OMDrama!
For whatever reason lately, both my girls (human & canine) have been a mess for my attention. And it's always at the same time.
Kayden is still nursing. We have a spot on the couch where we cuddle while we nurse. Bailey used to just come up and lay next to us... now she wants to be on top of us... and neither Kayden nor I are happy about that. She will "pop-off" of me and whine and push Bailey away. If I try to move Bailey from the ON position to the NEXT TO spot, Kayden will still whine and try to push her further away. This is only concerning to me because Kayden used to smile really big (without popping-off) whenever she felt Bailey at her feet or under her shoulders... so what's changed?
It happens the other way around, too... if I am giving Bailey some one-on-one attention, Kayden abandons whatever "project" she was working on and will ask for a cookie or to be picked up and carried around.... WHAT GIVES!?!?!?
They do play well together... at times, they can each be a little rough, but both take correction well... in general, they play really well as a couple and independently. They chase each other around and Kayden will throw the ball for Bailey to chase. They wrestle and lick and roll around on the floor together... it's wonderful to watch!
And when they are occupied with each other or by themselves, I am able to get a few things done, like laundry folded/put away, bathroom cleaned, fire started or stoked, etc.
So why, all of a sudden, does Bailey ALWAYS want her cold, wet nose on my arm (or in my lap) while I'm nursing and why is Kayden so opposed to it? And why does Kayden seem to interrupt whenever I try to play with Bailey & give her the attention SHE needs?
Maybe it's the cabin fever... Spring, where are you!?!?!?
Someone posted the other day that in our area, the average temp in 3 weeks will be 50+ degrees... in 3 short weeks, spring will be upon us!
For now, though, we are on our 3rd day of single digit temps in a row....
Showing posts with label A Dog's Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Dog's Life. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Lesser Of Two Evils
Which is worse: 1) driving in crappy, snowy weather with a 6-month-old on the front seat of a truck with no car seat OR 2) leaving said 6-month-old at home alone in her crib for 10-15 minutes?
"Let me splain"*
Last night was Kayden's Baby Dedication at church. Proof that God has a sense of humor, it had been snowing since the night before (that's right... SNOW on the first day of Spring!)
After the Dedication, the whole family (minus my husband, who was working one job then heading to another) went out to eat. It was still snowing but the roads weren't too bad. After dinner, however, they were horrid...
On our way home, we got stuck. There is a really bad hill on our street that is next to impossible to get up in crappy weather unless you have 4-wheel-drive or chains. And you can't even get a running start at it because there is another hill followed by a curve right before it. So about half way up, my car stopped, then began to slide backwards. I tried to back down the hill but I kept sliding toward the ditch on the side of the road. Only by the GRACE OF GOD did I manage to back it into a driveway at the bottom of the hill.
So there we sat. I called my husband who, also by the Grace of God, happened to be home (because he wasn't supposed to be) and he came to get us. Now, I figured we would hop in the truck and I would just hold Kayden on my lap for the 200-300 yard trip home. The house where my car sat is a summer/weekender so I knew no one was home and I could just walk down and get it the next day when the snow had melted a bit and the roads were cleared.
But my husband insisted we try to get my car out of that driveway and home and he was in a hurry because he STILL HAD TO WORK after he got us home. I told him I wanted to take Kayden home first... I did not want her riding in the truck (with OR without a car seat as the case was) any more than absolutely necessary. So we took her home... he was in such a hurry, he told me to just LEAVE HER IN THE CRIB and we would be back within 15 minutes. He waited in the truck while I ran her inside and I bought time to frantically call a neighbor by changing into snow boots... the neighbor said he was on his way so I got back in the truck where my husband was impatiently waiting and we went back to get my car...
So in reality, she was only alone in the house for about 5 minutes... but I should never have left her at all... the alternatives, to me however, were MUCH worse... I didn't want her riding in the truck AT ALL let alone without a car seat and I sure as hell wasn't gonna let her ride in my car as my impatient husband tried to get it home.
So call DCFS if you must... I did what I felt I had to at the time... but if I am put in that situation again, I will probably tell my husband to kiss off...
*Indigo from The Princess Bride
********************
I was pleased to learn of Bailey's behavior through all this when I got home...
The neighbor, who knew Bailey, said when he walked in the door, Bailey barked at him like she was gonna kill him, then ran into the nursery. The neighbor just sat down on the couch and waited... Bailey came out a few minutes later and sniffed him and loved on him... then he was able to check on Kayden...
So her first instinct was to protect... anyone who didn't know her would have been scared enough to leave right then... but after she calmed down and realized she recognized the neighbor's smell, she turned back into her old cuddly self and soaked up the attention :-)
"Let me splain"*
Last night was Kayden's Baby Dedication at church. Proof that God has a sense of humor, it had been snowing since the night before (that's right... SNOW on the first day of Spring!)
After the Dedication, the whole family (minus my husband, who was working one job then heading to another) went out to eat. It was still snowing but the roads weren't too bad. After dinner, however, they were horrid...
On our way home, we got stuck. There is a really bad hill on our street that is next to impossible to get up in crappy weather unless you have 4-wheel-drive or chains. And you can't even get a running start at it because there is another hill followed by a curve right before it. So about half way up, my car stopped, then began to slide backwards. I tried to back down the hill but I kept sliding toward the ditch on the side of the road. Only by the GRACE OF GOD did I manage to back it into a driveway at the bottom of the hill.
So there we sat. I called my husband who, also by the Grace of God, happened to be home (because he wasn't supposed to be) and he came to get us. Now, I figured we would hop in the truck and I would just hold Kayden on my lap for the 200-300 yard trip home. The house where my car sat is a summer/weekender so I knew no one was home and I could just walk down and get it the next day when the snow had melted a bit and the roads were cleared.
But my husband insisted we try to get my car out of that driveway and home and he was in a hurry because he STILL HAD TO WORK after he got us home. I told him I wanted to take Kayden home first... I did not want her riding in the truck (with OR without a car seat as the case was) any more than absolutely necessary. So we took her home... he was in such a hurry, he told me to just LEAVE HER IN THE CRIB and we would be back within 15 minutes. He waited in the truck while I ran her inside and I bought time to frantically call a neighbor by changing into snow boots... the neighbor said he was on his way so I got back in the truck where my husband was impatiently waiting and we went back to get my car...
