Crazy Dog

This afternoon, with four of us at home, Pearl managed to sneak a major snack. One of the kids left the pantry open and she rummaged in it as well as doing some counter surfing.

In round one she got a 8 pack of peanut butter crackers (My family has always called them Nabs, but I'm not sure anyone else refers to them that way) and a pound of linguini. She only got one of the packs of nabs open. She ate every last crumb. The pasta was open and spread out but I don't think she ate much if it.

After cleaning all of the mess up and closing the pantry, I left to get Rehm from school. When I got back, we found another open bag of pasta! Grrr!

When I told Rehm that we luckily had one package of pasta she didn't get in he said, "Let me guess, she didn't eat the veggie pasta." He was correct.

It seems that Pearl doesn't agree with me that she should be on a grain free diet. Every time she counter surfs it is for carbs. Einstein's Bagels are her favorite. She's been known to eat a half a dozen of them at a time.

The strange thing is I left her uncrated for a couple of hours today while I ran errands. She was an angel and didn't get in anything. But this afternoon, even with us at home, she was a very naughty dog. I'm thinking we will have to have some dog wearing* time to help her remember her manners.

*dog wearing is a great training tool that we have used many times. We attach the dog's leash to our belt. The dog has to go wherever we go. It keeps them close by so when they start thinking about getting in trouble we are right there to correct them.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

The not so Joyous Parts of Pets

I'm blaming the cats for this. Nothing like walking into a room to find furniture overturned.


This was definitely Pearl. I don't know why but she has become a sneaky counter surfer. She knows better than to attempt getting something off the counter if someone is in the room. I'm hoping this scared her but since she can't hear the crash, I doubt it did.


My kids do plenty of damage of their own but when compounded with the pets, I'm definitely fighting a losing battle.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

This Dog!

I love this dog to death, but she sure can get into trouble. It seems to have become a pattern for her to get in trouble if we are not home in the evenings. I can leave her all day and no trouble, leave her in the evening for an hour and trouble city!






This particular night she knocked a stack of mail and papers off the counter and swiped Charlotte's valentine box from school and ate lots of candy.






When Charlotte was inventorying her candy, she realized that Pearl had eaten a small bag of M&Ms. She was so mad at her for eating her stuff, but burst into tears because she thought Pearl would die from eating the chocolate and it would all be Charlotte's fault. I assured her that it wasn't enough chocolate to hurt Pearl and that even if it was it was not her fault.



This bag used to contain a bunch of candy hearts. Pearl seemed to think they were extra tasty.

Jenn

Someone Thinks He Is a Seamtress

Can you call a boy a seamstress? What is the proper term for a male who likes to see? I honestly don't know and will have to go look it up when I'm finished writing.

Phineas loves all parts of the sewing process. Cutting, pinning, sewing, he likes it all. And he especially loves to take pins out of things you've just pinned and run through the house with them.

So far today he has been here.


And here.


And here.


He has also managed to knock off my box of pins and spill them all over the floor.

It is much harder to sew with an interested cat than an interested child!

In case you're wondering, today's project is a sleepover bag for Eliza Claire. I'm sure with all the help I'm getting, and all the other stuff I need to get done, I won't finish it today.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Update on the Dog Treat that Wasn't

In case you were wondering, a terry cloth soap pouch can hang out in a dog's stomach for a week before said dog decides to barf it up.  The good news is, he barfed it up.  It would have been one expensive soap pouch had it gotten stuck and had to be surgically removed.  Not to mention, it would have been a very painful experience for the dog. 

I can honestly say, I've never been happier to clean up dog barf than I was yesterday.  I'm sure it is directly related to how thrilled I was that the silly thing was no longer in his system and a threat to his health and my pocketbook.

Note to self, don't leave the ivory soap where the dogs can get it.

Jenn

Not Dog Treats

What is this you ask? These are cute little terry pouches that hold a bar of soap. I got the idea from pinterest, of course.



After making cute pool bags for the girls, I made several of these out of the scraps for the kids to use at home and for travel.



It appears that the dogs like the taste of ivory soap because I found them fighting over the remains of one of my filled soap pouches. When I went to separate them and take it away Baron swallowed the pouch! He is now regretting his latest doggie treat and has an upset stomach. Cross your fingers he's feeling better soon and the pouch passes without incident. I guess he'll at least have fresh breath for a fee hours.

Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Miss Pearl

I love that most of the time Miss Pearl's tongue sticks out.

Enjoying some outside time after being banned from the back yard for the last week due to a downed section of fence.  I'm thrilled we've had rain but am really glad to have use of the backyard back.

Getting some energy out playing her most favorite game - fetch.

