Follow Up Friday – Gotcha Day Stretch Edition

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Before I begin, if you read some of my comments from yesterday, you know I had an unexpected visit with Dr. Schaffer.  Little Miss Annual Exam had a scheduled meeting; however, after a late night version of “Ants in the Pants,” Mom put me in the car, too.  The “AITP” game looks like me zipping across the couch, in and out of my day bed, plopping on the tile, doing the tushy slide on the cool tiles, never finding a comfy position over and over.  When Mom saw me go for the underside of my fluffy tail, she cringed and knew “it” was back.

I’ll give you the quick and yucky version:

• Pyoderma – can spread really fast, mine was about three inches and superficial.  Dr. Schaffer said Mom did a good thing bringing me in fast.
• Got a shave which made me squeal so loud, Mom’s heart broke. (I accidentally scratched Mr. Vet Tech really bad… I apologized.)
• Got a shot, got a spray which burned, got ointment; Cone of Shame went from car to office to my neck.
• Whimpered for 45 minutes while Little Miss Annual Exam got her stuff done; Mom sat on floor trying to console me.
• Sent home with two ice packs for under my tail… no can do!
• Passed out on my our couch and in my daybed for the remainder of day.
• Dr. Schaffer said the hardest part is the first 18 hours, so, should start improving today with medicine.

Our friend, Miss Jodi, Heart Like a Dog, initiated this great idea to update readers on previous posts.  She created a lovely badge to go with her idea and has successfully turned her wonderful idea into a robust blog hop!

Saturday – Little Miss Gotcha Day

You joined us in celebrating JJ’s first year with us, learning how she came to join our family.

Sunday – Grammy Unexpectedly Hops By

Everyone loved our unexpected visiting Bunny rabbit.  His coloring and method of movement fit right in with the Black and White Blog Hop.

Monday – Chopped Liver Mischief 

Thanks for understanding why JJ and I felt left out of the fun when Ruby brought Grammy over to visit Mom and Rachel.  We got a little sniff at the end and Little Miss Curiosity even had a brief close encounter with the little hopper.  Yes, I know he’s adorable… I would have been a perfect gentleman.

Tuesday – JJ’s Favorite Fruit 

In honor of her “Gotcha Day Stretch Celebration”, we featured apples two ways: in Wassail a pre-colonial holiday beverage and in an Artisan Bread Stuffing perfect for the holidays as well.  Lots of pals and their humans never heard of Wassail before and thought they might like to try it.  Send us some photos if you do!

Of course, we prefer our apples straight up as Mom’s Kitchen K9s.  Many of you like the same apple varieties as Casa Jet!

Wednesday – Little Miss… 

JJ enjoyed thanking you for the many compliments and loving nicknames you sent in regarding her photos.  She told me I have great friends, to which I heartily agreed!  Here’s JJ with Miss Wendy again!

Thursday – The Next Big Thing 

Kirby warmed the cockles of our hearts (hey Mom, what kind of term is that?  Jetty, it’s an old expression) with his description of our blog when he bestowed The Next Big Thing Award on us.  We passed on the award to five bloggers who more recently joined the blogosphere and have made a strong impact on us.

Thank you all for checking up on Mom.  She still stuffy, figured out the problem involves her sinuses and should get to an MD sooner than later.

Another great Gotcha Day Stretch week, day.

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Little Miss Gotcha Day

Hey It’s Jet Here.

We’re participating in the Channukah Crawl this year, whoo hoo! Today, share the last Hannukah (I know, I spell it differently!) post with Cat Wisdom 101.

Technically, Mom and I will complete this post on JJ’s official Gotcha Day, December 14th.  Due to Mom’s cold/flu thingie and flow of posts, we’re posting Saturday.

Can you believe a year ago today, Little Miss JJ joined the family?  Here’s how it happened:

After my golden sister, Koko, crossed *OTRB* in September 2011, we grieved.  As you know, starting my blog lifted our spirits and has now become a treasured part of our lives.  In November, 2011, Mom and Rachel thought they could no longer live in Casa Jet without A) another girl to even the odds (Puffy, Fluffy and I v. Mom and Rachel) and B) a GOLDEN!

Mom and Rachel began compulsively checking Golden Rescue South Florida’s website and FB page.  They found a possible situation, visited the K9 in question and then… icky stuff happened.  Let’s say the universe wanted us to wait.  Rachel was crushed, Mom saddened and me… truthfully, I didn’t know any better.