So in reality, she was only alone in the house for about 5 minutes... but I should never have left her at all... the alternatives, to me however, were MUCH worse... I didn't want her riding in the truck AT ALL let alone without a car seat and I sure as hell wasn't gonna let her ride in my car as my impatient husband tried to get it home.
So call DCFS if you must... I did what I felt I had to at the time... but if I am put in that situation again, I will probably tell my husband to kiss off...
*Indigo from The Princess Bride
********************
I was pleased to learn of Bailey's behavior through all this when I got home...
The neighbor, who knew Bailey, said when he walked in the door, Bailey barked at him like she was gonna kill him, then ran into the nursery. The neighbor just sat down on the couch and waited... Bailey came out a few minutes later and sniffed him and loved on him... then he was able to check on Kayden...
So her first instinct was to protect... anyone who didn't know her would have been scared enough to leave right then... but after she calmed down and realized she recognized the neighbor's smell, she turned back into her old cuddly self and soaked up the attention :-)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Auto Tetris
We took our first trip to the dog park since Kayden was born. It was a beautiful day and I wanted Bailey and I both to get some exercise.
As I mentioned in the previous post, my car is just a bit too small for us to go anywhere as a family. In order for us to hit the dog park, I had to figure out how to fit Kayden, Bailey, the stroller and myself into the car.
I was driving... Kayden was gonna be in her seat... but where to put Bailey and the stroller????
I tried putting the stroller in my trunk... it just wouldn't go... I tried many approaches from many angles but it just wouldn't fit. I then tried the front seat thinking maybe if I got it in just right it would fit... no-go... so the only place left was the backseat... so there it went...
Now, as sweet as Bailey is, I don't think she would have taken to kindly to being put in the trunk so the only other option was to put her in the front passenger seat... you know, the one that is pushed all the way forward to accommodate Kayden's car seat... the one no one fits in...
Poor Bailey had no idea what was happening. She couldn't lay down (without knocking the car into neutral) or turn around to put her head out the window... her head was up over the dash and almost into the windshield... if we had wrecked, she would have either flown out of the car or been crushed by the airbag...
But we made it... there and back... and in one piece....
As I mentioned in the previous post, my car is just a bit too small for us to go anywhere as a family. In order for us to hit the dog park, I had to figure out how to fit Kayden, Bailey, the stroller and myself into the car.
I was driving... Kayden was gonna be in her seat... but where to put Bailey and the stroller????
I tried putting the stroller in my trunk... it just wouldn't go... I tried many approaches from many angles but it just wouldn't fit. I then tried the front seat thinking maybe if I got it in just right it would fit... no-go... so the only place left was the backseat... so there it went...
Now, as sweet as Bailey is, I don't think she would have taken to kindly to being put in the trunk so the only other option was to put her in the front passenger seat... you know, the one that is pushed all the way forward to accommodate Kayden's car seat... the one no one fits in...
Poor Bailey had no idea what was happening. She couldn't lay down (without knocking the car into neutral) or turn around to put her head out the window... her head was up over the dash and almost into the windshield... if we had wrecked, she would have either flown out of the car or been crushed by the airbag...
But we made it... there and back... and in one piece....
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Kayden In The Car
My husband wants to get me a bigger car. Part of me is excited but the other part is sad...
The way it is now, if both Kayden and I look over our right shoulders, we can see each other... the passenger seat is pushed as far forward as it goes in order to fit her convertible car seat in at the appropriate angle. I can reach her to see if she's breathing after a particularly bag choking fit (because shoving our fingers down our throat is our latest fun thing to do in the car and Mommy can't tell if it's my hand or something else I am choking on) or hold her hand if she is starting to fuss.
But the way it is now, we can't really go anywhere as an entire family. There is only room for a driver, Kayden in the car seat, and either another person or Bailey in the back seat. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, I had to smoosh myself into the passenger seat and I had to wedge myself between the dash and the seat in order to close the door...
And forget taking the stroller anywhere... my husband can get it into my trunk but I can barely get it out and I haven't figured out how to get it back in... I really want to take Kayden for jogs around the dog park when it gets warmer but it doesn't seem like a possibility...
He found a Jeep for me... I haven't seen it yet... I am both excited and sad...
I'll be keeping my car since I drive so far for work and the Jeep will be for more local errands, weekends, and next winter when the 4 wheel drive will come in handy...
So the next decision is this:
Do I invest in a second convertible car seat?
Do I buy seats according to what she needs at the time, like a forward facing and booster when the time comes?
Or do I move the current convertible from car to Jeep to car even if it means I may be doing it twice a day sometimes?
********************
I am not sure if I told this story already and I am too lazy to go back and search to see if I did... so humor me:
Kayden took her first joy ride when she was 3 1/2 months old.
We had just got home at the end of the day and I carefully got out of the car because we had almost a solid sheet of ice on the driveway. I got out and closed the door. Then, with my infant still in the backseat, the car started to move.
Now I drove a stick for 11 years... so although I've had my current automatic for almost 5 years, there are still times I'll turn it off, forgetting to put it in park first.... but I always pull the emergency break...
I was confused at first because I knew the emergency break was on and I couldn't figure out why the back tires were rolling...
As I quickly opened the driver's door, I noticed the front tires were NOT rolling... and as I jumped back into the driver's seat, I realized there was nothing I could do but helplessly sit there... the tires were sliding down the driveway, not rolling, so the breaks were worthless.... and we were heading straight toward the tree that sits in the ditch that runs along our driveway...
Only by the grace of God did we slide to a stop at the bottom of the driveway just a few feet from the tree... we hadn't built up enough speed to get us all the way to the ditch....
I haven't parked on that part of the driveway since... I probably won't even this summer....
********************
At first, Kayden hated the car... she would cry whenever we put her in the car. It was so bad at first that I thought I had pinched her or that something was really hurting her... then I figured out she just hated the car... she would scream and cry until we got to where we were going... rarely did she fall asleep...
I think she was bored. She couldn't really see out the windows or entertain herself yet and it was worse at night when she couldn't see ANYthing.
Then around 12-14 weeks of age, it began to get better. She didn't cry every time anymore and she seemed to be happier longer before she started to fuss.
