Ready for the Beach

Recently, I wrote about the three things I wanted to accomplish this summer. My biggest goal was to get Missy the chance to swim. Well, for those of you who know me best, that goal quickly got added to the good ole, "To Do List" and a plan was in place within days. My grandpa Dallas from the Tri-Cities moved back to the beach in May. It's been apart of his retirement plan since at least the day I met him. So when I thought long and hard about swimming I decided is what off to Dallas' we'd go. We haven't seen grandpa Dallas since we moved to Spokane. We are overdue for a visit and what a more perfect time than in August. Dallas said he'd be happy to host the Missaroo and me for a couple of days. So one of my weekend's next month we're heading to Long Beach, Washington.

But before we head to the beach, I just had to get the Missaroo prepared. As much as I want her to go swimming, I'm also deathly afraid of losing her to the Ocean. Not on my dog mom watch. So like any good dog mom I'm making sure she has the proper equipment before she goes. Today the Missaroo's humiliation was taken to a whole new level. Move over backpack, the construction worker orange life jacket is where it's at.....

I am convinced only the Missaroo can look adorable and crazy all at the same time.

Done with Daycare

Missy doesn't know it yet, but yesterday was pretty much her last day at doggie daycare. I say pretty much because it is nice to know it's there in case of an emergency, but the 11 day pass purchasing will stop as will the weekly trips there.

Missaroo just can't take it. She's too sickly. She actually reminds me of myself when I was a tot. I was on the phone with my mom yesterday and she was telling me about how she would feel like the worst parent in the world sometimes because she would come to get me out of my crib and I would be laying there in my own vomit. I can remember being in the single digits still and throwing up in my sleep on more than one occasion. I would then wake up and get my mom. She'd always say "why didn't you make it to the garbage can? or why didn't you wake me up?" and I would have to tell her I was asleep when it happened. She would also get that same worried look on her face. What can I say? I was sickly as a kid.

Now I have my child replacement in the Missaroo and she's turning out the same way. How many times have I come home to find her throw up all over her toys and blanket. She has to leap over it in order to make it out of her crate. Heartbreaking. She always puts on the sad face and hides under the bed when she's not feeling well.

We LOVED daycare though. Both of us. But it's in the Missaroo's best interest overall to keep her away from all of those dogs. Maybe we can find a place that doesn't have as many? Doubtful, but I'll take a look. But for now we are done with daycare.

Gnawing Her Foot Off

Last night, Missy started gnawing at her foot. We were both in bed. She was laying at my feet when she started to attack her own. It was loud enough to make me look up over my book at her. I watch her for a little bit before reaching for the phone. Like any good dog mom, I decided to record it before taking a look at her foot for myself. I rubbed her belly while I inspected her paw. I didn't see anything stuck and the pads of her paws didn't seem overly sensitive to the touch. Right after I put her paw down she stopped with the gnawing. I'm not sure what it was all about. But at least you can take a look for yourself.

World's Best Dog Blog? Like Whoa

In case you missed the memo, and have no idea what the huge "vote for us for best dog blog" banner at the top of the page is about, let me explain. I was going through everyone Missy follows on Twitter the other day looking for pets in need of homes to re-tweet about. That's when I came across an organization twittering about winning a dog blog award. Dog blog award?!? Seriously? Seriously!?! LOVE IT! Oh man I had to check it out. So I did and instantly became obsessed! To win a best dog blog award, well it would be like whoa! In shameless self promotion style, I launched a Facebook campaign to get people to vote, vote, vote.

Ok, so let's get a tad bit real here. I don't for one second thing I have the world's best dog blog. I think our little blog is cute and funny and sometimes makes you think, but it's hardly award winning. I do put a lot of time and effort into it, but at the end of the day it's just not up to snuff with most of the blogs I read. But I am serious about trying to win. What a fun project and thanks to my super competitive nature, I am all in baby!

I'm going to work to make the blog better. First thing's first, re-focus it on Missy. It's about Missy most of the time, but not always. The funny thing about that is I think of all the posts on the page, the one not about her is the best written one. I'm also going to take more time to really gather my thoughts before writing. Most of the time I think about something to write about, write down a title on my little "future blogs" list, and then when I get to it I just start typing away. There's not a lot of editing. I type, spell check, and then read out loud before hitting the publish post button. Hopefully, if nothing else at the end of the day you'll get a better written blog.

