Everything happens for a reason...

The rescue group we got Spike from is refusing to adopt to us again. Because we have a child under five. No kidding. Funny, that didn't stop them before... The fact that they deny that they ever have mismatches and then won't adopt to us after mismatch really makes me wonder. STL Boxer Rescue has a 1 week trial period b/c they realize that not every dog is a good fit for every family...but just b/c one dog isn't a good fit doesn't mean another dog wouldn't be. Too bad the boys have their heart set on a Golden. B/c I'd really like a boxer and I'd like one from STLBR.

We're getting a puppy. At this point I don't want to take a chance on a dog w/an unknown background. We'll still do rescue--we found a place that adopts out pups who are deemed physically undesirable by breeders (too curly, overbite, etc) but I'm done with Dirk's Fund. A rescue organization that blames humans for the inevitable mismatches that happen in rescue is just incredibly irresponsible. Would they have preferred I wait to relinquish the dog until he bit a human and had to be euthanized? I did the right thing and now they're punishing me for it. An object possessive dog does NOT belong in a house with small children. Period. Moreover, their refusal to adopt to me (a responsible pet owner) is exactly the sort of thing that fuels the puppy mills they claim to loathe. I want another dog. My family wants a golden retriever. So we're getting a golden retriever puppy. If not through them, then through another source. I'm educated enough to not hit up my neighborhood backyard breeder or puppy mill, but what about the people who aren't? They are perpetuating the exact situation they claim to want to prevent. Their refusal to adopt to me isn't going to keep me from adopting--I'm just not going to adopt from them!

It's not like I've come to this decision lightly. I know puppies are a lot of work. I also know that puppies chew and that life is going to be challenging for a few months w/a toddler and puppy. But I don't want someone else's problem becoming my problem, KWIM? I'm just really frustrated right now. I'm a good mom, dog and human. And I don't appreciate the insinuation by some Cesar Milan wannabe that I'm not. Quite honestly, I don't know too many other people who would go to the lengths I've gone to making Woody's golden years as comfortable as possible. The monthly vet visits, the leakage...a lot of other dog owners would have euthanized him months ago. But not me. But I'm a bad dog mom. Whatever.

Leg is okay as long as I take my pain meds. I went almost 12 hrs between pills overnight and the pain woke me up this morning. The vicodin dulls things to a small roar though. Jamie says I'm crabby. And that could very well be. IDK if I'm going to church this morning--I'm not sure the pews would be good for the leg. We'll see.

I'll update about the puppy when I know more, we're visiting him today...

Sliced and diced, AGAIN

I ended up in the ER this morning b/c my leg wasn't improving. The good news is that I didn't need IV antibiotics overnight AND I got vicodin! I'm going to need the vicodin though--they cut me open again and were finally able to drain the abcess (yuck) and remove the orignal cyst--the dr used a truckload of lidocaine and really went to work. So now I've got packing in my leg (yuck again) and am bossing the family around from my perch on the couch. I'm a little grouchy...but glad I'm on the way to recovery. Apparently the urgent care dr was "lazy" in not draining & culturing it in the first place. And if I hadn't gone to the ER today, I'd have wound up there sooner or later b/c I wasn't going to get better until things were "cleared out." So now I'm on the road to recovery and waiting for dad to come over for dinner. Jamie is cooking (and cleaning up). I'm staying on the couch...Chase is entertaining Cassie, I'm so grateful/lucky that he loves her as much as he does!

I went to the dr yesterday b/c I was feeling worse. She cut open the cyst to let it drain but nothing came out. Either that's a very good sign and the truckload of antibiotics is working...or I'll be in the hospital this weekend hooked up to IV antibiotics. We're taking a wait and see approach.

If I improve, we may add Coulter (props to you if you know who he's named after) the golden retriever pup to the fam tomorrow...I'll keep you posted!

Mommy's home!

