Fall weather

Oh I love the fall!  This cool weather has been a beautiful opportunity for longer walks and watching Ori run around even more like a crazy nut!

We've been calling Ori "squirrely" lately as she loves to pick up acorns, chew them up and spit them out!  Sometimes it's a race to see who can be faster on the draw, O  to grab a nut or me to keep her moving!  She also loves to take off running full tilt down the road and I love watching her love and enjoy life!

Moo is hanging in there, walking, and snuggling with the best of them!  She and O have been snuggly on the couch and the beds lately!  I was brave and left the 2 of them out for 45min while I had a chiropractor appointment on Wednesday morning and when I can home both were on the couch.  I opened the door, 2 heads popped up and then they jumped off to say hi.  I was so proud of them both!  (This is by no means going to be a habit, but I thought I would see for a once in a great while deal.)  They're really good little girls and I love them so : )

Bring on the snuggly down comforter, walking in hoodie with the girls weather!

Moo & O update

 Labor Day Weekend '10

O's foot healed quite nicely and she has been very sound since the surgery.  She continues to love life and manages to get herself into trouble every day.  Unfortunately, we can't help but laugh at most of it.  The 2 commands we need to teach and be consistent with are "leave it" and "drop it."  We'll get there, I'm sure :)

Molly has had 2 real good weeks.  Prior to that she had us both nervous.  About a month ago now we were at the vet having blood work done.  Her appetite and drinking had significantly increased and we couldn't seem to keep her poop under control.  She does not have diabetes but we confirmed that she wasn't regulated in regards to her cushings.  We increased her trilostane to 15mg twice a day and added flagyl to the regime as well.  We're down to 1/2 tab in the evenings and this combo seems to be working well.  We were able to finally get Molly back on her regular home cooked diet which has allowed her to gain just a little bit of weight back.  (she only lost 1/2 lb since Feb but it looks like so much more!)  While she tires more easily, the spark is still in her eye and she seems to still be enjoying life here with us.

Molly and Ori really seem to enjoy each others company which was really exemplified this weekend.  We typically bring 1 bed out by the campfire for the girls.  The first time we brought them both up they typically didn't lay together.  This time however, they snuggled up together more often than not.  Others noticed too and commented on the difference.  Things take time and I was happy to see the gradual change that has been going on with these 2!

Molly, despite her ups and downs, continues to blossom with us.  It's been so neat to watch her personality grow.  She jumps up on our bed on nights that she feels like sleeping up there and pretty much refuses to take "no" for an answer.  She likes her routine and she likes to snuggle more and more.  We've been taking each and every day we have with her as a gift. 

Moo was with us for an entire year on Aug 15th.  We celebrated her 12th birthday on Aug 29th with some yummy treats for the girls and an order of things to chew from onlynaturalpet.com which should be here any day now.  It amazes me where the time goes.  As we watch Molly gracefully slow down I am reminded of Tinker in so many ways.  I try to think of the positives, but I see what is happening and I'm doing my best to treasure the little things like Moo's singing and snuggling and her chewing on bones and playing keep a way from Ori with the Kong.

Molly did lose her bottom left canine tooth this past week, root and all.  The vet has checked her mouth on several occasions (including the last visit we had) so I'm not sure how crazy to get by it.  I know the signs and we're just taking things 1 step at a time.  For now Molly is happy and pain free so we take each day for what it is.  Nick suggested adding more calcium to her diet though.  I think it's a good idea and we'll get it rolling just in case.

This has gotten long!  We had a beautiful time at the cabin and both girls are tired!  Ori was a great snuggler in the evenings under the blankets and she snored beautifully too!  Molly decided to snuggle up under some covers and chew on a bone last night : ) When we came home this evening, everyone got a bath and is shiny clean again.  All the blankets and towels are clean as well and as much as I hate to say it, it looks like we're ready for the week ahead of us : )

Fall is coming and change is in the air!

Over a month?

Where does the time go?  These pics are from my phone from the LAST trip to the cabin we took in JULY with Linds, Jason, Christina, Ben, & Nate.

They really do love each other!

sniffin' around...

my pretty girls 

Linds and I worked hard to get this shot!

Doing exactly what the cabin is for.... a whole lot of sleeping!

Ori Update 8-3-10

Well there's no doubt in my mind that O is a trooper!  While she knows how to make the best of a situation and get pity and extra TLC, she has bounced back today in a way I did not expect.  Now she is on a pain killer and I'm trying to keep her somewhat quiet, but she seems to be feeling good!  She hasn't even been dropping her shoulder when first getting up or moving around.  I'm wondering if this bump was bothering her before it became a bump?  I don't know, but she's moving smoothly and quickly already!

