Adventures of Annie and Mr. Kitty

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

1. Beau’s Sis - I got your phone message last night. I appreciate your comforting words and prayer!

2. Regarding Annie - thanks for all of the sweet comments about her death. Beau has already started to de-dog the house, which will help some, I think. For both os us, for different reasons.

3. I spent the weekend watching a House marathon on cable. I had seen a couple episodes, but never got into a regular viewing habit. That will change with this season, I think. Love that show.

4. I know that the new TV season starts this week. I have no idea what new shows I will be watching. I know that I’m happy that Life is coming back. Other than that, I really have no clue about any of it since I’ve been laid up.

5. I’ve missed a lot of church in the past few months. I miss it. Our small group starts back up tomorrow and I’m going to miss a lot of that in the next few months I think, too. Makes me sad.

6. Beau found a townhouse in the neighboring county that is in our price range so we’re going to try to look at it soon. The taxes will be slightly higher, but the commute would be shorter by 10 minutes. That may not sound like much, but when it takes 90 minutes on some days to get to work, that’s huge for me. And there’s a pool in the neighborhood, which is a huge bonus.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Today marks the end of the 16 year adventure that was life with Annie. We’re taking her in to be put down this afternoon.

I won’t bore you with the whole long story, but after much thought, discussion with my parents (who have had to put down several dogs in their 40 year tenure as pet owners), and tears the decision was made this weekend. It’s time.

I’m sad.

[UPDATE 3:30pm]: Beau took her since I’m still so ill and also trying to work at home today.  Thanks for the virtual hugs and real prayers. Quite a few tears have been shed today. She was a good old dog and I’m going to miss her. Anyway, Beau said the vet was kind enough to give her a sedative first, so he petted her while she drifted off to sleep and then stayed with her while the final shot was given. He said it was very peaceful. I’m glad for that at least.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

So I haven’t been good about giving it to her every night, but I have noticed two things with Annie lately:

1. The dosing even just once a day of an anti-inflammatory is helping her to get around much, much easier. I feel terrible that I never even gave her baby aspirin before now. After another week of one dose of baby aspirin with no stomach problems, and I’ll start to give her a second dose for the day.

2. The melatonin seems to be working. We still have the occasional 4:00am barking/wake up, but there have been a couple mornings that I woke up before she did - at 5:30am no less. This morning was one of those mornings. I didn’t wake up until the alarm went off at 5:25am. I went down to get Annie and she was snoozing hard. So I sat until she woke up - about 5 minutes later. Then it took her about 5 more minutes to get up and out of the crate.

It was so nice to not have to spend 20 minutes cleaning up the poo-crate. I got to read instead.

So it’s all good news with Annie, although Beau may disagree.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Just got back from hauling the dog and the cat to the vet. Fortunately, both do well in the car. We waited a full hour to be seen by the doctor herself, during which time I considered saying something to the receptionists about maybe calling to let patients know that things are delayed and that the 1:20pm appointment could be pushed to 2:00pm or something, but I decided against it. So on to the reports:

Mr. Kitty is a healthy, thriving cat at about 15 lbs. He has lost 1 pound since his last appointment. He will need to go back in November to get his distemper updated, but other than that he’s good to go. Oh, except that I need to start brushing his plaque-y teeth. She assured me that a pediatric toothbrush (even one about to be discarded, which is handy because I just broke out a new toothbrush for Jesse last night and I happen to have a discarded pediatric toothbrush) will do and gave tips on how to get the cat not only compliant but into getting his teeth brushed.

Annie is a healthy, amazing, thriving old dog of 19 years, who also lost a bit of weight since her last appointment. There was slight concern about it, but explained by her rotten teeth that probably hurt a bit when she eats. There was the gentle suggestion of getting her teeth cleaned, to the tune of about $500, that was declined equally gently. I asked about the 4am wake up calls and the doc said that OTC melatonin may help a bit - she’s not unlike an elderly human whose cognitive wiring goes a bit off as they age. So I’ll get some of that. She also gave me samples of some anti-inflammatory drug to give for her arthritis, but that 81mg aspirin will work, too. So no go on the sedative idea. Oh well.

Both got their rabies vaccinations updated, so if you get bitten by them you will be fine.

Oh, and the chart that shows how old your dog really is said that for a 25 lbs dog of 19 years, it is the equivalent of 101 to humans. So old Annie is OLD.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Beau is coming down with the cold now.

I’m pretty miserable and thisclose to notifying office folk that I won’t be working today and heading back to bed. The night was restless for both of us. Annie barked at around 4am - Beau was a prince and took care of her, then he spent about an hour snoozing on the sofa before coming back to bed. I got up at 5:30am when I woke up again. The sinuses are the problem - my head feels like it will implode any minute.

I rescheduled the vet appointment and added Mr. Kitty to the new one - next Friday.

That is all.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

1. Dog Watch: Annie slept until 5am this morning. Praise the Lord! I managed to get a good night’s rest, which was much needed for my increasing cold.

