spring!

spring has arrived in Michigan!! I've been celebrating its arrival (during my spring break this week) spring cleaning my house. This is includes literally washing walls--which definitely needs to be done when you have a big, slobbery puppy living in your home. :)

He, too, took time to sun himself in the warm sunshine on the back deck...

funny story

this was sent to me by a friend--it made me laugh out loud! hope it brings a smile to your face as well! --rjv

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs:
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, bark, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -canine attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough.


Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs are better than kids because they:
(1) eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't smoke or drink,
(7) don't want to wear your clothes,
(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ...

puppy saga

where to begin? life has continue to move along at a blinding pace this fall--my lists of "things to do" never appears to get shorter...and now I have a list going for Jason too... I guess that would be the left braininess in me. ;)

But, what I truly sat down to update everyone on was the health status of our dog (or puppy as we so affectionately call our 140 pound "child"). I've shared on and off in the past year his various ailments--UTIs, ear infections, skin infections. Well, a few weeks ago we were able to take him the the MSU vet hospital and get a full diagnostic workup as to what may be going on within him. During this process, a spunky, young veterinarian student discovered a heart murmur. What does that have to do with his frequent infections, you ask? Absolutely nothing. But, what it did mean is that they couldn't do some of the tests that they had originally wanted due to now being unable to sedate him. All we were left with was a simple blood test option.

Longer story made short...Harley is officially allergic to every grass found in Michigan, some tree pollen and weeds, and beginning to show signs of allergy to dust mites. Nice. A dog who is allergic to grass... :) So, short of cementing in our entire yard and never letting him play at the park again, we will begin allergy shots in our 8 year old (ie almost 70 year old) dog.

A note to those of you who are reading this and scoffing: I probably would scoff too if it not that I've truly become a dog person and I really think you can't empathize with our situation unless you too are a dog person. :) So, just love us for who we are and know that we are taking care of one of God's special creatures!

buddies

okay, so I don't have a human child yet...but I really am quite content at the moment with my canine "child." :) Awhile back I mentioned that some friends of ours were the proud new parents of a pup. It has been a privilege to watch him grow thus far, and also watch our more mature child revert to his puppy ways when the pup in around.

Okay, I'll explain that a little more clearly. Since our wedding last September, we have had to take Harley to the vet at least five times now. Various infections keep finding their way into his body, and we're to a point now where we will probably have to give him benadryl twice a day the rest of his life due to what the vet finally decided is probably allergies. According the chart in the vet's office, our 7 1/2 year old "pup" is actually more appropriately aged to be about 60+ in human years. He definitely moves a bit slower (especially after a long bike ride), enjoys a soft, cushy spot to lay, and I've even caught him out lying in the sun on the back deck.

But, his new young new buddy, Emmet, has been good for Harley. They wrastle & tumble together like two pups should. Harley has had to let Emmet know who is boss a couple of times, but Emmet takes it all in stride and comes bouncing back for more. :)

chillin in the backyard

"in action" photo--wrastling around

whew! time out & water break :)

poor puppy

so, more drama with our puppy. I know it's not the same as having a sick child--which many of my friends deal with--but it can be just as bothersome. The loss of sleep, the doctor visits, the giving of medication...all the joys of a sick member of the family. :) Harley is now dealing with an ear infection. The vet put him an antibiotic, a steroid due to inflammation, and an ear drop. It's tons of fun--especially all the side effects of the steroid! For those of you who aren't familiar with this particular drug, it's side effects include lots of water bowl filling and frequent trips outside. It's great fun! :P

However, it is good to see him on the mend as he was pretty miserable all weekend. This too shall pass!

all is well

Harley is okay! I took him in for his x-ray this morning and everything inside looks ship-shape, with the exception of the UTI, of course. He's back on an antibiotic for awhile, but that's about it. So, aside from the large vet bill, everything is good on Prospect. :)

On a different note, my brother made a brief appearance-less than 48 hours-in the US this week. He was home Tuesday night from Brazil and then off to Korea on Thursday morning. I'm not sure I really had enough time to be emotional about it. It felt so good to have him around the house Wednesday night, but a little awkward too, as Jason & I have gotten used to him not being around. And then I took him to the airport Thursday morning--where I gave him a hug, reminded him that he's loved--and then drove off, leaving him to his international travels. In the car, I had a moment of reflection on the fact that he has been gone before, but somehow this time was a little different. He & I have lived with each other for two years! For brother & sister, I think that's an amazing amount of time--especially for siblings who have differing views on many topics of life.

