Odds 'N' Ends

It's been bugging me that I haven't blogged all week.  It's just been one of those weeks.  I've been frantically trying to catch up from everything that fell by the wayside when the kids were on Fall Break.  Two and a half weeks is TOO long.  It feels just right if you are planning some kind of vacay, but when you are stuck at home the whole time, it feels like an eternity! 

I've got projects and things I want to do piling up... and right now we are dog sitting for my mom and dad.  Charlie is staying with us while they visit D.C.  It's going to be an eye-opening experience.  I'm not used to little dogs.  I like everything about them, except two things.  (So far, it's only two...)  First, they run FAST, and it's no fun chasing them around the house when they are determined not to be caught.  Second, they have ear piercing yappy barks.  Everytime this dog barks, I jump out of my skin.  But you can't deny how cute he is.  I mean, he is seriously soooo cute!

One of my projects is to make an I-spy quilt.  Click here to see the inspiration.  Sweet Connie used to be in my ward and still lives nearby, so I took the time to drop my fabrics off in person so I could see her gorgeous quilt in person.  Isn't it awesome?  I really love it framed in white, but I'm terrified to actually do that.  With my kids, I know it would be a dingy mess in no time.  I won't have the time to dedicate to this project for at least a couple weeks, so I have some time to mull it over and make a decision.  But today my quilt squares arrived in the mail - aren't they super cute?

Today I spent the day camped out on the couch, watching some old stuff back logged on the DVR and downloading new Photoshop Elements Actions from this website.  (Thanks, Lindsey, for the heads-up!)The thing I love the most about this blog is that she gives a tutorial with each action so you can learn how to do things without hours and hours of trial and error.  It seriously took me all day and I'm still not done yet.  I still haven't uploaded them into PSE.  Hopefully I will have time for that tomorrow.  I could never justify that much "couch time" normally, but I'm nursing a sore shoulder.  On Monday morning, I noticed some stiffness and soreness in my right shoulder.  I ignored it, continued to exercise and live life in my normal routine, and by Monday night, it was worse.  Tuesday it was even worse when I woke up.  I was careful with it all day yesterday and it's still not any better today.  You don't realize how important certain muscle groups are until you get hurt.  The worst part about it is that I don't even know what I did that caused this.  I have an appointment with a sports medicine doctor in the morning to find out how serious it is, and more importantly if it's going to ruin my plans to do a triathlon on November 6.  As I sit right now, there's no way on earth I can do the swim.  Hopefully he'll have good news for me tomorrow!  Please keep your fingers crossed... I've already shelled out the money for the tri and I want that t-shirt, bad.  And you don't get the shirt until you cross the finish line.  I will be really mad if I have to pull out.  Right now it's time for me to test the power of positive thinking, no?  I mean, yes?

Puppy Love

Meet Charlie. He is my parents new Cockapoo puppy. Are you in love yet? My mom has been puppy hungry for years. She finally talked my dad into one, and then the research began... what breed? There were very specific parameters... must be small, kid friendly, and not shed. I think that narrows the pool down to less than 5 breeds, but they found this breeder close to our home out in Queen Creek, AZ.

They came down a month ago to pick Charlie out and put their deposit down for him.
But last Friday was pick up day... aka Christmas day for my mom. She was on Cloud Nine the entire time!

Even my dad, who fought the puppy battle for so long was won over very quickly by these cuties!

This is one proud mama! They picked Charlie up last Friday and brought him back to our house for just one day before they were going to hit the road to go home again. We all enjoyed every minute of playing and cuddling with him. And I enjoyed every chance to get some mileage out of my camera!

This one is my fave... you'd think he was a professional dog model.

This one is my second favorite.

And this one is my third favorite... I'm bummed because I had the camera on the wrong settings when I snapped it and so it's a bit blurry. Our children were all so smitten with Charlie that they've collaborated and have started a "cockapoo puppy fund". They are fully committed to saving their hard earned cash for a puppy, which I am totally okay with because they are notorious for wasting their money on things like video games and arcade pizza places. And it will take them at least a year to save this kind of cash, which will give me a much needed break from dog ownership. By the time they have the money saved, I should be good and puppy hungry myself. And the best news? I won't have to travel very far to find a good breeder... already got that part in the bag!

Without Pain, There Would Be No Joy

A couple of years ago, I listened to the audio book Marley & Me. I bawled like a baby through the entire last CD. Why? Because I knew that the end of the story would be when Marley died. Because all dogs die... and because I knew that my dog would die too. And probably sooner, rather than later. I cried because I understood the agonizing decision that I will someday have to make about putting my dog out of his suffering.

Almost 2 weeks ago we found ourselves making that hard decision. We knew our dogs life was coming to a close and we didn't want to have to take him to the vet until we were prepared to relieve him of his suffering. We scheduled the vet visit after a particularly difficult afternoon of pain and whimpering from the dog. I just couldn't take it anymore. Home treatments weren't working and the last pain scrip the vet had given us for him was long expired.

We ended up postponing the inevitable while the vet tested for valley fever and gave us some pain meds that would not only help him be more comfortable, but also determine if his problem was caused by a muscle issue. Those would be the treatable options. But, as I knew deep down in my gut, it wasn't going to be something easy to treat. We still don't know exactly what the problem is, but my gut instinct tells me it's bone cancer.

We still have a week or two of pain meds left (depending how much of a dose he can live with), and then it will be time to make the big decisions. I don't think it's going to be something we can or will be able to treat. We could possibly keep him alive longer on strong pain meds, but really who does that serve? Not him. It's time to say good-bye. I am resigned to it. I think I am ready. I know it's going to tear me to pieces, but it has to come someday... dogs don't live forever. And I have a firm belief that Moreno will be waiting for us in Heaven, tumor-and-ear-infection-free. And that knowledge makes me happy.

My bigger anxiety is about the kids. The last time we went to the vet, Taylor point-blank asked me if Moreno was going to be coming home from the visit. I couldn't lie to him. I told him I didn't know for sure what was going to happen. I've never seen my 15 year old son fall apart like that. He was torn up. My heart ached for him. It's going to be even harder when it really happens. Do I prepare him again? Give him a chance to say good-bye? Or do we not tell the kids until it's over? Save them the anxiety of knowing what is happening?

I could really benefit from some wisdom from all you veteran dog owners out there. What's the best way to break the news to the kids? Help... the clock is ticking... and time is not in my favor.

In the Dog House

Not Eric... but Moreno, our 9 year old lab mutt. While Eric is out of town, I will let him roam free downstairs during the night. It makes me feel safer knowing that he can growl at someone at the front door if we have a potential intruder. The older he gets, the more "bladder control" issues he has. The main reason we got rid of the carpet in our living/dining room is because he had a "bad night" and pooped and peed all over it in several places all in one night. Getting out the stains was impossible and the smell never really left either. But, even with the carpet gone, that room is his favorite place to relieve himself in the middle of the night. Two nights ago, such an accident occured. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and dutifully cleaned it all up. (It was gross!) Then last night, SAME thing! I wanted to shoot him this morning when I discovered what he'd done! He was in the "dog house" all day and I was planning on having him sleep OUTSIDE tonight, just to teach him a lesson, but there's rain and lightning out there and I feel bad leaving him out in it. So, I gated him into the laundry room and he better not have another accident or I might lose it!

When his doggy "life" is over, and I'm telling you that I want another dog, please stop me and talk some sense into me! I'm really tired of cleaning up poop and pee, moping up gallons of dog hair (shedding) and finding dog sitters when we want to leave town. The following picture was taken about a year ago... I can't believe how much he has aged in the last year!