Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Home feels a little closer

Monday, Lexie and Allison headed home to Alexandria, Virginia. Allison, as a single mom with an 8-month-old does NOT travel light. Stroller holds Lexie, a big heavy bag to check, a diaper bag and two computers. My goodness! Here she is getting ready to pile everything into her rental car and head to the airport in Tampa. Little Lexie is strapped into the back seat and off they go.
She is a very accomplished person, and she approaches motherhood no differently. An Army Lt. Colonel stationed at the Pentagon, Allison knows how to multitask, without a doubt. I was so impressed with her competence. She's someone who makes her mom very proud, and this latest accomplishment (Lexie) has certainly increased her stature in my mind. It was super high to begin with.

After they left, with just Norma Jean and me in the house, it felt very quiet and empty. I realized that my own trip home is less than a week away. It is now feeling much closer, hence the title of this post. Time to get some more life in this house!

Yesterday, Norma Jean and I finally gave up waiting for all the possible rescue places to return our constant telephone calls and headed to the Tampa Humane Society. We knew it would be traumatic, but we wanted to come home with a dog to help Norma Jean through this crisis. She will still be fostering a chihuahua once we get a chance to receive him, but road blocks keep being placed in our path to picking him up. And we came home with a little ten-pound Yorkshire terrier mix, with the shelter name of "Me Too." We have been calling her "Babe" and "little girl" while she learns her new environment. So far the biggest problem is getting her to pee outside. On Monday she had abdominal surgery to repair a hernia, and perhaps that's what is causing her to be uncomfortable. This morning she vomited several times and now we are worried about her.
She is estimated to be somewhere around two and a half years old, could be more, who knows for sure. You can see her tail is going so fast it's just a blur in the picture, and she has that doggie underbite that is clearly visible. Yesterday she was very animated and took to her new surroundings quickly, but today she is listless and acting very unwell. The Society gave us pet insurance but it doesn't take effect until tomorrow, for some reason.

Nobody knows her history, but she was very easy to bring home in a car, she climbed immediately into a doggie bed and perked up every time she heard a motorcycle. Today she is acting entirely different. The vet doesn't open until 8:00 am, but I think that's where we are headed instead of going swimming this morning. More later.
:-}

24 comments:

  1. You are helping out I can see.Your niece is amazing!

    Love that doggie and his underbite:)Hope he gets well soon and Norma jean is going to be able to enjoy his company.Wish her well.

    Both of you have a nice day.

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  2. Kids and dogs are great companions. Motorcycles? The dog must have had an interesting life thus far. Today's families are so separated by great distances these days that it is hard to keep in touch and support each other through life's problems. I missed that special sisterhood relationship. Good on you for being there to help manage the challenges and supporting the family.

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  3. smiles. cute pup...i am sure it will bring some smiles and life...enjoy that last week!

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  4. Hmmm, you and your family are certainly busy these days. It's interesting to hear how your niece copes with her hectic lifestyle and that little dog, awwww, so sweet! I do hope she does ok.

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  5. A thought: dogs handle stress differently. Some vomit, regurgitate, go from animated to listless,etc. She may just be getting used to a new environment. Lots of love should take care of that, as it would for any of us. She's a cutie-pie.

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  6. What a cute dog! Makes me want to adopt one, too. I hope she recovers soon.

    And, yes, your niece is super competent. I guess she has to be in order to work at the Pentagon.

    Nice post, DJan.

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  7. Aw what a couple of lovely posts that I have just read. Hope that wee doggy is feeling better. Your grand niece looks beautiful. Nothing like children to bring out the best in us - especially when they can be handed back at nappy changing time! just lovely and you look so happy.

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  8. What a cute pup! Glad things are straightening out.

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  9. She is a really cute dog. Maybe she is still having side effects from surgery and anesthesia or the adjustment to a new home. Did Norma Jean keep her on the same brand of dog food? Dogs are so sensitive to change. I hope it is nothing serious. She will make a nice companion.

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  10. What a cutie. I do hope she's all better very soon.

    I agree that your niece is a woman to be admired.

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  11. You have such an amazing family! I'm glad you've gotten to have this special time with them all.

    The puppy is adorable! I sure hope she's okay.

    Enjoy your last days with your sister.

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  12. Babe is staying at the vet's for hydration. Her kidneys were affected by severe dehydration, probably caused by having had surgery while in the pound. They are hydrating her every two hours until we are scheduled to pick her up at 4:30 pm. She hasn't eaten anything since she came to us 18 hours ago, although their has been food for her, only drinking water.

    We also found she's probably older than two and most likely a Jack Russell/Shi Tsu mix. We're hoping she's going to be okay... poor thing, I'm already smitten!

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  13. Poor Pup..when you get her back home..try some ice chips..I used to put ice in my mouth take a swig of coke and then spit part of it in my hand..all the while making yummy noises..and offer it to the sick dog...repeating until they absolutely refused. (I know it sounds kinda gross..but it worked for me.)Dogs have delicate fluid balances and with a little dog plus surgery plus who know what else..I hope you get to bring her back home. :)

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  14. My granddaughter is four now and my daughter still travels with paraphernalia that looks like she's going on a 5 month camping trip.
    That pup is so lucky to have you!

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  15. Allison is a brave and determined woman as I can see her while reading your post and I know Lexie would be like her Mom when she grows up.
    Babe is such a cutie, and I hope that would be okay soon,don't worry.
    Adopting dogs brings joy to the family, believe me.

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  16. I know it's just one picture, but Babe looks like a dog who wants so badly to be loved. She's adorable, and she must be so very stressed out. She looks a little like Pixie when we first found her. Pixie still shows a crooked, toothy smile on occasion, but these days it's just one of her ways of letting us know how exasperating her humans can sometimes be.

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  17. Lots of changes. It really does seem quiet when your adult kids leave after a visit.
    And a new dog! It's tougher on these little guys than we think for them to come to a new home. This one's trying to make it and I'm sure it will.

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  18. Enjoy your last week, but I will be glad to see you back in B'ham. The Y just doesn't seem the same.

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  19. Glad you got the dog. I love them so much. We have always had a dog but since 2006 when Autumn passed, we have had none. I hope this one works out for you.

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  20. A new mission is always a good starting place when experiencing a loss of a loved one. I hope the outcome is good for "Babe". Your niece is amazing. As a single parent I know what she's in for...and it seems she's going to totally handle things beautifully. Is Lexie watching a video in the back seat? How fun is that? Gosh all the new stuff they have for kids now. What fun!
    Glad you're there with Norma Jean this week...it seems she might need you most right now. You're an awesome sister. Still holding you both in my thoughts of light and love. Sending big hugs.xo

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  21. Poor little thing. Now to be back at the vet's, oh my! Has your sister considered getting a puppy as her own to keep? I'd never be able to give that little thing up.

    I'm always amazed at these young mothers that travel with their small children. It is not easy! Hope she had a good trip home.

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  22. Oh no! Hope she gets better!

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  23. She is so sweet. I love the "blurr tail".

    With an underbite, I bet she has some Lapso or Shitzu in her too.

    Yep, vomiting and the constipation would go together...poor baby...Hope she is better soon.

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  24. I would have hated to travel with an infant through the airport alone. It's pretty impossible to travel light when they're that age.

    The dog is darlin, and I'm glad to hear she's doing better. It should be helpful for your sister to be needed. I hate that you have to leave soon; it seems like you just got there!

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