Good-Bye to Willy

So, I'm not sure where to begin... what seemed like a few days away camping turned into tragedy.

We went to Doheny to go camping on Sunday and when my in-laws went to feed the dog on Monday morning they couldn't find him. They finally discovered he was in the side/gated area of the back yard - which we aren't sure how he got there. This wouldn't have been a problem except for the fact that I have been trying to "eliminate" a squirrel problem in our backyard. When Willy was in the side yard he ate all of the squirrel poison that I had put back there. I say "all", but "all" was probably only a half of a cup. I really wasn't too worried about him - it was a small amount and he's a pretty big dog. Until...

Tuesday morning when my in-laws went over to feed Willy he barely acknowledged them. This is not normal, Willy would never pass up an opportunity to play ball!!! So, when Jim went home that morning for a meeting he found Willy laying at the bottom of the steps - barely responsive and he died within the next 30 minutes.

So, while we were camping I had to tell the boys that Willy died. Poor Joshua cried and cried and kept saying, "Maybe Daddy will bring me a brown dog". Caleb, hasn't really cried or said too much about it. When I told him that Jim was taking him to the doctor because he was sick he said, "If Willy dies I will cry like a baby!" but he haasn't done that yet. For me, I kind of miss him, but mostly I feel guilty. Guilty, that I didn't really like him. Anyway, here's to Willy - the dog that would never pass up an opportunity to play ball!!!!

Adios!

Well, Kristy has been harassing me to post - so here it is!

Today was the last MOPS meeting of the year and also my last meeting as
coordinator. I have to say it feels good!!! I'm tired!! I'm done!! I'm
ready to move on!! This being said, I have to also say I'm a little bit
sad. MOPS has provided a great network and community of friends for me.
I've been stretched, I've grown - personally and spiritually. I've had
some very difficult conversations over the past two years, but I
wouldn't trade those experiences.

So, as I say "ADIOS" to MOPS I'm a little happy and a little sad. Not a big surprise, but there it is.

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Irritable!!!

I don't even know if anyone will read this it's been so long since I've blogged, but here it goes...

I worked today and I'm irritable!!! I saw a 17 year old patient today that I can pretty much
call a "pot head". I did pretty well with her until she told me that
though she would never smoke cigarettes again she would probably smoke
pot again after the baby is born. Too which I responded, kindly but
firmly, "Is that really the best decision you can make for your baby?"
I said a lot more, but I won't bore you. I ended my "speech" with, "Can you tell I didn't like your answer??"

I'm
usually pretty subdued. I encourage them to quit, I give them "the big
scary talk" and then I usually move on, but not today. Today, all I
could think of were all of the people I know - good people - who would
make great parents - who can't get pregnant - who suffer withinfertility
year after year - or the families who loose children or have babies
with disabilities when all they did was take excellent care of
themselves when they were pregnant.

This is one of those things
I always think I will ask God about when I get the chance and then I
realize I won't care when I actually get there. Oh well, so it is. That
was my day - kind of a bummer - sorry.

Late Bloomer

I am definitely a late bloomer when it comes to sports. I would never
answer, "Are you athletic?" with a "yes". I swam on the swim team in
high school, but other than that, the only sports I played were in
elementary school - I think my parents were just trying to get me to
exercise!!! But, now at the age of 36, I seem to be becoming an athlete
- to some extent. I'm not as thin as I'd like to be, but I'm definitely
in better shape physically than I was 15 years ago. I've started
running, which I still don't enjoy Becky, I swim twice a week, I love
to cycle and now I'm playing softball(only by peer pressure). So, kind
of strange to be taking up all of these different things later in life
than I expected. The great thing is, now that I am older I will try way
more new things than when I was younger - I guess my fear ofembarrassment is getting smaller with my age - which may not be a good thing!! Here's to LATE BLOOMERS!!!!

Parenting Question

So, Joshua saw a bee last Saturday in the backyard and now he is petrified. He's loosing his mind about bees!!! He's wearing long sleeve shirts everyday, he's covering up with his towel to go in the pool and he's talking about bees and what they do, why they sting, etc. every day since. I basically want to yell at him - which isn't a great parenting technique. Any advice on how to handle a 5 year old who doesn't want to go outside because there "might be a bee out there"? Summer should be fun if he keeps it up!

Hamster Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that hamster #3 or "Blackie" is alive
and well and keeping us up at night. She's a crazy busy hamster who
spends most of her waking hours trying to chew out of her cage and
running in her wheel. Anyway, besides the fact that she's irritating
we're glad she's alive and well - I don't think Joshua could handle
purchasing a 4th hamster in 2 weeks.