Inner workings aside, Mom received a call from Miss Lisa at GRSF on December 13, 2012, that a 5-6 year old female was sprung from Miami Dade Animal Services and Mom could meet her the next night.  Mom didn’t want to disappoint Rachel, so, she went alone.  Two minutes in the door and that was that, JJ came home for a sleepover FOREVER!

Mom opened the garage and told Rachel to get something in the kitchen after school the next day.  Rachel did NOT show enthusiasm.  Mom did the usual “beg the teenager thingie” and Rachel went in to find a golden tail swishing.  Mom heard the expected squeal of delight.  She and Mom named JJ, Skylar on the way to Dr. Schaffer’s to get Skylar checked out.

When we announced Skylar’s arrival, our blogpals did not join in agreement over the name.  What did Mom do?  She asked for submissions!  Miss Wendy, (no doubt you’ve seen her in our comment queue), recommended both Joy and Jasmine.  Since Mom liked Jasmine first and Rachel preferred Joy, they compromised with JJ.  Mom thinks JJ fits way better anyway and she liked having another K9 with a “J” name.  Little Miss Sweet, Spunky and Sassy quickly exhibited many personality traits on a daily basis, and we learned more and more about her as the time passed.

We’ll share more memories throughout the week.

Another great, JJ’s first Gotcha Day Celebration.

Thanks to Life With Dogs, Confessions of the Plume and Two Little Cavaliers for hosting the Saturday Blog Hop.

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Mischief Monday – The Sliding Scale

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Yesterday, we left you with a question, boy did we pique (VBP – vocab builder project) your curiosity.

Every time I celebrate my Gotcha Day, I have to visit Dr. Schaffer.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the attention Miss Judy gives me in the waiting area, along with the vet techs.  Sometimes, other families inquire about my heritage and want to give me lovies, too.  The downside, I know those pokes and prods are going to happen.  You know what I’m talking about, right?  Atypically (VBP – vocab builder project), JJ joined Mom and I this go round because Little Miss Itchy Ears needed yet another double ear check.

After our initial greeting, form signing and such, Dr. Schaffer came out to say hello.  Of course, Little Miss Professional Paw Shaker gave her usual enthusiastic shake infinitum!  I offered my manly man to manly man hello.  And then Miss Judy requested the weight checks for our charts. Mom rounded me onto the scale first and after two attempts, that nasty piece of machinery finalized at 82 lbs of Jettiness.  JJ, clocked in at her usual svelte 56. whatever lbs.

Miss Judy pointed out that last year, I weighed 75!  Mom concurred, stating that my harness had become a bit snug.  Ladies!  Really? In front of Dr. Schaffer and the vet tech?  Have a heart, weight is a sensitive issue for K9s, too.  Mom looked at Dr. Schaffer and told him that I eat less than Little Miss Scale Show Off unless someone is doing something she is unaware of.  Dr. Schaffer said he would see how my exam went and discuss the issue more.

Here’s JJ pretending to be invisible so as not to have her ears checked!  Dr. Schaffer, nimble and kind, met her in her hiding spot and declared her ears “on the right track!”  Now she’s on maintenance, whoo hoo!

Mom peeked through the window and snapped some photos of Dr. Schaffer doing the unmentionables and paying close attention to my cool racing stripes on my front paws.  When we returned to Mom and JJ, Mom mentioned that my stripes appeared over the last year.

Well, turns out that the stripes contain my PUPPY FUR!  We learned that puppy fur (when you’re older) can be a sign of hypothyroidism.  Dr. Schaffer asked Mom if it seemed like I gained weight on air.  Mom replied yes.  Tick off another symptom box.  Dr. Schaffer said he would run a blood test (already extracted, thank heaven) and let Mom know.  He said hypothyroidism is fairly common in middle age K9s with retriever heritage.

Well, it turns out my case is mild and I can take medicine to help.  I knew that scale thingie played Mischief on ‘ol Jetty boy!

Another great, weights and measures day.

Thanks to Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, My Brown Newfies and Luna, A Dog’s Life…for sponsoring the hop!  Click on any of the sponsors to join the hop.

Our Tenth Black & White Sunday – Foreshadowing

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Something in Dr. Schaffer’s office below will be the subject of mischief tomorrow.  Any ideas?

Another great (minus the pokes and prods) visit with Dr. Schaffer.

Thanks to My Life in Blog Years ​and Dachshund Nola for hosting the Black and White Sunday blog hop.

