Enjoying the Cooler Weather

It had been so hot and humid here but we got a lucky break of three very mild days for summer and made the most of them today and yesterday by getting out to some beautiful parks and gardens. Both Dixie and Rena need to get out of the house and were happy to discover new places. Jazz would have loved them too.

Dixie goes back to school!

Its a month on Sunday since Jazz passed away and as Dixie seems lonely I decided it was time that she went back to school to play with doggy friends and staff members that she has known almost all her life. It is the first time she has ever been there without Jazz. Jazz started going there when she was 10months and then when Dixie came along she started to go with her big sister. Both Jazz and Dixie have really enjoyed going there over the years and won a special place in the hearts of the staff there. One of the first staff members we met just over 8 years ago is leaving this weekend to have a baby. We are very sad to see her go but glad that Dixie got one last chance to play with her yesterday. Goodbye and good luck to the lovely, Eriko.

We miss you, Jazz.

Thank you so much to everyone who came over to our blog and left such lovely comments about our Jazz. It's been two weeks since she passed away and I still can't believe it. Every thing I do with Dixie such as feeding, walking and playing I am constantly looking for Jazz. I have been going over thousands of pictures on three different computers and on this blog and remembering the great times we had with Jazz and shedding many a tear. I feel sorry that in the time since Rena was born that I did not have as much time to keep up with this blog as I used to. It will 6 years this August since I started this blog and I'm glad I did because I have a wonderful story of my Jazzy's life to read and re-read with Rena who is also sad about why her buddy had to go to doggy heaven.

RIP Our Dear Sweet Jazz

Our dear Jazz left us today and what a sad day it has been. But we have taken some comfort from the thoughts and kind comments from people here who like us, love their dogs as family members.Thank you.  Run free Jazzy. We will miss you so much, Mummy, Daddy, Dixie and Rena xxxxxxxxxx

Jazz

Thank you to everyone who sent their best wishes for Jazz. After having spent a week in hospital and not showing any signs of improvement and not knowing 100% what is wrong with her we decided to bring her home on Sunday. She was weak but so happy to be home again with Dixie and us. Since Sunday she had been eating well, although not gaining any weight. She was still managing to do her business outside and walk slowly around in the garden. She has been sleeping in an oxygen cage at night to help her breathing. However this morning things have taken a turn for the worst as she is not eating or drinking anything and she can not stand up at all. The vets at a top medical centre here think it may be some kind of cancer but they can't say for sure as blood work has not shown signs of cancer and some abnormal cells found in her lungs are also associated with severe inflammation. She has developed several lumps on her body and face almost over night and is not responding to any of the many drugs she is on at the moment.  She is lying on my bed at the moment next to me and I'm so sad to see my dear sweet Jazz this way. We continue to hope and pray that she will pull through this whatever it is and thank you for your prayers too.

My Poor Jazz is Sick!!

Jazz, our 9 year old beagle has been unwell on and off over the last few months. The most recent bout lasting for more than two weeks now. We have taken her to two vets on 6 different occasions and she has been on various medications but nothing is making her better and neither vet has a clue as to what is making her sick. Anyone who knows beagles knows they eat anything and everything but for the first time in her life Jazz was not eating anything for about 3 days and that's what really set the alarm bells ringing. Now she will only eat chicken breasts and soft chicken dog food very slowly but none of her usual foods. She is really struggling to get up and down the stairs, has diarrhea and  is peeing a lot. Her breathing is very rapid and after drinking or eating she coughs. She is just lying around and not her usual active self at all. I am very worried about her and wondered if anyone out there might have had similar problems with their dogs or might know what is wrong with her.

Happy 9th Birthday to our Jazz.

Today was Jazz's 9th Birthday and although we had a very busy day I managed to bake her a banana cake which we all had for dessert tonight. Rena ate all her dinner quickly as Jazz and Dixie circled the table waiting impatiently to eat cake. This is Jazz's last year of single digit Birthdays and Dixie's last year before she is considered senior here.

Happy 6th Birthday to our middle daughter, Dixie!

Today is Children's Day in Japan but also our Dixie's Birthday! She turned 6 today! It has been raining a lot recently but today was a perfect spring day just right for getting out and celebrating with dogs and children. We had birthday cake on the deck first. Jazz and Rena were not happy about Dixie getting her cake first since she was Birthday girl. Usually its Rena first, then Jazz and last of all Dixie but today was Dixie's special day so we turned the tables on the others!  Then we set out to a nearby park for a walk. Now everyone but me is having a siesta!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Rena

Jazz and Dixie were quick to jump in and help celebrate their little sister's Birthday! They were kind enough to help with eating the cake and with opening the presents!

Happy New Year 2012

Hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday season. Here we are enjoying some beautiful winter sun on the back deck today.

Naughty Dog dog run

Today was a national holiday here in Japan so we decided to make the most of the beautiful autumn weather and head outdoors with Jazz and Dixie and Rena. We took them to a nearby dog run and all three had a good time. Rena has been dying to take J and D for a walk "by myself" so today in the safety of the dog run she took charge and J and D obliged her by walking around and around with her.

The last weekend in July Shin's brother's two Beagles, Rocky and Bobby came to stay overnight on their way to Texas. The family moved to Texas and Rocky and Bobby needed to be at the airport early in the morning for quarantine so they stayed the night before. Walking four beagles was a bit of a task! Glad I just have the two!

Keeping Cool in the Pool

Everyone keeping cool in the pool in our back yard. Jazz and Dixie don't care for swimming but it had been so hot that we decided to cool them down with a bit of a swim.

Happy 8th Birthday Jazz

Yesterday was Jazz's 8th Birthday so I baked another sugar/salt free cake that both Rena and dogs could eat. Everyone enjoyed the cake.

Happy 5th Birthday Dixie!

Yesterday was Kodomonohi (Children's Day) here in Japan and also our middle daughter, Dixie's 5th Birthday. We all went to a nearby dog run and had cake at home to celebrate.

Thanks to everyone for their concern. We are all ok. Heading to Australia tomorrow.

Snow!!!!

It snowed again last night but this time the fall was quite substantial. By morning even though it was already melting quickly there was still a lot on the ground in the back garden for all the "kids" to enjoy. Jazz and Dixie ran around full tilt chasing each other through the white stuff while Rena and I made a snow man from things we found in the garden.

Happy Holidays!

As a little pre Christmas holiday Shin took us all away to the Hyatt Spa Resort in Hakone. It was pretty grey and cols but we had a wonderful time with the whole family. Jazz and Dixie were met at the car and taken away for a pedicure and brushing while we settled into our lovely room complete with doggy en suite and doggy toiletry drawer with personal welcome letter!! Despite the weather we rugged up and took the girls to a dog run overlooking Lake Ashi. There was no one there and as the dog run was a bit small we braved it and let Jazz and Dixie off lead to run around the fields. I was quite worried though as we hardly ever do this as you never know what smell a beagle will get wiff of and take off. Anyway we let them have a bit of freedom to run around like complete idiots and then finished off with a walk on leash so mum could relax a bit! We also visited a very well manicured garden overlooking the lake. We had a great time away.

I put up the Christmas tree today with the help of Rena, Jazz and Dixie and then tried to take some pics of them all in front of it. Had to promise J and D their favourite treats to get them to sit there!

Rena's First Trip to Dog Field with J and D

The typically beautiful Japan autumn weather is upon us, so yesterday being a national holiday we set out to make the most of it with the whole family. We haven't been to our favourite dog run, Dog Field since before Rena was born so we all went there for the day. Jazz and Dixie were so glad to be back and able to run around like crazy in the warm sunshine.