Pippin's 6th birthday!!

It was Pippin's 6th birthday yesterday! I can't believe its been 6 years already, but I also feel like he's been with me forever.  He is such a character, he makes me laugh daily with his antics, and his cuddles and looks of pure adoration....what can top that. My life path is certainly different to what I expected, and at times I can miss what I can't have due to living with chronic illness, but having Pippin around, my constant companion and best friend at my worst times and best, its easy to keep focused on the blessings in life, those small treasures that bring inner peace and happiness..  He gives me all this without even trying.  Happy Birthday Pip!!!  Thank you for being my furry baby  x S

Cheesy Grin!

For us, the last warm days in autumn always include a doggy bath and bedding wash up, ready for winter.  Its nice to be able to have the boys air dry instead of using the blow dryer one last time.  Their fur is so much softer this way too and I'm sure they love running about madly as they dry.  I couldn't resist taking a photo of the boys drying off.  I'm sure Spike is a goofball on purpose, its so hard to take a good photo of him!  He'll look to the side just as I'm about to snap, or pull these sorts of faces hehe, maybe he is just that happy to be clean lol.  Pippin is delicate and poses gracefully as usual lol
I do love my boys!!

Summer ends....Autumn begins...

9pm Wednesday the 29th of February (a leap year!) The last hours of summer are here, well, it certainly felt like summer was over today, it was a chilly 17C!!  Tomorrow will be the first day of Autumn, I really savour watching one season slide into the next...and Autumn, like Spring, is such a  special time....  I love seeing the trees changing colour, the leaves floating so gently to the ground....  Autumn is such a cozy time don't you think....harvest, food, cooking, baking, crafts, thinking about getting our blankets out of storage, and winter clothes...scarfs, boots, jackets, Oh I love all those things!  Well, each season has its fun I guess, I was excited to be back in skirts last December ;)

Anyway....as I look back over summer, we've had some really big adjustments in our lives her at the Medina's.  I guess the two that stick out to me, were the challenges I went through with my dog, and baby, Pippin, and his leg surgeries, I didn't think we would ever pull through, or he would ever run and play as he used to...I tried to keep my optimism high, but it was harder seeing him in pain than it would be if I was suffering I think...  He was such a trouper, and although it was really hard, we got through it, and I can't believe how healthy his is now.  Running and playing, with a new spark in his eye.  Brave little boy, he may be tiny and fluffy, but he has a lot of substance under it all :)

I also started on my insulin pump for my type 1 diabetes.  I've had diabetes for 17 years now, and have always had trouble with my BSL raising and falling too quickly, no matter how I tried, my other health problems (auto immune arthritis and adrenal malfunction) made it all very difficult to manage.  So, I started my insulin pump at the beginning of summer, and although it was a learning curve to begin with, I can't be happier with it, my health, my life, my mood, my sleep, everything has improved to extents I couldn't have dreamed before!  I am SO over the moon happy with it, I couldn't go back to needles.  I have control now...and my BGL are in normal range for huge periods of time...all night I spend in a non diabetic range...amazing!  Who would have though!  Of course I've still got illness problems, but, I've taken a huge step up :)  

Anyway, two big changes in my life, and two happy endings.  I can't believe it and if I could have told myself I would be here now, I don't think I would have believed it back then :)    

So....as this time ends, and a new season begins, I remember the best times from summer....and share some special moments!!! 

Pippin's run 

The summer skies and sunsets....oh, delightful.....

Sitting out after dark, listen to the peace, the magic of the night sky, and the pure joy of watching the fairy lights come on in the garden.....

Summer breezes, Dragonflies and Dandelion Wishes!  I still blow them of course :)

Doing this at the beach.....

AND...

Ice cream!  

Look who is running again :)

Pippin, that's who! I am over the moon, actually, if you could see my face, it would be very similar to the beaming smile Pip has on his little face. After both his hind legs were operated on late last year, I never thought he would be doing this again any time soon! But, we went to one of his favourite places, and...... just like that, he took off to his Nana who was sitting on a bench.....

and back again to his mummy, isn't he the cutest thing!  I never thought he would run again, he had and still has some major issues....what a brave chap I have, and he is so happy :) :) :) 

 So am I :)

Poor Pip :(

Well my poor sweet boy ended up back in surgery this last week, he had only just finished with his first surgery to fix the right back legs 5 weeks ago, and suddenly he became lame in the left back leg. The poor thing had torn his cartilage and ligament around the knee to pieces. So we had to do the surgery that was planned for next year on the left leg, now! He has been recovering all week, with a very worried sleep deprived mummy :(

This time around he is less confident about walking, with two new legs! He will get there, I've seen improvement today, day 4, he can take a few steps on his own...but I hope he is well enough for Christmas!

December already?

Hasn't the last part of the year flown by! Well it has for me! I was quite ill in October, November saw stressful times as my little dog Pippin had to have surgery one of his back legs. The vet discovered that he had slipped kneecaps on both rear legs, along with a lot of arthritis in his hips and bone spurs, bowed tibias....oh boy, he was in pain but I was a mess with the thought of him needing surgery. Thank goodness he came through just fine, and is now recovering nicely. He will have his other leg fixed next year, I think we both need time to recover!

I also started on my insulin pump, its been a huge adjustment and a lot of work, but I'm going well with it and I already notice a difference in my diabetes control and how well I feel. It is much easier than all of those injections I've been having for close to 17 years! I'm looking forward to a better life with it.

So, have I had any time to create! Not really! I have finished one custom order which I am really pleased with, a kitty fairy called Solstice, I'm considering more fairy dogs and cats now of course, very inspiring working from someone else's ideas at times :)

And, I almost forgot! I had pre-made a little Elf Bear called Edgar months ago to be featured in Teddy Bear Review. And, so, here he is! He has been waiting for the season for a very long time! He is available to adopt now, if you would like to email me, I can send him off to you as quick as can be, hopefully in time for Christmas! Edgar is 3.5 inches tall, he is made from Sassy Plush in shades of green. Edgar is fully cotter pin jointed, and he has black glass eyes and a embroidered and highly glossed nose. He is ready and waiting to enjoy Christmas and also to bring joy to your house throughout the year! 

Edgar has been adopted and is going to live in the USA

Not to forget, I have not remembered to show you my Halloween bears in amongst the kerfuffle of the last months! I have photos below...Little Hagatha, and Jake are still available for adoption, if you are interested, please feel free to contact me at jellybellybears@yahoo.com.au

Jake is a Werewolf! He's not as spooky as he seems and promises he will not bite you, even on a full moon :) He is 4 inches tall, made from mohair and is fully cotter pin jointed. Glass eyes, shiny embroidered nose and delightful fangs, roar!! $150 plus postage costs

Email me at jellybellybears@yahoo.com.au

Hagatha is just under 3 inches tall, she is made from Sassy Plush in pink, she is fully cotter pin jointed, has glass eyes, a Swarovski crystal belly button, and is fully attired in Halloween witch costume. She is a good little witch though, she has her cauldron and her knack for spells, she will bring a little magic into your life no matter what time of year!

Gregor the Gargoyle

Vladimir the Vamp

Well, here comes the end of my very long blog post! I hope you've stayed with me and not nodded off ;) I'm glad to be regaining some normality back into my life, its the catching up that is always difficult. I do hope you have a good time as you shop and decorate for the season, wishing you and yours the very best of times :)