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:

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you, Becka. I have the unpacking down from shoulder high to thigh high. ;o)

[Becka]

What beautiful photographs! So glad to hear you are enjoying your new home and that you and your daughter are already feeling better!