Two Weeks Old

Hope and Remi's three sweet babies are two weeks old now and growing quickly! Max, Mandie, and Bonnie respectively, have really begun to show off their little personalities and it has been a joy watching them develop. It's been even more fun watching my family try to "help" take care of them! Shih Tzu pups are born with pink noses that later turn black... very slowly and in a speckled kind of way. My mother didn't know this and thought that one of the pups had dirt on her nose. She nearly rubbed her nose raw trying to clean her before I caught her and realized what she was doing!
Max's coloring continues to lighten each day and I believe he will eventually take on the coloring of his Mom, but his personality is definitely that of his Daddy! The puppies eyes have all opened now and when you pick up the girls, they pull back and look you over to see who is holding them before snuggling up to you, but Max doesn't bother to look. He doesn't care who is holding him, he just likes to be held, so he snuggles right into you and starts licking your fingers or your face... he is his Daddy made over!!
Mandie shares the same markings and patterns of her Daddy, but even her coloring is lightening so she may look more like her Mom as she grows up. Her personality is clearly that of her Mommy, though! Bossy, stubborn, pushy, she doesn't let Max push her around even though he's much bigger than her!! We almost lost this sweet baby when she was born. Hope got a little over zealous with the umbilical cord and nipped it to close to Mandie's body. She nearly bled to death in my hands, but we finally got the bleeding stopped and she turned out to be quite the little fighter, determined both to live and thrive! She's attempting to catch up with Max in weight and doing exceptionally well! Something cute, she shares Hope's tickle spot! When you tickle her behind her ear, her hind leg starts to thump just like Hope!
Bonnie is our little mysterious one. Her patterning and coloring is different from both parents and her personality is very shy, but calm. We are enjoying watching her closely to get to know her better!!

Our Little Bit

This is our Little Bit! Born seven and a half hours after her first two siblings, she was half the size of her brother and sisters. We worked around the clock with her for over a week before she passed away. The vet believes that her liver was undeveloped. Puppies are so sweet and so fragile. They wrap themselves around your heart and warm your soul. Charles Shultz, the creator of Peanuts once said, "Happiness is a warm puppy!" and he would know, for surely Snoopy's hilarious antics were merely an artists rendition of the equally entertaining behaviors of a beloved family member. I hope that everyone has the opportunity to be loved by an innocent soul!!

Puppies

Hope & Remi, proud parents of CKC Registered Shih Tzu puppies!!

Hope, my sweet little princess, due to give birth at any time!!

Remington, such a handsome boy!!

The first two puppies!! A big boy and a healthy girl!! Born at 3:33 and 3:46 AM!!

Another Girl!! Born four and a half hours after her first two siblings!! Three Beautiful Puppies!!

Surprise!! Seven and a half hours after the first two pups came, another little girl popped out!!

My Sweet Kidi

An angel came from Heaven
To check out life on Earth
Twas joined by several siblings
At the moment of her birth
She wondered, searching for a home
Before landing behind bars
That’s where I found my angel
And brought her home to ours
A dozen years, she spent with me
In my home and in my heart
And though I’m thankful Heaven shared her
I knew one day she would depart
“So enjoy your walks on the streets of gold
For Heaven welcomes you, my sweet”
And thank you Lord for my four pawed angel
May she forever rest in peace
~ Angela (In Loving Memory of Miss Kidi LaBelle, 14 years old)

Introductions

Please allow me to introduce myself.... I am Angela from Kentucky, USA. I work as an Accountant for a local University and Bookkeeper for my church. When I'm not working for other people, I'm usually out on the town with my fabulous family or home snuggled up with my sweet Tzu's grinning foolishly over a really good book. I am a very boring person, but my family loves me anyway and my dogs keep themselves busy enough without my help!! After suffering from various health problems most of my life I was diagnosed with Sjogren's disease in the Spring of 2011. I am still learning to live with (and some days just survive with) Sjogren's but my relationship with God, my incredible family, and my delightful Tzu's make my life an absolute joy!
In the photo above is from left to right, Hope (white), Remi (brindle and white), and Kidi (gray).
I adopted Kidi from the ASPCA while living in Houston in 1999. She's a Shih Tzu and Yorkie Mix while the other two little darlings are pure bred CKC Shih Tzu's. When I originally started this blog in August 2010, I had three Shih Tzus, but since then Miss Kidi developed some severe health problems and had to be put to sleep in July 2011. She was fourteen years old. I miss my old girl.
Hope is my dainty little princess! Adopted in June 2008 at eight weeks old, I think she's an angel, my sister thinks she's a snot! The tiniest dog in the house and she definitely rules the roost! I also wouldn't have it any other way! I adore my spoiled little girl!
Becoming a Dog-Mommy of three in August 2010 changed my whole world!! At six weeks old, Remi was such a handful but such a sweetheart! And still is my little Prince Charming!! He has the most soulful eyes, as if he's already been there and done that and felt the sunshine behind the rain. He knows that joy is on the other side and always encourages me when circumstances make me blue! Remi is probably more spoiled than Hope. All he has to do is turn those dark chocolate eyes on me and I just melt! What Remi wants, Remi always gets! He keeps me on my toes and sometimes hanging by them!! Luckily, everyone is eager to settle down and relax in the evenings when I turn up the music and turn the pages of a good book! An absolute gift from God, I can't imagine life without my Tzu's.
In August 2011, Hope (three years old) went into heat and I allowed her and Remi (fourteen months old) to breed. October 26, 2011 we welcomed our first litter of CKC Registered Shih Tzu pups into the world!! One boy and three girls, we were overjoyed. Unfortunately, our youngest girl’s liver was undeveloped and despite hard work with her around the clock for over a week, she passed away. Raising puppies was one of the most beautiful, exciting, heartbreaking, backbreaking, estactically joyous, and phenomenally unique experiences of my life! Knowing all the puppies went to incredible homes who love them like crazy was equally rewarding!
There has been much editing done to this site in the last year and probably much more will be done in the future... I would like this to be a place where book and music lovers can find interesting reviews, dog lovers and those interested in breeding can read enjoyable stories as well as find some practical info that they may find useful, and also that those suffering with Sjogren's can get some good information as well!
This is a place where my greatest loves ~ God, Family, Dogs, Books, and Music all come together to write my personal story. May you enjoy every moment of your visit!!