Today is Cleo’s adoption day, the day that will forever after be known as her birthday. When I got her one year ago, they told me she was about two years old. So today, Cleo turns three!
Here she is before we named her, when she was known as “Baby.” We knew that would have to go. We chose her because out of all the dogs at the pound, she was the only one that wasn’t barking. Little did I know that one year later, barking would be her major flaw.
When we first brought her home, she was so scared she wouldn’t eat. When she finally did, I was so excited that I captured the moment. I didn’t care that I had to bring her bowl right out into the living room.
After awhile we decided she needed a bath. We gave her exactly one before deciding that $20 at the groomer would be money well spent. She never got over her fear of the bathroom after that.
Cleo’s made a lot of friends over the past year. I’m not the only one who’s getting a new family soon!
Cleo still misses Molly…
But she gained a cousin, Bentley:
Cleo and I have discovered that the dog park is one of our favorite places. It makes me incredibly happy to see her so happy, and I find it so relaxing to sit on a bench and read while she runs (and swims!) her little tail off.
But my favorite time of all with Cleo is bedtime. We have our little routine - she starts out underneath the covers, licks my legs and feet for awhile, then crawls out and settles at the foot of the bed. I’ll fall asleep, but after awhile I’ll feel her stirring, wanting to climb back underneath the covers. Sometimes she sprawls out next to me and lets me sleep with my arm thrown over her. She never wakes me up in the morning - I’m the one tossing her out of bed. This bedtime routine is ending soon, but that’s OK with me because I’ll have a new bedmate, and I think it’ll be OK with Cleo too because she’ll have her new sisters to play with.
I love you Cleo, you’ve made the best year of my life even better!
My first wedding disaster dream: It was the day of my wedding and I had left the flowers and centerpieces up to my mom to figure out. I arrived to find that the flowers were hot pink and the centerpieces were doll figurines.
Sorry to anyone who hates reading about other people’s dreams, but I felt it was a duty to myself to chronicle that one.
I love my day off during the week. Today I plan to have lunch with David at his work, buy my brother a birthday gift, and shop for bridesmaid shoes and other things. I’m also thinking about taking Cleo to the dog park. Thinking about it. Poor girl, I haven’t had as much time for her lately.
What I have done so far this morning is eat a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats, read today’s entry in My Utmost For His Highest, and browse the first 75 pages or so of Real Simple’s September issue. A good start, I think. Up next is a shower, and then I’ll consider whether I have time to make it to the dog park and back in time to get to Chick-fil-a before their breakfast menu closes. David loves the chicken biscuits for lunch and I promised I’d bring them to him.
In the past couple of weeks Cleo has started to do something really cute. Every time I leave for awhile (to work or if I’m gone in the evening), she will go upstairs and bring down one, two, or even three of my shoes. I find them in the places where she likes to rest: on her bed, on the couch, by the rug behind the couch, or under the computer table. She doesn’t chew the shoes; I think she either likes to have the smell of me nearby, or she’s trying to show me that she misses me. It’s adorable because she doesn’t even like going upstairs and will only go if I’m calling her up for the night. My dad has tried to catch her in the act of bringing the shoes down, but she is sneaky.
Today my cleat was behind the couch:
And my flip-flop was on her bed:
I cannot imagine not owning a dog. Cleo definitely increases my quality of life!
Ah, Friday. It’s a good day. Not as good as Saturday, or Sunday, but still good. And this has been a long week. Not just with work, although that gives me very limited time to accomplish anything else. But with getting the bridesmaid dresses ordered (requiring two separate trips to the shop), a weekly indoor soccer game, dinner with a friend, and finally getting myself organized and settled in my parents’ house, I have had very little time to relax. David came by the house last night briefly, but that was the first time we’d seen each other since Sunday. So yeah, long week.
