1. Friday was my mom's birthday. If you remember, my Granny passed away in March, my mom's mom. Also remember that Granny and mom share the same birthday. So this was going to be a hard day for her, the first birthday without Granny.
On Thursday, at the last minute, I asked my Sergeant if I could have Friday off and they approved. I got Amanda up and ready and we headed to mom and dad's. Dad and I have been having problems and I knew it would be good to let them go on this day. Well, we got there and rang the door bell, both mom and dad started crying. Mom was holding two Mylar "happy birthday" balloons and some flowers. We walked in and all started hugging and crying. Dad told me he didn't want to fight anymore and neither do I. After we settled down, mom told me they were going to the park to release one of the balloons for Granny. I told her that sounded good. Then I told her we needed to hurry tho cause we were going to Oklahoma and do a turn around. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive there. She had a somewhat shocked look on her face. I told her that since she didn't want me to get her anything for this birthday, that my gift was to take her to OK and put flowers on Granny's grave and to get to see the head stone she hasn't got to see yet. More tears. Amanda and I thought she wouldn't go, my mom is not a spontaneous person, so we were shocked she said okay. Had she said no, we were going to trick her into "going to the store with us", then just take off to OK. We are a sneaky bunch.
We got there about 1pm and my Aunt Doris (Granny's sister) had made a wonderful lunch. We ate, went and got flowers and headed to the cemetery. It is an old country cemetery, very quiet and serene. Once we visited, placed beautiful red, artificial roses on Granny's grave, and replaced all the flowers on the other family headstones, and cleaned up some others, we headed back to Aunt Doris'. About 5:30 we headed back for home, another 3 1/2 drive. Mom was so happy and sad at the same time. I told her I was glad she had a good birthday and that I couldn't call it happy because Granny wasn't here, and she told me it was a happy birthday for her. Course I couldn't cry when she said that cause I was driving. (smile)
Mom just couldn't believe I was doing this and that she went along with it. But I just couldn't see her not getting to visit Granny on the first birthday of her being gone. It wasn't really closure, but it had to be done. Mom had to go visit. I guess I can't explain it, but I am sure those who read this will understand.
2. Libby is all better! Took her to the vet yesterday after work and had her stitches out and the doctor gave her an all clear and she is all better. I was so happy. It was Pyometra and due to her uterus being enlarged when they removed it, some of her hormones escaped into her blood stream and that is what is causing her false pregnancy. She is doing better on that too. She isn't nesting as much anymore and she has stopped dripping milk. Her boobs are still a little enlarged, but it is starting to pass.
Well,
TTFN
The Lord who created you... says... I have called you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Where to begin...
1. Libby had her surgery on Friday and came home Friday night very groggy. But good news on Saturday, she was drinking on her own, FINALLY! I was so happy. For the past week I had been tricking her into getting fluids in her. But now she is showing odd behavior. She has gathered up all her toys on her bed, even the ones that were outside. If you move them all to a different location, she will go get them and put them back on her bed. A couple of friends of mine said she is "nesting". WHAT?!? Now she is lactating! She is going through a false pregnancy! Poor baby, her hormones are all messed up now. I was told that all should clear up in about two weeks. But I will be calling the vet just to make sure all is okay.
2. I worked the AHA Region 9 show again on Friday after I dropped Libby off at the vet that morning. June and I worked the Working Cow Horse class for 2 1/2 hours. We worked the calf gates. That was fun and exciting! We worked with Carrie, who raises Arabians, and a man named Dale. Dale was a little more than nervous that all his "Cow pokes" were females, and two of whom have never worked cattle, me and June. (Carrie and her hubby have a working cattle ranch). Anyway, once we got our jobs down, we were a well oiled machine. Dale was teased by other cowboys because he had a female crew, but we showed them that women make good cow pokes too, and we have been invited back to work the same gates at next years show cause we got so many compliments! (above pic is an example)
3. Saturday was a nice, laid back day. Barb (barn owner) and I went for a morning ride in the pasture. I took Amanda shopping for her Father's day gift for David. She got him a new tool box. Then we went home and just hung out for the remainder of the day.
