Month: March 2009

Rain, Rain, Rain!

I woke to flashing clocks all around, with the exception of the one clock that sets itself from a satellite. Most of all when I looked at the clock I realized I had over slept! The rain was pouring down and it was quite crappy!!!

Thankfully I had my hair trimmed yesterday and since I have really curly hair, very little needed to be done to get it in order.

I slapped on some make-up so I didn’t look bad enough to scare the elderly and small children and jumped into my suit. Then I raced out the door and drove (carefully), to the Weight Watchers meeting down the road, where I was to give my little talk about Weight Watchers in Germany.

It went surprisingly well and after I got an application to become a Leader. Who knows if it will work out, but I would truly love to be a Weight Watcher leader.

Fingers Crossed!!!

Fortunately, the rain lessened as the day progressed and I was able to get the dogs out a few times. Hubby helped out with this as he was clearing the slush from the driveway before it had the chance to freeze and become a total disaster.

Anneliese seemed to enjoy it, although she got a bit cold and so she was happy when I put her sweater on. I wonder if she thinks about Isegrim when she has it on. After all, she wore it after each of her “sessions” with him.

Once again, she is asleep and I hope so very much she is growing little babies in her belly!

Fingers Crossed!!!

Is She…..Or Isn’t She?

I was outside in the yard today with the dogs. All were running around with the exception of Anneliese. She was being a tad quieter than usual. In the house, she stretched out on the sofa and took a long nap. Quite unlike my girl, who is a constant rawhide bone chewer.

Then tonight, when I fed the dogs, she sat back and looked at me with big soulful eyes. She wasn’t hungry. I didn’t force her to eat, as I might regret it later if she threw up. She also made these noises and Kimmy asked me if she had a fur-ball in her throat. Just like a 7 year old to guess at something animal like, but in the wrong species. Very cute!

So I just am leaving Anneliese alone. Letting her sleep and rest, eat some crunchies when she wants, and let the days pass until we know for certain that she is pregnant.

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Personally, I’m thinking she is. Simply because she’s acting just like I did when I was pregnant.

I wonder if that means that she too, will want Peanut M & M’s, which seemed to be all I wanted to eat in my third trimester!

Oh well, no chocolate for this girl!

The Celebrations

Despite the snow and generally awful weather we managed to celebrate Greta’s birthday. As you know we like to get a yellow cake, and allow each dog a little taste after we sing Happy Birthday to the Birthday Dog. Ah such fun, isn’t it? A Birthday Dog, and kids? Perfect!

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Greta with Kimmy and me and the cake!

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Happy Birthday to Greta!

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Cutting the cake. See the captive audience?

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Everyone loves cake!

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Greta eating her cake!

Paws Across The Ocean!

I was so pleased to see that the kennel owner of Isegrim featured Anneliese and me on her web page. I cannot begin to tell you how exciting it was for me to travel over to Germany with Anneliese and to meet Frau Zillmer-Lehnhardt and Herr and Frau Hintz, and their daughter, Steffi. Isegrim was even more wonderful than I thought he would be, and he and Anneliese made a perfect match!

Anneliese and Isegrim.

The couple

Today I went to the Vom Bruchsee web page and I was happily surprised to see that Anneliese and I were not only mentioned on her page, but we were also there in a picture! It will be wonderful when I can send a picture of a beautiful, healthy litter of puppies to Frau Zillmer-Lehnhardt to post on her site!

I have a waiting list for the puppies. I’m happy that my pups will go to homes where they will be members of the family, as well as tracking dogs. These little dackels are quite amazing in their abilities to track wounded game and to recover the lost deer for their Masters.

Now we wait two more weeks for Anneliese’s exam. The doctor will gently palpitate her belly to determine how many little pups might be in there. Then about 1 week before her due date, of March 25-26, we will x-ray her to see exactly how many pups she has in there.

Back In Time!!!

Today was the first day I have felt as though I were operating in the correct time zone! Yippee!! I slept until a normal time, actually was able to do some house work. I also did some laundry, and cooked a reasonably good dinner, and at the end I still had energy enough to do a great clean up job in the kitchen!

I worked on the computer, paid some bills and folded clothes. I was productive! Yahoo! I think I can safely report an end to the Jet Lag!!!

The dogs had a good time playing outside. It was a little warmer today, and although Fritz sunk in the snow, the dackels still can run on top of it. They sure had fun chasing a ball and just chasing around after each other.

I love watching them play like this. It reminds me how lucky I am to have them and also that they get along so well.

Anneliese is doing well. She loves to be outside playing and yet curled up and took a nice long nap this afternoon as well. Yes, she is the apple of my eye!

