ted, the miracle dog (feeling grateful)

it was a year ago this week that ted had his cancer surgery, and while the surgery was successful in removing the tumor that was preventing him from being able to eat, we soon learned that his cancer was rare and highly aggressive (invasive mucin cell carcinoma). we made the difficult decision to not put him through any more procedures since his cancer couldn't be cured, and we were told that six months would be an extraordinary outcome.

well, i'm proud to report that a year later, ted is doing GREAT. these pictures were taken today, and while he may be a little slower than he was pre-cancer, he is still barking for food, cuddling up a storm every night, and being the same stubborn and ornery little walker as he ever was. best of all, so far as we can tell, he is in no pain and the only symptom seems to be ongoing anemia, which causes him to be a little less energetic than he would otherwise be, *but* he was the least energetic dog in the universe before the cancer, so really the difference is minute. i know ted's health can't last forever, and i almost feel i'm tempting fate by posting this, but i also never thought we'd make it to this day so there is plenty of reason to celebrate. the last year has been amazing, and i've loved every second of having him by my side- even on those stubborn and ornery walks, when he's pulling one way, while i'm trying to walk another. ;-)

thanks again to every person who has supported and shown ted such love. he doesn't know he has an internet fan club, but it makes his daddy happy to know that so many people love and care for this funny little rescue dog.

second look (the maison21 interior design portfolio, reimagined)

like seemingly everyone in the design world, i became obsessed with the waterlogue app a couple of weeks ago, and quickly began compulsively watercoloring pictures of ted, richard and flowers, instagramming them to the world. what i am really amazed by is waterlogue's ability to reimagine my interior design portfolio and make it look fresh and pretty, even when after staring at some of these photos for years it began to look anything but in my eyes. thanks waterlogue for helping me taking a second look at my work, and pardon my (lack of) humility, but, dang, it looks good the second time around...  ;-)

ps- if you like what you see, the real photos are here, and you can email me here for more info.

giving thanks, 2013

ted, november, 2013

i am so thankful to be celebrating the thanksgiving holiday with my little buddy, ted. given that he was so ill in july, it is a miracle that today he is happy, healthy and begging for treats. while his surgery helped enormously, we know that his rare and aggressive cancer will be back at some point, but on thanksgiving 2013, ted is a feeling good and will be totally spoiled. we are going on a long car ride to visit my family in san diego, and since ted loves a car ride, he'll be in heaven the whole way, even as i'm cursing the traffic. ;-) so grateful to have him with me today.

ted, after surgery in july to remove his stomach tumor. i was so scared he wouldn't make it.

and i am also grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and even total strangers during the darkest hours of his illness. it truly took a village to save his life, and my gratitude to the hundreds of people who came together for him is simply inexpressible. absolutely changed my way of viewing the world, and without that love and support, ted would not be here barking for treats today. so thank you to ted for being ted, and thank you to everyone who cared enough about a little dog to help save his life. today as we enjoy our turkey, you'll all be in our hearts.

ted, demanding treats. considering 4 months ago he was refusing to eat or drink, these barks are music to my ears. as long as he's barking, i'm feeding. ;-)
happy thanksgiving everyone! give your loved ones a hug today- they are the things to be most grateful for!

i'm hanging with the #blogtourLA kids today! (plus cute animals)

so be sure to follow along on instagram & twitter for all teh fun.

in the meantime, here's a lil ted and richard action to make you smile.


ps-  if you'd like to help more homeless animals have wonderful lives like ted & richard, please consider sponsoring me in "the race for the rescues", benefitting the amazing molly's mutts and meows, who saved ted (and friday the pit bull).

layabouts

there has been a whole lot of this:

and this:

goin' on around here this week as ted & richard's dad has been laid up in bed with the flu. it seems everyone we know either has it, or had it over christmas, and are finally feeling better. how about y'all? how are you faring this cold and flu season? i even got the shot, but alas, come down with anyway.

hopefully i'll be up and about soon, and spring is just around the corner for all of us, so we can banish this hideous cold/flu season goodbye for the year!  as for ted & richard, their lives won't change much, as laying around sleeping is pretty much all they do anyway.  ;-)

*pictures from the maison21 instagram feed- follow along for kicks (and more pictures of pets sleeping)

i love these guys.

ted just woke up, and wasn't particularly happy to find richard snuggling with him, but couldn't actually be bothered to snarl at him to go away, so he just resignedly sighed, and went back to sleep.  i love these guys- they always keep me smiling.

hope this helps your monday start with a smile too.

srsly...

... i think i should pimp out richard as a professional cat model. he is one good looking dude.

the dog days of summer

it's getting hot in hurr

so let's shave off all our furrs

thank you, sleepypod!

a couple weeks ago we ran into our friends from sleepypod at the dwell on design show, and finally met them in person, and though since we were at the convention center, they didn't have the chance to meet richard in person as well, they still were nice enough to send him a fabulous gift! and he LOVES it. took him all of 3 seconds to climb inside and he hasn't come out yet!

 

richard says "thanks sleepypod!".  he also says "eat your heart out, maru! i iz also cute cat who climbs in things!"
 

good morning!

the cure for the monday morning blues: dog breath!

merry xmas!

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a great start

this brief video is how we start every morning here at the atelier- not such a bad way to begin the day!

***make sure your volume is all the way up***

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happy weekend!

ted sleeps with his little pink tongue hanging out, so this is the little sleepyhead face i wake up to every morning. it's nice to start my day with a smile.

happy weekend, kids!
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