Spring Break fun

Today was the first official day of spring break and I began the fun filled week by mowing the lawn and taking B to the vet for his annual shots. Mowing the lawn-not fun. Taking this picture of B after he "explored" the yard-very fun.

Update on B and Girlfriend

B is on antibiotics and is doing better (as far as I can tell) today. He goes back to the vet next week to get his urine checked and make sure things are clearing up on the inside. After he finishes his antibiotics he will be getting his teeth cleaned. I feel like a bad mom, because even though I brush his teeth, he has gingivitis which the vet thinks caused his infection from licking himself. B will continue to get UTIs until I have his teeth cleaned and everything in his mouth fixed. Fun times all around. On a more positive (and less expensive-I was going to say cheaper but thought better of it) note Girlfriend is feeling much better. She was able to keep food down all day Monday and was able to go to work today. I sent her back home last night with a sleeve of crackers and half a bottle of Pepto.

Scorecard results: Me-2 Sickness-0

Just call me nurse

There is something wrong when I am the healthiest one in the house this week. I took B to the emergency vet this morning when late last night we noticed blood around his "privates" after he peed. After talking with a vet on the phone I made an appointment to take him in first thing this morning. The vet believes that B has a UTI and he is currently sleeping on the couch next to me all medicated up. He has to have antibiotics for a few weeks and has to go back to be checked again in 10 days. The only positive thing is that I like the emergency vet I went to WAY better than B's regular vet and I'm seriously considering transferring to this place. I've been a wreck since seeing him bleeding and Girlfriend was going to come with me to be the emotional rock, but she started puking around 6AM and didn't go back to sleep until after 8:30. She is also all medicated up (Pepto and Emitrol which she keeps throwing up-not exactly helping her) and currently is sleeping in the bed where I can keep an eye on her. I took off tomorrow to keep an eye on B, and Girlfriend if she is still yaking up her inside. She doesn't want to eat anything but I am force feeding her saltines and ginger ale. Earlier Girlfriend was laying on the couch and said exasperatedly, "But I'm supposed to be taking care of you!" To which I responded, "You took care of me last week, let me take care of you now so you can take care of me later on. Staying well is going to be a team effort for a while." Some background-last week I went to my neurologist because I have been having some strange episodes. He took 7 vials of blood to test for anything and everything possible, except pregnancy. On Wednesday after work I have to head back to the hospital to have two MRIs done to hopefully find out some answers. So, yeah, if I'm the healthiest one in the house-something is wrong. Keep your fingers crossed I don't mix up their meds ;-)

Visiting the relatives, or something like that

This past weekend Girlfriend invited me to tag along while she went to visit her grandpa. I brought B, as we are a package deal. The trip began with let's just say a rocky start. Explanation below.

While riding in the car on the way to see Avatar in 3D (p.s. It's awesome!)

Me: I know we're leaving after the movie but what time are we heading back tonight?

Girlfriend: You know we're staying the night, right?

Me: What?!?!

Girlfriend: We're coming back tomorrow.

Me: But, but, but....you said we were going on Saturday.

Girlfriend: We are. We're going on Saturday and coming back Sunday.

Me: (deep long breath)

Girlfriend: Sorry? I love you?

Me: It's fine. B may be eating Q's food because since you didn't tell me I'm not sure that I packed him enough for two days.

Once we got there everything was fine, however-Girlfriend ALSO neglected to tell me that her grandpa lives in the middle of f*cking NOWHERE. We were surrounded by nothing but flatness, passed a total of two traffic lights and ate at one of two restaurants in the area. Let me paint a picture here for you: we drove from his house a solid twenty minutes where we were the only car on the road (unless you count the f*cking tractor we got caught behind) where we turned onto another desolate road when eventually led to a restaurant and nothing else. When we were in the parking lot of the restaurant I handed her my wallet from my back pocket and told her to stick it in her purse because I felt slightly unsafe and "too gay" for the location. I'm not against rural areas, but I am not designed to live (or visit) there either. On another note her grandpa was wonderful and very welcoming to me and B, who he liked but wondered quote, "Is he ever still? What is left for him to sniff?"

