Still No Word.....

Today the Beast got a bit antsy about not hearing anything from the dog rescue group so he called the woman that had brought the dog to meet him.  She told him that she was going to call the woman who was responsible for checking with the vet and get back to him.  However, he still hadn't heard back from her as of when he went to bed at 8pm.  I don't know if that means anything good or bad.  He just went on and did things like he is getting Dexter, regardless.  He went and bought a crate and, between the two of us, we got it set up.  He told me he ordered a pad for the bottom of it so the dog will be comfy in it.  

If something untoward happens, this man is going to be very upset and disappointed.  I can't see that happening but I could see it going through the Beast's mind for a while.  We've always been good pet owners and there's nothing the vet could say that would negate that fact.  If nothing else, he would have to say that the Beast didn't want to give up on Baron getting better even though he (the vet) threw out the *C* word more than once but the Beast ignored that until he had tried everything he could.

So now we have this big damn crate in the middle of the living room until the Beast finds a place to move the nightstand out of our room and put the crate in it's place.   That's where we had Baron's crate when he was young and we still used it for him.  The Beast said something that makes me wonder how all this works.  He said that they had to put a chip in the dog so that, if he was lost or stolen, we would be notified when he was found.  It made me wonder....didn't they have that for the other people?  Can't it just be re-registered with us as the contacts?  Hmmm.  They can't just keep putting those things in dogs multiple times, can they?

I finally got all my pajamas washed, folded and put away.  I now have some nice, warm pajamas (mostly from my bff, Carol....gotta love her!) ready to wear again.  This house gets awfully cold once the temperature drops below 50 degrees since the Beast just hates to turn on the heat.  It's really why I end up sleeping in my recliner a lot because I can shut the door, turn on my baseboard heater and the little space heater on my desk and warm up my room.  Once it's warmed up, it stays pretty warm all night long, even if I turn them off.  Since I have carpeting in there, it keeps the floors from cooling the room off like the rest of the house.  We have great windows and good insulation in the walls but, trust me, the floors have lost the insulation that was installed under them due to moisture under the house.  The Beast has known that for a couple years now but he's not in any shape, physically, to get underneath there and staple it back in place.  But I can keep myself warm, regardless.  I'm a wimp and I admit it.

Well, I have a doctor's appointment in the morning so I need to shower and get to bed.  I didn't sleep well last night since we had a couple really bad storms roll through here last night.  Yes, we finally got some rain and I was up because we were under a severe storm alert along with the possibility of a tornado or two.  The tornadoes all stayed north of us, however, and they mostly knocked down branches and trees and took off a few shingles from homes.  Nothing too bad.

I wish you could have seen the chickens out in the rain.  They looked so bedraggled!  But it was their choice since they can go in and out of their coop at will.  When the sun finally came out this afternoon, THEN they went into their coop.  I know what they mean when they say *bird-brained* without a doubt.

Love you all.  Be good and be happy.  ***Hugs***

A Sweet Surprise.....

I had another bad night with trying to get to sleep.  I was in the bathroom just about every hour.  I thought I would crack my jaw with yawning but it didn't seem to matter how tired I was.  Sleep evaded me until right around 5am.  Then, I was woken up around 1:30pm by the arrival of Sheepie!  All by herself!  Not as a passenger with someone else.  That was a surprise.

Her dad, who came to her house (from Georgia, no less!) for Thanksgiving, came bearing a big, surprise gift for her.  He bought her an SUV.  Not a new one, of course, but it's in good shape and it's ALL HERS!  Now that she's licensed, she can have one of those.  It's in her name and that's always a thrill.  That first car.  Even if it's not what you might have envisioned/hoped to have, it's still better than being dependent on others to get around.  Now she wants to find a job (which shouldn't be a problem with Christmas hires, if nothing else).  At least that gives her money in her pocket and also enables her to buy Christmas gifts without depending on Teach.

She's having a problem with his sister, who is a total waste of space as far as *I* am concerned.  Although she gets to see her kids, she lost custody of them for neglect.  Her parents now have custody of them and they are so much better off because of it.  The gal is a total b*tch, however.  She acts like her s*it doesn't stink but is the last person who should even attempt to call someone else *useless*.  She has a decent job but can't pay her bills due to her drugs and just her frivolous spending habits.  But this isn't really my story to tell.   I have just been privy to this info from many different viewpoints over the years.  Plus today I got to hear all her ugly texts for the past couple of days.  Talk about someone that needs to be excised from Sheepie's life.  It's just tough since she IS Teach's sister.

Sheepie brought over a really cute picture of Baron in the Beast's lap that she framed as a nice remembrance for him.  I thought it was so sweet of her.  She had already been told about the Beast's fostering plans when she first got here.    She didn't think it was a totally bad idea since Teach surprised her with a pup very shortly after her dog died a couple years ago.  She didn't think she would have done it so soon afterward but it ended up working out great for her and she now has two dogs....LOL.  That will NEVER happen to us.  Neither the Beast nor I have ever wanted two dogs at once...thankfully.  No word yet from the people *investigating* our credentials as good fostering material but that's okay with me.

The Beast bought one of those gloves that you can pet your cat and/or dog with that gathers up the hair so that it doesn't end up all over your furniture and floors.  Sassy likes it but the Beast was kind of surprised that he got so little hair off her.  But he also hasn't swept up or vacuumed much of her hair either so I guess she doesn't shed much.  Certainly not like Baron.  He shed hair just walking through a room.  Shocking for a short hair dog.  I think what he had in mind when he actually bought the glove was really the dog, not so much Sassy.

Well, I am going to jump in the shower while the Beast is at church and, hopefully, get some of my pajamas dried, too.  I should have gotten that done much earlier.  Just feeling lazy on another cold day.  Brrrr!

Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  Be happy most of all.  ***Hugs***

Fostering Isn't 1-2-3

So the Beast meets up with the woman that has Dexter and they go to the dog park that's newly opened in Guntersville.  This is mostly to see how the dog interacts with other dogs.  I gather he did really well on that score.  The Beast also took him (and the woman) down to the lake park where he used to take Baron to see how he reacted to the ducks.  I gather he was fascinated with them but didn't chase them at all.  He didn't bark at them either.

So they are talking the whole time and, contrary to his belief, he does NOT get to keep the dog...today.  First comes a home inspection, which he was kind of glad since then he could see how he reacted to Sassy and the chickens.  I gather they were all terrified of him but it may be because he has enough puppy in him that he wanted to play and was just a bit too active on first meeting.  The woman left with the dog because now the other part of getting approval comes into play.  Since we had a regular vet we used, they will contact him and decide after getting that report.

It figures that I would end up sick as a dog today.  I couldn't get out of my room to even see the dog.  I think it was really prompted by this whole *fostering* bit.  I ended up with a slight case of IBS-D and my stomach kept me heaving for a while.  I ended up sleeping until around 1:30pm but I woke up and didn't hear a dog in the house at least.  It just wasn't what the Beast hoped for but I think we will still be approved as a foster home, even with her not meeting me, which sucks.  You would think that would also be a priority.

Anyway, it's been delayed (getting the dog) until we've *passed*.   All they really want is to make sure we don't abuse animals, I'm sure.  I actually feel better so maybe it really was just irritation that made me feel ill.  I know I shouldn't be stressed and that sure stressed me out.

The rest of our day was spent with the Beast still trying to make me feel good about this by talking about the dog.  I had to shut my door into my computer room and start playing my game before he finally took the hint and stopped.

Well, I am going to jump into bed and get some good sleep, I hope.  At least the IBS-D is over and done with but I will have to do a load of wash tomorrow.  Love you all.  May all your problems be small ones.  ***Hugs***

I Had Hopes.....

It looks like the Beast is going to ignore my wishes regarding fostering a dog.  Now it's a lab/sheltie mix named Dexter.  Funny, but I had a cockatiel named Dexter.  He talked and was a real trip.  He used to whistle for the dog and say *Here kitty, kitty* whenever he saw a cat.  We were living in San Diego and, one night we were affected by the earthquake that hit El Centro and his cage rocked back and forth, hitting the walls.  He was climbing up the side of his cage and yelling, *Help me!  Help me!*  I couldn't help it.....I laughed.