Now, she likes it... but only if the car is moving and/or the radio is on... she still rarely sleeps but she does sing along to the radio, which, I must say, is about the sweetest thing I've ever heard!!!!
The way it is now, if both Kayden and I look over our right shoulders, we can see each other... the passenger seat is pushed as far forward as it goes in order to fit her convertible car seat in at the appropriate angle. I can reach her to see if she's breathing after a particularly bag choking fit (because shoving our fingers down our throat is our latest fun thing to do in the car and Mommy can't tell if it's my hand or something else I am choking on) or hold her hand if she is starting to fuss.
But the way it is now, we can't really go anywhere as an entire family. There is only room for a driver, Kayden in the car seat, and either another person or Bailey in the back seat. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, I had to smoosh myself into the passenger seat and I had to wedge myself between the dash and the seat in order to close the door...
And forget taking the stroller anywhere... my husband can get it into my trunk but I can barely get it out and I haven't figured out how to get it back in... I really want to take Kayden for jogs around the dog park when it gets warmer but it doesn't seem like a possibility...
He found a Jeep for me... I haven't seen it yet... I am both excited and sad...
I'll be keeping my car since I drive so far for work and the Jeep will be for more local errands, weekends, and next winter when the 4 wheel drive will come in handy...
So the next decision is this:
Do I invest in a second convertible car seat?
Do I buy seats according to what she needs at the time, like a forward facing and booster when the time comes?
Or do I move the current convertible from car to Jeep to car even if it means I may be doing it twice a day sometimes?
********************
I am not sure if I told this story already and I am too lazy to go back and search to see if I did... so humor me:
Kayden took her first joy ride when she was 3 1/2 months old.
We had just got home at the end of the day and I carefully got out of the car because we had almost a solid sheet of ice on the driveway. I got out and closed the door. Then, with my infant still in the backseat, the car started to move.
Now I drove a stick for 11 years... so although I've had my current automatic for almost 5 years, there are still times I'll turn it off, forgetting to put it in park first.... but I always pull the emergency break...
I was confused at first because I knew the emergency break was on and I couldn't figure out why the back tires were rolling...
As I quickly opened the driver's door, I noticed the front tires were NOT rolling... and as I jumped back into the driver's seat, I realized there was nothing I could do but helplessly sit there... the tires were sliding down the driveway, not rolling, so the breaks were worthless.... and we were heading straight toward the tree that sits in the ditch that runs along our driveway...
Only by the grace of God did we slide to a stop at the bottom of the driveway just a few feet from the tree... we hadn't built up enough speed to get us all the way to the ditch....
I haven't parked on that part of the driveway since... I probably won't even this summer....
********************
At first, Kayden hated the car... she would cry whenever we put her in the car. It was so bad at first that I thought I had pinched her or that something was really hurting her... then I figured out she just hated the car... she would scream and cry until we got to where we were going... rarely did she fall asleep...
I think she was bored. She couldn't really see out the windows or entertain herself yet and it was worse at night when she couldn't see ANYthing.
Then around 12-14 weeks of age, it began to get better. She didn't cry every time anymore and she seemed to be happier longer before she started to fuss.
Now, she likes it... but only if the car is moving and/or the radio is on... she still rarely sleeps but she does sing along to the radio, which, I must say, is about the sweetest thing I've ever heard!!!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Thing About Bailey....
The bad thing about Bailey is that, if I don't catch it in time, she licks Kayden's face when she spits up...
The good thing about Bailey is that when Kayden spits up on the floor, I never have to clean it up.
The bad thing about Bailey is that when she sees or hears anything outside, be it near our house or the neighbors', she whines and paces until I let her out...
The good thing about Bailey is that I always know when there is someONE or someTHING ANYWHERE near the house.
The bad thing about Bailey is that whenever I let her outside, she runs the perimeter of the yard barking maniacally, no matter the time of day or night, whether there is anyone or thing to bark at or not...
The good thing about Bailey is that if anyone was really casing our house, they'd be a fool to actually break in.
The bad thing about Bailey is that she plops down as close to us as possible, even if that means she plops down right on top of Kayden...
The good thing about Bailey is that when she DOES plop down on her, Kayden laughs and immediately grabs Bailey by the face, mouth, eye, and/or ear and Bailey just lets her.
The bad thing about Bailey is that she is always RIGHT THERE and she is so big that I can't step over her or around her and I am at her mercy until she chooses to move out of my way...
The good thing about Bailey is that she is ALWAYS right there... to greet me, to cuddle, to love me, and to show me how important I am even when I don't feel that way.
We are so blessed to have her in our lives....
The good thing about Bailey is that when Kayden spits up on the floor, I never have to clean it up.
The bad thing about Bailey is that when she sees or hears anything outside, be it near our house or the neighbors', she whines and paces until I let her out...
The good thing about Bailey is that I always know when there is someONE or someTHING ANYWHERE near the house.
The bad thing about Bailey is that whenever I let her outside, she runs the perimeter of the yard barking maniacally, no matter the time of day or night, whether there is anyone or thing to bark at or not...
The good thing about Bailey is that if anyone was really casing our house, they'd be a fool to actually break in.
The bad thing about Bailey is that she plops down as close to us as possible, even if that means she plops down right on top of Kayden...
The good thing about Bailey is that when she DOES plop down on her, Kayden laughs and immediately grabs Bailey by the face, mouth, eye, and/or ear and Bailey just lets her.
The bad thing about Bailey is that she is always RIGHT THERE and she is so big that I can't step over her or around her and I am at her mercy until she chooses to move out of my way...
The good thing about Bailey is that she is ALWAYS right there... to greet me, to cuddle, to love me, and to show me how important I am even when I don't feel that way.
We are so blessed to have her in our lives....
Monday, February 8, 2010
De-Barking????
Not too sure about this one:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35219154/ns/health-the_new_york_times/?GT1=43001
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35219154/ns/health-the_new_york_times/?GT1=43001
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Dog Food
The last time we ran out of dog food, I asked my husband to pick some up on his way home from work. I sent him a text with EXACTLY what to get... "Name Brand" Large Breed Adult... He came home with the puppy formula... and I didn't notice til it was already open...
Me: You got the puppy formula...
Him: Yeah, it good til she is a year old...
