Madeleine Eugenie

Madeleine Eugenie

Also Known As

 Maddy Jean

~ ~ ~

As I type this, my Dear Sweet Daughter

is napping on the rug next to me.

She has had a bad bad day and night.

Today, she is just a bit better.

She ate.

Yesterday, she did not.

She is ten years old.

Going on eleven.

Has nasty tumors all over her old body.

Had cancer surgery two Summers ago.

Nasty nasty nasty surgery.

Terrible months of healing.

We said we would not do that to her again.

I wish I hadn't said that.

I did.

Her leg is bothering her.

She has troubles getting up.

Troubles walking.

Oh those terrible stairs.

She lies down and you have to look.

To see if she is still breathing.

Last night I just hugged her.

On the rug.

Just her and me.

She didn't lift her head.

She was breathing though.

I did that for a long time.

Later, she did come up the stairs.

Very late at night.

I though oh my.

She feels better.

It's not easy.

Letting go.

Will it be this week.

Next month.

I told her to take her time.

She's always been one

to be in a hurry

to eat.

When she didn't eat last night.

Well, I knew we were in trouble.

So, today I am happy

cause she seems a bit better.

Sad, because I know my time

with this Sweet Dear Daughter

is running out.

What a grand time it's been.

She's the best dog.

No one has had a better one.

So imagine all your dogs

and how great they have been.

My dog is better than your dog.

Just had to say that.

Here's to 

Madeleine Eugenie

AKA .. 

Maddy Jean

~ JC ~

Cold Winter Day

Maddy Jean and Jodie Belle last Summer

 

It's one of those cold Winter days.

Even the woods are quiet.

A few birds and a car heard but very quiet.

The purr and fur gang are napping.

On blankets or near heating vents.

 

Maddy Jean, my Golden Retriever, is having a bad day.

Might be the cold.

Might be her old age.

Jodie Belle wants her to play.

Maddy seems to be lost today.

I brought them both inside so Maddy could rest.

 

I have a lot to do.

List a mile long.

Nothing important though.

All can wait.

 

Meredith Ann is sitting by me.

Getting a pet from time to time.

Bird TV has been marvelous.

They can't get anything from the ground

so they visit us and entertain Riley.

 

I hope Maddy Jean gets better.

It saddens me to think that she has aged so much this year.

She's only nine.

The cancer surgery she had last Summer was terrible.

She had recovered but she has never been like she was.

I do hope it doesn't have something to do with that.

 

Anyway, as I get ready to do at least something on my list,

I sit here thinking that my life is nothing

compared to the worry I have for my Purr and Fur Gang.

I'd do almost anything for them.

 

So, I hope you aren't all sitting in the cold.

And, if you are there isn't a burn ban on

like there is here in my woods.

The air is not good this week.

 

I'll just make some tea

and pet a cat

and find a good movie to watch.

 

That is until the evening

when my favorite shows

are entertaining me.

 

Hope you stay warm,

 

~ JC and The Gang ~

Mondays With Meredith Ann

Do you see the look on my face ?

I was watching my brother,

Riley,

 stick his face in a bag of lights.

Yes, he actually went in the bag.

I couldn't believe it.

Only HE would do something like that.

I helped Mom take her Holiday Houses out of the attic.

She had them on the landing by the steps.

She took them out and put them all around the house.

She even added snow when she was done.

This is what they look like.

Entry area Snowville

Left shelf by fireplace Snowville

Right shelf by fireplace Snowville

After she was done, she was worn out.

(also from the worry about Bella )

So was I from helping and watching her.

Mew at you next week,

~ Meredith Ann ~

 

Old Dogs

I'd like to tell you what I did today. I'd like to say that putting up the holiday decorations was fun. Me dusting the mantle and arranging the candles .. the fancy ones that are kept in the china cabinet. Some from my Mother and others from years upon years.  My dining room table has quite the assortment of reindeer and ice skating figurines. The pizza order was made on line no less. The two boys drove to get it.

 As I went to find my next candle holders, thinking that I would put 'need more candle holders' on my gift list, I counted my dogs. One. Not two but one. Where was Bella ? Did we leave her outside ? I remember seeing her walk past the dining room windows a bit ago. Could she still be out there ? It's kind of cold out and they don't like to be out there for too long. I opened the door and called her name. Nothing. I clapped my hands in their known pattern. Yes, I clap a pattern for them. Still ... nothing. I walked across the icy deck to see if she was in the woods.

