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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

hi everyone.

Sorry ths is late, but as most of you know mom had another stroke last week and she spent a few days in the hospital.  It was a mild stroke.  She should recover from this one.  Mom lost quite a bit of the progress she made from the first stroke and she wants to get back to where she was. 

I am not going to be writing for a while so I can help dad get mom better.  Mom is going to concentrate on exercising and getting stronger.  She is also tired a lot as her body needs to heal. 

love,

DAISY

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

MOM'S HOME

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "If your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either."  Unknown

THIS IS:  National Safe At Home Week


Mom's home and I am one happy dog.  I'm going to help take care of her along with dad.  First, I am going to follow her from room to room to be there in case she falls.  I'll let her land on me so she doesn't hurt herself.  I'll be able to lick her tears and I'll be there to comfort her.

I sleep with her, too.   Sometimes when dad is still up and mom calls for him he doesn't hear her.  I'm there and I bark for him.  I am wherever mom is.  If she's watching TV on the porch I am laying right beside the couch.  If she's at her desk, I am there, too.  I don't want mom to be alone and I don't want her to go away again.

Every day I nudge her bad hand and lick it.  She can't pet me with her right hand and I'm hoping my kisses will make it all better.

Mom does her exercises every day so she can get stronger.  She's able to walk around the house now without any aids.  She's even managed to make a few meals.   But dad still feeds me and the cats.

I love it after dinner when me, dad and mom go for a walk.  Mom goes in her wheelchair, dad pushes and mom has me on a leash.  I pull mom along and dad steers.  Mom loves it.  She's always smiling and laughing...Oh the little pleasures.  I'm glad the cats can't come along.  This is my special time with mom and dad.

I know how much mom appreciates what I do to help her because she tells me what a good dog I am and she tells me she loves me all the time.




Daisy Dog Blog is written bi-weekly with a new post entered every other Wednesday.  If you would like to subscribe please send an e-mail to daisydogb1@cfl.rr.com  with "subscribe" in the subject box.

next post:  9/12

e-mail:  daisydog1@cfl.rr.com
Copyright 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "As many know brain injury comes in many forms.  The most prevalent brain injuries - stroke and trauma - affect more than 2.2 million Americans and these numbers are expected to grow."  Allyson Schwartz

THIS IS:  Feeding pets of the homeless week


Mom was away again for close to six weeks.  I finally found out where she was when dad took me to see her.  We went to this building that had a lot of bedrooms and old people living there.  What was mom doing there?  She already had a home.  I heard someone say stroke.  Did that mean she could never pet me again?  Feed me?  Take me for walks?  Dad was doing all of that now.

As soon as I saw mom, I ran to her and started licking  her.  I was so happy to see her.  I laid in bed with her and curled up at her feet.  Me, mom and dad would all lie on the bed at night and  watch TV.  It was a bit crowded, but cozy. 

Mom couldn't walk.  She was in a chair with huge wheels and foot rests.  And dad had to wheel her around.  We'd all go for a walk outside.  Dad would tuck mom in at night, and then we'd leave her there and go home. What was wrong with mom?  What was a stroke?  It must mean something horrible.  When was mom coming home?

When I got home from seeing mom, I reassured Mickey and Minnie that mom was okay.  They seemed pleased with the news but you know how cats are...they just continued to clean themselves.  I think they were jealous because I saw mom and they didn't. 

Dad took me a few more times to see mom.  Other people in that place looked forward to seeing me, too.  But my mom's roommate was afraid of me.  All I wanted to do was lick her hand and help her get better.

While mom was in the nursing home she kept saying she didn't belong there because she was too young to have had this happen to her.  But she had therapy to help her walk and use her right hand again.  She seemed to enjoy therapy.

Mom also talked a little funny.  A very nice lady helped mom to speak normal again.  That was good because I had trouble understanding her sometimes. 

When dad would leave mom at night, I always wondered why mom didn't leave with him.  It was lonely at home without her.  We all missed her very much.

DaisyDodblog is written bi-weekly with a new post entered evert other Wednesday.

Copyright 2012

Saturday, August 4, 2012

THEY'RE BACK

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records."

THIS IS;  LONDON 2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS

YEAH!!!  Mom and Dad came back for me.  Each morning when I woke up, I expected to see mom and have her take me out.  She wasn't there. Other nice people took care of me while mom and dad were away.  They fed me, took me for walks, and cuddled with me.  I had a comfortable place to sleep and it was roomy enough, but it wasn't like being at home in bed with mom and dad.

The most fun were the play dates with other dogs whose moms and dads were on vacation too.   Some of my new friends were Ziggy, Bella, Rose, and Izzy.  The other dogs were so much fun.  I also chased a ball and wrestled.  I was an alpha dog...whatever that means.  I t must be good because I didn't get scolded.

Very early one morning, I was lying in my kennel when I heard mom's voice.  I heard dad, too.  I dragged the attendant to the reception area when she came for me.  I know I am not supposed to, but I jumped all over mom and dad when I saw them because I couldn't contain my excitement.

I enjoyed the comfort of the car ride home.  I always have the back seat and I pace from side to side window looking at the people in other cars.  Sometimes I try to sneak into the front seat but mom won't let me; she says it's dangerous.

When we pulled into the driveway, I knew I was home.  I ran into the house makling sure everything was safe.  I chased Mickey and Minnie to let them know I missed them, too.

Mom gave me a special treat she brought all the way home from Hawaii. it tasted so good.  Then she fed me breakfast and took me for a walk.  Things were getting back to normal.   When mom abd dad came home, I got a new squeaky toy.  I play with it every dat.  It's my favorite.  

Everyone was really, really nice at Best Friends.  But it wasn't home and they weren't mom and dad.

A little while later, mom got sick and she was gone for more than a month.  More about that another time.

DaisyDogBlog is written bi-weekly with a new post every other Wednesday

e-mail: daisydog1@cfl.rr.com
Coptright:  2012

 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

SOMETHING'S GOING ON AROUND HERE!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "To err is human, to forgive, canine."  Unknown

THIS IS:  Go Fetch!  Food Drive for Homeless Animals Month


Something is going on around here, and mom doesn't think I've noticed.  But I have.

About three weeks ago dad went into the guest room closet.  He reached high up on the shelf and brought down these large, gray things that look like odd shaped boxes.  They have straps and wheels on them.  Nothing was in them, so I don't know why he bothered to bring them down.

Then, about two weeks ago, mom started putting little bottles and jars on a table in the guest room.

Last week, mom was on a cleaning frenzy.  She even had dad down on his hands and knees scrubbing the hardwood flooring.  I heard her say to dad, "You know how I hate coming home to a dirty house after we've been gone."

Where were they going?  Mom never did this stuff before when she went shopping, to the movies, or out to lunch with girlfriends.  I'm confused and a little frightened.

And did I mention mom and dad took me to the doctor's office?  They said something about a vaccination expiring.  Not only did I get a thermometer up my you-know-what along with a dipstick in the same place to get a sample of you-know-what, I was mauled practically to death.  A nice girl held me and spoke softly in my ear while the doctor prodded, pushed, and poked my legs and body.  He shined a light in my eyes, and looked deep into my ears.  He even pried my mouth open to check my teeth.  But that wasn't the worst of it.  That so-called doctor had this weird instrument that blew something into each of my nostrils.  That's when I drew the line.  I insisted I get taken back to mom and dad immediately.

But the kicker was when mom and dad sat in the living room and talked about me like I wasn't even there!

"I take Daisy on a 30 minute walk every day," mom said.  "I want to keep her as close to her normal routine as possible.  I'm sure she'll get her morning walk.  I also think she should get a 30 minute play date every day, too."

I wondered, What in tarnation is going on here?

Well, wonder no more.  Mom and dad are going away and NOT taking me with them!  They are going on vacation...without me...


Daisy Dog Blog is written bi-weekly, with a new post every other Wednesday.

Next post:  Due to a vacation, the next post will be June 27th, 2012.

e-mail:  daisydog1@cfl.rr.com
Copyright 2012

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

BUGS BUG ME!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee."  William H. Walton

THIS IS:  National Dog Bite Prevention Week


It may not be summer on the calendar yet, but it is summer in Florida.  And summer weather brings out the bugs.

Love bugs are a major annoyance, and they come out twice a year, once in late spring, and once in late summer.  Since in reality it is late spring, the love bugs have arrived.  These flying insects come in pairs and they swarm around gas powered lawn mowers and cars (among other things).  They are attracted to light and fresh paint.

Several years ago Don and I left for a two week vacation in May.  We had just had our house painted.  It turned out to be a love bug magnet!  Just ask Marlene.  She cat sat while we were gone, and every day she had to sweep a path for her golf cart just to get to our door.  Don and I tried to kill them with Raid, and it worked.  They died.  However, they seemed to like the scent of Raid, and even more love bugs appeared.

We were sure glad when the spring love bug season was over, but the fresh paint still attracted them.  We had a late summer swarm at our house, and we filled a zillion garbage bags with their corpses.  If anyone was looking for us during those times, people would tell them, "Just go to the house that is hosting the love bug convention."