 

Yes, half the yard is just dirt right now.  I'm blaming the drought.  Though why it has only affected half the yard is beyond me.  I think it probably has more to do with the sprinkler system but that is a problem for another day.

I'm so glad Pearl is part of the family.  She is a unique girl that always makes me smile, even when she is being bad, which luckily isn't very often.

Jenn

Conflicted

Phineas has been acting a bit psychotic today. It is very reminiscent of his Psychotic Break of 2011. Did I blog about that? I don't remember.
Basically for PB2011, which started on Rehm's 10th birthday, he and Isabella had a fight. He ended up soaked in urine. I assumed he was having bladder problems and attempted to rush him to the vet. He was having no part in it. It took me an hour to wrestle him into the carrier. I'm still emotionally scarred from the process. The vet agreed it was probably bladder related. They kept him overnight. They found nothing wrong and sent him home. For six weeks he refused to come out of our bedroom and refused to have Isabella in the room. He would growl if she even got too close to the door. Then magically he was his normal happy self.
Today, my house smells like cat urine, lovely, I know. My cat is hiding, growling and hissing at the other animals but will purr and let me pet him. I caught him peeing on the carpet, but could tell it wasn't a pleasant process for him. He definitely has some kind of bladder issues. I'm not looking forward to getting him to the vet in the morning.
Part of me is very relieved to know that he does not become psychotic every March. The other part is annoyed that he is prone to bladder problems.
Unfortunately, or maybe it is fortunately, I know what caused the bladder problems both years. He got accidentally locked in a closet, several days before each episode, both years. Last year for approximately 48 hours. This year it was only 24.
I guess we will have to be more cautious about where he is when we leave home. You would think he would stop sneaking into the closet...
Jenn- Posted from my iPhone

Dog Fostering

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this already, but looking back over the last few months it seems I have not.

In early October we decided to help out Houston Collie Rescue by taking in a foster dog.  Baron our loveable three year old, smooth coat, tri-colored collie came from HCR.

Our Howdy passed away in June.  It was obvious that Baron would like a playmate but we really were not ready to commit to having a second dog.  So when the opportunity to foster arose it seemed like the perfect solution.  We provide the dog with a home, love, food and exercise until its forever home is found.  In return, Baron gets a playmate and we all get the satisfaction of knowing we made a small difference.

Our first foster dog arrived on 10/8.  You can read all about Jana here.  She is a sweet, calm, loving eight year old collie mix.  She is currently going through heartworm treatment.  She spent the first eight years outside but has quickly adapted to inside living and honestly doesn't like to be outside any longer than it takes to do her business.

Jana loves belly rubs and will roll over when you walk by to make sure you give her a nice belly pat.  She likes to hang out near her people and when she wants more attention is happy to come over and nudge a hand to let you know.  When she comes in from the yard or we come home, if we don't immediately give her a pat she does a cute little howl to make sure you haven't forgotten about her.  When she does this we say, "Jana in the hooouuuusseee!" and she howls back a few times.  It is very cute and endearing.

Tomorrow, Jana will be going to a new foster home here in Austin.  I am excited for her and sad all at the same time.  We knew when she came to our house that we would not be her forever family and that at some point she would leave us.  But, she has been part of the family for two months and we have and do love her like our own.

I've talked to her new foster mom and know she is going to a great place where she is going to continue to get lots of love and care.  I know this is a good move for her but we are all going to miss her.  My hope is that she will soon be completely healthy and will find her forever home.

So are we done fostering?  Nope.  Tomorrow morning, after Jana's new foster mom picks her up, I'm headed to Houston to pick up our new foster dog.  Her name is Pearl.  She is a special needs girl who is deaf.  She is a double-dilute, smooth coat collie.  She has been in rescue since this summer.  I think she and Baron are going to have a lot of fun together.  She is younger and much more spirited than any dog we've had in a long time.  It should keep thinks interesting around here, because you know it is so quite and boring in my house...

Courtesy of Houston Collie Rescue

Courtesy of Houston Collie Rescue

These pictures are from when Pearl first came to rescue.  She is significantly bigger now.  

Jenn

Random: Today's Pictures from my Phone

Looking at these pictures, this is going to be a very random post. 

My Granny, is in her late 80s.  She is declining both physically and mentally.  She used to be an amazing crocheter.  In fact one of my most prized possessions is a table cloth she made me at of very fine thread that probably took her an entire winter to make.  These days she makes little crocheted things to occupy herself.  They don't really have a design or purpose.  She gave Rehm one for him and each of his sisters while he was visiting.  So far, this is the best use we've found for them - Playmobil people clothing!  They are all dressed up and ready to go to the wedding.