Sometimes, when I would put the cover over the cage at night, he would poke his head through the bars and say, *No!  No!  No!*  because he wasn't ready to sleep,  He also had the loudest wolf whistle you ever heard.  If I would yell at him because he always seemed to get very loud when I was on the phone, he would start in saying, *I am a good boy!*  He would sometimes tell me that *doggie did it* if I would tell him he was a bad bird for throwing his seeds all over the floor.  He was a lot of fun because you just never knew what he might say.

But I was more than a little upset with the Beast because I told him how I felt about having a dog right now.  Does he care?  Hell no!  He kept telling me the dog was already housebroken and crate trained.  He also likes cats and drives them nuts because he keeps grooming them.  I'm not sure how Sassy will take that.  I also don't want him chasing the chickens.  He's going to be a bigger dog than the Beast thinks and will need more exercise than Baron did these past few years.  We had a lab pup years ago and he was a real P.I.T.A.  (pain in the a**).  We ended up selling him to a man who wanted to train him to hunt because the kids lost interest in him and didn't exercise him (throwing a ball for a while would have done it).  I was working long hours plus going to college classes at night.  The dog just had too much energy for me.  It was the kids that wanted the dog, not me.  We already had a menagerie of animals.  We had six birds (pygmy parrot, cockatiel...not Dexter...some hybrid canaries) a fresh water fish tank and a salt water one, a tank of hermit crabs, a turtle and a cat.  My mom said we had a zoo and should charge admission...LOL.

Don't misunderstand me.  I have nothing against fostering a dog but I really feel this is a desperate thing that the Beast has decided to do.  He thinks this will fill the hole he feels since Baron died but I think he will be expecting this dog to react to him like Baron and he will really regret it.  No two dogs are the same.  A woman and her husband have been fostering this dog but the husband has to move to Kentucky for his new job and they will be renting.  The apartment does not allow dogs his size.  Yes, he's over 30 lbs. and I am really upset over this whole thing.  Plus, we will have to buy a crate for him.  Just what I need when Christmas is creeping up and I need to buy a few things for the great-grands at least.  Chit!  Chit!  Chit!

I can ignore the dog, not because I have anything against him but I just don't want a dog right now.  It's the only way I can let the Beast know that I am serious about it.  With fostering, I found out you CAN get stuck with a dog if no one wants to adopt it.  This woman has had the dog for almost a year!  What is wrong with the Beast?  He's really not thinking clearly.

Oh well.  I have to go.  I need to relax in the tub for a while.  I'd light a few candles but I only have two small ones left and they are almost done for...LOL.  Has anyone seen any Balsam candles this year?  I've been looking for them but haven't found any yet.  They should be out.  Let me know if you find any and what store has them.  Please.  Thanks.  Be good.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

A Nice Thing To Do.....BUT...!!!

 The Beast now has a brainstorm....of sorts.  He wants us to foster a dog or three (not more than one at a time).  I know what he's thinking.  He thinks if we foster this one he has in mind, that I will want to keep it.

The problem is the dog already weighs in at 30 lbs. and it's still a pup.  A friend of his from his church is a foster parent to dogs that are found by people who then call Animal Control.  Our animal control here just puts dogs to sleep because they don't really have a facility to keep them.  When this friend of the Beast's found that out a few years ago, they decided that they would foster some of these unfortunate dogs.  Most of them have actually been abandoned for one reason or another.  This one the Beast has in mind, for example.  They were taken to the vet's office and checked out for problems like heartworm or mange, for example.  This particular dog has a heart murmur that the vet called a *level six* problem.  

Of course, we have no idea what a *level six* means.  I told the Beast that he has no idea what a foster parent to a dog means.  It means that WE would have to make sure the dog gets housebroken.  That it learns basic commands (sit, stay, come, lay down, etc.), that it gets socialized with other dogs.  We also have to make sure it stays healthy, which means vet visits.  She would need exercising (she's a short but very muscular mix).  We have no idea what bad habits she might have, either.  We have a cat and 8 chickens to worry about, too.  This is no placid puppy.  The last thing *I* want is a dog that chases the chickens around.

He says that all the places the dog might be fostered are full so they need another family to foster.  Oh, and it means we also have to buy a crate for it so that it can be crate trained.  We did that with Baron as a puppy and those crates are not cheap.  I am against fostering at this time because I told the Beast that it is just too soon to introduce another dog in this household.  What if no family wants it?  We end up with it by default??  No thanks.  And the heart murmur?  Could it be something that would kill the dog?  Go through the death of another dog?  I don't think so.  Of course, it could just be something relatively minor like it is for some humans.  I guess it's just something *I* am not ready for.

What's funny is that I actually thought about fostering a dog or two when Baron was still with us.  I thought it would be good for him to have another dog to romp with or just play.  But the Beast was against it....THEN.  He thinks I will grow to love this particular dog.  I have news for him.  I don't fall for a dog easily.  Not like HE seems to do.  I just flat out told him NO...not yet.  But I did let him know that I was open to doing that, but it was too soon after Baron.

You would laugh if you could see the cat right now.  She is hiding in her litter box because we seem to have a field mouse in the house.  She's hiding so it can't see her.  She wants it to come out so she can catch it.  It's under the stove, I think.  At least, her attention is riveted on the stove.  Our cat is a mouser!....LOL

She's been trying to get that mouse out in the open now for two days.  We always get one or two in the house when we have our first real cold snaps.  It got down into the 30's the other night and that was when this mouse got in the house.  They are so fast and so sneaky.  They can get in through some of the most incredibly small openings.  *Sigh*  We thought we had found them all and put some steel wool in them to plug them.  The mice won't go near steel wool.  It hurts them.  I thought it was the most humane way to keep them out of the house.  I really hate mouse traps.  

So, for now, we will NOT be fostering a dog or pup.  Later on, perhaps.  I just said NO large dogs.  We are not strong enough for any dog that is over 30 lbs.  I'm even wary of one that large.  I guess it depends on the breed/breeds mix.

Love you all.  Have a peaceful Sunday.  ***Hugs***

Early To Bed, Late To Rise........

That's why there was no blog.  I fell asleep early, only got up to pee a couple times but went right back to sleep.  It was so cold in my room that I didn't even try to get out from under the electric blanket and just kept snoozing away.  The Beast came in to check on me a couple times but I woke up and told him that I was going to stay under the electric blanket until summer.  He just laughed.

We ate a late lunch, which helped only because the Beast finally turned the central heat on to warm the house up a bit more, and I turned the baseboard heater on to help warm up my room.  The high today is just 54 degrees.  No sun out so it seems gloomy on top of it.  Turning on all the lights helped plus it all adds to the warmth.  Of course, once we get this house warmed up, it will stay warm (except for the floors, unfortunately) for a long time.  We made pot pies for lunch so the oven heat also has helped warm us up.

I am a real wimp when it comes to cold.  I have been since I was a kid.  If I could have been a hybernating animal, I would have.  It's just another reason I loved living in Florida.  But it was just too expensive.  I suppose we could have found less expensive places in the state to live but it was the combination of heat and humidity that the Beast couldn't take after his strokes.  So I try to adjust.  It just takes me a bit longer to adjust to cold.  Thank goodness, it isn't all that cold here compared to other states.  We don't even get snow the way other states do.

Well, I am going to see if there's anything good to watch on TV and just relax for a bit.  Nothing special is planned for today.   I'll tell you about the Beast's latest *brainstorm* later.  It may surprise you.

Love you all.   Hope your weekend is better than ours.  ***Hugs***

Hope You All Had A Great Thanksgiving Day!

The day started out looking like it was going to be on the dismal side but that changed and we had a lot of sun and even got up to around 72 degrees out with just a light breeze.  It's always a great day to be around family (or friends), having good conversation, sharing memories and having a few laughs.  The great food is an added blessing and, boy, the food was great!

