb wrestling'

And arm wrestling.

Day 6- more fun at the hotel pool

this one has no pictures- but we hung out at the pool and played, had more fun at McDs and just had a day of rest.  All preparing for our bug day on Friday with the kids from Compassion and the trip to the zoo.

Day 5

Wednesday we headed to the relief map.  This was something I had never seen on our trips to Guatemala previously.  The grounds are lovely and Bug enjoyed going up and down the towers.  I liked looking for cities that play a part in Bug's story.

Afterward, we walked across the street to a park and a games area.  Amiga- enjoying her apple in the sun.

Bug played on the playground.  He told me that he remembered being here with Susi when he was little.  We all had a chuckle over that one since he had never been here before. 

Bug gladly smiled for everyone but me.

The playground also had an amusement park park area.  Bug had a great time playing. 

Bug loves giant slides and we did this one.  Let's just say it is not the same as the slides at festivals around here- the oil smell, the oil stains, yep totally different.

But Bug loved it.

We went to the natural history museum- I liked the Quetzal statue.

Bug looking at the horse back riding next to the museum.  This is the last time Popi will be able to carry Bug on his shoulders.  Bug refused to look at me for this picture.

The Quetzal in a glass coffin.

The rain came right after we left the museum, so we headed to McDs to play.  Bug wanted to play with his newest toy from la Familia- an Optimus Prime toy.

Everyone had to get into getting it to turn into a truck.