With Ruby and Eliza Claire starting Kindergarten in less that two weeks (!), I am trying to round up the last few things they need for school.  They need a small pillow and blanket, I have one pillow and several blankets.  I took this picture to remind me to look for another pillow like this one while running errands today.  Unfortunately, I could not find any of these (it is about 12x16) but did find a baby pillow (it is about 8x10?).  Luckily thanks to my amazing Mom and Mother-in-Law I have plenty of pillow cases for both of these sizes of pillows.  I think we officially have all of our back to school supplies.  Now I just need to remember to pick up short to wear under dresses and pack a change of clothing in their backpacks in case an unfortunate and embarrassing accident occurs. 



Rehm and Charlotte had a playdate with friends this morning.  Ruby, Eliza Claire and I went shopping for a shower present for this weekend.  Ruby can not for the life of her get the baby's name right.  She kept calling him "Duck-lan."  His name is Douglas.  I know she is thinking of the name Declan, which is the son of good friends of ours.  I kept saying, "You mean Douglas," enough times that she and Eliza Claire are both calling him "Duck-las!"  I think it is so cute I can't bear to correct her in further.  While shopping for the baby gift I came across this lunch box set that I had a very hard time not buying to try out with my kids.  It looks like it could make a fun different lunch.  But it was expensive and as my husband would tell you, I have enough lunch stuff already.  But, I may have to try one at some time. 




I just realized in the lunch box picture you can see my crackle/shatter nail polish.  I'm blaming it on my girls and niece.  We bought two bottles of it while Brooke was visiting.  We bought the Sally Hansen brand as it was on sale at our grocery store.  We bought white and purple shatter.  So far we have not found an under color that makes the purple look good.  And the purple doesn't seem to crackle as well as the white.  It is very important to let the first color dry completely before applying the crackle.  The thinner the layer of crackle the more crackled the end result.  You have to be careful not to go back over a spot you've already painted with the crackle or you lose most of the effect.  I find painting with it to be similar to trying to paint your nails with White Out.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who did this when bored in class in middle school?





These adorable sweaters were at Babies 'R Us today.  The color came out funky in the picture.  They were much cuter in person.  I was very sad that my girls have outgrown Babies 'R Us sizes as I would have bought these.  In fact there were several darling pieces of girl clothing today.  But alas, I'm not sad we have outgrown the baby store.  In fact in kind of makes me giddy.





This pretty flower was made by my daughter and myself.  She has read in her Fancy Nancy  books about making tissue paper flowers and wanted to make some today.  Instead of tissue paper, I had her bring me a couple of regular tissues.  I showed her how I used to make flowers with my friend Anita in elementary school.  The step Fancy Nancy didn't tell her about was tearing the edges of the tissue to make them ragged.  It makes for a much prettier finished product.  She was impressed with her Mom's flower making ability and likes having her creation on display in the kitchen.



This, my friends, is a screen shot of the wallpaper on my phone.  If my husband reads this he will be shaking his head.  This is Pearl.  She is a dog currently in foster care with Houston Collie Rescue.  She is about a year old and deaf.  She doesn't look like a "real" collie because she is a double-dilute or double-merle collie and a smooth coat to boot. (Our other collie is also a smooth coat - just means he has short hair instead of the long coat you think of when you hear the word "collie.")  Her parents should have never been bred together. Breeding two merle collies leads to having dogs with hearing and/or vision problems and often puppy mortality.  I have totally fallen in love with this dog and would like to add her to our crazy household. From a practical standpoint I know we should remain a one dog house.  My head knows this, but my heart just loves this little lady.  Every time I turn on my phone this picture makes me smile.  I hope she finds the perfect family very soon.


Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

A Long Overdue Ode to Howdy

 Howdy 

January 10, 1998 - June 16, 2011

We lost a very dear friend in June.  Our beloved Howdy, also know as, Howdy Dog, Howdy-Howds.

Howdy was one of the best dogs I've ever had the pleasure to share a home with.  He arrived in our lives in the Spring of 1998 along with his sister Tobie.  They spent the first four months of their lives in Weatherford, Texas, with lots of room to roam and lots of other collies.  When we brought them home, they did not know how to go up and down stairs and we lived in a 3rd floor apartment.  They had never walked on a side walk or street and their poor little paws did not like it.  They quickly became such a big part of our lives.

From the beginning Howdy was such a laid-back, easy-going dog.  We joked about him not being the most intelligent dog, but I'm not sure that is true.  I think Howdy was always very content.  He was happiest to just be in the room with you.  He did not demand a lot of attention, he just liked being near his people.