Me: Honey, she's almost 2...
Him: oh...
So after 3 weeks of the worst dog flatulence one could imagine, I got the next batch...
When I noticed the other day we were getting low, I asked him again to grab some while he was out. Again, I sent him a text with EXACTLY what to get... he comes home with "Mature Adult 6+ years"
SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!?
I still haven't said anything to him yet... not sure if I will...
I think he may just be getting the wrong thing so I will stop asking him to get it...
Me: You got the puppy formula...
Him: Yeah, it good til she is a year old...
Me: Honey, she's almost 2...
Him: oh...
So after 3 weeks of the worst dog flatulence one could imagine, I got the next batch...
When I noticed the other day we were getting low, I asked him again to grab some while he was out. Again, I sent him a text with EXACTLY what to get... he comes home with "Mature Adult 6+ years"
SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!?
I still haven't said anything to him yet... not sure if I will...
I think he may just be getting the wrong thing so I will stop asking him to get it...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Socks
Here I was, thinking the dryer had been eating Kayden's socks......
In reality, it was Bailey the whole time...
In reality, it was Bailey the whole time...
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Just When I Thought I Was Really Losing My Mind...
One afternoon as I was heading home, I saw a giant globe on the side of the highway...
Now I know pregnancy does things to your memory, dexterity, and balance, but I hadn't heard anything about hallucinations... so I continued on my way and tried to forget about it...
Then, a few mornings later, I saw it again further up the highway... so I took a quick pic with my phone so I would have evidence of my vision:
I could not imagine what it was or why it had traveled so much further down the highway...
As I was headed home that same afternoon, I saw it again, and again, it had traveled a ways down the highway, but this time there was a man standing next to it so I turned around so I could get the story:
Turns out, the guy, along with his dog, is walking half way across the US to raise awareness for diabetes and he is rolling the world with him. He lost his mom to complications due to the disease when he was pretty young but his uncle has been living with it for 40 years. In honor of his uncle's upcoming birthday, he is going to climb Pike's Peak, rolling the world the whole way...
I chatted with him for a bit and gave him all the cash I had (like $4 or something pitiful) then I headed on my way...
The next morning, I actually saw him walking and rolling his world right along in front of him... What an inspiration!!!!
Please check him out at www.worldguy.org (notice the pic I took shows the actual size of the globe, where the pic on his site does not do it justice...)
Now I know pregnancy does things to your memory, dexterity, and balance, but I hadn't heard anything about hallucinations... so I continued on my way and tried to forget about it...
Then, a few mornings later, I saw it again further up the highway... so I took a quick pic with my phone so I would have evidence of my vision:
I could not imagine what it was or why it had traveled so much further down the highway...
As I was headed home that same afternoon, I saw it again, and again, it had traveled a ways down the highway, but this time there was a man standing next to it so I turned around so I could get the story:
Turns out, the guy, along with his dog, is walking half way across the US to raise awareness for diabetes and he is rolling the world with him. He lost his mom to complications due to the disease when he was pretty young but his uncle has been living with it for 40 years. In honor of his uncle's upcoming birthday, he is going to climb Pike's Peak, rolling the world the whole way...
I chatted with him for a bit and gave him all the cash I had (like $4 or something pitiful) then I headed on my way...
The next morning, I actually saw him walking and rolling his world right along in front of him... What an inspiration!!!!
Please check him out at www.worldguy.org (notice the pic I took shows the actual size of the globe, where the pic on his site does not do it justice...)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Water Dog
Bailey likes playing in water but she is not a swimmer.
Last summer, she was rudely introduced to the lake when she was riding too close to the front of the pontoon and, while learning to drive it, I slowed too quickly and she flew off the front. I quickly put the boat in neutral so she wouldn't get hurt by the propeller... the boat went right over top of her and my husband ran to the back of the boat to coach her back to the boat and to jump in to get her if need be. She was able to swim to the boat but it was quite clear she was not a dog meant for swimming in the lake... her "doggy paddle" was her frantically splashing the water with her front paws while her back paws dragged uselessly behind her. From then on, I put her life jacket on her every time we got on the boat together.
Later in the summer, I watched a couple of dogs jumping into the water off boats anchored in the middle of the lake to go after balls that had been tossed in by the owner. The dogs actually used the people ladders to get back on the boat. I figured I could try it with Bailey... so the next time we went out, I put her life jacket on and tossed her in right beside the ladder. I then guided her around to the ladder and held her front paws onto the top rung and waited for her to find the bottom rung with her back paws. We did this a few times and she hated it. Even if we were on the shore by our docks where she could walk in and out and be able to touch, she avoided the water at our lake.
But at the dog park, you couldn't keep her out of the water. She jumps and splashes and plays and loves it. I figure its not as scary since the water just sits there and there are no waves and she can touch the whole time...
This year, we got out boat in the water late and it had been too hot to take her on it once it was in the water... but the morning of July 5th, it was cool and I was taking my friend's 10 year old daughter out to swim while we waited for her mom to wake up... I figured I would take Bailey too since it was so cool and we didn't plan to be out very long.
So we get out to our swimming cove and drop anchor. I put Bailey's life jacket on just in case because she was acting so excited. We opened the door to the front of the boat and the little girl jumped in... and Bailey followed right behind her!!! I was so shocked! So I ran to the front and guided her in the right direction to get her back to the ladder and away from the girl so Bailey wouldn't drown her. I went to the back of the boat and called Bailey around to me and she swam right to the ladder. I put her paws on the top rung just like last year and she managed to get herself out with lots of help from me. Bailey walked around on the boat for a minute and the little girl climbed out so she could jump in again... But before she could get to the front of the boat, Bailey ran past her and jumped in again!!! Again I called her around to the ladder and again I helped her out... I closed the door to the front so she wouldn't jump in again.
Bailey is 82 lbs now... I had to do most of the work to get her up the ladder... I was 27 weeks 3 days... 2 times was enough to wear me out. We took Bailey back to the house because I couldn't keep doing that... She hasn't been back out on the boat since because I won't take her if I am by myself and my husband hasn't been out since then.
I don't know what made her jump in like she did. I thought the first time she was going after the little girl but realized she couldn't touch too late... she looked frantic when she got the ladder after the first time. But then she did it again before the girl jumped in again so that didn't make any sense, and she looked just as frantic the second time around... so I am confused...
