Duty Calls

For my birthday this year my mom offered to get us a dog backpack for Leif. You may remember just how much he LOVED the neck-warmer she made him at Christmas, so this gave us hope that he may respond well to the backpack, too.

Well, let's just say that he turns into a completely different dog with his new pack! When we first put it on him he refused to walk or move unless he was heeling. As time has gone on, he is moving more on walks and is willing to walk ahead, though still never too far away.

It amazes me just how patient he is while we put it on his back. We like to interject what he may be thinking when we put the backpack on him: "No, I cannot fetch a ball, I am on duty" or "Stick close to me guys and we'll get where we need to go."

We've started weighting the pack a bit and right now it has one can of chicken broth on either side. Eventually we'd like him to be able to carry his own water and food on longer backpacking trips. For now we'll get him used to it by carrying cans of food or water for us.

Having a pack on definitely tires him out, so that's another plus! Double the exercise in one outing. If you have an energetic dog whom you can never truly wear out, the pack just might be the trick you're looking for :)

Thank you for the early birthday present, Mom & Dad!!! If you're interested, it's the Ruff Wear Approach Dog Pack.

We just returned from a very slow meander on the 2 mile loop-trail across the road. It felt so good to be back on the trail and in the woods!

________________________________________________________________

Health update: Monday my INR was at a 2.0, so it's just barely in the range. On Tuesday I went to the neurologist to discuss a horrible headache I'd had on Sunday. He said that it is normal to have a stress or a tension headache in the location where I was in pain and that he would be concerned if I had any numbness, loss of vision, loss of muscle control on one side, or shooting pain up my neck. So, it was good to find out just what I should be concerned about.

We also discussed the full recovery and he said that one in five people, if they got MRIs done, would find that they have a much smaller vertebral artery on one side, while the other side would be much bigger. He says that I can expect a full recovery in that I may not have flow through that artery, but I will be able to run, rock climb, and do everything I used it do. Woohoo!

When I asked about what kinds of exercise I can do, he said that it should still be minimal for the next three months. I asked about biking, hiking, kayaking & canoeing and he said something that made me laugh. He said, "You Americans, you're always go, go, go. Go and be like a Latino and relax in the hammock this summer!" Haha! Okay, okay.... I'll relax in a hammock ;)

Honduras Bound!

Leif and I just saw Jim off for his trip to Honduras! I'm so excited for him to have this opportunity again. He had such a rich experience last year and is even more excited about getting everything he can out of this trip.  You can bet that pictures will be posted upon his return!

As my mom always says, though, it's always hardest to be the one left behind...

But I must say, he certainly out-did himself during these last few days and I feel so surrounded by his warmth and love. The house has been cleaned, the carpets washed, the bed made, and the laundry and dishes done. He also gave me a list of friends to call from VCOM, if I needed help with Leif. Even the secretary there wanted him to give me her information, so she could help if I need anything. Not only that, but he made two pizzas (from scratch) for me to eat for meals this week. And, last but not least, he picked some flowers for me during his last few minutes at home! I'm humbled by his love & care.

Perhaps next time I'll be able to tag along! Until then, Leif and I will cuddle and chill.

Keep him in your thoughts this week.

______________________________________________________________________

Thank you to Aunt Carla, Uncle Sam, Alex, and Logan for their generosity and gift card to Olive Garden! That was our date on our last night together :)

Health update (sorry, some of you have been asking!): I'm doing pretty well. I still have soreness in my neck and I still have the headache. Some days my headache gets very light and I'm so grateful for that. My neck was more painful than usual on some days this week. I'm following the doctor's orders, taking my meds, and taking it very easy. It's a slow recovery, what can I say?

Bliss

Bliss at its best...

Jim snapped this picture of the two of us last night. You can tell there's nothing wrong with Leif's neck! I invited him up on my lap and most of the time he stays for a few short minutes. Well, not this time! He was in it for the long haul.

Love that pup.

Mardi Gras

Two years ago today we followed this bunch as they begged for ingredients for their Fat Tuesday gumbo!

We also went to New Orleans and met-up with Davis, a good friend from HSC who was/is studying medicine at Tulane. Davis challenged us to a bead-collecting competition at one of the parades:

After we got back to his apartment, we counted up the loot and I was the winner. I believe there were 120 strings of beads around my neck! Come to think of it, perhaps that day was the root of my neck issues... just kidding!

Today's nothing like the day we had two years ago. First off, we don't get a week of vacation to celebrate! I wouldn't be missing any school, if that was the case. And secondly, I'm not wearing any beads. Mind you, I have MANY in a bag in the back of my closet, which I would have worn if I went to school today.

I have kept very positive about this whole situation, but I must admit I broke down a bit last night. I decided to finally just lie in bed and listen to music on Pandora in order to fall asleep. Music is definitely my best medicine. But when "Blackbird" came on, I broke down into tears. It has such a deep meaning for my family and some tough times we've been through. I think I just needed a good cry. The shock of the situation wore away and I felt the pangs of reality.