I went over to Cee's house early to help with food preparation (I figured I could peel potatoes, if nothing else.  Most people hate to do that job....LOL).  However, when I opened the fridge to get out the French vanilla creamer for coffee, I discovered that it was already done!  It seems that Michael's wife, Lucia, did that last night so everything was ready to go into the oven or cook at the proper time.  And the timing for everything worked out perfectly.  We were enjoying each other's company so much that we started making jokes about turning down the heat and letting things cook ... just a bit longer.  We didn't mean it, however.  We were so hungry for everything.  It smelled so wonderful.  And it didn't smell as wonderful as it tasted.  

The turkey was perfect!   The green bean casserole (a MUST at all our Holiday dinners!) was so good.  Mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole (that was really good today, too!), the stuffing, the rolls, the cranberry sauce....omg!  It was all just wonderful.  We all took home some of the leftovers.  I should have taken more of the turkey chunks home with me to make up turkey salad for both the Beast and I and some for Cee, too.  I love turkey salad sandwiches.

It was dark when I finally left for home and I HAD to take a short Granny nap when I got here.  I was really tired.  Of course, turkey makes everyone need a nap (hell, it's the good food that does it, not just the turkey....no matter what they say).  I also brought home pieces of the Apple crumb pie and the pumpkin since we were all too full to eat any there.  All in all, it was a great day.  I think everyone really enjoyed themselves.  Cee put together a nice meal and her timing was perfect on it  all.  No one could fault it in any way.

Well, I am tired (still) and heading for bed  now that I've got this written.  Love you all.  Sleep well and enjoy your weekend.  ***Hugs***

So Strange And Quiet....

Today, after I got home from the doctor's and my visit with Cee, the Beast and I got into a discussion about Baron.  He feels he failed Baron in not watching him closer and not being able to make him well.  I assured him that we had both done all we could.  We made sure he took all his medications, we did a lot to entice him to eat, we kept up his routine as much as we could, we even hand fed him much of the time.

I told him that I really thought that Baron was ready to go much earlier but he kept trying in order to please the Beast.  He put up with the pain and discomfort and kept trying to walk and he also sought comfort from us.  I truly believe he was just waiting for the Beast to finally let him go and not be in pain.  Even the vet suspected that Baron had cancer.  It's known to be a problem with Dobies and Baron was a big one, besides.  He just went downhill so fast.  In just a matter of four or five weeks, he was all skin and bones and had dropped over 40 lbs.  He was just so ill.  He made me cry again once I started talking about all the things I felt we had done and he had endured.  It's why I told him (again) that I did NOT want another dog.  I said that IF I ever felt like another one, we would look at Rescue dogs together and I didn't think that any dog over 20-30 lbs. would be smart for us.  Not at our age and health.

I don't know if he's convinced really but I told him if he came home with a dog one day, he better be prepared to sleep out in the garage or in the chicken coop.  That is, if I didn't shoot him.  He actually laughed, like he thought I was kidding!  Even *I* am not sure that I'm not.  Trust me, that dog would never know any kind of kindness from me.

Well, I am tired now and I hope that tonight I don't hear Baron outside my door like I thought I did a couple times last night.  I didn't get a lot of sleep because of that.  Weird.

Love you all.  Be good.  Tell those that you love and are glad they are a part of your life that you do.  Tomorrow is not promised and it may be too late one day.  ***Hugs***

I Just Can't Believe It !!!

I'm still sitting here in disbelief.  I gather, from what I just discovered before the Beast went off to church, that he has been looking at Rescue dogs all day.  I kid you not.  Even worse, he never said anything to me.  I heard him making arrangements, with a foster mother to one of the Rescue dogs, to meet up so he could see and meet one dog that interested him.  It's a pit bull/terrier mix, about 50 lbs.  I looked at her picture (after he hung up) and was very angry.  I told him it was much too soon to think about another dog.  I also told him that she was VERY muscular and 50 lbs. is STILL a STRONG dog!  I could just spit, I am so upset over this.  

In truth, *I* am not ready to share my home with another dog...maybe not ever.  The way I feel right now, no.  I am definitely not ready.  IF....and that's a big IF....I decide I am ready or that I even want to, my idea of the ideal dog with our current health and strength, is more on the order of a 10-15 lb. dog...20 TOPS!!  Most of those don't require a whole lot of exercise.  The size of our yard is ideal.  Plus, it better be good with all animals because we have the chickens here AND the cat.  She's asleep in my recliner at the moment.  All curled up in a ball.  She was late coming home...it was almost dark before she showed up.  But then she really wasn't outside long, either.  She didn't seem to want to leave us.  But she really doesn't like to be outside when it's totally dark so I kept checking at the house doors until she finally strolled up and wanted in.

Then the little stinker let us know she wanted squishy food, not her dry stuff.  Not that I blame her for being upset.  We have been so focused on Baron for so long, neither the Beast nor I could remember the last time we had given her any.  Poor baby!  She must have felt unloved.

Time to get this posted.  I'm all ready for bed and even tired.  I'll let you know about the dog situation.  You know the Beast...it's all about what HE wants, not me.  ***Hugs***

I Slept Through My Appointment Time....

It was an uneasy night for me and I don't believe I fell asleep until early in the morning (around 2am) so I slept through my appointment time for my doctor.  I'm not overly concerned because it is mainly to check on my surgery (which seems to be healing well).  I called immediately, when I saw the time, to apologize and reschedule my appointment.  The nurse is going to call me later about that.

I have another appointment tomorrow with my regular doctor.  That one is just a general one so that I can find out about a lidocaine ointment for my feet.  I may even try it on my hip area since that is hurting me A LOT when I have to do a lot of walking.  It actually feels like my hips dislocate themselves.  Weird!

The Beast just left to go have lunch with one  of his buddies from church.  He felt so lost today when he woke up, got dressed and then suddenly realized that he didn't have to walk Baron this morning.  That's been his routine for almost 10 years.  He didn't know what to do with himself.  So he let the cat out into the yard.  He at least got a laugh out of it because five of the chickens were on the deck, waiting for her.....LOL!  They all went down the steps together.  Strange friendships, don't you think?

This isn't my regular blog.  It's more like I felt I should let everyone know that the crying seems to have stopped for both of us now.  At least, I hope so.  Strange that an animal can make you feel like you lost one of your children.  But he was a good and loving dog.....even if he could be demanding at times.  You can't ignore a Doberman when they want to be petted.  I'm surprised my elbow wasn't bruised all the time because of him.  All our dobies did the same thing when they wanted attention from you.  I realized today that Baron was the only Dobie we've owned that we saw age and, finally, die.  The others were bought or, rather, had to be sold because they didn't travel well and we were moving.  I miss Domina.  She was the second female we owned and the best one EVER.  She was perfect for a family with four kids.

When we bought her, she was already 18 months old and housebroken.  Plus she was the absolute BEST watch dog.  No one.....NO ONE....could come into our house when we weren't home.  Even my best friend, who tried to drop off some clothes for one of my sons, could walk in that door.  She would, bodily, hit that door to close it and her growl was enough to make you back off.  However, once we got home, she relaxed and you would never know it was the same dog.

There were people that would cross the street to stay far away from her and the kids she was guarding in the yard.  She had the regal stance that Doberman's go into when they are on the alert.  I hated to sell her.  But at least she went to the perfect home.  The man who bought her was a trainer for Hoytt's Dobermans (he has won tracking awards in Germany, and was the first person to do so from the U.S.).  He bought her for his wife, who had just lost her Doberman at the time.  He called us after a few days to tell us how she had *taken over the household* and was waking his kids for school.  She also established herself as the *leader* of the pack that they owned (three males and Domina....LOL).  I used to just snap my fingers and she was at my side.  A GREAT dog.  