4. Father's day was horrible for me. That's all I have to say about that day.
5. Monday and Tuesday night I went riding by myself. Okay, not by myself, sort of. Bo and Luke went with me. They are the barn dogs and Summer is getting real used to them being with us. She actually looks for them when they get out of her sight. Monday night I did something some might consider a bad thing. But if you know me well enough, you would know that I had to do it. I saved a baby skunk from Bo and Luke. I know, I know..."he might have been rabid, you should have let them take care of him." But you should have seen it, he was SO cute! And so little. I am sure he had wandered away from his nest. Luckily, we never saw momma, I would still be stinking had we seen her.
Last night was a good ride as well. It was only 81 degrees, the wind was blowing some and there was some cloud coverage and even a little sunshine rain. It was very nice, and no skunks.
TTFN
3. Saturday was a nice, laid back day. Barb (barn owner) and I went for a morning ride in the pasture. I took Amanda shopping for her Father's day gift for David. She got him a new tool box. Then we went home and just hung out for the remainder of the day.
4. Father's day was horrible for me. That's all I have to say about that day.
5. Monday and Tuesday night I went riding by myself. Okay, not by myself, sort of. Bo and Luke went with me. They are the barn dogs and Summer is getting real used to them being with us. She actually looks for them when they get out of her sight. Monday night I did something some might consider a bad thing. But if you know me well enough, you would know that I had to do it. I saved a baby skunk from Bo and Luke. I know, I know..."he might have been rabid, you should have let them take care of him." But you should have seen it, he was SO cute! And so little. I am sure he had wandered away from his nest. Luckily, we never saw momma, I would still be stinking had we seen her.
Last night was a good ride as well. It was only 81 degrees, the wind was blowing some and there was some cloud coverage and even a little sunshine rain. It was very nice, and no skunks.
TTFN
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
AHA Region IX Championship Show
Last night I work the above titled show. It was sooooo cool. I finally got to see a Native Costume class. It was absolutely fabulous! The riders and horses were just gorgeous. It is something I will never forget. I worked the "IN" gate, which means I could have reached out and touched the horses as they went in to the arena. And June worked the "OUT" gate. The show is all week long and we have also volunteered to work Friday after I drop Libby off at the vet's that morning.
I was joking with the girl that recruited me, Carrie, and told her when you volunteer at an endurance ride you get a t-shirt, she said, "we don't give t-shirts, we give baseball caps." So June and I got a real nice cap and was told we would get another one on Friday after we were done. They also feed and give drinks to their volunteers. And I thought it would be hot, but the arena's are air conditioned, so that was nice.
The classes were all kinds: Native Costume, Park Horse, Country English Pleasure, Western Pleasure and many others. But last night was the first night of the week and there are so many more classes for the rest of the week. Friday will be exciting for June and I cause we will be working in the arena for the Reining classes and Cow Horse classes. And they say Arabs aren't good for working cows! Psh....I beg to differ!
On Libby, she is doing okay. I am STILL tricking her drink water. But that is okay, I just can't wait to get this surgery over with.
I was joking with the girl that recruited me, Carrie, and told her when you volunteer at an endurance ride you get a t-shirt, she said, "we don't give t-shirts, we give baseball caps." So June and I got a real nice cap and was told we would get another one on Friday after we were done. They also feed and give drinks to their volunteers. And I thought it would be hot, but the arena's are air conditioned, so that was nice.
The classes were all kinds: Native Costume, Park Horse, Country English Pleasure, Western Pleasure and many others. But last night was the first night of the week and there are so many more classes for the rest of the week. Friday will be exciting for June and I cause we will be working in the arena for the Reining classes and Cow Horse classes. And they say Arabs aren't good for working cows! Psh....I beg to differ!