It’s been kind of nice to be living with my parents again, although strange at times. Cleo seems to like it here for the most part, although she won’t go in the kitchen and I had to carry her up the stairs the first time. She gets so scared of new rooms and hallways. But since my room is upstairs, I had to get her used to it. She has slept with me almost every night since I got her, and it’s very comforting for me to have her there.
The first night I carried her to my bed, and she didn’t move from it until morning. Then she was terrified to get down. The second night she came up the stairs with a lot of coaxing, but she trembled most of the night. The third night I felt too bad for her and let her stay downstairs on the couch. But I didn’t sleep well that night without her, and so I’ve started to make her come upstairs again. Last night I was so happy because she cuddled by my side with my arm slung over her the entire night.
Work has been great this week. I think I am really starting to get the hang of it. I have been taking care of two patients almost entirely by myself, and I think I’m ready to move on to three because there has been a significant amount of downtime. I passed a milestone today in that I accessed my first port-a-cath successfully! This is a device that many oncology patients have inserted underneath their skin on the chest that enables us to give chemo, fluids, draw blood, etc. without having to find a vein every time. While the patients aren’t in the hospital or having treatment you can’t really see it. But in the hospital we access the port with a needle.
I’m at home right now waiting for David to come pick me up. We’re going on a date, and I’ve been looking forward to it all week! It felt so weird to put on regular clothes just now. I haven’t worn anything but scrubs and athletic clothes since last Sunday.
I was woken up at 3:45 a.m. by the two 100+ pound dogs that I’m taking care of this week, Teak and Riley. They wanted to be fed, and there is no more sleeping when they want to be fed. So I got up and did just that, and then I stayed awake because my alarm was scheduled to go off at four. It’s only fifteen minutes, you may say, but when that fifteen minutes comes as early as it does it makes a big difference. So I was annoyed.
But, as usual, I got to work and everything was great. Two cups of coffee and I didn’t feel the sleep I was missing until about 1 p.m. when we had an inservice. Today I was assigned a patient all to myself, and I think I did pretty well. Although I must admit, she was not demanding at all. I spent the majority of my time today with my mind wandering to wedding plans.
On the way home I stopped at the grocery store, and I was strolling the aisles in my own little world. The song “Jack and Diane” was playing on the loudspeaker, and I was singing along to myself. As I rounded a corner and looked up, there was an older woman coming towards me, an employee, and at that moment we were both audibly singing, “Oh yeah, life goes on…” when our eyes locked. We could have been embarrassed, but instead we just smiled and walked on.
I saw you for the last time last night. You looked the same as usual, except that your eyes seemed a little glazed, and you couldn’t get up to greet me. You tried, but due to a stroke, an aneurysm, or some other explanation, your back legs just wouldn’t work anymore. So I came to you.
I remember when we got you. You were a stray, found by a friend who couldn’t keep you. According to the vet, you were about four or five years old at the time. I was 14 and I loved you immediately. You were smooth and soft and sweet. For years I tried to make you love me the best. I always thought that if I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one thing with me, I would pick you.
Not long after, we took in another stray dog named Max. He was a wild one, but lovable. He was a bad influence on you. The two of you together liked to barrel through the front door any chance you got, then run around the neighborhood until we chased you down and trapped you. One morning when I was in high school I was the last person to leave in the morning. My ride to school arrived, I was loaded down with bags to carry, and I accidentally allowed you to escape. In my rush I let you go because you had always come back before.
It wasn’t the best decision I ever made, because when I got home from school that day there was a message on our answering machine from an irate neighbor which said, “Your DOGS just KILLED my CAT…AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT!!!” I can still hear the words in my mind today. You and Max didn’t know you were hurting the poor cat, you just wanted to play. I thought we were going to have to get rid of you after that, but my dad was too much of a softie.
Another time I came home from school and I was met with a broken window and huge pools of blood all over the carpet. I followed the trail up the stairs, all over the couch, to my brother’s bed where you were, weak and trembling. You had gotten so excited at something outside that you had broken through the window and cut an artery. It was a scary time, but we got you fixed up. And after a lot of scrubbing, the carpet looked somewhat clean as well.
