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No Is When the Negotiation Begins

March 27, 2014 By Jodi

I’ve frequently said Delilah and I are very alike.  We are both determined, stubborn, and persistent, with a desire to please people. These traits can be both a blessing and a curse depending upon the situation.

One of my favorite sayings that I heard from my friend Laura is “No is when the negotiations begin.”  I would say this holds true for both Delilah and myself.  The surest way to get me to do anything is to tell me I can’t do it.

I try something and it doesn’t work so I try it in a different way.  Sometimes though, I have to accept the fact that it’s just not doable.

Thankfully dogs are not capable of understanding can’t. And Delilah NEVER takes no for an answer.

Me: Delilah you aren’t a lap dog.

 

I'm comfy, how about you?

Delilah: How can you say that?  Look I fit.

 

When we got our last big snowstorm, I didn’t get around to shoveling off the back stairs and once the snow starting melting, the stairs got really dangerous.  I took to placing a wicker patio chair upside down at the bottom of the steps to prevent the dogs from going up or down.

Except it didn’t.

What the woof is this chair doing in my way?

What the woof is this chair doing in my way?

Delilah of course,  went off into the snow and jumped off the wall.

These dogs will be the death of me.

Sampson had his ACL surgery on Tuesday.  

The surgeon said it went exactly the way you’d like your dog’s surgery to go.   The procedure used is called TTA.  This required Sampson to spend the night at the vets.  That was super hard for me, as he has never stayed at the vet’s office before.  I checked in on him throughout his stay and he seemed to tolerate it well, although he may have a touch of stress colitis going on, so I’m keeping a close eye on him.

My sister went with me to help me get him in and out of the car and into the house.   While we were waiting we got a bit silly.

3-27-14-2

 

They had this really cool statue in the lobby, I’m not sure you can tell or not, but it’s on a platform with wheels.  After waiting about 10 minutes, my sister said, “Let’s put the cone, collar and leash on the ‘dog’ and I’ll push, you pull and we can take it for a walk.”

We giggled.  Then I handed her my phone and said, “Push this button and take my picture with the dog and the cone.”

Oh yes I did.

3-27-14-4

I’m best not left alone to my own devices when I’m anxious.

Eventually we met with the physical therapist and FINALLY she went and got Sampson.  As soon as he got out of the car, he peed and pooped.   Once in the house he took a big drink of water and finished his breakfast.  About fifteen minutes later,  he threw up.  The next time he went outside and pooped I noticed a little blood on it.  I called the vet’s office and that’s when they said he may have some stress colitis going on.  We both tended to agree the vomiting was due to him drinking so much water. but I was advised to keep an eye on it and call if it continues.

I’m planning a post on Sampson’s recovery and what it entails and that will probably be some time next week, but I did want to update you all and let you know how he was doing and thank you all again for the awesome support.  I couldn’t have gotten through Tuesday without your texts, phone calls, messages and comments.  You are the very best friends a girl could have!!  Please bear with me as we get through the next phase of Sampson’s recovery and I hope to be back visiting and catching up with all of you soon!

Welcome to Thursday’s Barks and Bytes hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog.  Please grab the badge and join the fun!

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Filed Under: Blog Hops Tagged With: ACL Surgery, Delilah, Health, Humor, Life With Sampson And Delilah, Sampson, sampson and delilah, Thursday Barks and Bytes

Follow-Up Friday – March 21, 2014

March 21, 2014 By Jodi

Welcome to this week’s edition of Follow-up Friday, where I highlight some of my favorite comments, answer questions and generally wrap up my week.

You Make Me Smile – March 16, 2014

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s mom asked, “Great picture! Delilah is a tall girl, isn’t she?”

Yes she is.  She’s actually just a tiny bit shorter than Sampson.

March 16 2014

Frankie and Ernie asked, “What a GRAND picture that is. Wonder what Dee is looking at?”

We do have a lot of big birds in the area and they always seem to grab the dog’s attention.

Some Big Easy

Miss Flea said, “He’s going to be fine, mom. I’m guessing you’d only choose a good vet, someone who knows what they’re doing, who’s done this surgery before.”

One of my good friend uses this practice and this particular surgeon is highly recommended by my own vet.  She tells me he is very passionate about his patients.

Miss Jenna from Love is Being Owned by a Husky said, “Hi there, I know you guys are super busy right now taking care of Sampson, but I have passed on ana ward to you today on my blog if you have a chance to come by and pick it up.”

