Daily Dose of Neediness

Mug Shot

Does this look like the face of a criminal? I didn't think so either, until today!

When we got to the park, there as a man throwing a ball for his golden retriever. He was using one of those ball tossing sticks (see photo below). I don't own one of these because on the rare occasion my bulldogs chase a tennis ball, it's always limited to the length of my living room.  

Griffin was being his usual charming, smiling self and wiggled up to the man. I said, "he's very friendly" and as the man smiled at me to acknowledge my ridiculous dog, Griffin casually, and yet surprisingly quick (for him) grabbed the toy our of the man's hands and ran away. My mouth dropped open and my eyes got wide and then I ran after him, shouting, "give that back!"

Luckily bulldogs aren't long distance runners, so I caught him 20 feet away and was able to return the toy to the nice man (who, luckily, was smiling) and then take my little future criminal to the other side of the park so he wouldn't embarrass me any more.

Together Again

Back from NYC! We had a great trip and got to do lots of very cool things like see a taping of the Daily Show, see the Lion King on Broadway, visit the 9/11 memorial, do some shopping and hang out. But I missed my dogs terribly and I couldn't wait to see them. I got home from the airport by 7pm last night. I was planning on driving to camp today to pick them up, but I just couldn't wait any longer, so as soon as I got home, I changed my clothes and then jumped in the car for 2.5 hours to get to my bulldogs. I was tired and not excited to be in the car, but it was worth it when I got there and they were so snuggly and excited.

We played a little while this morning and then headed back to St. Paul. It's been a whirlwind of travel and I'm eager to rest and relax.

Vacation

So... I don't think I am ever going to have children.

I've always thought I would, and I like kids, but it occurred to me today, as I sobbed hysterically for the first ten minutes of my drive, that if I am this upset saying goodbye to my dogs, what would I be like with actual human children that came from my body? And then I decided, for my own sanity, that I would probably stick to bulldogs for the rest of my life. So, sorry mom and dad- those future grand kids you always talk about? Yeah... not happening.

Olivia and Griffin are on vacation this week. I am headed to New York City to see the Daily Show, the Lion King on Broadway, eat hot dogs off the corner and shop for some knock off handbags with my mom. While I am gone, the puppies are hanging out at camp with their Grandpi. When I told them about the plan, they were thrilled and they bounced around and whined and drove me insane until we got the car loaded and headed up north. 

Sunday afternoon-Monday morning, I think we were on the field with the ball about 10 times and Olivia couldn't get enough. She was in heaven and so happy to be back to camp life. I know they will be happy back to freedom with the wind in their hair and hours in the sun and romping through the woods. But I miss them already. 

My biggest fear is that something will happen to me and they will think they've been abandoned and not understand why I am not there to take care of them. The thought of them feeling sad, lonely and confused makes me want to burst into tears again (seriously, how to real parents function on a daily basis?!). My second biggest fear is that something will happen to one of them and I will never see them again. 

I have to stay focused on my fun trip ahead, otherwise I start panicking and googling how to cancel my tickets and hotel room. They will be fine without me for a few days. 

And hopefully my dad will be fine too. I called around dinnertime tonight and all he said was, "they don't listen very well when they don't want to, do they?" 

I'm sure it will be a wonderful week for all of us. I hope so anyway... 

Update on the Patient

I'm not sure if this photo can fully show the horror, but this is a gallon sized ziplock bag that is almost full. "What is that?" you might ask... THAT is what was removed from my darling Griffin's stomach. I almost fell over when the vet brought it out to show me. He didn't just eat a piece of a ball- there are MULTIPLE pieces of all different sizes and colors. The different colors tell me that he's eaten plastic ball on more than one occasion, since we usually use a different color ball each time one pops.

I feel like the WORST puppy mom that ever lived. He is with me nonstop and yet, I've never seen him eat anything he isn't supposed to. Some dogs are chewers and they destroy things and you have to pull things out of their mouths all the time. Griffin is NOT one of those dogs.

The vet and several of the vet techs have all told me stories about dogs eating things and having this surgery. One of the vet techs' dogs has had this surgery 6 times! I appreciate them trying to make me feel better but if he ever does this again, the next surgery he is going to have is getting his little jaw wired shut!

My personal embarrassment, shock, disbelief and worry aside, everything went well. Surgery was smooth, he stayed overnight at the hospital and won the whole staff over with those giant pound-puppy eyes. When I picked him up yesterday afternoon, he looked a little tired, but was happy to go home. I fed him tiny cups of chicken and rice throughout the day and evening. He ate and drank normally and without hesitation, which was good to see. He has about a 5 inch long incision, but so far, it looks clean and appears to be healing well.

Hopefully he will be as good as new in no time and HOPEFULLY we are done with surgery for a while...

Emergency Surgery

Olivia and Griffin have a lot of freedom at camp. When Olivia was a puppy and first at camp, I was afraid that she would be in constant danger and that I would need to watch her closely all the time. But that's not the case. She (and Griffin too) pretty much stay inside or in the yard at my house, or they wander over to my office. Camp is not that big and they are very social dogs who like to be around people, so they are always near me. The staff and kids watch them as well and I rarely worry.

On Wednesday, I caught Griffin standing over a pile of vomit that had plastic ball in it. Whenever he and Olivia pop a ball, they run with it, sometimes tug-o-war with it and play with it, but I have never seen Griffin EAT the balls! So I was surprised by the plastic he had vomited up. I watched him closely for the next few days and he seemed fine- he was eating, drinking, and pooping normally. He was active and playing and wasn't in any pain, and didn't have any indication of discomfort.

On Saturday night, he vomited up his dinner. He had been playing before and after dinner, and Buddha was visiting, and Griffin had eaten dinner really fast. I made some hamburger and rice and he ate hungrily, so I figured it was fine. But then Sunday morning, he vomited again. Afterwards, he begged for breakfast, ate and went to the bathroom normally and spent the whole day playing and running around. Monday morning, like clockwork, he woke me up vomiting once again. I wasn't planning on leaving camp to move home until Friday, but I was feeling really stressed out. I called the vet who told me to watch to see if he was in pain, struggling to go to the bathroom, etc. He was fine, so I decided to wait for another day.

But this morning, once again, he started the day vomiting, looked like he felt terrible, and my stress level was at an all time high so I loaded up the car, called the vet and raced back home. On the way to the vet, he started vomiting again and by the time we arrived, I was feeling like the worst puppy mom of all time. Why didn't I bring him in a few days ago?!

The x-ray showed something foreign in his stomach and within a few minutes, they brought me a $1700 estimate, a consent form for surgery and let me say goodbye before rushing him off to prep. I feel relieved and less stressed out than I have in days- I'm not happy with the situation, but at least I know what is wrong and how to help him.

The vet called a little while ago to let me know Griffin was doing well after surgery. It's never good when an experienced surgeon says, "I was really surprised by how much was in there! I kept pulling stuff out and it covered the whole table!" I can't believe Griffin ate a plastic ball and I am so frustrated at him! When he is feeling better, I might strangle him for stressing me out!

The vet is calling me in the morning and hopefully I can go and pick him up right away. Poor Griffin...

It Takes a Village

Last night, I was in my living room with a few of my staff when I got a phone call from another staff member. She was calling from a kayak in the lake, and she wanted to let me know that Olivia was at the beach, wading in the water on her own.

When Olivia was just a puppy, I used to panic about her getting lost somewhere at camp or getting into trouble. She and Griffin pretty much roam freely around camp whenever they want, but they rarely leave the yard around my house without me and I never worry about either of them anymore.

So that phone call was quite a surprise! I went sprinting out of my house towards the lake. But halfway between my house and the water, Olivia sauntered up, giving me the same look that the teen campers sometimes give. It's the, "you're so lame, why are you freaking out right now?" look. Apparently she'd already been yelled at and chased out of the water and she didn't want to hear it from me too. Can't a puppy just take a nice evening wade in the water to cool off every now and then without being hassled?

Not when Puppy Mom is the boss and has posted signs around camp alerting staff and campers that BULLDOGS DON'T SWIM. If you see a bulldog near the water, alert someone immediately! Campers are vigilant about this rule and I regularly have to calm them down when Griffin, Olivia and I arrive at the beach and all of the campers jump into action as junior lifeguards.

My staff have intense jobs, little free time, and work hard! And yet, they are incredibly patient with my dogs and regularly make sure they are out of harms way. Despite Griffin's tendency of running at moving cars and Olivia's fearlessness, I know they both have a lot of people watching out for them around camp.