Another species of bugs that bugs me is ants.  Did you know there are around 100 different species of ants in central Florida?  Neither did I.  I didn't think there were that many different species in the world.

I think fire ants are the worst.  They sting and they hurt.  They itch.  And then the bites turn into ugly little white bumps.  Not only do they sting people, they attack our pets, livestock, and wildlife.  They can kill and eat ground-nesting birds and mammals.  They are mean and vicious.  I want them on the FBI's most wanted list.

I didn't know what a Pharaoh ant was until I lived in Florida.  They are tiny, only about 1/16 of an inch long.  They eat, among other things, jellies, cookies, honey, peanut butter, and, as I have found them several times in my pet food bowls, they eat pet food, too.  It doesn't matter whether it's dog or cat food, the ants aren't picky.  Oh, and they do eat other insects.  I wonder, does that include fire ants?

Pharaoh ants are found in our homes, office buildings, schools, and hospitals.  Heck, I even saw them in a high-rise hotel I was staying at.  And, I was on the 20th floor!  How did they manage to get up that high?  Did they all pile onto the elevator?

Then there are carpenter ants, the acrobat ant, the crazy ant, and the Florida Harvester Ant.

As long as we're talking about bugs, I really need to mention the deer fly.  Here is something scary.  The "females use knife-like mandibles and maxillae to make a cross-shaped incision and then lap up the blood."  Wikipedia.  Yuk.

The bites, or incisions as they are called, hurt and they itch.  If I don't get Cortaid on my bites almost immediately, the area surrounding the bite turns red and swollen and travels several inches around the bite.  I keep Cortaid with me during deer fly season, which, by the way, seems to coincide with love bug season.

I started to do a little research on spiders living here in central Florida, but the photos on the Internet really creeped me out.  I would rather be in a room full of snakes that be in a room with one spider.  All I can say is that there are lots of spiders around here, and I always have a full can of Raid nearby...right next to my tube of Cortaid.

P.S.  Our furry pets are bothered by bugs, too.  Make sure you give them flea and tick protection.  And spiders have been known to bite our pets, too.

DaisyDogBlog is written bi-weekly, with a new post being entered every other Wednesday.

Next post:  5/30/12

e-mail:  daisydog1@cfl.rr.com
Copyright 2012

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

AND SO THEY'RE GONE...BUT OTHERS KEEP COMING

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience."  Woodrow Wilson

THIS IS:  Go Fetch!  Food Drive for Homeless Animals Month


I've been noticing on my morning walks lately how many campers have gone back home for the summer.  My canine friends have disappeared along with my human ones.  The nice couple from Wisconsin left a few weeks ago, and mom and dad's friends from Ottawa left, too.  Just about all mom and dad's euchre friends from Larry to Bev and Bruce to Bernice and Don won't be back until next fall either.

Ducky and Chloe, two very pretty shelties left last week...just when we were getting to be good friends.  I think I might miss them the most.  Chloe is really funny.  She barks and barks at me and follows behind me in the dog run.  She's so close that sometimes I can even feel her breath on my butt!  But the second I turn around to play with her, she runs away.  Then, when I continue to walk along, she'll run up behind me again.

Nothing seems to phase Ducky.  She prances along, barking from to time, hoping that mom or dad will give her a treat.

Not only are the snowbirds gone, but a lot of the residents have left for cooler summers, too.  The houses are closed up and vehicles are no longer in the driveways.

Sometimes it gets lonely here in the summer.  Pam and Dan have left on an extended RV camping trip.  They are always so happy to see me.  I wiggle my butt and wag my tail when I see them because they are just so friendly.  I think they like me.

Sally and Mike have left for a vacation, too.  Hopefully they'll be back soon.  I love seeing them on my morning walk.  Sally is really good at petting me.

There are still some brave souls, though, who stay here through the hot summer months.  Beauty is one of my favorite pals.  Sometimes our moms take us to the dog run together.  We chase squirrels up trees and along the fences.  It's just so much fun.

Dulce is still here, too.  We get along together well, and the last time we met in the dog run we played a little bit.

I saw little Snoopy the other day, and we walked together for a bit.  Snoopy is so tiny but not afraid of big dogs at all.

The summer folks are starting to trickle in now...maybe some of them will have a dog I can play with.


Daisy Dog Blog is written bi-weekly, with a new post entered every other Wednesday.

Next post:  5/6/12

E-mail:  daisydog1@cfl.rr.com
Copyright 2012