An Auburn Update

Auburn had a vet appointment this morning to check up on her skin condition and to get her 1 yr shots. Last month the vet put her on some Omega3 oil for her skin irritation and wanted to check on her to see how she was doing. Unfortunately the oil had not helped and the scabby, flaky spots were spreading. The vet looked at her skin and felt like it was getting infected so she prescribed Auburn an antibiotic. The vet also concluded she does have some sort of allergy. To start, she wanted to change her food to see if it was a food allergy. We switched Auburn to a fish/salmon based food and we are eliminating all beef, pork, and poultry. No more yummy treats for this dog. Just carrots and other low calorie fruit and veggies (b/c she is a fat ass!). The vet also gave Auburn an antihistamine to take twice a day to help with the symptoms from the allergy. We go back in three weeks (as of now... may change after I talk to the vet in the morning...) to see if she is improving any. If she is not, Auburn will have to have allergy tests done to see what it is she is allergic to. I noticed she had been licking her paws more than usual so the vet trimmed her hair around her paws and cut her nails. This should help with the allergy thing but I don't understand how. It was time for Auburn's 1 yr shots so the vet lined them up and gave them to her one by one. She did really good and only yelped once. She actually pitched more of a fit when they trimmed her paws that when they gave her the shots. Ha! We got a quote for her teeth removal and hope to schedule that some time in March. She also gained 3 lbs (which is A LOT for a miniature) while on her diet (the vet scaled her back to half a cup twice a day). So if she does not loose any weight soon, we are going to have to get her thyroids checked out.
Tonight I came home, let Auburn out of her crate, and proceeded to do the normal routine. I was on the phone with a friend but I had my bluetooth so I was able to still give Auburn some attention. We went out for a quick potty break and then I came inside to feed her. I did 1/4 cup old food and 1/4 cup of new food. I let her eat while I did dishes and finished my conversation. After I hung up I went to get Auburn's bath ready. While I was rounding up everything I decided to give her the new medicine the vet gave us for her skin. While I was getting it out, I noticed Auburn pawing at her face and rubbing it in the carpet. She is a little goofy sometimes so I didn't think much of it. She kept doing it and that is when I noticed her eyes. They were almost swollen shut. She looked Asian. I went over to her and began to pet her and I noticed her snout was really swollen. It then dawned on me she was having an allergic reaction. I then proceeded to freak out... I called the vet but they were closing. They gave me a number to call for an emergency clinic in Annapolis (20 mins away). I threw on some shoes, grabbed Auburn and my purse, and headed out the door. I called Doug's parents and asked them to come with me since I am a horrible navigator and did not know where this place was. I then called the clinic to get directions. I am still hysterical at this point. I get off the phone with them, call Doug and work, and proceed to FREAK OUT! Once I finally calmed down enough for him to understand me, I told him what was going on and he planned to meet me at the clinic. Doug's mom drove me as I held my baby in the back seat. We got to the clinic and went in no problem. The vet was unable to tell whether it was a reaction from the food or the shots but I think it was the food. It will kill me to know she was like that all day at home by herself. They gave her a shot of benadryl and a steroid, charged us an arm and a leg, and sent us on our way. We have to keep a close eye on her but she should be good after a day or two. We have to keep giving her benadryl and her normal dog food. No new medicine until after she is feeling better. I am very happy I stopped to get her medicine because the apartment would have flooded if I started her bath. I left everything on when I flew out the door. Doug's dad went by to turn everything off and make sure nothing was on that should not have been.
I am calling her vet in the morning to see what she thinks about everything that happened and what she suggests to do. I can't afford another visit so she will have to do this one for free or over the phone!
So $450 will get you a swollen, prodded with needles dog, a tired, red-eyed, stressed out Mom, and a Dad who gets to swipe his card a lot to make them both better. Love you Daddy! And the quote of the night - "Are you sure you want to keep her?" - from my mother... I'll let you insert your my sarcastic reply.