Baron was the Beast's dog.  He loved the Beast right from the beginning.  I had to work more to get him to accept me as a pack person that came before he did.  Trust me.  It's not easy but it was necessary or they never listen to you because they think they are more important than you (higher up in the pack).  We learned that with Domina because the Beast had a hard time getting HER to accept him as one of the leaders.  But she always listened to MY commands before she would HIS.  I knew she was MY dog from the beginning (I will always Thank You, Bee, for finding her for me).

I never knew I would love and trust a Doberman EVER...especially around my kids, who were very young back then.  The Beast wanted one and he took the tactic of saying that *I* should find one.  I actually laughed because I knew I would NEVER, EVER find a Doberman I trusted.  Then I met Domina.  I have no idea why but I trusted her immediately and fell in love with her.  It was so funny when we brought her home and the Beast was actually afraid of her.  It's why he had to work hard to get her to accept him totally and vice versa.  I know she's gone over the rainbow bridge many years ago but I would love to own one of the dogs from her line.  Even now when I told the Beast NO MORE!!! 

I've lost a couple of cats in my lifetime.  They are so damned independent that they can be their own worst enemy at times.  But we've never had one die of old age.  Basically, they've died in accidents or from the complications of aging....but isn't that what hits US, too????  

Oh well.  Enough is enough. Love you all.  Are you thinking about Thanksgiving like *I* am?  Have a wonderful day!  Talk at ya later!  ***Hugs***

One Dobie we owned couldn't be left alone for any length of time or he got destructive so we had to sell him since the kids were all gone onto their own lives.  He was really the only one of our Dobie's that had bonded with one of my kids (Marcus).  As much as Markus loved that dog, he loved his bride even more.  They also lived in an apartment that didn't allow dogs, especially one his size.....LOL.

 

No Need For Volunteers....

After getting up early to go to the vet's office today, the Beast came home and kept petting Baron's head and scratching his throat and ears while we talked.  I had been up most of the night, knowing what was coming, just not exactly when.  But the Beast decided if he didn't take care of it right away, he might lose his nerve so I said my goodbye to Baron with a hug and a kiss or two on his forehead and then began to cry.  The Beast came into my arms and cried in my shoulder while Baron and the cat rubbed noses and nuzzled each other.  I think they both knew that this would be Baron's last ride in the car.  He even got into the car easier than he has in a long time and seemed very content.

It wasn't long before the Beast was home.  I had been crying the whole time he was gone and I started all over again after he came in.  I hugged him since he began crying, too.  I didn't have to ask what he had decided to do.  He let the vet dispose of his body.  I gather that he and several other vets in this area have some kind of arrangements for a mass grave for animals that are put to sleep or die during surgeries, etc.  It's mostly larger dogs, I guess, since farmer's have tractors and such and can take care of their large animals themselves.

My eyes are sore, mostly from constantly drying them off but I think/hope I am done now.  I know he's out of pain and not going to have to keep trying to get up to please us or to relieve himself or stand up because he can't lay down.  The Beast told Baron to sit in the vet's office and, believe it or not, he did and then he laid down on his side and didn't flinch when he got his shot.  He just closed his eyes....and was gone.  The Beast said the vet gave him a shot and he went peacefully to sleep with the Beast petting him and telling him he had been a great dog and he was loved.  We will miss him greatly.  Even poor Sassy doesn't know what to do with herself.  She hasn't left the bedroom since the Beast came home without Baron.  I take that back, she came out once when the Beast filled up her dish with food.  She hadn't eaten since this morning.  As soon as she was done eating, she ran back into the bedroom and looked all over for Baron.  Now she is laying on the rug and just looks kind of sad.  I went in and pet her for a while but she just lays there, looking for her buddy.  

I just went to go get some water and she's now on Baron's mattress, asleep.  Poor baby.

It's dropping down to about 30 tonight and we have frost warnings for our area.  The chickens are all fluffed up and bunched together on top of the roosting post.  I halfway expected them to be gathered around the heat lamp but I guess they don't mind the cold, like the magazines said.  They seem like they would be more fragile but I guess not.  They seem to enjoy it, at least during the day.

Well, we are winding down for the day and will soon be heading for bed.  I have my appointment with the doctor tomorrow and I am heading for the tub in a little bit to soak my back.  Love you all.  Be good.  Have a great week and I hope you have a great Holiday and lots of good food.  ***Hugs***

Calling For Some Volunteers...

It is beginning to look like we will be sending our wonderful dog, Baron, over the rainbow bridge in the next day or two.   The Beast broke down and cried over that today.  He has to go see the vet to find out if there is some way this could be done here at home so Baron can be made comfortable and we can see him off.

That will leave us with a problem...digging a hole big enough for him in the yard.  Between the two of us, we are just not physically able to do that.  I think the Princess and Johnnycakes still have our rototiller  and I will have to call them about returning it for us to use it to soften up the ground a bit.  I might even be able to get Johnnycakes to help us for  a bit.  Dennis' health is also not great so I don't think HE can help us.  The Beast may ask his friend from the DR to come and help.  I'm pretty sure he will but we can't take days to do it, either.  We don't want  to see the dog we've loved and had in our family for almost 10 years to deteriorate.  It's hard enough as it is to think of losing him after all this time.  Just the thought has me sitting here crying.  But you can't watch how he struggles to get up even with the two of us helping him without feeling just awful.

Today he fell down twice and, when he went to lay down for the night, he did it again.  The Beast and I had to move him to get him into a comfortable position and Baron wasn't able to even help us.  He also did something he hadn't done even as a puppy.  He pee'd on the floor and then whined afterward because he couldn't help himself but he felt bad about doing it.  Losing control is a very bad sign.  To keep him alive in this way is a form of cruelty....and selfishness, too.  I guess it really IS time to let  him go.  It's just so damn sad.  I hate this.  I hate the thought of his not being here.  Stupid, right?

But our days are now taken up  a lot of the time by Baron and his needs and constant worry about him being in pain or struggling to do some of the things he feels he should be able to do.  The struggle is real for him every single moment that he is on his feet.
He constantly wants comfort from us or, perhaps, he is comforting US for the sadness he feels coming from us.  I'm not sure but we are all sad, including him.  Knowing that is in itself a sad thing.

Say a little prayer for us all.  No matter what, we will be hurting, including when we must send Baron over the rainbow bridge.  I am crying again, like a little kid, so I am going to close this for now.  I love you all.  Be kind to everyone.  You never know what kind of battle someone may be fighting and a little kindness costs you nothing but could mean the world to someone else.  ***Hugs***

Still Not Doing Well.....

Although he IS starting to get up on his front legs,  he's not able to get up on his feet without help.  But it is his way to let us know that he needs to go outside.  It's both encouraging and depressing at the same time.

All he wants is comforting.  He stays upright once he is on his feet.  The Beast has helped him lay down in front of the storm door  so he can look outside like he normally would do before he became ill.  He's not eating much and some days he refuses to eat at all.  The Beast keeps trying different things to entice him to eat.  Sometimes it works, sometimes nothing  does.

His back left leg is still causing him enough pain that he is not putting it  down except when going down the ramp area.  He now needs help getting back UP the ramp and into the house.  This is not fun to be going through.   Poor Baron is sleeping a LOT.  And he's now sleeping with his hind end  on his mattress (it's foam and I  think it doesn't put a lot of pressure on his leg.  But seeing him with half his body on the mattress and the rest  of him on the rug next  to it really looks very  odd.   The cat is still laying close to him and tries to sleep either under his chin or with his face very close to being nose to nose.  We found out  that Baron wants the cat nearby.  He gets restless and whimpers if she isn't there or is asleep somewhere else.  

She always ends up around Baron, regardless.  It calms Baron down.  I don't pretend to understand why but it works.  I just wish he truly was going to get better.  He doesn't act like he wants  to, unfortunately.

Well, I am going to take a bath for a change.  I feel like I need to soak.  My lower back is hurting me.  I am still healing from the latex patches for that darn EKG.  It was only on me for a day and a half but I laid on that side.  I've always thought of my sensitivity to latex as something to do with bandages or the gloves worn by the doctors and nurses.  It never occurred to me that those things are latex.  And there is no substitute for them.  When I saw the skin on the patch, I could have screamed.  It's so bad because diabetics don't heal fast.  I  am still healing there and have a nasty scab.  It's thick for some reason and, there are times that I stretch and feel it split.  I'm almost out of my paper tape and I will have to get more so I can keep triple antibiotic  ointment on it and a bandage over it.

