Texas Lady

Yes, ZsaZsa is on the back of the recliner. She sits up there a lot; I think she may be part feline. DH says she’s part goat. I don’t know which part is which but she’s 100% sweetheart!

Life has gotten better since I got out of the hospital in January. It took me quite some time to get my strength back; I was beginning to wonder if I was going to get over it at all. I didn’t drive for the entire month of January but, thankfully, I’m feeling human again. One foot in front of the other. Just wanted to check in.

This is the picture my husband sent me when I was in the hospital. Don’t know where Gypsy was but I was missing my canine babies. Got sick before Christmas, spent the next week getting sicker then DH took me to the ER on New Year’s Eve. I stayed for four days. So I missed Christmas, DH’s birthday and New Years. Sux!!!! But I’m home and getting stronger every day. We still have champagne from New Years now that I’m off all the extra drugs. Life is good!

It was a short trip through Starbucks on Khandi’s 12th birthday, but Daddy also took her shopping at her favorite place: the feed store!!!!!!!!!!

The past two days the house has been more alive than normal. We bought two new back doors and two new front doors. The workmen got here at 9 AM yesterday and installed the new sliding glass doors and the doggie door (through the brick wall, no less). They were here all day yesterday and then back this morning to install the new front door and storm door. It’s going to be nice when quiet once again prevails.

I just got home from taking the two big girls to Starbucks. They all love to ride in the car, but I can’t take all four by myself. They all want to drive and I can’t reach the steering wheel safely. So, DH keeps the littles and I take the bigs. We can’t take a chance on their safety so we each take responsibility for two at a time.

Today the doors have been removed from the front of the house pending replacement, so if we set them free they will be down the street or in the street, or both. I’m parked in my office with computer, TV and the dogs. DH is coming to take one at a time on the leash so they can see what is going on in their house. They’re not so excitable today; yesterday they thought it was their job to eat the workmen, or at least to let them know who was boss. At the end of the day they’ll not only have their 48″ window to look through but a glass storm door to see even more of their world. It’ll be worth it for all of us. And it’s all hurricane safe double glass panes so it cuts the outside noise noticeably. Safety and beauty: you can’t beat the combination in my opinion.

New Sliding Doors

Today we’ll get to see the new front doors. Goody!!!!!!!!

Well, a lot of changes happened in the past couple of months. We finally got our new driveway and patio. Above DH is pressing Zoe’s feet into the new concrete to remember the date. He did all the dogs’ feet; Zoe was the one who was the least sure about the process.

Had my shoulder replaced in May; currently in physical therapy for that. We bought some new furniture, tore down an old shed in the backyard, and about to order new doors for front and back of the house. DH is on plan for orthopedic surgery next month so trying to get all our ducks in a row prior to that event. He’s due to be out of commission for an extended amount of time. We did find a housekeeper who comes in monthly so I no longer worry about the housework while everything else is going on.

Your furniture should always match your dogs, right?

Gypsy loves relaxing on her couch in my sewing room. We love happy doggies. All seem to be happy and healthy right now.

Prepping for surgery in a couple of weeks. Trying to hire a house cleaner and catch up on what I can prior to being out of commission for a month or so. Sometimes my To Do list is longer than my energy supply. Guess that’s what old age does for you. But, the alternative is not feasible.

The squirrels and birds are enjoying the gorgeous weather, and so are we! The dogs are giving the squirrels fits but not bad enough that they stop coming back to eat all day every day. Flowers are blooming so it’s pleasant to watch the dramas.

All the girls are doing well. Khandi had her last vaccination booster yesterday. Zoe has one more in May. Other than that we’re on maintenance again. Fingers crossed that we can coast for a while again.

DH and I are both having orthopedic surgery this year so we’re doing doctor visits, etc., in preparation. Another year in retirement; another joint replacement or two.

All in all, it’s just beautifully quiet and life is peaceful. Trying to keep it that way.

Life is quiet right now. Little blips on a daily basis at people who refuse to use their heads for anything other than decoration. Such is Life, I suppose. I try not to get aggravated at other people’s garbage but sometimes it’s causes a blip on my screen.

The girls are all doing well. We’ve been to the vet multiple times with Gypsy and Zoe, and once with ZsaZsa (for shots). Gypsy is having all kinds of health issues that we didn’t know existed. She has collapsing trachea, stones in both kidneys, a host of lab values we’re trying to correct and now she’s on special food, like Zoe. Too bad it’s not the same special food. LOL Both seem to be doing better. We’ve changed Gypsy’s meds multiple times but now we’ve hit a good place. As long as she doesn’t sneeze so much she doesn’t irritate her neck as much, so we no longer have to medicate for pain and inflammation. Now we’re treating for the cause of the allergies and stopping the sneezing. She goes back in a week to recheck her urine issues. ZsaZsa goes back for a vaccine booster. Zoe goes back for a urine recheck; she’s finished with boosters. Then we’ll have to get Khandi in to start her shots. She’s up to date on most everything except leptospirosis which is a whole new vaccine.

The retina specialist told me last month that I needed new glasses. What? I had just been to the eye doctor and no one said anything about new glasses would help. He kept telling me there was nothing else they could do. So, I made another appointment with the optometrist. Of course, our optometrist had retired overnight (??????) so we had to change doctors immediately. Strange. So, come to find out they knew in November that I needed new glasses but they never changed them. So, here I’m complaining to the retina specialist about my vision; he’s talking another surgery; I’m depressed over my bad vision, etc., and I just need new glasses! See what I mean about people not using their heads? I got new glasses and went from 20-165 to 20-40 vision instantly. Jeez!!!!!!!! I can see better now than I have for almost two years. Not perfect but good enough. Almost miraculous how much better I see. Of course, if I take the glasses off I’m lost, but with them I’m good.

Other than all that life has been chill. Weather has been up and down, but that’s Texas normal. No place has as much beautiful weather as Texas. Clear blue skies, puffy white clouds, a little breeze spells TEXAS. So does dropping 40 degrees in an hour and show-stopping rainstorms when blue skies were forecast. You never know around here; just be prepared for anything and you’ll never be disappointed.

Miss Mimi started a steep downhill slide just after Christmas. By the first week of January it looked particularly dire. She didn’t want to eat, then couldn’t walk without wobbling. Then we had to carry her out to the potty and hand feed her. We knew how miserable she was and made that hard decision to euthanize. We planned on taking her Friday, but when I got up Friday morning she had taken the decision out of our hands. She had gone peacefully. It’s amazing how quiet it gets around here when one of our babies leaves suddenly. She’s been gone a week now and the pack is just beginning to normalize. We’ve been spending a lot of time babying the girls and taking them in the car on almost a daily basis. It’s just beginning to gel.

Gypsy has continued to suffer pain from her neck issues and is still taking pain medication most days. We have an appointment for Gypsy and Zoe on Monday to get shots and renew meds. Zoe seems fine, having just turned 9 years old on Thursday. We took her out for her birthday ride and spoil, of course.