Happy 2012!!!

Happy New Year! The last time I posted was shortly after we said good-bye to Maxie. Well, a lot has happened since then. We have two new members of our family -- Mooch and Beans! Mooch and Beans are girls -- about 9 months old at this point. We got them from the same shelter we adopted Woody from -- West Suburban Humane Society. It's a great shelter and I recommend checking out their website and donating to the good work they do for our four-legged friends. Woody tolerates, I'd say even likes, his new sisters. There is the occasional nip when Mooch gets too close. But, overall, I think he enjoys having other animals in the house. I think Maxie was so sick those last few months that Woody didn't even notice he was around. So how is Woody doing? Well, we're still challenged by his bladder. The diapers are a life saver. We can't figure out what is going on so he is going to a doggie urologist. Yes, a doggie urologist. He's going to the bathroom about every 2 hours -- so something isn't quite right. I don't think it's a matter of old age -- so we'll see what happens. His stomach has been good -- no issues there. He farts a lot. And I mean a lot! My goodness -- he's worse than any old man. It's pretty funny though. So I'm hoping 2012 holds good things in store for all of us -- minimal doctor visits and no surgeries! That goes for our two and four legged household members! Attached are photos of Mooch, Beans and Woody's annual visit with Santa!

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It's been a long time

Hi. It's been a long time since my last post. Work, Health, Animals -- all get in the way.

Last Saturday we said good-bye to Maxie. Woody seems to be coping well. To be honest -- I don't think he even notices. That's our observant Woody. I thought he might be a little blue -- nope, not for a minute.

That's been good for us. He's a good distraction.

He's been going through his own challenges lately. All of a sudden his occasional accidents in the house became a daily event -- not acceptable. So we got him a diaper -- one made for boy dogs. It's made by Simple Solution and we bought about 5 of them -- so we can rotate when he does have an accident. They're washable and we line them at night with pads. I know, it seems somewhat ridiculous but it has saved our household. We are no longer frustrated, he is getting better and everyone sleeps better because when he wakes up in the middle of the night we don't jump up. He pees in his diaper -- and we change it out in the am.

He is showing signs of getting older. He is in pain some mornings. He shows new arthritis between 4 vertabrae in his spine. We are giving him injections for the pain. They seem to be helping.

He's still on all of his stomach meds -- pepcid, pepto and the anti-nausea powder. His stomach seems better. He had a flare-up in August but it was short-lived.

All-in-all he's doing well -- just getting older -- like all of us!

I've attached a photo we took of him last Saturday. He was our entertainment after saying farewell to Max. He's such a good sport!

It's Spring

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted since January. It's not like I haven't had time on my hands!

I've had another surgery since my last post. It was in February and both Woody and Max were my constant companions. Woody has done a good job helping me rehab by getting underfoot and testing my reflexes -- so far I haven't been tripped or fallen.

Woody is doing great. We tried to wean him off his meds but he immediately started to lick -- so we put him back on them. He's been fine otherwise. He's his usual sleepy self. Doesn't move too much unless he hears food. Maxie is hanging in as well. He's losing weight -- he's a few weeks away from 18 years old so I think he's just getting old and enjoying his senior years. He sleeps a lot and meows a lot -- and, my favorite, still cuddles a lot.

What's my least favorite sign of Spring? All the UFOs I have to pull out of Woody's mouth. He is stealth -- so I have to be on my toes. He had something in his mouth this morning that was so disgusting I couldn't even identify it. I pulled it out and threw it and immediately gagged. How could anyone, even a dog, want to eat something so disgusting? But then I am writing about a dog who eats Max's "cat cookies". He is definitely NOT a foodie!

This coming Friday I'm having some people over to watch the Royal Wedding. I'm not a big fan of the Royals but this is total spectacle -- and I am a fan of spectacle. Woody will be sporting a bow tie -- he must dress for the occasion!

Happy 2011

It's been awhile since my last post. Max and Woody had a good Christmas. Woody was spoiled rotten by my mom and dad. He stayed there while we went to Michigan. He's not exactly persona non grata there but he's better off staying in Illinois. The Pepoys aren't exactly dog people. It took me 18 years to convert Andrew...

The weekend before Christmas we had a photographer, www.tailsoflove.com, come out and take pictures of Max and Woody. Jessica, who owns the business, did a great job.

Woody seems to be holding steady. His stomach issues haven't acted up in awhile and he's been a dream. He hasn't even had any accidents in the house lately. I'm sure I just jinxed myself.

I've included some photos from the photography session. I have to include Maxie too -- he should get his due.

It's met Woody day!

Today, 2 years ago, is the day we MET Woody (as opposed to GOT Woody day which happens in a few days).