I'm back from Scottsdale. I had a fabulous time and Roomie Jen and I are already making plans for DC in July '10. In fact, we're trying to get joining rooms w/Roomie Christi (from Chicago/Convention '06). Arizona in July, during Monsoon season (otherwise known as thunderstorms to the rest of the country), was very interesting. I had to hit urgent care on my way home from the airport as all the sitting (keep in mind, I chase kids all day, I don't sit for long stretches) irritated a cyst, which promptly got infected. It's rather uncomfortable (and I'm not a wimp--I've had two maxed out pitocin-induced labors), so we're heading to Dad's for dinner. I just didn't have the energy to hit the store and we did fast food last night.

Funny story. When I hobbled up to Jamie's car yesterday at the airport, he looked at me and said, "How much weight have you lost?" And I said, "None, I weighed myself last night and it was normal." Well, hotel scale's normal and my scale's normal are about five pounds off. So props to Jamie for noticing that I was down five pounds when I didn't even notice myself...

He tried while I was gone, but the whole trip was rather good for my ego. All the little things mama does didn't get done. It's nice to be needed.

I'll post pics later.

A few of my favorite things...

That's Chase jumping into the deep end of the pool (his favorite place to be) and Cassie playing in the bounce house (her current fav). I love the pics b/c they're both so happy...

ETA: I forgot the Woody update. He's either got an enlarged prostate (from the testosterone shots) or a tumor. We're taking a wait and see approach given his age and overall health--I can't subject him to a biopsy. The dr. increased his testosterone this month (b/c we had some leakage issues) and prescribed Rimadyl for the random yelping. He was holding steady at 25lbs.

When I get back from Scottsdale, we're taking a look at an older Golden pup. Chase and I were discussing names tonight on my walk. We had all sorts of good solid names (Reagan, Ollie, Hannity) but couldn't agree on one. Then my Dad suggested Coulter and we could call him Cole--Chase and I agreed that is the perfect name!

We had a great 4th of July weekend that included four nights of fireworks! Chase was in firework heaven! Cassie is transitioning to one nap, which is leading to some night waking...Mommy is looking forward to five nights of sleep uninterrupted by crabby toddlers, wandering grade-schoolers, or geriatric beagles! If only Cassie and Woody could coordinate their overnight wakings...

Six Flags Fun

Aunt Amy and I took Chase to Six Flags today. Cassie stayed home w/Grandpa as there isn't a whole lot for a one year old to do there--we'll take her next year when she can ride the kiddie rides.

We had the BEST day! Chase was so well behaved that it astounded me. There would be some whiney brat in line near us and I would just turn to him and tell him how proud of him I was b/c he was such a big boy today. I mean, I know he's a good kid and all, but today was a REALLY good Mom day. He was awesome--we had such a blast!

We all rode the Log Flume (our fav) and got a new pic for the fridge. We also rode the Antique Cars & Scooby Doo & the Mine Train together. Chase and Amy rode Tony Hawk's Spin Ride and the Rush Street Flyer together, and he and I did the swings, Tidal Wave, bumper cars and the Screamin' Eagle together. It worked out pretty well that she likes the rides I don't and I'll ride the (wimpy) rides she doesn't love. We agreed that Jamie is going to have to start coming along when Chase can ride the hard-core roller coasters though...the Screamin' Eagle was just too much for me.

Eventually we'll try the water park...but the rides were enough for today. Chase is already plotting his next trip...he's trying to get me to take him the day after I get back from Arizona, which happens to be the day before school starts. I don't see that happening, but he can dream.

Woody has taken a turn for the worse. We made it to the ped, it's her teeth, not her ears. We haven't made it to the vet though, mostly b/c I'm afraid I'm going to hear something I'm not really ready to hear yet. And I know he's old and that he's had a good life and that he's a dog, but he's MY dog and he's been a part of the family almost as long as we've been married. He curled up with Baxter on the foot of my bed during my bedrest w/the tubal, he was my "kid" before Chase...I know the time is rapidly coming but I just can't go there yet. He's been such a good dog--if I've learned anything from the other dogs, it is that we're never going to find one as good as Woody. But in my heart, I know the time is coming when we're going to have to let him go. B/c as my dad pointed out today, his quality of life is starting to go... He gets his monthly shot next week on Wednesday--I'm trying to wait until then and will have a very honest convo w/the vet when it is shot time. We'll see, but my gut feeling isn't good. Hopefully the firewords this weekend don't push him over the edge...