The Four Legger

I have been thinking this week about what I am grateful for and here is one special family member that I am very grateful for...

Isn't she beautiful????  This is my four legger baby named Murphy.  We got her in July of 1998.  I have tons of pictures of her when she was a baby, but they are all film and in a box somewhere.  I will pull those out sometime and scan them.  She was just too cute for words!

We went to visit my dad at the horse sale where he works on Tuesday nights.  There was this sweet puppy there and once I held her I knew she was mine.  The BHW wasn't so sure, but after a few cuddles and some serious looking into each other's eyes, I watched him kiss the top of her head.  I looked at my dad and said, "Wrap her up, she is mine!"  She was all of 2.3 pounds and fit easily in my lap.  We got home and I was at Walmart at 2:30 am buying dog supplies!  I was so excited!  I got home and the BHW  had been killing the fleas that had been jumping off of her!  First night down... many to come!

The next morning, we decided she would quickly figure out how to pee on the puppy pad.  Well, she never did especially after she took a detour from the puppy pad to behind the dryer and promptly got stuck!  I took her to the vet that day where she was diagnosed with fleas, ringworm, and heart worms.  This free dog was already costing us quite a bit!  We were told she had some chihuahua in her and wouldn't grow to be more than 13 pounds.  Well... at 32 pounds now she is our precious, medium sized, four legger (as Jemma calls her) baby.

When we moved to Germany, people asked, "Are you going to take Murphy?"  Helllllloooooo.... would you ask someone if they were going to move their kids with them?!?  Of course we took her and what a time she had!!!  Where else could she go to restaurants with us?  Go into a dressing room with me while I try on clothes?  Ride on a water taxi in Venice?  She has been to France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland!  How many dogs can say that?!?

Here she is visiting the World's Largest Cuckoo clock!

And a German castle where we spent many days walking through the trails!

Water taxi in Venice.  I don't think she is too sure about this one!

She was alway up for meeting new friends!  This little dog was all dressed for Carnival in Venice!  

This sweet girl was my best friend for most of our time in Europe.  Because of her, I would take off in the car, drive for a while, find a nice place to walk and off we would go.  She had to go out and I was the one to do it and in the process we found so many wonderful places.  

This is a picture of one of our last walks!  See the Black Forest behind us.  It was so lovely!

We would walk for any where from one to three hours a day through the fields by our house.  Tom and I would walk on the weekends, find a spot, sit and talk while Murphy would dig for mice or bones and just run and play.  I would walk through the week with my best German friend, Marina.  I really learned my German from her!  Murphy and Marina's dog, Kiara were best buds and would have fun running through the fields and going for a dip in the creek!

Here is Murphy in her most famous begging pose!  She is well known for this and could sit upright forever!

We moved back to the States and she was still my main motivation to go out, exercise and walk.  Since she was a puppy she slept in the bed with us.  She would always start off under the covers in the crook of my knee or back and then she would move to the top of the covers.  While in Germany, she hurt her back.  After crystals swung over her (very holistic vet in Germany!), acupuncture and laser therapy she was better, but suffers from her back going out from time to time.  We bought a new king bed in Michigan and she couldn't jump on or off the bed because it was so high so what do any good parents do?  They build a ramp!  The BHW built a wonderful ramp for our four legged baby with matching carpet and everything!  

Then... Jemma came.  

I am not going to say that we forgot about her, but I will say the walks definitely took a downward turn (especially in January and February in Michigan!).  I hate to even mention it, but on one of our first visits out to see friends with the baby and Murphy, we left without Murphy.  We figured it out before we were out of the driveway, but we did leave her.  I am blaming it on new baby, our dog, their dog,  their two kids and a flurry of activity before we left.  We have all been there.  Right?  :-)  

Murphy took little or no interest in Jemma until the food started falling from the high chair!  Then she was her best buddy.  Since hurting her back, Murphy doesn't like to be around kids. She is afraid they will hurt her back so she just avoided Jemma.  We taught Jemma from day one to always be gentle, and I am proud to say that Jemma has always been so sweet to her.  She even tells other people to stay away from her back because it hurts her and that she is "old and crotchety!"   

The look on Murphy's face hasn't changed very much!!

She tolerates the kisses

And they have come to a mutual love and understanding!

I am so grateful to have this dog in my life.  She has made me explore and exercise.  She has shown me nothing but unconditional love.  She is my snuggle buddy and always my friend.  Now she is showing Jemma how to be respectful to animals, care for a pet and love.  She has been with us for 12 years.  As she gets older, I know the day will come that she won't be with us and I have to say that it breaks my heart.  I can't imagine her not there to snarf down any food that we drop or to push my hand up when she needs a little love.  I can't even begin to think about those big brown eyes not looking at me with all the love in her doggie world.  

She is and always will be my first baby.

My Murphy.

I am linking up with Heidi at Heart and Home for Gratitude Wednesday!  Thanks Heidi for always making us stop to think about all the special things in life!

Also linking up to Debbiedoos Pet Party!