Maybe we have a water dog on our hands after all... ?
********************
29 weeks today... our latest trick is testing the limits of my ribs and hip bones...
Last summer, she was rudely introduced to the lake when she was riding too close to the front of the pontoon and, while learning to drive it, I slowed too quickly and she flew off the front. I quickly put the boat in neutral so she wouldn't get hurt by the propeller... the boat went right over top of her and my husband ran to the back of the boat to coach her back to the boat and to jump in to get her if need be. She was able to swim to the boat but it was quite clear she was not a dog meant for swimming in the lake... her "doggy paddle" was her frantically splashing the water with her front paws while her back paws dragged uselessly behind her. From then on, I put her life jacket on her every time we got on the boat together.
Later in the summer, I watched a couple of dogs jumping into the water off boats anchored in the middle of the lake to go after balls that had been tossed in by the owner. The dogs actually used the people ladders to get back on the boat. I figured I could try it with Bailey... so the next time we went out, I put her life jacket on and tossed her in right beside the ladder. I then guided her around to the ladder and held her front paws onto the top rung and waited for her to find the bottom rung with her back paws. We did this a few times and she hated it. Even if we were on the shore by our docks where she could walk in and out and be able to touch, she avoided the water at our lake.
But at the dog park, you couldn't keep her out of the water. She jumps and splashes and plays and loves it. I figure its not as scary since the water just sits there and there are no waves and she can touch the whole time...
This year, we got out boat in the water late and it had been too hot to take her on it once it was in the water... but the morning of July 5th, it was cool and I was taking my friend's 10 year old daughter out to swim while we waited for her mom to wake up... I figured I would take Bailey too since it was so cool and we didn't plan to be out very long.
So we get out to our swimming cove and drop anchor. I put Bailey's life jacket on just in case because she was acting so excited. We opened the door to the front of the boat and the little girl jumped in... and Bailey followed right behind her!!! I was so shocked! So I ran to the front and guided her in the right direction to get her back to the ladder and away from the girl so Bailey wouldn't drown her. I went to the back of the boat and called Bailey around to me and she swam right to the ladder. I put her paws on the top rung just like last year and she managed to get herself out with lots of help from me. Bailey walked around on the boat for a minute and the little girl climbed out so she could jump in again... But before she could get to the front of the boat, Bailey ran past her and jumped in again!!! Again I called her around to the ladder and again I helped her out... I closed the door to the front so she wouldn't jump in again.
Bailey is 82 lbs now... I had to do most of the work to get her up the ladder... I was 27 weeks 3 days... 2 times was enough to wear me out. We took Bailey back to the house because I couldn't keep doing that... She hasn't been back out on the boat since because I won't take her if I am by myself and my husband hasn't been out since then.
I don't know what made her jump in like she did. I thought the first time she was going after the little girl but realized she couldn't touch too late... she looked frantic when she got the ladder after the first time. But then she did it again before the girl jumped in again so that didn't make any sense, and she looked just as frantic the second time around... so I am confused...
Maybe we have a water dog on our hands after all... ?
********************
29 weeks today... our latest trick is testing the limits of my ribs and hip bones...
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Bandit
My in-laws lost their oldest dog yesterday. Bandit would have been 10 in April.
The night before last, my FIL had all 3 dogs in the truck when he stopped at the end of the drive to toss the trash bin in the back on his way up to the house. The dogs are used to this and always stay in the truck. I guess Bandit jumped out and my FIL didn't see him. When My FIL started up the drive, he accidentally hit him.
My FIL took him straight to the vet who sent them to the ER vet since they had personnel there to monitor him over night. X-rays showed no broken bones but Bandit was clearly in a lot of pain and could not stand up on his own. They decided to monitor him overnight and reassess the situation in the morning.
Yesterday morning, they picked him up from the ER and took him to our regular vet who re-examined him. They said he could relieve himself if they held him up but that he couldn't get up on his own. And there were apparent signs of major internal injuries. The vet told them that it would be a long road and that he may not recover. My in-laws decided to end his suffering and put him to sleep yesterday afternoon.
I talked to my MIL tonight. She is clearly upset but seems to be doing as well as can be expected. She is the cool head in these situations. We wouldn't have gotten through losing Gizmo without her. My FIL, however, is a mess. He feels like its his fault even though there were so many strange things that happened.
The dogs NEVER jump out of the truck... even Geronimo who is still fairly new to the family stays in the truck until he is called out. And those dogs will meet you at the end of the driveway and run circles around the car all the way up to the house and never get hit. And my FIL was going slower than usual to keep the trash bin from falling out of the back. So there was something going on that made Bandit jump out like he did and then not allow him to move out of the way when the truck was put into gear and started to move.
Regardless, there is a large hole at my in-laws home now. The dogs are clearly missing their friend. When my in-laws brought Bandit home to bury him, the dogs never got out of the truck even though they were told they could. They sat there and watched the hole being dug and everything. Early this morning, they went outside and to opposite ends of the yard and barked for a long time when they are usually late sleepers. When they get pig ears, Taz and Bandit would always go into the bedroom to eat theirs while Geronimo would plop down in the living room with his... This afternoon, Taz took hers into the bedroom, then came right back out and sat down next to Geronimo. And while they always steal each other's food at meal times, they have left alone the little bit of food that remains in Bandit's bowl.
I plan to take Bailey by to see them all tomorrow. Hopefully she will be a welcome distraction if only for a couple hours.
Bandit was a wonderful dog and will be greatly missed.
The night before last, my FIL had all 3 dogs in the truck when he stopped at the end of the drive to toss the trash bin in the back on his way up to the house. The dogs are used to this and always stay in the truck. I guess Bandit jumped out and my FIL didn't see him. When My FIL started up the drive, he accidentally hit him.
My FIL took him straight to the vet who sent them to the ER vet since they had personnel there to monitor him over night. X-rays showed no broken bones but Bandit was clearly in a lot of pain and could not stand up on his own. They decided to monitor him overnight and reassess the situation in the morning.
Yesterday morning, they picked him up from the ER and took him to our regular vet who re-examined him. They said he could relieve himself if they held him up but that he couldn't get up on his own. And there were apparent signs of major internal injuries. The vet told them that it would be a long road and that he may not recover. My in-laws decided to end his suffering and put him to sleep yesterday afternoon.