This year has been shaping up to be a busy one so far.
We got together for dinner with a few people at my work and their significant others. They took Doug and I to a BBQ restaurant in Annapolis. I got the veggie plate... I did try some of Doug's pulled pork and it was good. But their fried okra was amazing! It was straight out the iron skillet prepared just like Grandma does. Yum! After dinner we went out to a... wait for it... BAR! Ha! We played pool, had a few more drinks, and were home by 10:30. I know! Party animals! Ha!
This past Sunday we went over to a co-worker's house (one of the ones we went out to dinner with) for a Super Bowl party. Yall know I would not turn down an excuse to cook! I made my chicken nacho dip, onion dip, and I tried a new recipe - pizza crescent rolls (pepperoni, pizza sauce, and mozzarella rolled up in crescent rolls). They were a big hit! I made them mainly for the kids but the adults ate them up. I did not watch much of the game or commercials due to all the excitement/distractions from the kids running around the room. I had to watch the commercials the following day. Fail! The kids were cute but it did not help the campaign for Doug and Heather to have kids... Just Sayin!
Tuesday I went with a couple of girls from work to a sports bar/restaurant for happy hour. I could not believe they had beers for $2!! I had 2... Doug and I plan on going one night so he can take full advantage of the cheap beer. I learned two things that night. 1. I am old and could not hang with the youngans. I left around 6:45. They started to leave but then decided to stay a little longer. Let's just say they did NOT drive home at the end of the night. Ha! They had fun but I was happy with my 6:45 departure. I mean, I got home in time to watch Glee! The second thing I learned was that I am so happy I have my new job. My old co-workers called with some disturbing news that made me appreciate my choice to leave there even more. I hate they are still stuck working there and having to put up with the poop but I hope they all can make the switch like I did. Almost any job is better than working there. How many times can the poop hit the fan? I mean really!
Valentine's Day is next week and Doug will be in Minnesota. He leaves Sunday and gets back Saturday. I hate he is leaving but it's training for his promotion. And I can't get mad at him for it being on Valentine's Day since he did not schedule it. Yall know he will take care of me before he leaves... he will be bringing home Breaking Dawn Part 1 tomorrow! Maybe we can go out to dinner when he gets back.
Auburn had a vet appointment a few weeks ago. They told her she was overweight. We cut back the amount of her food but I have not seen a difference. I have tried to walk her as much as I can but some days its just too dang cold! We go back at the end of the month for another check-up and her shots. Hopefully she will have lost some by then. The vet gave her some Omega3 for animals. Auburn's skin has been real dry, bumpy, and flaky. The vet is not sure if it's just a skin thing or if she has allergies. The Omega3 has not made much of a difference so far. If it does not get better, the vet may put her on allergy medicine. You know we would have the complicated dog! We already spend a fortune on toys that she destroys within a week or so. Now we get to spend money on her medical "issues". Yay! But we could not imagine not having her in our life. She is our wittle baby!
Wish Doug luck on his trip to Minnesota! I will miss him bunches! Maybe while he is there he will get the snow he has been waiting on.

January Snow

Still no big blizzard this year but we have had a couple of light dustings. I have enjoyed them because the snow only lasted a few hours and melted right away.

Here are a few pictures from the 9th





It snowed the most so far this season on the 21st. And this time it stayed around all weekend. I took a video of Auburn when we took her out. All the times it snowed before it was melted before she got to see it. Well, when the snow plows woke us up that morning, I knew she was finally going to get to see some snow. Unfortunately it was more of frozen snow/ice than snow. We are still waiting on the powder stuff.
For-warning - she does take a "potty break" in the video. Sorry. I do not know how to edit.

Back to SKEWL!

After many, many, many years Doug is now a student again! His class started this week. He did his orientation, ordered his book, printed his syllabus, and bought his supplies. He was going to do classes but his promotion had him training all month so he had to switch to on-line. He is starting off with one to get his feet wet and use to doing online classes. He is so excited. Yall know he is a big ol' dork so he is enjoying this. He is so excited to get his book and start working on his assignments. Now we have to get him a desk to do his work on and a place to store it all. Wish him luck for all A's!

Happy birthday Auburn!