She stinks from when she made a mess of her crate right after surgery but I don't want to bathe her until the stitches are out....I guess a little sponge bath is in order later on... : )

Oh Miss O, we are so glad you're on the mend!

Ori Update 8-2-10

So I took Ori to the vet and ended up leaving her there for what turned into surgery.  There's a new vet at Valley and I really, really like her.  (we took her over there 'cause Dr. Haver is on vacation until the 9th and Valley knows Ori the best.)  She spent lots of time looking Ori over, learning about her and gathering the information she needed.  She was easy to speak with, she listened to me and spoke to me like I knew what I was doing with my little girl!  It was a pleasure working with her today.

O weighs 16.4lbs!  She was such a good girl even with the thermometer and then a needle into the lump.  She drew a sample and looked at it under a slide.  After discussing the options and the route she would take with Ori, I left O and waited hoping not to hear from them later in the afternoon.  No news = good news as we left it.  I would call later in the day to check in.

When I called later in the day, the bump wasn't a puss pocket like we were all hoping.  Which meant the lancing didn't work and O had to be put under for the surgery.   Because of the location she wasn't able to get clean margins (in order to get clean margins O's 2 middle toes would have been removed) but I'll wait for the test results before I worry too much.  Obviously we're really hoping it wasn't a mast cell but we'll see. We'll know what is was when the test results come back Thursday or Friday. 

I picked her up after work this evening and she was the most pathetic little thing.  I went in the back with the vet and O acted all excited 1 minute and then next she was sleeping again with her face pressed again the metal bars, snoring!  Everybody loves her over there and I know they took good care of her.  I picked up the tired little munchkin and she snubbed the vet when she went to say good bye to her!  We have some antibiotics, painkillers, 4 stitches in her paw and a potential cone head if need be : )

She traveled home like and champ and has been here resting the remainder of the evening.  She acted hungry when she came home so I did give her a few bites of cooked ground turkey.  She's kept it down and has been resting on my purple down comforter that Tink used and I use and now O is using when she's recovering.  She reminds me of Tink when she's not feeling well like this and I find myself struggling to call her by her name: Ori!  Hopefully, recovery will be quick and relatively pain free with positive test results later in the week!

Bed Time Routine

We do our best to maintain some semblance of routine around here.  Ori is doing better in so many regards that we can flex that routine around and she is fine (aka: no accidents!)  Evening routine though is pretty standard-- except for 2 nights ago!

Nick took the girls out for bed time potty then came it to give them their bed time snack.  At that point O boogies down the hall and usually jumps up into our bed as if she is staying the entire night.  Molly hangs around the kitchen in hopes of another turkey meatball.  2 nights ago Nick watched Ori run down the hall and take a right towards the crates instead of jumping up into bed.  When we get back to bed, Ori has stolen the crate that Molly usually climbs into to sleep.  Molly goes to go to sleep and is stopped in her tracks.  She looks up at Nick as if to say "hey dad, the brat's in my crate, help me out here!"  She then wandered around the room and kept returning to the crate O was laying in 3 or 4 times.  Ori definitely wasn't moving and Moo didn't know what to do as her routine was now messed up!  At 1 point it looked like Molly was ready to step over Ori into the crate but she decided against it.  Molly finally decided she was jumping up into our bed for some rest since O had stolen her sleeping quarters.  It was a Saturday night so she got to stay!  Moo snuggled up against me and was a good girl all night long!

Ori slept in the crate until 2am (with door hanging wide open!) when Nick got up to use the bathroom.  She jumped up into in his spot and surprised him upon his return : )  2  snuggly little doggies in bed helped me to be 1 happy little girl!

So yeah- for those who think crate training is mean and cruel- I beg you to argue with my 2 who will steal the others crate at night for sleep!  They practically kick me out of the house in the morning to get their kongs and they sleep peacefully all night long in them as needed!  The crates are definitely their dens and they don't mind them at all : )  Of course we always seem to get the best little dogs in the entire world, so maybe that's it!  Regardless, Nick and I had a fabulous laugh at the 2 of them Saturday evening!

Catch Up Time

So between grad school and life lately posting seems to have become more difficult!  I'm going to try and catch up a little bit in possibly a few posts. 

Since the day we came back from the Cabin (July 18th) Moo's been battling diarrhea.  I'll spare the gory details this time but it's included late night clean ups in both the crate and on the carpet : (  We finally think she's slowly on the mend.  Everything's been looking better for the past 2 days.  Turkey and Rice, flagyl, probiotics, slippery elm (between meals) and pumpkin seems to be beginning to do the trick.  She continues to drink plenty of water, her appetite is good, but she is as thin as a rail : (  With all the things that don't seem to agree with her I'm not sure how we're going to put any weight back on her, but we'll see.  1 step at a time.

O's been doing well over here minus a cyst or tumor or growth or something that I notice Saturday evening between the toes on her only front paw.  You've got to be kidding me, but no, it's true.  It seems to be growing too.  I have a vet appt this morning to check and see what it is and what we can do about it.  It's not like she has another front leg she can depend on!  I'm praying that it's "fixable" with no long term side effects.  I'll keep you posted!

Time Flies

I can't believe how much time has passed since our last post. Both the girls overall have been doing well. We went to the cabin last weekend and both girls were really great. I have a few pics of them I need to get off my phone. They lounged around, ate marrow bones abs pretty much whatever else they could beg off someone : )

Of course since we've been home Moo has been struggling with some explosiveness. I thought we had it Unser control with turkey and rice but no. Vet said time for 24 hours of fasting. Poor girl. If that doesn't work we'll add flagyl to the mix. She's acting pretty ok other than that.

My girls are real snuggle bunnies and vie for prime bed space in the morning. Aka: as close to me as they can get. I do love my snuggle time with both of my little girls. Getting out of bed can be so hard with the two of them sometimes....

Happy Independence Day!

Moo and O wish everyone a happy 4th of July!  

They also ask everyone to pass the cookies their way in honor of freedom and independence!  

Bone a petite! : )

So far in 6 Months

Sometimes I am struck with profound thoughts while walking with Ori.  Last week I took her to the car to get something work related and as we were walking back to the apartment I realized that theoretically we have 10 years with this dog.  And given time, I am going to fall head over heels for her with a love so strong and beautiful.  The difference is, this love is taking a very different course and time to blossom and grow.  The process is so very different than it was last time....but oh so beautiful nonetheless.

She is my dog.  I have grad classes starting back up and I've been doing my reading in the bedroom while Nick is out front in the living room.  Every night, she comes back not too long after I do to come and keep me company.  She's not always pressed tight against me, but she's on the bed with me.  She follows me around the house and certainly keeps me on my toes.  (2 weeks ago she ate my work flash drive while I was in the shower....)  There isn't a tissue box that she can't destroy or a plant that she can't eat in 2 seconds flat!  Her zest for life and love of the new and exciting puts a smile on my face and in my heart.  There is something about this type of dog that Nick and I are both drawn to.  With Tink we didn't know it until we had her for a while.  Now we quickly recognize the courage and life that dogs who have some sort of "disability" (I don't like that word) tend to have.  Ori has it just as Tink did.

This little monkey has come so far is 6 months.  The potty training has been so consistent and accurate.  She goes to the door when she needs to go out and did fabulous the weekend we spent at Linds and Jason's too!  She's our little problem solver.  At Lindsay's she learned how to knock the gate over and jump over it leaving poor Moo to pace on the other side not knowing how to step on the gate to go through!  Ori can also be caught figuring out an intricate plan to grab something off the table or whatever she thinks she wants!

I was in awe again this morning that we have 2 wonderful little girls.  I'm sitting on the couch and Molly wanted some love so I was petting her.  Ori jumped up for some too and the little interlude that occurred between the 2 cracked me up.  Moo is the dominant one, but she doesn't fight for certain things (like food, you figure that 1 out!) We figured it out, but both girls expressions were so funny "I don't want to share her!"  Molly sat right on Ori's face and O looked at her like "are you kidding me?" Just like typical sisters!
I am so grateful for the love that is demonstrated to me through these 2 darling girls!

Moo is 1 smart cookie!

So last night, Molly is laying on the floor and I'm petting her.  She rolls over and I rub her belly.  I talk to her in my silly baby voice and she seems to be loving the attention.  I stopped petting her, because I like to wait for her to paw at me (like Tink used to do) to tell me she wants more.  I then ask her "what do you want Moo?"  And wouldn't you know she jumps up and walks over to the kitchen and starts her cookie dance!  I laughed so hard!  Of course, I had to give her a cook for that!

As we were climbing into bed (Ori was already there!) Moo was wandering around the bedroom and Nick asked her "where do you want to sleep Molly?"  And as soon as he finished the question, she jumped up in bed and snuggled in next to me!  Ha!  2 for 2!  Both girls ended up sleeping in bed last night (My husband loves me!)  I had 2 little doggie balls curled up next to me 1 on top of the other almost.  I loved it!  The girls did have a long day in their crates (with a mid day dog walking excursion).  I find that in some ways that the long days are harder on Moo than O.  Molly isn't typically an overly friendly dog, but she was clamoring for extra love and we were happy to oblige, complete with snuggle time in bed!

The Mess Maker Meets her Match

Nick and I were playing a game at the dining room table this evening and Ori got a hold of Nick's pay stub.  She chewed it up and spit it out making a mess under the table.  At the end of the game, I went to clean up the mess and Molly beat me to it!  She cleaned up the entire floor minus 1 piece! 

She did a similar thing this morning with a cardboard paper towel roll this morning.  She spent 15 min eating the cardboard Ori chewed up while I was showering!  At least it's high in fiber!

My crazy girls!

Lousy Alarm Clock

Yesterday morning I was trying to steal a few more minutes of sleep before I got up for the day.  Nick had left and O was snuggled up next to me.  Moo decided to sit by the closed door and wait.  Until she got tired of waiting that is.  She jumped up on the bed, sat down on top of me and proceeded to paw at my leg repeatedly.  She wasn't taking no for an answer!  I asked her how many cookies her daddy bribed her with to do this, but she wasn't telling!  I finally got up and our routine resumed with a few good yodels from Moo thrown in for good measure.  I'm laughing about it now, but I certainly wasn't happy at 7:15!!  Nick fed the girls all weekend and he isn't quite as generous as I am with the portions so she must have been extra hungry and anxious for the breakfast train!  A roundabout complement from Miss Moo if you will.  Good thing she's cute!

Thank you Patti!

Patti from Woof!  otherwise known as fairy dog mother has done it again and sent the girls 2 beautiful blankets.  They're beautiful and we love them very much!

Don't look at me...

Ok, I'm ready now!

She loves that huge green cuz and her new blankie!!

Moo isn't so convinced she wants to sit on the blanket

the cookie quickly changed her mind!

wrapped in the lovely blanket (gimme that cookie dad!)

my 2 pretty girls together

Awww, can we have them now?

Posing pretty

Such good girls!

the blankets by themselves... aren't they great?

These blankets will be fabulous for snuggling and for keeping beds looking fun and festive!  We are so spoiled over here-- thanks again Patti!

Memories

I woke up this morning with Tinker on my mind.  I drove to work and could feel her in my arms, my memory and senses heavy with the last time I held her.  I could feel her body pressed against me that day even after she crossed the bridge.  Still warm and full of the love that she gave to me every day we had together.  I tried to move my mind to a happy thought and I saw Charli walking through the Petco door with Tink in her arms.  I could feel Tink in my arms like the first time I held her everything so new and filled with life.  Charli handed her to me and I didn't let her go....  memories so vivid, forever etched in my mind and in my senses.  The first and the last...

Sometimes I think we did things backwards.  I was given my heart dog so early in life that now things will never be the same.  I guess things are never the same regardless.  In my effort to control the tears this morning, I thought of how God cares enough about me to send such a perfect little dog into my life when I needed her the most.  He demonstrated His love to me in so many tiny ways with the gift of Tinker.  And for that I am eternally grateful.

On our walk last night I was thinking about how different things are now.  When we first adopted Tink we were new doggy parents, everything so new, so particular and so important.  We had only 1, so precious and sweet and we doted and learned together.  We still dote and learn, but we're slightly more seasoned having several fosters come through and now our 2 beautiful heathens here (whom I love dearly).  I chuckled at the somewhat inaccurate but comforting thought that Tink taught me how to love so much that it takes 2 dogs instead of 1 for me to give all the love I have to give.  (This is while Ori is eating every plant she can get her mouth on and Moo is distracted by yet another fire hydrant : )

It's been over 8 months and while I don't think that time heals, I do think love heals.  It takes time to learn to love and to use the love I've been given differently.  I wouldn't trade these 2 girls in for anything, but my heart still aches over my Tink.  The sharpness surprised me this morning as the ache has been dull for a little while.  Grief is a lifelong process but fortunately for us, so is love.  No matter how it hurts, I will choose to love.