The Real Reason I Didn't do a Fall Triathlon

I have been waiting for a while to share some exciting news. 

We will be adding to our family in May!

I found out in August, just days before the Pumpkinman and Maniac Triathlons.  I was hoping to do the Maniac Tri this year, but because it is my first pregnancy and I was so early in it, I decided it would be best to skip it this year.  I have been keeping up with workouts for the most part, still running, biking and swimming, just not all on the same day.  In fact, Moose and I ran in a 5K this morning.

I have been incredibly lucky and have not really been sick at all.  I have been a little tired and once in a while feel generally kind of blah, but overall, it has been smooth sailing.  I am really hoping that it continues this way. 

Here are some pictures of the little alien baby.  If you are not into these kind of pictures (I'm not), I apologize.  They are mostly for family and so that Ella can see a picture of her cousin.

Here is a 2D frontal picture.  I think it is cool that you can see 2 arms/hands and 2 legs/feet when the baby only measures 5cm.

Janie

The first time I rode her was in December of 1992 and she started bucking when I asked her to canter.  There was something about the little mare that I loved anyway and I bought her.  She was the first horse that I bought with my own money, saved from selling 4H market lambs at the fair.  We brought her home on a very cold night after my grandpa had built her a stall in our old cow barn.  After all, there was no way I could let her sleep outside like the other horses.

Janie and I had many adventures from trail riding to pony club, hunter paces and events, and LOTS of roundy round shows.

She had the best personality and even had a few tricks up her sleeve.  She could shake and "say please" and gave the best pony kisses.

I sold Janie after leaving to be a working student in Virginia.  She had two other owners, but I was able to keep up with her wherabouts.  Her last owners cherished her as much as I did.  In 2008, they offered har back to me for retirement.  I was thrilled to have her back, relaxing in my backyard.  Thank you so much Heather for letting me have this time with her!

Janie taught so many kids how to ride.  I think Ella and I were the lucky ones to have the last ride on her.

The last two winters were pretty tough on Janie.  She wasn't able to gain much weight back over the summer, so the difficult decision was made to have her put down this fall.  I did OK during the actual procedure and burial, but haven't really been able to talk about it or think about her until now.

Janie was so loved.  I am glad that she had a long life and had the last few years to enjoy retirement.  I will always remember her cute, fuzzy face, her gentle nicker and the best pony kisses.

Odie

I haven't posted anything for a very long time, but that doesn't mean that there hasn't been anything happening around here.

I had a great summer with Odie.  He really is a terrific horse and a really quiet and willing 3 year old.  Odie competed in two team penning events, went on several trail rides and even went swimming!  He never put a foot wrong and was always willing to try whatever was asked of him.

Unfortuntely, in May, I found out that Odie is a bilateral cryptorchid.  That means that even though he was sold to me as a gelding and appeared to be a gelding, he was actually a stallion who had undecended testicles.  This is a problem that can be rectified with surgery, but a very costly surgery with a 6 month recovery time.  It really was not something that I could afford to take on and it really limited my options on where he could live.

I contacted his previous owners who own a horse business and breed horses, hoping that they would work something out with me, or take him back for the same money that I paid for him.  The conversations did NOT go well, to say the very least.  After talking to Greg and a few other professionals, I found myself submitting paperwork for a small claims trial.

The situation was quite tense and I was really nervous about going to court.  Overall, it went really well.  In the court, I told my story, submitted verterinary paperwork, bills and the original bill of sale.  The previous owners spoke a lot about his registration papers (really a moot point since registration papers can be filled out by anyone, education and horse knowledge not required) and the fact that they didn't know he was a cryptorchid.

In the end, I won the case.  The previous owners had to reimburse me for the cost of the horse, the vet bills and the court fees.  They also had to take Odie back, which was the hardest part.

You are greatly missed Odie.  I hope you are showing someone else what a great little horse you are!