Saturday was Auburn's 1st birthday. So you know what that means.... 1yr check up at the vet. We got up early this morning and headed out. Daddy came with us but he could not stay since he had to go to work. She did good until about a minute or two after we got there. She started shaking like a leaf. Poor thing! She thought she was at the groomers but once she realized she wasn't and we were staying with her, she calmed down a bit. She behaved and did what the vet needed her to do. The only part she did not like was the thermometer... :) The only thing the vet found wrong with Auburn was she is overweight. 17.6 lbs. fat butt! So we are scaling back the food and giving her low calorie treats like raw carrots. Her first human food! Other than that she is 100% healthy. We got some special shampoo and oil for her food to help treat her scabby, flaky skin pn her back. The doctor said it may be allergies but she wants to try the oil first before putting her on an antihistamine. We really liked the vet and the office. We go back at the end of February for a check up on her skin and to get her shots. I hope Daddy can take off and go with me for this one. I know she is going to remember those after the first one! So since we are done and back home so early, Auburn and I plan on spending the rest of the day snuggling on the couch and napping. Poor thing is exhausted from an exciting morning. And momma will never turn down snuggling on the couch and naps! :)

Auburn playing with her best friends

Here are a few pictures of Auburn playing with Mom and Dad when they were in town.

Auburn and Dad are best friends. He would play with her until she dropped from exhaustion and she loved it. She would sit by the door, waiting on him to come out, in the mornings. She loves her Granddaddy.


Mom is warming up to her nicely. They played a lot this time. Mom kept saying, "No bite!" Ha!

Forgot one

Don't know how I forgot this picture. I really don't know how I was able to take it. Everyone cooperated!

Auburn has turned me into a sap

What do these two movies have in common: Water for Elephants & Rise of the Planet of the Apes?

Answer: they both made me cry.

Why you ask? Not because of the people and their performance but because of them being mean to the animals in the movie. When they killed the horse and whipped the Elephant in Water for Elephants, I could barely finish the movie I was so upset. I mean, I was mad. I just held Auburn and kept telling her no one would ever treat her like that as tears streamed down my face. Poor wittle ewyfant! Then when the shelter people were being mean and abusive to the monkeys, it just broke my heart. Once again, I grabbed Auburn and held her close.

It's not that I had a heart of stone before I got Auburn. I guess I just notice animal cruelty more. I can not watch the sad commercials wanting you to donate money to save the cats and dogs. I beg Doug to adopt all the animals the news show on TV at night; either abused/neglected or in the pound. I am not allowed in a pet store if they are doing adoption day.

Having Auburn has made me a sap for animals but it's not a bad thing (unless I become the crazy dog lady with way too many adopted pups). It just makes me sad to see the abuse in movies. I always picture someone doing that to Auburn. :( No animal deserves to treated that way. So from now on Doug is going to have to pre-screen movies with animals in it so I can watch the movie without crying (and wanting to bring the animal home to live with us).

2011 in Pictures

Auburn beat Oregon in the BCS National Championship game to become 2011 National Champs


I lost my Grandmother


We got a new addition to the family


Doug turned 29


We went to a few Augusta Greenjackets baseball games


I turned 28


I got a new job and Maryland so we had to say goodbye to some great friends in Augusta





We moved to Odenton, MD


We got into some trouble at the Renaissance Festival


We went to Rehobeth Beach, Delaware


My parents came up for Christmas and we went to DC and Gettysburg, PA

A New Year

2011 was a big year for us. We started out with jobs we hated and ended up with jobs we love. We started out in a home we owned and ended up in an apartment. We started out in the Georgia and ended in Maryland. I started out never flying by myself and ended up a pro. We started out just the two of us and ended up with a third. We started off with tons of family and friends close by and ended up with very few.

Lots of changes but all for the good. It was a rough end of the year, leaving family and friends and having rent and a mortgage to pay, but I know things are about to change. Financially, we had an up and down year. We had to pay a nice hunk in taxes, then we had moving expenses, then we had the house in GA and the apartment in Maryland to pay for. It seemed like every time we got back on track we would get knocked back off again. But we got the deductions changed on our W-2's, I got a better paying job, we rented the house in GA in December, and yesterday Doug got a promotion at work. With one phone call from my husband, who I am so proud of, all my worries melted away. I know in 2012 we will be back on track.

I know 2012 is going to be a good year for us. We have all our friends and family supporting us, we have new friends to make, great jobs (with great pay!) to go to everyday, and we have each other (and Auburn). I have the best husband in the whole wide world. He makes me so happy and he makes me feel loved every second of every day. I am so thankful to have him in my life. I could not do it without him.

Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope you have a wonderful new year and that it is full of laughter, smiles, and love.

"Here's to the freakin" New Year, "I'll drink to that, yeah!"