Thank you very much Miss Jenna for passing on the Sunshine Award to us! We were also given this award from Jo-Ann at Sand Spring Chesapeakes!!  You guys rock!

The Drinkin’ Bone’s Connected To The…

I love you all.  If all of you who offered to drink with me came over, we could have one hell of a party. 😉

Molly the Wally says, “I think when it goes wrong it is sometimes harder on us than it is on them. The worry and the stress sure are major factors and there is nothing worse than trying to enforce rest on an animal that doesn’t want it.”

I agree, I don’t think Sampson is worried about his injury at all at this point.  And he has no idea of his surgery.  Now Tuesday he might get a little anxious when I drop him off in a strange place.  That is very concerning to me.

Sue said, “This is one of my all time favorite blog posts. You realize you’re not alone, right?”

Aw, thanks Sue!  Yes I really do realize I’m not alone, it helps for me to ‘get it out.’

Jan said, “You expressed so well what our dogs often do to us. But isn’t it wonderful to have such an assortment of bottled comfort to turn to.?”

It sure is!  I love how there’s an alcohol for any time of the day.

And siriusly Jan, have I told you how much I love it when you type sirusly?

Callie, Shadow and Ducky’s Mom said, “Does he have a favorite, indestructible toy that you could leave for him?”

No, he has no favorite toys.  I’m thinking of a tee-shirt that I can wear to bed for a couple of nights and hopefully that will be enough.

Jackie Bouchard said, “How are you going to keep yourself distracted on surgery day?”

Well I was kind of hoping you all would be distracting me with amazing blog posts. 🙂

Houndstooth said, “Sometimes humor is the best way to deal with things that upset us.”

Humor is the way I handle most tense situations.  For me it helps break the ice and the tension.

Denise Straulea asked, “Will it be in the AM as she told you?”

I am only going by what they told me.  I sure hope his surgery is in the morning.  I don’t know how I’ll go a whole day without losing my mind.

Chip ‘N Delilah

Don't ask me what the setting is.  Like I can remember! LOL

Don’t ask me what the setting is. Like I can remember! LOL

Emma said, “It is great the Sampson likes to walk, even if it is only 5 mins.”

He wants to walk longer, but he just can’t do it.  Just going down the driveway has him panting.  I think it’s because he’s doing more of a hop than a walk.

2 Brown Dawgs asked, “Are you going to take any time off work after his surgery to keep an eye on him?”

Yes I am.  I currently have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off and have arranged to work 1/2 days the following week.  I’m hoping he will be able to stay alone for 4 1/2 hours a day.  If he can’t, then I will just take that week off too.

Carol Bondy said, “luke probably would be lunging at the door.”

There are days when she’s lunging at the door too.  Usually when she catches a glimpse of it running through the yard.

Roxy the Traveling Dog asked, “You need pepper spray to walk near your house?”

I feel safer carrying it.  There are some scary animals in the woods, not that I’ve ever seen them, but just knowing they are there, I feel safer with the pepper spray.  There was one time when someone was standing in the wood line watching me walking the dogs.  (Turns out it was just a kid, but it did scare me.)  And another time when I was startled by a man.  Not to mention that both of my dogs have been attacked by a neighbor’s dogs.  

It’s a precautionary measure but it makes me feel better. 

Well I’m calling this a wrap.  Thanks for joining me and have a wonderful weekend!

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Filed Under: Follow-Up Friday Tagged With: Delilah, Follow-Up Friday, Humor, Life With Sampson And Delilah, Sampson

The Drinkin’ Bone’s Connected To The….

March 19, 2014 By Jodi

A few years back country singer Tracy Byrd had a song called “Drinkin’ Bone.”

For the record, it’s a catchy tune so if you happen to google the song and it gets stuck in your head, don’t blame me.  Cause’ I reckon most of you have never heard this song before so the odds of you getting ear worm are pretty slim.

Anywhoo, the lyrics go like this:
The drinkin’ bone’s connected to the party bone
The party bone’s connected to the stayin’ out all night long
And she won’t think it’s funny
And I’ll wind up all alone
And the lonely bone’s connected to the drinkin’ bone

Today I want to go on the record and say, my drinkin’ bone’s connected to the Sampson Stone.

First off, we are a week into the full ACL tear and Sampson has adjusted to getting around on three legs.  He still waits as long as he possibly can to pee and poop,  but lately he’s decided that a three-legged dog can do anything his four-legged sister can do.

