Almost time!

Only one day left before I go back to work.  Both looking forward to it, because I love what I do and miss my coworkers, and dreading it, because it is going to cause me a lot of pain for a while.  It doesn't help that I hurt my back yesterday while getting dressed.  Getting old when just putting on my underwear pulls a muscle...  It's not too bad, and I started icing it right away, but it is just another thing to worry about.

Just like dealing with this current period is driving me nuts.  Day 10, and it's getting heavier by the day.  I'm afraid it's going to start resembling my periods when I had PCOS.  No idea if it's age related or due to the Lexapro?  Or PCOS again?  God, I hope not.

Chip is doing pretty well with training.  He's finally gotten used to being crated and no longer throws massive tantrums.  Obedience training is going well, but potty training still needs to be worked on.  He doesn't let us know when he has to go, so we are going to try the bell method.  Just hung it up today, we'll see how it goes.  Otherwise, he really is an amazing dog.

Took him to an off leash beach on Friday. It was a long drive, but it was worth it. We had such a great day, and I think the long drive helped him like the car better.

He had no idea what to do with the water.  He was too busy saying hi to all the people and other dogs there that he didn't get into anything disgusting.  I was so proud of him because his recall was very good, even from very far away.

It's a nice, sandy beach which is kind of rare around here.  I checked his paws afterwards, but didn't have to worry about them getting all cut up by barnacles on the rocks like most beaches here.

I have to keep him tethered in the truck, because he tries to crawl into my lap otherwise.  With his tether on, he can reach my shoulder.

He also likes to rest his head behind my neck. At least it's out of the way and doesn't interfere with driving.

We tried to go to the local dog park today, but the trail to get there was just a giant mud hole, so we tried a different park about 20 mins from home.  It was nice, and very full of happy puppies.  Chip does so well at the park!  He loves the people and the dogs equally, and plays very well.

In other animal news, I suspect Dinah has a UTI.  She's been incontinent in her sleep a few times, and has been peeing outside of the litter box.  She's got meds, so we'll see if it improves. Big D thinks it's an attitude towards the new dog, which part of it might be, but I see other signs that indicate a UTI.  While we were there, we did some basic bloodwork to check on her kidney function.  It's gotten a little worse since July, and she's lost over a pound.  Going to see if supplementing her with wet food will help get some weight back on her.  But she's 18, and a decline is inevitable. Not happy about it.

Not much else going on.  Foot therapy is going well, and I can see improvement, but suddenly going back to standing on it for a full shift is going to be miserable.

Also just found out that my crazy auntie finally sold her house in IL.  Now she needs to decide if she's going to come live here, probably in a trailer next to the house, or if she's going to stay in IL.

I made this collage of all the critters.  Might set it as my profile pic.

And just because he's cute, here's another of Chip with his new jolly ball yesterday.