Real

Last Saturday I faced some real life.

On Friday night my dog started having trouble breathing. She was 13 years old and had a heart murmur that was progressing to congestive heart failure. I was alone in the house since dh and ds were still out of town on their climbing trip. I texted my daughter (who works for our vet) and she said to bring Yaya in first thing Saturday morning.

We arrived at the clinic and they took Yaya for x-rays. They gave her shots to help ease the situation. Then they started her on oxygen. As I sat holding the oxygen mask for Yaya I began to accept the situation for what is was. I would be going home without her. 

My first thought was, "I don't want this to happen!" But reality kicked in and I had to accept that this is real life. Real life includes loss. 

I began to talk to Yaya, telling it was going to be okay. I told her about the other dogs she would meet on the other side -- what I like to think of as the Elysian Fields. When the vet came in to check on her, I told him I didn't want her to suffer. This wasn't about me. It was all about what was in her best interest. 

We moved her to an exam room, and he gave her a sedative. As my daughter and I stood and loved on Yaya, her breathing relaxed and the panic in her eyes disappeared. We stroked her fur and whispered words of love and encouragement. She slipped away. And we cried. Not for her, but for the realness of her leaving. 

Real live is messy and tough, but it's also full of wonder and love and affection. 

RIP in Yaya.

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Cat-dog?

linking up with Wordless Wednesday

Yaya's New Do

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Yaya the OCD Dog

Several years ago I finally got a lap dog. Her name is Yaya and she is a terrier papillon mix. We got her from a rescue program that matched inmates in a local prison with dogs to train, groom, and care for. It was a really cool program which is, unfortunately, now defunct.

Flash forward to maybe a year ago. Yaya is now around 10 or 11 years old (we're not sure of her exact age). She has always liked to lick your feet when sitting on the sofa, and she's not classically a lap dog. More of an under your butt dog, as she likes to be squished up right next to me when I'm sitting on the sofa. Anyway, she started doing this thing where she'd lick her blanket when getting settled on the sofa. A little weird I'll grant you, but whatever, you might be weird too if you'd been abandoned, then shipped off to live in a prison, and then paroled into our household.

Overtime the licking has become more time consuming. And it's spreading. She' always liked to lick our other dog's ears, but now she's doing it so much that she's annoying Squeaker, our black dachshund/beagle mix. If Yaya's not on the sofa licking her blanket, she's on Squeaker's bed licking it. When she gets on the sofa, she licks and licks and licks until one of us bops her on the nose and firmly says, "No". Then looking a bit dejected she'll lay her head down and go to sleep. Or wait a few minutes and start it all over again.

I've Googled it. I've talked with the vet. We've offered her toys and playthings. We've gone on walks and played ball. But she keeps licking. Part of me is ready to just give it up. She's old. It's a quirk. So what? The problem is when you're sitting next to her the noise suddenly becomes incredibly grating. That little tongue scratching against fabric can take on enormous volume. 

I'm open to suggestions here. My husband has threatened to remove her tongue, but I see a lot of other problems with that approach, the least of which is the cruelty of it.

So are there meds for my OCD dog? 

linking up with Writer's Workshop

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wordless Wednesday

linking up with Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday -- Boy and Dog

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Wordless Wednesday -- Dog in a Basket

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Wordless Wednesday #39

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Wordless Wednesday

Loyal friend . . .

 . . . as long as pumpkin bread is involved!

for more photos visit Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

:: all the quotes that pop up on facebook

sometimes they are silly

sometimes they are trite

but I've decided I need those

silly trite quotes.

I can be a bit cynical and overly serious,

so they help me refocus.

:: phone calls from my dh.

he generally calls me 3 or 4 times

during the day.

it's nice.

he calls to tell me something,

or just to see how my day is going.

and he always tells me he loves me.

:: Precepts Bible study

we are starting back today after our

summer hiatus.

we will be looking at Daniel.

I'm looking forward to the study,

the chatter, the food, and just

hanging out with other ladies who 

love to study the Word.

:: sunshine.

we've had a lot of rain from the tropical

storm remnants over the past several days.

we needed it, so I'm grateful

for the steady rain.

the temperatures are lower as well.

this morning the clouds are breaking up and 

I'm seeing patches of blue and sunshine.

I am always grateful for variety in the 

weather.

:: for having a veterinarian in the family.

yesterday dd and I came in to find that

Yaya had eaten all of Etta's thyroid medicine.

actually we didn't know which dog had ingested

how much.

dh's brother is our vet, so dd called him.

we took the dogs over and while he "coerced" 

the dogs into returning the pills,

dd and I went to dinner.

the dogs are fine, although Yaya had

a little bit of an amphetamine rush.