On Libby, she is doing okay. I am STILL tricking her drink water. But that is okay, I just can't wait to get this surgery over with.
_____
**Picture above is not from the show I attended last night, but you get the idea.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Libby day 6...
Libby at 1 month oldWell, the vet told me yesterday to watch Libby go potty #1 and #2. So I had my daughter lock her in the house yesterday at about 11am and let her out at 3pm. Amanda called at 3:10 and said Libby #1ed and it lasted about 7 seconds. So last night I let her out about 6:15 again and she #1ed for 10seconds. I know, weird to watch your animal do it's business. At about 9:30 she #2ed and it was the right consistancy and moist. So that was good. If it was diarrhea then the vet would worry more about the Pancreas than the girlie problems.
I am also tricking her into drinking still. I put about 3/4 cup of water in her food and she lapped it up and then we played a game last night with her kibble. I put about 7 pieces of kibble in a bowl of water and she had to play bobbing for kibble to get them. So she got another 1/2 cup in her system.
The vet said that due to the moist food she is eating, plus I am tricking her into drinking, she may not drink on her own until she is switched back to dry food. Plus she is an indoor dog and not in the TX heat all day, she isn't as thirsty.
Her spay appointment is still on for Friday, I just can't wait to get that over with.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Had a nice weekend...
Despite having a sick pooch at home, I did have a nice weekend at the barn.
Tracey, Wes (her son) and I, worked on the trails all last weekend, cutting, trimming, clearing and marking. Then Saturday, Traci, June, Amanda and I took back a trail that hadn't been used in about three years.
Sunday morning, the barn owners brother in law mowed all the trails. It was wonderful. All the trails were ready for company.
About 11am, Mark and Melinda showed up with their ponies and they brought some friends of theirs and they brought their ponies. All the boarders showed up and they brought friends who also brought their mounts. So it was wonderful. We had all kinds of food and drinks.
At about 1pm we saddled up and went out. It was Kelsie, Tracey, Larry, Mark, Melinda and their two friends and I. We rode about 1 1/2 hours in the sweltering heat. Course Mark decided he was going to sneak up on me, pass me at a trot and then take off. Woohoo, what a gallop. Larry stayed with us and Tracey took the other folks to another trail. I love galloping Summer but don't do it very often. She just feeds off of Gypsy and does great when following her. She has dropped some of that hay belly she put on so didn't show any signs of stress when we got back to the barn.
When we got back we ate and visited. Then about 5:30 went out again with several other folks. Dennis, Deborah, a couple they know who brought these two BIG black Tennessee Walkers (absolutely gorgeous!),Dennis Jr. , Kelsie, Tracey, Mark and Mel, their friends and Barb (the barn owner) on her green but VERY capable mount and June on her very steady, bomb proof mount. No galloping this time, just a nice ride.
I got to play trail boss on both rides, which was okay cause I know the trails pretty well and was able to give everyone a nice tour and not keep hitting the same trails or retracing them to much. When you hit all the trails, you get about 5 miles or a little better.
During the second ride though, I felt kinda bad as all the gaited horses, Amira (Tracey's Arab) and Kelsie's barrel horse were just walking out and leaving the other behind. Mark's Gypsy could have kept up but he couldn't leave his company, which got seperated from the group anyway when they took a wrong turn. Thank goodness for cell phones as Mark and Mel had to go find them. Barb and June walked the slowest and stayed together. Which was great. Barb's green mare needed a reliable horse to ride with and that would be June's girl, Gazmarra.
But it was a great day. I hope to do it again real soon. Which may be 4th of July as Mark and Mel invited us to go horse camping that weekend. So far, it sounds like a plan, as even David would go if Mark will be there.
Tracey, Wes (her son) and I, worked on the trails all last weekend, cutting, trimming, clearing and marking. Then Saturday, Traci, June, Amanda and I took back a trail that hadn't been used in about three years.
