kapachino

Tag: pets

  • Dog Park

    David and I took the three dogs to the dog park on Saturday. Our dogs include Cleo (of course), his dog Eddy who is a lab mix, and his brother Chris’s dog Sydney, a boxer. As soon as we got there Cleo went off on her own, making new friends, swimming, and basically having a grand old time. She didn’t need us so we let her go, and I kept an eye on her from time to time. Eddy and Sydney didn’t want to leave our side, so we started walking around the park so that they could enjoy it. David said that he would rather them not get in the water so we walked the other way instead. Unfortunately, that led us right by a giant mud pit which Sydney did not hesitate to wallow in.


    Sydney in the Mud from Kathleen on Vimeo.

    She was also drinking the muddy water. At first we were upset because we really weren’t prepared to clean her up, but the more she played in it the happier she looked. Honestly I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.

    Sydney happy

    Eddy got in the mud too, probably thinking that it looked like fun, but as soon as she got in she realized it was wet (Eddy doesn’t like to be wet) so she jumped out right away. Luckily there was a little shower there for them, although David did have to give them a full bath when he got home.

    Eddy shower

    Later that night I noticed that something was wrong with Cleo. Her tail is now hanging limply behind her and doesn’t wag. I never realized how important the tail wag was until now. It’s like all the happiness has been drained from the apartment. So I examined her and even took her temperature and I can’t figure out what’s wrong. She isn’t moving around as much and when she goes to sit down it seems difficult for her. I’m hoping she just strained a muscle and it will get better in a few days.

    Cleo tail

    She slept in my bed last night as usual, and this morning woke me up by throwing up. Then later on she threw up a couple times on my floor. I think this is unrelated to her other issue. Anyway, I really hope she recovers soon because looking at that sad little face and tail is so depressing, and I really can’t afford a vet bill right now!

  • Pictures of Life

    Just wanted to share with you a few random images from the past week.

    Here is the bulletin board at my school:

    Bulletin

    This is where I discover new clinical trials to take part in. Currently I’m involved in a 7-month bird flu vaccine study, and I’m also scheduled to go play some computer games while having an MRI done on Wednesday.

    Here is Cleo playing with Riley, one of the dogs I pet-sit:

    [Video lost. Sad.]

    They got along great, and as you can see Cleo was not intimidated by Riley’s size. But unfortunately the two of them together caused a little more trouble than either of them on their own. The victims were two wooden chess pieces and a portion of a very nice floor rug.

    Here is David and I on our Good Friday fishing trip:

    Fishing Trip

    We had a great time, and David caught 5 trout, but I came away with a sunburn on my thighs and some very chapped lips.

    Well, I’m off to work a clinical shift. Happy Tuesday, everyone.

  • My Most Prized Possession…

    …used to be my computer. Now it’s this:

    Hands

    Every year the youth group at my church puts on a “Sweetheart Banquet” as a fundraiser for the summer mission trip. Last year David and I attended together and even though we had been dating for a few weeks beforehand, it was the first night that I realized I was truly interested in a relationship with him as a potentially serious thing.

    David and I spent the entire day together Saturday at his house doing schoolwork. In the evening as we were getting ready for the Sweetheart Banquet his dad called to ask if we would swing by their house on our way to the church to let out their dog, Niko. They live only a minute from the church, and they had been gone awhile because they work with the youth group. So we went over, and when we got there both doors were locked. (This was not part of the plan.) We had to drive to the church, get a key, and then go back. On the way David told me that he had to go to the bathroom and asked me to get Niko.

    I walked into the room where Niko was in his crate, and I went straight to let him out. I didn’t even notice at first that there was a little table set up not two feet away with roses, candles, flower petals, and Hershey Kisses on it. I didn’t see it until I heard David come in the room behind me and I turned around to face him. When I did, he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. I said, “Of course!” It was perfect timing because then we got to go up to the church and tell my family and all of our church friends at once.

    Sweethearts

    My dad’s reaction to our engagement:

    • Asked David’s mom, Alice, how much French blood David has in him (my dad was born in England, and Alice’s mother is French. He had to come to terms with the fact that his grandchildren will be 1/8 French).
    • Ordered us not to schedule the wedding on a Saturday afternoon because it’ll be college football season.
    • Announced that he wants three kids minimum out of us.

    Cleo was also excited for me when I told her. She’s going to gain a daddy and two new sisters, Eddy and Sydney!

    I let her try on my ring:

    Cleo wearing ring

    I think it fits me a little better.

  • Walking Cleo

    Lately, while walking Cleo, I’ve caught her trying to roll in another dog’s feces. This has happened before. I don’t always catch her before she does it, either, because yeah, dogs are weird and they like excrement. I will let her sniff it to her heart’s content, but wiping her face in it? No. Absolutely not, that is unacceptable.

    Also, last week she bit my leg and bruised it. She was just nipping, because she got really excited, but I did not appreciate it.

    I really can’t stay mad at her long though, because she gives me something to cuddle with at night, which I desperately need, and it gives me so much pleasure when she licks my feet. Also, she’s just really cute. And Boyfriend David likes her.

  • bad and good

    The bad:

    >The aforementioned friendship troubles. No updates there yet.
    >The relay team that I’m supposed to be in charge of is falling apart.
    >Finding time to fit in class, work, clinical, studying, soccer games, book club, applying for jobs, running, and relationships.

    The good:

    >I love David, and he loves me. Our one-year anniversary is on Sunday.
    >Being a nurse is great, and so is my clinical in the surgical ICU.
    >Things to look forward to: anniversary, birthday, Over the Rhine concert, Valentine’s Day.
    >Cleo is the best dog ever, and I am her favorite person of all.

    Just a quick update because I don’t have much time this week.