I thought I should write since I realized that 2hrs had gone by where I'm sitting by myself and going through comments/messages and laughing/crying as if I were surrounded by a group of friends...yet it's just me here. It made me realize how true it is that we are this incredible, huge family...sometimes to a default when people make a negative comment about our boy! But really, we are. It took 2 hrs for me to realize that (in person) I wasn't surrounded by everyone....oh dear- maybe Mama Bean is crazy ;)
We have another surgery date creeping up on us...neuter- Aug 6! Although it isn't nearly as extensive (obviously) as the palate surgery...it will still be, yet another, milestone in our boys life! I'm not sure if I'm more excited that he made it to the point of 6 months...or the fact that I can actually clip his nails bc he will be under anesthesia!
Anyone that knows Bean personally, knows that he has grown to be the typical Frenchie...he does what he wants- and he refuses to do anything that he doesn't want. It's gotten to be a "joke" when we are at the vet for a palate exam..."who's taking one for the team?!" So we can get a 2 second peek....and bloodwork- it's funny...it seems as if the hospital "goes on lunch break" for that one!! All of that attitude however, makes me even more proud of him (if that's even possible). He is a dog- he has his own personality- and I will always allow him to have that. (With boundaries- of course) :)
In all of the meets that we have done, and the events that we've attended, he thrives off of them. He snaps into his Bean routine...ears back...butt wiggles and works the room- it's so funny. Most of the success of this I have to say, I credit to everyone around us. For some reason...whether it be children or adults- we all respect him and his needs. It's because we are family! "Bean is getting fidgety"...ok...give him time and we will pick up where we left off...
I will always ensure that he is able to be a dog- before an "icon". I am trying to (as I've implied) find a way to meet everyone...and I promise you, there will never be a "charge" to see him...I'm still trying to wrap my head around all that is happening...but I can assure you- I will never exploit an animal. I've enjoyed the meets so far- so much...perhaps more than I can ever say...bc it feels like family- and I don't ever want that to change.
I'll never forget my Mom saying to me one day "something big is happening." She was so right...it is big...it's a lot of love all wrapped up tightly together. Again, I still can't fully comprehend it, but here we are...and through one pup that beat the odds, we are moving forward. It's not "weird" anymore to say "I love you"...
You are amazing and what you &Lentil do is wonderful. You have tons of my love and I've never even met you :)
ReplyDeleteWe really are team bean!! <3
ReplyDeleteJust continue what you are doing for Lentil and for all of the other animals. And for CCA kids. You took on something big, but incredibly noble. Karma will continue to come back.
ReplyDeleteThis little guy inspires me every day since I've found his FB page. Thank you for all you do to spread love and inspire hope in this world, Lentil Bean and Momma Bean!
ReplyDeleteI love waking up everyday just to see what kind of antics "our" little bean has gotten himself into. Your right too it is a family of sorts that we have made just because of that little stinker (I say that with all affection). Lentil shows me what its truly like to go through challenges but still come out on the otherside so much better for the experience.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed 'something big' ... through your heartfelt connection to Bean you are touching lives, making people feel that there's a little something in their world now that truly matters. I have a website called www.inspirationline.com that I've been doing for more than 12 years, so I know how hard it is. Yet you go above and beyond my daily computing hours by caring for Bean in every way, taking him to events so he can deliver "his message" in person, processing and shipping T-shirts ... on, and on, and on. I do Inspiration Line by myself too, but it's nothing compared to the time, energy and love you're sharing with strangers everywhere. Just delete any negative posts and know that Y-O-U make a huge difference. It brings joy to my day every time I see one of Bean's expressive photos and your clever titles. With Love for All You Do, Chelle Thompson
ReplyDeleteIt was more than enough to stand by and save your little Bean and share his journey with us. But you have gone above and beyond, with you and your little "ambassadog" spreading love, joy, and hope to all of us, and especially to those 4- and 2-legged folks with cleft palates and other facial issues! One little dog and his person have made a huge difference in this world. Of course we're team Bean--positivity begets positivity! Big hugs to you and little Lentil.