Sunday morning, the barn owners brother in law mowed all the trails. It was wonderful. All the trails were ready for company.
About 11am, Mark and Melinda showed up with their ponies and they brought some friends of theirs and they brought their ponies. All the boarders showed up and they brought friends who also brought their mounts. So it was wonderful. We had all kinds of food and drinks.
At about 1pm we saddled up and went out. It was Kelsie, Tracey, Larry, Mark, Melinda and their two friends and I. We rode about 1 1/2 hours in the sweltering heat. Course Mark decided he was going to sneak up on me, pass me at a trot and then take off. Woohoo, what a gallop. Larry stayed with us and Tracey took the other folks to another trail. I love galloping Summer but don't do it very often. She just feeds off of Gypsy and does great when following her. She has dropped some of that hay belly she put on so didn't show any signs of stress when we got back to the barn.
When we got back we ate and visited. Then about 5:30 went out again with several other folks. Dennis, Deborah, a couple they know who brought these two BIG black Tennessee Walkers (absolutely gorgeous!),Dennis Jr. , Kelsie, Tracey, Mark and Mel, their friends and Barb (the barn owner) on her green but VERY capable mount and June on her very steady, bomb proof mount. No galloping this time, just a nice ride.
I got to play trail boss on both rides, which was okay cause I know the trails pretty well and was able to give everyone a nice tour and not keep hitting the same trails or retracing them to much. When you hit all the trails, you get about 5 miles or a little better.
During the second ride though, I felt kinda bad as all the gaited horses, Amira (Tracey's Arab) and Kelsie's barrel horse were just walking out and leaving the other behind. Mark's Gypsy could have kept up but he couldn't leave his company, which got seperated from the group anyway when they took a wrong turn. Thank goodness for cell phones as Mark and Mel had to go find them. Barb and June walked the slowest and stayed together. Which was great. Barb's green mare needed a reliable horse to ride with and that would be June's girl, Gazmarra.
But it was a great day. I hope to do it again real soon. Which may be 4th of July as Mark and Mel invited us to go horse camping that weekend. So far, it sounds like a plan, as even David would go if Mark will be there.
Libby update...
She got to come home Friday evening. She looked real good and seemed like her old self. However, she has not drank any liquids this weekend. I bought some Pedialite Sunday morning and she drank a little of it. I figured it would get some electrolites in her. So when I fed her I put about 1/4 cup of pedialite and 1/2 cup of water in her prescribed can food the vet sent home with her. She is eating real good and has not thrown up. But I have not been monitoring her pottying. So we need to start doing that. I just talked to Doctor Ozee and she wants me to monitor that tonight and if she has very loose stool and not urinating, I need to take her in for another CBC test for her Pancreas. She says she might not be drinking due to the canned food she is getting, I need to start switching her back over to her food. She is taking her medication good, and she is getting spayed this Friday. So, after this surgery, if she is still not doing well, it is her Pancreas. I have read so much on the Pancreas that it scares me. I am still praying that it is the girlie problems.
I hated saying it to Dr. Ozee, but I don't know how much more money I can spend on her. But we will try to do all our pocket book will allow. I hate doing it, but I would even go to my dad for help. I love this ugly mug and just can't let her go yet.
I hated saying it to Dr. Ozee, but I don't know how much more money I can spend on her. But we will try to do all our pocket book will allow. I hate doing it, but I would even go to my dad for help. I love this ugly mug and just can't let her go yet.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Libby update...
The vet called yesterday evening. They are not 100%sure that it is Pancreatitis yet. There is an illness called Pyometra that only intact females can get. The symptoms are exactly the same and the reading on the blood work can look the same. They should know today what they are dealing with. I pray that it is the Pyometra as all she would need is an emergency spay. Pyometra is a one time thing, fix her and it is over. If is is Pancreatitis, then I would have to make sure she never got a bite of human food for the rest of her life.
