It's been a long time

Before our move J.J. cuddling with Spinner at bed time

It's been more than a year since I have posted anything about how J.J. and the kiddo are doing, and for that I'm sorry. Life happened and I got to be too busy to keep up here. So What's new? Everything! So much has changed for us and most of it in a good way.

J.J. relaxing on my bed when the kiddo isn't home

Our little family is know living on our own. We found a great apartment, and moved in February to our own place. It has been an adjustment for all of us. J.J. is settled in and very secure in our family now, he even goes up to my husband and asks for attention now without being scared. It's amazing how dogs can bounce back when the are put into a loving home!

When we moved he had some adjustments to make and despite being unsure about them he faced his fears head on. Our new place has stairs, and he was terrified of them to the point that I had to carry him up and down them. That was no easy task for me or my husband. On one occasion he actually peed on Drew when being carried down stairs to be taken our side! I thought it was really funny, Drew was not amused. J.J. has one fear now and it seems to be one that he just can't or won't face and that is the kitchen floor. He won't walk on it at all. That's okay though because it's nice being able to cook without tripping over him.

J.J. relaxing on the new furniture after a long day of unpacking

He has made a lot of new friends since we moved too! Most importantly he gained a little sister! I'll post about her in a new post though since this one will be pretty long just catching up on his and Rori's new adventures!

J.J. has been spending a lot of time with me lately because Rori has started school now. He misses her during the day and lets her know every afternoon when she gets home with enthusiastic kisses and tail wags. Rori misses him too while she's gone during the day and she loves that he gets so excited when she comes home.
They both have adjusted very well to living in an apartment. Rori has made friends with some of the kids here and even had her first slumber party which J.J. was pretty excited about too. He loves kids, and was thrilled about there being more than usual in the apartment. Rori and I take him to the play ground a lot an he watches while she plays. He usually draws a crow of kids to him. Everyone of neighbor kids wants to pet and hug him him and he loves all the attention.

After school snuggles

Life has been very good for him in the 2 years since he was abandoned by his first family. J.J. turned 4 this past February (as far as the vet can tell). He still has some emotional issues but that's just par for the course with an abandoned pup, but he's getting better. This fall is going to test him a bit though because Rori has started school, American Heritage Girls (which is a Christian girls ministry that is very similar to scouting), and cheer leading. So she isn't home as much as she used to be. Me and him usually cuddle during the day while she's at school at least as much as his new little sister will allow.

Cuddles while going to a friend's house

Rori will cuddle with him when she gets home and she takes him outside every night after dinner. Life has settled and so has he. It's coming up on the 3 year anniversary of when he came into our lives, scared, abused, and abandoned. I'm so glad that he doesn't have to feel that way anymore. To whoever it was that abandoned him, I will never forgive you for inflicting the pain you have on him but thank you for putting this amazingly sweet, loving boy in our lives he enriches it so much by being here.