On Sunday we went "visiting" the rest of the relatives which was an adventure I was not fully prepared for but turned out fine. Oh! Oh! BEST part-while we were at Girlfriend's great aunt's house she kept insisting that we had met before, several years ago at the funeral for Girlfriend's grandma. As much as Girlfriend and her mom tried to get this woman to let it go, she was just not having it. Insisting that I somehow looked familiar, and must have visited in the past, wondering if I had done some different with my hair, etc. I thought it was hilarious watching Girlfriend and her mom squirm trying to get this sweet old lady to shut the hell up. Walking to the car Girlfriend's mom grabbed my arm and said, "Um yeah...sorry about that." Climbing in the backseat Girlfriend looked down sheepishly and said, "So, um yeah....sorry about that." I burst into laughter at the whole situation which made them feel better.

Diet and Dog Food

B was called chunky. I am not okay with this. After this was said I started looking at him and yes, sigh, he has become a *little* chunky. His diet started today and I think he knows something is up because he kept looking at me while I put his food in his bowl as if to say, "Hey momma, why is this not a full as usual? You forgot some in that last scoop." I'm hoping this will help his "chunkiness" and get him back on track. I'm also not very happy with his food at the moment. He's been eating Natural Balance Duck and Potato for a while and it's been really good for his allergies. The bag I bought last time said, "New and Improved Formula!" but B and I beg to differ on the improved part. I'm looking for a new grain free formula that does not cost half my monthy salary...any suggestions would be VERY appreciated. As Girlfriend has told me many times, skimping on the animals is NOT an option and B's health is priority number one. Readers, do you have any experience or opinions on Evo, Candide, or Pinnacle dog food? They all have grain free formulas but since they are quite expensive I'd love some input on experiences you (or those you know) have had with these (or other) grain free brands.

Day 2...

Yesterday I made cookies and several of you requested the recipe. I am more than happy to share, but I cannot take credit-I found it at Simply Gluten Free. It makes 2 dozen cookies-Mix 1 cup of peanut butter with 1 cup of sugar. In a separate bowl mix 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix this into the peanut butter mixture. Scoop 1 tablespoon of batter into your hands, roll into a ball and roll in sugar. Last do the criss-cross thing with a fork to flatten them out. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and let them rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack (don't try and move them before this, they will mush all apart). Finally, take a picture before your Girlfriend eats them all!

Today we were snowed in again and here is a recap of our day:

We began our day with watching Public Enemies and since B wanted to snuggle right in the middle, we messed with his hair. We can't help it, he has GREAT hair! Which one is your favorite?

This one is my masterpiece titled: B from Whoville.

This one is Girlfriend's masterpiece titled: B the alien.

After the movie and hairstyling it was time for B to go play in the snow. Poor baby, he kept sinking down into it with every few steps but after a while he just took to jumping like a bunny.

After playing in the snow it was nap time again...these snow days sure do take it out of you!

I've already received the message that school is canceled tomorrow and we are waiting on Girlfriend to hear word from her work. I'll keep you updated on our exciting days.

I need this made

You all have seen those super obnoxious "Baby On Board" tags in cars that have less than stellar driving skills. I need one that is slightly different, but would hopefully help explain my driving-specifically turning-skills. My beloved B has some gnarly carsickness...it's really bad people. I've tried all the tricks, not feeding him, taking short trips to help him get use to it, ginger crackers, even certain air fresheners in the car that are supposed to help. Nothing has worked so now I just drug the hell out of him with Dramamine (per vet instructions) but if I take turns too sharp/fast he STILL upchucks everywhere. It is NOT pleasant for anyone involved so I try very hard when he is in the car to take turns slowly, make them as wide as possible, etc. anything to help him keep it down. SO, I decided that I need this in my back window, because maybe then the a**hole behind me would be a little more understanding. I'm not trying to be a world class jerk taking a million hours to do a turn, I just don't want to clean up dog vomit...the graphic makes it perfect don't you think?

Emotional Day

Disclaimer: While I may state "Don't laugh at me" in this post, feel free to laugh...I recognize the absurdity of what I am telling you.

In case you didn't know, Girlfriend and I are headed to Atlanta tomorrow for a long weekend! YAY for getting away, YAY for road trip, YAY for all of it....except...I had to drop my baby off at the boarding kennel today. I tried every other avenue believe me-my roommate is going away, my neighbors are going away, and there is no one left to watch him who can commit to the time he needs. I found a good kennel where he gets lots of play time, has good boarding conditions, etc. still I have been agonizing about this since I realized no one that knows him could watch him. Since he was a rescue dog I didn't want him to think that I was abandoning him or anything negative.