Dr. Ozee said that she and all the staff are in love with Libby. She just went on and on about how sweet she was and that she was soooo loving. I have admit, she is right. That dog of mine is just the sweetest thing. And she was real happy that Libby took some food. They fed her some perscription dog food. I was happy to hear that as she hadn't eaten in 36 hours. Of course if it is the Pancreas, then she was to fast for 24 to 72 hours anyway, at the vets descretion.
Please keep praying for her and that it is the lesser of two evils, Pyometra.
The pic above should be titled: A face only a mother could love.
And boy do I!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
My poor, sick Libby...
I got home last night about 5:30 from work. Libby's (my Bulldog) lips and gums were grayish white and dry. I knew she was dehydrated. However, she had water, but she is very picky. If there is even dust in it, she won't drink it. So I freshened her water and put a couple of ice cubes in it. She started to drink, but wasn't guzzling, so I wasn't too worried. Now, she is a indoor/outdoor dog, she has a doggie door so I was pretty sure it wasn't heat exhaustion. Oh, and she didn't eat her dinner, which was unusual, but not unheard of.
I got home from the barn about 9:30 and saw her water bowl that she had drank about a half a bowl, which I was happy about, but she still hadn't eaten her dinner. Now I was getting more worried. But when she threw up her breakfast and almost all the water she drank, I couldn't wait till this morning to take her to the vet. I called a couple of ER's and took her to the one my vet recommended cause they are right across the street from him.
My fear was an impaction or bloat. After $400 in x-rays and blood work, no impaction or bloat but she had gas all in her intestins and stomache, but she wasn't passing any gas. After the blood work came back, her white blood count was high as well as another level that indicated a Pancreas problem. I do not give my dogs the kind or the amount of table scraps that it would take to cause Pancreatitus (sp?). She may get a raw egg every other week or a half a french fry if we have them just so she thinks she actually got something. I pray that someone is not throwing food in the back yard when we aren't home. If they are, I pray I catch them!!!! And then they will pray that I don't beat them to death!!!!
I had to pick her up this morning and take her to her regular vet who it turn kept her today and wants to keep her tonight. More $$ but not as much as that ER cost us which ended up being over $700.00, so no Cass Co CTR for me. But I am totally okay with that, I just want my girl to get better.
Oh, and the X-rays shows she has hip displasia!!! Glad I decided not to breed her as that would pass to her pups!!!
Please keep my girl in your prayers that she makes a full recovery.
I got home from the barn about 9:30 and saw her water bowl that she had drank about a half a bowl, which I was happy about, but she still hadn't eaten her dinner. Now I was getting more worried. But when she threw up her breakfast and almost all the water she drank, I couldn't wait till this morning to take her to the vet. I called a couple of ER's and took her to the one my vet recommended cause they are right across the street from him.
My fear was an impaction or bloat. After $400 in x-rays and blood work, no impaction or bloat but she had gas all in her intestins and stomache, but she wasn't passing any gas. After the blood work came back, her white blood count was high as well as another level that indicated a Pancreas problem. I do not give my dogs the kind or the amount of table scraps that it would take to cause Pancreatitus (sp?). She may get a raw egg every other week or a half a french fry if we have them just so she thinks she actually got something. I pray that someone is not throwing food in the back yard when we aren't home. If they are, I pray I catch them!!!! And then they will pray that I don't beat them to death!!!!
I had to pick her up this morning and take her to her regular vet who it turn kept her today and wants to keep her tonight. More $$ but not as much as that ER cost us which ended up being over $700.00, so no Cass Co CTR for me. But I am totally okay with that, I just want my girl to get better.
Oh, and the X-rays shows she has hip displasia!!! Glad I decided not to breed her as that would pass to her pups!!!
Please keep my girl in your prayers that she makes a full recovery.
The above picture is this morning after I picked her up from the ER and we are headed to her vet. She looks so sad. The purple bandage is where her cathater (sp?) is so they can continue fluids at her vets office.
