Walking Again!

Well, I saw the ortho doc this week and got his OK to start walking! YESSSSS!  I get to DITCH the crutches, AND the scooter (buh bye, Sassy!), and ambulate again on my own two feet (albeit with a little difficulty and a slight limp.)  But ahhhhh, it's still wonderful!

For those of you who might've missed THIS post, I broke my foot 8 weeks ago (rushing down the basement stairs, missed the last step, went down hard, heard a SNAP.  That's never good!)

It's been a LOOONG two (non-weight bearing) months, let me tell you. Limitations I would have never dreamed of... the entire last two months have been exhausting and yes, even somewhat depressing. So yeah, I did a little happy dance at the doctor's office... I feel like I got my life back!

The footy is still a little *tender* and not completely healed, so the doc said to "take it easy" and "no recreational walking" for at least another month.  I'm OK with that.  Just being able to be back on my own two feet is nothing less than heavenly!  Believe me, I will never take MOBILITY for granted again!


Photo credit: HERE

FOREVER CAT

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Thank goodness it's FRIDAY!  It has been a long week for me.  I hope your week went well and that your weekend is slooooow and wonderful!

It looks to be glorious weekend here... in fact, the whole next 7 days look picture perfect!  Justlookit THIS weather report:

I plan to spend my weekend laying low and taking it easy.  I haven't wanted to be a sad sack or complain (LOL!) but I guess I'm gonna confess... I BROKE MY FOOT!  Yup... on May 31... rushing down my basement steps... missed the last step... my flip-flop rolled and took my right foot with it.  Down I went (HARD!) and husband (nearby) heard the bone snap.

Went to the ER where they iced and x-rayed the poor swollen hurty foot and then pronounced it duly fractured.  A 5th metatarsal fracture, thank you very much.  Put a temporary cast on it and gave me a pair of crutches.

A few days later the ortho doc took off the nasty cast (THANK GOODNESS, that thing was heavy, primitive and barbaric) and gave me a hard-soled "post surgical" boot to wear, and strict instructions to STAY OFF THE FOOT!

You're jealous aren't you?  You want one, too, don't you?! Yeah, I admit, that shoe is a LOOKER.  (Too bad you have to bust your foot to get one, huh?!)

OK, I'm klutzy.  I admit it.  If I weren't klutzy I probably wouldn't have fallen down the steps and be in this mess.  So picture me tottering around on crutches.  It was not a pretty sight.  In fact, I couldn't do it. I really tried. But there was just no way!  I was on my way to breaking my neck!

ENTER (drumroll, please)... Sassy the KNEE SCOOTER!  Oh yeah, I'm a'rockin' and a'rollin' now!

A "knee scooter" you ask?  YES, a knee scooter!  For ankle and foot injuries, babeeee!  And guess what, my insurance is even paying for the rental.  (I had to buy the snappy bag... it's a "mobility bag" for walkers and wheelchairs, but it fits!)  Look out, I am scootin' in style NOW, LOL!

Me at work!

So a 5th metatarsal fracture can be a pesky and typically very slow healing fracture.  It's been six weeks today and I'm still non-weight bearing. I'm starting to get depressed. I feel like I am missing my whole summer.

Let me tell you, life gets very difficult when you can't walk!

The simplest things become mammoth.  Driving?  Nope. Laundry? Nope. Vacuuming?  Nope.  Cooking?  Nope.  Shopping?  Really???!   Hahaha!   Forget gardening, home projects, exercising, evening walks. I can barely shower, get dressed, go to the bathroom... NOTHING is easy.   Everything is a production.  It's grueling and I am so exhausted at the end of the day, I practically FALL into bed.

But all things considered... it could've been worse, and I'm grateful it wasn't.  And me and Sassy, we are a team and I'm doing OK.

But lemme tell you again, this is NO FUN at all.  So BE CAREFUL ON THOSE STEPS --THEY'RE TREACHEROUS!

PUPPY FEVER!

I've got puppy fever!  If you read THIS POST you know that I recently became Grandma to Jack, an ADORABLE red standard poodle puppy. OH!  He is just the BEST. PUPPY. EVER!

JACK, 3.5 months old

And I have been *thinking* about adding a dog to our family for awhile now.  (Me and dear husband, and the two pampered Raggies.)   But so many choices, and so many CHANGES... dogs are not as EASY as cats!!!

Dogs NEED things that cats just sneer at, LOL!  Dogs need POTTY TRAINED!  They need crates and fences and daily walks and river runs and licenses and other foreign stuff!  They get into the garbage, counter surf, chew shoes, bark at noises, drool (sometimes), need bathed and groomed and checked for ticks!