Dr. P took good care of them and stayed calm.

and we got the family discount.

may you find grace, peace, gratitude, 

and blessings this day and every day

for more Thankful Thursday visit Grace Alone

The Simple Woman's Daybook -- June 28, 2011

FOR TODAY
Outside my window. . . it is cloudy and very wet. We had heavy thunderstorms roll through in the wee hours of the morning. It looks as if the storms are over and the clouds will dissipate as the day progresses. 

I am thinking. . . that every family is different, but sometimes it would be nice to have an instruction manual! 

I am thankful. . . for the ability to read. I know it seems odd perhaps, but I find such pleasure and absorb so much knowledge from reading. My life would not be complete with books, magazines, blogs and such!

From the learning rooms. . . ds is reading Lord of the Flies. Golding is much more descriptive than I remembered, and some of the dialog is dated with British colloquialisms. But we are forging a head.

In the kitchen. . . lots of summer fruits and veggies! Tonight grilled chicken sausage, succotash, and tomato, cucumber and basil salad. I'll be baking banana bread later today as well since I have some over ripe bananas.

I am wearing. . . my lavender yoga pants and a painted floral and bird t-shirt from Old Navy along with my Yellow Box flip flops.


I am creating. . . a new pink and brown skinny scarf. I'm not sure what the plan for it is, but I felt compelled to do more crocheting and wanted to start something new and lightweight.

I am going. . . to do some yoga; laundry; work on my quilt; pay bills; and try to make two phone calls I've been putting off!

I am wondering. . . how, as a mother, I can be so certain about some things, and entirely clueless about others!

I am reading. . . not much! Still working on The Life of Pi and Remote Control. I just haven't had much quiet time to relax and read.

I am hoping. . . for the general mood to improve around the house. One person in a bad mood can really cloud the atmosphere!

I am looking forward to. . . the holiday weekend coming up. We have no specific plans, but dh has Monday off work so it's a long weekend : )

I am hearing. . . nothing -- and it lovely! We are having a no TV week, so currently the house is quiet except for doggie paws and the occasional comment from dd.

Around the house. . . I am feeling the need to rearrange! It makes everything seem so much fresher and REAL cleaning takes place when you move furniture! LOL!

I am pondering. . . my role as a mother as my children reach adulthood. One child is 21 and the other will be 18 soon. Things are different, but at times very much the same.

One of my favorite things. . . is my dog Yaya. She is cuddle baby! Not really a lap dog, she prefers to be right next to me when I sit on the couch -- so close that she is almost UNDER me. Such a sweetie!

A few plans for the rest of the week: dinner guests on Wednesday and Thursday; another trip to the pool on Friday if the weather permits. Suddenly it will July! How did that happen!?!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing. . .

My sweet baby Yaya! We adopted her in 2008.

for more visit The Simple Woman's Daybook  

Last Tuesday of Summer Vacation -- August 10, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...it is STILL hot and dry. School may be starting tomorrow, but it feels like a long time till fall.

I am thinking...about fall cleaning. My house is really dirty, especially with the renovations in the bathroom. It's hard to get motivated to clean, when there is insulation, drywall dust and assorted other detritus everywhere.

I am thankful for...safe travels we have had recently, and praying for continued travelling mercies in the weeks ahead.

From the learning rooms...still working on ACT prep and German II. We have completed The Hobbit and now need to take a run at Much Ado About Nothing.

From the kitchen...comes the realization that I MUST grocery shop today. The list is made, but I didn't get there yesterday because I had an asthma attack. Must get there today.

I am wearing...my cotton lawn embroidered nightgown and summer weight robe.

I am creating...perhaps more of a mess than anything else. I have too many irons in the fire and I'm having trouble focusing!

I am going...to visit my daughter this weekend. Just us girls. Dd has requested that I bring Yaya, so it'll be the 3 of us.

I am reading...The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

I am hoping...to get some motivation on the housework front. Any brilliant suggestions?

I am hearing...doggies begging for breakfast!

Around the house...picking up and putting away needs to be the order of the day, before actual cleaning can take place.

One of my favorite things...new school supplies. I actually miss the days of shopping for all the items the kids needed in elementary and middle school. Of course, it's nice to get to keep the money for something more fun!

A few plans for the rest of the week...sewing, cleaning, getting ds started in school, and travelling for the weekend.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

This is my sweet Yaya, who'll be travelling with me this weekend.

Visit The Simple Woman's Daybook to linger over simple things.