So here's how I really feel about the competition. We are the ((pardon the pun)) underdogs. The black sheeps. The little blog that could, if you will. This is for every dog mom out there. For anyone who's ever talked to the their two and a half year old dog like she or he is a two and a half year old child. For anyone that's been at the vet at 7am, who has their doggie daycare number saved in their contacts list and for anyone who worries this dog mom phase of their lives will never advance them to the major leagues. So vote for our little blog if it puts a smile on your face a couple of times a week. World's best dog blog, like whoa!

Pill Popper

Getting Missy to take her pills has been no easy task. Since this is not her first time around the block with the pills, she's on to all of my tricks. I've tried smashing it up into powder and mixing it with her food. She still ate around most of it. I tried smashing it up with her treat. She was on to that one too. I had even tried to force it down her throat! Maybe if she was 15 pounds and fit on my lap that would have worked. I was just about at my wits end with an easy fix to our solution when my mom came to the rescue.

Now, you might remember me telling you about how Missy out smarted Grams not so long ago. My mom thought she could simply muzzle Missy in the car. Yep, that worked until about 30 seconds into it when she figure out how to tear it off her nose. Well this time Grams has evened the score. "Peanut butter" She said to me, "Have you tired giving it to her with peanut butter." To which I replied, "Now that's a thought."

Missy loves peanut butter A LOT. And more than that, a crushed up pill would stick nicely to it. So when Missy when to eat it she couldn't avoid the pill particles. So today we tried it. I have to come home in the middle of the day to give Missy her pill so time really is of the essence. I gave her a dab of peanut butter filled with the pill bits and she licked it up no questions asked! Grams is a genius!

I feel like this has definitely been another dog mom moment for me. It's good training if I ever need to try and trick a sick kid into taking medicine. Although I did mention at work the other day that Missy is "the child I'll never have." 

On a side note, I talked to the vet today and everything looks like it's clearing up. Missy is also starting to feel better. She'll be off the bland food and pills in a couple of days and hopefully back to her spunky self.  

Can't Take the Heat

The summer has finally arrived in the Inland Northwest and it feels GREAT! Well at least to me. I have to remember to take it easy on the poor Missaroo in the heat, she doesn't do so well. Last year we got a real scare in the heat. We were walking out of necessity to go pick up my car from the shop. I don't really have any friends and we had to go pick it up in the middle of the day so it was us and our feet to get there. It was easily 100 degrees that day and Missy and I ventured out. She also had her backpack on. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made as a dog mom and boy did I learn my lesson.

We were almost there when Missy stopped, threw up and then fell over. Luckily, I know the sound of throw up all too well and knew she was about ready to so I dropped to the ground with her. I caught her in my arms as she fell. I immediately took off her backpack and got her water out. I started gently pouring it on her head as I held her in the shade. We waited it out and I let her recover before we started heading for the car again. Missy pretty much had a mini heat stroke.

The hottest day this year and we were out again. This time Missy was sick and couldn't make it very far. We weren't in danger of heat stroke this time, but I did have to keep telling her "Good girl Miss you can do it, almost home baby girl." For all the energy this one has, she doesn't do well in the heat. It's something I really have to keep in mind.

And I guess let me take the time to remind you hot cars and pets don't mix. It's something I have to remind myself about as well. Missy loves to go with me everywhere and sometimes before I even realize it we're driving around and it's super hot out. A lot of times I have to turn around and drop her off because even my quick trips are too much in the heat. So I guess you can never really say it enough, pets can't take the heat.

Sicky Update

It's been a couple of days and the Missaroo is already starting to feel better. It's been quite the struggle to get her to take her pills but I've become an expert in smashing them with a spoon and mixing them into her new dog food. It is the blandest dog food in the world. The worst part is she's only allowed to eat about half of what she normally would get a day which doesn't help with her low energy. We're taking it slow. Here's a look at how it's going....

World's blandest dog food. Yum.

World's most adorable dog after eating world's blandest dog food.