A trip to the emergency vet!

Well, the eve before we go to Colorado, just as we are leaving the house to visit family, Kel yells, "Vici, Vici, somethings wrong with Maddie!"

Come running down the hall and Maddie can't walk.  Her leg is sticking out funny direction and she lays down and bites it.

I get on the floor with her trying to find the sticker and realize this is really weird.  Her leg is retracted and she will not straighten it out and shows pain at the elbow.  I look at Kel and ask, "What happened?"  He says he didn't know, he opened the door to let her go out to sun herself and next thing he knows she is like this.  He didn't see her fall or anything.

I massage, I look for stickers, I lay her on her side, she clearly is in distress. 

I immediately called Laura to tell her what was up and she recommended calling our vet that he still is open.  I called right away and they said, "bring her on in."

While in the vet office waiting for the vet, my sister Trish and Eve show up.  Kel had stayed home to keep Olive entertained.  Shocked to see them, they said they were driving from Gilroy and called to see if they could stop by to pick up something and Kel told them where I was.  They decided to come.  Good thing too, cause I was slowly loosing it wondering what I was going to do.  Kel works long hours.  What if Mads needs care?  Do I stay home from Colorado, do I take her with me.  How would a 20 hour car drive impact her? What is wrong with her...etc...etc.  You get the picture.

Vet comes in.  After an exam, thinking it is a pinched nerve.  Found swelling in the area of the lymph nodes, but didn't think the two were related.  Wanted to aspirate the lymph nodes.  I decided against it.  If it isn't related, why put her through it.  If it is related, we'll know soon enough.

Trish and Eve volunteered to keep Maddie next week and take her to the vet if necessary.  HUGE!!!

Kel will watch her tomorrow and if she needs to go back to the vet on Monday, Eve will take her. Seems like all bases are covered.  Why do I feel so guilty for going?

Maddie update.  She is doing great.  The pain meds have made her comfortable and she is actually using the leg.  She rolled on the grass and tried to wrestle with Tazz.  Eve is going to check on her during the day and Kel has got it handled. 

Sucks that I set up the yard so they could use the doggy door.  Now I don't want her using the doggy door so they'll have to stay inside.  Ah well.  Could have been very worse!

Find It! Games to tire out a JRT Puppy....

I play find it games with my dogs.  Fin is a champion find it.  Rocky is also really good and enjoys the game, but once Fin learned this game, she ruled it.

Olives first time on Find-it was impressive.  Her ability to stay focused on the find is amazing.  The second video shows her keeping up the search for almost 2 minutes.  For a novice search, that shows that she is really good at this.  I am looking forward to doing some nosework with her.

When I toss the ball, I hide Olives line of sight so she doesn't see where the ball goes.  This is all by scent.  Watch her tail.  Shows she is loving this game.

A Little Bit of Crazy!

Team T-Shirts for Nationals are done.  A Little Bit of Crazy is ready to hit the Nationals with all they have.  Each shirt has a custom front with an image of that teammates dog.  The back is a rectangle with all the dogs images in a collage.  For the back each photo was remastered to be more like a painting then a photo and it worked really nice for the T-Shirt.  For the front, I drew a running dog and customized it for each participant.  Especially love Lily's stub tail!

 

 

First our 22" team member!  Einstein (aka The Big E).  He is our secret weapon.  If ever a team needed a secret weapon, this team does.  Our weapon is untested, so there might be a few surprises, but we expect great things from this guy.  We'll be looking to Einstein to grabbing all the points he can with his crazy speed.  No one will expect him coming at em'. He is quiet when he runs, just like a stealth bomber.  Just like with many red heads, he has moments of crazy speed but always, always, he trys his best for his mom.  He and his team mate Penni are very special and we are so proud they decided to be on our team! 

 

 

Team member #2, the most adorable, sweet, loving, speedy machine of mine running in the 16" group.  Fin and I can rule our runs in a spectacular fashion, or we might end up having a spectacular NQ.  Anything can happen with the Vici/Fin Combo.  We will try our best to be the cornerstone of our team but whatever happens we are having a good time and that is what matters.  The goal of each run is to be calm, quiet, and enjoy the ride.  If you happen to hear a "FINNNNNNNNNN!" coming from the heavens next week, don't worry, that's just me forgetting about being quiet (probably during snooker) and trying my best to call her off a tunnel.

