MoseleyWorld

Nuclear blanket - Carey and Saxon have been in Kansas City this week. Carey working, Saxon spending time with her Mimi (Carey’s mom). It sounds like Saxon and Mimi have had a fantastic week, with only one small casualty. Saxon is quite fascinated with water-testing just about anything. At home, her favorite test site is Ranger’s water bowl. Books, keys, bottles, cups, even my wallet have all been dunked in Ranger’s bowl. Water = fun!

Saxon, the perpetual motion baby, wandered into the adjoining hotel room with her blanket to find something even better than a little dog bowl. She discovered a much bigger, deeper source of agua - the toilet. Mimi walked in just in time to see Saxon drop her blanket into the porcelin pond.

Since it was almost nap time for Saxon, Mimi wanted to be able to give her a dry blanket. Hmm…no clothes dryer, so what to do? Why not try the microwave? Most people use microwaves to defrost food, heat frozen dinners & beverages and even bake a potato every now and then. If you can do all that, I bet you can use it to dry a supersoft, extra-plush blanket (even if tumble dry low is indicated). Round 1: 20 seconds. Still wet. Round 2: 40 seconds. Getting better. Warming up! This is working! Round 3: Time unknown, but long enough create spontaneous combustion and burn large holes in the blanket.

Old friends. From the photo archives (circa 1988), a photograph with friends George, Laura and Cole.

366 days ago, little Saxon Marie Moseley arrived with loud screams to announce her arrival. On August 11, 2007, both Saxon and her parents celebrated the anniversary of her birth. As parents, we toasted surviving Saxon’s first year. Saxon’s glad we’ve extended her contract for another year and she gets to stay on Team Moseley.

Saxon’s big day birthday began with the arrival, Saturday morning, of my Dad. Saxon immediately remembered that she really likes her Gran. Gran has a knack with babies and canines - they all love him. Gran wanted Saxon to pick her birthday present so we all went to the mall, first stop Babystyle. I really thought Saxon would like a small ride-on car (in pink, of course). She politely sat on the car when placed upon it, but showed little to zero interest.

Saxon kept returning to the Porter the Puppy Stuffed Chair, saying, “Dahhhh” each time (dah = dog for those who don’t know Saxonspeak). Check out the first two pictures below to see Saxon with the “dah” that gran bought her.

We had lunch at NorthPark so Saxon could enjoy one of her favorites, teriyiaki chicken. Later that afternoon, Saxon’s friends Liam, Jonathan and Patrick joined her for her 1st birthday party. Lots of firsts on her first:

• 1st Little Red Wagon
• 1st Ipod (ok, it’s a baby “iPod”)
• 1st Purse
• 1st Baby Doll
• 1st Bank

and most interesting…1st Cake. As you can see from the photographs below, Saxon’s first taste of cake was a sweet one indeed.


party time.

Jonathan & Liam

Patrick (his dad Jeff got to come along too)


uh, mom, what in the world is that?

I’m supposed to do what? “Blow Saxon. Blow out the candle.” What?!

Moving in for the kill.

good stuff, dad.

totally unprompted. unscripted. i swear.


wardrobe change. catching a ride with jonathan.

in her “Texas Ranger” wagon - a gift from Mimi + Pops

Two weeks ago, Ranger wasn’t do so swell [post].

I’m happy to report his continuing recovery. Although he is able to walk on his own, Ranger still is not ready for the dog agility course. But walking without assistance is a big step for both Ranger and his parents!

Ranger, always a finicky eater, is eating all the food put in front of him. I guess he is still making up for missing nearly a week of meals.

Yesterday morning, he sneaked up behind Saxon to gave Saxon big wet kisses on the cheek. Saxon hasn’t figured out whether she really likes that or not.

As predicted by Ranger’s doc, he still has a bit of head tilt, but it’s very slight, “his master’s voice” curious kind of tilt.

Like his dad, Ranger loathes the 95 degree plus weather, so we’re going to start walking him again when it cools off. Thank you for your inquiries, thoughts and prayers. It’s such a relief to be getting our dog back.

About six weeks ago (10 months old for everyone keeping score), Saxon took her first steps. Last week, she was officially done with crawling. Period. Just stopped like it was a bad habit and now is walking. This, of course, means more perils and dangers for the child with no fear. These photos were taken at the C&W Ranch in Smolan, Kansas (population 218).

pausing to investigate the pretty flowers


nope, saxon, you cannot pick the flowers.


on the move again.

Unfortunately, last week Ranger’s health took a bit of a turn. Last Saturday morning, when we were in Kansas, I received an 8am call from Susan, dog sitter/trainer extraordinaire. Something was very seriously wrong with Ranger. Disoriented, he could not stand and had thrown up. Long story short, Ranger was suffering from Idiopathic Vestibular Disease (IVD), which is a disorder of the internal balancing system.

Right away, I learned two new words: Idiopathic = sudden onset for no known cause and vestibular = the system mammals have (including humans) to help them balance. Basically, Ranger was suffering from extreme vertigo. The vet made an immediate diagnosis right away because of the involuntary rapid eye movement going on - Ranger’s eyes were darting back and forth — which makes it a little hard to balance and focus. Apparently, IVD is fairly common in older dogs.

Typically, idiopathic vestibular disease lasts 2 to 3 days and the dog begins recovery. Sadly, many dogs are euthanized because their vet misses the diagnosis and the owner decides to put them out of their misery. Seeing Ranger in this condition was very, very painful to watch, so I can understand.

ranger at the hotel thunderbird, marfa, texas 2005

Susan then took Ranger to the emergency clinic where he stayed until Monday morning when i picked him up to take him back to his regular vet…

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