Okay, I haven’t been on in quite a while but mom has been suuuuper busy so I haven’t been allowed to use the computer. We’ve been back and forth to grandmom’s house and home and Aunt Stephenie’s so much! I love car rides but sometimes you just gotta be able to lay on the cool hardwood floor of home.
Mom got me a new headrest.
I’m suuuuper dog!
Sometimes the couch is as good as the floor.
Grandmom is doing great now! There were some complications and its been a long road to recovery but my mom is going to be a great nurse. She goes back to school in a couple weeks so it was good practice for her. I just wish that with her doing such a great job in nursing that she could nurse herself. She had been doing really well for a while but now that things have been crazy she’s been having a lot of migraines and fibro flares. Just this morning another one hit, but it was like a baby flare so she was still able to function all day. Which was a reeeeally good thing since she had a working interview at The Dog Lodge! She came home smelling of all kinds of good stuffs! So many fun pups I wish I could meet. Who knows, maybe someday I will! I haven’t seen mom so happy to leave us and still happy when she got home in a long time. It’ll be good for her. Zuc and I however, we aren’t happy about it one bit.
Do you know what a panic attack is? I’ve never had one personally but Mom and Zuc do. Have you ever been the one on the outside of a panic attack? They’re terrifying- for everyone involved. Mom says she used to have them all the time. In 7th grade, she used to lock herself in the car in the school parking lot until she had to throw up. Then she’d crack the door enough to not get upchuck inside and her mom or guidance counselor would have to pull the door from her before she could close it again. This happened every single day for almost the entire school year. It was bad. Now she doesn’t have them as often because she learned ways to prevent and control it. It doesn’t always work. She had one the other day. I didn’t know what to do it was so bad! Normally Zuc and I can make it better but this one was consuming her. Then she started talking about putting an end to her misery.
How about depression? Do you know what it is? Do you know how it feels? Have you ever been the one looking in at a person who feels like a shell? It is not a good feeling. Mom’s been seeming to do better lately. I can see her trying. She’s also been sleeping a ton more than usual. I guess she’s been through this before too but she doesn’t talk about the depression like she talks about anxiety and panic attacks. Depression scares me. Mom was saying really bad things until Brooke called and made her calm down. I still keep watching her and hoping she doesn’t say things like or feel like that inside anymore. Zuc won’t leave her heels. He had a really bad life before he went to the shelter and Mom and Dad saved him. I think he understands what Mom is going through more than I do. If Zuc is worried, I’m worried.
This weekend we went back to Grandmom and Grandpup’s. They don’t know about what happened but I think Mom needed a break.
Mom brought us back home on Saturday. We were all ready to be home and back to normal again. Especially Zuc, he was starting to freak out a little bit being away from dad for so long. I missed dad too. Mom and her mom and dad, along with Auntie and her boyfriend, Uncle and his girlfriend all left as soon as we got back! It was okay though, Zuc and I got to cuddle with dad alllll night! When they all came home it was really late. I could smell Aunt Steph on them. I could also smell foods, delicious alcohol, and a yummy plant smell that sometimes wafts in from the neighbor’s house.
Mom neverrrrr stays out late. The next morning I could tell she felt bad but she was happy. It was weird. She stayed in bed almost all day! We did address a whole pile of wedding invitations but even just doing that she had to take rests. Monday she was still sore. We went for our walk but barely. She took all kinds of medicines but we still didn’t do much. Hopefully today will be different and she’ll be okay enough to play! Then again, I’ve been recovering from playing so hard with Flash, Sampson, and Bandit I haven’t done much other than sleep too!
Today was almost the best day ever. I mean it was a pretty good day just waking up because it’s Friday. That means dad stays home with us tomorrow! On our walk this morning it was suuuuper hot so mom let me jump in the stream and chase the little waterfalls. It’s my favorite thing to do on hot days! Sometimes I just lay down and roll around in the nice, cool stream. I got a little too excited this morning and may have pulled mom in a little bit. Oops!