Max died a few years ago, and since then you have reverted to your calm, sweet self. Not that you weren’t always sweet even with him around, but when you were alone we could leave the front door open and you would come back whenever we called. My dad always said that just petting you lowered his blood pressure. You had a fun life with Max, and when he went I think part of you went too. Since then you liked to lie on your couch, lie on your bed, occasionally look out the window under the piano, sunbathe by the patio, and not much else.
Despite your frail appearance, you kept hanging in there. We were even able to take you on a drive to South Carolina the Christmas before last, to meet your cousins. In recent days, when I brought Cleo over to visit it was like you didn’t know what to do with this new crazy little thing running around. I think part of you wanted to play like you used to, and you always seemed more active around her. But you didn’t quite have the energy or the stamina, and you would eventually just plop back down with a look of wisdom.
Every time I visit my parents, which is often, I look forward to seeing your head pop up behind the sofa. I look forward to the thump thump of your tail when you see me. I even look forward to the tapping of your nails on the wooden floor as you move from your bed to your couch and back. I’m sure I will still look and listen for these things the next time I visit. It will take me some time to realize that you’re gone.
You were with us for twelve years. You were much older than dogs of your size usually live. So when I got the call last night that you weren’t doing well, I wasn’t surprised, but I was deeply saddened. I knew I had to see you one more time. David drove me over to visit, and as soon as we got to the house, I curled up with you on your bed. I scratched your belly because it always did itch you, but now your paralyzed legs couldn’t scratch it. I kissed you behind your ears, which was always my favorite spot. I whispered for only you to hear, “I love you, Molly. You’re the best there ever was.” Then we left.
This morning, my parents did the hardest thing for a pet owner to do, but it was time. They stayed with you while you went to sleep for the last time, and cried their eyes out. You were a part of our family. We all loved you very much.
There has been a lot I’ve wanted to write about this week, but the reason I haven’t is because it seems I’ve been gone from morning till night every day since Tuesday. And I’m not the type of person who can or will sacrifice sleep for much of anything. Thus, all of my blogging thoughts are swimming around in my head, and if I don’t put them down NOW, they just might be lost forever. So this may seem somewhat unorganized and random, and that’s because it is.
I’ll start with the big news in my little family circle, which is that my fiance David’s older brother Chris proposed to his girlfriend Kim on Wednesday evening. We are all so excited that they have made it official! They plan to elope to the west coast in June, and I won’t deny that I am somewhat jealous of that decision as I figure out who gets to stay on our guest list and exactly how many dollars we are going to pay for a photographer. But really, I want the whole shabang and I guess I always have, so I’ll just try to enjoy the process. Anyway, the point is: congratulations, Chris and Kim, I’m so excited to be your sister (in-law)!
Speaking of them, David is currently living in a house that Chris owns, and the four of us have decided that we will all live together there once we’re married. I know that may sound crazy to some people, but we get along great, have already spent a lot of time there together, and it will save us a lot of money for awhile. It does mean that I will have to cut back on the amount of “stuff” that I bring into the marriage (i.e. furniture), and I still don’t know what to do with some things that I can’t get rid of, like all my books. Also, my lease ends in July and for the few months after that until we get married I’ll be moving in with my parents. So I’ll need to be getting rid of my bed, desk, bedside table, and dresser pretty soon.
While we’re on the subject of life-changing events, I picked up my cap and gown the other day. Two weeks until I’m wearing it! My last final exam is on Monday!
I’ve been working a lot lately, and since I am the queen of busy work at the office it tends to get boring. That is why I am forever grateful to David for procuring me a satellite radio. Now I can listen to NPR all day! Just kidding, only about half the day. I admit I do enjoy the occasional E! Channel program. That is how I came to learn all about FHM’s sexiest woman alive list that was just released. I normally wouldn’t comment on this, but I feel obligated because two of the dancers from Dancing with the Stars made the list (Cheryl Burke at no. 40 and Karina Smirnoff at no. 78) but my favorite, Julianne Hough, did not. My roommates and I all totally have a girl crush on her, and I just don’t understand her getting passed over. So here’s to you, Julianne!
And I will leave you with this happy thing: a very short video of my brothers’ puppy’s latest trick:
Scored a free Sirius satellite radio. David’s brother’s girlfriend wasn’t using hers and the subscription is paid for lifetime!
Decided it’s probably best if I get a new car once I start working. My ignition nearly broke, and it’s at the point where it’s not really smart to put a lot of money into it. Things like this keep happening, so I guess I’ll just bite the bullet and get a new little fuel efficient car.
Returned home and was reunited with Cleo. I celebrated by taking her to see her friends Eddy and Sydney at David’s house. She also got a cow hoof to take home, which my roommate isn’t too pleased about because it smells pretty bad.
Didn’t study at all for my final exam in community health, which is Wednesday. Am I worried? Nah.
Thanks a bunch for your comments on our pictures. They make me happy. Sorry about the lack of posting last week, but it was a stressful one, as the next few probably will be as well. I passed a test last week that I was nervous about, but I have another, more important one today. It’s our exit exam and we have to get an 85 to pass. It could go either way for me, so I’m just going to do my best and see how it turns out. If you think about it, say a prayer.
I let Friday go by without publishing a very special happy birthday to my brother David, so I want to say it now. He is halfway to 50! As a present I got him two cases of Red Bull, and if you read his blog you will understand why. He is addicted - and I will go ahead and say obsessed - with energy drinks. And now he’s got my fiance on the same path. Oh, well, it’s better than being addicted to many other things!
I am house/pet-sitting this week, but I had to leave Cleo at home because last time I brought her there were some casualties in the form of wooden chess pieces and a rug. I’m looking forward to getting paid tomorrow, and then I can focus on how in the world I’m going to come up with rent for May. I graduate in less than three weeks, I start my job in less than two months, and I get married in less than six. I’m trying to keep looking forward. My life is wonderfully full but it is so easy to get caught up in the stress of the moment.
The stress of this moment is that I need to pass this exit exam. And so I must leave. God, be with me!
David and I took the three dogs to the dog park on Saturday. Our dogs include Cleo (of course), his dog Eddy who is a lab mix, and his brother Chris’s dog Sydney, a boxer. As soon as we got there Cleo went off on her own, making new friends, swimming, and basically having a grand old time. She didn’t need us so we let her go, and I kept an eye on her from time to time. Eddy and Sydney didn’t want to leave our side, so we started walking around the park so that they could enjoy it. David said that he would rather them not get in the water so we walked the other way instead. Unfortunately, that led us right by a giant mud pit which Sydney did not hesitate to wallow in.
She was also drinking the muddy water. At first we were upset because we really weren’t prepared to clean her up, but the more she played in it the happier she looked. Honestly I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.
Eddy got in the mud too, probably thinking that it looked like fun, but as soon as she got in she realized it was wet (Eddy doesn’t like to be wet) so she jumped out right away. Luckily there was a little shower there for them, although David did have to give them a full bath when he got home.
Later that night I noticed that something was wrong with Cleo. Her tail is now hanging limply behind her and doesn’t wag. I never realized how important the tail wag was until now. It’s like all the happiness has been drained from the apartment. So I examined her and even took her temperature and I can’t figure out what’s wrong. She isn’t moving around as much and when she goes to sit down it seems difficult for her. I’m hoping she just strained a muscle and it will get better in a few days.
She slept in my bed last night as usual, and this morning woke me up by throwing up. Then later on she threw up a couple times on my floor. I think this is unrelated to her other issue. Anyway, I really hope she recovers soon because looking at that sad little face and tail is so depressing, and I really can’t afford a vet bill right now!
