I thought I’d walk you through my day yesterday, because while I try to keep things very simple around here, life aka Sophie, happens!
3:02 am – Sophie is crying, I try comforting her but she is upset, decide to take her outside
3:07 am – Sophie is now happily playing with the Concierge who adores her and gives her treats
3:11 am – We are outside & Sophie is sick from both ends
3:20 am – We go back inside and Sophie won’t walk!
3:30 am – Back in flat
3:50 am – Sophie settled enough for me to go back to bed, realize my skin is bleeding again. Apply meds. Pray
4:10 am – Asleep
5:00 am – Awake again itching, skin bleeding, apply meds. Ophelia sees me awake and decides it is time to get up. Meows incessantly.
5:10 am – Feed Ophelia & Genevieve
5:20 am – Thinking about getting up or going back to sleep, decide to pray
5:40 am – Asleep again
6:00 am – Sophie up whimpering, soothe her, put meds on
6:20 am – Should get up but am too tired, Sophie asleep again, decide to sleep in a little longer
6:40 am – Get up for real, take Sophie outside, she is sick again {both ends!}
7:00 am – Decide I have no time for a shower, get dressed, spend 5 minutes holding O & G
7:10 am – Feed everyone, remember today is my fasting day which means one less thing to do {normally on my fasting day I’d get a good prayer session in…didn’t happen this am, loads of little prayer sessions instead!}
7:20 am – Medicate Genevieve
7:25 am – Take Sophie for a little walk {she is sick again!}
7:45 am – Back upstairs, say goodbyes
7:55 am – Leave for work
Work 08:15 – 1:00 pm
1:00 pm – Go home for “lunch”, pray instead {fasting!}
1:15 pm – Walk Sophie, give her meds
1:30 pm – Feed G & O, Medicate Genevieve
1:40 pm – Return two phone calls
1: 45 pm – Rush back to work
Work 2 pm to 5:30 pm
5:45 pm – Return home, pick up Sophie, head to vet {need a taxi since we are late!}
6:05 pm – 6:45 pm – Vet
6:45 pm – 8:00 pm – Walk home from vet while carrying Sophie {she can’t walk b/c of her foot!}
8:00 pm – Home, play with G & O, medicate G
8:10 pm – Bathe Sophie and medicate her
8:25 pm – Realize the collar they gave us won’t work, phone G & O’s vet who agrees to give her a new one and fix it on
8:30 pm – Walk to vet carrying Sophie
8:45 pm – See vet
9:00 pm – Drop by to give a little help to someone in need {with Sophie}
9:27 pm – Arrive home after a long walk carrying Sophie
9:30 pm – Play with G & O, medicate G
9:32 pm – Deal with Sophie going crazy because she has a collar on
9:35 pm – Snuggle G, who is very snuggly. Sophie is still going crazy. Look at the massive bag of work I brought home with me and decide I am in no way capable of engaging my brain.
9:50 pm – Sophie is asleep, struggle with whether to wake her up & take her outside but don’t want her to have an accident
9:57 pm – Genevieve has a sneezing fit & wakes up Sophie
10:02 pm – Take Sophie for a short walk
10:15 pm – Home again
10:20 pm – Medicate Sophie, Medicate Genevieve
10:25 pm – Creep into bed, feeling like death warmed up. Think of all the things I have to do tomorrow. Skin bleeding.
10:28 pm – Back out of bed to medicate skin.
10:32 pm – Put Q on radio, lie in bed, pray
10:50 pm – Falling asleep…
How was your day yesterday?
I admire you for your dedication and not losing temper after a day such as this one.
My day was certainly much more relaxing. I hope you will soon have found a balance with your animals and the special cares they need.
Thanks so much! I always find it takes a good 2-3 weeks to settle with a new pet, so we’re on our way!
Goodness, I too hope you soon find a balance, too many days like that would try anyone’s patience!
(my yesterday was rather gumpy and a little lonely, but on the whole far less busy than yours!)
((((hugs)))) Jenni!
You are such a patient soul FT! I always think the first couple of weeks are the hardest, hang in there and keep up the humor which always sees you through!
I make it a mission to laugh a lot, especially in the more trying times
I agree re: the 2 weeks!
Wow! It’s great you have such a caring nature and I’m sure it will all come together soon!
It sure will!