When we got home mom gave us treats even though we already had breakfast! Mom did yoga in the sun while I watched (and kinda got in the way). Then I got to chase the broom around! Mom said she was “cleaning” and to “get out of the way” a lot but I think that’s just part of the game. We all took naps until dad got home.
That’s when the best part happened! We went to the big dog park!! The one where we have to ride in the car first and there’s always a whole bunch of friends to make! I even met the dog gods. They’re these great big dogs. Not to brag, but they totally accepted me. Mom ran around with us too. She picked up her increased dose of Cymbalta the other day and I think she’s ajusting to it well so far!
After the dog park we went to dad’s brother’s apartment for dinner where I got to play with squeaky toys. And then we got ice cream on the way home!! Zuc loooooves ice cream so we battled the whole way home to get more than the other. It’s fun but mom and dad make us keep it fair.
Now after that perfect day, there were fireworks. A LOT OF FIREWORKS. I was trembling scared. I even yelled at them to go away a few times. Mom had to hold me and cover me up in a blanket so I’d feel safe. It kinda worked.
So, on Tuesday, Mom and Brooke wanted to do something fun. It was raining. A nice, sloshy, drizzly rain that I loooove to go play in. Side note: guess who didn’t get to go play in it. Yup, me. Anyway, they decided to go to the mall to get pedicures and watch movies. (Uh, hello, you can do that here and still let me run in the rain!) Mom wanted to see Baywatch and Snatched. They both sound super boring to me. Brooke decided they would see Baywatch first and then Snatched all in the same day, but had to give up their pedicures because Brooke had to go home for work on Wednesday. They locked us up and went on their way. I obviously need to work on my puppy-dog eyes. They don’t seem to be working! I keep getting locked up!
Dad got home before them. Mom came running in from the wrong side of the house! I thought something bad was happening so I got up and ran to meet her. My fur was standing straight up! She started giggling and I knew it was okay so I tried to play with her. She loved it. She told dad she was trying to beat his friend to the door because she realized he was following her and drove super slow. Mom can be a meany sometimes. Brooke came in huffing behind her. She had lots of bags that smelled amazing. So many different smells! I shoved my head right in to poke around and got a swat on the butt. This always happens but I can’t stop myself. Brooke started complaining about how mom couldn’t tolerate sitting in those movie theater chairs for two whole movies so they only ended up seeing Baywatch. Mom smelled a little sick. I could tell her tummy hurt and she was stiff now that all of the excitement was over.
Mom and I cuddling
Dumb Baseball Games
Brooke had to leave right away so she would be home in time for sleeps since she had to work the next day. I was sad and waited at the window for her to come back in for a little while. Mom kept telling me she’d be back but not for now. So we went and made food for dad and his friends- his brother came over too. All they did was play dumb baseball video games. I wish they would go outside and play real baseball. The kind where I chase them is my favorite. But while dad, his friend, and his brother all ate mom didn’t. Her tummy was too upset and she was sore all over. So we crawled into bed and watched Chopped until dad and Zuc came in for sleeps.
Mom’s friend Brooke came to stay for a couple days. Zuc and I went sleeps before she arrived on Sunday so we didn’t even know she was here! When the bedroom door opened I burst out into the living room and rubbed my wet little nose allll over her! She smelled like my friend Briley and all kinds of yummy restaurant food! (She works at one) Brooke is fun. I like her. The four of us went for a walk and Mom seemed to be doing pretty good today. But then when we got back they locked us up and left! I could not believe it!
When mom and Brooke came back they smelled like diner food. DINER FOOD! And they didn’t even bring me any back! I pouted for a long time. They didn’t even care though. They both took a nap! When mom woke up I heard her call the doctor and ask them to increase her dose of Cymbalta. I hope it doesn’t make her too drowsy. When dad got home from work he made them go away. I think he knew I was upset with them. They came back with all of those plastic bags filled with food- none of it was for me though.
Mom’s groceries compared to Brooke’s beer. She found a lot of kinds that she can’t get at home!
After that, they all left again, even dad!! I couldn’t believe it. I did notice Mom took some Ibuprofen before going outside though.
Mom and her friend Brooke going to dinner
They did leave us bones and a Kong toy but those just aren’t good enough for me. I wandered around and found those dumb sticks that Mom puts in our mouths to clean our teeth. Zuc and I both HATE those sticks. So, I did what any puppy would do with a stick, I chewed it! I chewed ALL OF THEM. My breath can stink all it wants. I was proud. Of course, then they all got home and Mom found them and laughed. That is not a good sign. That means she has more of them. Then she did the most surprising thing everrrrr, she gave me her left over steak fat! Maybe I should chew those sticks up every time!
Stick #1 I made sure those bristle things wouldn’t work. Mom and Brooke sat down on the couch and fell asleep again. I was so disappointed. I hope the doctor does what Mom needs so she can keep up with everything again soon.
It’s a sleepy, rainy day. I haven’t been on for the past couple of days because mom has been in some serious pain. While she did get on WordPress, she just couldn’t fight through her flare and fibro fog to get anything written down and published! She takes Cymbalta for the nerve pain, Provigil for the EDS (and narcolepsy), and some supplements like vitamin D and B12 (recommended by her doctor). Most days she takes these and feels like a new lady. When she took them on Friday they sorta helped for a little while. Saturday was a whole new realm of pain though. Those medicines she’s been taking for almost a year now did absolutely nothing.
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Now while I felt horrible for my mom I still need to go for walks and play. I’m a puppy. I can’t help it. On Friday mom took us to the park but didn’t play with us again. I couldn’t figure out why since it was so BEAUTIFUL out. We cuddled on the couch for a long time but let’s face it I can only cuddle so many days in a row. I brought her my ball and she threw it across the living room. We did that for a while until she couldn’t throw well. That’s when my nose started to search around. Remember, I’m a puppy. I can’t help it. My nose found the garbage and I found a swat. It took mom a couple minutes to get up and over to me though so I did score some pretty tasty leftovers. I felt bad I made mom get up so I cuddled back up with her despite my urge to run around like a crazy-head. Mom did a lot of napping.
Saturday is mine and Zuc’s favorite day of the whole week! Dad stays home with us! He took us for our walk and mom came along. It was another BEAUTIFUL day outside! But she still didn’t play with us much. Once we got home she didn’t move for the rest of the day it seemed. She took Excedrine like it was Beggin’ Strips (I love those things). Dad got her big white thing that’s filled with rocks I think. It smells pretty, like lavender, and he heats up hot. Mom spent the day having dad heat it up and then putting it all over her body, mostly on her neck. The only time I think she got up was when we ran a bath with Camomile Epsom Salts. She soaked for a loooong time while I stood outside the tub lifeguarding. I also attacked some bubbles when she wasn’t paying attention. After that we curled up in bed until dad came in for sleeps. That was when I had to get on my own mattress and mom cuddled with dad instead.
This morning was totally different! Even the weather was different- grey, cool, and rainy. These are the days mom usually seems to feel bad but this morning she felt better than she did yesterday! We did yoga after we woke up. We do this most days except when it hurts her to do. Then mom had to clean the kitchen because dad left such a mess from having to cook for himself yesterday. I like it when dad cooks. I get all kinds of stuff that falls on the floor and then even more the next day when mom cleans. He leaves stuff everywhere on the counters! It’s the best! Now we’re just resting since it’s such a gloomy and wet day. I would looooove to splash in some puddles but mom and dad won’t let me! Maybe I can convince them later on.
This is Tiger Balm. I hate this stuff SO much. I even tried to get rid of it once. Mom LOOOOVES it. On Saturday when she felt so bad she was covered in it. Cuddling with her was difficult.
AdventuresOfAlfie 