I talked to my MIL tonight. She is clearly upset but seems to be doing as well as can be expected. She is the cool head in these situations. We wouldn't have gotten through losing Gizmo without her. My FIL, however, is a mess. He feels like its his fault even though there were so many strange things that happened.
The dogs NEVER jump out of the truck... even Geronimo who is still fairly new to the family stays in the truck until he is called out. And those dogs will meet you at the end of the driveway and run circles around the car all the way up to the house and never get hit. And my FIL was going slower than usual to keep the trash bin from falling out of the back. So there was something going on that made Bandit jump out like he did and then not allow him to move out of the way when the truck was put into gear and started to move.
Regardless, there is a large hole at my in-laws home now. The dogs are clearly missing their friend. When my in-laws brought Bandit home to bury him, the dogs never got out of the truck even though they were told they could. They sat there and watched the hole being dug and everything. Early this morning, they went outside and to opposite ends of the yard and barked for a long time when they are usually late sleepers. When they get pig ears, Taz and Bandit would always go into the bedroom to eat theirs while Geronimo would plop down in the living room with his... This afternoon, Taz took hers into the bedroom, then came right back out and sat down next to Geronimo. And while they always steal each other's food at meal times, they have left alone the little bit of food that remains in Bandit's bowl.
I plan to take Bailey by to see them all tomorrow. Hopefully she will be a welcome distraction if only for a couple hours.
Bandit was a wonderful dog and will be greatly missed.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Allergies and an Injury
Bailey has always had eye boogers. I clean them off her face whenever they appear which is usually every-other-morning or so. Its a joke... its playful... "momma hates eye boogers" said in a sing-song voice... and she just lets me do it...
Last summer, she had some issues with some reoccurring spots on her back. We figured it was just chigger bites since her flea/tic/mosquito treatment didn't list them as something it guarded against. Once the fall came around, the spots disappeared and we forgot all about them.
Last month, the spots showed up again. We were already going to the vet for some annual vaccines so I asked about them when we got there. The vet checked them for mites (negative) and gave me some special shampoo to try to clear it up.
Over the next few days, I noticed the eye boogers were coming more frequently and seemed to be worse from her left eye. I kept an eye on her to see if it got better or worse since her eyes didn't seem to be bothering her. Less than a week after we had seen the vet, I noticed her left eye was red and seemed irritated. So I called a smaller vet who is closer to our house and easier to get into on short notice.
He examined her and said that it looked like allergies. He also said she had an infection... kinda like how we get sinus infections when our allergies act up. He gave me some goo to put in her eyes 2x a day and said to start her on Benadryl to help with the allergies overall. (Of course the goo has steroids in it so I can't touch it... my husband has to do it and will only do it when I remind him so it only gets done once a day if we are lucky.)
Well, the shampoo has worked wonders after only 2 treatments and her eyes are no longer as gooey despite our lack of consistency. But now one of the spots from her back has shown up on her lower eye lid. It doesn't seem to bother her so I have just been giving the Benadryl and continuing the goo and watching to see if it gets worse.
Then we went to the dog park the other day for the first time in a few weeks. She was so excited and immediately spotted a man tossing a ball for his dog, Bo, using a "chuck-it". Since Bailey doesn't really get the concept of fetch (outdoors with a ball, anyway) she chases the dog chasing the ball and seems to have a blast doing so. So Bo chased the ball and Bailey chased Bo, hard, for a solid 15-20 minutes before the man and I agreed it was time for a drink break since they were both panting kinda hard.
As we were walking away from the fountain, I noticed Bailey was walking kinda funny. Stiff... her back end was waddling like she couldn't move her legs at the hips. I moved closer to get a better angle but she seemed to be walking fine. I kept watching and noticed her waddling again. Then Bo's dad mentioned he thought she was walking "kinda hippy".
I kept pretty close to her for a few minutes to see what she would do. Usually, she stays far away from me because she doesn't want to go home. But she stayed pretty close so I decided it was time to go. When I tried to make her sit so I could put her leash on, she flat out refused, and just stood there looking at me like "I can't". As we were walking toward the gate to leave, she tried to stop twice like she didn't want to go on. And when we got to the car, I almost had to lift her in.
We got home and she kept going from walking fine to waddling. She laid down for a while, then seemed fine. This morning, all seemed well. I am guessing she may have pushed herself too hard to fast for too long with out getting warmed up first and maybe pulled a muscle or something. Again, I plan to keep an eye on her just in case.
She was just 16 months last week... and she already seems to be falling apart...
********************
I am 12 weeks today...
Last summer, she had some issues with some reoccurring spots on her back. We figured it was just chigger bites since her flea/tic/mosquito treatment didn't list them as something it guarded against. Once the fall came around, the spots disappeared and we forgot all about them.
Last month, the spots showed up again. We were already going to the vet for some annual vaccines so I asked about them when we got there. The vet checked them for mites (negative) and gave me some special shampoo to try to clear it up.
Over the next few days, I noticed the eye boogers were coming more frequently and seemed to be worse from her left eye. I kept an eye on her to see if it got better or worse since her eyes didn't seem to be bothering her. Less than a week after we had seen the vet, I noticed her left eye was red and seemed irritated. So I called a smaller vet who is closer to our house and easier to get into on short notice.
He examined her and said that it looked like allergies. He also said she had an infection... kinda like how we get sinus infections when our allergies act up. He gave me some goo to put in her eyes 2x a day and said to start her on Benadryl to help with the allergies overall. (Of course the goo has steroids in it so I can't touch it... my husband has to do it and will only do it when I remind him so it only gets done once a day if we are lucky.)
Well, the shampoo has worked wonders after only 2 treatments and her eyes are no longer as gooey despite our lack of consistency. But now one of the spots from her back has shown up on her lower eye lid. It doesn't seem to bother her so I have just been giving the Benadryl and continuing the goo and watching to see if it gets worse.
Then we went to the dog park the other day for the first time in a few weeks. She was so excited and immediately spotted a man tossing a ball for his dog, Bo, using a "chuck-it". Since Bailey doesn't really get the concept of fetch (outdoors with a ball, anyway) she chases the dog chasing the ball and seems to have a blast doing so. So Bo chased the ball and Bailey chased Bo, hard, for a solid 15-20 minutes before the man and I agreed it was time for a drink break since they were both panting kinda hard.
