Doodles in Hawaii

[Bonnie and Kona]

We have been in Hawaii since July 3 and 4. Moving to Hawaii with dogs is incredibly complicated and stressful. For four months I fretted and worried that I would not cross every t and dot every i and my precious doodles would be quarantined! I worried so much I could not actually talk about it. My DD and I would begin a conversation regarding all that needed to be done to get them there and I would have to stop and take a break. Hawaii has no rabies so in order to keep it that way dog owners have many hoops to jump through. 

I flew with my DD and her doodle Owen on July 3. We could not figure out how to manage two airlines and two airports on one day so my DH flew with Kona on July 4. Kona was too heavy to fly on Alaska Airlines for $100. He had to fly United Cargo at over quadruple the price. Of course we don't know how the dogs did on the flight, but the joy of having them released into our waiting arms was obviously great for all of us. Kona didn't know it but my DH almost missed the fight due to computer delays at the cargo area! He ran full-out sprint with belt in hand and shoes untied to make the flight. He was the last person to board the plane.  Phew... Glad I didn't know what was happening until it was all safely concluded. 

The dogs still have not fully adjusted to being here. We try not to leave them in the house alone very often, but when we do they bark and howl. We have made friends with the teenaged girl behind our house. She will come over to pet and comfort them if we are gone more than an hour. This does not happen often, but some things just take time... like dealing with car repairs or the DMV. Need I say more? We think they are calming down with the arrival of our goods and the unpacking of boxes. 

Both Kona and Owen love, love, L.O.V.E the beach! They never stop smiling and they fetch the water toys we bought here over and over. We have to make them stop and they remind us over and over where the toys are waiting for us to throw them into the surf again. Owen swims like an otter. Kona loves to fetch more but his swimming style is a little less sleek. They come home covered in sand and have to get washed off including shampoo to get the sand off. If any of you have suggestions about how to best get sand off a doodle, I would love to hear it! My DH is still running with them every morning and at least four-five days a week they have been swimming at the beach.

Thank you for all the good wishes and questions about the move. Our DD has been immensely better since arriving. She has only had to be down two days and one of those was only half a day. After five years of Chronic Daily Migraines leaving her incapacitated all but perhaps two days a month, this is an incredible blessing. My head has been just great. It is almost alarming how much energy I have and how much I can accomplish without the constant companion of pain. 

My DH will be working two weeks here and then two in CA for the rest of this year. We are hoping he will end up here most of the time soon there after. 

Kona loves to fetch!

Owen and me loving the beach:

DH playing fetch with the doodles:

[Ginny Nightingale]

Fantastic photos--what a wonderful life to have! If I can just point out one little problem-- your phone number is visible on kona's tag....might want to delete that photo or replace it with one that has it removed (if you use photoshop, you can do it). It is a lovely photo, but that is risky.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you Karen, Donna and Jill. 

We don't know what makes the difference but from our experience it has something to do with being in the ocean. There have been times when Jennie has had a migraine and we have managed to get her into the water at which point her migraine lifts. She has done some research about it and there is a connection with absorbing magnesium through the skin instead of the digestive system that could be part of it. The doctors at Stanford told her they have no idea why it helps but if it does then do it. I think Chronic Daily Migraines are a bit of a mystery. Nothing else is working for her at all. 

Because we lived her in the 80's we returned every year or two for a visit. When we came her both of us always felt better. She moved her in 2009 but couldn't afford to stay. Hoping this is the answer we are looking for. She has a bad migraine today but we never expected her to be completely rid of them. She is definitely better though! 

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

That looks like paradise..indeed!! Glad to hear you are both feeling well, and that the dogs are adjusting...I know I wouldn't mind adjusting to Hawaii!!!!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Bonnie this looks like heaven. I'm happy to hear the boys are enjoying the ocean and I'm sure they'll be totally adjusted with just a little more time. I am so glad you and your DD are feeling better, what is it about Hawaii that makes a difference? I may have to move there. :>)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bonnie, it truly looks and sounds like paradise! I love the photos! But best of all is to hear that your DD and you are both feeling so much better! Yay!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you, Sherri, Jarka, Allyson and Lori. We are all so happy to be here!

Jani, We are about 10 minutes from the beach. Just long enough to fill the car with sand every trip. ;o)

Adrianne, I'm so sorry you know the pain of seeing your children suffer. It is far worse than our own suffering. Charli and Owen are cut from the same cloth... sand rollers. We had people video taping him rolling on the sand and kicking his feet in the air! Mercifully no fishy smells yet!

Adrienne and Sandy, Thank you for the encouragement about the doodles adjusting... I assumed they would have adjusted by now but I know it is better than it was. Poor guys... so much change!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you, J. Lonnie and Camilla. You should come visit us! 

Wendy, We are not in Kona. We named him after the black lava there though. When he was a puppy his was pure black. He is more pewter looking now with a bit of tan on his face. Our guys wanted to drink the salt water the first day and we kept telling them to "leave it". They understood quickly not to do so. Enjoy your time at the sea.

[Adrienne]

Glad to hear and see that you all made it safely to Hawaii.  How lucky to have such a beautiful paradise as your home.  I'm sure that Kona and Owen will adjust to there new environment--then they will really run the place.  No one can resist good looking Doodles :))

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am thrilled to hear that you and DD are feeling better!!! I understand all too well how it hurts us when our children aren't well and there is nothing we can do to help them. The doodles will settle in and we are jealous that they can go swimming so often!! 

Charli loves to roll in the sand when soaking wet and so far I haven't found anything but a bath that gets it off. The beach they can go to is an inlet between the fishing boat docks and the ocean. On their way back to the docks they start cleaning the fish and Charli just loves to roll in fish bones! UGH what a smell that reeks in my car for days! 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

great photos!  I can only imagine the stress of getting there, but I sure do think that it should start melting away soon with all that beautiful beach to enjoy! Have Fun!