July 10, 2008-Non Stitching

Today certainly started off unexpectedly! I walked down to the mailbox around 12:15am with Kasey to post an envelope to my mother. We were about two-thirds of the way back to the house (my driveway is one-tenth of a mile long) when I saw an animal running across the driveway about thirty-five feet in front of the house.

The floodlight was on to illuminate most of the driveway, so I only saw it in profile, but the long, bushy tail, the short, stubby legs gave it away as a fox. Of course Kasey saw the stupid thing and took off after it. As soon as she started running I screamed "No! Kasey! It's a fox!" but she didn't listen. We don't have any streetlights near the houses, so I couldn't see her or the fox once they left our property. I heard a growl and thought it had turned on her so I was absolutely terrified! All that was going through my mind was that the fox had bitten her and it could be rabid and she'd have to be quarantined. I ran into the house and flung open Wes's bedroom door yelling "I need a flashlight! Kasey took off after a fox!"

I ran back to the entryway while slipping on tennis shoes so I could run if I needed to. I started frantically flashing the two outdoor lights because that's one of Kasey's signals to come back inside. Uncle Wes groggily made his way down to the basement to get flashlights and put his own shoes on to go look for her. When I opened the door to leave she was there, soaking wet. I didn't know whether to be happy or break down and cry. I was so upset I was shaking. Wes and I both looked her over really good, even rolling her on her back to check her belly, and couldn't see any marks.

I was so relieved, but I was also very angry with her. I think most of the anger was due to the fact that I was so scared. Kasey is my baby. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her. The thought of losing her or her being injured are things I don't ever want to contemplate. I told her I didn't have anything to say to her and she needed to get away from me until I calmed down. I think she knew what I said because she went to lay on the bathroom tile and didn't move for a couple hours.

I called back the friend whose ear I had screamed into when Kasey took off and explained what happened. I was still shaking and breathing hard at that point and tt took quite a while for me to calm down completely. That didn't stop me from still being angry, though. I told Kasey Kay several times that she was a bad girl to run off like that, even if she did come home within five minutes. That fox could have seriously hurt her if he was rabid.

So are you ready for the rest of the day? Because it was a busy one!

It was a good thing I'd already planned to take Kasey to get a bath today, because she was full of leaves and twigs and hitch-hikers when she came back from chasing the fox. I never did get to sleep, mainly because I wanted to go to Muddy Paw while everyone else was at work. After checking the website for their hours I decided to stay up stitching and go as soon as they opened. It can't be crowded at 9am, right?

She hopped into the truck and we left to take care of our errands for the day. First, I stopped in West Annapolis to drop off a prescription and ask them to refill a couple others. Our next stop was the Eastport post office, where I mailed some charts and gifts to Debi and Rachel in California. Lastly, we went to Muddy Paw Wash where Miss Kasey was to get a bath.

The minute I opened the door, I looked at the girl behind the counter and said "I need a large Chai Tea, now!" My voice was so weak, she could barely hear me and I was in serious need of some heat to combat the sore throat I got from screaming for Kasey the night before. I asked for the full-service wash for Kay and she let me know that today was our 7th wash, so it was free, and I didn't use my free drink reward last time, so my Chai was free too! That definitely brightened my day, considering the fact I'd expected to pay for the Chai and the difference between the full service wash and the DIY wash. But nope! Both were free today!

I settled at a table in the lounge to do my stitching and enjoy my Chai. Another gentleman came in shortly after that and set his laptop up in the corner and spent the day working, just enjoying the company of anyone who happened to come in. A couple people came in to drop off their dogs for baths and Kasey was ready by about 10:30. I was enjoying being there and chatting with people and doing my cross stitch, so I decided that we were just going to hang out for a while.

I'm trying to make bath day an experience that Kasey enjoys, so each time she gets to pick out a toy from the items on display in the lounge. Today's choice was a turquoise sheepskin Koala Bear. Of course it had a squeaker inside it! She took the toy after I paid for it and a homemade dog cookie. The cookie was shaped like a crown and decorated with dog-friendly icing to say "Princess" on it. She chomped the cookie up in short order and settled on the cool concrete floor with her toy in her mouth. Unfortunately, every time someone came in she'd jump back up to go say "Hi" and get attention. Well, at least she tried, because I had the end of her leash looped around the leg of my chair.

