That’s a quote from Tombstone, in case you were wondering, and in case you were wondering, Tombstone is one of my all-time favorite movies. Anyway.
I’m checking in to give you a general update on my life, since it doesn’t seem that I’ve done that for awhile. Some things have been happening and I’d love your feedback.
Pregnancy & Health
Since my hospital visit a couple weeks ago, I’ve had a bit of a rough time. It took me a week and a half to recover from my cold, and during that time I had absolutely no energy. I just barely started feeling good again this week, and now for two days I’ve had a sore throat that won’t go away. I’m really hoping it doesn’t develop into something more, or my immune system and I are going to have words.
On top of that, I’ve had some pretty killer back pain. For awhile I had a pulled muscle near one of my shoulder blades, and that was just miserable. But thanks to Epsom salt baths, a massage, Icy Hot, and patience, that has healed up. What I have now is constant pain around my ribs on the left back side that wraps around to the front. Usually it is a dull ache but occasionally it becomes quite sharp. No idea what’s causing this, but as uncomfortable as it is, it is better than the pulled muscle.
I can feel Meredith moving lots now, and she’s strong enough at times that my husband and family have been able to feel her too. This is really special, because I feel like she’s my little buddy, keeping me company throughout the day.
More detailed pregnancy updates to come next week after I see my doctor again!
Dogs
Oliver has been so good for over a month now that we really don’t want to give him away. Cleo has been doing fine at my parents’ house, but we are contemplating bringing her home for a visit to see how she and Oliver interact because we miss her a lot (even though I do visit frequently).
Strangely, Eddie has been the problem child lately. She is ten years old and has been extremely attached to David since she was a puppy. She’s always been prone to anxiety, but it usually comes out during thunderstorms or when the dishwasher is running. Nowadays she’s the only one out and about in the house during the day since Cleo is gone and we keep Oliver in his crate.
For the past couple of weeks we have noticed things being disturbed in the house, until finally Eddie became downright destructive. She went in David’s closet and completely tore up all the carpet including the foam underneath, spreading it all across our room. We took her to the vet, who said she appears very healthy (bloodwork was normal too) and he believes she is suffering separation anxiety because she senses changes in the family. I don’t know if it’s because she’s lonely during the day without Cleo, if she senses I’m pregnant and is worried, or what. We have her on anti-anxiety medication now, but she is still very needy and driving us just a little bit crazy.
Home Improvement
We finally started working on the house again! Last weekend a bunch of my family came over to help paint. There are several rooms plus a hallway including all the trim, doors, and ceilings to do, so it’s quite a project. So far we’ve completely done the front entryway and the guest room minus the trim and door. We also installed a new light fixture in the entryway. Eventually I’ll get around to hanging art, getting a console table, and retiling, but painting is job #1 for now.
Things are up and down around here, but we’re making it!
From Marlena:
Love the entry way! And the belly! Poor Eddie. Our old dog, Courtney, got the same way later in her life. She was about eight when she started doing these exact same things and it only escalated from there. Hoping yours is only temporary because it’s definitely heartbreaking and frustrating to witness.
From kapachino:
It’s so weird that it starts so late in life! We figured at ten years old she’d be pretty settled and comfortable with us. Guess she can’t handle change too well!
From Tabaitha:
Love the picture of you looking down. Too cute! Hope your throat feels better soon.
From Spring:
Yay for an update! So glad you’re doing relatively well. Love.
From Megan:
That belly shot is priceless. Even better than a body shot. (Or so I’ve heard…)
Have you considered getting a crate for Eddie? Maybe giving her a “den” would help calm some of those nerves. Also, as counter-intuitive as it was, Peter and I were taught to “ignore” Bono whenever he got anxious, especially as we were leaving the house and when we came back home. Apparently, what we understood as “soothing” him, he mistook for a license to freak out. (You probably know all this already… but that’s the best I’ve got at the moment).
Love you more than guacamole.
From kapachino:
We’ve been thinking about getting Eddie a crate or small house of some kind, because we’ve found her huddled under the rolling laundry hamper several times. I think it might help her feel safe. I’m fine with ignoring her whining, but David says it is like nails on a chalkboard to him and he hates it so much it almost brings him to violence. He’ll have to work on that part!
From Manderz:
Separation anxiety is no fun to deal with. My dogs had it really bad when we first got them. We put them in a crate during the day – at first they would whine for half an hour after we left, but now they look forward to going in every morning.
From kapachino:
Eddie’s never needed a crate before, but I think we’re going to get her one because she gravitates toward enclosed areas when she’s scared, like the closet. Worth a try at least!
From Kyla Roma:
Oh my gosh, there’s so much going on it your life! :)
Depending on how mobile she is maybe David could try taking Eddie on a morning bike ride every day for a week and see if it helps- or in the evening, whenever she gets the most anxious. That might be a fast way to blow off some of her anxious energy so she doesn’t have as much fuel for her nervous fire. At the same time, I love them dearly, but just like people animals can get kinda weird when they’re older. We had a 12 year old border collie who was on valium :)