 It was then that I saw her. Sitting next to the hot tub. She looked lost. I called her name and told her to come. She looked away. I came closer. She tried to hide even more. I called her again while looking at those icy steps. She came just a few steps and gave me the 'who are you' look. I knew she was gone in her world. Lost to what she knows. My old dog. My puppy who is lost. I knew what to do. I got the bones from the kitchen. Walked back outside to where she was hiding. I showed her the bones by leaning over the balcony as far as I could ... still trying not to go on those steps.

 It's then that it happened. She remembered the bones. Not me though. She followed the bones all the way to the door. As she came in, she forgot why she had come in. I called her name and she turned her head. I gave her the two well deserved bones. She's coming in and out of remembering her life. My dear sweet old dog.

So, today will be remembered as many things. The day we brought out the holiday boxes from the attic. The day we laughed about things found in them. I will remember that today was the day that I realized that my dog is on her way. I have tried to repair her for years. This surgery and that. She takes pills every day for her 'maybe bladder cancer'. I pretend it's just cause.

Only today I can't pretend. I know. Today I know I'm going to lose her. I think it's just a matter of time. Damn ...

~ JC ~

Old Dogs ... Update

Monday Update

Just waiting to take Bella to the vet

for her xrays. They have to sedate her

so no food this meowning. That went over well.

The meds they gave her on Friday have helped.

She still can't use her back leg though.

Will let you know more ... when I know more.

Friday afternoon Update

Bella is ok but still can't walk on her leg

Scheduled for Xrays Monday morning

I'm going over to the vet now for meds

that she will take til they get her in

And, I think even if she's all better

That this is the next necessary step

(sorry for the bun)

Update On My Old Dog Bella

All we can figure is that she fell or repinched a nerve

As of two pm on Wednesday, she was fine

Was running around with Maddy Jean in the back yard

Now, a three legged beauty

She seems more able to get up and down the stairs

Still not using her leg but seems in a better mood

No crying when touching the leg

Mr. Boatman and I had that talk

We decided we would wait to see if this gets better

Not put her through the vet, which sometimes makes her worse

I'm sure most of you know what I mean

If she's not improved by next week

I will get her in and spend the money to have them tell me

That there's nothing I can do

I'm going to be looking up specialists today

This morning she was in the back yard and

 I had to go out with a flashlight

I found her and she got up on her own and came inside

She's really not that old .. only eight

 I paid for her hips and eyes guarantee .. papers

This is the 2nd labrador I've had

That has back leg troubles

I'm no where close to giving up on her

It's just going to be a long battle

Yesterday, was a sad day for us

Cause as much as I like to pretend that everything is fine

And I do like to do that

Everything is not

This is my OLD DOG BELLA

She has trouble with her back leg

Yesterday, she started to hop on three legs

Leaving her bad one in the air

We gave her more of her nerve meds

She has nerve pain and old lady arthritis

The next step is to take her in for x rays

The vet said it would show him what exactly is going on

He did say that there wasn't much he'd be able to do

So, I wait and see if this is just a day thing or if

 I need to take her in for a possible mri

Or whatever they do

Just to have someone tell me I have an old dog

I forgot to say that she is one of the nicest dogs ever

Old Dogs

I posted on another blog about old dogs.

Old Dogs ... boy do I know all about that ! I'm on my 3rd set of them. I was the one who took Lindsey, my black lab, in. She was 11 and had cancer in her leg. We had decided not to operate due to her age. Of course, as time went on my husband changed his mind and I had to remind him, it was too late. The day my husband told me it was time, he had been up with her all night. She just could not get comfortable. I took her to the vet the next morning before I could think too much about it. It's very hard to do when they are still mentally with us. I cried for days. A cry that took my soul with it. I have always figured it was my job as their Mom to know when it was the right time. Luckily, I have gotten it right or pretty darn close, each time. You will know !!! I now have a 7 yr old choc lab who is aging very fast. She's going into dementia along with the bad leg / hip. So, I too will be in your boat soon. Til then I help her up the stairs and check on her when she forgets to come to the door. Just things we do for the one we love.

What do you think ? Tell me about your dogs ?

And here's a pic of that old dog who I help up the stairs ...