As we were walking away from the fountain, I noticed Bailey was walking kinda funny. Stiff... her back end was waddling like she couldn't move her legs at the hips. I moved closer to get a better angle but she seemed to be walking fine. I kept watching and noticed her waddling again. Then Bo's dad mentioned he thought she was walking "kinda hippy".
I kept pretty close to her for a few minutes to see what she would do. Usually, she stays far away from me because she doesn't want to go home. But she stayed pretty close so I decided it was time to go. When I tried to make her sit so I could put her leash on, she flat out refused, and just stood there looking at me like "I can't". As we were walking toward the gate to leave, she tried to stop twice like she didn't want to go on. And when we got to the car, I almost had to lift her in.
We got home and she kept going from walking fine to waddling. She laid down for a while, then seemed fine. This morning, all seemed well. I am guessing she may have pushed herself too hard to fast for too long with out getting warmed up first and maybe pulled a muscle or something. Again, I plan to keep an eye on her just in case.
She was just 16 months last week... and she already seems to be falling apart...
********************
I am 12 weeks today...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Announcement
Bailey is proud to inform you that she is going to be a big sister. She couldn't be more excited.
My husband, on the other hand, is silently freaking out:
Husband: You're pregnant?
Me: Yup!
H: Is it mine?
Me (laughing hysterically): Yes
H: What's child support run these days? $500 a month?
Me (still laughing): More like a grand.
An hour passes...
H: You're getting your tubes tied after this, right?
Me: Nope!
Two days later...
H: When do your boobs get bigger?
A few days after that...
H: When do we find out what it is?
Me: When it pops out.
A week later, we are watching tv and he sees someone getting stuck with a needle.
H: AAHH! Turn it!!! Quick!!!
Me: What are you gonna do in the delivery room?
H (shocked): I won't be in there!!!
Me: You won't even try? You won't even go to the birthing classes with me?
H (serious): I will try, but you'd better have a back up just in case.
Me: So you won't be there to hold my hand?
H: Who's gonna hold my hand?
Me: Me!!!!
I have been living on babycenter.com since I found out and they send out a weekly e-mail to tell you what's happening each week. I forward the e-mails to him and have been since I found out but he has not mentioned them. Then the other day:
Me: (at the stove making my dinner)
H: What are you making?
Me: Thai Peanut Noodles with tofu.
H: Are you getting enough protein? It's brain building week, you know...
Me: (open mouthed shock)
H: (turns and walks out of the room)
And that is the extent of our conversation thus far...
My husband, on the other hand, is silently freaking out:
Husband: You're pregnant?
Me: Yup!
H: Is it mine?
Me (laughing hysterically): Yes
H: What's child support run these days? $500 a month?
Me (still laughing): More like a grand.
An hour passes...
H: You're getting your tubes tied after this, right?
Me: Nope!
Two days later...
H: When do your boobs get bigger?
A few days after that...
H: When do we find out what it is?
Me: When it pops out.
A week later, we are watching tv and he sees someone getting stuck with a needle.
H: AAHH! Turn it!!! Quick!!!
Me: What are you gonna do in the delivery room?
H (shocked): I won't be in there!!!
Me: You won't even try? You won't even go to the birthing classes with me?
H (serious): I will try, but you'd better have a back up just in case.
Me: So you won't be there to hold my hand?
H: Who's gonna hold my hand?
Me: Me!!!!
I have been living on babycenter.com since I found out and they send out a weekly e-mail to tell you what's happening each week. I forward the e-mails to him and have been since I found out but he has not mentioned them. Then the other day:
Me: (at the stove making my dinner)
H: What are you making?
Me: Thai Peanut Noodles with tofu.
H: Are you getting enough protein? It's brain building week, you know...
Me: (open mouthed shock)
H: (turns and walks out of the room)
And that is the extent of our conversation thus far...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Cold
It is so cold.
How cold is it?
It is so cold that Bailey has taught herself how to crawl under the covers on our bed.
It is so cold that Bailey has learned that warm air comes from the blower on the fireplace and stands there to keep warm.
It is so cold that when Bailey got slimed at the dog park, it was frozen before I could wipe it off.
It is so cold that the 3 of us sleep in a heap cuddled close, both my husband and I in hooded sweatshirts, under a sheet, 2 blankets, and a comforter.
It is so cold that my husband is starting to feel guilty about not having the furnace repaired before January...
How cold is it?
It is so cold that Bailey has taught herself how to crawl under the covers on our bed.
It is so cold that Bailey has learned that warm air comes from the blower on the fireplace and stands there to keep warm.
It is so cold that when Bailey got slimed at the dog park, it was frozen before I could wipe it off.
It is so cold that the 3 of us sleep in a heap cuddled close, both my husband and I in hooded sweatshirts, under a sheet, 2 blankets, and a comforter.
It is so cold that my husband is starting to feel guilty about not having the furnace repaired before January...
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Resolution
Happy New Year!
After all the crazy hours I put into work last year, I resolved to relax more and spend more time with my family.
My husband's schedule recently changed and now I see him almost every day. My SIL is expecting our first niece or nephew in March and, though they don't know it yet, I plan to take some vacation time to help her and my little brother out once the grandparents have exhausted themselves. And Bailey and I are spending a lot of quality time together.
Just yesterday, she followed me around while I cleaned the house (yes, I do clean every once in a while but my husband was shocked about this as well) and then we cuddled on the couch watching movies together most of the afternoon and evening. It was nice to just hang out at home and enjoy the warmth of my cuddly dog while we relaxed in front of a fire on a very cold day.
I hope you all have a happy and blessed new year!
After all the crazy hours I put into work last year, I resolved to relax more and spend more time with my family.
My husband's schedule recently changed and now I see him almost every day. My SIL is expecting our first niece or nephew in March and, though they don't know it yet, I plan to take some vacation time to help her and my little brother out once the grandparents have exhausted themselves. And Bailey and I are spending a lot of quality time together.
