Charlie Haiku

In honor of PW's recent haiku contest and because I still haven't found my camera cord, I offer this ode to my dog:

"Charlie is my dog

He is a white fluffy mess

Of love and kisses"

I don't think it's officially a haiku since it doesn't reference anything in nature, unless you consider Charlie to be something in nature.  And no, I didn't name him after PW's dog.  I didn't know about her when I met him.  Here's a picture of him on our first day together.  Isn't he the cutest thing ever?!

And this is what he looks like most of the time - especially when he wants me to play with him instead of working on progress notes.



I admit that I am a little bit obsessed with this dog.  I do try not to dress him, although I did buy a sweater for him on clearance at Walmart and haven't been able to make myself return it.  And a frog costume for Halloween. And I've thought about crocheting something for him.  Hey, I'm just being honest here.   He's never actually worn any of them though because - well, honestly because he doesn't like them.  I know.  It's ridiculous. 

Well, I just thought I'd share The Cuteness with you.  You are welcome.  Feel loved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving!  Our tummies are full and the first load of dishes is in the washer.  More family will be here soon for the leftovers meal and the BIG GAME!  And I have time to update my blog. 

The big news today was that Mom was able to come to Thanksgiving!  She has had a rough month.  The chemo treatments have been hard on her.  The stories we hear about people working full-time during their chemo worry us a little because she DEFINITELY COULD NOT work  right now.  She is exhausted.  Her blood counts have been seriously low and she just feels cruddy most of the time. We had been concerned about whether or not she could come to dinner because her white count was down too low to be around people.  Her platelets and hemoglobin were also really low so she had a transfusion two days ago and we were waiting on a call during the meal to know whether or not she had to go inpatient for a platelet transfusion.  Thank the Lord she was able to be with us and didn't have to go into the hospital today.  She will have another blood test tomorrow but it looks like her numbers are coming back up.  The doctor said they will decrease her meds some for the next chemo treatment because apparently, although this was the normal dosage for her weight, it was too much for her. 

The reason it's been so long since I posted is that I have tried to return to my normal work schedule.  Dad has been such a blessing and a wonderful caregiver for Mom.  It's what she was "thankful for" during our meal today and I am truly grateful as well.  My dad has always been a great man - an Air Force pilot, a leader in every church we attended even though we moved every two years, a college professor and dean, my husband's mentor and my son's hero.  Now he is showing us all how a man loves his wife "in sickness and in health".  As their daughter, I have been given a gift that I must attempt to repay - both to them and to the Lord. 

I have been sick A LOT this month. Nothing ever really serious but some fever and just crud that keeps me from being able to see Mom.  It's been pretty frustrating.  And why have I been sick, you ask?  Ummm, let's just call it stress.  I started taking vitamins today and I am trying very hard to remember that everything I say "yes" to that I really want to say "no" to requires me to say "no" to something I really want to say "yes" to.  Did that make any sense?  Read it again if you need to.  Go ahead.  I'll wait.

I think the most important lesson I'm trying to learn right now is to say "no" to people.  Especially people I love.  We have had two divorces in our family this year and they have resulted in some really serious needs that we want to meet but can't always.  It is really hard for us to see someone we love in a hard situation and not try to help.  It is definitely our first inclination.  But we are learning that if we use all of our resources helping in "emergencies" we will miss out on the things that are truly our responsibilities and the things that bring us joy.  Wade and I are just trying to be led by the Holy Spirit and keep our priorities straight.  Not easy.

SO . . . today I am truly thankful for another day with my Mom and Dad.  I'm thankful for a husband who is my partner in this life.  I'm thankful for a job that brings me satisfaction as well as income.  I'm thankful for two teenagers who are growing in grace.  I'm thankful for little doggies that cleaned up my meal prep mess from the floor as I was cooking.  And I'm thankful for quiet moments in between family times.  Life is good.  God is better.

Charlie

We have a dog that I will always call "puppy".  His name is Charlie and I think he is the perfect dog - except for the occasional puking on my new carpet.  He is an armful of soft fluff and I still love his kisses - on the cheek or anywhere but my mouth.  He is relentless when he wants to play fetch, unless it's time to go to sleep.  Then he snuggles up as close to you as he can get, sometimes giving you a back ache by morning, which he makes up for by bringing you his ball. 

This is what he looks like when he wants me to play and I need to work. 

No wonder I can't seem to get much done on that book I'm trying to write! 

This is what he looked like the day he came to live with us:

The head tilt still cracks me up 2 1/2 years later.  And he uses it to his advantage - like when you are getting on to him for something, he will sit down and tilt his head at you which makes him entirely too adorable to discipline.  But he is actually pretty disciplined.  He is my easiest child - by far.  He obeys really well, wants to go outside to use the potty (unless his apple cart is VERY UPSET), and makes us feel like really good doggie parents.

Charlie needs to be brushed every other day to keep from getting mats and he needs to be bathed once a week to keep from getting disgusting.  He really should go to the groomer once a month but since his haircuts cost more than mine, he only goes when I can't make him look decent anymore.  This is what he looked like one Sunday morning about 10 minutes before we needed to leave for church:

That Sunday someone stayed home.

This month since I have been at the hospital about half the time, Charlie has been pretty neglected.  Finally today, I stayed home for a while and gave the puppy a bath.  He usually hates baths but I think he actually knew he felt better after this one.  I love the crazy run around the house after the bath routine.  That's when the ball game gets serious!

The hubby and I are going to Branson later this week for a conference.  I'm going to miss that puppy!  Maybe we should bring him with us.  He makes a pretty good traveling companion . . .