Writer's Block Hangover

(a ton of updates)

First thing's first: Thank you for all of the congrats and celebration regarding my NEW WRITING JOB! I am so very excited, but also equally nervous - and lately, my nerves have been a little debilitating. I've wanted to blog, but didn't know exactly how to start or even what to say. Writer's Block. See!

I mean -- Now that I'm going to be an official writer, I can't just spit out words like "eleventy" and "helluva" and still be considered professional, can I?? Oh well, and TOO FREAKING BAD. I'm still going to, so don't raise your expectations on my writing in this blog, ya'll. Same ol' Jac. Same crazy cat lady, Dog Momma writing.

Pappy:

Poor little Pappy is still battling with his immune system.  The good news is that he is doing a wonderful job weaning the regular Taste of the Wild back into his meals. For almost two months, we have been feeding him the prescription EN gastrointestinal dog food with hopes that we could get him back onto his normal diet ASAP. And so far, so good. Although! His incontinence has not improved a single bit. Still peeing in his crate and sometimes, unconsciously, as he walks. Dr. Gerbig and I have emailed back and forth, and settled on treating him with antibiotics for a two week cycle to clear up any infection he may have. 

"Pappy Dog Fennel"

We're also giving him an antihistemine every day to minimize his itching. The return of mange? Allergies? Who knows.

This morning he started itching his ears again. Matt and I debated on whether or not we should start his ear drops, and decided to give it another day to see if it continues. We are giving him his monthly dose of Flea and Tick on Friday - which should help clear up any mange he has, if any. SIGH.

On to Wally: YES, Wally.

Ever since Pappy and Wally were puppies, they've eaten together. Before eight weeks old, they ate out of the same bowl. Never any food aggression toward one another, always eating as fast as possible, and always letting eat other finish their own meals. But lately, Wally has been acting so weird. Pappy scarves down his food like always, but instead of eating normally- Wally pushes his food around with his nose, patting at the bowl, and refusing to eat until 1) Matt or I sit next to him and praise him the entire time and/or 2) [until] Pappy is finished eating. Almost as if he's waiting for the "alpha" to eat first. Is this normal? Concerning??

  Has anyone ever heard of a dog doing this before??

Otherwise, he's happy as can be. Same ol' fun loving Wally.

 

 Lulu in her happy spot. The only place she can feel truly safe with the pups.

It's been a rough 8 months for Lulu. Ever since we brought home the boys, she has been on edge. At first, we thought Ernie was going to be one to not adjust as well, but to our complete and utter shock - he has warmed up marvelously to the pups. Lulu, on the other hand....

Poor Little Lulu just HATES those puppies. Their high energy and her tiny body do not mix well. Neither does the fact that Wally loves to play tag and it ALWAYS ends up in Lulu jumping onto a high surface, swatting and hissing at the dogs, and the fur on her back standing straight up.

She's been peeing in the finished basement as protest (which sucks SO, SO bad). We've tried plug in pheromones, calming collars, changing the cat litter, adding boxes, so on, and so forth. Our last option is to put her on an anti anxiety medicine which I really didn't want to do, but worse has come to worst, and I'm out of options. The carpet in the basement is our GOOD carpet! As in the carpet we were planning to keep! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE SHAMPOOED?! The pups are 99% house trained - and now we're battling with our five year old cat? Frustrated doesn't even begin to describe my feelings. I'm calling the vet tomorrow to schedule an appointment for the little miss.

Last, but definitely not least - Ernie: 

Ernie is just a good ol' fat boy wishing he was on vacation.

Speaking of vacation: ONLY 46 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE FOR GOLF SHORES!!! 

Oh My God - I need a beach, a pina colada, and a tan SO SO bad. I cannot wait!

Over the weekend, Matt and I were partially productive. We washed and cleaned out the car and pulled weeds in the yard - such old folks.

I got to visit with Heather, Chelsea, Nicole, and Aliyah on Thursday - 

and Matt and I planned out some landscaping in our yard today.

LOTS of trees!!!

 Our plan is to still get new carpet and fencing sometime this Summer. Of course, that's all dependent on whether or not Lulu and Pappy decide to go to the bathroom in the RIGHT SPOT.

Does anyone remember my post about Dave Ramsey's book Financial Peace AKA a tutorial on how to quickly pay off ALL debt (student loans, credit cards, cars, and eventually mortgage)? Well, we have made a great start!! In the past month, we've paid off OUR BOAT and a credit card! We still have a long way to go - but we're on our way! 

Matt hates how frugal I've become - living on such a strict budget that every single dollar counts.

Too bad, Baby Face Fennel.

I WANT TO SEE THE WORLD!!! 

(which means we need to be debt free)

 While talking about my new writing position to friends this past week, Heather looked at me and said:

"You're like the real life Carrie Bradshaw."

I love my friends!!!!

Picture me like this: but with messier hair, not as nice home decor, and a Target wardrobe. 

Cheers!!!