Cujo Control Dog Training Collar Review

When Nick and I first got married we got a puppy pretty much right away.  He was a ten week old Siberian Husky we named Akiba, and was quite the handful :)  We still lived in the condo in Omaha, which was tiny, and Huskies can grow quite large.  Here's a visual:

After being married for 6 months we decided to start a family, and at this time, really decided that our home was going to be incredibly crowded with 3 humans and a dog, so we found him a good new home with a yard and room to run.  I was also working full time and didn't feel like it was fair for him to be kenneled all day, so as hard as it was, it was the right decision. 

When Emma turned 2 we decided we wanted to try the pet route again, but decided this time, as we were still living in the tiny condo, that we would get a cat.  Enter Jax.

He really was a great cat and all was going great with him, however, he began consistently urinating around the house, outside the litter box, the last time being while sitting on the couch right beside me.  As we had just found out that we were expecting baby number two, we once again had to make the hard decision to rehome him because of health risks associated with pregnant women and litter boxes. 

So, our history with pets is a less than stellar one to say the least.  However, last September we bought a house in northwest Missouri with an extremely expansive backyard, and much more indoor space, and after some mouse problems to begin with, Nick said that he thought having a cat around would be good.  So, we adopted a pair of brothers which I named Smokey, and Emma affectionately named the other Pom Pom (it was unknown at the time that Pom Poms favorite toys would actually be pom poms!!!) 

We were heartbroken when Smokey (the black one), met an untimely end with a car, but Pom Pom is still with us 11 months later, and we love him to pieces.  This is the longest that it has worked out for us with a pet, and it is a great feeling.  Now for more exciting news, we have a new addition to our family.....

Isn't he handsome?!  A blue merle Miniature Australian Shepherd.  We decided that since we have a large yard and I stay home with the girls because of homeschooling, that this is the right time for us to add a puppy to our family.  However, I didn't want to build a fence out back because I love the view of the treeline at the back of our property, and didn't want to lose that.  Therefore, I began researching wireless fences, but every one I found would only emit the signal in a round shape, which meant that there was less of the back yard to be used because the signal would run right through the middle.  My Dad mentioned training collars, which are more convenient and you can use them and take them anywhere, so you aren't limited to just having the control at home, but can take it anywhere.  I found one such collar called the Cujo Control Dog Training Collar, and was thrilled when given the opportunity to offer an honest review in exchange for a free product. 

So, now about the collar.  It is extremely convenient as the collar is fully adjustable and has two size prongs to use with it, which we use the small ones.  Another feature that I love is that it isn't just a static collar, but rather, offers the option to use vibration or sound in order to correct the dog's behavior.  I plan to use the static feature as a last resort, as tone and vibration is much preferred to me.  The collar/receiver works up to 300 yards apart, which is more than enough to give him free range of the back yard without me having to worry.  I think that one of my favorite features so far is the fact that I can take it with us so that when we are traveling to see our family and taking the pup with us, we can still let him go outside with us, off leash, but he's learning that when he hears to beep or feels the vibration, that he's wandering too far and needs to return.  I am anxious to see as he ages, how he remembers the boundaries of the yard, and am hopeful that eventually we only need it on special occasions.  I am so glad not to have had to build a fence in order to make our dreams of successful dog ownership a possibility, and it's all thanks to Cujo!  You can check them out: http://Go2Azon.com/g/B01JS4AJAO-DTC   #cujocontrol

Big Decision

There is something that Nick and I have talked about before. Something that would be life altering for us. It would take a lot of hard work, dedication, and self-sacrifice to accomplish. It's something that many people won't agree with, but that's only because they aren't aware of the resources and support out there for it. So, what am I talking about? Homeschooling. One word which has many negative connotations attached to it. "Weird." "Anti-social." "Neglect." However, those misconceptions overshadow the positive aspects to is, such as, individualized attention, spiritual growth, and great support communities.

