Its amazing how attached we become to the furry creatures of the world. I have always had a soft spot for most any type of animal often bring home a stray kitten or puppy when I was younger. It often worked out that we could convince my parents to let us keep it or we always found good homes for them all.

Its hard these days I am still surrounded by the animals I love and like kids they have there good days and bad days but all in all you love them almost as much as your own children. I have had to make some tough decisions lately and have had many sleepless nights worrying and wondering how I am going to take care of them now with the way our finances and the economy are. I have begun looking to find homes for a few of my hoofed creatures even though I know it will be very painful to part with them I just can’t do it anymore. They need medical care and attention that I can’t afford or seem to be able to find the time for.

Then there is Henry. How do I describe my handsome boy? From the moment I saw him when he was 5 weeks old and only 5 pounds we fell in love. I am pretty sure I have never had as strong a bond with any animal in my life as I have with Henry.

That’s why the last few weeks have been a difficult test. Henry is my shadow. When I am home I can never hide because the kids know exactly where I am if they see where Henry has placed himself. Even now with his one back leg not working he still pulls himself up and follows me from room to room just so he can lay at my feet or as close to me as possible. He is doing much better than he was a little over a week ago but still no sign of improvement in his back leg. Today was steroid shot #2 and we got more of the wonder pain drug that has made it all bearable and taken away the pain that made him cry and whine. So we are playing the waiting game and I keep telling myself that I have to keep my eyes open and remember quality over quantity and not be blinded by the overwhelming love I feel for this animal.

So I invested in the big bottle of pain meds instead of buying the 5 day supply one trying to be optimistic and take it one day at a time and hope this all works and he will be around for a while longer.

Stay safe, stay cool, feel loved.
TTFN

Summer is here!!!!!

Wow it’s amazing how much crap can happen in just a few weeks since the last time I wrote in here.

I guess I can start with updates on the Ian front. We went to Fredonia on the 17th and sat for 2 and ½ hours waiting for his turn. The judge I have to admit was interesting to watch and listen to. He was firm yet fair the first case up was an elderly couple who had forgotten to put their handicap sign up when they parked at the hospital. He told them never let it happen again and let them leave. He had a saying from the wizard of oz he liked quoting to especially the dumb ass college students that came before him that day, “ I believe you were a victim of unorganized thinking”. Of the 6 college age campus related incidents Ian was a boy scout compared to the other 5. But still they did deal and changed his charge of possession of stolen property ( a freaking traffic cone that he never really had possession of) to disorderly conduct and he waived the 100 fine and gave him 20 hours of community service to be served when he gets back to Fred in the fall. Of course he didn’t get off free the court fee is 125 and has to be paid by July 17th or they aren’t happy. The second court date was the 22nd and we show up only to find out they want to postpone it again till the end of July. They have a high profile case going on and want to settle that before they deal with Ian. So unfortunately I didn’t get to sigh a breath of relief and have to keep holding my breath for another month. Got to love politicians NOT. I told the kids that I never want to have to be in a court room again unless I am going for the taping of Judge Judy.

Summer officially started for all my kids yesterday at noon. The older ones have really been out since June 10th but Meg still had half days this week up to yesterday. It was actually nice not having to set my alarm this morning and have to get up cranky teenagers for school. I will enjoy it for about a week until swim club starts and they have to be there at 7:30 in the morning 5 days a week. I am hoping that the coach is understanding and can wait for some of the money for swim club Henrys emergency this past week and a half has put a strain on the already strained budget.

Henry had a problem a week and a half ago and we took him to the vet fearing the worst. The doc sent us home with some meds that seemed to work pretty well but by the following Sunday he couldn’t use his back leg at all and was in obvious pain. Took him back yesterday for x-rays because the vet didn’t think he had broke or dislocated his hip and needed to do x-rays to get a better picture of what is going on. First I had to leave him there all day and finally got my answer at 5pm. He tore his ACL in his back knee and that wasn’t the worst of it his spine was almost completely racked with arthritis. He explained every thing to me and said they could try treating it with anabolic steroids and pain med. I was second guess myself. I have always been an advocate of quality as opposed to quantity. But he said that the treatment was only 16 dollars for a shot and we could try it for a few weeks and see how it goes and could always stop anytime. He gave him a 25% chance of improvement. Well I figured we were already 450 in the hole what was another 36 dollars. I just don’t want to make the major put to sleep decision and then second guess myself that maybe just maybe if we had tried. So as long as he seems comfortable we will keep trying.

A Good friend of mine was, hopefully she and her sister are the way home as I am typing this, in an unsafe place for way to long trying to help her sister who is very ill. I live in a small town which can be backwards but Savannah sounds like it’s lost in time. She was not welcomed due to the fact that she is a lesbian and was treated very unjustly and just downright meanly. I can’t even imagine the fear involved for her all I know is the fear I felt after hearing about some of the things that happened. I then started thinking of all the people who actually live there especially young teens and young adults who may be homosexual and the fear and torment they must have to put up with everyday of their lives. What is wrong with people?

Sean has football camp for 3 days after the 4th and is going to hang with his aunt and cousin because the only camp we could afford was not an over night and up in Rochester. Fortunately his cousin is going to the same camp. It will be nice for them to reconnect we have been so disjointed from my side of the family that we lost touch. Megan and Sara then will be gone for a whole week at swim camp. It will be interesting to see how well i deal with them being gone and so far away it was hard leaving Sara last year at the same camp but I am hoping that both of them will be easier because they will have each other. Ian is in limbo. He may or may not be heading to Boston next week. If he doesn't we will have to get creative and find him something to occupy him. He goes today to the cardiologist to see if they can help get his blood pressure under control. I need to make my appt for the same thing.

So I am hoping for a quiet peaceful summer with no major issues and that they are all getting out of the way at the beginning. I know I am funny and living in my own reality but I can hope can’t I.

Stay safe, stay cool, feel loved.

TTFN

Catch Up!!!!!!!!

I haven’t been here in a while. I spend most of my time now on facebook. Short blurbs are easier to write than longer ones here but I have been using this as a sort of diary and need to start again.

The college boy is home has been for a few weeks. He is enjoying some down time with friends before heading off to Maine for the better part of the summer. We go to talk to the lawyer tomorrow and figure out where we stand on the first arrest then off to Fredonia on the 17th to hopefully clear up the other one. By June 22 I am hoping the dark cloud will be cleared and there will be one less nightmare in my life.

Dave has been walking and exercising for the past few months and has lost a lot of weight and his blood pressure is the lowest, sometimes even to low, it has been in years. So I finally started walking last week. Its been an ever other day thing but I am working my way up plus I threw in a long ride the other night on jenny which is exercise too just ask my groin muscles. My blood pressure has been bad and I have gained all the weigh back that I had lost 2 years ago before my surgeries. So hopefully I can get my groove back and gain some energy and zest for life back that has been submerged for way to long now.

Sara has been busy with track, her art shows, and school. It is almost the end of the year and she is looking for a job for the summer but the choices around here are slim to none. She did finally pass her road test and is now a licensed driver which will help broaden her range for looking for a job. She had her junior prom and she looked beyond gorgeous. She and Jake had fun and the night was nice for everybody.

Sean has had some academic short falls this half of the year. He was suspended from track for failing 2 classes and just never went back. He of course continues to work out for Football after school. I tried to explain to him that he won’t be able to play football if his grades don’t improve but he said they will. He needs to take the work ethic he has during football and expand it into the rest of the school year. We shall see. He has gone through a few growing “rough patches” this spring to and we hope the mistakes made leave lasting lessons learn.

Miss Megan is now officially a teenager. I have 4 now. She did do track also this spring trying her hand shotput and relays and the 100 meter dash. She didn’t like it as much as swimming or football but she got to hang with some of her friends and stay in shape. She is attending swim camp with her big sister this year because she wants to be able to test up for varsity next year and swim with her sister in her senior year. She went to her semi formal last night and she looked stunning. She had her own personal hair and makeup artists to assist her in getting ready and the transformation was amazing. When I dropped her off it was funny to hear the comments from her friends about her being in a dress and wearing makeup. And I think she has a special someone now from the sounds of it they danced all night.

Well my yard work is calling. I finally have dug in so to speak, to sprucing up the yard this year and it is looking pretty awesome but of course there is always more to do.

TTFN Stay safe, Stay warm, Feel loved.