Just yesterday, she followed me around while I cleaned the house (yes, I do clean every once in a while but my husband was shocked about this as well) and then we cuddled on the couch watching movies together most of the afternoon and evening. It was nice to just hang out at home and enjoy the warmth of my cuddly dog while we relaxed in front of a fire on a very cold day.
I hope you all have a happy and blessed new year!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Quirks
One of the best things about having Bailey around is the funny things she does daily to make me laugh.
She loves squeaky toys. Unfortunately, she destroys them within 30 seconds of play so she doesn't get them very often. The funny part: she carries the toy around in her mouth, making it squeak. Then she whines in response. It's like she is having a conversation with the squeaker, or maybe singing along with it... Whichever, it's the only reward we can use to get her to "speak" on command.
She is also very observant. She knows what her world looks like and when something is different. It takes her a bit to adjust to any changes. Early this fall, I found her looking out the window near her kennel. Her hackles were raised and she was growling and barking like there was an intruder in the house. I looked out the window to try to figure out what it was. I saw nothing. I figured it was a squirrel or something that was long gone. So I let her out. She ran full speed to the center of the yard and barked and circled a spot on the ground like it was the most offensive thing she had ever seen. So I went to investigate. Here is what I found:
A mushroom, people... seriously... apparently it popped up over night...
This yesterday morning, she did it again... hackles and all. I couldn't figure out what she was so upset about. I let her out and she flipped out, barking and growling... I bought a new brand of trash bags and there was an unfamiliar color sitting at our curb... a black trash bag, people!
I guess that's a guard dog for ya.
I wonder why she wasn't phased by the Christmas Tree....?
She loves squeaky toys. Unfortunately, she destroys them within 30 seconds of play so she doesn't get them very often. The funny part: she carries the toy around in her mouth, making it squeak. Then she whines in response. It's like she is having a conversation with the squeaker, or maybe singing along with it... Whichever, it's the only reward we can use to get her to "speak" on command.
She is also very observant. She knows what her world looks like and when something is different. It takes her a bit to adjust to any changes. Early this fall, I found her looking out the window near her kennel. Her hackles were raised and she was growling and barking like there was an intruder in the house. I looked out the window to try to figure out what it was. I saw nothing. I figured it was a squirrel or something that was long gone. So I let her out. She ran full speed to the center of the yard and barked and circled a spot on the ground like it was the most offensive thing she had ever seen. So I went to investigate. Here is what I found:
A mushroom, people... seriously... apparently it popped up over night...
This yesterday morning, she did it again... hackles and all. I couldn't figure out what she was so upset about. I let her out and she flipped out, barking and growling... I bought a new brand of trash bags and there was an unfamiliar color sitting at our curb... a black trash bag, people!
I guess that's a guard dog for ya.
I wonder why she wasn't phased by the Christmas Tree....?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Tricks
We started Bailey's new class tonight. I am pretty excited about the prospective tricks she is going to learn. It's clear that this is a step beyond the general obedience classes.
Today, we worked on "Crawl" and "Say Your Prayers". Crawl wasn't too bad but the praying one is going to be difficult. She has to put both paws up on a raised surface and bow her head. We have worked very hard with her to get her to keep her paws on the ground so this is gonna take some work.
We weighed her today as well. A few weeks ago, she was 79.3. Today, 78.8. We recently switched her to the adult dog food from the puppy formula so that may have something to do with it. I will be interested to see where she finally levels off.
Today, we worked on "Crawl" and "Say Your Prayers". Crawl wasn't too bad but the praying one is going to be difficult. She has to put both paws up on a raised surface and bow her head. We have worked very hard with her to get her to keep her paws on the ground so this is gonna take some work.
We weighed her today as well. A few weeks ago, she was 79.3. Today, 78.8. We recently switched her to the adult dog food from the puppy formula so that may have something to do with it. I will be interested to see where she finally levels off.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
More Training
I have decided to continue with Bailey's training. She graduated from the Advanced Class in August and since then we have really slacked off... she is still very well behaved and still knows a bunch of commands but I want more.
The goal is to get involved with a local therapy dog group. To take part in the program I am aiming for (children and teens in a psychological rehabilitation center), she will need to know a few tricks. She "dies" when we shout "BANG!" (not appropriate for the target audience) and can "pound it" when we offer her a fist. But we need more...
So we start next Sunday.
The goal is to get involved with a local therapy dog group. To take part in the program I am aiming for (children and teens in a psychological rehabilitation center), she will need to know a few tricks. She "dies" when we shout "BANG!" (not appropriate for the target audience) and can "pound it" when we offer her a fist. But we need more...
So we start next Sunday.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Happy Birthday
Guess who turned one year old today...
I spent the day at home recovering from the concert I attended last night. I had not had a day off to do nothing in a long time...
So I did stuff around the house all day. I finished taking down the decorations from Halloween, lugging 5 full totes out to our garage. I did 5 loads of laundry, actually putting everything away which never happens. I changed the sheets and pulled out the electric blanket. I packed for my weekend since I leave tomorrow straight from work to go nanny for a friend who is going to Vegas for some much needed fun. I emptied and reorganized my purse. I learned to use a new camera. I piled firewood outside our front door so we don't have to walk out into the driveway every time we need a log. And I emptied and reloaded the dishwasher.
I am the least domestic person I know but if I was actually a stay-at-home wife, I could really be a great homemaker. Too bad I have to work... I am amazed at the stuff I got accomplished today!
Anyway, Happy Birthday Bailey Grace! Momma loves you...
I spent the day at home recovering from the concert I attended last night. I had not had a day off to do nothing in a long time...
So I did stuff around the house all day. I finished taking down the decorations from Halloween, lugging 5 full totes out to our garage. I did 5 loads of laundry, actually putting everything away which never happens. I changed the sheets and pulled out the electric blanket. I packed for my weekend since I leave tomorrow straight from work to go nanny for a friend who is going to Vegas for some much needed fun. I emptied and reorganized my purse. I learned to use a new camera. I piled firewood outside our front door so we don't have to walk out into the driveway every time we need a log. And I emptied and reloaded the dishwasher.
I am the least domestic person I know but if I was actually a stay-at-home wife, I could really be a great homemaker. Too bad I have to work... I am amazed at the stuff I got accomplished today!
Anyway, Happy Birthday Bailey Grace! Momma loves you...
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