About fifteen minutes later a little girl came in who apparently knew the employees, because she went into the bathing area and just started helping. Her mom followed after a couple minutes and started talking to the girl behind the counter. They were discussing working with a Schnauzer down the road and I gathered from the conversation that the lady was a professional trainer. She and I started discussing prong training collars and I'd just said that I wanted Kasey to be my assistance dog when Kasey decided that she wanted my attention and almost swiped her claws down my graft.

Angela, as I later learned her name , asked if she did that often and if Kasey had hit my scar. I told her that she doesn't usually touch my scar, but she does paw and nudge for attention alot. She asked if she could have Kasey's leash and I said, "By all means." I wasn't going to turn down free training. This lady wasn't just any trainer, but she'd worked with some of the top assistance dog trainers in the country, as well as the biggest police forces in California. In addition, her husband is head of the division that trains dogs for a government security agency.

She stood over Kasey and pinched the back of her neck. The whole time she didn't speak to Kasey at all, but she was explaining the reasoning and methodology to what she was doing to me. At first, I could see that Kasey was resisting as hard as she could. The whites of her eyes were showing and it was apparent she was thinking really hard about how to not do what Angela wanted her to. Finally, though, Kasey laid down. As soon as Kasey started to go down, Angela started releasing the pressure on the back of her neck. This was repeated every time Kasey broke her position for about 45 minutes.

She explained, and I finally saw, that Kasey getting up to greet everyone who walked through the door wasn't her being overly friendly, but a manifestation of nervousness. I don't know how I missed it all this time, but I could tell just by the expression in her eyes that she was worried when people walked in and she couldn't get up. The first time she tried it was obvious how determined she was to get up, but Angela wouldn't let her.

We all ate lunch around noon and Kasey stayed in the down position until Angela told her to get up. Angela had convinced me the prong collar wasn't a bad thing; it was just used improperly by most people because the big pet supply stores won't show their customers the right way to size them. I picked a collar off the pegboard on the wall and gave it to her to fit Kasey with. She removed two links and went on to show me how to use it to get Kay to do what I want with just slight pressure from the collar.

After three hours of working with Kasey, Angela got online and pulled up a couple websites to show us. She gave me the name of a company to order a no-bark electric collar for Kasey. Her husband used to work for them and she gave me the name of the person I should speak to, and to tell him I'm her client. She also gave me her home and cell numbers and told me to call her if I had any problems, and also so she could help me set the collar correctly. She even referred me to an organization that trains service dogs for the disabled, to see if they could help in getting Kasey trained.

Angela and her daughter left shortly after 1pm and Kasey and I headed out as well. Since Kay's leash and collar were all in one, I had to make a half-hitch using the handle to attach it to her new collar. I didn't feel like going home right away, so we went to Petco looking for a new purple leash and a fifteen foot cotton training lead as well. They didn't have either. PetSmart had a purple leash that bled from purple on the outside edges to a white stripe in the middle. It was only four feet long but I bought it anyway since I wanted to go home.

We were almost to the turn for our road when I realized it was only a mile to a pet boutique I learned about from Angela and a customer at Muddy Paw. Woofs & Whiskers "The boutique with pawsitive attitude" is certainly appropriate! The second we walked through the door, Terry, the owner, came out from behind the counter, sat on the floor, and hugged Kasey in her lap. An Old English Sheepdog, Winston, was also there and he came over to say hello to us as well. Terry told me that she usually has more dogs with her but her two wanted to stay home and sleep. Winston belonged to someone else and Terry was watching him. She also invited me to drop Kasey off any time I wanted to, since she's such a well-behaved little girl.

I had let Kasey off her leash almost immediately so she was wandering around, checking everything out while I was doing the same on the other side of the shop. I explained to Terry exactly what I was looking for and we headed to a display of six-foot leashes. I found two that, while not exactly purple, were close enough to suit me. Both had funny sayings and I just couldn't decide. So I took one in each hand, held them out, and asked Kasey which one she wanted. She touched her nose to the one in my right hand and immediately turned and walked away. Terry was in stitches, because the leash Kasey didn't pick was the one I said I'd never hear the end of from my family, "One of us is a bitch." The one she chose says "One of us misbehaves." It's definitely a conversation-starter, that's for sure! I paid for Kasey's new leash and promised to stop back in soon. I'll just take the other one back to PetSmart the next time I'm over that way.

When we got home we both got something to drink and then I took Kasey for a walk to work on heeling with her new collar. We went outside and I had her sit by my truck so I could get my iced tea. Just a small tug and she sat without me saying anything. Then I realized the truck was locked, my iced tea was inside it, and the keys were in the house! I walked back to the house and opened the door. I leaned back to look and Kasey was sitting just where I left her! This is the little girl who doesn't let me turn my back on her without following me! I closed the door, walked into the living room to retrieve my keys, went back outside and she was STILL sitting there! I couldn't believe my eyes! I've had Kasey for over five years and it's like Angela gave me a new dog in three hours!

It was the same when we were walking. I barely had to use any pressure whatsoever to get her to stay in the correct position beside me. We went into the playground by the driveway and played around on some of the equipment. Kasey climbed a ladder and I ran around the trunk of a tree while she was trying to find me. All of a sudden she ran to the sandbox, dug a shallow hole in the shade, and plopped herself down in the cool sand she uncovered. I was getting bitten by mosquitoes where I was sitting on the swing, so we left and walked through the other part of our neighborhood. My feet began to hurt really bad and we turned around to go home.

By 5:00 I started to fade and knew there was no way I'd make it to the 8:30 performance of Just Plaid! at ASGT. I was supposed to help out, but it felt like I was walking on broken glass when I stood. I called Uncle Wes and left him a message that he needed to call the box office at ASGT after 7pm to let them know I wouldn't be there. I tried calling but it wasn't open at 5. I had to walk into the kitchen to write the number on the dry erase board for him because I knew he was driving and wouldn't be able to write it down if I left it in my message. I almost fell over, my feet were hurting so bad. I know I have Plantar fasciitis, but this was definitely the worst it's ever been!

I went straight to bed after that but I only slept for two and a half hours before my phone woke me up. Naturally, I couldn't get back to sleep. Uncle Wes came upstairs and I showed him how to use the new collar and told him he's not to use it if he walks Kasey on the Flexi-lead. I put Kasey in a down position and we both left the room. I walked through to the kitchen after a couple minutes and washed my hands and she didn't get up until I returned and told her it was okay. Wes was amazed.

July 9, 2008

The sutures are gone! Dr M snipped the loop off one end, pulled on the other, and the sutures were out! Now let's just hope I don't have any more for a long, long time! I left the steri-strips on to keep the incision from stretching. The hematoma is still about the size of a golf ball so the skin around the scar is under alot of pressure from it.

I was able to stitch on Mount Coot-tha during my treatment and made good progress today. I'm very pleased with now much I stitched. I've completed the third circle of motifs around the center checkerboard and am hoping I can get the fourth done tomorrow.

And as far as my dialysis, Dr M said to go at least another week on the smaller needles, so that means my treatments will be three hours until I go back to my regular needles. That just means I have 25 more minutes of uninterrupted stitching time!

We'll see how much stitching I do tomorrow, however, because I have errands to run: A Golden Retriever to bathe at the Do-it-Yourself Dog Wash, drop off a prescription at the pharmacy, and mail Debi's envelope at the Post Office. I'm pretty sure Kasey's bath will be free, because you get a free drink from the coffee bar after six baths, which was last time, and the seventh is free! I may just pay them $7.50 so they'll bathe her for me and go run my errands to save time.

She hasn't had a bath since this episode in March when she discovered that she lived on Weems Creek. Everyone thought I was crazy for paying to take her to the dog beach across town when I live on the water, but I was vindicated when this picture was circulated! There IS a method to my madness! (YES! We went straight to Muddy Paws then, too!)

Tomorrow night I will be working "House" at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre during Forever Plaid! The show starts at 8:30, but I have to be there early to straighten the seats and clean up any trash around them before the show starts. It's a great way to see live musical theatre for free! I'll let ya know how it is, but I've never seen a bad show yet, and my little brother, Ben, has been in seven of their productions!