The pain medicine I took before bed must have really kicked in because I slept better than I have for a while and I actually slept in a bit. I took another one this morning and felt very drowsy, as they said I would. The doctor gave me a note to stay home from school until Monday (2/27).

So on this Shrove Tuesday I will indulge in music, since it's been something I've been neglecting. But I won't be giving it up- it's therapy. 

A visitor is coming by this afternoon and I'm looking forward to that. The dogs have been good company, but I do miss people!

Reunited

We've been reunited and it feels so good!

It turns out that he did panic while we were gone...

We've been told that he might have wanted to make tea, and that we'll need to replace our baking soda and paprika, among other things. Even while we've been home he got into a sack of potatoes and a bag of rice. He's used to being with us if we're home. So, when we took a nap and left the gate up, we obviously were not thinking about the pup who loves people. He's much like his owner in that way...

They checked us out of the hospital late in the morning. I'm so thrilled to be in normal clothes. And while my headache has never taken a leave of absence, we're relieved that we know the cause and that we're out of danger. 

It's good to be home!

Sick Day

Head pounding.
Warm bed.
Dog sick and tired from his night of hacking. Quite snuggly.
Fire burning.
Papers rustling as the medical student studies.
First, perhaps only, snowflakes of the season.
Peppermint tea and shortbread from Scotland.

It's a sick day.

Folly & Zeke

Today I received the sad news that my parents' younger dog, Folly passed away last night. It was a sudden illness and it hit hard for all of us.

Two weeks ago we made the conscious decision to put-down Zeke, Jim's dog since high school, because of his frequent seizures and unpredictable behavior.

Such blows these two events have made to our hearts! Whether conscious or not, pets delve their way into the deepest corners of our bodies and our lives. They become so integral to our routines and provide a rich joy that only other pet owners can relate to the pain and longing that's left by their departure.

Zeke, we miss your love for the cold weather and watching you bound around our woods. We laugh when we think back on the messes you've made. You were a truly loyal dog until the end.

Folly, we'll miss your greetings when we pull up the driveway.  Leif will surely miss romping around Paris Mountain with you, and Rosie has lost the love of her life.  But most of all, we will miss watching you take off to carry out the duty you've appointed yourself or to tree a squirrel. We wish we knew what happened to you. It's only fitting that you passed on a nearly full moon.

We miss you both!

That's our boy!

Though I despise allowing pets onto our furniture, Leif has basically claimed a chair. And if you sit in it then you can bet he's going to pester you for it. There's only a matter of time before you're going to get up and leave AND you probably won't remember to place something in the chair to inhibit him from claiming it as his own.

It's a tough life for our boy...

New River Gorge

This weekend we had the opportunity to spend time with old friends doing what we all love best, climbing! It was wonderful. We went to the New River Gorge, camped at Roger's campground, and climbed for a full day. It was glorious and a much needed break from reality.

We left refreshed and reminded of how much we love climbing and camping. It had been way too long.

Here are some pictures of our marvelous friends, pups, and climbs. Enjoy!

We will definitely be going back! The rocks are great, the climbs are great, and the people are great.

I need to wish one incredible woman a VERY Happy Mother's Day! Mom, you are the strongest, most intelligent, creative, and curious woman I know. Thank you for your guidance and love. You are loved.

Five Fingers

Okay, I'm a believer!



I finally bit the bullet and got the Five Fingers KSO Multisport shoes, or as Jim and I call them, the "Toe Shoes!" I had always seen them and thought about how ridiculous they look, but was somewhat intrigued. But lately I've been hearing a lot about how doctors are prescribing them for their patients and when the REI dividend came, we decided it was time to try them out.

They came in the mail yesterday and I wore them around all night. I've heard that you need to wear them in small increments in order to adjust to them. Today we went on a short, 2 mile hike with the dogs on a trail across the road and I'm convinced that they were a great purchase! It's neat to feel the ground beneath you and be completely aware of the trail. It's true, my muscles are a bit sore, but I am hoping that they are strengthening my ankles! No more weak and twisted ankles, please!

So, don't judge me if I am wearing my "Toe Shoes" the next time I see you :)

Dragon's Tooth

With beautiful weather like we've had this weekend, it was almost impossible to stay inside! And with Jim on vacation there was hardly a reason to do so! So, we packed up the dogs and headed for the AT where we hiked to Dragon's Tooth. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of the things that actually LOOK like dragon teeth, but they were pretty neat.

We also didn't get any snapshots of our incredible climbing dogs! The last few hundred yards of this climb are scrambles up rocks and cracks, making it an amazing hike. I must say that Zeke was a far better climber than Leif. Zeke basically is the Dino King, for all of the climbers out there. Zeke jumped from rock to rock with ease. Leif, on the other hand, got his front feet up on top of each new bolder and then timidly attempted to bring his back feet to meet his front feet, often failing. A few times he needed a good boost from Jim, who was right behind him. Boy was he tired by the time he reached the top. Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Dog Park

It is easy to say that the last five days have been more social than the last five months! It's been great, though I have realized that this also makes me (and us) much more tired. Here's my debrief:

Thursday night: We were invited to go to the Ruiz house for a dinner with Jim's friend Steven and his wife Ashley. They made us an incredible meal of Bangors & Mash, a classic English dish, and we enjoyed chatting the night away. It turns out that we actually share the same wedding anniversary, though a year separated! We also had a great time speaking with Ashley about her hometowns--- Lafayette and New Iberia, Louisiana! Jim knew she was from Louisiana.... but wow! Our parting gift from them was a batch of boudin from the freezer!!!! We'll be saving that for when we are homesick for ol' LA.

Friday night: After a tough day at school (trying to shove too much stuff into a Friday after two snow days and before our benchmark test on Tuesday, with no school for MLK day on Monday... can we say eeeeek?!) I came home to change and grab a snack before heading to Floyd with a friend from school. Jim needed the evening to meet up with a study group, prior to his final round of tests this week, so I hit the town with Alia. This was my first time spending time with her and we had fun! She took me to the quaint and artsy town of Floyd. There are lots of artists and musicians from this town and they host many festivals in the summer. I fell in love with the town! It's beautiful and simple.

We went to an artsy store (name escapes me), a candy shop (ooooh the chocolate options!), an art gallery (awesome!), and a restaurant for beer and pizza (yum!) with some of her friends. Then, the real fun began... we went to the country store for some flat-footing! It was quite the experience. People came out of the hollers and woodwork and all joined each other for a night of bluegrass and dancing! When I talked to Jim on the phone I told him... this may be where we end up! I loved it. The culture seemed so well preserved. So natural. So necessary. So untouched. These people came together to express themselves and enjoy the comfort of familiar music and people. Beautiful.

Saturday: Well, not too much to report. We went to scout out a house for next year and really liked it, but discovered that getting out of our lease would be too sticky. We're happy here, but we would have saved a bit of money. There were pros and cons to both situations. Then we went to Panera for our dinner date and then a few hours of work, grading, and studying. We came back and watched Princess and the Frog- such a good movie. We enjoyed seeing the Disney version of New Orleans and hearing the accent of the lightning bug, Raymond.

Sunday: We had WAY too much coffee at Panera the night before, so our day was a bit wiped by the lack of sleep the night before. Jim studied wildly for his standardized patient (SP) today and practiced with me as his patient with a knee injury.

Monday: Jim had his test and SP and I knocked off many to-dos. He doesn't feel too confident on how he did, but he does feel like he did well on the test.

THEN we headed to the Dog Park with Leif. Wow! We just learned about the park from Alia on Friday and decided to take him. He was NOT interested in playing catch or spending any time with his parents. He WAS interested in playing with every single dog. Some liked him and some didn't, but it was good for him to be put in his place and have the opportunity to be social with dogs other than Zeke. It was quite the experience for us watching how he interacted. It was a bit embarrassing for me as I saw how poorly he listened to me in front of other dogs and people. What he does at home definitely doesn't happen when given a new venue! I suppose we'll have to go back some more! He was a muddy mess, but after a bath and drying in the cold on the porch he is one tired pooch.

That's how we like it :)

After a busy weekend, we're a bit tired too. Jim just baked some delicious brownies, so it's time to indulge and relax. I cannot resist the smell much longer!

Snow Days

Today marks my second snow day in a row for a total of 2.5 snow days this week!

Thrilled though I am about these snow days, I am a bit concerned that the prefixes, analogies, and newspaper/informational texts lessons I had planned for this week will be a bit rushed when we finally get back! My students take their SOL benchmark test on Tuesday, the day after Martin Luther King Day.... a three day weekend anyway... get the picture? Eek!

Yesterday, I must admit I lounged around and had my typical first day of vacation. I hardly got off of the couch or the bed. It was lovely! I did make a very cute, scarf-like flip thing. I don't

know what to call it, but I love it.

Today, the second day, has already gotten off to a vastly different start but it may return to a day like yesterday. I got up earlier, at 8 AM, but still "slept in" as I normally try to get up before 6 AM. I walked the dogs, checked emails, made coffee, ate cereal, washed the dishes (2 days old) and cleaned the kitchen counters, toaster oven, and stovetop. Apparently that wasn't enough for my motivated self this morning, so I swept the dining room, kitchen and bathroom and THEN mopped each of those floors! Yay me! This hardly ever happens, unfortunately or fortunately. I then changed out some pictures from frames and added new ones.

Now, here I sit at 11:36 AM. It's still morning? Yes!

Who knows what the rest of the day will hold? Relaxation or more motivation? At the moment I am thinking that I may find a new movie on Netflix (we started our free trial yesterday!) and begin knitting something new with the dogs snuggled nearby.

Unfortunately, Jim is in major study mode with a test this afternoon and then his final rounds of tests next week. A bit overwhelmed, he is plugging away. Send prayers and happy thoughts his way!

He heads to Honduras in less than 2 weeks! For those who don't know, he is going on a trip with VCOM (Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine) for a week. While there he will be working with a partner and meeting with patients in need. They will be collaborating with a doctor the entire time- great way to get field experience and discover that this is really where he needs to be!

I'll leave you with this....any suggestions for movies to watch? ;)