Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board

any savvy dogsters here?

<< < (6/10) > >>

Hopalong:
EXCELLENT laugh, Boat...thank you!
And not at all off topic.

One of my greatest joys in bonding with this pooch is the daily permission to:
talk silly
act idiotic
make unedited bizarre noises
tell her at length how: perfect, funny, smart, brave, cute, goofy...she is
plop her on my lap for the pure pleasure of the way she sighs, snuggles in cloooooooose, and deposits a small kiss on my nose in appreciation (BOY, I don't know if it's the "rescue gratitude" or the "beagle snuggliness" but this is the CUDDLIEST dog I've ever had!

And I think the Chia pet outfit is plumb awesome.

My pooch, short name LB, is a little wonky in the hind end still, but the surgeon just released her from only-leash-walking so I can now just open the back door and let her run in the yard. First time was an explosion of delight--she'd been penned up and post-serious-surgical for many months. She ran, she spun, she rolled in the grass--and kept looking at me like, are you SURE? Pure joy to watch.

She'll always have a funny gait, but this a.m. she walked well over a mile with my pal and me. She's stronger every day (developing impressive thigh muscles on the rear leg that had the ball/hip part removed...that's how she'll always compensate for the missing bit).
The other leg had had a terrible fracture that was grinding into her knee with every step.

She was so hurt and had lived with it for a long time, untreated. Don't know how many litters she's had, but at least one.

And now, after all that hard stuff...at about age 3, she's discovering how people like her, how life is fun...and every time I take her somewhere new for an adventure...it is so NEAT to watch how she is trusting me to protect her, and though she has some fears, she is just marching along and staying open to new stuff. It was amazing to be on the busy (I mean, hundreds of people walking there) mall the other night...crowded and boisterous and loud, and after a little jitters, she settled down under our cafe table and got through it just fun. Few children wanted to pat her and that went fine too. She's my HERO!

It has changed my life immeasurably to have this living creature to come home to. Worth every bit of cost and inconvenience.

She rescued ME.

love
Hops

sea storm:
Hey Hops,

Glad to see you are still here. Sorry about problematic puppy. Puppy seems like your daughter is some ways. Tends to bite.
If you offer help to people who don't want it they bite. I have noticed this and I have the tendency to want to help because I can see the big picture. Wounded people and animals need to come to you in their own time. It might take a very long time.

For many reasons my daughter seemed to be in a rage at me.  Some of it was parental alienation because of the naricissist ex husband. Some of it because I was so desperate for her love and heartbroken at the state of our miserable relationship. She found this really repellent.

At the same time I got a resuce cat who was in really bad shape after being mauled by dogs. She lived under my mattress for two weeks and came out when  I was asleep.  She used to be completely freaked out and any hand coming toward her was a fearful thing. She is still a bit scared and I know how to approach her, never from above.And don't do a lot of petting either. She llike to lay on my arm when I read and purr. She bites strangers. With a cat this is not such a problem. She is a wreck and probably alwars will be. She has been through a lot. I just accept her as she is. With daughters this is so much harder.

It is so painfo

sKePTiKal:
Yep, lighter's got the girls sorted out... it's H that's into making things blow up for the big screen!

Yes, I think there's a reunion gonna take place before school starts. H is gonna fly down and spend a couple days with them, help with the transition for the boys... who rightfully might have some trust issues. The little guy is doing good; sometimes we cross our fingers and count our blessings -- and don't go looking for trouble! Big brother is going to need some intense tutoring between now & HS. He's been in LD classes all through elementary school, and is several grade levels behind. Getting back into his "good" school for the next year or two is a great environment; lots of support.

Mama is back in classes - this time for EMT certification, and is still busy with meetings, counseling, work and classes. (Same stresses as before). But it's only 5 months to go, till she's qualified for a job with a bigger paycheck... I've been clear about helping with daycare and tutoring costs and she understands better, that this is a requirement. (There will be oversight for 6 months and family counseling, too).

I need H to refocus on herself and her life; I sure want to do the same for me. I might get my phase 1 "to-do" list done this year, around the house... and then I need to get out in the community: find where I fit in around here and can be useful.

Hops... LB sounds perfect and finishes off my mental image of your cottage, with flowers and pole beans and a rolly-silly beagle who loves to make you giggle... (I guess WE might bite too... being in unfamiliar circumstances and a little scared... what with our pasts... etc).

 :D

Hopalong:
Thanks, Sea...your LUCKY cat is just that, and I'm so glad she's loving company for you.
Bravo for your patience and understanding.

I'm truly not experiencing LB as problematic -- she's pure delight.
The early nips were fear based and only in the house...she's been plucky and increasingly
accepting of strangers every time we venture out. I'm feeling that I can definitely keep
on living with her and enjoying her.

What blows me away about her is how willing she appears to be to move forward,
and leave her wounds behind. (I'm taking notes...)

There have been no more nips. There'll be tests of that, when I have more people come
over...but now I know what to do. I got instructed in my own boundary setting with her
and it's made a huge difference. She needed to learn that it's MY job to be protective
and that apart from burglars (or hopefully, deer--once I put in the dog door)...hers
is to be sociable. Or if not, to be calmly tethered to the piano (long leash and she
can reach her big soft bed) while I have company. It's not a big hassle.

I think once she gets to know regular visitors, she's fine. With one good friend,
there's no longer any need to leash her. It's obvious that they've become friends.

She's not a sad case or a tragedy. She's a reminder of what it's like to come back
and grab life and live it!

Sigh. Daughters...different. I went through another wave of grief yesterday,
unpacking some more memories as I sort some stuff. Hard to accept but I
am most days, able to reclaim my intention to be happy, have a meaningful
life...reach out, find other sources of love and connection.

I am terribly sorry for her, but the fierce wall she's put up can't be taken down
by anybody but her. And it may not happen. That's what I have to face, and
RE-face, in order to move forward. Release release release...

Lighter, sorry I got the girls mixed up but thanks much for the update.
It really does sound hopeful on so many levels. Where the hell would they
be without your support? I can't think about it. They are lucky, all of them.

muchly,
Hops

lighter:
sKep:

I hope H refocuses her attention on herself.  That would be a relief.

A seems so very busy in the right direction.
If she can manage to juggle all the balls she's launching, please God let those achievements propel her to the next level of personal growth.  Sometimes carving one's own niche is the very best of catalysts.   I'll be crossing my legs and arms, eyes and fingers for A and her boys.
 
And Brava to you and your little beagle pal, Hops.  It's a happy thing to picture unexpected beagle romping.  She must have been so amazed to be pain free, and free to do things she probably can't remember being able to do..... and with her new protector/companion happily looking on.  She likeluy feelsl the happiness and gratitude radiate from your every pore.....

just like you feel hers: )

It's a wonderful day on this thread. 

I want to add that my mom's at MD Anderson receiving the very best of care right now.  She started another round of treatment with the newly approved chemo....... her doc is one of the guys involved in R&D on that drug.  It targets just the cancer cells, anddoesn't enter the bodie's healthy cells...... she won't lose any more hair, or have her immune system devastated is my understanding.  I'm so hopeful!

Somehow, astonishingly I'm prepared for the new school year to begin.  I don't know how with the move, and all the travel, and tending to other things, but there it is.  I have only good things to report, and I'm going to get ready for bed on that note :D

Nite,
lighter
ps  I found something important today I've been looking for the last 2 weeks!  Whoo hoo!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page