Fashionista

My whole life I've loved clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry - you get the picture. I'm a girly girl who likes to dress the part no matter where she's headed. Case and point: sporting events. Now, Kev simply throws on shorts and a t-shirt that has the logo of the team we are going to see on it. Me, I need to plan an ensemble that is team-supportive, weather appropriate and of course cute. 

So in August when I bought tickets to take Kev to Chicago to see the Patriots play the Bears for his 40th birthday, I knew it would be cold. No worries, I could come up with something cute and warm, like this little number:

As December 12 got closer and closer, and the weather man started laughing at all the idiots fans who would be attending the game last Sunday, I had to rethink my wardrobe. For those of you who do not follow the NFL, Sunday's game was one of the coldest on record: 9˚F,  -4˚F windchill and 55 mph wind gusts. These conditions caused me to dress like a ninja instead of like a cute football chick:

But it was worth it. I braved the cold for more than three hours without wussing out. The Patriots won and I received the title of coolest wife in America (no pun intended). I just wish it had a crown associated with it. Maybe some new Uggs instead?

Roxy likes to be cute too. She's been rockin' her PJ jammie jams despite the static electricity jumping all over the place. Beauty is pain.

Shotgun

I would have liked to watch her work her way up from the way back of the SUV to the front passenger's seat, but I had gone back in the house to get something I forgot. 

I think that my girls have some sort of low jack on me so they know when to attempt amazing acts of strength and courage and not get caught. I swear I was only inside for 30 seconds.

The funny thing is, I let her stay upfront and she rode so much better than she does in the back. No panting. No crying. No begging to put her head out the window. Looking back, I probably should have put the seat belt on her. I guess Kevin will have to ride in the back with Seka - if she lets him.

Roxy said she's been calling shotgun this whole time, but I obviously didn't hear her. 

I'm Not a Vet, but I Play One on the Internet

There are days that I kick myself for not going to vet school. I've always loved the idea of caring for animals, helping them feel better and taking their pain away. I guess two things made me chicken out of taking the plunge - the idea of putting an animal to sleep and the math requirements to get through college. The panic that rises in me when I think of either of these two obstacles is equal - I kid you not.

But you don't have to have a degree to be an Internet animal health expert! Yep, if I see a symptom, I simply research it. And I don't want the stories about the dog who exhibited signs of XYZ but really had ABC. I like looking at the medical papers and reports that are being read by those up and coming vet students. So, I guess that's why I've spent so much time with Mr. Google tonight looking for diagnosing thyroid disorders in greyhounds.

We went in for a simple nail trim today (Dr. Hottie provides this torture service for free) and the young doctor (I call him Little Hottie) came over to love on Roxy, noticed her not-so-flattering skin and asked to take a closer look at her. We've been struggling with a horrible skin rash for the past two months - red bumps, puss, peeling skin, and her fur is coming out in tufts on her bum. It's not a pretty picture, but we've been managing it with benadryl, an herbal topical spray, a short-term antibiotic and a lot of telling her to stop licking. I don't do steroid shots with her if I can help it because it is hard on her kidneys and she is in constant need of going potty.

Little Hottie asked if we have tested Roxy for low thyroid. I know that greys have these issues. I also know that the medication is over-prescribed and the condition is poorly diagnosed. About a year ago, when we had a titer test done, we pulled a thyroid panel to see if it might be causing some of this itching and it came back low even for a greyhound. I chose not to medicate because she didn't have symptoms. Now I wonder if I should have done it anyway.

I will agree that Roxy has lost a lot of hair on her neck and back thighs. I'll also admit that her coat doesn't look super shiny, but she's never had the lush, long locks that Seka sports. We've not changed our food or feeding habits, so unless she has suddenly developed an allergy to chicken (in a multitude of forms) or ground beef I don't think it's a food issue. 

I know that just because the lab report shows a low number, doesn't mean it indicates a true thyroid issue. So I think that I'm going to bite the bullet, have Dr. Hottie pull blood for a particular thyroid panel and send it to a greyhound expert for a consult. 

Maybe it will help us find out what is wrong with little miss Itchy McScratchy Pants. Seriously, waking up every hour to a dog chewing, scratching, licking, or snarking herself isn't what I would call a good night's sleep. IMHO, as an expert Internet vet, we may be on to something.

PS: I apologize for the lack of photo today. Roxy would not let me photograph her from the rear.  Smart girl. 

GreytBlack Friday

Yep. I shop at 2am. Seka made it hard to get up and get going today. She doesn't snuggle like this often.


-- Post From My iPhone

Can You Walk Over There

The feud continues. On the walk this morning the Skinny Bitches preferred to walk as far behind me as possible while encouraging the Shorties to pull their way along our route. Obviously they didn't want to be caught dead with their house guests.







-- Post From My iPhone

We're Not Snobs, We're Just Better than You

High school cliques aren't anything new. Popular kids, jocks, nerds, weirdos - they are all still a part of school today as they were 20 years ago. I certainly wasn't popular or a jock. I hung out with the theatre, band, chorus geeks. Thanks to Glee, now those kids are cool. 

In my house, we have cliques too - Skinny Bitches and Shorties. It's no shock that my girls are total dog snobs. Unless you're a greyhound, they lack all interest in you and your canine ways. I thought that after the little ones had been here for a couple of months, they may begin to accept them into their pack, but the silent treatment continues. In fact, they have made a list of why they, the greyhounds, are far superior. I'm assuming they mean superior to other dogs, although Seka may have implied that I'm included in this list too.

Seka & Roxy's List of Why We're Better

1. We only bark when there's something to bark for like going potty or reminding our mommy that it is time to eat. All other barking is a waste of energy.
2. Digging is for short dogs who like to get dirty. We only dig when we want to get our mommy's attention.
3. We smell like roses. Little dogs just smell.
4. Trash is best left in the trash can, not dragged about our living quarters and chewed on. 
5. Daytime is best spent getting beauty rest, not running about, patrolling the grounds. That's what humans are for.
6. Beards are for Santa, not dogs. Especially dogs who drink a lot of water and get dirt in the communal water bowl.
7. Chasing cats, squirrels and bunnies is an art form and should only be done if you have a chance to actually catch it.
8. We do not drag the outdoors inside the house. Leaves, sticks, dirt clods, and mud belong outside. 
9. Just because there are people walking by our house does not mean they are coming to see us. You should only alert humans when visitors are at our door. 
10. Tug of war is for brutes. If you stare at a human long enough, they will just give it to you. 

I guess this is their version of a slam book, although they haven't started naming names yet, but I'm sure that will happen eventually.

Days of Our Lives

One of my favorite parts of the USA Today is the awesome info graphics they create for various stories and topics. Their graphic artists are so clever. They are able to take the most complex ideas and make them understandable in a visual way. So, instead of boring you guys with the details of my last month and a half, I thought I'd channel my inner USA Today and give you the high points visually:



I know you guys thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth. I guess in some ways I have. Between three times a week PT appointments and various doctors visits and tests, I feel like I'm sort of getting used to my new life as a caregiver. It's not easy and some days it's not pleasant, but it's getting easier for now. I kind of wish I had a visual road map to tell me what life is going to be like in 3 months.

PS: Today I'm recommitting myself to this blog. I need some outlet for sure. Plus, don't you guys want to hear about my adventures with two yappy ankle biters?