A Child is Born

Christmas has always been about the birth of a baby. This Christmas added a new twist. Our first Grandchild, Hunter, was born to our middle Daughter, AB, on December 23rd, just a few minutes before 4:00am. It was a long labor but all went well. I do want to give kudos to the new children's wing and birthing facilities at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. It is a fantastic facility with a great staff.

'08 Lady Pats Start Hot

B's middle school bball team opened up their season this past Monday with a 49-14 win over Waccamaw Academy. B is the starting PG this season. Despite only getting to play for the first quarter due to the coach not wanting to run things up, B scored 11 points had 4 assists and 5 steals. The 2008 WCA team is loaded as we all knew they would be. They only lost one regular season game last year and then lost the championship game of their tournament. And the thing about it is, they are even stronger this year. It should be a load of fun. Two of our toughest games are next week on Monday and Thursday. Can't wait!!

Starting Our Arena

After talking about it a lot and dreading it even more, we finally got started on our riding arena. The tractor upgrade and purchase of the PHD attachment will prove to be a lifesaver, I'm sure. Longer range plans will include, hopefully, installation of lighting and running a water line to the arena. Materials will not be a challenge for the project as all of the rails will be constructed from the materials recycled from our stables that we disassembled when we moved to this location. I'm sure my back will give out long before the substantial pile of 2X6's runs out.

Still Here

Seven months since my last entry and only one in thirteen months. Lots of excuses. None of which hold much water. Lots of changes. Obviously, there's no way to catch up thirteen months in a single blog. Well, unless you have a lot less going on than do we. As I get back into the blogging mode, I'll catch things up a bit at the time. My first update will be on Brady. The hope we had for Brady's recovery when last I posted was not to be. Within a week of his return home from N. C. State, his condition worsened and one of the toughest decisions of our life had to be made. Brady was special. Brady was loved. Brady is missed and he will never be forgotten.

Hurricanes take 2nd in Myrtle Beach

This summer is the first year of travel basketball for B (and us). As if she (we) don't already have a bountiful plate what with horse lessons/shows, travel and school softball, etc., now we have entered the world of travel basketball. In this part of the state, travel basketball teams, especially for girls, are few and far between. Since WCA softball has ended, we agreed to join the Hurrianes which play ot of Wilmington, NC and do the majority of their practicing at Cape Fear Academy. This weekend was our first tournament of the season, in Myrtle Beach, SC. A bracket reacord of 2-1 was good enough to get us into the championship game at The Sports Zone which is a pretty nice multi sport facility. In a matchup with the Forest Heat from somewhere in central North Crolina, we kept it close for the entire contest but came up a bit short in the end. For the first time out, being a runner-up in Myrtle Beach was not bad at all in my book. Way to go Hurricanes.

Patriots deadlock with SOL

The WCA Lady Patriots played to a tough 5-5 tie with Spirit of Life Academy in a middle school softball game. B made only her second middle school start and went five innings giving up three runs on four hits, with 7 strikeouts and 5 walks. At the plate, B went 2 for 3 with a walk and scored one run.

Out in the Cold

We participated in the West Wateree Ropes & Reins 4-H show in Camden, SC this weekend. A long trip with a late arrival led to an early wakeup on Saturday to a windy mix of cold rain and sleet. The weather did break and improve in the afternoon, but we never got a break in the show ring. A long day resulted in a single 5th place ribbon for B and Red in the TWH Youth Trail Pleasure English 3 Gait.

A sidebar to our show plan was to visit a resident near the area that had been advertising boxer puppies for sale. We had been shopping around for a new boxer pup, although the reality is that we had absolutely no need for another.
With a break in the afternoon show schedule we took off to see what they had to offer. The only pup they had left was a cute little boy that seemed as though he really wanted to come to our house. What was left to do but oblidge him? So, welcome to the Triple H Horse Farm family.... "Max Man".

Gone to See About a Dog

After the passing of Brady, I think it was a given that we would shortly be looking for a new pup. Brady being gone left a big hole in our little world. After a bit of time we, mostly C, began looking around in papers, internet, etc. Without even being aware of it, I believe my heart was already set on anther brindle boxer, much the same as Brady was. C found one on the internet and at the first look we were very taken by him. The biggest hitch with this deal would be that he was in Mountain City, TN. Now, as anyone that know us is aware of, we are pretty much up for trip to Tennessee at just about any time. But making the trek simply to pick up a dog seemed, even to us, a bit much. Anyway, after some soak time, we decided to make the trip. We even decided to take Lexi with us. This was her first road trip of any real distance and certainly her first over-niter. We searched the web and made reservations at a pet friendly motel in Mountain City and headed up on Saturday. We were late arriving and picked our new pup up on a cold night, well after dark. He was being kept in a dark and isolated stall and being the last of the litter, looked very alone and sad. Immediately there was no doubt, it was a done deal. With our new brindle boxer we were off for a late checking at the motel and a quick pizza. Lexi and our yet un-named pup did great overnight and both traveled well on the way home on Sunday. During the trip we decided his name should reflect his coming from Tennessee so we finally settled on Bristol. Upon our arrival home, it became quickly obvious that Bristol had a lot of learning to do. He could not negotiate steps and did not even know what a hole in the ground was as he almost immediately walked off into one when we turned him loose in the back yard. So, to sum it up, Bristol is special in more than one way, much the same as Brady was and always will be. But in the end, Bristol will be unique in his own way and he is now in a place where he will loved cared for. Too bad, so many pets never make it to a place like that.

2007-08 Lady Pats Finish 2nd

After finishing in 2nd place in the conference regular season, the Wilmington Christian Academy (middle school) Lady Patriots hoped to pull out a championship in the post season tournament. After wading through the first two rounds it came down to a championship matchup with Harrells Christian Academy, the regular season champions. The Pats had split their two regular season matches with each team winning on their home court. In the end, Harrells simply had the edge with more physical play and a deeper bench to take the championship in at ##-## decision. The Lad Pats finished the season with a respectable 14-3 record and the 2nd place trophie. Looking ahead, there will be great expectations for this group as the team will consist of the most talented collection of young athletes that anyone can remember at WCA. Only time will tell....

DCM and Brady

Dilated Cardiomyopathy, aka heart disease. DCM is a disease of the heart muscle that results in weakened contractions and poor pumping ability. As the disease progresses the heart chambers become enlarged, one or more valves may leak, and signs of congestive heart failure develop. The cause of DCM is unclear in most cases, but certain breeds appear to have an inherited predisposition. Primarily, the Boxer, or in this case, Brady. DCM is inherited and thus is present at birth. It is a progressive disease and normally takes years for the symptoms to become a problem. In Brady's case, DCM did not play by the rules. Brady is not yet two years old. But he has spent the last five days going from emergency vet hospitals, to the vet, to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Hopital and finally back home today. After a number of collapses for Brady and a rollercoaster of ups and downs for us, he is home. The short term for Brady is somewhat promising. With test results still pending and a plethora of meds to tweek for optimal heart rate, the long term is yet uncertain. The biggest challenge of immediate concern is how to limit the activity of a 68 pound boxer who loves to run and wrestle with Lexi, his 60 pound boxer buddy, while maintaining his quality of life. But for now, of most importance, Brady is home.