Howdy was always very well behaved.  He wasn't one to chew on things, or get in trashcans or litter boxes.  He didn't try to get on the furniture.  He was a very good listener and always aimed to please.  We always described Howdy's personality as "Doh-de-doh-de-doh."

When someone would sneeze, Howdy would immediately come check on that person.  I don't know what he thought sneezes were, but they concerned him, greatly.   He had to get in your face and make sure you were OK. 

Howdy loved to play in the water.  He loved to curl up with his sister Tobie to sleep.  He loved to run laps in the yard while chasing his sister.

Howdy hated the vet.  For as laid-back as he was at home he was completely opposite at the vet.  He would go willingly but he did not want to be messed with at all!  He would not even cooperate for weighing.  He would not let them take blood, much less do anything more invasive.  It got to be a vicious circle of needing to do testing on him, but not being able to with out sedating him.  But he couldn't be sedated with out testing.  Yeah, confusing with no good solution.

Howdy had an ulcer when he was six or so.  We just happened to find it when doing routine testing as part of something else, though I don't even remember what the something else was now.

At eight and a half Howdy's gall bladder burst and we weren't sure if he would survive surgery.  Luckily, he did.  And had almost five more years with us.

In the last three to four years of his life, Howdy had severe arthritis in his hips and later in his neck.  He was on multiple medications multiple times a day for it.  The medication provided some pain relief but of course could not reverse the damage from the arthritis.  For the last two years of his life, Howdy was not able to climb the stairs in our house.  This was very hard on all of us as Howdy and Tobie had always slept in our room.

Baron (front) and Howdy (back) taking a nap together

After Tobie passed away, Howdy started losing weight.  No matter what we did, or offered him to eat, or how much he ate, he kept losing weight.  He also got very depressed and started pacing the house.  We realized that he was missing doggie companionship and decided it was in his best interest to adopt another dog, Baron.

Overall, Howdy and Baron got along well.  Howdy was definitely happier once he arrived.  Well, accept for when Baron would try to get Howdy to play with him.  Howdy wasn't able to play chase or tag and sometimes got annoyed with Baron for trying to play.  Honestly, I don't blame him as sometimes Baron would accidentally knock Howdy down trying to get him to play.

Howdy was always doing his best to please his people and loved being near them.  Even in the last year of life when standing was difficult and painful for Howdy, he would always follow me around in the kitchen with his head pressed up against my knee.  It was frustrating at times as it made it hard to cook, or I would trip over him.  But I miss that sweet boy when I cook these days.

In the last six months to a year, Howdy lost most of his hearing, his eye sight was not great, his mobility was limited and he would at times get confused.  Even with all of the decline he was still feisty at the vet.  In fact, just a few months before his death, it took three vet techs to clip his nails!  This was the dog that could only stand if moving and who fell over easily.  But he still hated having his feet touched and being messed with at the vet. 

It was very hard to come to the decision that it was Howdy's time to go to Dog Heaven.  His decline was so gradual but unfortunately continual.   As he declined, we kept doing new things to ensure his comfort and quality of life, but eventually we got to the place that there was no more we could do to achieve these goals.

Making the choice was so difficult.  Leaving with Howdy for his final vet appointment was very hard on our whole family.  That day, on the way to the vet, he stood and looked out of the back window of the van, something he had not done in years.  It took at least three people to place his final IV, because he still didn't like to be messed with.

But once we got to the vet and got everything ready, it wasn't hard.  It wasn't hard because it was the right choice at the right time for the right reasons.  I felt privileged to spend those last minutes with Howdy, hugging him and telling him how much we all loved him and that it was OK to go.  I walked out of the vet's office knowing we, as a family, had been good to Howdy, all the way to the end.  Knowing we would miss him, but have no regrets about the life he had lived and our parts in that life.

Howdy Dog, we still miss you.  You will always hold a special place in our hearts.  Thank you for being such a loyal and loving part of our family.

Doh-de-doh-de-doh.
Jenn

PS. More Howdy stories from the blog can be found here.

PPS. I planned to write this in June.  Actually I started it then.  Unfortunately, our laptop with all the pictures I took of Howdy in the last week of his life got dropped before I got the post written or the pictures backed up.  The laptop has been in the shop to see if it could be repaired or information off the hard drive retrieved.  I've been waiting to write this hoping that the pictures could be recovered.  I've given up hope and decided it was time to write this with or without the pictures.

It's Time...But I'm Not Ready

There comes a point in pet ownership where the right thing to do for a pet is to let them go. That time has come for Howdy. We've known for months that his time was near and our vet agreed that the time is now. I know it is time. I know it is the right thing to do. But, I am not ready...