Homeschooling is and idea that Nick and I have toyed with in the past, but never seriously considered until now because Emma is preparing to start Kindergarten, and when she attended their Summer School program here, we saw and heard some thing that we were not happy about, and thought that if we could afford to lose my income so that I could homeschool, then it would be selfish and greedy not to, especially since I have a teaching certificate and feel as though this is why God pushed me to get it in the first place.  Our school year will be starting October 3rd, instead of mid August, because we need my job for a few more months in order to save the money needed for a building here at our house for storage.  Our finished basement will be our school room/canvas, and I have begun acquiring the supplies necessary, including a curriculum from the accredited school Our Lady of Victory.  It is a predominately Catholic curriculum that covers every area done in a public school setting, which I will be supplementing with my own art, music, library, and technology classes once a week, along with daily physical education time, and a time each day where I teach the girls how to perform a new thing around the house including dusting, loading/unloading a dishwasher, feeding the cat, etc. 

I am fortunate to have a great support community here in Plattsburg and north Kansas City, called Saint Margaret's.  I have recently learned that most of the families in our parish homeschool and the church is having a "Back to School Night" on August 27th with a special mass, as well as a potluck dinner afterwards, which will allow us to meet all of the other families we have been conversing with via email.  Something else exciting that we learned was that this school year many activities and parties and such will take place here at our church, St. Ann's!  This co-op group gets together for holiday parties, field days, and other times throughout the year, which I think is really going to benefit us.

I know that we will face criticism, questions, and negativity in this endeavor.  However, we know that it is the right thing for our family, and by keeping that at the forefront of our thought, we will be able to focus on all of the positive aspects!  I also know that there will be days that are H.A.R.D., but isn't that the way it is with any job?  Speaking of jobs...I think I am going to find it hard to leave the preschool scene that I have been a part of for the past four years.  This group that I am teaching now is especially dear to me, as I have been with them for quite a while.  It will also be hard leaving my coworkers, especially the woman that I work with 10 hours a day, 4 days a week!  We have really developed a great friendship and it will be strange not seeing and talking with her on a daily basis.  Therefore, I think a few lunch dates each month will be in order!  Overall,  I am extremely excited to begin this new chapter in my life!  Prayers for us (and my sanity!) are much appreciated :)

Not a Toddler Anymore!

How is it that three year's time can go by so quickly, but so slowly at the same time? As I sit here looking at my "not quite a baby anymore, but still a baby to me," Olivia, I can't begin to fathom that as of 7:00 a.m. she was no longer an ornery 2 year old toddler, but an ornery 3 year old child. T.H.R.E.E. It almost makes me sick to my stomach to know that she is already this old, but then again I am glad as well because that means that God has given me three amazing years with this little girl, and hopefully a lifetime more! Now, enough of the sappy stuff. Here's what has been going on with her over the last year, since keeping up the blog has more than been put on the back-burner. I believe that it wasn't too long after her second birthday that she was diagnosed with epilepsy. We had been noticing some strange things with her such as muscle jerks and eye fluttering, and upon having an EEG, I was devastated to get the phone call saying that she has generalized epilepsy. She currently takes two medications, Keppra and Topomax, which seem to be managing the seizures well, and we have only noticed breakthrough seizures once or twice since adding the second medicine about four months ago. One of my main concerns with the epilepsy is whether or not it has caused any delays or such, since we don't know how long the seizures had been going on for, but know that it had at least been 6 months at the time of diagnosis. We hope that she can live as "normal" of a life as possibly with minimal interference from this disease, and have faith in God to help her through it. Potty training. The most dreaded two words in our vocabulary right now. Or should I say, a lack of potty training. And let me make it clear, that it's not for lack of trying. She sits on the toilet every 1.5-2 hours at school and, for the most part, the same here at home; however, some times she wants to sit on it and other time she doesn't. When she doesn't I don't press the issue, but am ready for this diaper phase to be over. If I can get her to sit on it first thing in the morning right after she wakes up she will usually go, but then throughout the day, she won't tell me if she has to go. When I take her to the potty sometimes her pullup/diaper is wet and sometimes dry. We rehearse the "where do we go potty?" phrase and I emphasize keeping her pull-up dry, and she seems to understand the concept that she is supposed to do her stuff in the toilet, but she doesn't initiate it ever. Although I know that all kids do this at their own speed, it does make it difficult knowing that there are two kids who are younger than her in her class at school who are already trained and have transitioned up to my room, and that she seems to be lagging behind. She also struggles with pulling her pants up and down by herself. Maybe this is just Olivia and she needs some extra time to get there, but I instinctually wonder if any of this could be epilepsy-related, as in if there has been a delay that is prolonging the diaper phase. There are many things that Olivia does and does not love right now and here are just the ones I can think of... Olivia LOVES: * Swinging! Almost every time we go outside this is the first thing she wants to do! * Baby dolls. Holding them, rocking them, putting them to bed..... * Looking at books. One of her current favorites is our Disney World Planning 2016 book! She loves to look at all of the characters and rides! * EMMA!!!! Olivia loves to copy Emma and do whatever big sis is doing, which is sometimes good and sometimes not-so-good. * Nutrigrain breakfast bars :P Every morning for breakfast she asks for a "bar." I seriously think she has an obsession! Olivia Dislikes: * Having her hair brushed. Nearly 9 times out of 10 she throws a hissy fit when I brush her hair, even though she still has so little that it only takes about 4 pass-throughs of the brush to get it all! * Having her hair washed. Are we noticing a theme when it comes to her hair?! Washing, similarly to brushing takes about 15 seconds from start to finish, but she fights me every second of it! * Riding in the car. She has gotten really tough to travel with the past few months. I think it is due in part to her new found independence. Every day she is teaching me more about patience, love, and what it means to be a mother. I hope I can raise her to love God, family, and the importance of being herself.

