Voluntarily

Inspirational song: Don't Rock the Boat (The Hughes Corporation)

Sshhh! Don't ruin this! Last night I had to insist the puppy sleep in the kennel rather than on the bed, and it was A Thing. She was loud and angry and emotionally devastated. She did eventually sleep until 4:15 this morning before she was ready to pee the first time, and I brought her back up on the bed after that. 

But now, unprompted, she went in there by herself and fell soundly asleep. I tossed a couple of toys in for her for later, and gently closed the door. She let me do it without even picking up her head. I quickly changed into jammies and crawled in bed. I'm working on powering everything down, making it dark and quiet sooner than usual. I want nothing to disturb the calm.

I don't want the kennel to feel like punishment. It's a safe and comfortable place for her to sleep, away from cats, away from a mommy who kicks covers and rolls over a lot. It lets me sleep more soundly, not worrying about whether she is about to forget herself and pee on the bed. I'm unlikely to sleep through her telling me clearly when it's time to go out. 

I'd like to think this is a trend or a turning point, but I'm not ready to get my hopes up. Tomorrow promises to be difficult, taking her to the vet first thing. It will probably set back the progress we made on car rides being to fun places. But this is necessary. Fingers crossed that she likes her doctor.

Oranges

Inspirational song: History Has Its Eyes On You (Hamilton)

This was a day to try new things. Some went really well. Some were hard. The worst is going on right now. Saoirse is upset with me. I'm trying again with the kennel, and she still hates it, and is telling me so loudly. But I am so tired of her scratching and nibbling on me when I sleep, and I'm beyond tired of cleaning up after her. I had to change pajamas just now, when I picked her up to take her out to pee, and she immediately started peeing down my side. I need a reset. We will discuss sleeping arrangements again in a few days.

Other new things were far more fun. On Friday, Dino had her checkup, and they discussed how and when to introduce foods. The kids started out letting her taste things that she wasn't actually eating, like experimenting with bananas and celery (soft and hard, they said). I went to the store and got bananas, but I also got some stage one baby foods, so I would be ready when her mama said it was cool to try them. I think there was a little miscommunication when I described what I had, because when she told me to let her try carrots, she thought I was just going to let her gum a solid carrot. I got a jar and a spoon and a washcloth (couldn't find the bib I know is here somewhere), and we started learning. At four and a half months old, Dino was 100% ready for this. She let me know right away. I was amazed at how much she ate, and how well. Yes, she was covered in carrots, but more than a third of the jar ended up in her belly. I took a little video to send her mommy, of us laughing at the orange poops to come for her parents.

Dino was covered in food and she was sticky and stinky by the time we finished. I gave her a bath and put her in a new sleeper, and threw everything the both of us were wearing in the wash. It was so worth it. That kid was enthusiastic about trying new things. She still needed a big bottle afterwards, but real foods are in her immediate future. I love this part.

Yellows

Inspirational song: Nothing Ever Goes As Planned (Styx)

The schedule changed at the last moment this morning. I was halfway through my coffee, animals fed, kitchen tidied, when I got word that I wasn't babysitting today. That meant getting the word to the crew on the mountain that they could take another day to work on the cabin while I stayed down here. (To be clear, the one human did the work and the two dogs spent almost the entire day asleep.) It was just as well. The puppy was a handful and a half, and not always in a fun way. I couldn't get her nails trimmed, and she was full of playful swatting. I am scratched up. And I don't know whether she is working up a bladder infection, but wow, does this dog pee a lot. I mean frequency, not quantity. I have had to jump up and race to the door a hundred times today, I swear. This usually follows her squatting on the floor, and even after that, she goes two or three more times outside. Of course she started this on a Saturday. First thing Monday we will call the vet and get her started there, a couple weeks ahead of her shot schedule. 

It is the time of year I usually plan a long drive through the mountains to look at the aspens as they turn warm colors. From his cabin, the Mr said if I want to do that, tomorrow is probably the best day. The aspens were at peak color on his hill yesterday, and as he came home, he said strong winds had stripped most of the leaves off his hill in one day. If we have the baby tomorrow, plus a squirmy puppy who does not like to ride in the car, I may just let this year slide. I like this tradition, but it's hard to see a good time for it. Even Rocky Mountain National Park is tricky now. They were forcing people to make online reservations this summer, and I don't know that I want to be stuck to a rigid schedule to go over Trail Ridge Road this fall. 

Okay, one more trip outside with this puppy. I am considering squeezing her like Murray needs every night, so that we can sleep more hours in a row tonight.

Oink

Inspirational song: You Give Love a Bad Name (Bon Jovi)

I should have written this hours ago. After the day I put in, my brains are mush. Really, my whole body is too. Mostly I did deep cleaning stuff, like all my laundry, changing my sheets, and the like. I took my flokati rug outside and threw it over the garden fence for a good washing. I used to wash it in the tub when I was young and strong, but I can't do that anymore. Even this much lifting did me in.

I had to run to Target for a mattress cover for the new bed, especially now that the pup has been allowed on it. I bought some rawhide chews while at Target, so now that goofball is lying on her back on the bed, ecstaticly chewing on an Oinkie like she has just dropped into heaven. She does not lack character.

This dog is fun, but it's exhausting keeping up with someone else's toilet habits, when you have to pick them up and carry them outside to avoid messes in the house. Tomorrow I will have two little ones to care for, both Saoirse and my grandbaby. I gotta throw in the towel for tonight and rest up for the double duty.

ESA

Inspirational song: Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan)

A recovery day has been in the works for a while. I've been pushing myself too hard and under too much stress, and I needed a whole day of rest. I stayed in pajamas and never even brushed my teeth until right before bed. I ate very little. I took more than one nap. I scaled back puppy training to two three-minute sessions. And I am feeling much better at the end of the day. I was just sure I was going to take the big guns version of my pain pills. Instead I just had my regular anti-inflammatory and maintenance meds, and I'm fine. 

Amazingly, this puppy tolerated my repose. She stayed right next to me for most of it. I did give her a couple of chances to go play with Murray, so she wasn't bored all day. While she was with me, even on the bed, she was a little cuddlebug. She passed another test that neither of us realized she was taking until she succeeded. I don't need a high energy service dog. I need an emotional support animal who also knows how to retrieve stuff I drop and alert to signals yet to be determined.  

This kid is so mellow that I keep catching her lying down to eat. The cats get really close to her while she's doing it, and she doesn't flinch. What a great dog.

Bonding

Inspirational song: Words (Missing Persons)

The moment I saw photos of three week old Saoirse, I recognized her in an instant. I knew she was the puppy I had been watching for these last two years. The more I live with her, the more I see exactly how right I was. This is not to say she came to me mature and fully trained. She is very much a puppy. But she is the right one. She is gentle and funny and smart. She is just begging for good training. As soon as I have her shots set up at the vet, I will register for an in-person puppy class, and advance her past the basics we know so far (sit, pay attention to my face, spin, lie down, and "free").

We traveled again today. It was game night, and two members of our group have a new house, where our game was. They only have one cat, who was hiding when we came over, so I was granted permission to bring Saoirse. She charmed the group. She cuddled and played and slept. When she needed to potty, she made it very clear, and we went out into the grass and got it done. The car ride there and back was pretty good. She was calm on the way, and was tired on the way home. She got a little anxious about half a mile from the house. But overall, it went well.

To be honest, I did walk in just now to find her on the rug next to my bed, with my CPAP mask in her mouth. Not the best behavior. But her mouth is remarkably gentle for a baby, and there doesn't appear to be damage. Luckily, I haven't opened the package with the replacement mask, so if there are holes I didn't see, I'm covered.

Emotional Growth

Inspirational song: Dance the Night Away (Van Halen)

That dog is bigger than when we picked her up on Saturday, I'm pretty sure. Whether or not she is physically bigger (I do think she is), she is intellectually and emotionally a significantly advanced pup. She is learning tricks, developing her personality, and overcoming fears. It's that last one I'm most proud of. 

Yesterday's panic attack in the car was rough on Saoirse. She really thought we were going to go on another four hour drive to change her circumstances yet again. The stroll around Petco wasn't long enough for her to regain equilibrium. I was determined to keep trying, so she gets over her fear and learns that cars usually end up someplace fun in short order. When my daughter asked me to come hold the baby for a while so she could rearrange her house, and said I could bring the puppy, I agreed.

The drive was barely a mile. The dog screamed like I was skinning her alive. I didn't know what do think. So once I got her settled in the back yard, with the grandbaby in my lap, downing a huge bottle of milk, I googled my problem. There were tips about convincing puppies to approach the car slowly, using lots of treats, not starting the car right away, and cuddling before getting latched in to drive. Other than needing to start the car fairly early on, because it was uncomfortably warm, I did all that. She was quiet by the time I latched her harness to the seat belt. I gave her treats as we rolled slowly down the block to the stop sign. I petted her and praised her for staying quiet. She was calm the entire way home. I couldn't believe it was the same dog. I intend to go somewhere with her tomorrow, doing the same process, starting from zero, to make sure it sticks. 

She has already shown me how much she appreciates being allowed to sleep on the bed, and surprisingly, I don't mind it. More shockingly, Athena is tolerating sharing the space. There are still sudden swats in the dining room between them, but as long as Athena gets the right side of me, and Saoirse gets my left, there is peace.

Well, there is peace for everyone except the raccoon toy. As I keep saying, "That raccoon knows what it did."

Saoirse was calm, even when the baby grabbed her face (and baby was calm when Saoirse licked her nose). They love each other, and the above picture led directly to the below (after we quickly removed Dino's hands from the puppy eyes).