Monday, June 2, 2008
My "Dub" roadcart...
For the past several weekends, this one excluded, I have been working on refurbishing a roadcart I bought. It belonged to an old man by the name of "Dub" Miller. Mr. Miller was just a very sweet person and he knew his stuff about horses and especially about Crabbet Arabians. He passed away in November of 2006. Last year I bought his old roadcart and have now just started to re-do it.
It was blonde, I have had it stripped and have re-varnished it a red mahogany. I am now putting polyurithan on it. Once that is done, I will have to cut off the shaft tips and put on shaft extensions that I have also repainted. Then the seat needs to be redone. If my barn owner can't find the back to it, I will be building one of those too.
If you knew Mr. Miller, you would know why I couldn't just let this cart go to anyone. When he passed away, my Crabbet Arabian passed away a week later. That was a blow to me, but I wonder if Fawtal knew that Mr. Miller needed a ride to heaven, so he obliged.
Anyway, here are a few pics of where the cart is now. FYI, it had rained about two nights prior to the pictures and some rain/mud splattered it here and there, but nothing that couldn't be wiped off. That is what you see in the pics.
Very nice weekend
Friday night we went to my parents and watched old home movies. My dad had all our old reel to reels put on DVD. It was fun to watch as there was footage of my mom at about 14 years old.
Saturday, Tracey and I went to Benbrook Lake and rode what I call the rocky side. It is about 14 miles round trip. It was warm but the breeze off the lake helped. Summer had two big spooks. One at some wind socks in someones back yard and one at a deer that bounded out of some trees. Amira had one good spook when she rounded a corner and there sat a vulture that took flight immediately. But all in all the girls were good and we had a real nice time. Summer is about chest deep in the lake in the above picture. She is my water baby!
Saturday night I worked for my friend Billie who owns the carriage company. We took part in a wedding in downtown Fort Worth then gave rides the rest of the evening. It was a very busy night. We finally had enough about 11:30pm and headed back to the trailer. I finally got to bed about 1am.
Sunday, I got to sleep till 9am then Tigger woke me up, it was time for her breakfast. About 11:30am, Tracey and I headed to Dover's in Dallas and I found me some riding tights and some riding gloves. Tracey also bought some new tights and a new bit. Then we headed to Sergeants and bought more things we knew we needed. No, really, we really needed more things! (smile) Then we had lunch and headed back to the barn.
So, I had a really nice weekend. I can only hope for another one like it next weekend as our friends Mark and Melinda are bringing their horses to the barn next weekend to go riding and a bar-b-que! WOOHOO, I can't wait!
Saturday, Tracey and I went to Benbrook Lake and rode what I call the rocky side. It is about 14 miles round trip. It was warm but the breeze off the lake helped. Summer had two big spooks. One at some wind socks in someones back yard and one at a deer that bounded out of some trees. Amira had one good spook when she rounded a corner and there sat a vulture that took flight immediately. But all in all the girls were good and we had a real nice time. Summer is about chest deep in the lake in the above picture. She is my water baby!
Saturday night I worked for my friend Billie who owns the carriage company. We took part in a wedding in downtown Fort Worth then gave rides the rest of the evening. It was a very busy night. We finally had enough about 11:30pm and headed back to the trailer. I finally got to bed about 1am.
Sunday, I got to sleep till 9am then Tigger woke me up, it was time for her breakfast. About 11:30am, Tracey and I headed to Dover's in Dallas and I found me some riding tights and some riding gloves. Tracey also bought some new tights and a new bit. Then we headed to Sergeants and bought more things we knew we needed. No, really, we really needed more things! (smile) Then we had lunch and headed back to the barn.
So, I had a really nice weekend. I can only hope for another one like it next weekend as our friends Mark and Melinda are bringing their horses to the barn next weekend to go riding and a bar-b-que! WOOHOO, I can't wait!
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