Love you all.  Smile and spread a little bit of happiness.  A smile seems to encourage everyone who sees it, to return it.  ***Hugs***

This Is A Shame.....

Today, Cee got a strange email from Babybrat regarding our plans to have Thanksgiving dinner together.  I gather she called Tara to tell her that she preferred to have dinner with us (her sisters).  We DO love her and enjoy her company.  Her short -term memory problems don't bother us and we don't try to force her to do things she isn't capable of.   But we guess her spending it with US ticked off Tara and  there must have been some kind of threat.  Because the email was really a kind of slander that we know did not come from Babybrat.

Babybrat said in her email that she  preferred not to spend the day drunk  (yes, she said it that  way)  and we only have a drink or two when we even go out to lunch.  Tara, however, when she stopped drinking, became a goody two-shoes and any of her family that has even one drink is an alcoholic.  Some people can never drink once they stopped or they will go back to their alcoholic infused days.  But others have no problem having a drink on  occasion and can go for weeks or even months without *craving* it.  

Unfortunately, we know that Babybrat will more than likely be left to her own devices at Tara's, rather than being a welcome guest at our get-together with Michael and Lucia.  All the while that Tara's boyfriend drinks beer after beer.  Tara likes to control everyone around her except, of course, her boyfriends.   At least, at first.  But his day will come.  Trust me on that part.  It's the reason she's been married (and divorced) so often.    The accusations will come and the guy will flee for his life, if he's smart.   The battle of wills will happen.

Babybrat is afraid because Tara controls HER funds and even the cigarettes that she gets.  If Babybrat doesn't do what Tara wants, she punishes her in different ways.  It's not bad enough that she has forced her to live on her own where she often forgets to eat.  She  can deny her food by not taking her shopping and even her cigarettes.  It's not like Babybrat has a lot to look forward to on her own.  She's mostly ignored by Tara since she interferes with her relationship with her boyfriend.  Tara likes having the money from Babybrat's SS disability, she just doesn't want her around.  Babybrat can't drive and her only means of getting out is through Tara (or Cee and I).

Thankfully, Cee lives closeby and can stop over on occasion to make sure there IS enough food in the house or to drop off a pack of cigarettes or two for her.  I'm just sayin'!

We will worry about Babybrat and if she is even encouraged to get herself some food on Thanksgiving.  She would be happier with us but, we can't do anything unless she wants it enough to say so.

Today, Baron actually got up on his front legs to stand but, of course, had to have help  getting up on his back legs.  The Beast actually managed that on his own.  He went out twice today and wanted to pee but still couldn't manage to poop.  The Beast went to Walmart and picked up some mineral oil to try giving him an enema tomorrow.  The Beast helped him lay down a little bit ago so he's down for the night now.  Still hanging in there but he even ate two pieces of chicken and some rice.  The chickens and Sassy finished up what Baron didn't eat but this is the most at one time that Baron has eaten in weeks.

Time for me to get some sleep.  I'm tired even though I did take a nap earlier.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

We Hope Against Hope....

The Beast and I help Baron get on his feet every morning because we know he has to go outside to pee.  It's not easy, even with as much weight as Baron has lost.  He's always been an oversize Dobie so he's still heavier than a *normal* one...it's just now,  you really get to see how big his bones are.

His left rear leg is still not able to bear his weight (we aren't sure if it's his arthritis or something else) which is why he isn't able to get himself up after he lays down.  Tonight, when he tried to lay down he fell into an uncomfortable position between the bed and the nightstand.  It took the Beast and I both to get him into a more comfortable position and he didn't move himself at all.  We keep hoping but it still doesn't look good at all.  He's also still not eating.  It hurts to know he's in pain and neither one of us wants that but we also hate to think of what is ahead.  But we said we would let things transpire as nature would have it.  But we are giving him aspirin, since that seems to help the pain from the arthritis.  That's not US deciding, the vet told us to give him a low dose aspirin to help.

I finally got over to Cee's house for a bit.  We talked about what we were going to make for Thanksgiving.  Her son and daughter-in-law will be down so we are going to pick up Babybrat and the five of us will have it together.  I found out that the Princess and family are going to be up in Chattanooga (I think they may be going to see Brenda and family but not sure).  Unless they plan on going to the Aquarium or the zoo up there, I can't imagine why they would go anywhere like that on a holiday.  My granddaughter, Sheepie, is having Thanksgiving at her house and she called me tonight to see what my plans (and my sisters) were for the holiday.  She wanted to invite us since her dad, her step-brother, his wife and family are coming.  She called my son, Mustachio, to invite him but he usually works the holidays.  However, he doesn't know if he's on the schedule yet for that but he may just be down to celebrate it with family.  

Since Michael is still considered persona non grata to much of the family, I told Sheepie about the plans we had made to celebrate it together...Cee, Babybrat, Michael, Lucy and I.  But I did tell her that we might stop over since she's anxious to show us the townhouse they are in .  It's also the first time she is hosting a holiday meal and I am sure she is both excited and terrified....LOL.

Cee and I talked about the menu for it and what she wanted me to bring.  Now that we know what we want, Cee is going to do some of her shopping tomorrow.  She even has most of her freezer emptied to keep the turkey frozen until either Sunday evening or Monday morning when she will put it into the fridge to let it slowly defrost.  I'm glad that Cee will have Lucia there to help her cook since Cee really isn't used to cooking for a crowd.  I used to always prepare Holiday gatherings (and most of the meal, too) since I grew up cooking for a crowd.  When your family consists of seven kids and two adults, that's a crowd all by itself.  We always ended up having unexpected guests so I grew up used to cooking enough for a football team...LOL.  I think I was only about 8 or 9 when I was enlisted to help my mother cook our meals.  I loved it and I learned a lot.  It was just tough when I got married and, suddenly, only had to cook for two.  I never did manage that.  

Well, it's late and I am tired.  Love you all.  I hope your Holiday plans are made and you have a wonderful time with family and friends.  ***Hugs***

He's Hanging In There....

He survived the night and the Beast and I got him up on his feet early in the day.   He actually was outside twice today and he ate all the cat's dry cat food that we in his dish.  We didn't care because he was eating SOMETHING.  He also ate two pieces of ham (one had an aspirin in it...for the arthritis).  He almost was acting normally but not quite.  He still is hurting in his one hip and hardly  puts it down on the ground.

It's so weird that he actually stayed up on his paws for most of the day.  We could tell he was actually tired but he wouldn't lay down when we tried to get him to do that.  Finally, the Beast had to help him lay down but he ended up hurting him (he bent one of his paws back too far).  When the Beast was comforting him (he felt horrible for doing that), Baron....once he calmed down....put his face next to the Beast's and actually looked like he was comforting the Beast.  I think Baron knew the Beast felt awful and it was his way of saying he forgave him.

So he went to sleep, laying on the small area rug in our bedroom with his head on the mattress.  The cat is sleeping on the mattress with his head next to the Beast's.  It's funny how much comfort Baron seems to get from having the cat around him.  He used to just tolerate the cat but now he seems to be unhappy when the cat isn't with him.  He seems to be hanging in but he's not getting better.  At least, not yet.  We just have to wait and see.

I am going to get out of the house tomorrow and go visit with Cee for a bit.  The Beast is complaining about his back so he's not going anywhere...LOL.  He WAS going to take *graduation* pictures of the other kids that have been home schooled  (from his church) but the site he wanted to use had workmen all over it so they are doing it next week on Wednesday instead.  He might have taken the kids to a different spot but his back bothered him so much, he preferred rescheduling.  So, after we get Baron on his feet tomorrow, I am heading out just to get away and relax.

I signed up with a lot of different sites to take surveys and make a few $$ for getting gifts for my great-grands and the Princess' family.  I'd like to get something for my two sisters, too.  My son, Marcus and his bride, Raven, celebrates their 25th wedding anniversary on the 18th, I believe it is.  Raven finally got a really beautiful wedding set and my son finally replaced his wedding band.  She's wanted an engagement ring and wedding band set for years now but they had all three kids and lots of hardships for years.  Now they are grandparents and only have one kid left at home.  They also own a house for several years now and my son has a great job that ensures they are secure.  It's been a struggle for them for a long time.  I'm so happy for them now.  They make me proud.

Well, my surveys are not what they used to be.  I'm adding to them like $1.  at a time.  They are starting to give me a headache.  I think I've made about $12 or so total so far.  This is not going to be fun with the worry about our dog and the Beast.

My neck surgery is healing well and I don't see the doctor until the 22nd of the month.  Just before Thanksgiving, wouldn't you know?  Good thing I am not hosting a dinner here.  

Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

We /get Him On His Feet...phew!

Baron slept all night and never moved.  He hadn't eaten anything for two days and only took a little water the night before when the Beast brought over one of Baron's water dishes to him.  He raised his head and took just a tiny amount.

Today, the Beast and I decided we were going to get him to his feet since he hadn't pee'd in two days either.  The Beast has his own physical limitations so guess who had to take the rear part of the lifting?  Me, of course.  I guess I'm stronger than I think....LOL.  But between the two of us, we finally got Baron up.  He was shaky but up on his feet.  We had to help him get down the ramp because of the bad back leg.  But, as soon as he hit the grassy area, he emptied his bladder.  It took a LONG time!

Baron walked around for a long time with the Beast trailing after him.  He walked all around the back yard then came over to the stairs to the porch, where I was sitting with my coffee.  We were so glad to get (and keep!) him on his feet, we didn't try to get him into the house for quite a while.

Dennis came over and pet Baron for a while and Baron was happy about that.  He kept wagging his tail.  I gave Dennis a carton of 18 eggs (he no longer complains about the rooster's crowing...LOL).  I keep them in eggs and Diane saves all the cartons and returns them to me.  Most of the neighbors that we give eggs to do the same.

When we finally got Baron into the house (his constant standing makes him tired and he heads for the ramp), he STILL was standing and not laying down.  He was very shaky but drank a LOT of water then ate a bit of ham the Beast gave him.  Just a bit.  Not enough to fill up a fly.  When he finally DID lay down, it was on the floor of our master bedroom closet!  It's carpeted and the floor is not cold.  We think that's why he chose to be in there.  It's been down around 42-45 most nights lately.  We keep him covered up to make sure he's warm and use the softest towel we own for under his head.

Once he lays down, he's down for the rest of the day and night.  But he hasn't been crying while he sleeps so we think he's not in pain.  At least, we hope so.  He really is skin and bone.  You can see his ribs and hip bones.  He looks like he's being mistreated.  We try to give him his chicken and the fresh pet food made from turkey and veggies but he won't eat it.  The cat grabs a chunk and seems to love it so it doesn't go entirely to waste.  It's affecting both the Beast and me because we are always checking on him during the night.  I managed to take a four hour nap after dinner.  It's the longest I've slept at one time for the past week or more.

When the Beast went to church tonight, I took my shower and got into fresh, warm jammies.  I even set my hair.  I made us grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches for dinner (hey!  It worked for us!).  I also had some chicken broth with mine but the Beast just wanted the sandwich.  It tasted wonderful for a change.

We talked a  bit about burying him on our property next door and how we would manage to dig a hole deep (and big) enough.  We are going to have to enlist some help.  It may be Herbie.  That's his friend that came from the Dominican Republic to marry his fiance that lives here.  The Beast took him to the Driver's License bureau the other day to take the written test and get his permit.  He will need his license once he can try for a job.  His visa said he couldn't work for six months.  He's been here about four months now so it will come soon.  He's thinking about taking a job at one of the stores that most of the Creole speaking people shop at since it's one of the five languages that he's fluent in.  He also speaks Spanish, French and a few other languages that I forget.

But the Beast drives him around when his wife is working.  She owns a nice mobile home that is on her parent's property and that is where the two of them live.  Her father still won't talk to him but he's taken over the job of mowing the land for the father since it's a tough job for him.  But that's a whole other matter.  This blog is about Baron and his spiraling bad condition.  

I'll keep you all posted.  It's just so sad.  I cried today while the Beast and I were talking about everything and I almost made the Beast cry, too.  Please say a prayer or two that his passing will be peaceful and painless.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***

I Can't Find Sleep.....

It's almost 2:30am and I can't find sleep for worry over Baron.  My heart is breaking over his physical state.  He's all skin and bone and, coupled with his inability to walk, even when upright, it's just heartbreaking.  I keep checking to see if he's breathing but trying not to wake him.  At least tonight he doesn't seem to be hurting since he's not crying in his sleep.  Even  the Beast has been checking on him every time he gets up to pee.  I found myself chewing on a lot of ice that I was letting get *chewable* (it does that after it sits in water for a while) so I stopped doing that since it was just nervousness and not a real need for water.

Is this crazy?  I mean, being so worried over our dog?  I should let nature take it's course and hope for a good sign but I just don't think we are going to see it.  This house will not be the same without Baron.  But I don't want another dog if he dies on us.  

The Beast will miss him most of all.  They have been bonded almost since the beginning.  I was almost afraid of him (he was very hyper when he was young and it's how he broke my wrist when I was trying to walk him) and missed out on the best bonding time.  I know he thinks of me as part of the pack but I am the second one he goes to when the Beast is not around.  There are times he won't listen to me still.  But it doesn't mean I don't care for him.  He's so good with kids and other animals (mostly).  He has a tolerance for some and has disliked some dogs....usually for good reason.  There was one that he wouldn't let anywhere near our property and, heaven forbid!, if that little shit tried to get near me or the Beast !  Baron would go nuts and chase him off.  He never liked the little rat terriers that one of our neighbors had (but they got rid of them because they caused such a ruckus around the neighborhood).    They gave them to other friends of theirs that had a fenced yard.  

I still don't understand the thinking of people around here (meaning it's pretty wide spread in Alabama) that dogs don't belong in the house.  It gets cold here.  We may not get a lot of snow but many don't even provide shelter for them.  The poor things have to get underneath the house or a porch or deck when it rains or when we DO get snow.  And it's not like they get the kind of dog that can take that kind of weather, either.  It's just sad to see.

Thankfully, the neighbors that we do have next to us, have all been more humane.  They keep/kept their dogs indoors at night or during bad weather of any kind.  Others in our neighborhood don't and they think we have a spoiled dog because we do.  We put up with the hair Baron sheds...and, for a short hair dog, he sheds a LOT more than you would believe.  

I found out that one of our neighbors (an older woman who had lost her husband a few years ago), finally died shortly after her kids finally took her in because her home was just more than she could manage.  She died shortly after her home was sold by her kids.  I stopped to talk to them when they were clearing out the garage and talked to them.  At that time, she was living with them but was in a wheelchair.  Her knees needed replacing but the doctors felt it was too much for her at her age (90).  It was just two or three weeks after that when I found out she had died.  So sad.  She was such a nice woman with a big heart.  She often took in some of the dogs that were abandoned in our rural area until she found them  homes.   The strange thing about the abandoned dogs we've found around here is that they all seem friendly and well-behaved.  Plus they were trained to go outside for all their *duty*.  It boggles the mind why they were abandoned.

 I could never abandon any animal.  I've had some that roamed and two that were probably taken by others that might have thought they were strays.  Those were cats, however, and they can demand servants, not owners.  One, I know, did not like my kids and all the attention they tried to give it.  I'll bet she found a family of just two people...both adults....LOL.

We do know of one that selected a neighbor of ours that she preferred and she was loved so it was akay.  But when she had kittens, guess where she ended up?  Yep.  At our house.  I was shocked that our house was where she chose to have them.  But she didn't object when the other family came and collected her and her kittens and took them home.

Oh well.  Animals have feelings, too, and they can have their preferences just like we do.  

I know Baron is *just a dog* as some have said but he's been a part of our family since he was 2 months old.  We had to tape up his ears as a pup (we got him shortly after that was done to him).  We trained him to pee and poop outside (he was smart and *got it* very quickly).  He loves to travel in the car and was fantastic when we traveled.  He's also well-behaved in a motel and he always loved his training collar, even though a lot of people thought we had to have it on him because he was mean (not so).  It just kept him from being distracted when we were hiking.  He would get so excited at times that he would pull us if he didn't have it on.  His one fault was he couldn't swim.  He almost drowned on us one day but the Beast grabbed him by his (regular) collar and brought him up from under the water and onto land.  He was never afraid of water, even so, but he became cautious about the depth of the water.

He's not *just a dog* to us, and certainly, not to the Beast.  To the Beast, he's his best friend.  It's the closest he's ever been to any animal.  He WILL be sorely missed.

Well, this is the third post I've done today and I think I must try, again, to get to sleep.  The Beast wants to go out with his church group tomorrow, depending on Baron's condition AND if I am totally awake to keep an eye on him.  I want for him to get out of the house for a bit so I want to make sure I AM awake and aware.  I would like to go visit Cee on Wednesday so I am hoping Baron does something to tell us what is going on with him.  

Love you all.  Be good.  Be kind.  ***Hugs***

Just Not Sure What To Expect....

Despite a seeming rally earlier today, we truly feel that Baron is going to die on us.  It's so sad, really.  He's been such a good dog and we feel so helpless.  He won't eat so we haven't been able to give him his pills.  When we tried giving it to him the way most people do when you can't get your pet to eat them in food, he managed to spit them out no matter what we did.  It's why the Beast is sure that Baron may WANT to die.  

The vet had kind of warned us when we were there last that he really didn't know what was wrong with Baron.  He was trying all the normal things to fight infection and we made sure to give him his injections every day.  He said the next thing would probably be to send us to an internist specialist in Birmingham because it could actually be a cancer that didn't show up on an X-ray....yet.  He said no one likes to think about that in any animal, especially a dog you love.  He also said that Baron was old, by dog standards, expecially for an oversize Doberman.  He's 9-1/2 years old and their lifespan is usually anywhere from 10 to 12 years old. 

He's had other health problems the last few years, including some fatty tumors (one was huge) and came up quickly.  He almost died under anesthesia so they all couldn't be removed.  The vet had to get him out from under it quickly to save his life.  He can't even take the chance of giving him a shot so that he could take biopsies of some of the other lumps he's developed this past year.  All you can do is cross your fingers and hope.

When I say we feel hopeless, we really do.  Keep Baron is your thoughts and prayers and hope that, if he IS going to pass, that it's peaceful and painless for him.  I'm sitting here crying so I think I should close.  Love you all.  ***Hugs for you and yours***

Worse Day Ever !!!

There was no way we were going to get Baron to the vet's yesterday because, not only was he unable to get to his feet, but he also fought us when we tried to help him.  I think we may have caused him a lot more hurt by trying to do that.  It was pathetic to watch.  He spent a lot of time crying and didn't want to eat or even drink anything.  We just sat next to him and comforted him as much as we could.

The cat didn't want to leave his side but she finally ate and drank then hurried back to his side.  She didn't lay on him but stayed close.  From time-to-time, Baron cried.  It broke our hearts.  Later in the day, we found Baron up on his front feet but we had to help him get up on his back legs.  Well, he was still holding up the one back leg but he wanted to go outside.    The Beast put his leash on him again and out they went...just to his favorite tree and then back in the house so he could drink some water (he still wouldn't eat although we both tried hand feeding him at different times during the day.  He laid down in front of the front door and went to sleep again.

We were worried sick because it seemed like this might be *it* and he was going to leave us.  The Beast wouldn't leave and even stayed home from church (he said Baron had kept him awake and he was *too tired* to get all dressed up).  However, I noticed that he didn't even nap until after dinner and then not for long.

I was exhausted after we tried several times to entice him to eat, to help him get on his feet when he seemed to want to and, then, just comforting him when he was in pain.  I fell asleep around 10pm (Baron was asleep in front of the door still).  We kept our door open so we could hear him/check on him during the night.  We had covered him with a nice warm, fleece blanket and had a soft towel under his head to keep it off the cold floor.

The Beast got up at 5am while I was putting the coffee together but I went back to bed after he told me to go ahead and get the coffee going.  He fell asleep in his recliner for a bit but Baron woke him up.  He was actually on his feet!  He spent  quite a long time peeing when he went outside (the back leg is still not being used) and he wanted to go out back where he just stood in the sun for a while.  The Beast was hoping he would poop but didn't stick around to watch so he has no clue if he did or not.  He's now in the house, asleep on his mattress and the cat felt free enough to go out and visit with her brother, I guess.  He doesn't seem to be leaving us today.  

I hope to sleep better since I kept getting up to check on whether or not he was still with us.  I feel like he may have taken a slight turn for the better and, perhaps, we can get him to the vet's in the next day or so.

Gonna get this posted now.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***
 

Poor Baby !!

Today had to have been one of the worst days for Baron since he started suffering from his arthritis and infection of some kind.  The infection was treated but his arthritis seems to be getting worse.  Today he fell asleep in the guest room and we think the leg on that side (right rear leg) fell asleep.  So, when Baron tried to get up, he couldn't stand up without help.  Then, he wouldn't/couldn't put that one leg down to assist him in walking.  It was a nightmare AND so sad to watch him and know he was in severe pain.  Worse...he can't be taken to the vet's office until Monday.  


We knew he need to go out to pee but he didn't even want to try walking forward.  The Beast finally had to go get his training collar out of the car and put it on Baron.  For whatever reason, he loves that collar and he will respond to any commands when it's on him.  The Beast used that fact to get Baron down the ramp and outside to pee.  The Beast knew which tree was Baron's favorite so he took his time to get Baron over to it and Baron actually looked relieved to make it.  I was in my computer room when it occurred to me that getting DOWN the ramp was hard enough but getting him UP it would be a nightmare.  With it being his rear leg that was paining him, there was just no way he could get back UP the ramp because he needed that leg to either support his body up that step and into the house or to push his body upward while the other leg supported his weight.  No way, Jose.  I got up and out to the garage/kitchen door just in time to hold the door open so the Beast could lift up Baron's backside and help him up that step.  

The Beast had to keep Baron on the leash into the bedroom and I had to help Baron onto his mattress, which would be a much softer place for him to lay down.  We did have two cute things happen to the fur babies.  It kind of went like this:  when Baron gave his *need to go outside* whine and then tried to get up, the cat actually made it hard for Baron because, as soon as Baron got up on his front legs, the cat started rubbing up against his face and interfering with him getting up on his hind legs.  So I grabbed Sassy and put her into my computer room so she couldn't keep up that behavior.  Especially when we figured out that Baron's hind leg wasn't helping him get up.  

Well, Sassy, who adores Baron, didn't like being separated from him.  She was both upset and yet wanted my attention so she bounced between my lap and the door out.  She was very unhappy and upset.  She tried stretching up to open the door (it looked so funny/cute) and she was trying to see Baron under the door (the guest room and my computer room are opposite from each other).  THEN, when she couldn't open my door OR see Baron, she started crying.  Guess what else happened?  Baron got very upset when he heard her crying and HE started whining for her.  The Beast had to open the door and let her out.  The two of them then spent about five minutes of face rubbing and Baron licked her head to tell her that he cared, too.

When the Beast finally got Baron outside, the cat stayed right by him and she even pee'd on the other side of the same tree that Baron used!  When we were trying to get Baron back in, she raced inside and stood near the door and looked like she was encouraging him into the house with her tiny meows.  