I can scale this fence in a single bound.

I can scale this fence in a single bound.

I’ve taken to having him wear his collar and tags in the house when we are home.  This serves three purposes.  1)  It allows us to quickly hook him up to his leash to take him outside.  2) It gives us something to grab if he decides he’s wonder dog.  3) The tags jingle which helps keep tabs on what he’s up to.

Holy Woof-a-geddon, this dog is driving me to drink.  By the time this ACL surgery and rehab is over,  I’ll be in a different type of rehab.   It’s like a drinking game for dog parents, every time Sampson does something he shouldn’t be doing, or I start worrying about the procedure,  I take a drink.  Thank goodness I have a ‘go-to’ alcohol no matter what time of day it is.

For instance Monday morning when Sampson came galloping into the bedroom, I knew he was intending on jumping on the bed.  I sat strait up and screamed, “NO” just as he launched himself onto the bed.

The next words out of my mouth were, “Bring me the Carolans.”  Thank goodness my co-worker just made a trip to New Hampshire and brought me back this large bottle.  It should get me through next week.

Thank god for Carolans.

Thank god for Carolans, and coffee.  Of course it’s also good over ice.

My vet called me Monday afternoon to check and see how we were doing.  I turned into a blubbering mess.   Will he be scared sitting in a crate?  He’s never stayed at overnight at the vets before.  I’m comfortable with your practice, but I don’t know these people, what if they have a bad person working there?    I ended up crying on the phone.

Thankfully Sangria is the perfect afternoon drink.

After I gathered my wits about me, I called my vet’s office and asked for her voice-mail.  I wanted to apologize for my earlier freak out.  That didn’t turn out so well.  I ended up crying again.

A nice glass of vodka on the rocks is perfect for sipping in the late afternoon.

Monday night I went downstairs to visit my mom while Hubby worked on getting a fire started in the fireplace.  When I came back upstairs Sampson was on the couch! How did he get there? I asked.

Hubby turned, puzzled and stared at the couch, then back at me.  “I don’t know, I was working on the fire” he muttered.

I rolled my eyes, “Would you like to join me in a shot of Tequila?” I asked.

The phone rang, it was my vet assuring me I had nothing to apologize for.  Our dogs are like family members and it’s natural for us to be upset and worried in situations such as these.

After a lovely ten minute chat we hung up with her advising me to have a beer.

Yesterday I pulled on my big girl panties and called the specialist. (For the record, the receptionist was wonderful, she and I laughed quite a bit throughout this conversation.)

Me: I’m very anxious about this surgery.

Receptionist: You have an amazing surgeon.

Me: Yes I know, but it’s not him I’m worried about.  I have a few questions.

Q: Is Sampson going to be alone in a kennel?  He’s used to our vet staff and I know the staff goes back and loves on him all day long. He’s a very social dog, he loves people.

A:  There will be someone with Sampson all day long, he will get plenty of attention.

Q: I understand he’s going to be shaved and catheterized, will he be sedated while that’s being done?

A: Oh yes, he will be sedated for that.

Q: I’m worried that he’ll be scared sitting in a crate all day.  Can I bring something of mine to stay with him?  I have to drop him off in the morning and his surgery isn’t until the afternoon.

A: Oh no, his surgery is scheduled for the morning (around 9:00) he will be up and moving about at least a couple of times that day.  He will go outside to potty.  And yes, you can certainly bring something in to keep in his kennel.

Q: Will you call me after the surgery?

A: The Dr. will call you after the surgery.

Q: How’s your kennel staff?  Are they nice?  Competent?

A: The kennel staff is wonderful.  You can call at anytime up until 7:45 pm to check on him.

Me: I’m sorry, it’s me.  I’m a nervous mom.  I’m the one that needs to be sedated.  Actually, this dog is driving me to drink, in fact I’m drinking now.

YO, someone, anyone!   I’m gonna need another bottle of wine over here!

Don't believe everything you read.  She drinks because she likes it.  Would a face this cute lie to you?

Don’t believe everything you read. She drinks because she likes it. Would a face this cute lie to you?

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Filed Under: Health Related, Uncategorized Tagged With: Health, Humor, Jodi Stone, Life With Sampson And Delilah, Sampson

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About Jodi

jodiHi, my name is Jodi. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog! I have all kinds of fun writing about my two crazy pups, Sampson and Delilah. Find out more!

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