Best Blogs

Since my sister is away on holiday, I have taken her advise and are checking out other blogs found on the "Best Blog" site. I found this one written by a Stay@Home Dad and his adventures with his daughters which include identical twin girls and an older one. Check it out if you like to read misadventures of family life and raising twins. Of course I got a big kick out of it.

http://www.lookydaddy.com/weblog/

To Love A Pet

As you are probably aware, our family has two beagles, Tucker (9.5 years old) and Tabbie (almost 8 years old). I can remember so clearly the day we brought Tucker home as we cared for him like a baby, our first born. He was our test-run to see if maybe we were fit to be parents. We adored him and praised his growth. As we tried to start a family which was more difficult than expected. And after 9 months of infertility treatments, we decided to hold off on the baby and that is when Tabbie came to live with us. Much to our delight, the next month we discovered we were expecting Audrey and Carson and Creighton followed 2 years and 3 months later.

So you ask, what does this all have to do with loving your pets? Our once beloved and adored dogs are now aging and frankly, the last priority on our long list of responsibilities. So the last few weeks I have been pondering...What is our moral obligation to our pets? Is it to provide them with a loving home and feed them? Or, is it to provide them with the same care and consideration we would our human companions?

As I was raised, pets were to be outside and outside only. We have departed from that philosophy as both of our dogs are inside pets. They sleep is a nice comfy bed (ours) every night and treated as one of the family. Now for the big moral question...how much medical care should be provide so that they can live a life outside of the typical life span? I worked for a short stint at a veterinary association and developed programs for vet re-certification as well as managed a class for vets who are adding acupuncture to their practice. Yes, you read that correctly, pet acupuncture. The programs I arranged were across the board for veterinary medicine from treating cancer, eye disease, brain dysfunction and so on.

While I was working there I never questioned the why. I couldn't. I stayed focus on developing the best programs for the market. But, I am questioning it now, big time. Why are we doing this? I don't have the answer.

When we returned home from the reunion, Tucker wasn't feeling well and he urinated all over the house during the night, including on me on my bed while I was sleeping. I knew something was wrong. So every time I take our dogs to the vet, I prep myself for the worst case scenario. As we have a growing family that stretches our financial means, it is always an issue of money. To walk into the office is $45 and testing for a diagnosis is even more expensive. And the sad thing is that once they figure out was is wrong, the likelihood of affording treatment is not going to happen. So in my case, we think that Tucker has a urinary tract infection. The other possible problem could be bladder stones. Both are treatable for the right price. Bladder stone would require surgery and the UTI, antibiotics. So we did the test (another $45, thank you) and started him on the antibiotics (another $20, thank you again). We will receive the test results today, which might be inconclusive anyways. We opted not to have blood tests done (for a mere $145) since we know that if bladder stones were discovered we would not do the surgery. If Tucker does not recover with his round of antibiotics, we will have to say our goodbyes.

While at the vets office, l felt awful, like the most unethical scum. How could I not treat something that can be fixed? Don't you love your dog? You must be the most shameful pet owner. This is the most awful feeling. And, yes, I love my dogs, but my priorities are for my children. How are we expected to go into debt for life saving treatments for our pets when they have lived a good life...maybe not a long as possible, but still a good life. Should only the people that can afford medical care own pets? Or, is it adequate to give them a satisfied life with food, shelter, and love for the time they are here?

Hacker Alert

Not really....but my sister has let me have authorship rights to fix the flower pic on the left. Now it is perfect and she will probably revoke my rights after this post!

LaDawn Rules the Blogsphere!

First Day of Summer

Ahhhhh! Summer is here...here at last. We had record high temps yesterday, so it felt more like summer yesterday than today. The clouds kept the temps lower today but not by much.

The kids and I went swimming with my Shannon and her kids, Taylor and Logan. We had a good time splashing around. I am definitely not a sun goddess, but I am enjoying the nice weather. And, a good time was had by all.

Top 5 Things About Summer:

5. Flip-Flops

4. Roasting marshmallows in my chimenea

3. Fresh linens right off the clothesline

2. Family Picnics/Carson Family Reunion

1. Strawberry Shortcake

Ohhh, how I love strawberry shortcake...the way my nanny made it. With old-fashion shortcake (biscuit-like) and sliced strawberries macerated in a little sugar and half-n-half.

Happy Birthday to me!

Today, I am officially one year older. Hopefully I am wiser, more patient, and definitely happier!

1st Grade Play

At the end of the year, Audrey music teacher, Mrs. Axelson has produced class plays for each and every grade. Here are a few pics from Audrey's 1st grade play. Unfortunately, Mrs. Axelson retired this year. And this might be Audrey's first and only performance. I hear that the music teachers organize these plays on their own time and with most of the expense coming from their own pocket. How unfortunate!!!

Audrey's play was "Mice from Outer Space" and the moral of the story was that we all might be different but we all bring value and must learn to live together peacefully. How democratic of them! Audrey did have a speaking line. After the space mice have saved the earth mice from the bad cat, Audrey pleads...."Does this mean we can stay here with you?" After a week of practice, she was right on que and performed it beautifully. My little Drama Queen.

Death Inevitable

I got the notice today from my doctor during my first physical EVER. Yes, I will die....hopefully not for 50+ years but maybe tomorrow. My condition....I am fat! Apparently, being fat causes every ailment known to man or western medical professionals. Did you know that being fat (even slightly) causes heartburn which leads at digestive cancers, shortness for breath, exhaustion, knee and hip pain even though I had an injury in the hip and knee while cheerleading in high school. Hummmmmm....interesting. Treatment....don't be fat. How, you ask? NO CARBS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE! Poor carbs...it must feel awful being the enemy of all Americans. Do you think they are companions for the Al-Queda? Maybe they give each other comfort. So what do I take from this. Try to reduce my intake of carbs. Take Prilosect for my fat induce heartburn and calcium to counteract the heartburn meds so I don't have any bone loss. I surely can't have that happen since I am only 4'11" now. Be active and enjoy my life how ever long it will be. Well, I guess, I will have to be fat and happy with a few heath risks.