If I could give him a toast--a cheer, perhaps, to wish him well in this coming year: James--I'm privileged to have been able to be a part of the place you call home in all your many adventures in life. May your well-traveled road lead you back here again someday! love from your sis. :)

sick puppy

poor Harley is currently battling another UTI. This has begun to worry the vet a little as apparently UTI's in male dogs (particularly one as big as Harley) are rarely random occurances. Harley's activity level hasn't changed much--with the exception of being a little more cuddly. :) Friday he will have a procedure in which they inject dye up into his bladder and take an x-ray picture to see what may be causing these frequent infections. Hopefully it will be something easily seen and taken care of!
I share this info for those in my life who understand the joys and sorrows of pet ownership--in particular, dogs. :) I will admit I've shed a tear or two over the situation as the vet even mentioned the word "cancer" as a possibility. I know a dog is not a child--but for now, he is our "baby!" The thought of something being wrong with him makes us both a little nervous and on edge this week...

Memorial Day weekend

I camped at a new state park this past weekend. I always thought it would be fun to say that I’ve been to all the state parks in Michigan—a lofty goal, I know—but I can add a new park to my list now.

South Higgins Lake State Park is just north of Houghton Lake in Michigan. Jason & I decided to be brave and even take Harley on his first camping adventure. The car was quite loaded down with camping gear to begin with—but then we had to leave space for the 130-pound pup! We also took our bikes and on Saturday had a great time riding and hiking. The weather was beautiful (although the mosquitoes were a little annoying) and it only rained for awhile on Saturday evening. The rest of the time was beautiful blue skies and about 70 degrees!

Harley was the hit of the park—he was so well-behaved. He never barked and people were constantly trying to guess what kind of dog he is (“he’s so big!”) The funniest story of the weekend was due to Harley’s training. He is trained to not poop on while on a leash (Jason never liked the idea of carrying a poop bag around on a walk), so Harley literally did not poop all weekend. By Sunday night, he was acting a little uncomfortable, so after dark, Jason took him over by the beach area, let him off his leash, and within less than a minute, Harley was feeling much better…he came back to the campsite all happy, bouncy, and playful. A good time was then had by all… ;)

Apparently Higgins Lake was named by National Geographic as the sixth most beautiful lake in the world. It definitely is a beautiful lake—also known for its great fishing. Jason forgot his poles, but we’ve decided we will go back someday, and that time we’re bringing a boat.

lap dog?!

I love this picture...it reminds me of what the phrase "stress-free" should really be like. :)

I would like to introduce you to Jason's dog, Harley. He is a 6 year old, 130 pound American Bulldog who thinks he is a lap dog. He probably has the strength to knock over tall men, yet one of his favorite things to do is cuddle on the couch--even better if there is a blanket to cover him. He loves any toy that squeaks, chasing squirrels up trees, and playing tug-of-war. He'll rumble with the best of anyone who wants to wrestle--yet, I've seen him lick the head of a small baby. He believes it is his mission in life to tear out the stuffing of his toys, yet he loves his pillow bed.

Funny story--and I won't be ashamed to admit it!--but we recently bought Harley a coat and boots for his winter jaunts in the outdoors. For being such a large dog, he really doesn't have a very thick coat of hair--so even though he loves the snow, he would be ready to go back inside much too quickly for our tastes. The first time we dressed him up, I was laughing so hard that I was crying! But, after a couple of runs with it in this very wintery winter, he absolutely loves his new snow gear. He even was complemented on his boots by one of the neighbors down the road!

Dogs really do make me smile. :)