ReplyDeleteTara Mitrovka :)
Anyone who's ever taken the seconds to read what you and the little bean are all about, would NEVER associate anything negative to you and your fantastic family. :) I know we will never meet, but it has been an absolutely amazing journey seeing bean as a tiny little thing, grow into the wiggly, healthy frenchie he is today!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone in your big family can agree that we thank YOU for sharing Lentil's story and allowing us be a part of your life. <3
<3 <3 <3 thank you for all you do for Lentil! He's such a great ambassa-dog for those with birth defects/deformities. I was also born with a cleft lip and palate and although mine was not as severe as some, having a cutie like Lentil would have made everything easier and more fun! I feel like a part of Lentil's world through your Facebook updates. Thanks for sharing him and his story with the world!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. Don't get me wrong I love all the facebook post but I love this because it is the The Book of Little Bean and His Mommy by His Mommy!! Your Mom is so right about something big happening. Look at all the great work you and Bean are doing for the CCA kids <3 I love it that you let Bean be Bean :) It is what makes him so adorable. That SMILE of his is PRICELESS. I wish you all the BEST that LIFE HAS TO OFFER. You have made such an impact on my life and how I look at things... MAKING EVERYDAY THE BEST DAY EVER. Thanks for sharing him, you and your life. Love you both!
ReplyDeleteTime ago I wanted to say I admire you. They are doing everything possible for a little boy has the opportunity to have a normal and happy life. But great is what to you do with the special children and their families.I sympathize with you because my FB Romeo has always had breathing problems until the last option was a tracheostomy. And he have a happy life now. I wish God continue giving you
ReplyDeleteencouragement and forces to bring a little
Happiness to who needs it. Even in my sad moments Bean photos make me laugh. God bless you and family. Kisses to Chiquito (little boy)
My husband left me & I am going through bankruptcy, but every picture & video of Bean puts a nice smile on my face even for just a moment. Thank you for that!!! Give him a kiss from me!
ReplyDeleteMama Bean, you and Little Bean are an inspiration to us all. It was just meant to be that instead of this gorgeous puppy being put to sleep because of his disability, you found each other. Bean doesn't really know whats going on - he's just interested in eating, playing and being naughty, but you should be proud with what you've achieved. You only have to read the hundreds of comments on Facebook about how you light up people's days with the photos and videos of Little Bean. Not only are you raising money for children with disabilities, but Little Bean has shown them that its ok to look a little different - they're still beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo thank you for sharing Little Beans life with us. Don't worry about all the negative quotes - you've got all of us sending you heaps of love. xxxxx
We so love reading about all the best days ever! Can't wait to see what his royal Beanness is up to each day. Thank you for making the world a brighter place Lindsay!
ReplyDeleteOMG that kid is the most adorable thing ever and you are the best Mama he could ever have. Don't forget you are a person and have needs and please take care of you as well as the excellent care you take of our Bean!
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing person - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You bring tremendous joy to so many. Please, please, please take care of yourself, first and foremost. Anyone who posts anything negative is hurting & calling out for attention, but it is not your responsibility to fix them while they hide behind anonymous posts. I hope you have a good friend who can preview all posts, then delete and block all naysayers. Your journey with the Bean has been so inspiring. Thanks again for everything that you do. You cannot please all of the people all of the time, so please just trust your heart. XXOO
ReplyDeleteYour little man makes me smile, and sometimes laugh out aloud, every single day. You are both so lucky to have found each other. I don't understand why someone would write anything negative ... How anyone can find something negative about yours and Lentil's story is beyond me, your story is all positive and love. You have reached all corners of the world - I ran into a friend in a shopping centre the other day and we chatted about you - I live in Geelong, Victoria, Australia - we couldn't be further apart from each other. Keep up the excellent work, both of you
ReplyDeletelove always from the other side (and down a bit) of the world (Australia!)
Thank you Lindsay for sharing your thoughts and your precious Bean with us. You both are an inspiration for so many! Even when I wake up on my grouchiest mornings, when I see Lentil, my attitude immediately changes. And I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. I love being part of the Team Lentil family and wear my shirt proudly! Keep up the wonderful things you do and again, thank you for sharing your boy with us! Love you guys! ♥
ReplyDeleteYou are a woman who was brave enough to drive to Jersey and rescue two little lives without a second thought. Unfortunately Edamame crossed the rainbow bridge. There are not many who would get up every three hours to bottle feed but to tube feed that is a compassionate person. Lentil survived because you Mama Bean. Now you are helping raise awareness for causes that were on the back burner. God Bless you Momma Bean. One small pup changing the world. Just being his crazy Bean self.
