After moving to CT, I had my second upright child, Meredith, in December 2000.  She was born a whopping 8+ lbs and 20" long.  In her first 15 months life, she struggled with constant colds, coughs and wheezing. She was borderline "failure to thrive".  I finally got her diagnosed with asthma, and ONE allergy...DOGS.  I put off the inevitable for 6 weeks, then got up the courage to email G/A telling her of my situation.  I had three OES, and I knew atleast two had to go.  There was no decision as to who it would be...two were spayed one was not.  I emailed her thinking I had atleast a couple of weeks before I even got a response!  That was not the case...she contacted me within hours of my email, telling me she had homes for Rosie and Gwennie.  When we spoke on the phone I could barely talk through the tears.  I felt like I had failed my dogs, especially Gwennie.  She is one "different" girl, VELCRO, SOLITARY, NEEDY...an odd combination, but one that worked very well with me.  Of course G/A was more than nice and held my hand through the phone lines.....

The day came to bring the girls to Camp G/A.....I cried the whole way, but held it together while I was there.  I turned to the girls to say good-bye, told them they had done their job for me..and now it was time for them to go and make new families happy.  I left them with a kiss, and walked out.  Walking to the car, I think my knees buckled and I literally fell to the ground I was so upset.  Needless to say I was a mess for a long time afterwards, but G/A's emails assured me the ladies were adjusting to their new homes perfectly.  I knew Rosie would...she has no problem feeling at home anywhere...it was Gwennie that I had my concerns about.  

Eventually, I came to accept that Gwennie was in a new home and happy.  I thought about her everyday, but more with reflection instead of sadness.  And to make things even better, my Meredith literally overnight improved in her health.  I was nebulizing her 3x a day, then it turned to maybe once a week....eventually it turned to once a month, and for about 6 months now, she has not been nebulized.  I contacted the asthma specialist and let him know of her status..and he said it is not uncommon for children to have what is called "infant asthma" where they outgrow it around the age of two....WOO HOO!!!  But Gwennie was already gone.......

Fast forward to Christmas 2002....apporoximately 9.5 months after Gwennie and Rosie left us.  My husband and I are in separate cars driving up 495N from Plymouth MA to CT.  I get a call on my cell phone...it's Bill.  "Heather you need to call Grannie Annie, she has called home three times.  Something about Gwennie not working out in her new home....call her now!"  So, almost driving off the road, I called G/A and learned of Gwennie's issues at her new home.  I drove straight to her house (detour on my way to CT) to talk to her in person...and discuss options.  It was settled that we would take Gwennie back,  just to foster her atleast.  It was an immediate need that Gwennie leave the new home.  I was more than thrilled to have her back, albeit on a temporary basis.  So the next day I went with Lucy (Henry Holland's squeeze) and Meredith (upright daughter) BACK to G/A's from CT to pick up Gwennie.  

Gwennie didn't skip a beat here.  She was gone for almost 10 months, but remembered everything..all the nooks and crannies etc.....Lucy...well she had finally adjusted to being the only fuzz ball around, but she eventually allowed Gwennie back into her life..and now they are pals again.  Meredith thankfully fared very well with the return of Gwen, so I am happy to say, that Gwen has been re-rescued, and is once again....HOME.
 

I have decorated Gwennie's square with her in the middle, because she truly is the center of my sheepie world.  I have her on a big sun, because I used to always sing to her (she is the only one in the family that doesn't complain when I sing) "You are my sunshine...my only sunshine...."  I have two big hearts on the square...because I love her so much, and she loves me right back.  The crowns...well that goes without saying...she birthed a Royal Winner at Crufts!  She is ofcourse.. The Queen Mum.