 

 

Last but absolutely not least is our super speedy bullet Lily and her sidekick Jeanine. Lily will be out there racking up the points as her mom yells, "Lil, Lil, LILY!!" Lily is a Rockstar and takes no prisoners.  Jeanine may yell "Lily!", but Lily gives it right back at her.  I can hear Lil now, "Arf "Faster Mom", BARK!  FASTER MOM!  Bark, Bark, Bark, MOM! Where am I going???!!!"  As our veteran on the Team, the little stub of Lily's tail never stops going as she shows us how to run agility.  Her job will be to show the youngsters how to get out there and give it all your heart.  That's all Lily can do — run for the joy of running.

 

 

Of course, we want to WIN!!!  No one goes to these events without the thought that they want to be in the relay finals and compete for that coveted first place title.  Hey, it could happen!

 

However, our teams personal goal is to truly enjoy the competition, run every run calmly, intelligently, and with joy.  We are not going to be disappointed in the occasional knocked bar or off course.  If we didn't make mistakes, that would mean we weren't trying our best.  We are going to "GO FOR IT!" and be thrilled with our performance and enjoy the ride.  If occasionally the wheels fall of the bus, we'll get roadside assistance to put those wheels back on and go along our merry way.

 

Life is too short to worry and regret.  Our motto is get out there and leave it all on the field.  No disappointments!

Sun Goddess

Tazz, also a sunbather.  He is a VERY good boy and has been very nice to Olive.

ALMOST a trip to the emergency vet

A little scare yesterday.  A little too much freedom for one mischievous puppy.

Why Olive why?!?

Walked into my bathroom yesterday around noon.  On the floor was my razor (I leave it in the shower).  Missing from the razor was the top (the part that holds the actual blades.) 

Chew marks told the tale.

I ran around looking everywhere for the top.  Saying, "OMG, OMG, OMG, Olive! OMG."  She looked great.  Jumping in the tub, jumping out of the tub.  Chasing me.  Jumping on the bed. Squeaking her toy.  Rolling on her toy as I ran past to get the phone.  Barking at her toy as the phone connected.

I said, "I have to bring my JRT in RIGHT NOW!"  She may have eaten my razor blade off the top of the razor.  We have to get her to vomit immediately!"  Picture Olive rolling on my bed with a toy under her barking.  Me rushing round the bedroom bath looking on the floor to find the missing piece.  Four shelties following me around looking concerned.  Olive looking up, then returning to her toy mashing.

Receptionist said, "One moment please, I need to go find the Dr."  She gets on the line and says, "You need to bring her in for an Xray."  I say, "OMG, alright I'm on my....wait, I FOUND IT!!! OMG, OMG, OMG!  I found it!  Thank you, thank you , thank you!"  She quietly said, "oh good, take care." Then she hung up. 

I picked up the missing piece to make sure all the important parts were there and just sat on the floor.  Four shelties gathered around me giving me comfort.  Olive continued to bark at her toy as she smashed it into my comforter.

Naughty, naughty, naughty.  Later that day, playing in my office while I worked, she jumped into my lap and sat watching the computer as I typed, giving me kisses.  When she is sweet, she is sooooo very sweet.  When she is naughty......

On the road again....

Leaving on Sunday. Started getting all kinds of info - running orders, crate spaces, walk through times, etc.  Such a thrill to be going.  Fin and I are going to run our best!  Hoping for some good luck, fair weather, and judges that like us.

The 5th Element

I love the fifth element.  I almost called Olive Leeloo or Milla considering she was #5 in this household.  Tickle was also a name considered for her.  But she truly is our little "Olive the other reindeer."  Officially now, Olive Whisner (one of the Whiz kids).

Yes, that is correct.  Despite the fact that she is here for training and supposed to go back, despite the fact that I have another 2 months to go.  I adore her.  My husband thinks she is funny any loves her snuggles (I've made sure the keep all the naughty hidden from him!).

Today I asked Alison from Kimberlight if I could keep her (hoping beyond hope that she would be happy that Olive would stay with me).  "Yes," she said.  She wasn't going to let this special girl go to just any home, but she thinks that right here in Morgan Hill is the right place for Olive.

I think everyone knew but me.  Olive, love ya babe!