Dackel Princess

Lili Update

Today I wanted to write a little about about how Lili is doing. It’s been a tough go. As a very little puppy, I did not understand her at all. I’ve raised many a puppy, but never one so totally uninterested in people. She was often almost feral.

Then she got sick. Terribly sick, and I didn’t understand that either. I read everything I could and finally when Hubby and I were pretty sure we knew what was wrong, we got our Vet involved.

Stool samples were taken, exams were made and in the end, we found out why Lili was so ravenous all the time and not a very friendly dog.

She has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency which was literally causing her to starve to death. We started her on enzyme powder and a pill to help her digest her food and rest her gut.

At first she was the same and dealing with her was so hard. I wanted Lili more than anything, but I have to tell you that cleaning up after an EPI dog is not easy.

Also she went mental while her food was resting (enzyme activation). Then about three days ago, something happened. Lili calmed down. Her belly no longer hurts (I suspect) and she has shown us her loving heart.

Her basic training at doggy school has helped, but since she gets over excited by any food, I started to train her all on my own. And actually, she is doing pretty well.

Please keep Lili in your prayers. This is a tough, lifelong illness and we are doing our best to save her with the best medications they have.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. As August draws to a close, share what’s been your favorite weekend of the entire summer?

When my cousin, Larry married his longtime soulmate, Cindy.

Great wedding, and wonderful reception. It was fun to watch them start their life together.

2. Labor Day is marked in the US of A on Monday, September 1st. What paying job have you held that you’ve loved the most? Liked the least?

Loved the most? Non-paying job. Being a Mom. Least favorite job? Selling shoes.

3. Does the new school year start before or after Labor Day where you live? When do you think it should begin? There is much discussion now about older students having later start times to their school day…your thoughts?

Before and it just seems weird to me!

4. What’s something you’ve worked at recently that could be deemed a ‘labor of love’?

Hubby fell the other day and ripped up the side of his leg. He bled terribly, all over his dressy slacks! I brought them to the laundry room and was thrilled to see they were actually washable. I worked long and hard and got the blood out!

5.Which of the following work idioms can you most relate to right now…’A woman’s work is never done.’, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ ‘Many hands make light work.’

A woman’s work is never done. Between canning season, Lili and just plain cooking and cleaning up regular meals, the only time I am not on my feet are when I am in bed!

6. Crab or lobster or thanks, but no thanks? Favorite way to have your choice prepared?

I love both. But being a New England girl, a freshly steamed lobster, with steamers (clams) corn on the cob and either boiled potatoes or potato salad.

7. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, ‘Three rules of work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.’ Which of the three do you consider to be the most important? Share one of your own ‘rules of work’.

From discord, find harmony. It’s what I really need to do.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday I sanitized all my wood floors. Today I need to bring the dackels in for a nice shower, and I seriously want to wash our braided rug. I feel like all I can smell are dogs and it is driving me insane!

About Time

I’m going to reccomend a movie to you all. Currently it’s playing on Cinimax, but you can also watch it on red box and other videos.

It was a sleeper when it hit the theaters, but quite honestly, it is a warm, feel good movie! I loved the characters. The acting was great and at the end…the message was a good, clear one.

Here is the movie trailer.

A Season

Sunday I went to a Memorial Service for the brother of a friend of mine. I did not know him well, but I am so fond of his sister and I simply ached for her.

His mother was there, and the expression on her face told me that she is in shock and not feeling too much, other than overwhelming grief. I ached for her too.

I sat trying to talk to people and not being very successful. It brought it all back to me, losing Katie, losing my brother to cancer, and all the emotions that go along.

It made me wish I could talk to my Mom and she is gone too.

I sort of feel that I am in a transition time. Going from being the grown child, to now being an elder member of our family.

But to everything…there is a season.

Cracks

Our driveway got refreshed! After living here 15 years, it was time to dig up the boulders, fill in the cracks and then seal everything.

One crack was so large I could not believe it. Although I did not measure it, I swear it was two inches.

My theory was that our earthquake two years ago had caused it. (I love the drama) but the driveway worker told me it was probably a frost heave. Stay tuned for pictures.

I was doing dishes after making Lili’s meals and the base of my food processor broke! Crap! The machine was a gift from Hubby for my birthday the first year we were married, making this 26 years old! It is plastic, so I have to not be too upset. I was able to order a new one through Amazon.

Sunday is a local Street Fair for the areas Artisans. I go every year, as I love seeing things, and I also love to meet and greet my neighbors.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

I’ve decided that my life is too busy right now. I get up every morning early due to Lili, and then it seems that there is no rest for the wicked, as Lili keeps me running in and out and in and out all day.

