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Archive for the ‘Alex’ Category

Chocolate Covered Mouse

July 23, 2010

Nama had a mouse last night.

I had some stress going on yesterday. A lot of it.

It made me want to eat. A lot. So I did.

Now, this mouse…normally, I would have had full body shivers and would imagine a mouse behind every corner. However, when I saw the little bitty baby mouse, I had an “Aw” moment and wished I could go hug my dog.

I know. I’m pitiful.

I miss my dog every day. Lots and lots (I’m going with the word “lots” today, forgive me) of times all during the day and especially at night. I either grieve for him or think he’s just going to sidle up by me any minute and rub against my arm. When he doesn’t, I’m reminded that he’s gone and I feel very, very sad.

And apparently, more stressed.

Little did I know that when I’m having a week like this one, with a crazy weekend coming up like this one…that sitting down and holding him a while works wonders for me.

Now I know.

And all I want to do is eat.

Before you get any ideas, no…I DON’T want another dog. I just want Alex. And pizza. A chocolate malt. A cheeseburger with bleu cheese. Chocolate cake. Chocolate pie.

Something…chocolate-y…

Posted in Alex, Animal Kingdom, July 2010 | 6 Comments »

Now That He’s Gone…

July 16, 2010

Thank you so much for all your comforting words about Alex. It really did help~ I have felt the love and prayers. We have been a melancholy bunch over here, but have had some laughs too, remembering the crazy quirks that were Alex.

A few things will be different now…

We can eat eggs in peace. Anyone who has been at our house when we eat eggs knows that gentle, sweet Alex became persistent and manipulative when eggs came into the picture.

We can now leave all the doors open if we want~ no, the Kleenex will not get chewed, the candy in the purse will not be found, he will not run out of our bedroom in the middle of the night to chase a sound…

The going to bed routine is reduced…there is no waiting for Alex to quit chasing the bunnies outside or waiting for him to finish eating his bedtime snack…

Indigo sat a plate down on the couch last night and said, “Don’t let Alex get my food…” and then realized mid-sentence that Alex wasn’t here anymore…

My dust ruffle will stay nice. It will not be rubbed to nubbins…

The throws will stay clean longer.

The kitchen will have space where his food was kept.

Crumbs will stay on the floor until I actually sweep them up.

Gum, toothpaste and dental floss will be safe.

Garbage cans can go outside the cabinet now.

I’m sure everything will smell better.

Of course, none of that matters now that I am missing my pup. The loss really has been profound this week. I know not everyone understands. A friend teased me a little yesterday and I realized once again that I might feel things a little more than others, in certain areas…and I must say, I haven’t felt this way about EVERY dog I’ve had. But I know there are people out there who have, like me, experienced that one of a kind devotion with a pet. Those of you who have had that know it’s like losing a part of your family.

Thank you for listening and caring, whether you “get it” or not…I just appreciate you being here, one way or the other.

Now…go hug your dog! XO

Posted in Alex, July 2010 | 6 Comments »

Alex (2/26/97~7/13/10)

July 14, 2010

I lost my boy yesterday, my Alex.

This little guy who was named after our plumber~ Alexander Webster “Poochkin” Sabin~ stole our hearts the moment we laid eyes on him.

For over thirteen years, he has been by my side.

He’s been with me through five pregnancies, laid on my belly as it grows, licked my tears when I lost three babies, welcomed the two babies we brought home…

Every time I have (EVER) sat on the couch, he has come to keep me company.

He has let the kids pull his hair, yell in his ears and endured an occasional flying drumstick…and remote control…and toy cars…and Barbies…

He has put up with countless strangers coming through, endless animals making themselves at home in his house and chased off many a postman.

He’s put up with all sorts of costume changes, reindeer ears and the like…

He made Nate, who never really wanted a dog in the first place, fall in love…so much so, that Nate has moved heaven and earth to take care of his boy.

I think it might have been the time when Alex was a puppy and he was choking in our car~ his leash was caught on the bar underneath the seat and Nate saved his little life. Alex was eternally grateful. There are many other such stories. They had a good thing going…

We thought we were going to lose him back in April. We had a precious week where we took pictures with him…

and tried to say our good-byes…

Then he perked up and we were able to get another three months with him.

I’m so glad for that extra time.