FT – hope that today is much easier and that your little furkids are mending. I know that God was speaking to you through yesterdays events. But that’s between you and Him! God Bless
He sure was! Today has been great, S is much better and will settle in time!
Hi,
Just wondering, since you allude to bleeding skin, if you have eczema. My husband has terrible skin that got worse, not better, when we went to a healthier diet. I went on a gluten free diet and suddenly his skin went crazy. He originally figured it was the cold weather, but after ending the diet after a few months, he started to get a little better. His mother is CONVINCED that it was him cutting back on fruit (we cut down on sugars at the same time). He really does seem to do better when getting a lot of fruit in his diet, even though 5 glasses of orange juice a day just seems wrong.
Then again, it’s also unpredictable. His skin is back to bad again, and this time we’re blaming stress and home renovation. I still think, as bad as it is now, his skin is better than it was when he cut back on gluten and fruit. So maybe you could try tweaking your diet and see if it gets any better?
Hi Bethanny, yes it is eczema! My triggers are: cold weather (my worst trigger), certain types of clothing, contact with anything {couches, what I sit on, hats etc}, sugar, stress, gluten and anything I’m allergic too! Let’s just say it has been a long winter
I hope your husband’s eczema improves soon!
Ophelia & Genevieve and Sophie are the luckiest four footed dudes around. Even luckier is you to be able to love them so much. What a gift that loving care is.
And as Bethany says above, have you thought about diet, if it is allergies. My thoughts are with you.
I sure am blessed to have them in my life and I’m sure in no time it will all seem normality will return!
Yes, eczema it is! I’ve tried a lot of diet changes, I’m pretty good 75% of the time but I occasionally {often accidentially} allow triggers in. My biggest is cold weather and fabrics, which I can’t do too much about, sadly. I think I’m developing some sensory issues around clothing…
Thanks for the kind thoughts!
I’m sorry about the eczema. I have had it on my hands for the last 24 years, ever since washing my first child’s baby bottles by hand, in very warm, bubbly water. I have a feeling it was laying dormant in my body until that time. Cold weather makes them red, sore and itchy. They also crack and bleed no matter how much lotion or what type of lotion I use. When people stare I feel obligated to tell them it is not contagious.
You mentioned that you are noticing some sensory issues around clothing. Do you notice if there is a difference between materials made from natural products such as cotton, silk and wool; and products that are made from man made products such as rayon and polyester? I know it is much more expensive, but have you considered purchasing organic clothing?
Valerie, that sounds awful, oh how I can relate.
As for the skin so far I`ve found only leggings on my bottom half and about 4 tops are OK. It`s very strange as I haven`t noticed a real pattern. I`ll look info the clothing but interestingly my cotton organic bath towel doesn`t seem to help my skin compared to another towel. Thanks for the suggestion!
You are amazing. I hope you get a good sleep soon and that everyone mends nicely – you might be at your maximum number of new pets for a little bit! Every picture of them melts my heart though.
We are furry family full right now!
I`m not so amazing!
sophie looks like a doll. I hope things improve so you and sophie can get more rest.
Thanks Konnie! She has been great for the last 24 hrs, I hope we are turning a corner
Pingback: A Goose Named Maria | Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey
You’re a very kind and patient soul. Deep down in her doggie heart Sophie knows and is grateful for everything you’re doing for her.
I agree with all the commenters about your kindness and patience! I’m glad those little dears found you and I know you’re happy to have found them.
Keep on keeping on.
Pingback: Reclaiming Simple Sundays | Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey
Pingback: Goals For The Week – 4 April | Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey
I am as always, awed by your patience and compassion! I adopted a dog about 2 years ago, and it took quite a while for the adjustment period. I don’t recall you saying if you had ever owned a dog before but I had not, and it took quite a while for me to get used to it. So don’t get discouraged if it takes longer than 2 weeks. I think for me it was more like 2 or 3 months! But now he and I are quite into our routines and he is bonding with me more and more as time passes. He is just such a love and I am so lucky to have him! I wish you luck and patience! I hope that Sophie soon settles down and sleeps through the night (mine sleeps all the time it seems like LOL that is if he’s not staring at me while I’m eating or tearing through the house and dropping stuffies at my feet, which are of course his favorite activities.) Do you crate her? It seems to make some dogs less anxious and some dogs more anxious. Just wondering if you had tried it.
Pingback: What I’m Reading Wednesdays | Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey