Missing in Action

Boy, having a puppy makes for some "ruff" work. I tell you, this sure is good training for having a kid.

Addie is doing well. She enjoys the dog park and playing with her friend Casey next door. She was taken to the vet and she determined the runny bottom was from Giardia, which was treated, and then came back--or more accurately never went away entirely. More antibiotics and special food. She still seems to have some trouble with her back leg, and she suggested we have some x-rays done to see what's going on. We will wait a while for this, but will start giving her glucosamine. She seemed to be doing better, but then yesterday we did a lot-went to dog park in AM, Valley Forge Park in PM, and played with Casey in afternoon . . .so today she seems to be in some pain and is doing a good deal of sleeping.

She continues to be such a good dog for the most part. She wakes consistently at 6:15am, and she is ready to play. Then she plays and passes out. Waking up early makes the day seem to start much better. I can still get in my exercise and when I am done it is not even 7am. Some days I do have to admit I wish she would sleep in, and DP try to get into a routine of who will get up with her. I guess once we know she is ok by herself we can just go back to bed, but she is so much fun in the AM that we want to play as well. We are looking into training for her, and have started to work on the clicker with her.

I seem to have more energy than I have noticed in the past. We were all walking last week and DP asked me to slow down. Now this has never happened, as usually I am the one poking around not walking fast. I like the new energy . . .

Then just as I was all jazzed up last week, I got my period. I haven't had it in about 6 months, so I know I shouldn't complain, but I will, for a second. It hurts, a lot. I don't know if that is normal, but maybe 6 months is too long. I think I will see the doc and see if BC pills are in order again. They raised my BP so much before that I came off them, but maybe there is something better now. The periods were regular for about 6 months, then they disappeared again. Oh well, it is mostly over now, so hopefully the energy will come back---AND the eating everything in sight will end!!!

Easter was really good. We went to my parents home, and brother

and family were there for Saturday. We celebrated Saturday as

they were leaving for Texas on Sunday. Little Tyke is staying here between both sets of grandparents for a few weeks until they get settled. He thought the puppy was great fun and wanted to walk her-A LOT! We put two leashes on her so he could hold one, and I the other. He is at such a fun age--makes it even harder to think about them being so far away.

On another really neat note--I decided the week before Easter that I was ready to forgive my brother--ready to let it all go and be something in my past. I said a prayer that it would feel right, and it has. I feel so much better about him and the future of our relationship. I know it doesn't change the lasting effects, and I trust they will dissipate as well in time. May not sound like a lot, but it is HUGE for me.

What else . . .work is fine. We found out that a grant we applied for has come through, so I am guaranteed a job now until at least the end of Feb. 2009. This has helped me to feel more settled, and I think the agency is seeing that the work I am doing is good and valuable. I also feel a bit more comfortable with some of them and that makes going to the office easier. I have been asked by another company for my resume, and yet another agency called me this week to ask me to consider a job. It is good to know that others like what I am doing, and I hope that in a time when I may need another job, that the same opportunities are present.

I have decided to finish my certification that would allow me to do school social work. I am one class and a seminar short of competing the work, but when I was offered an internship at CHOP I couldn't give that up to finish the hours needed for the school social work. So I will take on class in the fall and then have to do a weekend seminar. Then 375 hours of a school placement and then I will be finished. It would be nice to get a job on the school calendar and teacher pay scale . . .

I hope all is well in your corners. I will now be off to check out some blogs I haven't read in a while.

Oreo and her death defying stunts!

Look how close they are . . they are getting better . . .

While at my folks, she loved the dog bed, but often found herself in this predicament . . didn't seem to mind and one day slept there for close to 2 hours!!

Introducing Addie!

Here she is!!

She is such a doll so far-though I have to say the most stinkiest dog I have EVER stunk. Good thing we were able to secure a bath for her this morning. She looks really big in the photo, but she isn't that large. We weighed her last night at the store where we went to get her food and she weighs 36.5lbs. She is still quite underweight which you can tell when she lays down-her whole ribcage sticks up . . .

I brought her home yesterday and she got in, and sat in the car very nicely. When we arrived home we played in the backyard for a bit, but she mostly she wanted to lay in the sun and sleep. I thought this was a good idea to maybe air her out a bit?! While out there I crammed all the info I could from two books on GS--be careful, I am MUCH MUCH wiser now after all that cramming!

Then when DP got home, we headed to the pet store which BTW, we love. If anyone is in the area and has pets, please use this place. There we looked a food, some more toys, poopy bags, and a training collar. There were two little girls that just loved her, and while I was a bit nervous, she handled herself beautifully! We are both very impressed by her so far.

When we got home, she ate dinner and then afterwards went out and pooped and peed!! YEAH Addie. After that she was pretty much pooped. We took some photos, set up the crates, and then settled her in.

I have been awake on and off for most of the night to listen for signs of needing to go out, but she was konked out. I finally took her out at 4 am thinking it would help ME to be able to go back to sleep, but as you can tell by the 5am writing time of this, that did not happen.

As I type, she is sleeping in th crate next to me. I can't wait until she is clean and I can hug her-though I will need to be sure I don't squeeze her eyeballs out . . .she's really cute! Ok, enough rambling.

Ohh Myyy Goodness . . .

Guess who's going to get a puppy in less than one HOUR???

I am FREAKING out! OMG, OMG, I guess dog (god--i actually typed dog first?!?) really does answer prayers . . .or something. I don't think I am ready, what if I mess her up, oh dear, oh my, i am so jacked up on caffeine and nerves that i don't even know what to do. i am trying to absorb as much of the puppy training book as i can before 3:30 . . .i don't have much time and i am a slow reader and OMG, what if I mess up . . .what if she poops in the house . . .what if I poop in the house . . .the cat is never going to forgive us . . if I need so much warning then she should at least have some warning . . i tried to sit her down to reassure her that no matter what happens in the next few hours that we love and adore her deeply--she just rolled over and meowed and demanded that I rub her belly. i feel this is the last time that i will see her a long time . . .OMG

Ok, deep breath. In and out. In and out. OOOOOMMMMMMGGGGGGGGG. Not working

I should go, i am losing precious reading time . . .can you even IMAGINE how I will be when/if we adopt a baby???? Watch out world . . .

***BREAKING NEWS***

We have some breaking news to share with people. NO, we are NOT pregnant-but if we were--HOLY MIRACLE!

Nope! Not that. OK, so on Saturday we were volunteering for this great marathon training program for inner city kids that my agency sponsors (I need to interject here that we were not volunteering because we can actually RUN or anything, it was more like they needed bodies and we could do it. We specified that we could not run before we agreed) . We were SOAKED as it poured bucket Saturday. . .and I do mean soaked from the rain because it was down pouring when we left, and as previously mentioned, we do not run. Soaked and cold we stopped for soup and sandwiches for lunch, and then we thought we would mosey on over to the animal shelter across the street.

Now, DP and I should never go into those places. We got our beloved kitty there a few years back. See, we would take home almost every critter there is-well-there was this one funky looking dog that, no offense, we would NOT take home, and another that had a sign that said don't bother me . . . Alas, we go in and what do we see in the second to last cage???

A GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPY!!! Yes, you read me right. There, before our eyes, was a beautiful 5 month old girl. We looked at each other and knew we needed to play with her. While waiting to play, we filled out an application thinking "what are the chances" given there are other people interested. When we finally did get to play, she was fun and gentle and oh so very cute. We decided that if it was meant to be, we would be called.

Now, I have to admit, the idea of getting a puppy now was not really on my mind. I am slow to warm up to new ideas, and the puppy coming over the summer is what I was planning on and I was right on course for accepting this new challenge. This is a whole new twist. We talked, and waffled, and sort of decided that we probably shouldn't get her. We thought DP's parents would think we were nuts---though it turns out they have gone MAD since they thought getting puppy 1 now and puppy 2 over the summer was a fantastic idea!! WTF???

To make a long story longer, we decide last night that we will go back today and visit said puppy and bring a toy to play with. Turns out she has runny bottom and cannot come out and play. We knew the other day that she was being cared for by the vet for a few things related to the condition in which she was found-which was extremely underweight and sick. We go back to talk with her and give her pets, and she is markedly more perky today. She is excited by the ball I brought, but we can't figure out how to get it in. I notice that I can slip out the food bowl and slip in the ball--I will do this even though I am probably not allowed. She is very excited and goes after the ball, and before you know it the ball escapes to the corner of the cage and down a drain . . .she is going nutso knowing there is a ball now that she can't get- that I shouldn't have given her. She will most likely lose her mind now and we will have to send her to doggy therapy, though maybe she is resilient and we won't have to go there.

We say our goodbyes and then go back to the front counter and ask if we can add something to our application, and the lady asks us our name, and then the guy standing back there says don't bother, as soon as she is well she is going home with you two---W H A T?????

He (turns out to be the manager) said that pending a vet check she would be going home with us. I was very excited, and scared shitless at the same time. I little 8lb cat is the largest 4 legged critter I have had to be responsible for, and she is very independent-though slightly neurotic.

Here's the deal-as soon as she starts pooping normally, she can come home to us. Now I am hoping this man has not said this to everyone, and I don't know why he would. We went to the store and bought a crate and bowls, and a few sturdy chew toys-oh, and nail clippers and shampoo. On another note, I bathe everything, even the guinea pigs, however, I am anticipating that bathing said puppy might be a bit more challenging. I can be challenged . . .

Now we wait. Wait for a call that she has stopped the runny bottom and that we can take her home. We had a name picked out for the new pup, but we are thinking that we can give this pup the name and think of another for new pup. We will go back to visit on Friday and take some pictures this time.

This is so exciting and nerve wracking, and OMGGGGG!!

Oh, and by the way I am really hyper tonight in case you couldn't tell that via this rambling blog post, but our kitty has taken to a new hobby. This would be jumping to the top of our closet door and walking along the VERY thin door. She doesn't stop there, nope, not our kitty. She then takes to the molding on TOP of the doorway. Yes, my friends, our kitty has done what I have NEVER seen a kitty do before. I will try and get pics to show you-it is breathtaking!

I need to wind down as it is almost bed time and I have a long day tomorrow.

I will let all 6 of you know IMMEDIATELY when we acquire said puppy!!! If you are the praying sort, pray for no runny bottom (are we allowed to ask god for that?)

10 minutes with god . . and the bike

Ok, update. Our women's small group has been trying to keep each other accountable to reading the bible daily and praying. Last week I did this about 4 days.

I have also wanted to get into more of a routine with exercising. We have decided to give up our gym membership in preparation for having a puppy that we will need to walk-and the nicer weather-, and we'd become lax in using the facilities we were paying for . . .some of us more than others, but none the less I came up with the brilliant idea of not paying for the gym and getting an elliptical since that is what we mostly use at the gym anyways, and we already have a recumbent bike and some weights. We also live really close to a really quiet cemetery with big hills.

So, I had the idea this week to try and do at least 10 minutes each morning on the bike, and in that time I can pray and read the bible . . of course while riding and lifting my weights. Talk about multitasking. I did walk in the cemetery the other day when it was BEAUTIFUL out, but it has been inside for me the last few days. I think I feel more awake and alert, and this morning I hadn't even realized I exceeded my 10 minutes. Tomorrow I work from home and meet a special friend for coffee, but I will try and walk in the AM if nice out.

I know 10 minutes isn't a lot, but I figured I could work myself into a routine and then add time later. Now I am spending more time in the basement, which will be perfect for me when I finally start making use of the beanie space.

I did look at carpet remnants to put down, but I haven't found anything I like, and I have NO money. This getting smaller thing and needing new clothing is not working for me. I was going down the driveway the other day to collect the trash bin and I nearly lost my pants-and we live on a major road . . .this would NOT have been pretty for anyone involved. I am finally back to losing, so that is good. I am up to 16lbs.

Oh well. In other news, I feel completely conflicted about my voting choices, but that is a whole other post.

Oh, and guess who is going to see James Taylor AGAIN after she sees him for the first time, and this time in like the 2nd row??? Give up??? ME, and DP, and RHB. This is going to be one crazy summer!!! I think I might need a diaper . . .

Gremlins

Not only have they remained, but I think they have taken out a lease on my chest . . .

Brief update-

1. Guess who is going to see James Taylor this summer???? hehe

2. Went to visit the folks this weekend and it was good. We just went up for a few hours yesterday, and we saw my brother and SIL and little tyke. He is at a fun age right now . .I am going to miss seeing him. Therapist and I are working on NOT getting so caught up in my parents drama, and it seems to be catching on. I feel less and less like I need to meddle. Then we met friend on the way home for dinner. Good times despite the drowning in snot part.

3. I have been listening to this sermon series by a guy named Rob Bell . . .I have a crush on Rob Bell . . .I have talked about this before I think. He is great and I love most of what he has to say-and how he says it. In any case, I have been listening to a sermon series on Philipians, and he has been talking about Grace and Peace. He suggested that when we begin to go on a rant about how incompetent we think we are, or how horrible we feel, or how we can do nothing right, that we remind ourselves about Grace and Peace. When someone is mean to us, or we feel upset by something someone did-remembering grace and peace. Or how great it would be if we all felt comfortable enough with others to interrupt them when they are being discouraging toward themselves or others and remind them-grace and peace. no condemnation here-why are you holding onto this??? I am not sure why this series is affecting me so, but I am taking it in and I think it is helping a tiny tiny bit to challenge the way I think about myself.

4. I did begin to work on the beanie shack in the basement, and actually have the scrapbooking stuff down in the basement now. I still need to work on a rug of some sort, but I got a great table and a fairly comfy chair at Costco last weekend and was very excited to get things moving down there. But, alas, there has been no movement on the scrapbooking front since last weekend.


Ok, off to do some reading and rest. I have a long day tomorrow. . .