2. I left work early yesterday and immediately upon my arrival at home I went to bed. Slept for a solid 2 hours. Then went to bed early. Sleep good.

I plan to leave work early today, too, for another nice nap. Because…

3. We’re going to dinner with my parents tonight - a belated Father’s Day outing since Jesse was sick over the weekend. We’re going to Texas de Brazil, which will be great except that I have a raging cold so I know I won’t enjoy the food like I would otherwise.

I’ve got nothing else. Brain is fuzzy and I need to save what I’ve got for the work today.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The barking started at 3:15am this morning.

Joy.

Monday, June 16, 2008

... And the dog starts barking. 3:00 am.

I decided to ignore her, but she did her metronome barking for the next 45 minutes. I am not kidding. She barked one bark every 30 seconds or so for 45 minutes. So after laying there trying to go back to sleep unsuccessfully, I got up.

She’s starting the barking earlier and earlier each day. Yesterday it was 3:40am when the barking started. I got up because I misread the clock and thought it was 4:40am. I hate to think how early the barking will start tomorrow morning.

I don’t know what to do about this. We walk her when we go to bed. We make sure she has a full water bowl (because she’ll bark for water, too - she has always consumed large quantities of water).

This can’t continue, but there are no good options. She’s too old to have someone take her - that didn’t work when ECD took her. She’s too healthy to put down. I can’t put her in the pound. But I also can’t continue getting up in the middle of the night to release the dog from her crate.

“Just go back to bed,” you say.

It isn’t that easy. When I’m up, I’m up. I can’t go back to sleep after I’ve been up and moving for more than a trip to the bathroom or to check on Jesse. Especially that close to actual wake up time.

I’m at my wits end.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Yesterday was a crazy day that started at 4:30am or so and ended after the American Idol finale. Yes, I stayed up to watch the end, good thing too since my DVR cut off the last few minutes because the show ran over time. I’m very pleased with the winner.

Anyway, I managed to get to work early despite cooking and schlepping three crock pots of food in for the farewell luncheon. That went very well - everyone ate everything. For once we had very little leftovers.

It seemed that my tasks for the day kept increasing as time passed. Just when I thought I was doing well to plow through everything that needed doing before I left for vacation, some new fire would pop up. Then add in a one hour conversation with UO2 and that meant that I didn’t even leave the office until 6pm. Fortunately, Merry called to say she could not babysit, so I got home in time for Beau to leave for small group. I stayed home with Jesse, which was just fine.

The one hour conversation with UO2 was good and much needed. We were able to clear the air and as we talked I was convicted that I had been very unfair to her, with high expectations that she could not hope to meet. (Amazing One did that job for about 10 years. UO2 has been in that job 18 months. There’s no comparison, really, and it was completely unfair for me to expect AO level work and knowledge in 18 months.) I apologized and asked how I could help her and we agreed that I would take one one more part of the medical billing processing. My boss was not happy to hear that when I told him - she needs to learn how to do it and I agree. However, by taking it on it means I’ll be able to get the bills paid faster, which is my goal. So we hugged and made up and that weight is lifted off of me.

Today I’ll work at home (there were not enough hours in the day yesterday to get it all done) in between laundry and packing. We have decided to try to take Annie to the kennel today, so I need to call them this morning. It’ll be nice to not have to deal with her tomorrow AM when we’re trying to get on the road early.

Monday, May 19, 2008

It’s going to be a crazy week.

Today: Work at home. The Sleepy Family comes to dinner - we will be having this chicken curry dish with couscous and peas. I’m sending Beau out for either naan, puri, or roti to go with it all. sleepybeth is bringing dessert, which I’m sure will be awesome. Somehow manage to finish the laundry. Beau will finish the house cleaning and take care of Jesse.

Tuesday: Work at the office. The evening will be spent cooking for a farewell luncheon in my office on Wednesday. The theme is BBQ, so I’m on the hook for pulled chicken, my regular hash brown potato casserole, and baked beans. All shall be crock potted, which is awesome. I think I’ll actually cook the chicken during the day in the crock pot and then pull it in the evening when I get home. To be reheated the following day in the crock pot.

Wednesday: Farewell luncheon at the office. Jesse’s day at Marmie’s. Small group in the evening - must remember to take the bag of clothes and the house key to NH (she is cat checking while we’re away).

Thursday: Pack. I’m sure that will involve last minute laundry, too.

Friday: Annie to kennel in the early AM. Marmie and Pop will meet us at our house to pack their SUV with some of our gear. We’ll load the stuff to go into the Cootie van into our trunk. Hit the road for South Carolina and the beginning of our Grand Disney Adventure.