ReplyDeleteNancy M., Florida
You are an amazing woman and mom to Lentil and all your other babies. Thank you for the pics/videos of Lentil. He brightens my day. Kuddos to mom and the Bean. ♥♥
ReplyDeleteYou have sacrificed and have done an amazing job with Lentil Bean from the very beginning when he was just a bean. You did all of this without knowing that he would be the superstar that he is. You were not grooming him for stardom; you were simply caring for a special needs puppy. I am so glad that he is growing into a typical Frenchie and not some perfectly training dog for the public. His antics make him that more endearing. With that said I still think you guys should have your own show or at least a TV special where you visit a CCA kid before and after surgery it would get the word out about the special children and how Lentil is helping the cause in his own Frenchie way, and depending on what city you are in visiting the CCAkid, maybe you could make a visit to one of his fans in that particular city as well. You two are so amazing together. I live in Northeast Philadelphia and I am so proud to say that I live in the same city with Lindsay and Lentil.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lindsay, for saving Bean, and inspiring all of us who are part of his family now. You have both made a difference in our worlds and the world of children with facial deformities. I doubt that the haters will be leaving a positive mark on their worlds or anyone else's!
ReplyDeleteHandpicked.......for you, Leslie.
ReplyDeleteYou and Lentil brighten so many lives! We love you both!
ReplyDeleteLindsay, I can only echo what those before me have said. You are a remarkable person making an amazing difference in the lives of the animals and humans you've touched. It takes amazing strength, determination and compassion to do what you do and we're so lucky you're there to do it. When others post disparaging remarks, remember,they are the ones with the problem, not you! Keep on bringing Bean into our lives for as long as it works for you (and for Bean). We can't get enough, but realize you must take care of yourself and Bean first. Team Bean supports you in every way!
ReplyDeleteLindsay...you are an inspiration to us all. Thank you for letting us be part of this amazing journey with you, Bean and the kids. I read that note your mom had written to you about seeing people with facial deformities and how your work with Lentil and the kids has changed her, you have done that for me too! I hope that you'll come to CT one day as I would love to meet you and the Bean.
ReplyDeleteXO
You are both amazing!! We get all chocked up when we read your words. Simply a miracle. We are very familiar with butt wiggling since I, Benny is fighting liver cancer. I fill the Vets office with love and laughs
ReplyDeleteThank you
Love you Bean
Benny & Lily
I do not comment on Facebook because THOUSANDS of people do -- which is so amazingly awesome, and I never really thought that you had time to sift through them all. But your little pup has come to mean so much to me. Sometimes I feel silly that I LOVE a dog that I have never met. But something profound just exudes from him -- and all of that is a direct extension of you. Thank you so much for sharing him with me and so many others who feel it, too.
ReplyDeleteWe are family! I love you both. Every single day you two make me smile.
ReplyDeleteI find it strange to say I love you back to someone I've never met but how can you not feel that way about a person with such an open heart? You are a good & kind person Lindsay and you make us all want to be better people ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI'm a CT resident too and hope you and Bean make it up our way someday :)
I wake up every morning and do not go to bed at night without first seeing a picture of our big boy. He is growing up right before our eyes and it's such a beautiful thing. I feel as though I know you, Lindsay, and Lentil as part of my family. Keep up the good work and know, we as your extended family, are all here for you. Lots of love going your way. I'm in Cali....I'll travel north or south to meet you!
ReplyDeleteLindsay, let me first say Thank you for sharing Bean with us and allowing us to be part of your lives. I have followed Bean from the first FB post. It broke my heart to see how he and his siblings were born with this disability and the siblings did not make it. I have sent so many prayers for Bean and that he would live a full and happy life. You are my Hero for giving Bean a chance at a normal life and all your love. Not many would have done and given what you have given. I have told you many times in my post that God chose you for our little boy as he knew you would give your all and would see that Lentil got the care and medical help he needed. God also knows how much help Bean will be to others that have disabilities....to show them no matter what they look like or the disability they have they are beautiful and can be anything they put their minds to. You are a special lady and I really Love you for that. I look forward to the daily post and I love the videos, especially the ones with Tabitha and Bean. Lindsay, the ones that write the negative things are lonely, sad depressed people who have not learned yet that they too can have it all if they just try. They want to bring everyone down with them, please do not let them upset you....only God can judge you and it looks like he has chosen the best Angel to take care of our little boy. Thank you and I am so glad that I am part of the HUGE family we have all become. God Bless
ReplyDeleteLinds, Lentil is SO BIG!! He was SO TINY when we first met him! And of course he is a dog with doggie ideas. Great job, Mama Bean. Love you. - Lisa (and Tommy and Pete and Teeny)
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing us to be a part of you and Lentil's journey. Although we are mostly all strangers and probably will never met, we are all connected by our admiration of this little guy because in this world so full of negativity, you and he are a reminder that positives still remain and we need to hold tight to that and support it in any way we possibly can.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Vince Stead and I just got done looking at your site and really liked it. We make dog books in Paperback, Digital and Audio too. You can see them at www.Fun2ReadBooks.com and the audio books are fun to listen to. Thank you very much and I really enjoyed visiting your site!
ReplyDelete