He was peaceful and it is comforting to know that he’s not suffering anymore. He was such a tough little guy. He never cried or complained, but it became more and more obvious that he was in a lot of pain. I’m glad to know that he’s not hurting now.

But I sure do miss him already.

I hope where you are has lots of trees to discover, all the eggs you can eat and a soft lap that makes you think of me.

Posted in Alex, July 2010 | 32 Comments »

Summer Musings

July 13, 2010

I’ve been too busy for my own good this summer. When I get overwhelmed and worn out with it how crazy the summer is going, I think about this time last summer…I was feeling so awful with Lyme’s Disease. It helps put it in perspective. Any tired feeling I have cannot compare to how that felt. Whew. So very thankful to have that past me.

That being said, I am ready for things to slow down just a bit here. It has been FUN, don’t get me wrong…

Got two younguns from the youth choir married off this weekend. It was a gorgeous wedding for Tara and Nate. They planned it so well and everything was beautiful. Was able to spend time the last few days with a slew of people I haven’t been able to see enough lately…that’s been really nice. Doing a little work here and there on a few projects…a little this, a little that.

We blew up a BUCKETLOAD of fireworks last night. The finale was called “One UNBELIEVABLE Fountain” and it was a large box filled with fireworks that you light all at once. Unbelievable is what it was…we sat there with our mouths hanging open.

My dog, Alex, has been sick again, so I’ve spent time keeping a close eye on him, taking him to the vet, giving him special food, cleaning up after him. No fun. He seemed to perk up a little bit last night. I’m hoping for a turnaround in the next few days. He shocked us a few months ago, which is wonderful, but now it’s even harder to know what to expect out of him…

My camera charger arrived in the mail yesterday, so I will be up and running again with pictures. Yeehaw! I cannot tell you how much I’ve missed my camera.

I haven’t caught up on last night’s Bachelorette. What do you think? Should I watch? Was it entertaining?

I so enjoyed my mom and dad’s posts on marriage. There are so many tidbits in there that I’ve read them both several times and something different stands out each time. Thank for sharing that with us, Max & Tomas. Now, go write your book! ASAP!

I’ve decided to condense my To-Do List this week. It’s going to be simple:

Read, Nap, Clean, Sleep

I like the sound of that…what are YOU into these days?

Posted in Alex, Friends, Heartwarming Events, July 2010 | 4 Comments »

Spawn of Satan

June 8, 2010

There once was a kitten.

Her name was Whimsy. Whimsy Willow.

Or Spawn of Satan…as she was to later be dubbed…

We saved her life.

Do you see those smiles?

There was an ice storm and a liter of kittens was found under the deck of a friend of a friend of mine. The girl had heard the kittens for a few days and had seen no mother. These beautiful kittens were left all alone, in the cold, starving…and at the most, 3 weeks old.

What could we do?

Well, I became her mother, naturally. She loved me. I fed her from a bottle several times a day. I held her, slept with her, took care of her day and night…hissed at her when she was naughty.

What? I’m not kidding.

Her favorite place was in my hood. I carried her around for hours at a time. It was the only way I could get anything done.

I took her to the vet in one of Greyley’s stuffed animal dog carriers. She was so tiny. She liked it in there.

Is she not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?

I’m realizing that it’s taken me a long time to write about this here. I was crazy about this kitten. I LOVED HER.

And she loved me.

Problem was…she didn’t love anyone else BUT me.

We tried. We all really tried. The kids, bless their hearts…they wanted SO badly for her to love them. But she scratched up their hands and arms and legs multiple times a day anytime they got close. Every day for months, they tried to love on her and she didn’t put up with it. Every time Nate walked by, she pounced on his legs and feet and went to town scratching him.

And Alex. Poor, sweet Alex.

She tortured the poor guy. He didn’t know what hit him.

All these years I’ve been in this house, said he. First there’s the loud music, then there’s kids, all the company, and now this monster. I don’t deserve this.

No, you don’t, Alex, no you don’t.

Alex began to back her into the corner. It got ugly. Whimsy became such a handful that I had to make a decision. It was really hard…for me. Everyone else was relieved.

Especially Alex.

We gave her to some friends so we could see her now and then.

When they had a baby, they had to give her away…she was a handful for them too. Even longtime cat lovers whom I consider to be professional “cattakers” didn’t know what to do with Whimsy. They’d try to play with her and she’d have a conniption.

She was a wild thing.