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The Heat Is Over

Anneliese’s heat is over and she has returned to her normal self. Except that I’ve noticed her belly is nice and soft. Of course it is far too soon to tell, but I have a very good feeling about her pregnancy.

Us

It’s amazing, this journey that Anneliese and I have been on. Just think. I packed up this little dog. I carried her on two airplanes, clear across the ocean and mated her with a handsome boy from Germany.

This little dog had been to Canada when she was a pup, but aside from that, she was a stay at home girl. She used to shiver, and shake when we went to the Post Office, and now she races to the door to go with me!

Ah yes, Miss International Cutie Pie!

Two more weeks until we find out for certain that she is in “the family way”. I can hardly wait!

Getting Back

I worked hard today to get back into gear with my life. I was up early, showered and made my breakfast to bring along with me to Weight Watchers.

Yes, today I faced the scale.

My heart was in my throat as I recalled all the wonderful food I had eaten in Germany (not to mention the beer!). I stripped down to my usual boxer shorts, and tank top and stepped on the scale and ……….

Down .2 pounds!!!!!

Okay, I realize that 2 tenths of a pound isn’t a big deal, but if you could see what I ate while visiting Uschi, you would have been convinced that I would have gained at least 5-10 pounds! HA!

After class I had my yearly mammo, and then came home to make lunch for Hubby and me.

I’d hoped to be a bit more productive today and I started to email with my cousin, and I actually fell asleep in the middle of that. This whole sleep thing is sad. Maybe it’s not Jet Lag, maybe it is a cold or something.

Tomorrow the plan is to get out and get some exercise in the hopes that I will feel better. I’m going to ski in the morning and then make a nice dinner in the evening.

Meanwhile I am watching Anneliese carefully. I just have this very good feeling that she is, in fact pregnant. Just a couple of weeks and we will know.

There Is No Nightlife!

I have come to realize that I do not cross time zones easily. Going east to Europe I seemed to do okay, but had the overwhelming feeling of utter exhaustion for several days, but it was nothing a good strong cup of German coffee couldn’t cure.

Anneliese and I did rendezvous with the great out of doors at 2:30 in the morning for several days, but soon she fell into German time and we both slept through the night.

Hot flashes seemed to occur at any time, as my body could not decide where the heck it was in relationship to my menopausal symptoms. I kept a sweater by my side so that I could cover up with a chill or pull it off when I flashed!

Then I came home.

At first I was nearly punchy with lack of sleep. I went 22 hours without sleep that night. I hoped that this would help me get back to East Coast time quickly, alas I was wrong. It just seemed to make it worse.

I would sit here in the evening with my head bobbing, my vision doubling and eventually my eyes closing and my jaw opening to let lose a giant snore.

I tried taking a nap. I thought perhaps this would help. I slept like a baby, but it didn’t help at all. You should have seen me last night, all decked out in my pajamas, snuggled in my blanket with the dackels all around me. I was trying to watch the CBS comedy line up, but really only made it through “The Big Bang Theory” before going into my sleepy trance!

Hubby tried to get me to stay awake and I tried. Really I did. I even sat in this chair with my eyes open, as if I were truly awake. Finally when I noticed the clock read 9:30 I gathered up the dackels and Fritz and off to bed I went.

30 seconds later, I was asleep!

Today I have tried another avenue. I have stayed awake all day, and at 4:00 this afternoon I made myself the strongest cup of coffee and drank the entire thing. So far I am awake, but then it is only 6:45 PM.

I think it will be a little longer until Anneliese and I are back on time. However, I heard today that this is the weekend that we “Spring Forward” with the clocks!

Just what I need! Another time change to conquer!

Three Dog Day

Today I needed to take the three dackels in for their yearly exam. All three did well, I mean, we all knew Anneliese would, and Greta and Arnie were totally fabulous too.

They had their blood tests for heart worm and they were heart worm free, and Greta and Arnie had their shots. Anneliese will have hers after she delivers.

Yes, we are thinking in very positive terms, as far as little dackel babies go. In fact I have an appointment on March 21st to have her examined and her little belly palpitated, to see how many little babes are in there. Then about a week before her due date, we will have an x-ray done to see just how many are inside.

Greta has finally lost the weight she gained from her last litter. She was a reluctant dieter, and I had to prepare meals that would help to cut those calories and lighten her up. In one year she has lost 2 pounds!

Arnie was just perfect all around. He has to be the most loving dog that there is. He was jumping around spreading his kisses to all of the staff. He is a remarkable boy and I am so happy that we kept him!

Of course we will need to sell all of Anneliese’s babies. I’m prepared for that. I think. Maybe. No, I am. I know I am. Although I am sure it will be very hard.