She let him get settled on his mattress and then she got up on it with him but didn't lay on him.  Later, Baron made the black/white blanket into a pillow of sorts and laid his head on it.  After looking at the cat a few times (I think they communicate with telepathy) she got up and moved to the *pillow* and shared it with Baron so she had her head on the *pillow*, too.  That's when Baron finally let out a sigh and closed his eyes.  He was content and in less pain on the foam mattress.   

The Beast and I had a late *everything* kind of eating day.  Late breakfast, lunch and then dinner.  I wasn't even thinking about eating when the Beast came into my room and said, *C'mon, let's eat,*  He had made us some ham and eggs and I was suddenly very hungry.  He had sliced a few pieces of the ham he'd bought the other day (really nice ham, too!) and freshly gathered eggs.  It was delicious.  We talked about Baron and I guess the Beast and I will be taking him to the vet's, bright and early, on Monday. 

 I told the Beast that *I* would give Baron his medications since the dog isn't built like the Beast is and would need his medication every day.  I can't trust the Beast to be sure to give even his pain medications to the dog.  I told him that he can't treat Baron when *he* feels Baron should take his meds.  He's bad about taking his own medications, especially the one for his blood pressure. 

 If he can't be trusted to take his own meds, I don't believe he'll give Baron his every day.  He wouldn't have given Baron a lot of his medications except that he needed my help to give him some so I knew when he gave it to him or when he *forgot*.  I'd have to remind him some days.  I will NOT let Baron suffer if I can help it.  I WILL insist on something for Baron's pain from his arthritis since he's gotten worse.  He's so thin from all the weight he lost.  Even if he IS eating better (Sassy helps with that when she tries to steal some of Baron's squishy food)....LOL.   Personally, I think she does it on purpose to encourage him to eat.  I guess she prefers him a bit *plumper* than he is right now.

I think animals are very sensitive to other animals that are in pain or have a serious injury.  Sassy knew, even before it was obvious to US, that Baron was in pain and needed some affection.  She's always adored Baron, even when she was still half-grown.  Whoever dumped her and her brother off in our area sure gave up a couple of cute kittens.   I don't know a more affectionate, yet independent, cat.  She loves attention but she gives it in small doses....LOL.  Except to Baron, of course.

We found out, just recently, that she goes over to visit with her brother most mornings.  He was *adopted* by another family in our area.  She goes over to visit him for a couple hours most days.  They just take a walk around the area, then a short nap, cuddled up, before she comes home.  The only way to tell them apart is the brother has some long, wild hair in his ears.  They are look-alikes other than that small difference.  I can tell them apart from a distance even.  That's what I look for.  Oh, and they visit with our friends, Diane and Dennis, every day, too.  Once I told Diane how I can tell them apart, she now can tell which one of them is our cat.  

Diane laughed when I used the term *furbabies*.  She had never heard that before.  It really tickled her for some reason.  She has the cutest laugh when she's tickled over something.  You can tell when she REALLY is tickled just by her laugh.  

Enough!  I must post this now and take my shower.  My stitches are starting to be absorbed/fall off.  I know I am healing just because of that.  It 's about time, too!  I still have some swelling but I try to ignore that part as much as I can.  It, too, shall go away.  The sooner, the better.

Love you all.  Be good, stay warm and enjoy your Sunday.  Spend time with relatives, call your old friends/older family members.  We love to hear from loved ones.  All too soon, we will just be memories.  Give us a hug.  Tell us about your day/week.  It's nice to be remembered while we are still alive.  Be sure to tell us you love us.  It will make you happier when we pass over that rainbow bridge.  ***Hugs***

A Very Good Dau

I was so happy to wake up this morning feeling so...normal.  It has been a long time since I felt this good.   My stitches on my neck are still there but no longer hurt me.  They are just starting to finally drop off, here and there.  They do itch, however.  It's tough not to scratch the hell out of the area but I don't want to scratch off the stitches.  I am really trying hard not to pull them out before the area is healed nicely.  You can barely see the stitches on the other side of my neck.   The doctor seems to do good work and I don't want to screw his reputation up by tearing out the stitches before their time....LOL

I made some pasta with Alfredo sauce for our dinner AND some garlic bread.  It tasted wonderful and I enjoyed being up and about again.  I just wish I could wear my back brace because I an uncomfortable enough that I should have it on.  However, because of the boo-boo from my latex allergy.  It can't take the pressure on it. 

 It's all scabbed over and I put a nice gauze pad on it (the kind that is covered over with a coating so it doesn't stick).
I thought that I had used up all the paper tape that the nurses had used when they had to come to change the bandages on my leg after the bypass was done.  It was on their records from the hospital (the latex allergy) so they brought paper tape to use.  Bless their hearts.  I had no idea there even was such a thing....at least, not that I remember....LOL.  

  I am feeling my age, however.  It's tough to do some things that I never thought about just a few years ago even.  Not pain, just feeling unsteady unless I can hold onto something.  A bannister, a door frame, etc.  My legs just feel weak at times, mostly going up stairs....and down them....LOL.  Part of that is because of the neuropathy in my feet.  I have good days and bad days because the pain is mostly on the bottom of my feet.  I've had days when I can barely feel the pedals on the car.  Not THAT is scary.

BTW....you can leave comments or ask questions.  I always check to see if anyone has left a comment, just in case there's a question or even giving me advice about something.  I do, on occasion, throw a question out there and it's nice to know someone noticed.  I don't mind hearing from anyone.

Time to get this posted.  I feel like it's very, very late since it gets dark around 5:30pm.  Why do we have Daylight Savings Time?  I don't see how it benefits anyone except mothers of young children.  It's much easier to get them into bed with it being dark so early.  It's ridiculous to have it get dark so damn early.

Oh, and Baron seems to be doing so much better now.  He's eating more and more every day and he's even getting some weight back.  He doesn't look like he's an abused dog any more.  I just wish we could do something for his arthritis.  It hurts to see him having a hard time going up and down stairs.  He isn't laying down like normal because of the pain that pressure on his hips causes.  He's sleeping and laying down only on his mattress.   I just wish I understood why he HAS to lay on it with his head on the floor.  It's so weird.

Love you all.  I think I am heading for bed soon.  No nap today although I felt the need but resisted so that I can get into a less nocturnal lifestyle.  Be good.  Have a great weekend and laugh a lot if you can.  It's good for you.  Laughter is healing, don't ya know?  ***Hugs***
 

I Feel Human Again !!!!

I'm not sure exactly why but I really think all the food I finally ate (and the really great banana bread the Beast made) and I was taking in ice water until the tips of my fingers were no longer wrinkled was a big factor.  The shower felt wonderful.  The shampoo was definitely needed and my scalp thanked me by staying tame even without me blowing it dry or  *shudder* setting it in rollers.  I just couldn't stand the idea of being the least bit uncomfortable when I was so tired.

This morning I woke up feeling like a new woman.  I wasn't the least bit shaky, I was hungry but able to easily make myself breakfast.  I finished folding the Beast's underwear that I had started before I was suffering from the lack of sleep due to the latex skin removal that had peeled off a good two inch circle of skin on my side.  The side I usually sleep on.  I couldn't find my paper tape so I could bandage it up until yesterday.  It was the third or fourth thing I took care of once I showered.  I slept like a calm, sweet tempered baby....LOL. 

I know the Beast is feeling contrite because he's been underfoot almost all day long.  He's gotten busy doing a few of the things I've been trying to get him to do (involving the deck and the front porch) and, thankfully, the weather is perfect outside today for him to be working in it.  More about that later today in another blog.

Just keeping you posted and because I am feeling so good after the lousy few days I had.   I wanted to share that with you.

Love you all.   Take care.  Mind the weather (it's gotten weird, hasn't it?)  I can almost feel winter nipping at me.  Not my favorite time of year.  In fact, it takes last place....LOL.  I'm just glad that our winters here are so mild, relatively speaking.  Oh, and thank you for keeping my bff, Carol, in your prayers after I told you about the awful leg ulcers she was suffering with.  They are healing nicely now and she's feeling so much better.  She may not believe in the power of prayer but I do....and so do some of you, too.  ***Hugs*** X 1,000.