Listening and Expressing

Hey It’s Jet Here.

JJ had her four week ear check on Thursday.  Little Miss “So Darn Happy” finally figured out what may happen when she and Mom go for a long car ride.  JJ happily enters Dr. Schaffer’s office, greets Miss Judy, properly shakes hands with all humans in the waiting area and then it begins… the nervous shaking, looking forlornly (Vocab Building Project VBP) at the door, and wishing she could borrow the cloak of invisibility from Harry Potter!

Miss Judy came out from behind the desk to say a proper hello to JJ and JJ plopped on the floor inching towards the exit!  She thought Miss Judy was charged with ushering her into “the room”.  Everyone laughed an understanding chuckle, empathizing with our girl.

Mom distracted JJ by visiting with those in the waiting room.  First they met Macy, a black lab puppy who should just plaster the word “adorable” to her forehead!  Her human, Mr. Gordon, recently lost his 14 year old K9 and you could tell Macy returned a happy atmosphere to her forever family’s lives.

Copper and (Mom deeply apologizes for forgetting the 2^nd feline’s name… she will call Miss Judy when the office opens) won the adoption lottery. They ended up in a forever home with a Guardian that saved seven other felines as well, treats them all lovingly, and fixes all of their medical issues on a teacher’s budget!

 

Mom and JJ waited a short time “in the room” for Dr. Schaffer and Miss Vanessa.  As soon as they walked in, Little Miss “I Can Make Myself Invisible” tucked her golden self behind Mom’s legs.  When Dr. Schaffer went to lift her, the most HUMILIATING thing happened.  JJ, uh… expressed herself. Graphic description, (skip if squeamish (VBP) anal gland expressing)  OMD!  Mom had NEVER seen this before.  Let’s say sanitation occurred for no less than 5-10 minutes.  Mom wished for a clothespin, noseplug or any other smell blocker!

Thinking she outwitted the humans, JJ hung out on the exam table, shedding and shaking,  Alas, Dr. Schaffer returned to complete the original task, check our girl’s ears!  The more challenging ear passed muster while the easier ear… looked gooky (layperson’s term.)  So, Dr. Schaffer said Mom has to include the “easier ear” in her twice weekly wash, dry, medicate regimen.

The good news – an eight week follow-up; the bad news – I have to go with Little Miss “Expression” next time, as the visit will mark my annual check-up requirement.  (Bummer.)

Another great, glad I wasn’t there, day!

Thanks to Life With Dogs, Confessions of the Plume and Two Little Cavaliers for hosting the Saturday Blog Hop.

Farewell Fluffy…

Hey It’s Jet Here.

Sad day at Casa Jet.  Mom and Rachel took our beloved feline, Fluffy, to Dr. Schaffer this morning to peacefully cross the Rainbow Bridge.  Mom told him how much she loved sharing her world with him and bringing him peace after a terrible beginning.  She asked him to say hello to Mugs and Koko for us.

We thought we would share a few tidbits about Fluffy as a fitting tribute.

Mom and Rachel adopted Puffy and Fluffy from Cat Network in 2003.  They had been in five abusive (let’s just say the stories would make your paws curl) and one allergic house over three years.  Their names were Putter and Gypsy before Rachel dubbed them Puffy and Fluffy at age 9!  After 15 ½ years with Mugs, her tabby, having long haired boys seemed decadent.

Fluffy always exhibited a sweet nature except when wrestling with Puffy, the instigator.  Mom tried all types of treats and toys with no luck.  The best present she ever gave them was a grocery bag.  Fluff spoke to Mom non-stop, he was a regular chatterbox.  Some people told Mom he sounded like he said Maaah-Maaah!  He had different sounds when speaking, making the chatter sound like a meaningful conversation.  Mom spoke back which made for funny observations.

Fluffy appreciated drinking from any human sink; Mom tapped her nail on the basin to orient Fluffy to the water flow.  He also liked to read; and by that I mean, face Mom with his chin in the spine of the open page.  If that didn’t suit Mom, he would sit on her chest and block the page she was on until she adjusted the book’s position side to side.

Mom was fascinated by Fluffy’s care of her midsection.  He took the job of purring water bottle and feline masseuse, kneading the area when called for.

As we bid Fluffy safe passage over the Rainbow Bridge, all of us at Casa Jet offer our gratitude for our time shared with Fluffy, our sweet, gentle boy.

Another… not so great day.