Max is here!!!!!

I don't have any pictures, I know I need to get on it, but Max is finally here!!!!!! I am so relieved! He is still the same lovable dog and warms up to us a bit more everyday. We did have to stick him in quarantine for the next four months (poor buddy) but they are actually a great bunch of guys there and I feel good about his care. I was SO nervous about him being there, but the staff really is excellent and I am confident he is well taken care of in my absence. He is actually one of the reasons for my delay in posting lately. We go see him everyday and the bus ride there (with bus transfers) takes over an hour. Then we spend at least an hour with him, visiting hours are only two hours long twice a day, and then take an hour to go home. So three hours of my day is now absorbed with Maxer time. The girls have been very good about it as well. We tell stories and color on the bus and then they take turns playing with Max or digging around in the dirt when we are playing with him in the enclosure area. And let me tell you...for an anti-germ person like myself this quarantine business has me flustered. The yard we can take him to, to excersise in is about 150 square feet of dirt and a circular cement area and all of it is "marked" territory. Max sniffs and pees on everything there as I'm sure every dog has before him so the girls playing on and picking up everything gives me the shivers, but I figure we'll have a super immunity at the end (and maybe even a good case of ringworm!). Anyhow, it is too cute. Max is so happy to have the girls again that Brielle hooks up his leash and he patiently follows her around while she giggles and directs him. He stops and looks at me like do I have to go around with her again? Then I pet him and she tugs and he starts off again. He even came up to Ash, while she was coloring a stick she found for him, and put his face to hers for a quick snuggle. He is so affectionate. What a sweetheart. I was a little worried after the first day because he didn't have much energy, but I honestly think he was just jetlagged, because he's gotten better everyday since. Well, that's enough about our dear doggy. I could go on about him all day. I told Hoss he doesn't have to get me anything for Christmas this year I'm just so happy to have my dog back! You people have no idea how much he means to me or how he and the girls got me through some tough times in Tunis. I really love him and I'm glad he's here. It's such a relief.