My life lately!
 

I thought I'd start another post in the general forum to update about my life lately :) Some of you know I've been posting pregnancy belly photos in the private area for donating members, but I just realized Diane W is not a donating member so she can't see what's going on! I don't feel comfortable posting every week's photos here but I will do it once in a while, so I'll put this week's here to start :) I've attached a photo of me taken yesterday, 18 weeks pregnant!

A couple of weeks ago, I went to New Orleans for my cousin's wedding. It was.... interesting lol. I am VERY glad I didn't go earlier in pregnancy when I wasn't feeling well, because I probably would have been throwing up and not eating for the week. The smells were awful! Not all the time, of course, but as we walked through the French Quarter, there would just be little pockets of strong smells of vomit, or urine, or some rotten-milk kind of smells. At first I thought it was my hyper-sensitive sense of smell from pregnancy, until my cousin's husband mentioned "There's some interesting smells around here, huh?" lol. I also had to get used to brushing my teeth with warm tap water, which I'm not used to so it was uncomfortable for me! Normally when I turn on the cold tap, it's cold. But not in Louisiana! There, it's just less hot lol! The wedding was generally good though, and I was able to fit into my bridesmaid dress so it all worked out :)

Scott and I did a road trip through Louisiana afterwards. I'm a huge fan of Britney Spears, so we went to her hometown of Kentwood and it was NOT how I imagined it! I thought it would be this quaint cute little town, but it was extremely run-down and the businesses were all closed and boarded up, there was graffiti, trash everywhere... The high school had big chain-link fencing all the way around with huge signs saying "GUN AND DRUG FREE ZONE" which was pretty weird to me because schools here are not fenced and gated, and there are definitely no signs about guns or anything lol. It was like stepping into a different world! We also found the museum, which is half dedicated to Britney, but it was closed that Saturday. There was a poster of Britney, circa-2000ish, taped to the window, but half falling off.

We made our way to West Monroe to visit the Duck Commander warehouse from Duck Dynasty :) Monroe and West Monroe are gorgeous! I loved it there! We had a free day so we did a lot of shopping :D Oh and we Googled where the families from Duck Dynasty live, and drove through their neighborhood (but the road they live on was private, so we couldn't go there.) There was a house down the street for sale, so I looked it up online when we got back to the hotel, and it was priced below what we paid for our house, but it was a mansion lol! We joked about moving there, but we'd miss snow!

We went through Baton Rouge on our way back to New Orleans, and everything there was closed too. We saw the state capitol though, and went up to the observation deck thing. It was pretty cool!

In all, everyone was SO friendly there. Every time we mentioned we were from Canada, they'd say in that awesome southern drawl "you're sure a long way from home!" haha

Anyways, since we've been home we're trying to get our house renovations done. Scott is finally motivated to do more in the evenings. We got our yard all winterized because snow can come at any time! And I'm just trying to take care of myself and go to work every day and get things done!

We will be going to Mexico for my brother's wedding in another 4 weeks. I'm not even really looking forward to it, because we've decided to take Layla to a kennel. Scott's parents don't care for her very well, and my family is going to Mexico, so we have no options. I'm worried about her being in good care there, because the owner hasn't ever expressed before (but is willing to learn) and there is a vet tech but she only comes in Tuesdays-Fridays. Layla will be there 9 days total.

Lindsey you are so cute girlfriend.

I thought everyone knew Louisiana was bad for the most part. When Hurricane Katrina hit them most of them had to come to Houston. I am telling you that was horrible. I work at a store and we had the highest stolen inventory ever. When they were issued a credit card so they could buy items, clothes, shoes, ext... they sure would but they bought clubing outfits and stiletto shoes.

Don't get me wrong, they are many friendly and humble people but the ones we received had no manners. I do have many friends from there so I hope people don't think I'm saying all of them.

I've been to New Orleans and night time at Baton Rouge is interesting. I feel you about the smell :p I did travel to the small towns and boy was food cheap and delicious. I would not hesitate going back to the small towns.

I followed your travels on FB, but I'm glad you posted a more informative summary here. Yes, it is very friendly in the south, and I like that a lot about living in the south. I'm glad you had a good time and saw some interesting and pretty places. I know what you mean about the smells in NO, there's just no place like it. There is still so much damage from Katrina, it is really sad. NO is a very unique place, that's for sure!!!

It's a place that was cool to see once, but I probably won't go back! My cousin and her husband LOVED it though. It was my cousin's first time ever outside of Canada, ever on an airplane, ever really anywhere. But they are already planning to go back in January. I'm not sure why they don't expand their views and try going other places, but apparently they love it in New Orleans!

Lol! I forgot to comment on the "hot" water from the faucet. Yes, that is the case in the south. When I make pie crust, I have to put a couple of ice cubes in the water to chill it, in order to bind the flour together. The warm water that comes out of the faucet makes a sort of sticky mess! LOL! When I'm up north, the cold water from the faucet hurts my teeth!!!

Lindsey you look great!!!!!

Sounds like you had a nice trip. I am so ready for at least a day trip somewhere... never been that far south that area but would hate to see how it is now compared to before. So sad.

Lol Gayle! I told Scott this and we decided it must be that our teeth are used to cold because we eat so much snow as kids hahaha!

Shada, I wish I could have seen it before too! And thank you!

Lindsey...... is there no alternatives to kennels for Layla? What i mean is over here in UK, we have people who take in single dogs or maybe a few and look after them in their own homes, like in a way foster them whilst owner is away.

My friend has 2 dobermans and she is besotted with them, she has not had a holiday for years, only odd weekends where her son will take care of them, she cant leave him longer as one of the dogs is a rescue and he frets and gets real upset when they leave him.

Now they found a retired couple who take care of them for her.... the dogs are always fine, live in the home as a family. Such a good idea........... just wondered if you have anything similar.

Diane, I have a lady who comes and stays at my house with my boys when I leave and can't take them with me. It feels good to have someone at my house when I'm gone too. She works a regular day job, but comes to my house after work and spends the night. So, this is nice extra income for her. It's great that I found her through a friend who knows her. I'm very lucky! Oh and my boys love her. She sends me a picture of them every day and text message updates too.

Diane, we do have that around here, but most people are based in the city and won't travel outside of the city. We live 20 minutes away, and sometimes roads are just too bad to drive in the winter (we normally have tons of snow by November.) And even if we took her to someone's house, nobody wants to take on the responsibility of looking after Layla because it involves having to express her bladder throughout the day. It's not a skill most people have, and it seems nobody is willing to learn!

We actually did just find someone with experience with paraplegic dogs who would do pet sitting at our house, even though we live outside of the city, but it would end up costing us about $450 for the week we're away. It was just too expensive, because she charges a lot for driving out of the city every day.

Scott talked again to the kennel people and they said they are all going to go through training from their one vet tech on staff, so they should all be able to do it. They will try multiple times per day in case they can't get her empty each time. Scott explained how important it was and the owner said he totally understands and will do his very best (he will be doing the late night and early morning expressings). He also said he is not charging us ANYTHING extra for the extra attention because they're learning on her, and it's good for their business to be able to say they can take care of dogs like Layla as well. It made me feel a little better, but I don't think I'll ever be totally comfortable leaving her ANYWHERE!

Thats really great Gayle, it is worth it for peace of mind, its good to know your dogs like her too.

I think she will be just fine, its us that worry so much about them isnt it?

My Harvey is such a mummys boy, i couldnt leave him with anyone, he is bad enough left with my husband or daughter, who he loves a lot............ but he only wants me, we have never had a dog like this, i think its because he is so tiny, he was treated like a baby in a way.
Yet he is not carried everywhere, no he loves his long walks, and i get tired before him, but when we get home, he wants to lie in my arms.

Layla will be fine, and its really nice they are learning about how to take good care of her, bless her.

I know Layla is much stronger than I am lol! She loves being at the vet hospital even though she is just in a cage there during the day. When we used to take her for rehabilitation a few times a week, she had her very own cage reserved for her. They said she'd "talk" to everyone so they'd all stop to pet her lol. She loved going there, and it broke my heart on the days when I'd hand her off to a tech and she wouldn't even look back at me! She'd just be excited to go down the hall and see everyone. And this kennel will be better than a small cage. She has her own little room with heated floors and we can bring her own bedding and blankets and food and water bowl. I know she'll probably be okay, but I just worry so much!

I know Lindsey i would be just the same, but reading how Layla is used to being away from you at times, then i think that would definitely make me feel better......... you know she copes fine and quite enjoys it, as i am sure she will at this new place too, i think she will get lots of fuss and attention, and lap it up.

And dont forget she knows from past experience - you are coming back for her:)

That's true, Diane! I'm also hoping we can take her there for doggy daycare for a few days before we leave so she knows where she's going and knows we're coming back.

Lindsey, it is so great that she is so social and loves it so much when you have to leave her somewhere. She will do just fine. My boys just whine and cry every time I leave them at the groomers, and they have been going there all their lives!!! The groomer is the sweetest lady and she just loves on them, but they just look at me with pleading eyes when I leave! They are just so used to having the run of the house I think they hate the cage. I wish they were more like Layla!

Gayle, for us I think it depends who puts her in a cage lol! She HATES crates and will not travel in any sort of wire crate, plastic travel crate, or carrier. She will cry and yelp and chew at them until her teeth bleed. But apparently she does just fine anywhere else! Actually, at the groomer on Friday, she put Layla in a basket on the floor because she wouldn't "do" the crate lol. But she was happy all afternoon in the basket.

Speaking of the groomer, just as Scott picked up the dogs, another lady came in to get her pugs' nails clipped. She saw Layla in her wheelchair and told Scott they also had a paraplegic dog for 8 years. They thought they'd never go on vacation again. But she found a lady who helped them and looked after their dog every time they went away. She gave Scott her number and email so we could be in touch and she would give us the name and contact information for the girl she used. Well, Scott misplaced the paper in the confusion of paying and getting all three dogs out to the car. So he called the groomer again today, and she said she would call the lady and give her OUR info so she could get in touch with us. Well, tonight she did! We now have another option! I think we might stay with our current plans this time, but it's awesome to know there is another choice next time!

Thats really good news, like you say it is always good to have a plan B.

I think its a great idea to get Layla to visit them a few times, see how she takes to them and vice versa - that way if you feel at all uncomfortable, you still have time to look up your plan B option.

I do too Gayle....... i wish my Harvey was like Layla, i would be afraid to leave him, i am sure he would have heart failure.

My next door neighbour once asked us if we minded if she took Harvey for a walk around sometimes, she felt it would give her a reason to excersise and she loves him.
We didnt mind at all, so off he goes with lead on..............didnt even get to the botton of the drive, refused to budge, never thought i would see that - he loves his walkies so much. I felt so sorry for her!!!!

Well, Scott now wants me to contact the lady tonight and see if she'd take Layla in her home during that week instead (she works at another kennel as well, but I like the place Layla is currently booked at better!) I guess he wants to see what she would charge if Layla were in her home. Layla would probably be more comfortable in a home than in a kennel, even though I know she'll survive either way. We might not worry as much though.

Awww Diane, that reminds me of the first (and only) time I went on vacation with my parents, and left Layla with my aunt and uncle for a week. We were all visiting at my grandma's house, and when they decided to leave, I put on Layla's harness and collar and handed her off. She was resisting as they tried to pull her out the door and she looked at me with her huge eyes like she was saying "Mommy, aren't you coming too?" and the whole room erupted in "AWWWW!" It broke my heart. Layla didn't eat for 5 days at their house. But eventually it was okay. This was before she was paralyzed. Now she's so used to being in different places with different people for different treatments, I think she is better at being away from me because she's been forced to do it so often! Now it's just hard on me lol.

I agree Lindsey........ it has got to be better if they are not as clingy, i wish he wasnt so attached to me in a way, all tonight he has been asleep in my arm... now i know he is only little, but i still get a dead arm.

When we are out he gets so much attention from people, he reluctantly lets people stroke him and fuss him, but he doesnt really like it, now other doggies he just loves, waggy tail all over the place.

Why dont you visit with Layla, and see what you think of her and her home????? Then you can make a decision, i have to agree though, i think Layla would prefer a home environment - with the right people of course.

Scott is going to call this other lady when he gets home on Sunday (he is working out of town) and we'll see what we can figure out :)

Layla is the opposite with people and dogs - she doesn't like other dogs around, but she'll do anything for human attention!

I've caught up on the posts about Layla........so which did you choose and how did she do? She is such a little sweetheart! I would take care of her in a heartbeat if I lived closer to you!

We have not been able to get in touch with the second lady yet, so as of now, we're still going with the first kennel. We leave in two weeks now, so we have to make the decision and start taking Layla for daycare days so she is used to it.

Well, we toured both places this weekend.

We went to the first place and the owner was so friendly! He immediately got down on his knees and started petting Layla. His house is just across the yard from the kennel. He showed us around and talked to every dog as he walked by them, calling them by name, telling us who he thinks might be compatible to be beside Layla. He showed us the "quiet" area where the older or special needs dogs are, and said that's where he'd probably put Layla. The others are all pretty rambunctious! He showed us all the kennels, then their little runs outside and the play area outside. He asked if Layla would prefer to walk on gravel or the grass, because they can do either one, and if she doesn't want to play with the other dogs at exercise time, they'd just take her for a walk around the building on her own. He showed us their boiler system that heats the concrete floors, as well as their water filtration (they have city water, and then filter it again so the dogs get the best of the best). Their floors all slope to a drain along the hallways in case there are any accidents, the liquid would run out of the kennel and not be stuck in there with the dog. And none of the kennels face other kennels. There are concrete walls across the hallways, so the dogs aren't looking at each other and they really have their own little private space.

He asked if Layla would have problems on the concrete and said he had some foam mats he could put in the bottom of her kennel so she wouldn't rub her belly on the concrete all day. They have on-site grooming, and the groomer came over and was fawning all over Layla as well! She said she'd love to bring her little dogs in to play with her. We talked about expressing and he asked lots of questions and said they'd do it 4x per day. He would be in charge of mornings and nights (between 6:30-7 am, and then 11-midnight), and during the day there are two staff on that would be expressing her at least two more times.

So then we went to the other place. There is also a person who lives on site, but she was not the one there when we stopped. The lady we talked to didn't know anything about expressing dogs, and just said "one of the other girls deals with that." There were two buildings, she just showed us the first one we had to walk through. There was no grass outside, just gravel. The dogs all looked very stressed and she ignored them all. They all had access to outside so Scott asked if they are just left open all night, and she said no, the doors are closed up when they close for the night at 6 pm. The dogs go out again in the morning at 7." I was shocked! They just leave all those dogs for 13 hours without a bathroom break? I guess when the business closes, they just stop everything. The house must have been 20 feet from the kennel. We told her Layla can't go that long, so she said "Well then I guess the girl who lives here would come out and do it, but that's something extra she'd have to do for you" She didn't talk to Layla or pet her or give her any attention.

We got in the car and I told Scott that was an easy choice! The first place it is! It is still going to be really hard to leave her, but it's the better choice. We are taking her this Wednesday for her first full daycare day there, and we'll take her twice next week as well, before leaving her for 9 days. I really hope she likes it! She seemed pretty calm there though. I'm just going to be a worried mom for a week!

Oh Lindsey............poor you, you will be so worried, i agree the first place really does sound the better option. I think its good that Layla is going to get to visit before too, that way it will be familiar to her.

Lindsey, the first place sounds wonderful - but I agree, I'd be a worried mom too! I know she will be fine, but you will still worry and that is OK!

We are taking her there for her first "daycare" day tomorrow. The vet tech doesn't start work until 10, so we'll go in at 7:45 and show them how to express her properly. The tech should be there to teach them for noon and afternoon expressings as well. I am having anxiety already!

:( :( :(

We took her on Wednesday for daycare. We showed the owner how to express when we got there, but he couldn't get it so we just emptied her bladder for them before leaving. I worried about her all day but she was happy when we got there to pick her up. They told us their vet tech tried to express her around 2 pm, but she couldn't get anything out. She should have been able to though. Layla's bladder was full when we got there at 5. The tech was gone by then, so we tried to teach the owner and he still couldn't get it. We took her again today. We spent 45 minutes with him this morning and he still couldn't get anything. We emptied her bladder for him again before leaving (and being late for work by an hour). I just want to cry!!! We leave in a week.

Lindsey.......... i am sure you have considered it, but could she not go with you, even left in a hotel room, you maybe could get back to see to her at times????

I am only guessing, poor you, i too would be worried sick.

Nope, she won't be able to go to Mexico. Well, she might be able to go there, but she won't be able to come back into Canada very easily! There would be a lot of quarantine involved. The only country animals can come from that don't require quarantine is the USA.

I feel like we have no choice but to maybe take her every single day until we leave. We're going to try to get there today before the vet tech leaves at the end of the day, so hopefully we can watch her try to express Layla too and see if she can get it. I really really really want this to work, but I am not sure if it will.

I know that it's a worry but I'm sure that they'll get it figured out, you've got plenty of time for them to learn. It sounds like you found a wonderful and caring place for her to stay!

Well, Scott stopped by with Layla on Saturday afternoon so they could try expressing her an extra time. The girl who tried is the girl who normally opens and closes, and would be expressing Layla twice per day I guess. She hadn't ever tried before. Scott said she immediately gave up and said she doesn't know how.

But in more positive news, the owner tried again this morning and got her about half empty. It's more than he has ever got before. It's a start! We planned to just take her tomorrow for the last time, but might take her for the rest of the week if they don't have a good handle on it. We did get some antibiotics from the vet as well, and we're giving them to her already. Hopefully it will prevent any infection from getting too bad while we're away.

Oh Lindsey you must be so worried... what about your vet? I know my vet boards as well and Layla would get excellent care there I would think.. but darn.
Sorry to hear about the problems expressing Layla... praying they get it soon.!!

We don't exactly trust our local vet... she's kind of the dumbest vet I've ever known :( She does do boarding for $25 per day, and I know she might be good at expressing Layla every day, but I know Layla would not be happy there. Our friends took their dog there for a week, and she came home extremely sick. The vet told them she had giardia and gave them tons of expensive medicine (she didn't have giardia). We only go to her now for rabies shots. For anything medical with any of our dogs, we take them to the college of veterinary medicine in the city. They have the best of the best specialists for everything there. Unfortunately, they don't do boarding, unless it's medically necessary for your animal to be there! Layla loves staying there (she has several times for medical reasons).

We are taking Layla to the kennel again tomorrow. I really wanted to take her for the rest of the week but Scott just doesn't want to "waste" the money :(

Lindsey, why dont you call the college, explain that you are concerned leaving Layla etc, maybe.....just maybe, they can help you, after all she does have special needs, so maybe they will understand - not sure of cost implications for you though.

We have tried! Our friend even works there and asked around if any of the vet students would watch her for us. But nope!!! :(

I saw on FB that you were on your way! Have fun!

Layla did very well :) I was worried the entire time, of course, but she was happy when we picked her up and she doesn't seem to have any bladder issues. She has been one tired dog though!!! I think there was a lot more noise and commotion than she is used to!

I'm glad to hear that all went well. I know that it's a worry to leave mine and mine don't have the problems that Layla has. You're a good mommy!

So how did the trip go otherwise? How are you feeling?