It is also harvesting season and I am cooking up a storm and freezing spaghetti sauce, and very soon I will be making jams.

There is also Lili’s eating schedule/medications/walks. Add to that Hubby’s eating schedule/medications and his harvest time.

So life is busy. Tonight as I walked up the cellar stairs after freezing more spaghetti sauce, I felt so, very, tired. My legs were like lead!

The driveway gets sealed tomorrow and so our cars are parked up at our neighbors. So, yes, we have to walk up hill to go anywhere. I wonder if I can just stay home for a few days!

Miss You, Mom

It’s been a year since our Mom passed. Every day I am thankful that she is no longer in pain.

Mom just loved all her great-grandchildren.

More than anything I am grateful for her parting gift to me.

You see, Mom and I are a lot alike. We both have wicked tempers and during my teen years we crossed swords more than once.

I often felt very much unloved. She was so much closer to my sister than she was to me. I was a mere accident. Or so I thought.

Then at her Memorial Service one of her friends (and I use that term losely!) said “When she told me that she was pregnant with you, I told her to get rid of it!” she hissed. “But she said no! She wanted you!”

All my life I wondered and suddenly here was my gift! Mom really did want me and she really did love me!

Mom’s last birthday June 28th 2013

I’m grateful that we knew she was dying. It gave us a chance to talk about what life would be like after her. We asked her how we would know she was with us. I thought she would say something like roses, beautiful roses. But no. She said she would be the beautiful butterfly that would fly around us.

I’ve missed her so much more that I thought I would. So many times I want to pick up the phone and call her, just to hear her voice.

Miss you so much Mom!

Grateful

I’ve been thinking about life a lot lately. How things in life during your adult years are not really what you thought they would be when you were a child.

I thought that when I grew up I would be totally autonomous. Able to do what I want, when I want, and not be encumbered by the craziness and the rules of life.

But that isn’t how it is. In fact I think there are even more rules! I can’t just do what I’d like, when I want. I cannot eat what I want any more ether. Post menopause finds me looking at food and gaining weight.

I work at following Weight Watchers and I am losing, but the loss is slow and when I see myself in pictures I still feel fat.

In my youth I enjoyed riding my bike and running wild around Falmouth, Massachusetts where I grew up.

And I never worried about being kidnapped or anything. Life was simple. I was in marvelous shape, and had a great tan.

Well now at 55, the tan part has come back to haunt me, but the 12 year old child didn’t know that.

Yes, if I could go back in time, I would tell that child about skin cancer and maybe avoid all that I have lived through in the future.

In youth the biggest heart break is perhaps losing a beloved pet, or moving away. Although I know of many people who have lost parents and siblings. And surely that is earth shattering for a child.

My biggest heart breaks came in my twenties, and I think, although I will never totally recover, I have managed to go on.

Yes, life is not what I expected, but then the blessings of my daughter, Mandy and granddaughter Savannah, leaves me forever grateful to God.

Well, Lili is doing better. The enzyme powder is helping her to properly digest her food (or close to it) and her empty belly is starting to fill out. We’re looking into a better food for her to eat (along with the enzyme powder) with hopes that this will calm her down, help her gain weight, and make her a less aggressive dog.

Oh, part of me would love to just bring her back. Nothing is easy with Lili. For instance, her food needs to sit 20 minutes at room temperature after the enzyme powder is mixed in. She can smell the chicken and rice and no matter where I try to hide it she simply goes insane. We have chosen an option. Hubby takes her out and I mix the food and then hide it (I’m creative!).

The thought that this will be how it is for Lili’s entire life, frustrates me. As a former breeder, I tested my dogs for various known illnesses in dackels.

But then, Lili adores me. She follows me every where. To the bathroom, to the basement, to the screen porch and she wants to be in my chair next to me all the time.

People talk about the sweet wonders of puppy-hood, and I have had that wonderful warm glow with every dog I have ever had, until Lili. Her illness makes her rather aggressive (especially around food) and not the cuddly sweet pup I had longed for and dreamed of.

We will be doing a blood test next week to pin point her illness. After that I think we will need to decide if we try to save her and make her healthy or contact her breeder.

Lili & The Beasts

Today the enzyme powder for Lili arrived. We started her on it for lunch and dinner. She already seems a bit better.

You see, Lili’s pancreas doesn’t make the enzyme needed for her to digest her food. She has not gained weight like most dogs and has just been miserable due to tummy aches and gas.

It made her rather hard to be around because she was just frantic. Frantically hungry, and frantic to be loved.

I wasn’t sure what would become of this girl, but the new medcine gives me hope.

The dackels are getting used to her, and Arnie will even cuddle up with her from time to time. It just amazes me how tiny Lili still is. We will certainly have to work on that!