Review of "The Sorcery Code" by Dima Zales

Recently I was approached by a company to read and review a new fantasy novel, in exchange for receiving it for free.  You can imagine my excitement as I am an avid reader, especially of this genre.  As I settled in and began to read "The Sorcery Code" by Dima Zales, the first thing that really caught my attention was the writing style.  The long and short of it was that I was not impressed.  It seemed immature in the complexity of the sentences, as well as the subject matter for the first hundred pages or so.  It was incredibly hard for me to get past the fact that every time we read a chapter from Blaise, that his thoughts eventually turn to Gala's beauty, and how he just can't believe how stunning she is. Likewise, Gala's innocence is a little too exaggerated and childlike for my taste.  Each chapter being devoted to a single character's POV was interesting, however, it is something that I have seen done more successfully in other novels.  Overall I feel like this book has potential, but is was potential never fully realized.  #SorceryCode

Home is Where the Heart Is

Guess what.  We are homeowners once again!  It has been such since late September, but settling in has taken quite some time since we both work full time, have two kids, and now, two cats!  I believe it was in July that our condo in Omaha sold, and the whole process was pretty painless, which was a great relief.  So, we then decided to start looking for a place to buy as our rental was growing smaller and smaller by the day.  Our agent, Micki Trotter with Woodward Real Estate, was wonderful.  She was available almost any time we asked, even taking time on the weekends to show us properties.  I believe we physically saw maybe 5 or 6 houses, the one we purchasing being probably the 4th.  I remember when we pulled into the driveway thinking "This has to be way over our budget!"  The space we needed was there, but we didn't realize it until asking to view it a second time, when we were thinking of making an offer on it.  It is 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, has a formal living room, kitchen and dining room combined, a family room, a partial basement with a safe room, and a two car garage.  Oh, did I mention that the back yard is probably 75-100 yards long?!  We are planning to fence it in the future.

Oh, and I mentioned two cats, didn't I?  Yessir we now are proud owners to two crazy 5 month old kittens!  The first one is black and white and Emma named him Pom-Pom!  Coincidentally enough his favorite toys are pom poms!  The other is mainly black with a little white on his stomach and we named his Smokey, or "Mokey" as Olivia likes to call him!  They are brothers and are absolutely crazy during the evenings.  I think the girls play with them more than they do the toys the got for Christmas!  I was nervous that for a week or so that Nick was starting to develop an allergy to them, but it turned out to be just a cold.  The are doing great using the litter box and just all around. 

Soon I will take a minute to take some pictures of the house and kittens to post here!