This morning I felt like I was sending my first born child off to sleep away summer camp. Seriously. I labeled his name on his food, his treats, I let him pick out three of his favorite toys to bring (stop laughing...he really picked them out and they go as follows: 1) squishy tennis ball-it was a squeaky ball until he played with it too much and broke the squeaker inside 2) rope from his Aunt B-a.k.a. my roommate 3) rope ball-the best of both worlds-it's a ball and a rope in one!) and put them in a bag with his name on it. After everything was labeled and set, we drove (well I drove, he rode in the backseat, but anyway...) over to where he was going to be boarded. He was SUPER excited on the ride-I mean food and toys were coming, this had to be good! He was pretty excited when we got there and were waiting, while I was talking to the receptionist, until....it was time for me to leave. Then it quickly changed from, "Momma (that's what he calls me-he's a southern dog-don't judge) this is awesome! What can I play with?" to "Momma? You're not coming with me? Did I do something wrong?" I had to keep it together while his little brown eyes were looking at me all confused and he furrowed his little eyebrows...geez I'm going to start crying again....stop laughing. To make it even worse when they took him to the back he started whimpering...oh I lost it inside. I got back to my car and burst into tears, because seriously, I just left my baby for the first time and he started whimpering...which prompted me to call my mom and let her laugh at me, then console me, and affirm me that I did just drop him off for summer camp and he will be just fine.

EVERYTHING inside of me wants to call and check on him (yes, I am THAT lesbian animal parent, in case you skimmed the middle of this post and are just realizing the CRAZY that is going on) but I know he is fine...he's just my little boy and I worry about him. What if the other dogs don't like him? What if the other dogs don't want to play with him? Or play too rough with him? What if he has to go potty and no one knows and he tries to hold it and has an accident? Yes. I'm being serious...stop laughing these are the things I worry about. Mom tried to make me feel better but she doesn't fully get it, roommate was kind but also doesn't fully get it, Girlfriend was awesome and sent me sweet text messages because she gets it and it also "that crazy lesbian animal parent" Anyway, hopefully you have enjoyed my crazy over-protective lesbian animal parent moment of the day and hopefully I will have good stories from the first roadtrip with Girlfriend before B and I head up to visit his Gamma and Gampa in Jersey for about a week....but that's another post for another day...if you made it to the end, Happy 4th and enjoy your weekend!

Cheep Cheep Cheep Chacheep

We have baby chicks in the classroom! (and yes, they are there on purpose...) We have been taking care of eggs and I have been terrified of accidentally killing the eggs, but rest assured all but 1 egg has hatched and the room is a peep, cheep, chacheeping...just in time for end of grade testing to begin! My kids and I are loving them, I only wish that they stayed cute and fluffy for longer than a week. After a week they start to look like regular old chickens and are no longer tiny adorable creatures to be kept in the classroom.

In leu of the chickens, my students are writing about a time when 100 baby chicks hatched in the classroom. Here have been my two favorite things they came up with: 1) the chicks kicked over my coffee cup, drank the coffee and started peeping in circles 2) they played Hide-and-go-peep and Peep-a-boo with the chicks. My kids are fun, the chicks are fun, being quiet while 3-5th grades are testing...not fun. There are 14 days left of school, and we are ALL counting down.

In other non-school related news my dog is in love with Q (Girlfriend's dog) which we all know. However something happened Saturday night. Girlfriend and I went to bed and the dogs were fine. B was Q's bitch (as usual) but when we woke up there was a distinct shift in power. B was no longer bringing him toys, rather he was taking the toys away from Q and had decided that he was going to be a top. Poor Q. He was so excited to be in charge of his little twinkie for once, but alas, B's wiener has been sprayed several times with a squirt bottle of ice water for his behavior. Don't get me wrong, it's funny for a few minutes, but quickly turns twisted and uncomfortable for us.

This weekend B is going to Girlfriend's new place and is going to meet her cat while we are staying there. Cross your fingers that he likes cats...this can go very well or horribly wrong...