I'm not sure I'm really READY for a pup!  Maybe I should wait... THINK ABOUT IT some more... you know, be sensible and logical and practical and rational... YES, that's just what I'll do.

But IF I was ready... (JUST SAYIN'... !)

I'd want a brown standard poodle pup...

OR... a Yorkie!  I've never had one but I have been enchanted with them for years! This is my friend's adorable Yorkie, Chewy:

Talk about *the long and the short* of it... could two breeds BE more different?!!

SOMEONE... help me!



Images credits: Top photo, Bottom Photo

GRAND-PUPPEH! (Or, Introducing Jack!)

I am so excited!  We have a new addition to our family and his name is Jack.  Jack is a 9 week old red standard poodle puppy and he is 100% adorable!  ♥  Belonging to my daughter and her husband, that makes Jack my grand puppy.  (Sigh. All my grand babies have four legs and fur... none of the human variety... yet.)

My daughter and her husband have 2 kitties, Buster and Remy. Buster is a big tiger boy, almost 20 pounds.  He acts all tough and MACHO MANLY but he's just a soft and sweet momma's boy at heart.

Remy is smaller, and such a character.  She talks more than most people.  She's always meowing about something.  She is very friendly and loving (with a feisty streak)!

My son has a cat, Loco, who has been his trusty and loyal companion for years.  And you guys know I've got my two wonderful and handsome Ragdoll cats, Boo and Bentley  We are definitely a family of cat lovers, pure and simple.

"So how did you come to have a puppy then?" you ask. Well, the simple answer is that Kendra had been thinking for awhile about adding a dog to her family... we met a puppy and fell in love -- and the rest is, as they say, history!

Kendra and Jack

The story:  My husband and I were visiting my sister recently in Arizona (a great vacation - but that's another post for another time!) and met her friend LeeAnna Springer of Springer Clan Standard Poodles.

Springer Clan Puppies

LeeAnna breeds standard poodles, and I was very impressed with both her practices and her dogs.  I came home excitedly telling my daughter about the visit.  Well, didn't Kendra get to see for herself, up close and personal, when LeeAnna flew to the east coast shortly afterwards to pick up a puppy (Charlee) that she was buying to eventually add to her own breeding program.  We got to spend some time with LeeAnna and that delightful puppy.   Hmmm... the message was coming through loud and clear: these dogs are simply wonderful!

Springer Clan Charlee (Jack's sister!)

So my daughter realized that she had found her breed.  LeeAnna didn't have any puppies available, but Kendra contacted Charlee's breeder (Seminole Standard Poodles), and there was one pup from the litter still available, a little red boy.   Bonus time: this breeder was within driving distance to us -- SCORE!   Long story short, we picked up little Jack in West Virginia on Friday.  He is just as sweet, mellow, laid back and adorable as his sister Charlee.  Everyone who meets him falls instantly in love.  He is just irresistible!

Jack and his daddy

So if you are new to standard poodles, like we were, here are some fun facts:

• Standard poodles are a medium-to-large sized dog.
• Full grown males typically weigh 45 - 70 pounds; females usually a little smaller.  Height 15" (or more) at shoulders.
• The coat is either curly or corded; they come in all solid colors including black, blue, silver, gray, cream, aprocot, red (like Jack and Charlee), white, brown, or cafe-au-lait.  
• They are a long-lived breed, with a typical life expectancy of 12-15 years (or more).
• They usually love the water.  The name poodle comes from the German word, "pudel" which means to splash in water.  
• Poodles shed little to no hair and are good for allergy sufferers.  They do not have that typical "doggie odor." 
• The standard poodle is proud, graceful, noble, good-natured, enjoyable and cheerful.  
• Some of the poodle's talents include: retrieving, agility, watchdog, competitive obedience, and performing tricks. 
• They are loving and highly intelligent, considered to be one of the most trainable breeds.
• Generally easy to please, comical, friendly toward strangers, and excellent with children; good with other animals.  

From:  DogBreeds.com;  Standard Poodle Facts;  Dogster.com 



Kendra doesn't especially love the fancy, pom-pom, froo-frooey show-style poodle clip that most of us think of when we hear the word "poodle" (and honestly, neither do I!)  

She plans to keep Jack groomed in a sporting clip or puppy clip style.  Look HERE for details.  Squeee -- TEDDY BEAR!!!

Last picture of Jack... for now!!

Sleeping PUPPEH!!!   Is there anything cuter?!  ♥

DOG LOVER'S HALL OF SHAME -- LOL!

A friend (thanks, Cathy!) sent this to me and it just cracked up me and my husband.  
Sooooo funny!
Enjoy!