This morning I went for a walk and when I came back Andrew said "thank God you're home...this dog hasn't stopped yelping at the door since you left". Yep, co-dependent and proud -- both of us. :)

I love my dog. That's it.

Happy Halloween!

Today is Halloween...Woody has a costume but he refused to walk in it this morning. He has bat wings...bat beagle. He wore them before but, apparently, he was embarrassed by them this morning. He had an interesting walk today. He decided this morning was the morning to chase every squirrel he saw (he's usually hit or miss on squirrels -- mainly miss) and there was a guy playing in the park with his dog and Woody was very interested in the exchange. It was odd. He is terrified of most dogs and he doesn't like to play but he saw this guy playing with his dog and he just stopped and watched. They he howled at them. Then he wanted to walk home. When we were out later in the day he was interested in some of the dogs outside -- maybe he's learning to get over his fear of dogs. I dunno. It's just so hard to tell since when they're face-to-face he is hit or miss on how he reacts. Andrew took video of him (posted) of how he acts when I buzz the door and come home. Unfortunately Andrew didn't realize you can't rotate a flip video -- so this video is sideways. Nothing I can do about it -- but it's enjoyable and it's how I get greeted every day. Not a bad gig for me. :)

This dog loves to eat rebate forms

Today Woody ate his second set of rebate forms. The first forms he ate were the rebate forms for our new cell phones...we had to go back to T-Mobile and ask them to print new ones because "our dog at the first set"...they were like "really"? Yep, really...REALLY...

Today I came home and he had pulled the forms for our tax credit for our new windows off the table and he ate 3/4 of the form.

I don't know what he's trying to tell me...he eats bills, checks, money, rebate forms...he's his own financial institution. Such a goof!

October

Wow, I can't believe it's October. At the beginning of next month Woody will have been with us for two years. It feels like a lifetime -- in a good way. :) He's still eating paper -- now he prefers our building's bills and check register -- and he still has a taste for cat poop -- but we're doing our best to deter him in that area.

Woody and Max are buds now. They hang out in the hall together and when Woody runs -- Max doesn't flinch. He just hangs out and enjoys the show. Maxie is good -- at 17 years old he seems to be doing alright. He waps at Woody every now and again when he's hanging out on the sofa with me and Woody gets too close -- but it's a friendly wap.

Woody's tummy is somewhat under control. He's on pepcid and pepto and tylen powder. It acts up every now and again but we manage to get it under control. I think we're in maintenance mode. I hope we are!

We've also discovered that I can't leave through the front door without him. He's fine when I leave through the back door. I think he knows that as my "exit" door. When I go out the front door, which I think he believes is his "exit" door he will sit at the door, sometimes for hours, waiting for me. Andrew says he cries, whines and will, occasionally, throw himself at the door. Poor little guy. So I do my best not to exit out the front door. I don't want to stress him out.

The good news is that my foot is healed enough that I can walk him again. Weekends are my days to walk him. And he knows it. We go to the park. I can't walk him in any direction except towards the park on Saturdays and Sundays. It's pretty funny to watch us if I try to veer him in another direction. He plants his feet and won't budge until I give up and we go to the park.

We also bought him a halloween costume -- bat wings. And he loves them. Which is hilarious because he hates wearing anything -- but the bat wings must be coooool. :)

I hope to post more...things have calmed down a bit...no more PT, work is somewhat under control -- for now -- and I do want to make sure I document our time spent with Woody. I read beagles average life is 12 years. Woody will be 11 years old this year. He seems, most times, spry as a puppy but the 12 years is in the back of my mind and I can't imagine our lives without him now.

It has been a long time

It's been a long time since I posted anything about my furry friend. He's good. He's sitting here on the sofa with me. Currently he is without food -- his tummy is bothering him. We can't get this sorted out. Just when we think he's better -- his doggie butt blows up -- and this past incarnation has been inside the house. Luckily I told Andrew to put out the piddle pads and they've served us well as poop pads.

Detente

Well, it's been a month since my surgery. You'd think with all this time on my hands I'd be writing more -- not so much. Not much to say when you sit all day with your foot in the air. Woody has been fantastic -- sits with me every day. There's a gentle detente between Woody and Max -- Woody will sleep on one side and Max will sleep on my chest. Max so desperately wants to head butt Woody -- just like he used to do to Kafka but Woody would never tolerate it. Maxie is desperate to be Woody's BFF -- he just refuses to acknowledge him.

Emma met Woody. She said she'd get a dog if she could find one like Woody -- so that's my objective -- find her a Woody-beagle dog.

