Refreshed Bedroom

The physician and I decided that we were completely bored with our bedroom set up. I don't even have "before" pictures because we were just so over it. It was drabby browns... blah. I decided we needed color! and lots of it. So this post is going to double showing off our new bedroom and also how to jazz up your best friend's kennel, that's right, kennel. (but why would she put her best friend in a kennel?...)

 ... cuz she's a doggy, and the puppy likes being in her kennel while every one's out of the house. No judging.

We started decorating with new threads (new curtains and duvet). We decided on bold blue tones. We were able to do this at a reasonable price at IKEA.  Next step was new art. Very much attracted to the bold graphics. So much fun and clean.

The architectural graphic drawing was by Ben Kafton. The "be thou my vision" letterpress was from Marangelie Caballero. 

 I take great pride in the pillows. I found the fabric months ago, it was an impulse purchase. Super easy to sew pillows, anyone can do it. Even me! And it went perfect with our new task lamps.

Now we get into the DIY part of the post. Many of us regrettably admit that we have unwanted furniture in our bedrooms because, well, there's no where else to put it. For some, it's exercise equipment, for us, it's animal shtuff. So here's the before, I was ready to ban Regan to the garage I hated this thing so much.

And Affteeeeerrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

All it took was a fine light coat of primer spray paint and then the color I wanted.

I'm not saying that I'm brilliant for picking up a spray can or that Regan cares what color her kennel is. All I'm saying is that this color keeps me from chucking it out the window. Now if only I knew what to do with the cat tree.......hhmmmmm

how we screwed up our 1st born

I believe that every parent always has the best intentions. But we all know everyone makes mistakes. Preparing for parenthood can be one of the most nerve-racking times of a persons life! You start making bizarre unrealistic announcements..... "I will NEVER set my kid in front of the tv"..... "he/she will only eat fresh organic food".... these statements (or others like them) are contemptuously made and then the parents usually cave in, or even worse the parents fallow through (have you ever met kids in that kind of environment? socially awkward right?)
This is not a cautionary tail for those parents who succumb to parenting short cuts because it is the only way to keep their sanity. This is for those other parents... those consistent ones that never give in.

The way we got our Regan was very similar to adopting our son. We did our research and scoped out the breeders in the area. I grew up with miniature schnauzers so I knew the breed well but I still did extensive research on genetic dispositions of the breed. We puppy proofed the house and we waited for that litter to be born. I knew I wanted a salt and pepper female and she was the only one in the whole litter. She was so tiny when we first got her...

At this time I've been in the veterinary field for about 7 years and just started working at an emergency veterinary hospital. As a nurse you see a lot. And I reacted the same as I'm sure any medical ED nurses, firefighters or other first responders do with their children. Heck, my mom is a dental hygienist and I have never had a cavity. You do what you know. So I sheltered the crap out of her. I was the "fun police". I'm sure I drove the physician nuts with my insane "what if" thoughts. She couldn't go outside by herself because her urine output had to be monitored (schnauzers have a tendency for urinary stones), she can't get table food (also a tendency for pancreatitis), she can't be left to chew on a rawhide by herself ( I have pulled large pieces out of the back of her throat 4 times!!!) or her toys (I've had to induce vomiting 3 times from ingested fabrics!).

So what did we do. We kept her close. She couldn't be trusted. It was either that or linear foreign body surgery. Now that she's an adult, she started to show odd behaviors. Defiant "I'm unhappy with you" piddles inside the house. Shaking like a leaf.....all the time. She had to be physically touching you.... all the time. My husband and I ate it up like nothing else. The physician was going through his medical internship, and we were both dealing with the adoption process. Our neediness fed off of each other until it snowballed into this gooey ball of dependency. Now that we are preparing for Palmer to get here, people kept on asking "So..... how do you think Regan is going to take a child running around?" By the time the 10th person asked we kinda stepped back and realized, maybe we should do something.

Enter Kelly Moffat, DVM, Diplomat Animal Behaviorist. She basically told us to do the complete opposite of everything we were doing. We also put her on Prozac to take the edge off (it's only temporary so no judging). And the icing on the cake...kicking her out of the bed. Possibly more traumatic for the physician than for the puppy but we were going to do it!! We were going to succeed!!! So, I made a doggy bed. I put a lot of thought into this actually. The physician always complains that Regan is "cold". So I made it out of a fuzzy blanket she use to have when she was a puppy and flannel.

I don't really condone drinking and sewing at the same time (I poked myself quite a bit).

It's been several weeks now of a doggy free bed! It's been quite nice actually. I was happy at first with the thought of having the whole half of the bed to myself when my dreams were instantly crushed. My husband has now migrated to sleeping in the middle of the bed. No joke, I wake up with his elbow in my face or knee in my back every night. Regan however, has adjusted quite nicely to her new found freedom. She's becoming a new dog. It's one thing to recognize your mistakes but to correct them before it's too late is victory. Now only if I can avoid making the same mistake twice.

Have you ever sheltered something too much you wish you hadn't? Feel free to share your story with me so I don't feel I'm the only one.

The Untold Veterinary Terminology

There are general veterinary terms that a lot of people are familiar with, even more so if you've taken your pet to the vet more than once. The fact of the matter is our language completely changes when we get your animal behind closed doors. Not only does the baby talk get ten times worse, we have a whole new language that owners never ever hear. I will give you a top secret back stage vocabulary lesson. Even though a lot of this terminology will make perfect sense when you read them, it's best just to put everything out in the open.

Making Biscuits (v)- the act of kneading dough (cats only)

Land Shark (n)- an aggressive dog that wants to eat you, and lives on land instead of in the sea....unlike actual sharks

Head Butter (n)- a cat that rubs their head against everything

Ankle biter (n)- same as "Land Shark" only small enough so they reach the height of your ankles

Purr Bunny (n)- cats that purr constantly, no matter what you're doing to them

Mutton Bustin' (v)- common term used in rodeo when a child rides a giant sheep like a bull. In this instance it is used when I use all my strength to rastle an unruly 100lb dog to the ground for IV injections.....fun

I would just like to explain, it seems that I might be slightly biased. The reason there are actually nice terms for cats is because felines are rarely in a good mood the veterinary setting; therefore, the need for more specific verbiage of the situation.

My favorites however are the acronyms.

TIW - "Terd in waiting" This is majority used while reading an abdominal x-ray and the patients colon is full...of stuff

LPS- "Little Piece of Shit" Commonly used when reading fecal material under a microscope and the nurse finds something that they think might be something interesting like a parasite but is in fact a piece of poo

PITA fee- "Pain in the Ass" A charge requested by technicians when owners are being, you guessed it, a pain in the ass

When I tell people I work in the veterinary field they're always like "Cool! Puppies and kitten!" Sure it's all fun and games until you're trying to get a blood sample from a very pissed off painful fuzzy thing. I think I can give up my dreams of becoming a hand model.

Puppy's Birthday

My lovely spoiled-only-four-legged child turned 2 in August. For her (and her sister) I made special doggy cupcakes. Because Schnauzers are prone to food allergies AND pancreatitis my ingredients were very limited. Good thing my very thoughtful mother got me this organic dog biscuit cookbook ;-)

I made cupcakes that consisted of salmon and garbanzo beans. The icing was of plain yogurt and low fat cream cheese.

Our house smelled for a week. It was totally worth it.

Food is NOT Love & Love is NOT food!

For all of those who enjoy Simon's Cat, the cat has a sister!



How about a nice side of pancreatitis?

from tribble to trouble

My lovely husband has been coming up with some colorful names for the dogs when I get a little too busy to groom them. The new term is tribble. For all you non-trekies out there it's a little fuzz ball thing that breeds like crazy in the original Star Trek series. Fortunately Ginger is spayed, but she does kinda look like a carpet monster.

Other Furry Children

I've been getting trigger happy with my SLR. My animals are obviously annoyed at me. I imagine they think of me the same way I do when my mother wants to takes pictures at gatherings.

This is Lennox. You never see him except for the rare occasion that he wants attention. Then once you start to pet him he starts to drool. He also has a girly meow. He's my little prince.

This is Ginger. My mom named her after gingerbread. She's Regan's sister and complete opposite, but same level of cuteness.

Sleeping Arrangements

I often hear from my wonderful friends (with children) about their quality of sleep or lack there of. I feel for them, but then I start thinking about my own sleep. For a year I have been working the graveyard shift which forces me to sleep during the day. This, however, wasn't so bad.....it was who was sleeping with me. Whenever I fall asleep the animals are attracted me like a magnet. The physician claims it is because of my fascinating ability to produce heat, I think it's because I'm fun to sleep with....hehe. Now my work schedule is somewhat normal, so I get to actually sleep with my husband for the majority of the night. When I get home my husband is fast asleep and the dog has already claimed half of my side. The cats don't show up until later. But once they pick their spot, they don't move. I have put together a lovely diagram to show you the amount of room I get in my own bed.




I know what you're thinking....just kick the animals out right? If anyone has successful tips for kicking their cats out of the bed PLEASE let me know. And for the dog? The physician's says "but she gets cold". How can you argue with that?

Sleeping with One Eye Open

This is my cat Ophelia sitting on the top of the stairs and plotting my unfortunate demise.

Scruffy McScrufferson

This is my cute, spoiled, regal Regan. Isn't she adorable when she's scruffy?? My dog will beat your kid in a cuteness contest any day. Bring it on! Yes...true spoken words of a mom of an only four legged child.

Ode to the Automatic Cat Feeder

We have an automatic feeder for our two cats, Ophelia and Lennox. I know what you're thinking, (wow, how lazy can you be to not feed your own cats). It's not that we're lazy or have enough time. It's all about eliminating the middle man. The fact that we can avoid the cats associating us with food is very important for our sanity.
After running faithfully for a little over a year the feeder has decided to commit suicide. The cats are FREAKING OUT!
OMFG!!! WHERE'S MY FREAKING FOOD!!!!! I'm withering away into an emaciated abyss!!
So anyone who has cats can relate to this video. Especially when it happens at 4am in the morning.