OSUbuckeye’s blog

Time to catch up!

nobody@vox.com(OSUbuckeye) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:20:30 -0800

I didn't realize how long it's been since I set up this blog. Hoping to get pictures on it didn't happen, but what do you expect from a dial-up connection!! One day, high speed will be in our future, one day!

Since last march, I watched my Buckeyes go to number one, only to fall, then back to number one again! But, also a second disappointing year at the national championship game. It's still worth all the excitement and fun at the game, but man, two in a row. It's a bummer.

The summer was filled with camps and travels. By me, no, by my girls! Girl Scouts keeps us very busy at this end of the world. My 7th grader enjoying the responsiblities and the comradery with her troop mates, and is getting ready for another 2 week camp with her friends. The 1st grader, she'd be happy to sit at home and do no camps, but to keep me sane, she's going for a day camp with girl scouts, and some of her troop mates, for a week while her older sister is in camp.

A major change happened in our household. Our dog, Freda, was put to sleep in January. Was the hardest decision I've had to make in a very long time, and honestly, one I still wish I hadn't made. For weeks, I've been upset and I still had expected her to be lying on a particular rug when I would get home from errands. My youngest still cries for her, my oldest, well, didn't think she'd have to help her mom deal with something so difficult, but she's a trooper. Then, about a week and a half ago, my friend Angie told me to go to the shelter to look at this dog (a St. Bernard),that needs to be fostered. She also thought the dog would make a good addtion to the house. Though I wanted a dog badly, I felt horrible that I would be just replacing Freda. I took the kids and the husband to the shelter, mostly because my youngest is afraid of most dogs and she's my deciding factor on what we can have in the house. Low and behold, she wasn't afraid of this dog that stands almost to her face level. The husband says yes to fostering, but he wants a great dane.

So, Sasha came home with us a week ago monday. She's loving, my youngest will lay on her to watch tv, and Sasha seems to enjoy life in our house. My husband seems to like her even with the awful quality of wanting to get her adopted by someone so he can get a great dane. Guess who will win?!?!?! Maybe the person who cares for the animals??? Our only problem with Sasha is that she won't poop. She also wasn't eating quite right. Thinking that changing her from her beneful diet to science diet would be healthier, also changed her eating habits. She ate a little, but no poo. So, to the vet we went on Friday, and they did the enema thing and drained her bladder. Said she was severely constipated. I took Sasha back in on Monday because she was supposed to get a dental (her teeth aren't in the best of conditions and she's missing all the front ones), but she still hadn't pooed for me. So, after a day with the vet, full of baruim and xrays, she came back without a teeth cleaning (we have to fix the poo problem first). She's now on stool softners, and I added canned food to her diet (hoping the extra moisture would help), and no poo. I'm sure everything will come out eventually, but it's got to be icky to be that stopped up!!!

Even with her poo problems, I believe Sasha is here to stay. She's 5 years old, pretty much middle to upper aged in St. Bernard standards. Has her own problems, she's dog aggressive besides the poo and icky teeth thing. But, the kids and I love having her in our house. She's mending our hearts, and I think that's the most important thing right now. As for her name, I think we're keeping it. All but one of my dogs have had Peanuts character names, and I was thinking of changing hers, but couldn't come up with quite the right one for her. She doesn't look like a Schroeder - that was going to be the top choice for the next name. Now out to walk her to see if we can get some things moving!!

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Party a sucess!!

nobody@vox.com(OSUbuckeye) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:24:29 -0700

One thing I haven't posted on, or had the time to post, was because of a surprise birthday party I did for my husband. His birthday was actually 2 weeks before the party, but that helped make it that much more of a surprise. Once he came back to the house, with his friends already waiting, I sent him, and "teams" of his friends to do an amazing race around the city we live it.

The first stop was at the local elementary to find a stuffed animal on the nature trail behind the school.

Second stop was at a friends house for their detour: brains or eagle eye. In brains, the teams had to solve a crossword puzzle I created that had clues and answers about my husband's life. In eagle eye, the teams had to find a rubix cube puzzle in the backyard of my friends house.

Third stop was at a gas station where a team member had to go in, purchase an airhead (all money was supplied by me and placed in their envelopes) and show it to the pit captain to get the next clue.

Fourth stop was at an ice cream parlor where they had to eat a mid-size ice cream to get their next clue.

Fifth stop was at the library where the teams had to find a book on a list that I supplied them.

Sixth stop was at a dollar type store to purchase 2 black balloons (these were for decorations at the party).

Seventh and final stop was back at our house.

The party then started with lots and lots of mexican food that I've been cooking for the past 2-3 days and storing in my neighbors fridge. I got to the point on Friday that I didn't have enough done that I used my friend as an excuse to make more food for her party (he already thought she was having a party that day). I had many people who helped me along the race route, and they were greatly appreciated! The racers all had a lot of fun, and all seemed to enjoy the food, even the cool cake my friend made for me! Pictures of this cool party will come in just a few days!!

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The party's over!!!

nobody@vox.com(OSUbuckeye) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:59:59 -0700

All is finally going smoothly at the house again, except I now have a 12 year old. Girl at that! Her simple party was nice, only a few kids to invite so my dog didn't need to be locked up away from too many prying hands (she is 16 after all). And the cake, what I thought would be a cute little cake had to have a Star Wars theme. So here I go, and made a cake with the Death Star shooting Alderon. True Star Wars fans will know what that's all about!!

Kermit is no longer in my care. Trying to foster him was a little difficult, but having a child who is very afraid of dogs who are not her own didn't help. And being a puppy full of energy is a lot different than what she was used to. Hopefully, at the kennel that he's with, still in the group that I was helping out, he'll end up with a forever home that will be just perfect for his needs.

So now it's time to plan more parties and volunteer for my kids schools. Life is a never ending process. Maybe making a new stained glass window for my church will help me slow down a little. That's a great story - someone tried to break into the chapel, but only managed to destroy a very old 12 inch square window. Amazing that people are so brass that they will try and rob a church. I have what's left of the window back at my home and have to try and replicate it - though there isn't hardly anything left salvageable in it. At least making something for the church is keeping my hands busy!

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It's day 4 with Kermit!

nobody@vox.com(OSUbuckeye) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:16:46 -0800

Yes, four days ago I became a foster mom to an adorable, beautiful 12 week old Akita. He came to me when my friend who fosters many asked a big favor. Since he was already in the midst of housetraining, if he was put in another home, he would have most likely reverted to piddling around the house. He also has some neurological problems, and looks like he has a "bobble head" or like I like to call it, "puppy parkinson's." His balance is a little off, so when he's running, he'll either tumble along or run into some things. No matter, "bumbles bounce!" What was the most shocking is that my husband said yes to fostering!! Didn't expect that one at all. My girls get along with Kermit well enough. My 5yo has a fear of any dog that isn't ours, but she's letting Kermit come near her, and plays with him or reads to him when he's in his crate. My almost 12yo has been very helpful, spending time running him around the yard so he gets nice and tired out for the end of the day. This has been an interesting experience with my family, and I'm really enjoying the fact that everyone pitches in to help take care of him.

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