RIP Georgia

Hi there. Gene and Lisa had to put Georgia to sleep yesterday. What a sweetie. She recently underwent chemom for stomach cancer. She was doing better but took a the worse. Gene, Lisa and her sister, Nibbles, gave Georgia a great life. She was a sweet pup who never turned down a treat or a belly rub. Who loved to run and play in the park.

We're going to miss you sweetie. We love you.

Adventures in Bartlett

How did I manage to go a month without posting? Yikes.

Woody stayed with Andy and Michele while we were in Mexico. He had some mixed results. He did fairly well -- he LOVED Michele. The kids were too much for him. Mitch and Luke are a little crazy -- they're boys -- and Woody just isn't used to all the noise or action (lots of dancing and jumping). He barked at them a couple of times and snapped at Luke. I feel terrible about the snapping. Michele assured me it wasn't bad and he made no contact with Luke -- just a warning to stay away. She said he waa welcome back.

Since he's been home all he has done is sleep. He was exhausted.

Hilary is going to watch Woody while I have surgery. He has offered to stay at our place -- I think we might take him up on it.

I'm just glad we're all home.

In the morning...

February Blues

Now that January is almost over -- was it the longest January on record or what? Felt like it had 6 weeks in it instead of the standard four. February is upon us and I'm full of nerves -- for both me and Woody. I'm nervous about Woody staying with Andy and Michele for 6 days. Poor Woody. Poor Andy and Michele. He's low key but he's a handful. And he pees. In the house. Not much but enough to make him an unwelcome house guest. Well, he does here about 1x per month. He never has at my mom and dad's house but at Cory and Lou's? Well, that's another story. I'm worried he'll get sick when we're gone. What if his stomach stuff kicks up while we're away? He's been off his medication for a month now and he seems fine. I just worry. And we'll miss him. And he'll miss us. Then there's Maxie...poor Maxie. His thyroid will be a hot mess when we come back if people can't give him his medication. And he'll be really lonely. He hasn't been left alone for this period of time ever -- Kafka was always with him before. He's going to be so sad.

See where I'm going with this? I am going to feel so guilty.

Then it's time for my surgery. They'll both have to be taken care of, again. Then I'll come home and I'll smell different, won't be able to walk and will be in so much pain. And Woody will get underfoot. And I'm afraid I'm going to fall. This is the stuff that keeps me up at night and up early in the morning. If I fall during the first 4-5 weeks and land on my foot -- my foot is toast. That makes me sick to my stomach every time I think about it. It's going to be hard on all of us. I just hope we all survive the next few months. It's going to be a long haul.

Chewie

Okay, I don't normally put other dogs on my blog but this little guy, from the Daily Puppy, is just too cute not to post. His name is Chewbacca and he's a poodle mix. What a face!

It's a BEAGLE!

Woody's DNA test came back -- he's all Beagle! He's a level 1 Beagle -- whatever that means.

Cuddle Pup

I had the worst night's sleep last night but the most comforting sleep this morning. I woke up at 3:00 am. First of all I was in a panic that I was late for work but then, when I realized it was Sunday morning, I started to notice my foot hurt -- a lot. Then I started to worry about my foot. I see Dr. Pacaccio tomorrow but I'm afraid he's going to tell me it's getting worse and I can't wait until Feb. 24th, which means no trip to Mexico for us. So I'm in the middle of my panic, shopping for Donna's baby shower gift and Woody comes over to me on the sofa. I lift him up, put him beside me and we went back to sleep until 9:00 am. He is such a cuddle pup. I can pick him up, curl him up in my arms and he just stays right there with me -- like he knows I need comforting. I love that about him. Andrew woke up and was going to take him out but he saw us and didn't dare disturb us -- smart move!

Little Pink Blanket

Nix

Stay...too pricey and I don't feel like I want to pay over $500 to people I don't trust with my dog (yes, I have issues...but that's not a surprise). So Michele graciously offered, or agreed, to watch him. We'll pay them -- but we're in a negotiating phase right now. I'm so happy. He'll do well over there. She's home all the time. The kids are around. Andy wants a dog fix.

I also bought a Furminator today. HOLY COW. I lost a dog with all the fur it took off. I'm going to LOVE this thing. It's awesome.

Woody ate a million air treats today. I love that he thinks they're real treats.

Stay

Stay, www.staydoghotel.com is the place I think we're going to keep Woody at while we're away in Mexico and, again, when I have surgery. I think we're going for the uber deluxe room -- 160 sq. ft. of pure doggie heaven -- or at least some space. It's more expensive but, since he's spent a majority of his life in a cage, I didn't want to put him in a smaller cage.

I'm going to give them a call today. I'll find out if it's suitable for out boy.

Zoikers...suite, walks, cuddletime and bath all add up to $473 for his stay...That's er, more than my plane ticket to Mexico.