Thankful TJ Thursday

This is going to be a bit of a mish mash post, but it's all good.

Lightning said we HAVE to show that Santa is alive and well and standing - and Lightning is so happy you believed him.

This was how Phantom spent most of Monday after he got home from his annual checkup at the V.E.T.  He got all his shots and the vet said he was looking pretty good for a 14 year old guy.  His teeth are a bit on the nubby side, but clean.  His joints are all doing pretty well.  His eyes seem to be looking better since he started the daily ointment treatments (that he really does not like at all).  And yes, there are a few more lumps and bumps, and the old ones are a bit bigger, but everything is "on watch".  His senior blood panel came back yesterday.  Without going into a lot of detail, it was just OK.  Some of the numbers that were too high last time are a bit higher again, and the ones that were too low are a bit lower again.  But we don't want to dwell on the bad.  We are thankful for each day he is with us.

As some of you have commented recently, you can see that Mr. Phantom has a new best pal.  He has always chosen to be on his own.  He much prefers quiet solitude.  But for some reason over the past several months, sweet Ciara has been worming her way in.  She is often found lying pretty close to him.  In the past he would get up and find another spot if one of the others came too close.  In Easy Sunday's pic, you can see how she was just about leaning on him, or was he leaning on her?  And now above, amazing, she is almost but not quite on the bed with him.  What is going on? Is this a maternal instinct coming into play?  Or does she know he is aging?  Beats us, but Mom sure does love seeing it.

Awww, c'mon now, enough of all that mushy stuff.  Let's get to the good stuff.

Yep, the Momster surprised us with some goodies from TJ's - after trying a couple of times to get those special gingerbread treats, the third time was a charm - she even bought FOUR boxes!!!  But wait, what else is there???  We spy another package.

Whoa - chicken breast strips!!!  And they are made in the U.S.A.!!!

Yes, we are all pretty serious-faced here. But when the Momster has gingerbread treats AND chicken jerky in her hand, we all have to concentrate.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning