Puppy Crutches?

Emma and I have spent the morning at the vet. Unlike Jack who thinks the vet is a great opportunity to make new friends and investigate all sorts of interesting smells, Emma chooses to have panic attacks. So basically I spent the last hour on the floor of the vet trying to comfort a very upset dog while at the same time gallons of dog saliva and pounds of tiny black dog hairs collected all over my clothes.

Yesterday Jack and Emma were rough housing and Emma ended up hurting her leg. For the past 24 hours she hasn't put any weight on it and has been hobbling around like a three-legged dog. Actually, Emma is pretty impressive and agile with only three legs, but I'd still prefer her to have four working legs!

Emma protested to the vet in every way. She whined and whimpered so much that it brought tears to my eyes and gave the vet a very hard time trying to determine where exactly it hurt on her leg. We ended up having an X-ray taken of her leg and paw. Thankfully there are no breaks. The vet has Emma on some anti-inflamatories for the week to help the swelling and pain go down. He also told Emma to "take it easy". If anyone knows a good way to explain this to Jack I'd be eternally grateful... =)

I've put a blanket down on the couch and let Emma get up there to rest. It seems to be the only solution I've come up with so far to separate the dogs. In theory they know they're not allowed on the couch so Jack should leave Emma alone up there...

... unless you go to grab something from the other room and come back to this...

Puppy Updates

I feel like I haven't blogged about the dogs in a while so here are some updates about what has been going on recently.

Emma and Jack are getting along great as always. They are so happy to have each other and watching them play together really does bring so much joy to my heart! I miss my one on one cuddle time with Emma (Jack doesn't like to share attention) but I know they are so much happier playing together.

A couple of weeks ago I took both dogs to a local pet store to get caught up on all the vaccines. There were so uber excited to go out and see other people and other dogs, oh my! However, after taking both dogs by myself, I don't think I'd ever do that again without Miguel. What a mess! Jack especially was a handful. He wanted to say hello to EVERYONE by jumping on them. This is not allowed, obviously, but he hasn't quite learned that yet. To complicate things more I was using a connected leash so Emma was pulled with Jack wherever he decided to lunge at the moment. Emma did not like this because she was more interested in trying her very hardest to eat the cats that were there.

 

Notice how twisted the leash is...

Jack did just fine with his vaccines. He wagged and licked the vet and technician. Emma, however, struggled and struggled and struggled. She was not happy camper!

Jack's favorite thing has to be riding in the car! If we ever pick up our keys or make a noise that sounds like it might be keys being picked up he dashes over to you and looks up with those big brown eyes, wide smile and wagging his tail a million miles per hour! Sometimes when Jack is being stubborn and doesn't want to come inside when we are calling him, we will open the car and let him jump in just so we can catch him to bring him inside =) Emma likes the car as long as we stay off the highway and are going for short trips. They both try to help us drive if the car windows are up.

 

If we are going on long trip Jack ends up sleeping most of the way, but Emma freaks out! We have to keep her in the backseat but she tries her hardest to get up in the drivers lap. So much so that she will stand on Jack if he sits on the left side. =)

Poor Jack ;)

Emma is so bad on long car rides that we finally had to get a prescription for her. We tried over the counter dog anti-anxiety pills,  Benadryl, and Dramamine but nothing worked. This stuff works much better. Poor Emma! She really tries her hardest to keep her eyes open, but it definitely is a struggle! She looks so stoned! Haha! Bless her little heart!

So funny story about Jack and the car. I so wish I had a picture to accompany this story! Miguel ran to the post office to pick up a package before Christmas and took the dogs with him in the car. We always roll up the car windows so the dogs can't get out... because some dogs (Jack, of course... it's always Jack) have been known to jump out. While Miguel was standing in the long holiday line at the post office, a woman ran in and said, "Someone's dog is climbing out a car." Miguel thought to himself, "It can't be my dogs because my windows are rolled up". Then the woman announced that the dog was climbing out the sunroof of a cream colored car. Miguel dismissed this because his car is white not "cream". But once they started describing the dog Miguel thought it would be best to go out and just make sure it wasn't Jack. When Miguel got out to the parking lot he was greeted by Jack who was standing on top of the car with a confused look as he was contemplating the best way to get down. =) I just laugh at that image! Miguel put Jack back in the car, shut the sun roof and went back into the post office to a round of applause from all the waiting customers! Jack is so silly! I love that puppy!

Like I said earlier in this post, Emma and Jack are best friends, but Jack does not like to share! Emma used to sleep on her doggie bed every night. Then It turned into sharing it with Jack:

Then it turned into Jack and Emma sorta still sharing...

 

 

But now Emma sleeps under the bed...

 

Haha, poor thing! I just think it's so cute that she sleeps under the bed. She always like to be under even when she was a puppy. And of course now Jack has returned to putting himself to sleep in his crate. I guess the dog bed has lost its appeal now that Emma doesn't care to sleep there anymore. 

Well that's all I can think of dog-wise at the moment! Hopefully Jack will calm down some in 2012, but I won't love him any less if he doesn't! Fingers crossed though! ;)

Christmas Is About Giving And Sharing?

For Christmas this year Santa brought both puppies new toys... even though some doggies may have been naughty. Emma got a Christmas tree and Jack got a snowman. For some reason the snowman has been the prefered toy.

So there has been lots of this going on...

However, Emma eventually re-discovered her Christmas tree and all is right in the Amador puppy world again!

Bop on the Nose, Oh No!

The dogs and I had quite an adventure last week when I was visiting my mom in Atlanta. It was very chaotic with four dogs in one house. At the beginning of the week the dogs were all stressed out from the new situation. When Emma and Jack were playing something happened and they got in a real dog fight. It was really scary. I tried to break them up (which is apparently something you're never supposed to do) and Emma actually bit me too. I know it was an accident, but still, ouch! But I didn't get the bad end of it... unfortunately it was Jack's nose that got the most damage.  I didn't notice it was scraped until later that day. It looked like it hurt but Jack seemed fine. However, Friday night I noticed that his nose has swelled and he was sporting a rather large bump.

BEFORE

AFTER

I started to worry that maybe the scrape had become infected. So Saturday I took him to the vet. He was really excited to be there. He LOVED all the smells and meeting new people! The vet came in and they made me hold him while they shaved the hair down on his nose. Once they did that it was pretty scary to see how deep the scratch was. You could literally see the tooth mark. Ouch! Poor puppy! I also hated having to hold him while he squirmed and cried. In the end they gave him some pain meds and antibiotics. They told me if the swelling didn't go down he needed to come back and have some x-rays taken. Luckily, the swelling has gone down and it looks like we won't have to go back to the vet. Which is good news for Jackson, because it turned out that going to the vet was a very traumatic experience for him...

BEFORE being examined

AFTER being examined

Anyways, I'm just happy he's feeling better and I hope Emma doesn't ever snap on him like that again!

Girly Thank You Basket

A friend was so very kind and watched our dogs and house for us while we were in Montana for over a week. If you have met our dog, Jack, or have been reading this blog you will know that he is a handful. He still has all his puppiness and all the jumping, chewing, and bounciness that comes with that. We are so very thankful to our kind friend who house sat for us. We of course paid her but after a few texts mid-week about Jack going over to the sitter and lifting his leg and uh... "marking" her if you will, we felt we needed to show our appreciation a little more! 

I think this gift basket is a good gift and it is so simple to make. I would definitely encourage you to make one as a thank you gift or for any occasion. I purchased this gift basket set (pictured above) from World Market for only $4! It came with the basket, straw bedding, a gift tag, cellophane wrapping, and twine to tie it all up. Pretty nice for such a small price tag. A bag of straw cost $3 at World Market... so I'd say that the basket set pays off well. 

I filled the basket with various things by just walking around World Market. I ended up going with sort of a pink theme which was determined by the first thing I picked up... Pomegranate Martini mix and matching glass rim sprinkles. After watching our dogs for a week you need a drink! So that was definitely a go! Next I picked up some "Get Gorgeous" organic tea, some bath salts and soap, and finally some purse tissues with a saying that is also appropriate after watching our dogs, "Keep Calm, Carry On". Each item was under $6 each. I also picked up a small martini glass for $2... I just forgot to put it in the photograph... oops! :)

I placed the straw in the basket, followed by all the pink items, wrapped it up and tied on the gift tag (which was signed by all of us). Such a simple to make gift. I hope our house sitter enjoys it and can get some use out of the items! I know I'm tempted to keep some of them for myself... good thing the basket is wrapped up in cellophane! =)

Getting There

So I've complained on here a few times about how much weight I've gained and how I really want to start shedding the extra pounds I've picked up. Unfortunately, I'm on some medicine that makes me gain and retain weight... but that isn't the only reason I've gained weight. I have been lazy and not very active. Well, the past two weeks I have finally started to do something about it. I purchased a Living Social deal for a month of unlimited yoga for only $30. Normally the price tag is $150. Yay for good deals! I've really been enjoying the classes. Yoga really does help with relieving stress levels and my body always feels really fresh and free afterwards. In fact, yoga has many benefits including:

• Reduces stress and enhances relaxation
• Boosts physical strength and flexibility
• Enhances powers of concentration and self control
• Heals old and new injuries
• Boosts the immune system
• Improves blood circulation
• Increases respiratory efficiency
• Results in healthy, glowing skin
• Cleanses and improves overall organ function
• Decreases anxiety and depression
• Infuses a sense of balance and inner harmony

The classes are at The Savannah Yoga Room located on Whitemarsh Island. The room is on the small side and is in a building that also houses a ballet school. I like the intimate feel. The instructor and owner is really cool. She's from France and is made to teach yoga. She has a soothing voice and an extensive knowledge of multiple yoga practices. I really, really like her.

Sophie, the instructor and owner via

I've taken two variations of classes. The first is a Hatha Flow class levels one and two. This class is "sequences of linked poses performed slowly with detailed descriptions. Basic breathing techniques are practiced to deepen the breath and relax the mind and nervous system". I really enjoy this class. I feel like I get a good core work out as well as a great time relaxing. My favorite part of this class is the relaxation you get at the end. You put a pillow beneath your legs, a blanket under your head and Sophie comes around and places a lavender eye pillow on your eyes. It is wonderfully calming.  The second class I've attended is a Power Vinyasa class. This class is described as, "movements, synchronized with the breath, turn the sun salutation into a dance where form, movement, and breath become an art. Power Vinyasa is practiced in a heated room of 85°. It's really challenging. I sweat like a pig and some poses I can't yet complete. However, I feel invigorated and rejuvenated after class. 

After only two weeks I'm already stronger and more flexible! I'm really enjoying yoga. I can even get myself to go at night... this is the first time I can get myself to work out any time besides first thing in the morning. 

I'm also slowly going back to being a blonde. I know it is completely cliché, but I really do honestly feel better with light hair. Now I just have to keep up with the working out, and need to start eating better... but hopefully in a few months I'll feel better and be back to my normal self... fingers crossed!

Also, while blogging I noticed Jack was chewing something. So I immediately opened his mouth and took this out:

The back of the remote is now chewed to destruction. Oh well. If I hold the batteries in it still works. Silly Jack!

Sarah and Josh Visit over Memorial Day Weekend

Sooooo excited that my bestie, Sarah, and her boyfriend, Josh, came to visit me for the long weekend! And this time they brought their precious puppy, Otis! Emma and Otis have had so much fun playing together!

Josh and Otis

Sarah was so sweet and brought me a really neat candle. It's made from natural ingredients including milk. I think it's so cute because it comes in a little milk jar. AND it smells sooooo good! Thanks Sarah!

Sarah and Josh arrived Friday afternoon. For dinner we headed down to Tybee to go to The Crab Shack. It was all of our first time there. It was alright. Felt touristy but also very beachy, and that was fun. The weather was also really nice.  I got the crab cakes which came served in some crab shells. They were alright until I saw that there was still an eyeball attached to one of the crabs. 

Pretty view

The Crab Shack has a pit of alligators that you can feed. They were pretty small and I felt bad for them. But generally I hate alligators. 

Saturday morning we took the dogs to Fort Pulaski to play in the water. It was Otis's first time swimming! He did really well and the puppies had so much fun! Josh fished and the dogs swam and chased crabs. 

When we got home I placed a towel on the couch so that the wet dogs would sit on it instead of the couch and of course Emma sat on the only part where there wasn't part of the towel.

After we took the dogs back home from the Fort we went to lunch at one our favorite restaurants on Tybee, The Social Club, and then hung out at the beach all afternoon. After the beach we showered and rested a bit before heading down town for dinner at Belford's. I had never eaten there before. It was fun sitting outside in City Market. There was a lot of good people watching because of the large tourist crowds. Josh had a steak and both Sarah and he swear it was one of the best steaks they've ever had. I ate the mahi mahi and it was, um, ehh. I had a bite of Sarah's lobster ravioli and that was actually really yummy though. After dinner we hung out down town for a bit. 

Look at Otis in a skeleton costume! I had purchased it for Emma but obviously it was too small and just happened to fit Otis perfectly!

Sunday we hung out at the pool, Josh fished some, and we had a cookout for dinner. It was a really nice, relaxing day. Although, the pool was really crowded. I'm going to be so happy when this memorial day rush of tourists go home. But, I don't want Sarah and Josh to leave! Pout!

While we were cooking out Sunday night we put Emma in her crate and when we came home this is what we found she had done... Guess her lab side is coming out. 

I've really enjoyed having Sarah, Josh, and Otis visit this weekend! We're about to head out to lunch at Zunzis and take the dogs to the park. Such a fun weekend! Can't wait till I get to go visit Sarah at her new place in a few weeks!