But I loved her.

And she loved me.

The End.

Posted in Alex, Animal Kingdom, June 2010, Mama Musings | 5 Comments »

Alex Love

April 13, 2010

Alex had a rough time last week. Day and night/really rough. We talked to several vets and we know the time is coming to an end. He has some antibiotics and pain meds to help make his days easier for the next week or so, but we are in the process of saying good-bye. It’s been really hard. He’s been with us for 13 years and it’s hard to imagine life without him.

For the next little while, we’re going to love him up.

He gives the best hugs.

Feeling the wind in our hair…

Greeting Greyley as she comes home from school…

More huggin’…

So sweet…

You’re the best dog ever, yes, you are…

He’s our boy, can you tell?

Say a prayer for us. The spigot has opened over here. We’re laughing one minute, crying the next. So glad we’ve had this little dog in our lives all these years. There will never be another Alex.

Posted in Alex | 14 Comments »

Alex

January 27, 2009

Meet Alex. Alexander Webster Sabin. He is named after the plumber that came and fixed our toilet after a winter of not being able to put toilet paper down the toilet. It was our first house and a LONG winter. We were grateful. So when we got a puppy in the Spring, it was just natural that we’d name our sweet little Yorkie after the blessed plumber.

Alex & our neighbor, Celine, were buds. He has always tolerated children very well. I say tolerated because that really is the extent of his affection where kids are concerned. I know you probably don’t believe that he could be anything less than perfect, because, well, look at him~ he’s adorable.

Alex is quirky. Really quirky. He wasn’t afraid of anything as a puppy, until I took him to training school and he had a run in with a Boxer. He chilled out in a big way. Now, he is scared of our wood floors, the stainless steel wastebasket, and sometimes his own food. He is on the neurotic side and quite possibly, bipolar. He is a jaunty little fellow, on the big side for a Yorkie, and he has a manly bark. It freaked us right out when his voice changed. When he reached down and pulled out the manly bark, we thought a German Shepherd had gotten loose in our house.

He went everywhere we went for the first year, even church. He was the choir mascot. He gave us tips on being parents and when we brought our baby home from the hospital, Alex danced around her car seat on his hind legs. He knew her~ he’d laid on my belly, almost obsessively, the full nine months. I was on bed rest the last two months of my pregnancy and Alex became very put out with all the kicking, but refused to give up his perch on my stomach.

He’s amazing. I adore him. And he has the ability to get on my nerves like nothing else. He despises bleach. I avoid it like the plague because on the rare occasions I have to use it, he knows before I even open the lid and goes bonkers. He hates the mailman and embarrasses me by losing his mind every time the mailman comes to the door.

But oh…he is so sweet. He is a kind soul.

He has a crazy affinity for eggs. He knows when we’re making them and gets very manipulative to get one. If I don’t put an egg in his dish, he barks to go outside in hopes that when he comes in, it will be waiting as his treat.

He will yelp until I tell him he is NOT getting an egg and then he goes and lays down. He completely understands.

Sometimes, I have this startling realization that I have a live animal IN MY HOUSE. It’s as if, all of a sudden, I go into shock that a wild creature has made residence in my home, my space, preferably somewhere ON me…It really is a weird phenomenon.

Let me show you something that you’ve probably noticed before, but maybe you haven’t really stopped to think about it.

Genesis 3:1 The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?”

Um…what’s wrong with this picture?

Well, the serpent SPOKE, just for starters. Now, if the serpent talked to Eve back in the Garden, I bet other animals spoke as well. When did that stop happening? I was discussing this with Nate this morning and Alex was listening to every word. He always looks like he is on the verge of speaking and I just wonder if one day…when the Lion lays down with the Lamb…if he’ll finally be able to talk. You never know.

I don’t know if this is what went down…but I wonder if it changed when Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden. Either that or when God put them in leather. Maybe the animals just found that really offensive and stopped speaking altogether. I wouldn’t blame them for that.

Whatever the story is, I have a feeling we won’t be finding out here on earth. As much as Alex tries, he really can’t get a word in edgewise, with all that’s going on around here. He’s lucky to get a bath, much less have meaningful conversation. In the meantime, he will look at me lovingly, cuddle with me whenever I give him the chance, and keep his mouth shut. And I’m just fine with that. In fact, I love him for it.

Tags: January 2009
Posted in Alex, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »