After getting Kylee’s good news we decided to go out and do a little celebrating. So, on Saturday, we decided to head off to the Big E. Or “The Big Eat” as some like to call it, because, literally, you could do nothing but EAT all day long and still not eat everything they have to offer. The Big E is THE largest fair in the northeast. It runs for almost 3 weeks each and every September and attracts over 200,000 people a week! It’s insane! And we were one of the crazy families that attempted to go on a weekend. EVERYONE tells you to avoid the fair on Saturday or Sunday. They draw twice as many people as they do during the week, traffic and parking can be hell and inside the gates is nothing but a sea of people. We didn’t listen to EVERYONE. We got lucky.

We didn’t hit any traffic, we found a great parking spot and we got to see a lot of the fair in the 4 hours that Shane let us explore. It was a GREAT time.

We can’t wait to go back and do it again next year. On a Saturday. So there.

I called the vet yesterday. Twice. Got GOOD news! Kylee’s tumor is benign!! It was actually a hematoma (which, unfortunately, we’re a little too familiar with in this family). The vet tech said it was likely caused by a previous injury and had just become aggravated. Surgery should’ve taken care of it and Ky should be good as new in a few more weeks once those stitches dissolve. Thank GOD! We owe the “Big Guy”.

Off to the Big E tomorrow! We’re probably crazy to even think about going on a Saturday, but we really can’t afford to take another vacation day and we’d really like to go. Should be fun! Maybe they’ll have a special treat for Ky!

On another note entirely, Shane has changed his sleep schedule again - this time for the better! He’s going down a little later - around 8pm, but he’s sleeping until 7:30 or so which is SO nice! And he’s still even taking his usual 90 minute morning nap! Way to go little guy!

If it’s not Shane getting sick and going to the pedi, it’s one of the dogs going to the vet.

Last week we (ok, Chris - I’m too emotional) took Kylee to the vet for a lump that we found under her jaw. We were pretty sure it’d turn out to be nothing . . . now we know to never assume anything. It was a tumor. And two days ago, poor Ky went back to the vet to have it removed. Now we’re nervously waiting for the biopsy results. And we’re REALLY hoping our initial thoughts of it being nothing, turn out to be a reality. The “Big C” is scarey. Even if in reference to the family pet. Our girls are more than just our dogs, they’re our first babies. And the thought of one of them not being there, well, let’s just say it’s not something we like to dwell on.

It’s amazing really how an animal can become such a huge part of your family. We vacation with these guys because we don’t have the heart to put them in a kennel for a week. We actually go out of our way looking for dog friendly accomodations, sacrificing certain amenities, and paying additional charges just so our girls can accompany us on our family vacation. And why shouldn’t it be that way? They’re just as much a part of the family as any of us. They’re what made Chris and I a family before we were even married. We owe a lot to these girls. We hope to have them around for a long, long time.