Having a pet in my life has always been important to me. I know that is shocking considering at this moment we have two dogs, two cats and four fish. I love what they add to our lives. I love their companionship and their constant acceptance, even on my grumpy days. No, I don't love the constant pet hair, or the unexpected vet bills, or the clawed recliner. But, they are worth every minute of it.

I agonize over making the best decisions for the four-legged members of the family when they are ill, or in this case, old and declining and no longer enjoying their lives but enduring them. I ache over making the choice too soon...or too late.

Howdy can't tell me what he is thinking and to the end he is going to do his best to please me. He still gets up, with help, when I ask him to. He still comes to get attention, even when his back half is almost dragging the ground when he stands still for more than a few seconds. He still goes on a short walk every evening, though he has started balking about halfway through. Even though he doesn't feel great, Howdy is still doing his best to be the best pet he can be. It is my duty to be worthy of his trust and love.

I am so glad that we have the ability to make end of life choices for our pets. And, at the same time, I despise having that responsibility. It is so hard. I am not ready...

I know it is his time. But calling the vet to schedule your dog's death is a horrible thing to do. In fact, I couldn't do it because I knew I would cry too hard while on the phone. Michael had to make the appointment. Knowing for 48 hours when my dog's life is going to end is gut wrenching. Trying to find the right time and way to break the news to my children is terrible. But, at the end of the day, the 13.5 years we have been blessed to have Howdy as part of our family are worth every single bit of the pain now.

I keep looking at Howdy and thinking,"Is this really the right choice?" Deep down I know it is. But, I'm not ready...

Unfortunately, he is...

Jenn

Crazy or Sick

Sunday morning Phineas and Isabella had a spat. This was a more dramatic spat than the normal play fighting they do. It left Phineas growling and with the hair raised on his back for a good 30 minutes. It was unusual but not so dramatic I was concerned. We left for church.

We returned home several hours later to find Phineas on the counter in the kitchen growling. When I touched him, his underside was covered in urine. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. I suspected a UTI or a blockage of some sort.

Luckily, our vet has Sunday hours. I called and they said we could bring him in. Then the fun really started. After spending an hour with the cat screaming, and I do mean screaming, growling, hissing and lashing out with claws bared we finally cornered him under a bed and coaxed him out. I promise you, we were much more psychologically scarred by this event than the cat was. In fact, I might have nightmares for years to come. Who knew a ten pound cat could be so terrifying.






When we got to the vet Phineas was acting fine. He would let me pet him, pick him up, etc. The vet kept him overnight and said she found nothing wrong. Our instructions have been to watch him and see what happens. Her three likely diagnoses: urinary blockage that he passed on his own, constipation, or Isabella traumatized him.

When we brought him home he took one look at Isabella, growled, hissed and hid under our bed. He has stayed in our room for the last 48 hours. Anytime Isabella comes in he hisses and growls. I've bought a second litter box and feeding dish so she can stay out of our room. When Isabella isn't around he purrs and is very affectionate and lovable.

Isabella just came in our bedroom. They had a ten minute standoff the ended with much drama from Phineas. Lots of growling and hissing and he is back under the bed hiding and she is once again banished from the bedroom. Who knows how long it will be before he'll decide to emerge.

I have no clue what to do at this point. They've always been inseparable. Guess I'll have to call the vet and find out how to get them to work out their problems.



This was taken Saturday, a mere 24 hours before all the drama. This used to be the norm. I wonder if we will ever get back to this.

Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

When to Celebrate?

Baron the Wonder Dog was born on 2/29/08. I can't decide if his birthday is supposed to be today or tomorrow. I know he is just a dog but it is bugging me that he technically only has a birthday once every four years. How annoying.

So is he three today or tomorrow or is he zero until he turns four next year? I'm stumped.

Happy kind of Birthday Baron!
Jenn - Posted from my iPhone

Snow Day - Central Texas Style

Front Yard

Backyard

All of my Facebook friend laughed heartily when I posted pictures of our snow day last Friday.  They could not believe we got a day off school for so little snow.  What they forget is this is Central Texas and it doesn't snow often and when it does it doesn't matter if it is just a few flakes, it's a big deal.  We did have a little ice proceeding the snow, thus the need for the snow day.  And honestly, if they hadn't canceled school so many families would have kept their kids home to enjoy the rare snow that school would have been a waste for those who did go.

Baron checking out the snow

I think he likes it

He's such a beautiful dog

Howdy.  He's not nearly as impressed by the white stuff

We had been below freezing for three days before the snow but of course as soon as the white stuff arrived the temps went back up well above freezing.  By lunch time the snow was almost completely gone.