I will have my laptop on the trip, so there will be the occasional post while we’re away.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Annie is consistently waking up at about 4:30 every morning now. I decided on the way to work this morning that it was silly for me to wait until I do to come in to the office and work 9-5:30 when I could get here much earlier and then get home much earlier. So starting tomorrow my hours will be 8:00 - 4:30. At least that’s my goal. I like the idea of having more time with Beau and Jesse in the evenings instead of more alone time in the early mornings when they’re both still asleep. When I finally got honest with myself this mornng, I had to admit that I waste much of those hours between waking and getting ready for work.

I have been working earlier hours when I’m at home already. For instance, yesterday I started working at 6:30am. It worked out well for the mid-day trip the mall for the haircuts and lunch. I got home at a reasonable time and managed to get another 4+ hours of work in before dinner.

The kicker will be Marmie’s adjustment on the days she has Jesse. I emailed her to warn her of the change to start tomorrow. I’m sure she’s really happy to hear the news.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Beau told me this tidbit a couple of months ago and I keep forgetting to post it.

He was walking Annie one afternoon and ventured out front for a change. Some of the neighborhood kids were out playing and he spotted one of them pointing at the dog. Then he heard “perro loco,” which cracked him up.

Because Annie is perro loco.

I’ve started calling her that, too.

Monday, December 31, 2007

I can’t believe I forgot to mention this from Christmas day. We had just finished dinner and I let Annie out in the backyard. About five minutes later I went to let her in and didn’t see her at the door but I could hear her barking. So I went out there to see if I could coax her in and didn’t see her, but I could hear her and she sounded really close. Then I noticed the cut out in the deck where the basement window and well area are and I saw her head popping up.

She had falling through the hole cut into the deck to allow for escape from the basement window in an emergency. *sigh*

I went back in to get help. “Annie’s fallen into the well on the deck,” I announced. Dad and Beau both got up and came with me back outside. In the time it took for us to get out there, less than five minutes, she had fallen into the actual window well further down. (I just tried to draw a diagram, but it was awful. Use your imagination, please.)

Beau laid on his belly on the deck and reached in to try to grab Annie. Since it was dark and her night vision is pretty much shot, she was understandably freaked out and tried to bite him. And being deaf, too, she couldn’t hear our calls of reassurance. All she knew was that she was stuck in some hole and hands were reaching for her. Had to be scary.

Beau got up and moved to the other side of the hole and I laid out opposite him. I don’t think I helped at all, but Beau eventually got his hands around or under her and she boosted the dog up and out of the hole.

Annie trotted to the door like nothing was wrong. We all just looked at each other in amazement.

And that was another Annie Disaster averted. I may start a new category called Annie Disasters.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

I forgot to mention that the Annie excitement of Christmas Eve came when I took her upstairs (from the basement where we were watching It’s a Wonderful Life) to let her out back. She did her business and I let her back in and we headed back downstairs. I stopped at the landing, because she had stopped at the top of the stairs.

The poor thing is losing what’s left of her eyesight and has fallen down the stairs many, many times. She just loses track of where she is and takes a header down whatever is left of the staircase. She’s done it enough that she has learned to turn her body so that she lands on her side instead of on her face. Sad.

Anyway, I urged her down and as I half expected, she lost it with one more step to go and landed on her face on the landing. But she picked herself up quickly and headed down the rest when I noticed red spots on the carpet.

Mom and I corraled her back upstairs to investigate and discovered the bleeding came from her mouth. We figure she must have lost a tooth, but it was definitely before the fall because we found older small spots of blood in the place where she had been sleeping at my feet. I dabbed at her mouth with a towel and tried to get a good look in her mouth, but she didn’t cooperate. We saw clots though, so she had been bleeding for a little while. I took her to the water bowel where she drank quite a bit. She left no blood in the bowl so the active bleeding had stopped.

Poor old girl.

We’re going to switch her to a softer food - probably canned. It’ll be more expensive, but she’s gotten really skinny and I think it’s painful for her to eat crunchy kibble. And her already horrendous breath will get worse. Thankfully she’ll eat Breath Busters, which help.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

By the time I got home from work last night I was feeling awful. I pretty much got into my jammies and hit the hay shortly after walking in the door. Beau was great to take care of Jesse until his bedtime, then brought him to me for a quick cuddle (and some headbutt love - the kid loves to headbutt) before putting him in his crib for the night. Soon after I downed some Tylenol and konked out. I slept lightly most of the night and woke up at about 3am in a light sweat. Whatever fever I had finally broke. When the alarm sounded this morning, I made the decision to stay home today to rest instead of taking my germs to work and continuing the misery there.

Beau took Jesse over to Marmie’s for their normal Wednesday together, so it’s been nice to lounge around without having to do anything for a few hours. But I do miss the little guy’s noise.

In Annie Retirement News: Got a call from ECD a little while ago. Annie’s retirement is just a long vacation. She’s returning to us this weekend when ECD’s ex comes back from spending the weekend with Holly. There are mixed emotions on all sides about this, but I have to say that it is not unexpected for me. I hoped this would work, but always in the back of my mind was the knowledge that Annie would come back to us.